Euro 2008 predictions Group A

I'm going to start looking ahead to Euro2008 which is, according to the counter at www.uefa.com, sixteen days away. I've already made my prediction: I'm sticking with the Italian side that served me so well during the World Cup, despite certain writers (coughcoughKeithToppingcoughcough) trying to take credit for my own predictions. But that was two years ago!
Group A

Czech Republic
Switzerland
Portugal
Turkey

This group contains three attack minded teams who would grace any tournament. Unfortunately it also contains the co-hosts, whose attempts at catenaccio spoiled a small part of the 2006 World Cup before their limp exit on penalties to the Ukraine. Unlike Euro2004, there is no easy to predict group. Group C has been labelled the Group of death, for sure, but in every group all four teams should fancy their chances of making it through at this point (with the noteable exception of Romania, who truely drew the short straw). This should hopefully make the tournament full of exciting, tense matches. Naturally it will now be full of dead rubbers.
Now lets look at the teams in Group A

Czech Republic
For one game at the World Cup, the Czechs looked like world beaters as they tore the Americans to shreds. Alas, the loss of Ufjalusi and Koller so early in the tournament proved to be their ondoing, as the defence suddenly seemed vulnerable to the attack of minnows (Ghana tore them to shreds in the next game) or easy fodder for legit heavyweights (as seen with the ease that Italy controlled the last group game). On form they can be an absolute delight to watch, but when things go badly they fall to pieces spectacularly.
For the Czech Republic to get through this group, they will have to hope that the aging Koller stay injury free. Milan Baros has shown in Qualifers that he does not link up well with any of the other forwards, and Fenin and Vicek have not been proven at the highest level. As for Sionko, who has been brought in as cover, he has spent the last two years at Rangers and FC Kobenhaven respectively, showing how not to perform the main strikers' role.
The Right Back role is also problematic. They need Ujfalusi to be on form, and stay clear of injury. Grygera is his injury-prone repacement, and though Pospech is a bright talent, he needs time to get into gear, and is probably the most likely heir apparent to Ujfalusi in the team. Mikel Kadlec has been brought as cover for the strong back pairing of Radoslav Kovac and Rozenhal.
The midfield will be the usual suspects. A combination of Plasil, Polak, Jarolim, Galasek and Matejovsky (filling in for the injured Tomas Rosicky) will fit it. With Jarolim, Polak and Plasil's places all but assured, that leaves Galasek or Matejovsky filling in on the left of midfield for Karel Bruckner's 4-4-2.

Likely line up
Petr Cech
Marek Jankulovski, Radoslav Kovac, David Rozenhal, Tomas Ujfalusi
Marek Matejovsky, Jaroslav Plasil, Jan Polak, David Jarolim
Jan Koller, Milan Barros

Players to look out for
Plasil (the new Nedved), the youngsters Kadlec and Pospech, the veteran Galasek in his last tournament

Prediction
Predicting the Czechs is a thankless task. Depending on their mood they could be finalists or bottom of the group. For the prospects of this tournament, I think it's going to be an inglorious failure. The team is in the process of building up a new team from the ashes of the one that aged its way to Euro2004. This tournament is almost certainly too soon for them. That, and they are in the group with the co-hosts, and with Austria's woes, I can't see both co-hosts exiting at the group stage. Sadly, I'm going with a 3rd place finish for the Czech Republic

Switzerland
At the last World Cup the Swiss conceded no goals in four games, had 20 shots on target in nearly 400 hours, and bored the pants off the watching world. This time out promises to be about the same. The Swiss have quality, but Kobi Kuhn is likely to stick with his time tested 4-4-1-1 with Hakin Yakin as his Attacking Midfielder and Alexander Frei as the lone striker. Several of the places in the Switzerland side pick themselves. You can almost gaurantee a midfield of Barnetta, Cabanas, Huggel and Vonlanthen. Philip Degen (soon to be at an Anfield near you) will be at right back and Ludovic Magnin at left back. Defence centre is the biggest bone of contention as team captain Patrick Muller may not regain fitness from an injury to contest his usual spot. If so, sharing the limelight with Phillipe Senderos of Arsenal will be Johan Djorou, most likely.

