I’ve been hearing a lot of criticism of Austria’s national football team. As co-hosts of the Euro 2008 tournament along with Switzerland, Austria’s team didn’t have to go through the gruelling qualification process that the other 14 teams did, and most people feel that the Austrians are the weakest team in the tournament by a long way. But after seeing them play Croatia on the weekend, I’d have to say they played some very gutsy football. In particular, a young Turkish-Austrian lad named Ümit Korkmaz was simply a joy to watch, and his enthusiasm and dogged play just may lead to a sneaky goal or two before Austria likely make their early exit. Instead of berating them for not being, say, Germany, shouldn’t we be cheering on a team who are clearly getting the chance of a lifetime to play against some of Europe’s (and the world’s) finest?

Post from: Runner-Up

Austria: Worst Euro Hosts Ever?

• Western Kentucky (12) beat Drake (5) 101-99 (OT) in the West bracket
• San Diego (13) beat Connecticut (4) 70-69 (OT) in the West bracket
• Siena (13) beat Vanderbilt (4) 83-62 in the Midwest bracket
• Villanova (12) beat Clemson (5) 75-69 in the Midwest bracket

Tampa doesn’t host any more games this year, but I’m sure it will become a lucky charm for underdogs in the years to come.

Post from: Runner-Up

Topsy Turvy Tampa

During the buildup to the awarding of the 2012 Summer Games to London, I wrote to each of the bid cities and asked for marketing material. Most were helpful, and now some of this stuff is the pride of my Olympic memorabilia collection. My Moscow 2012 pen sits cheerfully next to a beautiful folder from the Paris 2012 bid. I intend to write again to all the 2016 applicant cities and we’ll see what we get. It seems a shame that all this work should go to waste, don’t you think?

Here are the bid cities for 2016, so far:

• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Chicago, USA
• Doha, Qatar
• Madrid, Spain
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
• Tokyo, Japan

Follow the bid process on GamesBids.com

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2016 Summer Olympic Bids

New magazine Monocle (founded by Canadian Tyler Brulé, of Wallpaper fame) has a fascinating series of articles on breakaway states and country branding in its September 2007 issue. Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy the printed magazine since only subscribers have access to full articles online, but you can see the photo essay on the breakaway republic of Abkhazia on the Black Sea. It declared its independence from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia in 1994, but so far not a single government has officially recognized its independence. The magazine, by the way, is beautiful and interesting and worth its slightly lofty cover price.

The same issue lists several other non-recognized “countries” that are seeking recognition in various ways, whether it be petitioning the United Nations or through sport. FIFA is one organization that features teams from several entities that are not recognized counties with United Nations representation. Many of these unrecognized states feel that it is through sport (and football in particular) that they can generate support for their nations.

Journalist Steve Menary has just published an interesting book on this very subject entitled Outcasts: The Lands That FIFA Forgot. Read more about it at the author’s blog.

Monocle Article on Abkhazia (subscribers only, but there are some good links included for the rest of us)

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Breakaway States

Groundhoppers (Director: Eivind Tolås, Norway, 2005): Thank goodness for the internet. While reading about obsessive football (soccer) fans who attempt to visit as many football grounds as possible, I came across the title of this Norwegian documentary. I was able to get in touch with the filmmaker and convince him to send me a copy to review. As far as I know, this film was broadcast on Norwegian television, and played a few film festivals in Europe, but has never been seen in North America. But that’s ok, because the phenomenon of “groundhopping” probably wouldn’t make as much sense here. (The only thing comparable might be someone trying to visit all the Major League baseball parks).

Kjell Morten and Bjarte are two middle-aged brothers who spend all of their vacations in England, attending football matches. Their goal is to visit all 92 grounds of the teams that comprise the Football League. This includes the Premiership (20 teams), the Championship (24 teams) and Leagues One and Two (24 teams each), which together comprise the top four tiers of English football. As you can imagine, “groundhoppers” are usually men, usually single, and have a certain amount of time and disposable income at their command.

The two Norwegians have been at it for more than ten years, and are up to sixty-odd stadia visited. Perhaps stadia is too grand a term, for some of the lower league clubs play in some very modest circumstances indeed. Basing themselves in Rotherham, “one of Britain’s poorest cities” according to the film, they’ve adopted the local team, Rotherham United, nicknamed the Millers as their home team away from home.

At home in Bergen, though, it’s all about SK Brann, and one of the film’s most charming moments comes watching the brothers as they witness their team’s triumph in Norway’s own Cup Final.

All in all, this is a light-hearted look at a harmless (if inexplicable to most) obsession. I think if I had the advantages of living in Europe (generous vacation allowances, short distances, cheap transportation, and a wealth of football clubs), I’d be joining the boys in the stands.

I have attended football matches in three different countries, though: Canada, Uruguay, and Slovenia. Just a few hundred more to go…

More on Rotherham United FC (the Millers)
More on SK Brann
Groundtastic, a magazine devoted to football grounds
Football Grounds In Focus, The No.1 Groundhopping website ‘made for travellers by travellers’
Done The Lot - Fans who have visited all 92 English Football League grounds

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Groundhoppers