Soccer: Armenia’s Euro 2016 Campaign Begins

Special for the Armenian Weekly

It has been a little over six months since Bernard Challandes took the helm of the Armenian National Team and since then a lot has happened, both in the world of international football and internally within the Armenian setup. World Cup 2014 has come and gone with the tournament not disappointing. It showcased the best teams in the world, elevated star players such as Messi and Neymar Jr. to new heights, and introduced breakout stars such as James Rodriguez of Colombia and Joel Campbell of Costa Rica. It proved to be the platform that galvanized the legacy of veteran German striker Miroslav Klose and a launching pad for other emerging talents such as Mario Götse to become household names. That is what a major tournament is all about. For a little over a month, it holds the attentions of close to a billion viewers across the globe and every four years captivates a new generation of children, cultivating their dreams of the beautiful game. The festive celebrations that are the World Cup and the European Championships are parties that the Armenian players have yet to earn an invite to, and have been up to now elusive goals that have yet to be achieved.