Euro's vs World Cup's

[Gandalf Presley]

Although the group draw is a fortnight away, it is abundantly clear that the Euro's are always the better tournaments. I can only remember them from 1988 onward ('84 being robbed from my memory bank thanks to BBC / ITV hardly showing any games live:-

1988: although an unmitigated disaster for England (one of the favourities going into it), it did lead to the emergence of Marco Van Basten. Without doubt, one of the finest strikers ever. We did get the 'right' final as Russia and Holland were the best two teams and the Dutch deservedly won it.

1992: the beginning of the end for Graham Taylor. Sweden looked good on home soil but the Danes won a tournament that they should not have been competing in

1996: Football came home. Suker's lob over Schmeichel, Scotland failing to make the group stages AGAIN. However, England making the Dutch look ordinary will live long in the memory. The one damning factor from it was the move towards corporate seating - how many 'sell outs' were played to a two-third's full stadium?

2000: Without doubt, the best summer tournament in my lifetime. Portugal 3-2 England, Romania 3-2 England (yes two defeats but both entertaining), Yugoslavia 3-3 Slovenia, France 2-3 Holland, France 2-1 Spain, Holland 6-1 Yugoslavia, France 2-1 Portugal, France 2-1 Italy, and last but not least Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia

2004: probably the exception to the rule. A very ordinary Greece winning the tournament but it did bring us Czech Rep 3-2 Holland

2008: Second only to 2000. So much to marvel at. Holland in the Group of Death. Spain from the first minute of their opening game onwards. Arshavin destroying the Dutch. The sheer madness of Turkey's games. Passing football on waterlogged pitches.

The world cup (proabably with notable exceptions to 1986 and 1990) just don't have the same appeal.

[RobRoyal]

Can only agree.

The big advantage the Euros have is the much higher average quality of sides. That also means there are far fewer uncompetative games.

Of course UEFA are pissing that away with the move to 24 team, but hey ho.

Euro 2008 ftw, btw. Much easier to enjoy a quality tournament without England stinking the place out.

[Silver Fox]

it is abundantly clear that the Euro's are always the better tournaments.

Disagree, euro '96 is honestly the only euros I have particularly fond memories of (if any memories at all) while every world cup since '78 has made me the man I am today

[Wax Jacket]

I enjoyed Greece's win, a nice antidote to shiny, Sky-led corporate football full of mass-sponsored Serie A and Prem players

[bobbybottler]

Disagree with the OP about 1984, there was plenty on, it was just that it didn't get over-hyped.

Platini + Giresse + Tigana + Fernandez, what's not to like?

SF - 1978 taught me a lot. I couldn't understand, as a relatively recent emigree of Edinburgh, why no-one else in Woodley had a Scotland For The Cup flag in their car, why lads at school were talking favourably about Iran, why my parents thought Ally MacLeod was a fukcing idiot, and why, when Don Masson missed his pen against Peru I could hear cheers and loud laughter from other houses around ours.

[Hoop Blah]

I really like the Euro's for the level of competition and the general standard, plus the games are usually played at more sociable times, but it does lack a bit of the intruige of the World Cup. Obviously not having the non-European nations means you don't get the interest of seeing teams the majority still don't watch a lot of and a bit more of a mix of styles.

WC > Euro's for me, but the Euro's really aren't far behind because it's so competitive.

[TBM]

it is abundantly clear that the Euro's are always the better tournaments.

Disagree, euro '96 is honestly the only euros I have particularly fond memories of (if any memories at all) while every world cup since '78 has made me the man I am today

This ^^ - although swap '78 with '86

[Svlad Cjelli]

Much prefer the WC - the teams and players are less well know, and you always get the chance of upsets from one of the smaller teams.

There's a lot less of an ability gap betwen the teams in the Euros so the games tend to be a bit samey and dour.

[Bandini]

I love the ridiculous amount of football you get at a world cup, but for quality games I prefer the Euros.

All of them from 88 onwards are imprinted on the memory in a way that, 94, 98, 02 really aren't.

[Wax Jacket]

WCs also have the benefit of sub-Saharan African tackles

[Svlad Cjelli]

This is why the WC is better than the EC : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PROehLAY88

[Hoop Blah]

Uh ho! Now someones going to come out with the [urban myth?] story about the guys family being held at gun point etc etc.....

Totally agree though Dirk (see it does happen!).

[Big Foot]

Best thing about the WC is seeing teams from opposing continents and opposing styles play each other

[Maguire]

I can't even remember the last Euros tbh. Only '96 really captured the imagination, as others have said. I remember being mesmerised by MVB and Gullit in 88 though, just seemed absolutely brilliant.

World Cup's always been huge for me, it's just a shame that the last one was quite poor and, as ever, money seems to corrupt everything. With FIFA rotten to the core* I'm kind of a bit bit w-evs about the next one.

*not specifically because England didn't get it (Russia is a fair choice) but that only getting a solitary vote and then seeing Qatar get it (with Oz only getting one vote). Well, they sold it so now I don't care as much.

[who are ya?]

Euro 2008 ftw, btw. Much easier to enjoy a quality tournament without England stinking the place out.

[TBM]

I can't even remember the last Euros tbh.

I do, mainly cos i put a bet on Spain to win with Villa being top scorer and was laughed at by everyone......how times have changed.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

I can't even remember the last Euros tbh.

I do, mainly cos i put a bet on Spain to win with Villa being top scorer and was laughed at by everyone......how times have changed.

I had that bet too, however my winnings were slashed because he was joint top scorer

Edit: Ignore that, that was for the WC not Euros

[Thomas L'Heureux]

I can't even remember the last Euros tbh.

Holland's football during the group stages was unbelievable to watch. The goal they scored on the break against the Italians was a particular highlight.

Nike also released some exclusive boots for the tournament. I have a pair of the below in moulded form, but they are too big for me. If anyone takes size 11.5 and would like them then PM me:

[TBM]

I can't even remember the last Euros tbh.

I do, mainly cos i put a bet on Spain to win with Villa being top scorer and was laughed at by everyone......how times have changed.

I had that bet too, however my winnings were slashed because he was joint top scorer

No he wasn't - he got 4 goals

Yakin, Pavluchenko, Podolski and Sentürk all got 3 goals

[URZZZZZZZZ]

I do, mainly cos i put a bet on Spain to win with Villa being top scorer and was laughed at by everyone......how times have changed.

I had that bet too, however my winnings were slashed because he was joint top scorer

No he wasn't - he got 4 goals

Yakin, Pavluchenko, Podolski and Sentürk all got 3 goals

Corrected, just as you posted