You Don’t See This at Every Game

The real purpose of this post is to give you links to a couple of polls over on our main Euro page. But first I wanted to share a fun photo. Christian Karembeu, again, with some old friends, playing a friendly match in New Caledonia. Details below, along with a Zidane photo. (Because you know I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to post a photo of Zidane looking really good in turquoise match-fit and ready to play.

But before we get to that, stop by our main Euro page and cast a couple of votes.

First (and what kind of nerd am I that I think this is about the greatest thing in the universe right now?) we have a Euro bracket predictor contest. With some really good prizes, including a £100 voucher for UKSoccerShop.com and team jerseys. And since not a lot of people are picking France, even to get out of the group, that ups our chances of winning when they take it all. Right? So go in and make your predictions. For technophobes, it’s all automated and VERY user-friendly.

Second, today is Group C Day in the great jersey debate. And despite having by far the best kit, we are not winning. This is just wrong. So stop by this site and vote. (And this one let me vote two or three times before telling me it had “already counted my vote.” Just fyi.)

And last, we have our weekly “Who Will Win Euros” vote. Which we are also not winning. I believe this is also wrong, but I’ve already voted. So I’m counting on you.

And now about that New Caledonia game:

Members of France’s 1998 FIFA World Cup™-winning squad, including Zinedine Zidane, reunited in New Caledonia on Saturday, thrilling a crowd of 10,000 with an 8-2 win over a team of Pacific stars.

Zidane, a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, scored twice to spur Les Bleus to victory over a local side led by former France midfielder and hometown hero Christian Karembeu, whose career was being celebrated. …

Also making the trip were Robert Pires, Bixente Lizarazu, Frank Leboeuf and Youri Djorkaeff, while FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was in the stands for the match.