Because of the heavy rain in Basel today, the soccer field in St. Jakob Stadium is not ideal for training. UEFA asked Portugal and Switzerland to not train at the stadium. The Portuguese FA agreed and will hold its last training and press conference at the La Madière stadium, in Neuchâtel.
From now on Portugal will play the rest of its games in this St. Jakob Stadium in Basel (the town of Roger Federer). The next Group A match, the quarterfinal on June 19th. The 1st two Portugal games were at Stade de Geneve in Geneva.
Can't wait for tomorrow and see a Portugal victory. Here's a video of the outside of St. Jacob stadium, and a little of yesterday's training.
Here are some photos of how the St. Jakob stadium looks from the outside today June 14th.
Basel - St. Jakob-Park, June 14, 2008.
Basel - St. Jakob-Park, June 14, 2008- Inauguration: 25 April 1954, First match: Switzerland-Germany, Capacity: 33,200 (9,000 standing places)
Basel - St. Jakob-Park, June 14, 2008- Home of FC Basel, club.
It is the largest football venue in Switzerland and home to FC Basel club. The capacity was increased to 42,500 for the Euro 2008. The stadium is divided into four main blocks, A, B, C and D.
Within the stadium,
- 32 shops on three different floors,
- 2 restaurants (the "Restaurant UNO" and "Hattrick Sports Bar")
- has parking spaces for 680 cars on two different floors.
- awarded 4 stars by UEFA, which is the highest amount of stars that can be awarded to a stadium of that size.
The stadium's official website, in English www.baselunited.ch/default.aspx?group=sjp&code=00&Lge_ID=1
Get a virtual tour of the soccer pitch! www.baselunited.ch/default.aspx?group=sjp&code=0902