TV total Autoball European Cup 2008: Stefan Raab hosts the European Cup in his own country and becomes European Champion

On June 6, 2008, one day before the start of UEFA’s Euro 2008, Stefan Raab premiered his own European Cup, the “TV total Autoball European Cup 2008” LIVE at 8:15 p.m. on ProSieben.

A pitch with two goals, two street cars, a super-sized ball and the objective of maneuvering it into the net using your driving skills: what began as a game on “Schlag den Raab” (Beat Raab / international marketing title "Beat your Host!"), has now been transformed into a grand show of its own. Stefan Raab got the nation into European Cup spirits one day before the official opening of the soccer event – and in his native country, no less!

Eight celebrities from eight different countries lined up to compete against each other in the KölnArena, Germany’s largest events hall, battling it out for the first Autoball European Champion title in front of an audience of 13,000. Joining the gang were Stefan Raab for Germany, tennis legend Thomas Muster for Austria, singer Giovanni Zarrella for Italy, singer Patrick Nuo for Switzerland, former boxing champion Dariusz Michalczewski for Poland, eternal Raab rival Joey Kelly for Ireland, soccer pro Sergej Barbarez for Bosnia-Herzegovina and comedian Bülent Ceylan for Turkey.

Intentional ramming was considered a foul, but bumping into each other was permitted for the drivers in their 55-bhp vehicles to dribble the large ball into the opponent’s goal. Former Bundesliga referee Jürgen Aust was on call to ensure nobody overshot the goal.

The heats and semi-finals were battled out in European Champion spirits, with countless crashes and the occasional use of spare cars. Stefan Raab, for Germany, faced resident of the Emerald Isle, Joey Kelly, in the grand final – with the host securing the European Crown for Germany. Exploding balls, trashed cars and lots of twisted metal scattered Stefan Raab’s path to victory, which was correspondingly celebrated by the whole Arena with Mexican waves and frenetic cheering.

17.9 percent of 14- to 49-year-old viewers tuned in to watch the exciting game. Up to 59.4 percent of young people (14-29 years old) tuned in. In all, the warm-up for the EURO 2008 attracted 1.91 million viewers (from 3 years of age).

Oliver Welke presented the show, with Frank Buschmann providing commentary on the Autoball duels. Matthias Opdenhövel and Sonya Kraus were in action as pitch-side reporters.