Reasons to support Italy… Milan

 

With Italy preparing to make their Euro 2008 debut tonight against Holland, i have been swotting up on their preparation ahead of tonight’s game in Berne. I also look back at the reasons that i have chosen to follow the Azzurri this summer.

Italy face Holland this evening, and both coaches know each other very well as they were teammates at one of the great Milan sides in the 1980s. Roberto Donadoni boasted that he aims to use “all of our technique and physicality” to defeat Marco Van Basten’s Holland.

Gianluigi Buffon has the hour of captaining his country in the absence of Fabio Cannavaro, whose ankle ligament injury has ruled him out of the tournament. It is a tough test, but the Azzurri can look to the history books for reassurance, as they have not been defeated by Holland in 30 years.

There are many reasons that i have pledged my allegiance to Italy this summer. During my Italian adventure, the first place that i visited was Milan. Milan is the home of design and fashion, boasting the stylish and and glamorous side of Italy. 

The magnificent cathedral is situated just yards from the world’s oldest shopping centre, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. When you have finished browsing the new lines that Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton have on offer i would recommend taking a stroll in Parco Sempione, a relaxing retreat from the busy city streets. 

A trip to Milan wouldn’t be complete without a tour of the San Siro stadium. The club museum gives a real insight into the two Milan clubs glittering histories. The imposing stadium, as with everything in Milan, is stylishly constructed and you get the opportunity to try out the very best seats in the house.

 

Who will you support in Euro 2008? A tough decision…

 

As England, well Steve McClaren, failed to qualify for the Euros i have started watching the championships as a neutral. With England’s absence i feel the need to switch allegiance to make the most of the Euro 2008 experience. But who shall i support with the tournament already underway?

Portugal have had an impressive start, but they do possess the demonic figure that is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Germans put on a ruthlessly efficient display, and with Ballack’s sudden rise in form they are real contenders. Spain? I drew them in the sweepstake at work, but a generation of perennial underachievers. 

I have decided to pick a team from the group of death, as these are the best games by far in the group stages. I would consider Romania, but i don’t think i can condone supporting Adrian Mutu. I think the French will miss Zidane too much to make an impact. 

That leaves Holland or Italy. Total football against defensive brilliance. There is no doubt the Dutch are brilliant in attack but have never filled the defensive void left by Jaap Stam. That leaves Italy, world cup winners in 2006, missing their influential skipper Cannavaro. Still possessing a mean defense and a number of players that can change a game. Plus, they are winners.

In truth, i think i had already decided. Not because they are current World Cup champions but because of links that were forged last summer when i spent a month travelling around the whole country (shaped like a football boot). I want them to win for the people i met, and because they are a nation that lives and breathes football. 

Plus, i feel for them after the recent scandals that they have been through. Growing up i used to watch Serie A on channel 4’s Football Italia show. They had the best players and the best teams. This was at a time when the English league was recovering from a European ban, as a result of the tragedy at Heysel. Plus, the blight of hooliganism that was openly apparent. It seems that the tables have turned with the Premiership being the best league in the world and the Italians recovering from recent scandals.

 

Berne- Not just the host of the Euro 2008 ‘Group of Death’

 

With three of the four teams in Group C having lifted the trophy before, there is no doubt that Group C is the Euro 2008 ‘Group of Death’. The Netherlands, Italy, France and Romania will all be playing in Berne.

The city will be flooded with the orange army of Dutch supporters as it hosts all three of the Netherlands group matches. Last month, the Flower Office of Holland provided Berne with over 11,000 tulips, the symbol of Holland.

From my experience, Berne offers a completely different way of life compared to Zurich. The Swiss capital has plenty to offer the masses of football fans that are set to engulf the city. The picturesque medieval old town was built around the meandering River Aar, and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

One of Berne’s most famous landmarks is the Zytglogge clock tower, which provides a mechanical display four minutes before every hour. Not far from the Zytglogge is also the imposing medieval cathedral, the Munster. The Bundeshaus, which houses the national parliament is worth a visit, with an amusing fountain display in front of the grand Federal Palace.

One of the city’s most famous residents was Albert Einstein. The flat where the genius worked on his Annus Mirabilis Papers, at Kramgasse 49, has been turned into the Einsteinhaus attraction. This offers a fascinating insight into the work that Einstein carried out.

Just outside the city’s natural boundary, the River Aar, lies the Barengraben and Rosengarten. The Barengraben, or bear pit, houses Bernese bears, a symbol of the city. The Rosengarten, or Garden of Roses, is a well kept rosary at the top of a hill, which offers a stunning panoramic view of the city.

For more adventurous fans looking for a amazing day trip, i would recommend the Cailler Chocolate factory in Broc. A short train journey from the Swiss capital and you arrive in the quaint country village of Broc. The village bursts with character and as soon as you step off the train the air is filled with the chocolately aroma produced by the Cailler Chocolate factory. 

Entry is free, which includes an insight into the history of the factory, how the chocolate is made, plus unlimited free tasters. So if your team has underperformed in Berne (or didn’t even qualify), i would recommend a short trip to Broc to cheer yourself up and to stock up with chocolate, which you can buy at factory prices!