Europop 2008: Group A - Switzerland 3 Czech Republic 1
The international festival of pop is AT LAST upon us! Europop 2008 opens with Switzerland vs Czech Republic, both teams stripped for action. Here’s the podcast for you to hear the tracks - you’ll find managerial analysis, commentary and an opportunity to vote below the cut.
SWITZERLAND: PVP ft DJ Ace - “Aus Abfackle”
The manager says: “Hooray, Swiss hip-hop that is bold in its use of the SLOW Siren. From 2005, PVP are part of a large Swiss Hip-Hop scene in Bern who may be influenced by French rap, but are happy to do it in Bernese a dialect of Swissgerman (the special Swiss version of German). Members of the collective Chlyklass formed in 1999 (with Baze, Greis and Wurzel 5 who may turn up in a later game), PVP occasionally rap in English and French too – and here call in DJ Ace to embolden their flow. I have no idea what this track is about, but I like its foreign language swearyness. And its slow siren. For your information, and as a reason to vote Swiss in their home game, the names of the members of PVP are Poul Prügu, Krust, Greis, Phantwo and Hotfish Porky.”
Our analyst says: The Swiss have chosen to go with an attacking formation and a direct, physical game. Lots of passion and determination but there might not be much here for the technically-minded.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Support Lesbiens - “Let’s Dance”
The manager says: “This is “Let’s Dance” by Support Lesbiens, who you will know as the first Czech act to score an English number one on the Czech charts. This isn’t it.”
Our analyst says: The Czechs are lining up in a classic pop formation - they may lack a little creativity but their squad has some strong finishers and they’ll be hoping to test the Swiss defence.
HOW TO VOTE: Simply tick one of the options below - you have until 10AM next Thursday (the 20th) to vote.
Which Of These Tracks Do You Prefer?
- SWITZERLAND: PVP ft DJ Ace (76%, 26 Votes)
- CZECH REPUBLIC: Support Lesbiens (24%, 8 Votes)
Total Voters: 34
Poll closes: March 20th, 2008 @ 10:00 am
Loading ...COMING NEXT: Turkey take on Portugal in the second Group A game. Turkey have recruited Spain’s former manager Kat Stevens to take them through this tournament, and she’s promising some gung-ho attacking tactics. She’s up against a Portugal side in disarray following the disappearance of their manager: there’s some doubt as to who’s even picking the side for Monday’s game. Fans of the Pop World Cup finalists are reportedly in despair, begging the country’s Pop Association to find a suitable candidate before their next group game.
(GENTLE REMINDER: I need tracks from Croatia, Germany, Austria and Poland over the weekend!)
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SteveM on March 13th, 2008
I can’t tell if my vote went through or not. And it won’t let me view results. Any way to confirm it’s all working OK?
Well, quite impressed with the Swiss so far - bold going forward and not overly physical and even tho their style may be ‘route one’ I fancy them here.
A decent curtain-raiser this game.
FT's Tom on March 13th, 2008
I am checking if the results are going through and have asked the head of the Referees Committee to investigate urgently!
FT's Alan on March 13th, 2008
WHAT THE??? :-( the polls were working lovely last time i looked…
Kat on March 13th, 2008
Excellent opening match!
FT's Alan on March 13th, 2008
POLL IS WORKING NOW
sorry for the inconvenience. no votes have been registered so far.
the results will be hidden until the poll closes.
FT's Tom on March 13th, 2008
HURRAH FOR WORKING POLL
This is a strong match, I agree. Both sides start well, lot of direct play - the Swiss aggression and the more tricky, fluid skills of the Czechs playing off each other nicely. I do feel though that one side starts flagging sooner and I sense this one could be one by a late goal.
SteveM on March 13th, 2008
great, thanks Alan
FT's Matt DC on March 13th, 2008
Hotfish Porky is such a good name it needs to be attempted in EuroFood Science Day 2008.
Pete on March 13th, 2008
There are large swathes of the Czech number which sound like it was being sung and written by Tony Hawkes, of Morris Minor & The Majors. And it really could do with more than just repeating the first verse three times. Nice time sig jiggery pokery though.
FT's Matt DC on March 13th, 2008
THE MIND GAMES BEGIN.
jel on March 13th, 2008
I am managing Sweden yes? When do I need to submit a tune??
