Euro 2016 Diary, Day 1: Waiting for a train…

By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 10 – As if contending with the unprecedented security operation wasn’t a big enough headache for Euro 2016 organisers, striking train drivers are causing mayhem.
July 17 – England’s players and their manager Sarina Wiegman have warned not to underestimate quarter-final opponents Sweden, who have enjoyed a perfect EURO 2025 so far.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 10 – As if contending with the unprecedented security operation wasn’t a big enough headache for Euro 2016 organisers, striking train drivers are causing mayhem.
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
June 10 – Euro 2016 will be UEFA’s most profitable national team championship to date with the confederation set to bank a 41% increase in revenue to €1.9 billion on the 2012 tournament.
June 10 – Kosovo and Gibraltar, both accepted into the FIFA fold last month, have as expected been fast-tracked into the 2018 World Cup qualifying programme that kicks off in September.
June 10 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the eight candidates who will contest the election for the three available Asia places on on the new FIFA Council.
By Samindra Kunti
June 10 – A year has passed since Jan Van Winckel took up the role of Technical Director at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). This mild-mannered Belgian rarely gives interviews, but in an exclusive interview with Insideworldfootball, Van Winckel opens up about his new role as he strives to reform football in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
By Paul Nicholson
June 9 – FIFA seems to have become the gift that keeps on giving, not just to journalists in terms of stories, but especially to its new president Gianni Infantino, according to new information published today regarding his expense claims.
By James Dostoyevsky
The last few weeks have been bad ones for the new FIFA President. No matter what he does, whether boarding easyjet or a private jet, someone always has a quarrel with his choice.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 9 – The show will go on as planned with every possible precaution taken to keep spectators safe and offset the threat of terrorism. That is the message from organisers of Euro 2016 who are taking a realistic, pragmatic approach to the build-up to Euro 2016 which kicks off Friday with the host nation taking on Romania amidst the biggest security operation ever mounted for a sporting event of this magnitude.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 9 – Will he attend or won’t he? The jury seems to still be out over whether Michel Platini will be showing his face at Euro 2016 in his own backyard despite his four-year ban.
June 9 – Premier League club Southampton may have lost a manager this week, but they have gained a new main club sponsor. TV and broadband provider Virgin Media will take over from consumer electronics firm Veho in a three-year deal.
June 8 – With a month to go before the start of the two-day World Football in Paris, July 7-8, organisers have confirmed that the conference theme will be the ‘New Geography of Football’.
June 9 – Momentum is gathering behind Slovenian FA president Aleksander Čeferin in his bid to become president of UEFA. The Estonian FA have announced that they would support his candidacy. Čeferin has still to admit his official nomination but that now only looks to be a formality.
June 9 – If the aggregate transfer value of squad players is a determining factor, then England are going to win Euro 2016. France will be the nearest challengers followed by Spain, Germany and Belgium.
By Paul Nicholson
June 8 – The race for the UEFA presidency looks certain to have a new candidate with Slovenian FA president Aleksander Čeferin expected to submit his nomination within the next 48 hours.
By Paul Nicholson
June 8 – The Copa America Centenario sparked into life last night at Chicago’s Soldier Field with hosts USA thrashing Costa Rica 4-0 in the first of the second round of group games.