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Euro 2008: Just a few short weeks to go
While England's finest spend the summer thundering around some of Europe's most delicate beaches looking for something to steamroller, their professional counterparts will be vying for a place in history in the beautiful countries of Austria and Switzerland. But what does it take to be the best? And wouldn't the world be a much safer place if we knew where Ashley Cole was at all times?
For analysis and betting tips on every team at Euro 2008 click here
» Eight of the sixteen countries competing know what it's like to win at the Euros - Italy, France, Greece, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, Spain and Holland.
» Of the sixteen teams competing, Germany are by far the most successful, having attended nine of the twelve European Football Championships since 1960, winning three of them (1972, 1980, 1996). Russia have been to eight, winning one (1960), Spain and Holland have been to seven, both winning once (Spain, 1964; Holland, 1988), while France have won two from six (1984, 2000), Italy one from six (1968). The only other former champ in there is Greece, who won last year on their second attempt.
» The pressure will be on the hosts. Austria have never been in the Euros, whilst Switzerland played in 2004 and 1996, but have yet to win a game. Since 1960, the host nation (or, when shared, one of the nations) has always featured in the top four of the competition, and three times they have won (Spain, 1964; Italy, 1968; France, 1984).
» Italy haven't made it past the group stages since 1988.
» In the last two championships, the eventual winner has been the runner up in their group (Greece qualified behind Portugal in 2004; France behind Holland in 2000).
» chickendinner superfact: Two of the last three finals have featured teams who were in the same qualifying group (Germany and Czech Republic, Group c, 1996; Greece and Portugal, Group A, 2004).
» Only Germany and Russia (as USSR) have appeared in consecutive finals (Germany, 1972, 1976, 1980; USSR, 1960, 1964; Germany again, 1992, 1996). Hence it might be a tough one for Greece and Portugal.
» Ten of the twelve finals have been won by the team that scores two goals. The only two that didn't end 2-0 or 2-1 were Greece last year (1-0) and West Germany in 1972 (3-0 against USSR).
Euro 2008 Betting, best odds
