More European football fans than expected make the trip the Euro 2012

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Many thousands of fans from across Europe have travelled to the European Championships. Fans from crisis-hit countries, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain have left behind the huge spending cuts, chronic unemployment and widespread disenchantment of their home countries for a few weeks.

Fans are putting their trust in their teams, where they can no longer put it in their banks are politicians. A local government worker from Spain made the journey to Poland to support his country’s team, saying he just had to be there.

The Spanish team, who won four years ago, is amongst the favourites to win the European title. Julio travelled with a budget airline and is staying for five days on a campsite in Gdansk, northern Poland. Julio, from Caceres, like most fans, is pleased that the cost of living is cheaper in the Ukraine and Poland.

In 2007 UEFA voted for the Eastern European countries, who are neighbours, to jointly host the four-yearly tournament. The finals four years ago were held in Austria and Switzerland, which are very expensive, and the 2010 World Cup took place in South Africa, very expensive for Europeans to travel to.

The official areas where the supporters can follow the matches on giant screens are called fan zones. A beer in one of these fan zones will cost about half as much as it would have in a fan zone in Austria at the 2008 tournament.

Spain’s economic situation is absolutely dire, with the resources of the ordinary working Spaniard steadily dwindling. Unemployment is very high and unfortunately so is the cost of living. Many have made huge sacrifices to be able to attend the matches, and save long and hard. For many it is national pride that they are supporting.

 

Euro 2012: Extending the football feast into the summer

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As April gives way to May there are only a few weeks left of the football season left, with professional and amateur players alike being left to look back on a season of highs and lows. But this year, of course, the end of the football season means one thing: more football.

Because before the dust settles on the 2011/12 domestic season, Europe’s elite players will head out to the 2012 Uefa European Championships. Few are looking past current European and World Champions Spain to take the overall crown, but if the Champions League exits of Real Madrid and Barcelona (teams from which almost all of the Spain first 11 will be gathered) are anything to go by, the Iberians may not have it all their own way. Germany look stronger than ever with an exciting crop of young players, while Holland only narrowly lost out in the final of the 2010 World Cup. France have quickly recovered from their South African embarrassment and Italy, well they’re Italy. This all points to a potentially strong and exciting competition, even if England are bound to frustrate again.

For the armchair fan, the tournament’s evening kick-offs provide the chance to get out and stretch your legs with a friendly kickaround in the day; the good news is that this time of the year is also a great time to buy new football boots. The marketing departments of Nike, Puma and Adidas will shortly work themselves them up into a frenzy with all the new lines, meaning that boots that were the in-thing a month ago will soon be out in the cold, with a much lower price tag.

Shop for football boots online and you’re likely to find big discounts, which are happening with many retailers already. Then you can take that discount and try the new Euro 2012 ball, which Adidas has promised is nothing like the much-maligned Jabulani, some of which are probably still in near-earth orbit. Here’s hoping.

This was a guest post provided by JD Sports.

Images released of new M&S suits for the England football team

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Images released of new M&S suits for the England football team

Images released of new M&S suits for the England football team

On the 23rd April, St George’s Day, came the official launch of the suits that the English football team will be wearing as their formal dress at the Euro 2012 competition.

The suits have been both designed and supplied by Marks & Spencer and the images show a traditional team line up with a bit of a twist; there are 3 real lions lined up alongside the players.

This is the fifth year that M&S has been the official tailor for the England team, having supplied them with their formal wardrobe since 2007. For these latest suits, their bespoke in house tailors have followed guidelines set down by the England team itself. They have sourced the finest British fabrics and finishes and made each suit a perfect fit for every player.

The suits have been specially created to be lightweight and comfortable in the hot summer temperatures of Poland and the Ukraine. Richard price is the director of menswear at M&S and he has said that this has resulted in modern and slim fitting Autograph two buttoned suits that deserve a place in the wardrobe of every football fan.

The two-button single breasted suit jacket is sculpted to a slimming modern block with sleeve head roll shoulders for a classic fitting, slim silhouette. Additional styling details include narrower lapels and slanted pockets, along with impeccably finished internals featuring the World Cup winners star. Trousers are flat fronted and slim fitting with an elegant modern shape. The suit is cut from 100% British wool fabric in bright navy, complimented by a navy stripe tie, crisp plain white shirt and pointed Gibson shoes.

“We’re really pleased to continue our relationship with M&S and are delighted with the latest suit that has been designed for the team. The players are all really happy with how it looks and feels and we’ve had a fantastic reaction to the iconic lions imagery, it really brings the partnership to life” said Sean McAuliffe, FA Group Head of Business Development.

To support the launch of the images and the campaign as a whole, M&S has partnered with the Sun Online to create an exciting online hub. Packed with behind the scenes video from the team photo shoot, exclusive competitions, quizzes and a virtual application that allows users to join the team. The microsite will also launch on St George’s Day.