Panini Euro 2008 - Austria & Switzerland

Panini presented for the Euro Cup 2008 a renewed sticker collection compared to the previous edition (2004), where only 334 stickers were included. In this album we find for the first time the stickers of hosting cities and stadiums. 

The album opens with five introductory stickers: Calciatori Panini stamp, UEFA Fair Play, the trophy, the logo, and the mascot; then, a double page with the calendar of the competition and 8 stickers of the hosting city logos (these are all shining stickers) are included. The album continues with four pages dedicated to venues and stadiums: for each venue there is a double sticker of the city view and a double sticker of the stadium. The total is 16 stickers of stadiums and 16 stickers of city views. Afterwards, the participating teams are showed in alphabetical order. For each team there are 26 stickers displayed over three pages: the mascot, the team logo (shining), the team photo (4 stickers), and 20 players.

Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey

Most famous players of Switzerland are Lichsteiner (now at Juventus), Behrami and Inler (both at Napoli). Czech Republic has Rosicky, Baros and the "giant" Koller. First Euro Cup sticker for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland

Both the hosting teams (Switzerland and Austria) were out in the group stage. In this group, Croatia and Germany went through. Here we find the young Modric (now at Real Madrid) for Croatia and Mario Gomez for Germany (both 23 years old)

Group C: Netherlands, Italy, Romania, France

A very tough group! The Netherlands had a very young team and showed great football in the group with Robben, Sneijder and Van Persie. Italy got the second place, but was eliminated at penalties by Spain in the quarterfinals. Romania of Chivu and Mutu did a good competition but not enough to qualify. In the French team we find the first national sticker of Benzema and Nasri (both 21 years old).

Group D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia

This is the group of the winners (Spain). The young Sergio Ramos (22 years old), Fabregas (21) and David Silva (22) are included. Russia made it to the semifinals showing the talent of Arshavin and young goalkeeper Akinfeev (22 years old). Ibrahimovic scored 2 goals for Sweden, but not enough to pass the group stage.

The last part of the album includes stickers of players in action and the history of the European Championship. Players in action are 62 stickers displayed over 6 pages. The History section is a double page with 12 shining stickers of the 12 winners of the European Championship.

Album details:

Full name: UEFA Euro 2008 Austria-Switzerland

Publisher: Panini

League: European Championship

Teams: 16

Stickers per team: 26

Special sections: - Introduction (5 stickers)

                           - Program (8 stickers)

                           - Venues and stadiums (32 stickers)

                           - Players in action (62 stickers)

                           - European Championship History (12 stickers)

Extra stickers: Update of 33 stickers

Total number of stickers: 535 (+33 update stickers)

Panini Liga Bancomer 2013/2014 - Mexico

Panini published this year an official sticker collection of the Mexican League, which was missing since 2011 (Panini Primera Division Profesional 2011). This album includes both the 18 teams of Liga Bancomer (First Division) and the 15 teams of Liga Ascenso (Second Division) of the Apertura 2013 and Clausura 2014. The special feature of this album is the presence of the mascots of Liga Bancomer teams in a double page in the center of the album.

The album opens with the table of contents on the left and the first two metallic stickers on the right: the official ball and trophy of the Liga Bancomer 2013/14.

Liga Bancomer teams are displayed over 2 pages with a total of 17 stickers: a metallic club badge and 16 players. On the team pages there are pictures of the squad and the stadium, records and details about the team (tactics included) and the players.

The 18 teams of Liga Bancomer are showed in alphabetical order:

America, Atlante, Atlas, Club Tijuana, Cruz Azul, Queretaro, Guadalajara, Jaguares de Chiapas, Leon, Monarcas Morelia, Pachuca, Puebla, Monterrey, Santos Laguna, Veracruz, Tigres, Toluca, UNAM Pumas.

Leon won the Apertura final against Club America, whereas Cruz Azul the regular season of the Clausura (whose finals will end in May).

Carlos Fierro is one of the best prospects of the League

Rafael Marquez (ex Barcellona) plays for Leon

 The Mascots of the 18 teams of Liga Bancomer printed on metallic stickers

For the first time, also the teams of the Liga Ascenso (Second Division) are included in the album. On the introductory page there are two stickers (metallic) with the trophies of the Liga Ascenso.

Teams are showed in alphabetical order:

Alebrijes, San Luis, Celaya, CF Morelos, CF Merida, Correcaminos, Cruz Azul Hidalgo, Delfines del Carmen, Dorados de Sinaloa, Estudiantes de Altamira, Estudiantes Tecos, Lobos Buap, Necaxa, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zacatepec. 

Each teams is placed on one page with a total of 7 stickers: the club badge (metallic) and 6 stickers with two players each (for a total of 12 players).

In the Ascenso team of Lobos Buap plays now the legendary Cuauhtémoc Blanco (41 years old), who took part in three World Cups with the Mexican National Team (France 1998, South Korea 2002 and South Africa 2010). He scored a total of 39 goals for Mexico and he is the best scorer ever of the Confederations Cup (9 goals together with Ronaldinho).

Album Details

Full Name: BBVA Liga Bancomer - Apertura 2013/Clausura 2014

Publisher: Panini

League: Mexican (Liga Bancomer and Liga Ascenso)

Number of teams: -18 Liga Bancomer

                              -15 Liga Ascenso

Stickers per team: -17 Liga Bancomer

                              -7 Liga Ascenso

Special Sections: -Introduction Liga Bancomer (2 metallic stickers)

                            -Mascots (18 metallic stickers)

                            -Introduction Liga Ascenso (2 metallic stickers)
Update stickers: No

Total number of stickers: 433

Young prospects included (1993 or younger)

Liga Bancomer:

Alberto Garcia (1993, Atlante), Emmanuel Hernandez (1993, Guadalajara), Carlos Fierro (1994, Guadalajara), Martin Zuniga (1993, Jaguares), Armando Zamorano (1993, Monarcas), Jurgen Damm (1994, Pachuca), Rodolfo Pizarro (1994, Pachuca), Marco Bueno (1994, Pachuca), Luis Madrigal (1993, Monterrey), Josecarlos Van Rankin (1993, Pumas)

Liga Ascenso:

Carlos Guzman (1994, San Luis), Jorge Sanchez (1993, San Luis), Oscar Talancon (1993, San Luis), Kevin Chaurand (1995, Celaya), Aldo Monzonis (1993, Morelos), Leonardo Bedolla (1993, Delfines), Javier Salas (1993, Dorados), Isaac Diaz (1993, Tecos), Adrian Marin (1994, Lobos), Jorge Laguna (1993, Zacatepec)