Hasta La Creative!

The English are rightly chagrined to be missing the Euro 2008 soccer tournament, currently being hosted by Austria and Switzerland, after failing to qualify. But their hearts will swell with pride to learn that an English agency designed the logo! The London branding shop English & Pockett came up with this image of the Alps hugging a soccer ball, which is a whole lot better than this disaster from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Unfortunately, Euro 2008 does continue the tradition of weird soccer mascots. Trix and Flix (shown above), the twin mascots representing the host nations, have Alps-like hair and one eyebrow apiece. “One is serious and self-controlled, the other more rebellious and creative,” according to the literature. At least one does not literally kick the other around, as the lion did to the talking soccer ball in Germany. Still, Austria was surely lobbying for Hans and Franz, not Trix and Flix. Finally, Euro 2008’s tagline, “Expect emotions,” leaves plenty to be desired. Perhaps something got lost in translation.

—Posted by Tim Nudd