Which teams people follow in Euro 2000
Which teams people follow in Euro 2000
JAKARTA (JP): As Euro 2000 approaches, soccer fans are busy
predicting who will win the title. Despite the excitement of
being able to watch all 31 matches on TV, aired live by RCTI and
SCTV, some people have opted to watch the live matches in the
company of others at cafes or hotels.
The Jakarta Post interviewed public figures to ask their
opinion about who they think will win the second biggest soccer
championships event on earth after the World Cup.
Gadjah Mada University lecturer and political observer Cornelis
Lay:
My favorite in the Euro 2000 is definitely the Netherlands
because it has good players and an interesting style of playing.
Their loss in previous matches was merely due to the players wish
to play beautifully. The Netherlands also has the advantage of
being one of the hosts.
First, the Netherlands team is lucky to have a good goalkeeper
in Edwin van de Saar. Second, it has tough midfielder Edgar
Davids who has a mobile character on the field and can be
dangerous if he is allowed to control the ball. Third, the
country has well-known strikers Patrick Kluivert and Dennis
Bergkamp.
Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo:
My favorite team is Turkey. The team seems to be the weakest,
so I have sympathy for it.
Facthur Rohman, president of construction firm PT Bangun Cipta:
I think the German team will win the competition. The team is
very highly skilled and has good technique. The team has the
mentality of a champion.
My guess is that Germany will meet with the Netherlands in the
finals.
Prominent legal advocate Todung Mulya Lubis:
I see Italy and England as the teams with the greatest
possibility of winning the Euro 2000. The Italian team --
treating soccer as an art -- has been playing beautifully,
despite its defensive style. Italy is endowed with the best
soccer players. Its soccer team should be taken very seriously.
The English team is supported by physically strong players
with a high level of fanaticism in soccer. It will match up with
the team from Italy.
Ary Sudarsono, sports presenter at RCTI private TV station.
I'm a fanatical supporter of the Italian team. Don't ask me
why I love the Italian team because my answer would be very
subjective. Basically, Italy has its own playing style which is
different from the others.
But my favoritism for Italy might emerge from private TV
stations' routine airing of live Italian Serie A matches. They
have brainwashed me and I love this team more than anything. If
Italy loses in the first round of any world soccer championships,
I'm not so eager to stare at the TV and watch until the event is
over.
Former Jakarta Police chief and now official at the National
Sports Council Mochammad Hindarto:
Actually my wife doesn't let me watch any soccer matches
because she was traumatized by the riots at a national league
finals in 1997.
But I consider Italy and the Netherlands the most likely to
win the title. The Dutch team has highly skilled players and
their teamwork is solid.
Rafael, 19, a student at Sebelas Maret University in Surakarta,
Central Java, and also a soccer player at the university:
I am confident that either the Netherlands or Spain will be
the winner of the Euro 2000 soccer championship.
The Dutch team is famous for its skillful players at all
lines. It is proven by the fact that the team members are also
recruited by other famous clubs.
While Spain is another big name mentioned many times in
discussions on the Internet. Moreover, Spanish soccer clubs were
successful in getting to the semifinals of the Champion's Cup,
which was won by Real Madrid.
Dandoel Hardoyono, head of the public relations department of
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreational park in East Jakarta:
I won't miss even a single game during the championship even
though it runs past midnight. Watching the games is a must for
me. It's kind of entertainment in the midst of all the boring
political news.
My favorite is the Netherlands. I am sure the team will win
the championship, followed by Spain. The two teams are dominated
by young players compared to others like Germany.
Siliwangi Military Commander overseeing West Java Maj. Gen.
Slamet Supriyadi:
I hope England is the winner of Euro 2000. I'm an ardent fan
of Manchester United (MU) and I believe all the top players in MU
will defend Britain.
I believe the English team is solid as its soccer league shows
high quality, strong teamwork and individual players.
