If you’re a sports aficionado and are fretting over the end of the IPL, worry not ‘cos it’s time for Euro 2016, baby! Footie fans are fervently waiting for the tournament to kick off on June 10.
Being held in France, the UEFA Euro championship will see a total of 24 countries fighting it out for the coveted trophy. Hardcore football buffs in the city enthusiastically share their plans for the season with us…
Twenty-nine-year-old Adam Martin considers football ‘therapy’ and the sport is almost like meditation to him. “A lot of matches are going to be aired post-midnight in India. I will stay awake for all the matches. I don’t have to worry about waking up early the next day as I’ve already told my manager that I’ll be doing the second shift at work!” says the Spain supporter.
“I watch football with my friend who roots for England, so we have the usual friendly fights and arguments when watching the game,” says Adam, who feels that France has a good chance of winning the cup.
“They are the host country and since it’s their home ground, they have the upper hand. My sister lives in France and is going to watch some matches live. I’m super jealous,” shares Adam.
For sales manager Arjun Manjunath, waking up to go to work after a late night match is something he’s been doing for many years. “There are three timings for the Euro matches — 6.30 pm, 9.30 pm and 12.30 am. For the evening matches, I usually go to a sports bar with friends, but I watch the post-midnight games at home,” says Arjun, who’s rooting for France this time. “They have a better team this year compared to the past few years,” he adds.
Waseem Ahmed who heads the West Block Blues, a fans’ group that roots for Bengaluru Football Club and Indian football says, “We are planning screenings for the big games and if the match is happening in the middle of the night, we will get together at someone’s place and watch it. I want England to win. I’m a Manchester United fan and my loyalty lies with England because of the EPL. Wayne Rooney is my favourite player,” he says.
