Game Summary:

Get in the game with UEFA EURO 2008. Lead one of over 50 European national teams to glory. All of the drama and excitement of the official tournament in Austria and Switzerland are captured. Play as your favorite country from qualification right through to the championship tournament. Customize your pitch and wear your team's shirt. Work through eight status levels to earn the captaincy of your team. Go online in Battle of the Nations to earn status points for your country. Go for the biggest upsets to earn the most points and then watch your country move up the boards. Compete in the EURO Online Knockout Draw to test your skills against the world's best. Real-time player ratings change based on your performance. A penalty kick mode re-creates a penalty shoot-out. Choose how to celebrate your victory with interactive user-controlled celebrations.

EURO Online Knockout Draw - Battle online in 16-team single elimination tournaments Experience a penalty shoot-out as if you were on the pitch Score a goal and then control your player's movements to celebrate the way you want Dynamic Rain and Mud - Winter weather from across Europe is authentically re-created to simulate real-world playing conditions. Driving rain creates sloppy, muddy pitches Home and Away Match Strategy- CPU creates strategic, defensive formations for away teams intent on playing for a draw Compete in all 8 official stadiums of UEFA EURO 2008 Watch reactions from team managers on the sideline Soccer Engine with enhanced goalkeeper AI, collisions, and trapping Play the qualifying campaign & step up at key defining moments Real-time player ratings change based on actual performance

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Game Review:

EA UEFA Euro 2008 – the battle is on!

We regret to inform that EA’s virtual football (soccer) stars still lack the positioning and ball anticipation found in Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES). The Good News: EA is getting closer with every new release.

UEFA Euro 2008 is essentially a more polished version of FIFA 08. No doubt – this game is a must have for the committed European football fan, however I also recommend the game for the curious American. Considering that ESPN will show all Euro Cup 2008 games played in Switzerland and Austria this summer, either live or tape delayed, tells me that football is getting more and more popular in a country dominated by Football (the one with all the interruptions and funny scoring).

Players will be able to captain their own team from B-league to National Team Captain status, as well as re-live and re-play scenarios from the qualifier matches. As we come to expect from EA football games, the disc contains all major UEFA stadiums and teams. Needless to say the main focus of this EA’08.5 game is the actual EURO CUP. Players can expect some of the best atmosphere, commentary and (virtual) fan behavior/sound found in any sports game to date.

My favorite feature however is “Battle of the Nation”. Upon first booting up the game, players are asked to register their home nation, and after any game in EA’s EURO 2008, be it on or offline, points are acquired that are then accredited to that country, with the eventual top nation being declared at the end of the real-world tournament.