Solihin GP, former West Java governor and Siliwangi Military
commander:
I bet Germany gets to the Euro 2000 finals. The team,
especially under the leadership of Oliver Bierhoff, will be able
to defeat England and the Netherlands.
The Dutch has experienced problems with player turnover and
has showed inconsistencies. The team is just like Persib (the
Bandung soccer team).
The German team has a low player turnover, and I believe with
its champion strength and Aryan spirit the team will make it to
finals.
Pattimura Military Commander overseeing Malukus Brig. Gen. Max
Tamaela:
Watching soccer on television is the only relief I've had
since I've been busy handling riots. My favorite team is the
Netherlands as it is already the star team in the world. All
players are from top soccer clubs. The Netherlands also has a
long-rooted tradition of soccer and has the advantage as host.
My second favorite team is the Blue Prince France. It is the
defending world champion and the team's lineup has not changed a
lot. I think the Netherlands will play against France in the
finals.
Ayah Muni, Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander in Banda Aceh and
the restive Aceh Besar regency:
I've been busy fighting for Aceh's independence so I rarely
watch TV. But for Euro 2000, I pick the Netherlands as I'm an
ardent fan of Edgar Davids. He's fast, efficient and tactical.
Hasnan Habib, military expert and member of the expert team for
the investigation into human rights violations in East Timor:
I prefer tennis to soccer, but I would like to see the French
team win the Euro 2000. All the best players are on the team,
especially Zinedine Zidane. I admire him.
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, also a patron of Persija:
I still don't know which team I will support because I haven't
paid much attention due to my hectic schedule.
Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta of India:
I don't follow soccer considering my background. I'm more into
cricket than soccer.
Tom Beanal, a Papua independence leader:
To tell you the truth, I hardly ever keep up with daily news,
much less sport. I'm too busy dealing with the independence
struggle for Papua, I don't have time to watch the game.
Sangkot Marzuki, director of Eijkman Institute for Molecular
Biology in Central Jakarta:
I love soccer but I don't have time to watch it these days. I
pick the Netherlands as the winner as it has a harmonious team
besides skillful players. The Netherlands also has a quick, fast
and accurate style.
Remember that it was the Dutch team which introduced the
"total soccer style".
I also predict that the English team will come second.
Teten Masduki, a member of the National Ombudsman Council and
coordinator of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW):
My favorite teams are the Netherlands, Germany and England
because they have great players, good history and solid teamwork.
I predict Germany will meet England in the finals. My favorite
players are David Beckham, Marc Overmars, Oliver Bierhoff and
Zinedine Zidane.
I plan to watch every game at ICW's office along with my
colleagues as always. We usually divide ourselves in two groups
in every game and the one who loses has to massage the winners.
Political observer Azyumardi Azra:
England is my favorite team but I think the Netherlands will
win the Euro 2000 because the team is more solid and has the
advantage of hosting the venue. I am sure the Netherlands will be
in the finals. It will go up against England or Spain and it will
win.
Actually I hope England can win but the team has several
weakness, especially since Alan Shearer is too old to act as the
main striker while Michael Owen does not have equal partners in
the left wing.
Indonesian Military spokesman Rear Air Marshall Graito Usodo:
I'm confident that the Netherlands will win the European
championships because the team is upstanding. And Frank Rijkard,
who coaches the team and is a former playmaker, definitely will
determine their chances of winning. I have watched some teams
with a playmaker as coach, and they always succeed in many
events.
The Dutch players have more time to meet and coordinate their
team since most of them played in the European league.
I expect the Dutch, with their style, will meet France in the
final game and win the event with a score of 2-1.
East Jakarta Police chief of detectives Capt. Agus Irianto:
I'm one of the biggest Italian soccer fans. It's not only
because the Italian players are excellent but they're also clean.
They can make soccer an interesting game.
Central Jakarta Police chief of detectives Capt. Hendra
Suhartiyono:
My favorite team is Germany because it groups excellent and
aggressive players who can play fast. I really enjoy watching
their games. (team)