Euro 2012

[Jim05]

Will post my thoughts and tips over the next day or so OL

[cossi11]

England to go undefeated and take it out

[Il Duce]

Well in all honesty this is tournament that loves to provides upsets and I feel the tournament that is hardest to win (even harder then the world cup). I feel that will be some big teams that will go out early and smaller nations going further than expected, however no one will ever pick a major upset....although tom smyth from espn has picked spain not to get out the group .

Group A - The group of life, I call it that as every team in this group could actually get off the group, the 4 nations in this group lucked out as there is no big nation in the group, however I feel they are all at each others skill level and the only way I see the winner coming from this group if one gets on a roll as of course tournament football is all about momentuim. The order I got the team reviews is how I see the groups finishing.

Russia - Looks to be the strongest team in the group. Zhirkov, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko and Pogrebnyak will be the names everyone knows and they are fairly well balanced all over.

Poland - being a host nation crowd should give them that extra push also the trio of Dortmund players of Piszczek, the polish captian Blaszczykowski and star striker Lewandowski should help carry the polish though.

Greece - Although they qualified quite comfortably and they have got the easiest group, I don't feel the Greeks have enough goals in them with Samaras and Gekas there real options upfront. One thing the Greeks do seem to do well is defend. I see them sneaking out the group..but hey someone has to miss out.

Czech Republic - The poorest qualifying team as they finished miles behind spain and only just scraped though a poor group and then just scraped though the play off to make it. The problem with Czech's is beside keeper Petr Cech and midfielder Thomas Rosicky there is not much to the Czech team and I can see them finding it hard to get some wins. I mean come on Milian Baros is still there main striker, surely there is some youngster who could do better.

I will do the rest later on.

[scoob]

Well in all honesty this is tournament that loves to provides upsets and I feel the tournament that is hardest to win (even harder then the world cup). I feel that will be some big teams that will go out early and smaller nations going further than expected, however no one will ever pick a major upset....although tom smyth from espn has picked spain not to get out the group .

Group A - The group of life, I call it that as every team in this group could actually get off the group, the 4 nations in this group lucked out as there is no big nation in the group, however I feel they are all at each others skill level and the only way I see the winner coming from this group if one gets on a roll as of course tournament football is all about momentuim. The order I got the team reviews is how I see the groups finishing.

Russia - Looks to be the strongest team in the group. Zhirkov, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko and Pogrebnyak will be the names everyone knows and they are fairly well balanced all over.

Poland - being a host nation crowd should give them that extra push also the trio of Dortmund players of Piszczek, the polish captian Blaszczykowski and star striker Lewandowski should help carry the polish though.

Greece - Although they qualified quite comfortably and they have got the easiest group, I don't feel the Greeks have enough goals in them with Samaras and Gekas there real options upfront. One thing the Greeks do seem to do well is defend. I see them sneaking out the group..but hey someone has to miss out.

Czech Republic - The poorest qualifying team as they finished miles behind spain and only just scraped though a poor group and then just scraped though the play off to make it. The problem with Czech's is beside keeper Petr Cech and midfielder Thomas Rosicky there is not much to the Czech team and I can see them finding it hard to get some wins. I mean come on Milian Baros is still there main striker, surely there is some youngster who could do better.

I will do the rest later on.

How do you come to this conclusion?

[Il Duce]

because there is 32 teams /so many groups and everyone get seeded there is often times when you get alot of easy groups as in more than half the groups are easy, there is rarely a shock and it's always a big nation that win it weather it be european or south american one.

At the euro there seems to be something about it 3 weeks of fast pace tournament football, 16 teams (sadly the last time going to 24 next which is stupid) there is always an upset and the minnows seem to do well at the tournament. It makes it harder to win cause it seems to be 16 teams at top of there game also you seem to need some luck in the euro to go all the way. At the world cup you can afford to lose a match and still go though and win it, at the euro its all guns blazing and if your not you are out very quickly.

[scoob]

because there is 32 teams /so many groups and everyone get seeded there is often times when you get alot of easy groups as in more than half the groups are easy, there is rarely a shock and it's always a big nation that win it weather it be european or south american one.

At the euro there seems to be something about it 3 weeks of fast pace tournament football, 16 teams (sadly the last time going to 24 next which is stupid) there is always an upset and the minnows seem to do well at the tournament. It makes it harder to win cause it seems to be 16 teams at top of there game also you seem to need some luck in the euro to go all the way. At the world cup you can afford to lose a match and still go though and win it, at the euro its all guns blazing and if your not you are out very quickly.

All valid points, but they could also be turned around and used to say how Euro is easier to win than the world cup.

