大象传媒

Vienna

Two diplomatic incidents to report with the big kick-off in Basel less than 48 hours away now.

The first concerns two Polish tabloids, who have upset the Germans ahead of Sunday's Group B clash between the two nations in Klagenfurt.

One has mocked up a distasteful shot of Poland coach Leo Beenhakker holding the severed heads of Germany coach Joachim Loew and skipper Michael Ballack.

The second has Beenhakker dressed up as sword-wielding warrior about to a deliver a death blow to the Chelsea midfielder.

Dutchman Beenhakker is naturally appalled and thehave inevitably provoked outrage in both countries, ramping up the tension ahead of the match.

The second controversy is a much less serious.

This time it is the Turks who have been offended, unhappy with Sebastiano Barcaroli. The Italian is one of 38 illustrators to have contributed to a book called , containing more than 800 images of players who have performed at the European Championship.

There are some from 1960 - the date of the first tournament - and lots from Euro 2008. I think they're fabulous, particularly those of former French genius Zinedine Zidane, but the ones of the Turkey squad have not gone down well.

Apparently, it has something to do with the fact that Barcaroli has drawn the players' hair, eyebrows, ears, noses and mouths using images of insects, fish, etc.

Anyway, the Turkish camp have objected, prompting one promotional poster here at the International Broadcast Centre here in Vienna to be stripped from the wall.

It's a shame, but then as someone once said - can anyone tell me who? - all publicity is good publicity.