Croatia Against Austria, Germany and Poland

[Mislav]

The draws for the European Championship groups was good for Croatia and placed them in a group they we hoping for.

The Swiss city of Lucerne today was the host of the draws for the European Championship 2008 in Austria and Switzerland groups. Croatia was among 16 national teams, which earned the right to take part among the best European teams through long and tiring qualifications. Four groups were made, and the only thing that was already decided before the qualification was that Switzerland and Austria were placed in position A1 and B1.

The draws first decided in which group the other two national teams from the first pot, Greece and Netherlands, were to play. After that followed the common draws of the fourth pot in combination with the second in which Croatia was. Along with Croatia, in the second pot were Italy, Czech Republic and Sweden, which meant that these three national teams could not have been Croatia’s adversaries in the group.

The third pot was made by Romania, Germany, Portugal and Spain, while the fourth featured Poland, France. Turkey and Russia.

Most of the national teams wanted to fall into the group B which featured Austria, considered by many the weakest team in the competition, and this wish eventually came true for Croatia. Just to mention that the groups A and B, and C and D will cross in the second round.

Among the many guests there were also president of UEFA Michel Platini and president of FIFA Sepp Blatter, and the Croatian delegation was led by Slaven Bilic and by presiden of Croatian Football Federation (HNS) Vlatko Markovic.

The hosts of the ceremony were the Austrian tv host Rainer Pariasek and former miss Switzerland Melanie Winiger.

The inauguration of the programme was opened by Vienna Boys, and after them, all the guests were thrilled by the voice of on of the highest tenors in the world Jose Carreras.

The best tennis player in the world Roger Federe indroduced the Swiss hosting cities, and the legendary Austrian skier Herman Maier did the same with the Austrian hosting cities.

Based on an idea of Platini, on the stage appeared the captains of all the teams that have won the European Championship until now.