[Il Duce]

Group B - The ill fated group of death, no matter who 1 big nation will be out by the group stage and the two teams who make it though will have to work hard for it. I also see the winner of the tournament being one of the two teams from this group and no matter 1st or 2nd the will be faced off with group a's 1 and 2 and I see the 2 teams from this group being better than group a's 2.

Germany - Ze Germans are everyone's hot favourite to win the tournament and like a polish summer in 1940 I see them goose stepping there way all over Poland and onto the Ukraine within a month. Where do I start the amount of star power in this team is more insulting than losing a cricket series to Bangladesh on home soil, Neuer, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Podolski, Muller, Khedira, Mertesacker, Boateng, Gomez, captain Lahm and even still Klose this team will go along way in the tournament. 12 plays off this 23 man squad play for either Double winning Dortmund or Champion League finalist Bayern Munich and I feel Joachim Low's men will go all the way and take it out.

Netherlands - The Dutch can be interesting prospect's at tournaments. They have previously won this tournament in fact it's the only major one they have which is interesting seeing the quality of players they have produced over the years, they can also go 12 rounds in a ring with each and attempt to knock each others blocks off. There attacking players are some of the best in the world with Van Persie, Sneijder, Robben, Huntelaar and Van Der Vaart all on offer. However it will be how the dutch defence and midfield play I feel will figure how far they go. Van Bommel, De jong will be the linchpins in midfield while Van Der Wiel, Heitinga and Bouma holding up the defence and Stekelenburg standing strong in goals. Semi Finalist at least you would have to say.

Portugal - A.K.A. team Ronaldo. It seems to be the only person people even bring up Portugal he is either love, hated or the type of person you wish you look liked but hand none of his personality as it would have you on the ground more times than he is in 90 minutes. He has the skill and is a wonderful player however he can not carry the entire team on his shoulders and I feel there isn't enough around him for them to go far in this tournament. Quaresma, Meireles and Pepe the only other players of real note and I can see them coming home earlier than they wanted to.

Denmark - The most unluckiest group at this tournament being drawn in this group. They have a good crop of players and had they been drawn in group A they may of got to the quarter finals, but as fortune would have it for them they got this group and would have to pull of a miracle bigger than Aussie princess Mary's shopping bill to get out of this group. Kjaer and Agger at the back will be important if the are to get results, while the Danes will be hopping Bendtner and Rommedahl can put the goals in. I will be hopping the plucky underdog can do something similar in 92 when they won the tournament but in all reality they will be on the first plane home.

[JK]

Are the Euro's on the box?

[Jim05]

Are the Euro's on the box?

Setanta
SBS showing a handfull of games

[pels]

because there is 32 teams /so many groups and everyone get seeded there is often times when you get alot of easy groups as in more than half the groups are easy, there is rarely a shock and it's always a big nation that win it weather it be european or south american one.

At the euro there seems to be something about it 3 weeks of fast pace tournament football, 16 teams (sadly the last time going to 24 next which is stupid) there is always an upset and the minnows seem to do well at the tournament. It makes it harder to win cause it seems to be 16 teams at top of there game also you seem to need some luck in the euro to go all the way. At the world cup you can afford to lose a match and still go though and win it, at the euro its all guns blazing and if your not you are out very quickly.

It a great comp at 16 teams and they go and destroy it by bringing it to 24 teams.
Its all about money

[JK]

Are the Euro's on the box?

Setanta
SBS showing a handfull of games

Bugger .. Thanks mate

[Jim05]

My Predictions
Group A
1 Poland, Defensively sound, bit of a question mark over their firepower but think the home crowd will get them through
2 Czech Republic, My darkhorse for the group, tight between them and Russia
3 Russia, not convinced about the Russkies, wont score enough goals
4 Greece, Will slip more than their economy, very average side, be lucky to get a point

Group B
1 Netherlands, Good strength allround, if they are not fighting with each other they will win the comp
2 Germany, Krauts are always around the mark, look a bit shaky at the back this time around though
3 Denmark, Can surprise on their day, unlucky to be in this group as they are a decent side
4 Portugal, Front running squibs, they look a million dollars when they are playing minnows but crack against the big boys

Group C
1 Spain, Awesome strength in defence and mids but not sold on their attack if Torres gets a gig, Should easily top this group.
2 Croatia, Another smoky, can this ageing side produce the goods?
3 Italy, Dont think this side is that good, will be a real struggle unless they have paid off these refs aswell
4 Ireland, whipping boys of the group, will provide entertainment but not much else

Group D
1 France, The frogs have a good squad on paper, if they can go a week without infighting they are a real chance
2 Ukraine, Surprise packets, the rowdy home crowds will get right behind them
3 Sweden, Will be fighting with Ukraine for a spot in the quarters but will come up just short
4 England, Terrible squad, guys like Henderson and Downing are not League 2 standard, will struggle to get a win

Final
Netherlands v Spain with the Dutch winning in ET

[Jim05]

Good opening day
Poland 1-1 Greece, both sides had men sent off and the Greeks missed a penalty.
Russia 4-1 Czech Rep. Bit of a blow out at end with the Russkies netting twice in last 10 minutes

[RoosterMarty]

Impressive performance by Russia, the Pav scored a nice goal to round things off.

