Switzerland take on Portugal and the Czechs battle Turkey in the last two Group A games. Click below the cut for managerial comment, analysis, match reports and previews.
How to vote: Pick the track you prefer from each pairing and vote – these polls close next Monday. You will need to click “submit” separately on each one. If you download the tracks please also vote! (We’re getting around twice as many downloads as votes currently).
Switzerland v Portugal: Which Track Do You Prefer? [ballot]
- Portugal: Metricks 52%
- Switzerland: Moonraisers 48%
Total Voters: 25
Poll closes: 19 May 2008 @ 11:06
Loading ...Czech Republic v Turkey: Which Track Do You Prefer? [ballot]
- Turkey: Cartel 71%
- Czech Republic: Darina Rolincova 29%
Total Voters: 24
Poll closes: 19 May 2008 @ 12:07
Loading ...SWITZERLAND: Moonraisers – “Puppet Master”
The manager says: “Switzerland, as befits its melting pot culture, is very open to melting pot musical genres. The Moonraisers could have been the Swiss answer to UB40, but their reggae has always been open to other influences. Their reggae Hotel California tries too hard – and substitutes Weed for Wine, which makes it tough to rhyme with 1969. However they get their stuff together for Puppet Master – which melds Metallica, the Chipmunks and a cut scene from World Of Warcraft into an infectious bouncy reggae track. After the solid work of the previous two games, this was going to be substituted, but you stick with a winning team even if they are more erratic, so GO MOONRAISERS!”
Our analyst says: With qualification almost assured, there’s a danger that the Swiss might have relaxed a little too early. There’s a carnival atmosphere in the stands and it looks to have spread to the pitch, with the team throwing caution to the wind. The showboating in midfield and up front disguises a back four that’s as solid as ever, though, and they should see the Swiss through.
PORTUGAL: Metricks – “Postcard To Outerspace”
The manager says: “Natural of Portugal and son of freedom, Metricks is active at the electronic music scene since 1993. Now, in the path of discovery, a fusion of emotions and melting feelings, that are always expressed in the strange tunes, and divergent beat strokes, of somehow familiar reminds. Space is still cool. It’s 1988, forever.”
Our analyst says: In complete contrast to the Swiss, Portugal are keeping it tight and professional, playing an unusual compact formation based on short passing and holding on to the ball. Their decision to rest their recognised strikers is sending a message of quiet confidence to potential quarter-final opponents and a win here might cement their position as tournament favourites.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Dalina Rolincova – “Anjelik Moj”
The manager says: “To say that my dear Czechs are in a dreadful fix is to put it very mildly indeed, but footy being a game of two halves in which the ball is round, it’s safe to assume that it ain’t over ’til it’s over. Our Hail Mary? Meet Darina Rolincová, 80s Czechoslovakia’s favourite teeny-bopper, who still enjoys widespread popularity in eastern Europe under the moniker “Dara Rolins”. This song originally featured in a 1990 Czech musical by the slightly unwieldy name of “Témer ružový príbeh”, and judging by the wealth of covers available, it already seems to have become something of a Czech standard. The production is pretty-pretty in typical 80s fashion — with Babyface-style electric piano chords, and even those beastliest of things: PAN FLUTES! — but somehow the bombast of it all ends up an appropriate fit for Darina’s expression of pubescent longing.”
Our analyst says: After a woeful opening the Czechs have given their all in this tournament and I think most neutrals will be sorry to see them depart. The open, expressive play they’re showing here will win them more fans but I can’t see it producing the thumping victory the side needs.
TURKEY: Cartel – “Cartel”
The manager says: “”The Turkish management has been reluctant to fire its biggest guns so far this tournament, but with nothing left to lose we present to you CARTEL, a meeting of collective minds from far-flung corners centred on Istanbul and more importantly, being banned from the otherwise wholesome Turkish charts thanks to their radical notion of ‘racism = bad’. This is their theme song, sung with FISTS.”
Our analyst says: Turkey are desperate for a win – they’ve been unlucky this tournament in many ways and the strain is showing, with rash tackles and distance shots the order of the day here. Nobody can doubt their effort but they’re looking more likely to pick up cards than goals right now.
MATCH REPORT: Greece 1 Russia 1 – With ten minutes to go here Greece were on the verge of an unlikely qualification, before a Russian equaliser left Group D still tantalisingly open. In truth, neither side deserved to take three points here – both sides played quite pretty football but neither showed much hunger or cutting edge, and after taking the lead the Greeks seemed happy to defend. They need a point from their final game against Spain to qualify: Russia will be looking anxiously at Sweden’s fortunes as a showdown looms.
COMING SOON: The Group B deciders see leaders Poland take on Croatia, with Austria playing Germany in what might be a niggly atmosphere. Poland can qualify with a draw, but the three other sides need a win to be sure of their place. Expect joy, heartbreak, and teams giving their all for the shirt!
Well i think this double header shows exactly what the Pop European Cup is all around. Four diverse entries, all strong in their own special way. Trying to judge between the chalk and cheese pairings is going to be really difficult here – which may end up with a pair of results that favour Portugal and Switzerland more than the underdogs. I think the Czech might just eke the win in their game – but that’ll be worth nothing if Switzerland & Portugal get a draw.
