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Popeye
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1. Mestalla, Valencia
The Mestalla is far from the biggest ground in Spain with a capacity of only 55,000, but its steeply banked terraces rise out the ground like sheer rock faces. The masses packed into Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou struggle to generate a fraction of the intensity seen at Valencia.
2. Anfield, Liverpool
Arguably the greatest player in Liverpool’s history is their famed 12th man. The Kop bellows its anthem from the depth of a collective heart which can terrify and inspire in equal measure. The Anfield atmosphere has pulled victories from the clutches of defeat on numerous occasions and turned dependable performers into quivering wrecks. John Terry admitted his Chelsea side were deeply affected by the sheer volume of noise during The Blues' Champions League semi-final three years ago and Terry’s troops must master their fear when they return to Merseyside on Tuesday night.
3. Stade Velodrome, Marseille
The French are not renowned for intimidating grounds, but the people of Marseille have a unique identity and enjoy a unique footballing experience. The Stade Velodrome holds 60,000 empassioned fans who turn the terraces into a giant mosh pit of bouncing bodies. There are plans to increase the capacity to 80,000 in the future.
4. Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Galatasaray
‘Welcome to Hell’ read a string of banners that adorn the Ali Sami Yen Stadium and few would disagree. Galatasaray’s ground is a cauldron of hate and despite its meagre capacity of 22,500, the noise and intensity of the spite spitting from the stands is deafening.
5. Fratton Park, Portsmouth
A controversial choice, but the Pompey faithful have turned Fratton Park into one of the most atmospheric grounds in the country. Going to Fratton Park and out-singing the Pompey fans is an almost impossible task.
6. Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Dortmund’s recently renovated Westfalenstadion is the largest in Germany holding 80,000 fans. The stadium is easily the greatest atmosphere in the country and a tough place to go and get a result.
7. Celtic Park, Glasgow
Celtic and Rangers have one of the greatest rivalries in football, but when it comes to their grounds there is no competition. Celtic Park holds 60,00 Hoops fans who share not only an anthem, but also an atmosphere with Anfield.
8. Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio, Roma and, on occasions, the Italian national team all share the Stadio Olimpico, one of the most impressive arenas in world football. A running track round the outside of a ground can often sound the atmosphere death knell, but this is certainly not the case in Rome.
9. The Karaiskaki Stadium, Olimpiacos, Athens
The Karaiskaki Stadium makes Olympiacos away a tough challenge. The ground is a theatre of flares, noise and 33,000 Athenian fans.
10. Feyenoord Stadion, Rotterdam
The Feyenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip (The Tub) holds 55,000 fans who are a much more raucous bunch than their rivals in Amsterdam.
11. Söderstadion, Stockholm
An unexpected choice, Hammarby IF’s Söderstadion in Stockholm is the smallest of the featured stadiums holding only 15,600, but the fans make up for their lack of numbers with a lot of noise.
xI at 11: Great European grounds - Setanta Sports
Also diese 11 Stadien sind die besten in Sachen Support, Stimmung etc.
2 Mannschaften ausm Balkan.
The Mestalla is far from the biggest ground in Spain with a capacity of only 55,000, but its steeply banked terraces rise out the ground like sheer rock faces. The masses packed into Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou struggle to generate a fraction of the intensity seen at Valencia.
2. Anfield, Liverpool
Arguably the greatest player in Liverpool’s history is their famed 12th man. The Kop bellows its anthem from the depth of a collective heart which can terrify and inspire in equal measure. The Anfield atmosphere has pulled victories from the clutches of defeat on numerous occasions and turned dependable performers into quivering wrecks. John Terry admitted his Chelsea side were deeply affected by the sheer volume of noise during The Blues' Champions League semi-final three years ago and Terry’s troops must master their fear when they return to Merseyside on Tuesday night.
3. Stade Velodrome, Marseille
The French are not renowned for intimidating grounds, but the people of Marseille have a unique identity and enjoy a unique footballing experience. The Stade Velodrome holds 60,000 empassioned fans who turn the terraces into a giant mosh pit of bouncing bodies. There are plans to increase the capacity to 80,000 in the future.
4. Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Galatasaray
‘Welcome to Hell’ read a string of banners that adorn the Ali Sami Yen Stadium and few would disagree. Galatasaray’s ground is a cauldron of hate and despite its meagre capacity of 22,500, the noise and intensity of the spite spitting from the stands is deafening.
5. Fratton Park, Portsmouth
A controversial choice, but the Pompey faithful have turned Fratton Park into one of the most atmospheric grounds in the country. Going to Fratton Park and out-singing the Pompey fans is an almost impossible task.
6. Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Dortmund’s recently renovated Westfalenstadion is the largest in Germany holding 80,000 fans. The stadium is easily the greatest atmosphere in the country and a tough place to go and get a result.
7. Celtic Park, Glasgow
Celtic and Rangers have one of the greatest rivalries in football, but when it comes to their grounds there is no competition. Celtic Park holds 60,00 Hoops fans who share not only an anthem, but also an atmosphere with Anfield.
8. Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio, Roma and, on occasions, the Italian national team all share the Stadio Olimpico, one of the most impressive arenas in world football. A running track round the outside of a ground can often sound the atmosphere death knell, but this is certainly not the case in Rome.
9. The Karaiskaki Stadium, Olimpiacos, Athens
The Karaiskaki Stadium makes Olympiacos away a tough challenge. The ground is a theatre of flares, noise and 33,000 Athenian fans.
10. Feyenoord Stadion, Rotterdam
The Feyenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip (The Tub) holds 55,000 fans who are a much more raucous bunch than their rivals in Amsterdam.
11. Söderstadion, Stockholm
An unexpected choice, Hammarby IF’s Söderstadion in Stockholm is the smallest of the featured stadiums holding only 15,600, but the fans make up for their lack of numbers with a lot of noise.
xI at 11: Great European grounds - Setanta Sports
Also diese 11 Stadien sind die besten in Sachen Support, Stimmung etc.
2 Mannschaften ausm Balkan.