Booze and bites to accompany the football matches. By Mim Koletschka and Stephanie Roy

Group A

Czech Republic

The Drink: The original Budvar is not sold here, but the Czechs are also famous for absinthe. Try some Parnasse (B990, Italiasia) even if it’s Italian. To meet the green fairy you will have to slowly pour 4-6 parts iced water slowly over a sugar cube on a slotted absinthe spoon into a glass of absinthe. Louche away.
Have It With: Chlebicky. Stuff an open-faced sandwich with horseradish spread and ham.

Portugal

The Drink: Young green wine—vinho verde (B600, Wine Connection).
Have It With: Bacalhau croquettes. Breaded, deep-fried, dried and salted codfish. You can buy the fish at most supermarkets, try Foodland.

Switzerland

The Drink: For a swig of schnaps, as they spell it in German-speaking Switzerland, head to Bei Otto and order some William or Kirschwasser (B220 a shot).
Have It With: Some good mountain cheese like Appenzeller, also available at Bei Otto.

Turkey

The Drink: Ayran. This yogurt and salt-based beverage is blended and drunk in large quantities as it is non-alcoholic.
Have It With: Donner kebabs (shredded lamb or chicken) or Lahmacun (thin crust Turkish pizza). Ibo (1043/4 Silom Soi 21, 02-237-5168) delivers and has both Turkish food and Ayran.

Group B

Austria

The Drink: Puriste. This premium Austrian vodka is made with water from the Alps and distilled six times for a smooth taste (B2,545, Italasia).
Have It With: Kase Krainer. You won’t find the large cheesy beef hot dog stuffed into a hollowed out bun with mustard and ketchup here, but you can get hotdogs at Villa.

Croatia

The Drink: Bambus. As in the rest of Europe, the best way to get wasted on a dime when in Croatia is to buy the cheapest red wine out there and mix with cola. 
Have It With: Smoked ham (prsut) and spicy grilled sausage (cevapi). Get some sai krok isaan and use your imagination.

Germany

The Drink: Beer. Bottles of Erdinger, Paulaner and Schneider Weisse can be bought at most of the big name supermarkets like Foodland or Villa for a little over B100. Prost!
Have It With: Pretzels, even 7-Eleven has those. For authentic German pretzels go to Bei Otto’s deli and bakery shop.

Poland

The Drink: Mad Dog. You can take this concoction as a shot by coating the bottom of your shot glass with raspberry syrup then layering the vodka on top of the syrup. For the kicker, add three drops of Tabasco sauce, then shoot it! Na Zdrowie!
Have It With: Golabki. Cabbage rolls stuffed with ingredients like ground beef, ground pork veal, tomatoes, and rice.

Group C

France

The Drink: Traditional Lou Bouffarel pastis from Marseille (B690, Wine Connection). Pour five parts of iced water into a short narrow glass with one part pastis.
Have It With: Black olive and anchovy tapenade (get your olives at Emporium’s Gourmet Market) on toasted baguette. Or order Tessa restaurant’s take on the tapenade (B295) by calling Food By Phone, 02-663-4663.

Italy

The Drink: Grappa, a sweet tasting jolt to the brain. Villa carries Frattina (B1,039) and Arambicco (B605). Three words—chill, sniff, sip. Alla Salute!
Have It With: Order a pizza from Basilico (02-663-6633).

Netherlands

The Drink: Obviously, Heineken. You can buy this beer anywhere, drink it straight from the bottle or in a chilled glass (small bottle around B35, a large bottle is B60).
Have It With:  Just slather some french fries in cheese and mayonnaise.

Romania

The Drink: No, you can’t find a bottle of tuica, here. Get creative and have Japanese plum brandy, instead (Choya is B1,159 and the Mitono B1,020, try Villa). While sipping your Japanese plum brandy, don’t forget to say cheers in Romanian, Noroc!
Have It With: Slanina. Salted and preserved pork fat on a slice of bread with cheese.

Group D

Greece

The Drink: Ouzo, a licorice flavored liquor. Traditionally served very cold so put the shot glass and bottle in the fridge first. You can pick up a bottle of Mitilini for B620 at Wine Conection. Iss Ighian!
Have It With: Mezedes. Round up some feta cheese (try Villa), tomatoes and marinate some grilled octopus in olive oil.

Russia

The Drink: Vodka. Stolichnaya and Smirnoff are found in most supermarkets (Stoli, B599 and Smirnoff, B640). Good Russian vodka has to be taken in shots, before throwing the empty glass on the floor.
Have It With: Caviar (try Gourmet Market).

Spain

The Drink: Sangria. If your red wine tastes like s…, then add some fruits and sugar and voila, you got some tasty sangria! Salud!
Have It With: Tapas. The list is long but cheese tortillas with spicy sausage and avocado toast are a couple of examples.

Sweden

The Drink: It’s a tough one but yet more vodka: Absolut (B702, available in most supermarkets). Skal!
Have It With: Gravlax. Smoked salmon served on a crisp piece of bread topped with a mustard or dill sauce.