Likely Starting XI
Diego Benaglio
Philipp Degen, Johan Djourou, Philippe Senderos,Ludovic Magnin
Tranquillo Barnetta, Ricardo Cabanas, Benjamin Huggel, Johan Vonlanthen
Hakan Yakin
Alexander Frei

Players to Look out for
Frei, Vonlanthen, P Degen (since he is moving to Liverpool), his brother in midfield if he gets on.

Prediction
Switzerland will finish runner up in this group, their defence/attack football being too much for the erratic Czechs and Turks. However, a Quartefinal against the likes of Germany or Croatia should be too much for them to go further.


Portugal
Portugal are in the 2nd echelon of teams who could win this tournament. To do so, however, they would have to play a lot better than they have done in recent friendlies. Yet, Portugal's recent tournament form suggests they are a team to look out for.
Coach Scolari dropped a bombshell by omitting one of the stars of Euro2004 and the World Cup, Maniche, from his starting line up. Despite rumours to the contrary, Deco made the list, and will probably be first choice for his Attacking Midfield role, although Joao Moutinho is rapidly making moves to challenge him for the spot. Weaknesses in defence mean no one is sure if Scolari will go 3-4-3 or his usual 4-2-3-1. If he goes his usual route, one of Paulo Ferreira or Riberio will take the Left Back role despite unconvincing displays in the Qualifiers. Right Back is the domain of Jose Bosingwa. Defence Centre has four claimants to the role, with Fernando Meira, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Bruno Alves all making claims for it. Carvalho and Pepe are most likely to get the nod, though in real depth for cover in positions, Portugal are unequaled in this group.
Defensive Midfield should be interesting, as the traditional role of Petit is being challenged by the younger Miguel Veloso and Raul Merieles. Portugal have an array of riches to fill the remaining three midfield spots, with Nani, Quaresma, Deco, Simao, Moutinho and Cristiano Ronaldo all in the mix.
Up front, it comes down to the oft-chosen Nuno Gomes, the on-fire Hugo Almedia, or the ever present Helder Postiga.

Likely First XI
Ricardo
J Riberio, Carvalho, Pepe, Bosingwa
Veloso, Petit
C Ronaldo, Deco, Quaresma
Nuno Gomes

Players to look out for
Moutinho, Veloso

Prediction
A safe 1st place, though they will need to show incredible quality to get past Germany or Croatia in the Quaterfinals

Turkey
Turkey are having problems. Injuries to key players right before a major tournament is a massive setback. The goalkeeper Demirel, and defensive centres Cetin and Gonkul may likely miss Euro2008, and this completly ripping apart of the defence means Turkey are unlikely to qualify from this group. The forward six of Metin, Emre, Mehmit Aurelio and Hamit Altintop in midfield and Tuncay/Nihat playing as strikers seems settled enough. Everything depends on how well Tuncay can link up his side. If they play with him linking everything up, ala his Fenerbahce role and the Qualifiers, then Turkey can progress despite the odds against them. IF he is found wanting, they will fail. Even with Tuncay at 100% performance, the gulf will probably be too great for the Turks.

Likely First XI
Rustu
Balta, Emre Asik, Zan, Gorul
Metin, Emre, Aurellio, Hamit Altintop
Tuncay, Nihat

players to look out for
Sarioglu, the Altintop twins, Turkish league top scorer Senturk.

Prediction
Bottom. Turkeys recent problems will be too much to overcome, and in the battle of the also-rans, the attacking might of the Czechs will be too much for the defensive frailties of the Turks.

Michaels prediction
1 Portugal
2 Switzerland
3 Czech Republic
4 Turkey
Although to be fair, I'd love it (to quote Keegan) if the Czechs or the Turks could bounce out Switzerland. It wont happen however.