High hopes for Euro 2008
Iβve seen thousands of football matches in my time β but never one played at 11,333 feet above sea level on an Alpine glacier.
That was Switzerlandβs way of launching the countdown to which it is jointly staging next summer with neighbours Austria.
Original definitely, if not a little dangerous for the 400-odd people invited to watch the event who had to risk their limbs sliding around on the snow at the top of the .
It was Switzerlandβs way of saying it is not a boring grey country where the trains run on time and everything is organised to the nth degree.
There were even plenty of stars on show for the five-a-side game, including (104 caps for Denmark), Arsenalβs charming Swiss youngster Johan Djourou and Portugal legend Paulo Sousa.
Not forgetting the national coaches of both host countries, Kobi Kuhn and Josef Hickersberger, and captains and Euro 2008 ambassadors (103 caps for Switzerland) and (103 caps for Austria).
I couldnβt help but sense a little naivety amid all the thigh-slapping and regalia of the Swiss hosting a major footballing event.
The country oozes class, sophistication and money. There was even a harpist playing at Zurich Airport. The trains do arrive and depart literally to the minute, the scenery is breath-taking with lakes, mountains and .
Back to the naivety I touched on a few lines back. Given the stunning natural beauty of the place, why would the Swiss want thousands of marauding football supporters invading their peaceful land? I asked numerous Swiss folk that very question and got the same answer every time: βIt will be fineβ
I sincerely hope it is. Switzerland (and Austria) deserves a successful Euro 2008 and I expect the event will be brilliantly organised down to the last little detail. But my worry relates directly to the stadiums and hereβs why: Five of the eight host venues have a ground capacity of just 30,000. The in Berne holds 32,000; Basle will seat 42,500 while the final will be played at the in Vienna on 29 June (capacity 50,000).
Given the before the recent Champions League final, I am worried about what would happen should the likes of Germany, Italy or Holland be drawn against England next summer?
Stadiums with capacities of 30,000 just arenβt big enough to cope with the crowds that will turn up. The Swiss believe they will counter this potential threat by setting up football and entertainment zones across their country for fans without tickets to enjoy.
But will they really do that? Will they seriously travel 50 or 100 miles from where England or whoever are playing just to enjoy the big-screen facilities and free public transport that will be on offer?
I think not.
Uefa must do everything in its power along with the two hosts to make sure nothing disastrous happens.
I am not going to go into the rights and wrongs of what a minority of Liverpool followers may have done in Greece last month, but if anything like that was to happen at Euro 2008 then the authorities could have carnage on their hands.
Security will be key to the overall success of the tournament and both countries will not be taking any chances. , who is the Swiss defence and sports minister, told me at the launch of the countdown to Euro 2008 in Interlaken, that nothing will be left to chance.
βThe work is on track and we are right on schedule. The essential strategies have been drawn up and rollout has begun. But let me make one thing perfectly clear: despite all the talk about safety and security, we intend to celebrate a festival of football in June 2008 and not build fortresses,β he said.
Please let him be right.
