Expert Guide to Austria & Switzerland

Although Gerrard, Rooney and co have failed to book their places at this year’s Euro 2008 finals, that’s no reason to ignore what will be the third-biggest sports event on earth (bar the Olympics and the World Cup).

In fact, it might be more of an incentive, as now you can head to Austria and Switzerland free from the sense of impending failure that comes with supporting the three lions, and instead gorge on the mouth watering prospect of watching football in its most beautiful form played by the likes of  Spain, France, Italy, Holland and Portugal.

Although match tickets are officially sold out, huge “fan zones” are being built, with big screens and even bigger beer tents. These were by far the best feature of the last World Cup in Germany in 2006, as thousands of fans descending onto the streets of Germany in nothing but man-made fibres having a few beers, singing songs and sharing some banter with foreigners.

As all the home nations and Ireland failed to qualify, flights to Austria and Switzerland are still available; and hotel rates have remained surprisingly affordable. There is also the off chance of picking up a ticket whilst there at a reasonable price, so be sure to ask around if anyone knows were a tout is situated. Your best bet is to try an get a ticket for a match that is starting soon as the price wanted, will have considerably fallen.

Three mains cities and what they have to offer!

VIENNA

This city has a rich history and an abundance of culture and for football fans the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel stadium is just eight minutes from the city centre on a new subway line.  Ernst Happel will host the final on June 29 and all of Austria’s group matches, starting with Croatia on June 8 and concluding with Germany on June 16.

But the epicentre of entertainment will be at the official fan zone, alongside the historic Ringstrasse, between City Hall and Heldenplatz, which will open daily from 9am to midnight, with space for 70,000+ fans. It will have nine large screens, 86 food-and-drink stalls and live entertainment daily from 3pm.

Vienna has more to offer then just football related activities, for example the fan zone will open on June 7 with performances by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Boys’ Choir and Christina Stürmer, Austria’s biggest pop star. A festival of concerts will be held at the Musikverein. On June 7 and 8, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Arnold Schoenberg Choir will be performing Haydn’s Seasons.

There are also More than 100 cultural events being staged at the Karlsplatz art zone, including theatre, jazz, electronic music and DJ sets. On June 27, Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon will headline an open-air performance in front of the Schoenbrunn Palace. Then the living legend Elton John plays the Hohe Warte stadium on the 28th. Even the Museum of Fine Arts has a special programme, called We Are European Masters, aimed at football fans. So there is literally something for everyone!

INNSBRUCK

The Austrian town of Tyrol, Innsbruck has recently built the 30,000-seater Tivoli stadium which will play host to group-stage matches between Spain, Sweden and Russia (Spain v Russia, June 10; Sweden v Spain, June 14), while the Bergisel arena will be transformed into a fan zone where 15,000 people can watch games for free on a screen measuring 900 sq ft, the biggest in the tournament!

Street parties will be held on Maria-Theresien Strasse in the city centre, while another big screen will be erected at the Seegrube restaurant, reached by train and cable car, at 6,234ft.

Although Innsbruck is charming little town, we recommend staying in one of the two dozen satellite villages that surround it, many with breath taking mountain scenery on their doorsteps. Among the the most beautiful is Neustift, situated in the Stubai Valley, where you can hop on and off the Eagle Walk, a challenging hiking trail that covers a total of 170 picture-postcard miles.

Fan zones will be set up in the village squares of Neustift and nearby Fulpmes, and buses run between Neustift and Innsbruck, 40 minutes away so transport wont be a problem if you do decide to stay away from the Innsbruck.

CHUR

Probably the best but admittedly most lazy method of seeing the beautiful country of Switzerland is via the trains system. From their base in the historic city of Chur, trains such as the Bernina Express wind through tunnels, across teetering viaducts and along steep-sided valleys, far from the nearest roads so train users can soak up the picturesque views that surround them.

Situated in the upper reaches of the Rhine, Chur is a quaint photographic town with cobbled streets and medieval courtyards, and there’s a cable car that runs from the centre into the surrounding mountains. although no games will be played in Chur, a temporary stadium will be erected, with a giant video wall which will be a great place to see the tournament’s opening game, Switzerland v Czech Republic on June 7, as well as Holland v Italy from Berne on June 9, Czech Republic v Portugal on June 11 from Geneva, and France v Italy in Zurich on June 17 some of the best ties in the group stages!