I quite like all of these – well done teams. Entertaining draws all round, just for a change…
Strong couple of games here, possibly the shot in the arm the tournament needed by this point. This Switzerland side is tremendously entertaining, a solid pop-reggae bedrock is enough to ensure their catalogue of flicks, tricks and, erm, Smurf voices is balanced with enough end product to see them through.
Portugal meanwhile are surfing on a wave of goodwill, this reminds me of Aphex Twin circa I Care Because You Do, but there’s a suspicion they’re passing it calmly round the centre circle, content to play for the draw that would take both teams through to the last eight. I wouldn’t bet against it.
In the other game, the Turks put in an infectious but tough-tackling physical performance, and what they lack in flair they more than make up for in grit and enthusiasm.
Easily enough to overpower a flimsy Czech side, they’ll be hoping for a combination of a resounding victory here and a hefty favour from the Swiss, but qualification looks a tall order. They’ll need a miracle here to overturn the impressive vote difference of either of the top two. Both teams on the first plane home, but not without gracing the tournament with some very entertaining play.
Easy wins for POR and CZE here. When I first heard the SUI track I thought it was a joke – please no more of this ‘comedy’ crap! By contrast POR burbles along v nicely, it doesn’t insist on its presence being felt but it’s subtly warm and soothing.
CZE is like something out of Les Misérables (the only musical I have ever enjoyed)! TUR just a bit dull in comparison to the vaguely consumptive melodrama.
I knew i would be forfeiting your vote with this track Lex, it was a risk I was willing to take.
Cor, imaginge the only musical you like being Les Miz? That’s about the only musical I DON’T LIKE! The CZE track is much better than that turgid song cycle.
I like Evita as well but only when Madonna is involved. Actually ONLY because of Madonna tbh. The CZE track sounds like it’s being sung by a street waif confessing her love for the hero with her dying breath.
Anyone who unearths a track that sounds like something from West Side Story immediately earns my vote, by the way.
I actually think the CZE sounds like solo bit from a school choir concert, performed in a shopping centre just before Christmas. It’s the naff synth backing and pan-pipe moods feel that does it.
This is not inconsistent with sounding like it’s from Les Mis.
Did anyone else assume until about 1’30” that the Czech entry was going to go BOSH CRAZY?
Czech song = dull, sorry. I hate Les Mis too so maybe that’s why. Turkish song much more fun, nice to here rap with Turkish elements rather than just trying to ape a US sign. Plus the language works well with rap, which is not something that can be said for all languages.
Switz vs Portugal is a match worthy of two of the best teams in the tournament, and I could have voted for either – but in the end it just feels like the Swiss want that win more, the Portuguese players just feel like they’ve got a bit overconfident, I’m sorry to say.
You’ve ONE MORE DAY to vote in these.
I like the Swiss song, and the thing about the Portuguese song is that anyone can make music like this (and probably make it more interesting). So a win for Switzerland.
The Czech’s seem to run around a lot in midfield, but there is a sense of fatalism, what’s the point of putting a cross in? the striker will only miss. The Turks are having a strike whenever they can, though most of them hit the corner flag, they still manage to win by an own-goal.
Polls closing in a cpl of hours!
Shocked by how soundly the Turks thrashed the Czechs. I voted for the Turks myself, but it was a close thing, the Czech singer being sweet without sacrificing strength, if only she’d had a song more worth singing. Meanwhile the Turks were tripping over consonants with abandon, propelled by Asian power riffs. Energetic but hardly seemed dominating.
I voted for Portugal in the opener, liked how the melody was card-shuffled and flipped, though really the vote was by default. The Swiss put forth the entire playbook and kept getting all entangled in it. A strong reggae song emerged, though clumsily executed. A tie is about right, though frankly I think the Swiss have been extremely lucky so far, facing a disorganized side back in their first match, and a lacklustre one here, while the more talented Turks are going home.
Yes, I think the Swiss have been a little lucky too – though I really really can’t talk on that front. Generally, with the exception of maybe the wacky first Czech side I think pretty much everything in Group A has been solidly enjoyable – I wasn’t expecting it to come out the best of the groups but it has.
LUCKY! I have six songs and I play them as I see fit. After all, this is the POP EUROPEAN CUP and as such a sub two minute slice of perfectly pleasant but anonymous ambience versus my shonky but pop pop hook-laden reggaeness should have had no chance. Admittedly I may have played the game rather than the best track, but I was confident of progression and the next rounds will see even more exceptional tunes.
I just discovered this great place for music lovers, and it was a great surprise to check that one of my musics was here to represent my country in the Europop cup, and it really made me feel very honoured. I want to thank to the manager of Portugal team for selecting my tune to the team, and i glad it gave a point for my national team, and helped going into the quarter finals.
Thank you all, for the great comments about “Postcard to Outerspace” truly appreciated!
Go…go…Portugal!!!!! :)
This is a great moment for the game! Portugal are certainly bringing all the best stories in this tournament so far.