Euro 2008: Bastian Schweinsteiger's girlfriend is out of his league

Here's Bastian Schweinsteiger with girlfriend Sarah Brandner at Palma Airport in Mallorca, Spain. The German national team has just arrived in Mallorca for a training camp to prepare for Euro 2008 this June.

I don't want to be rude (translation: I do), but isn't young Bastian punching way above his weight here? Would Brandner look once at him if he wasn't a wealthy football star? Hmm, I doubt it.

Photo Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

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Win Euro 2008 final tickets!

Just a quick note to everyone who truly thinks they know their footballing Xabi Alonso’s from their Pascal Zuberbuhlers. Entries for Castrol’s Best X1 competition must be in by midnight on 5th June 2008 – and with a magnificent prize on offer from the oil vending big boys, you could “win a fantastic ticket package, go to a crucial match, see the big stars and soak up the electric atmosphere of this spectacular festival of football!”

And if that doesn’t appeal then well, quite frankly, you’re on the wrong blog.

All you need to do is either have your vehicle serviced at a participating Castrol dealer or buy Castrol oil from a participating retailer – and let’s be frank, you’ll be glued to the TV over the next few weeks so you had better book it now. Then simply pop over to the CPI and pick what you think will be the very best side in Euro 2008 (it may well be worth checking the CPI for some cheeky insight into the stats during qualifying) and away you go.

However – I guess it is a little unfair to even bring this up, as myself and Tom from euro2008statistics.com have already entered. Now while his team will almost certainly sink without trace, and take a pasting in the rankings, this best X1 will see yours – and beat it every time. Well, probably….

Gets EURO 2008 Predictor at Facebook

As qualifying winds down for Euro 2008, teams continue to tussle for position. Euro 2008 Predictor lets you compete with friends and fans by joining the official group or creating your own league/group. Pick the winners of games, and then track how well you do against your friends and all of Facebook.

Predict: Select the outcomes of all the qualifying matches for Euro 2008.

Create Groups: Invite your friends to play against you. Prove you have the skills to pick winners.

Live Leaderboard: We track your predictions in real time – see how you’re doing as the games are playing. View your position against your friends, your group and everyone else on Facebook.

Earn First: Earn First place.

Italy lose captain Cannavaro

The Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2008™ after rupturing ligaments in his left ankle during the Azzurri's first training session at their base in Modling, Austria yesterday. Coach Roberto Donadoni reacted by calling in the ACF Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini.

Chiellini tackle
The 34-year-old Real Madrid CF centre-back, capped 116 times, sustained the knock following a tackle by fellow defender Giorgio Chiellini and was carried off the field on a stretcher. Italy doctor Paolo Zeppilli said he feared that the injury was "not minor" and so it proved as hospital tests confirmed the extent of the damage.

Big boots
Gamberini joins up with the squad having won two previous caps. The 26-year-old may have big boots to fill – Cannvaro skippered Italy to FIFA World Cup glory in 2006 – but the former Bologna FC defender can take confidence from a consistent season during which he appeared 40 times in Serie A and the UEFA Cup for the Viola.

Free downloadable Euro 2008 Wall Chart

5 days… That’s it! Just over a week until the showcase for international European football kicks off, and there’s clearly no better way to prepare yourself than with a free, downloadable wall chart that can be printed off, slapped on the wall – and diligently filled in until the final on the 29th.

Who will win? Well my cheeky prediction is for a Netherlands vs. Germany final, with The Oranje coming out surprising winners – but to make up your own mind using the stats, check out castrolindex.com.

Meanwhile, come get your fill – you’re more than welcome to download our free Euro 2008 wallchart here, or by clicking on the picture below. Easily printable on A4 paper (so you can run off a load at work and no one will notice), it is complete with all the info you’ll need (date, times, venues etc) – as well as statistically the very best XI in qualifying.

Download it here…

Berne hosts cultural celebration

Berne got a taste of what to expect when fans from the Netherlands, France, Italy and Romania arrive, thanks to a cultural presentation in the city.

Berne Hotels

National specialities
Emissaries from all four countries came to the Swiss capital to showcase their culture, with Bernese natives being treated to displays of Italian flag-waving, Romanian wind instruments, French wines and Dutch clogs. Organisers say the event helped contribute to the spirit of international understanding ahead of the city's opening UEFA EURO 2008™ game, between the Netherlands and Italy on 9 June.

Zurich Airport braced for EURO

Zurich Airport is expecting an additional 280 flights during UEFA EURO 2008™ with many taking advantage of the temporary relaxation of night-flight rules.
Night flights

Airport authorities anticipate that the bulk of the extra flights will be in the days before and after the city's three group-stage games – on 9, 13 and 17 June – with plenty of fans from France and the Netherlands likely to jet in. A relaxation of night-flight regulations for the finals will allow up to 20 planes to fly in and out of the airport between 22.00 and 2.00 on the night after matches in the city.
Security services at the airport are due to work longer hours while some of the airport's shops and concessions will also remain open later. Supporters from opposing teams will be processed separately to avoid tension.

Zurich Hotels