FT's koganbot on March 13th, 2008
The Swiss are constructing their consonants out of gristle and their vowels out of oatmeal, which is good, I think.
I’ve heard the Support Lesbiens before. I remember Edward requesting that we not snigger at the band moniker, and other than a little side comment about preferring this name to the Support Hos, ha hah ha, I complied; but anyway, where were we? Oh yes. All Czech groups are secretly Prog Rockers, so even if a track is putatively pop-funk, in its heart it’s traveling the intergalactic goofiness, not to mention suddenly shifting from 4/4 to 6/8. To generalize on the basis of two songs, Support Lesbiens either have a good part followed by a not-so-good part, or they have a not-so-good part followed by a good part.
Anyway, at the moment I think I’m preferring the Swiss avalanche of chewy consonants and coagulated vowels to the shifting melodic prettiness of the Czechs, but I could change my mind. (Actually, it is the fanfares that may carry the Swiss to victory.)
Matt DC on March 13th, 2008
Switzerland - the front line are a bit off the pace here, if I’m honest. They’ve gone for the heavy, physical battering ram upfront and there are glimmers of skill there, but they seem a bit slovenly, perhaps carrying a couple of pounds too many to get to those 50:50 balls. That said, the paucity of talent upfront is more than offset by some truly fantastic silky one-touch football in midfield and a no-nonsense back line. Fanfares! Scratching! Just-The-Right-Amount-Of-Fannydangle!
Czech Republic - winners in the Pop World Cup unless I’m mistaken but they’ll need to do better than this if they want to emulate that feat. It’s a fast moving, direct, dynamic game they’re playing but they look limp at the back and there’s a lack of inspiration throughout the park.
Final Score - Switzerland 2, Czech Republic 1
FT's CarsmileSteve on March 14th, 2008
the Czechs just can’t seem to get a rhythm going, their pretty passing coming to nothing as the left-winger delicately passes into touch once again. Swiss lucky with this one, but they’ll have to up their game against turkey. the confusion in the portuguese camp may let them scrape though to the quarters, but there’s clearly still all to play for here.
Pete on March 14th, 2008
Right, I’m off for a fact finding mission to Geneva.
a logged out p^nk s lord sukråt wötsit on March 14th, 2008
when come back bring hotfish porky pie
FT's Matt DC on March 14th, 2008
Loads more downloads than votes - are people taking their time over a decision or just nicking the MP3s?
FT's Tom on March 14th, 2008
Some people might be playing an MP3 more than once.
Incidentally the Turkey/Portugal match is going up on Monday - didn’t feel it was fair putting it up just before the weekend.
Greg on March 15th, 2008
I… could do portugal?
Tom on March 15th, 2008
You could indeed!
Lex on March 16th, 2008
I don’t like either of these but I like SUI a lot less than CZE. I hope ‘naffness’ isn’t going to be the theme of the tournament :/
Also I totes forgot about it and have no track to submit! I will scrounge round for one today Tom.
FT's CarsmileSteve on March 16th, 2008
man, that’s a LOT more listens/downloads than votes. come on people, how long does it take to tick a box?
FT's mike atkinson on March 16th, 2008
The Czechs had it all the way - or at least until the dreary final thirty seconds or so, which compelled me to switch sides and plump for the Swiss.
FT's Matt DC on March 17th, 2008
“I hope ‘naffness’ isn’t going to be the theme of the tournament :/”
*coughsmooshcough*
Pete on March 17th, 2008
Just returned from vital team talk in Geneva. Very hard to actually hear actual Swiss pop music in actual Switzerland (or at least in actual Geneva which any fule will tell you is not really like actual Switzerland at all).
Do the downloads count in terms of a tie break? Downloads scored or download difference?
FT's Tom on March 17th, 2008
No tie breaks in the group stages - if you don’t get 60%+ of the vote it’s a draw.
SteveM on March 20th, 2008
oo-er, pretty comfortable victory for the co-hosts in the end.
match 3 not happening today then? maybe for the best with people away over the weekend
Tom on March 20th, 2008
Yes - double bill on Monday or Tuesday. I intended to do it but I’m so shattered post-conference I just didn’t have the energy. Sorry! (and thanks for getting the track to me)