EA Sports Predicts Portugal Will Win UEFA EURO 2008

Using the simulation engine in the UEFA EURO 2008™ videogame, Electronic Arts declared today Portugal as the winner of UEFA EURO 2008. Below is the press release with all the details:
EA SPORTS PREDICTS PORTUGAL WILL WIN UEFA EURO 2008

And the UEFA EURO 2008 trophy goes to… Portugal! EA SPORTS today declared the winner of UEFA EURO 2008™. Using the simulation engine in the UEFA EURO 2008™ videogame, EA SPORTS was able to test all 16 teams in the competition and determine that Portugal would come out on top. UEFA EURO 2008, the officially licensed videogame of the tournament, also predicted the following placements:

· UEFA EURO 2008 Champion: Portugal
· UEFA EURO 2008 Final: Portugal 2 Italy 1
· Golden Boot winner: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (5 goals)

Players around the globe will compare these astonishing statistics to the real world results as they unfold. The Final itself was an epic battle where Italy’s resilient defense was pitted against Portugese flair, with Portugal ultimately winning 2-1 to capture its first European championship. Goals from Deco (28th) and Ronaldo (63rd), his fifth goal of the tournament, staked Portugal to a 2-0 lead early in the second half before midfielder Andrea Pirlo scored in the 75th minute to bring the Italians to within one. Portugal survived a frantic final 15 minutes to capture the Henri Delaunay Trophy.

In the EA SPORTS™ simulation, old rivalries were reignited. France was beaten 2-0 by Italy in one semifinal, in a replay of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final won by the Italians 5-3 in penalty kicks. In the EA SPORTS simulation the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in a group stage match.

Portugal knocked off Germany 2-0 in the other semifinal.

Host countries Austria and Switzerland both failed to advance from the group round. Switzerland was the first country eliminated from the competition. Luck also ran out for Croatia in the group stage. After knocking off England in qualifying, Croatia had injury problems, losing star forward Eduardo among others, and failed to advance from Group B.

EA SPORTS™ UEFA EURO 2008™ results:

Final Score Goal Scorer Portugal 2 Deco (’28), Ronaldo (’63) Italy 1 Pirlo (’75) Semi Finals Portugal 2 Almeida (’45), Ronaldo (’87) Germany 0 Italy 2 Toni (’77), Toni (’84) France 0 Quarter Finals Portugal 2 Gomes (’43), Ronaldo (’57) Poland 0 Czech Republic 0 Germany 1 Klose (’62) France 2 Henry (’78), Benzema (‘112) Spain 1 Torres (’86) Sweden 0 Italy 2 Pirlo (’61), Toni (’73) Group Play Group A Switzerland 0 Czech Republic 1 Portugal 2 Turkey 0 Czech Republic 2 Portugal 2 Switzerland 1 Turkey 1 Switzerland 0 Portugal 0 Turkey 1 Czech Republic 0 Group B Austria 1 Croatia 3 Germany 0 Poland 0 Croatia 0 Germany 2 Austria 0 Poland 1 Poland 0 Croatia 0 Austria 0 Germany 2 Group C Romania 0 France 2 Netherlands 1 Italy 1 Italy 1 Romania 0 Netherlands 0 France 1 Netherlands 3 Romania 1 France 1 Italy 1 Group D Spain 1 Russia 0 Greece 0 Sweden 2 Sweden 1 Spain 1 Greece 1 Russia 1 Greece 0 Spain 2 Russia 0 Sweden 1

UEFA EURO 2008 features all of the teams and official stadiums that will be part of UEFA EURO 2008™. Take one of 52 European national teams to glory from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the championship tournament. A new game mode called Captain Your Country will enable gamers to put themselves on the pitch, earn the captaincy of their team, and truly inspire their country to glory. Gamers will be able to celebrate their success on-field through user-controlled celebrations that will add to the pageantry and atmosphere of the event.

UEFA EURO 2008 is developed by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. It is in stores now on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, and the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. UEFA EURO 2008 is rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB.


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