Not a bad start to the tournament for Tyton, the Polish backup keeper, his first touch was a penalty save.

Also a new record was set last night.

Striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov was the main culprit, not hitting the target with any of his seven shots -- a European Championships first.

[Bully]

IMO i think the poms may do well in the euros. Rubbish team, but they may do well.

Still think Spain is a shoe in

[Il Duce]

Group C - This group almost has it all and I feel could cause an upset. A team who is reigning World and European champions, a team who's country can't seem to get a season of domestic football out of the way without someone selling there team out for money, a team who's country has an entire saying based about luck on them and they will need some and a team who has an Australian playing for them....well sort off.

Spain - The reigning and defending European champions will be looking to be the first side to win three major tournaments in a row. Like ze Germans the Spanish have such an abundance of riches in play power that if they where currency the could clear the worlds debt. 12 players in the squad are either Barcelona or Real Madrid players and with talent all though the 23 man squad with players like Casillas, Albiol, Pique, Martinez, Inestia, Xavi, Pedro, Ramos, Fabregas, Mata, Xavi Alonso, Busquets, Arbeloa, Silva, Llorente, Valdes, Rena and Torres you see why they are going for three in a row. The major question will be does Del Bosque start Torres or Llorente? Given the over season for you would think Llorente should get the nod but Del Bosque is the type of manager to stay loyal to his players that have won him things in the past, I would Torres may start. Anything less then the Semi Finals will be riot time in Spain, however I see them in the Final.

Italy - Another season of Italian football another match fixing scandal. This time it could almost bring down Italian football as all 42 teams in Serie A and B are being investigated as is anyone involved in those teams no matter who they are. Also the rumour that football in Italy and involving Italy could be banned once the Euro's are finished as a full on investigation can happen must have its effect on the side. The side itself pick by Cesare Prandelli is different then the typical Italian side. There is more attackers and more younger players then has been seen in an Azzurri top for a long time. However I feel the mix of experience which can be found in Buffon, De Rossi, Pirlo, Chiellini, Cassano and Di Natale and younger players like Balotelli, Abate, Marchisio, Ogbonna, Bonucci and Borini is a good mix. This wont be an Italian side that will just park a bus, this Italian side will come out and play football. Not wanting to repeat a disaster of the 2010 World Cup they will have something to prove and I can see getting out of the group at a minimum and from there who knows.

Croatia - The Croat's can certainly get out of this group with the quality they have in the squad and in all honesty if I wasn't of Italian decent I would have them going through with Spain but you need to have the blinkers on sometimes. Jelavić and Eduardo to be the finishing power they need up front while the Midfield including Modric, Srna and Kranjčar will be giving Croatia the forward thrust they need. At the back Corluka, Pranjic and Australia born and educated Josip Simunic will need to be like rocks at the back and hold the fort for the Croatian's. They will look to play a quick passing game catching teams on the counter and using there height to advantage at set piece's and they will cause teams trouble. They will more than likely go though, but hey I choose to be biased and they just miss out.

Ireland - Giovanni Trapattoni's like Denmark are rather unfortunate to be in a group with the Spanish and the Italians. It is not all doom and gloom from Irish as lately they seem to have Italy's number and could get a point or cause an upset there. Ireland like to play a very strict 4-4-2 and against the Spanish they will look to sit back soak up pressure and hit on the counter and all the evidence they need to see that may work is the Chelsea v Barcelona tie in this years champions league. Like Croatia there first game against each other will be crucial to either's campaign as the team who wins could up be the side to put the cat amongst the pigeons and go through instead of one of big boys in this group. Shay Given, John O'shea, Richard Dunne, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff and captain Robbie Keane will need to fly the flag if Ireland are to go though but I see them falling just short.

[Jim05]

Netherlands 0-1 Denmark
Germany 1-0 Portugal

[JK]

Noticed no mention of David Villa when discussing Spain .. IS he injured or something?

[RoosterMarty]

Villa broke his leg a while back and I don't think he has played a game since.

Not a great start for the Dutch in the group of death.

[JK]

Thanks RM