Report by Paul la Vella

With a 5- victory below their belts from their Euro 2008 qualifier in September, an England victory against Andorra in the return game really should be a foregone conclusion.

The game has been moved from Andorra to the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, home ground for Spanish group Espanyol, and owned by Barcelona City Council. Barcelona is a two and a half hour drive from the Andorran money, Andorra la Vella.

‘It arrives as no surprise that the game has been moved from Andorra to Barcelona’, comment an Andorra travel guideline, ‘Andorra’s nationwide stadium has a ability of 1,800 even though the Olympic stadium holds 55,000. Wisdom has decreed that Andorra’s national stadium is not fit for global football. A lot of will regret that Andorra’s staff cannot be judged in the identical way.’

But the guideline considers that there is a likelihood that Andorra will safe 1 of the shocks of modern football heritage by winning on March 28 – if the situations are correct.

‘Andorra have nothing at all to drop except three points when they play England in Barcelona – and they drop 3 factors in nearly every game anyway, but for England it wouldn’t just be a national disgrace but fairly possibly the stop of their campaign to attain the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria. It all is dependent on regardless of whether England play politics or football.

Dropping David Beckham from the England facet was probably much more of a political decision taken by a new England regime intent on showing a break from the past rather than for sound footballing reasons.’ Say the guidebook, lamenting the reduction of England’s former captain who has been taking part in in Spain for Real Madrid in latest decades, and is now set for a move in the summer time to California.

‘England have a game from Israel a couple of days before playing Andorra, and will be viewing the Andorra game as the less difficult of the two. The England supervisor could be tempted not to play his very best probable crew in Barcelona.’

In addition to playing an understrength team, the Andorra journey guide take into account that the England manager could have 1 eye on the game, and an additional on the Premiership managers back residence nervously hoping their star gamers won’t be finding up injuries.

‘Andorra often check out to make up their lack of expertise by becoming bodily. There could be pressure on the England manager Steve McClaren from Premiership managers these as Sir Alex Ferguson not to threat star players this kind of as Wayne Rooney in what ought to fundamentally be an effortless game. The Premiership will be getting into a vital stage with just a handful of games left, as well as European games and the FA Cup ultimate stages coming up. We can not visualize Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Germany’s Bayern Munich getting satisfied at viewing Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Wayne Rooney selecting up injuries at these a crucial time. The temptation will be to play a second fiddle England crew. Even then England really should win easily. But if the gamers who get chosen decide to do just enough to safe the 3 factors it could permit Andorra the possibility of a shock draw or even victory, even so not likely that may possibly seem’.

Andorra The Region

Andorra has a population of 70,000 and is greatest known for her ski resorts, relegating football to a minority activity, and as a European tax haven.

The country’s resident population enjoys a tax regime comparable to Monaco, with a zero rated cash flow tax.

Residence in Andorra is close to a quarter of Monaco’s prices, regardless of the related tax construction, with rich folks shifting to the Principality to minimise their tax payments.

In the eighties Andorra ski holidays ended up low cost and cheerful, but investment in the infrastructure and ski fields has noticed the nation turn into increasingly common with skiers and snowboarders.

About 10 million visitors visited Andorra in 2006, but a lack of snow for the initial 8 weeks of this year’s ski time has witnessed a fall in visitors of some fifteen per cent.

With Barcelona a two and a half hour drive absent, YourAndorra hopes that some of the travelling England assistance may well venture up for a couple of days skiing.

‘The conclude of March and beginning of April is an ideal time for a ski holiday in Andorra,’ they comment, ‘And if Andorra do generate a miracle in Barcelona and secure a draw or all three factors they wouldn’t have to return to England for a handful of days.’

Andorra’s finest known ski resorts are Soldeu, Pas de la Casa and Arinsal. Soldeu has some of the very best new hotels in Andorra, and Arinsal the very best night time daily life.

And if the England players wives and girlfriends, frequently referred to as WAG’s in the English media, fancy a couple of days tax totally free buying, the funds Andorra la Vella is complete of division shops stocking high end objects at lowered charges in contrast to Barcelona and England.

‘Perhaps the greatest scenario for England would be to make David Beckham captain for the Andorra game’, conclude the guidebook, ‘Although he hasn’t played a lot for Actual Madrid lately he is utilised to playing in Spain. Even a half match fit David Beckham committed to winning the game would be too significantly for Andorra, and it would be a excellent possibility for England supporters to say farewell prior to he leaves for the US.’

About the Writer

YourAndorra is one of a series of travel guides for European tax havens which includes Andorra and Monaco.

The Monaco guide at YourMonaco.com consists of facts of the Casino in Monte Carlo and hotels in Great France