The 2008 European football championship in brief:

FOOTBALL AND CRYSTAL

BALLS

The winners of Euro 2008 are already known, two months before the first kick-off - according to one Austrian fortune teller. Rosalinde Haller, who accurately predicted the 2004 Asian tsunami, says that Italy will win this year's trophy after defeating Portugal in the final. Croatia and France will reach the semis, while Germany will go out in the quarters. But these results could still change "with a little physical and mental training," according to Haller. Don’t place your bets yet!

SAVED BYTHE BELL

No need for Salzburg schoolchildren to skive off school during the Euro. The city plans to let them out at noon on match days so they can avoid the crowds of supporters heading for the stadium... even though the games will only start at 8:45 pm.

CRYING "FOUL" IN EVERY LANGUAGE

For those who have always wanted to say "penalty shoot-out" in Russian or who wish to demonstrate their knowledge of the offside rule in Portuguese, here is the answer. Learning centres in Vienna and Tirol are offering special language

courses dedicated to the beautiful game. Students will also learn how to answer questions like "where is the stadium?"

SPEAKING OF WHICH...

Austrian Rail (OeBB) has roped in language teachers in the four host cities -- Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt -- to help welcome foreign fans when they step off the train and prevent them getting lost on the way to the stadium. "Because only a well-orientated fan is a safe fan," says OeBB.

VOLUNTEERS' FRENZY

Over 17,600 people from 150 countries, even as far as Brazil, Senegal and Togo, have applied to work as volunteers during the championships. The lucky 5,000 will be contacted in mid-April after a months-long selection process including 4,000 hours of interviews.

CULTIVATING SPORT

Besides hosting the final, Vienna will also offer over 100 cultural events during the month of June, including musical and dance performances. Among them, concerts by Elton John, opera stars Anna Netrebko and Placido Domingo... and a more football-orientated concert of whistles conducted by Viennese artist Hermann Nitsch.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Austria's four host cities will have a special fan radio for the duration of

the competition. "Soundtrack to the Euro" will debut in May and broadcast "the greatest football songs mixed with the coolest club hits" as well as news about the championship. Co-host Switzerland, meanwhile, will have its own radio: "The Rhythm of Football. " BEHIND BARS 1

In case they run out of prison cells, Salzburg police will have three containers at their disposal to hold potentially disruptive fans. The containers will be set up near the stadium, the central police station and the airport. Perhaps to ship fans directly back to their country?

BEHIND BARS 2

Bars in Salzburg will be allowed exceptionally to stay open until 4:00 am on match days, but only when the city is hosting a game or when Austria is playing. Residents of Mozart's hometown will also be able to enjoy a later Kruegerl (half litre) of beer during the semifinals and the final. Cheers!

GOOD BUSINESS

With some 3 million visitors expected to descend on Austria during Euro 2008, local breweries are hoping to see their profits rise 10-20 per cent in May and June. And one brewer seems to have found a way around the strict licensing rules by offering a "2008 Euro" beer. Unless customers mistake the name for the price of a pint.