Platini remembers EURO glory

UEFA President Michel Platini recalls the pride that he, and others, have felt in pulling on the shirt of their country.

Growing excitement
In the latest edition of the official UEFA EURO 2008™ publication Inside, Mr Platini also reflects on the growing excitement as the end of qualifying for next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland draws near. He won 72 caps for France, 49 as captain, and scored a record 41 goals including nine as Les Bleus won the 1984 UEFA European Championship on home soil.

'Extra special'
"No matter how much satisfaction you get from playing the top club competitions, there's always something extra special about representing your country," said the UEFA President. "I can still remember, as if it were yesterday, the emotions I felt during EURO '84, which was played in my home country. That was when I learned how much national-team football could mean to me and to the whole nation. And I could sense those feelings all over again when the FIFA World Cup came to France in 1998."

Race hotting up
Following the recent programme of EURO qualifiers in late March, the race is hotting up to find the 14 countries who will join Austria and Switzerland in next summer's tournament. Like millions of other football enthusiasts, Mr Platini is watching the drama unfold with great interest. "We're now at a crucial stage of the qualifying phase and I know how much qualification means to the players, to the coaches and to the supporters," he said.

'Final showdown'
"I like the slogan for UEFA EURO 2008™ because to 'Expect Emotions' is something we will all surely do. But not just during the final tournament; I can already sense the emotion as all our national associations reach the crucial part of qualifying. As everybody heads for the final showdown, I can only say that I know very well exactly how much it means to fans all over Europe," the UEFA President concluded.