Monthly Archives: May 2008
100 countries: Panama (67)
NO, ANAPROF and LINFUNA are not some 600 year old trolls living in an enchanted forest. Behind these acronyms stand two competing football leagues which were finally merged, ending a long dispute over how to organize Panamanian football. Typically, reaching … Continue reading
Filed under 100 countries
Austria vs Malta 5-1
FINALLY! 8 months after the the 3-2 against the Ivory Coast, the Austrian team marked up another victory. Meanwhile, some unintended suspense arised though, when Malta thankfully accepted a gift to reduce to 2-1. However, after enduring some difficult minutes, … Continue reading
Filed under Match reviews
Ticker
Like many other teams, Austria is performing it’s dress rehearsal tonight. Coach Hickersberger called for more than 60% ball possession. The match against the Republic of Malta starts at 20:30 CET. Those puzzled by the increasingly capricious performance of Jens … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
100 countries: Thailand (96)
MAKE WAY for the Changsuk! The “war elephants” are stomping up the Top 100 list. Well deserved so, as they crushed none other than Asian champions Iraq last week. No peanuts indeed. Just before they even bet prestigious Manchester City 3-1. What a bitter-sweet … Continue reading
Filed under 100 countries
Q&A on Andy Ivanschitz
What you never dared to ask about the Austrian players. Any Hopes? High hopes. A graduate from a conservatory, playing piano and oboe, he is the creative mind in the midfield. Turned captain of the national team when he was … Continue reading
Filed under Q&A
100 countries: Iceland (85)
ONE OF AUSTRIA’s fiercest competitors is a Geyser-strewn island, almost 1000 Kms away from mainland Europe. Some 280K Icelanders brave elemental forces of nature on a daily basis. Hence, fair matches can only be organized in summer – from late May … Continue reading
Filed under 100 countries
Final 23 players
COACH HICKERSBERGER eliminated 7 players to communicate the official 23 players to the UEFA (see also Das Team). He opted for back-up defenders (7 center backs!) instead of extra strikers. A measure to prepare for cards or injuries (in the … Continue reading
Filed under ÖFB Team
First round
EVERY EVEN YEAR I participate in a popular betting-game, organized by the Viennese weekly Falter. Correct tendencies (winner/draw) get you points, but correct results even get you a six-pack and a pencil. And the Oscar goes to… Switzerland-Czech Republic 0-1 … Continue reading
Filed under Bets
100 countries: Uzbekistan (59)
THIS SERIES introduces some of the football nations which are ranked above Austria. The Uzbek national team has been the strongest over years from the Central Asian region, dwarfing neighboring countries like Kazakhstan (122) or Turkmenistan (159). Most high profile … Continue reading
Filed under 100 countries
Sponsored tickets to win
LUCKY ONES can win get tickets for the final in Vienna. You need to participate (and win) a game proposed by a EURO sponsor. The rules are simple. And rather bizarre: Your players have only one means to accumulate points, depending on … Continue reading
