group B

Group B
Germany Croatia Poland Austria (co hosts)

On paper this group looks deceptively simple. In reality it is likely to be the same. In one hand you have European aristocrats, winners of more international tournaments than Croatia and Austria's appearances. And then you have Croatia, considered by many to be the dark horses for this tournament, even without the injured Eduardo.

Then there is the hosts who campaigned not to appear at the Euros for fear for embarrassment and an out of sorts Poland side who dont really seem to be up to anything other than making up the numbers.

GERMANY

Germany are my pick for the tournament. Wow, really going out on a limb there, picking the 3-time World cup and 3-time European Championship holders! But, to quote my late grandfather, "Anyone who bets against Germany in the Cup is an idiot." I think he was saying it from experience. The reason for calling Germany the favourite is simple. They are guaranteed to qualify from their group (unlike Italy or France for example) and unlike Spain actually have a history of winning big events.
The Germans at the last World Cup were written off before a ball kicked, and responded by producing some of the most breathtaking attacking football seen in years. The question is though: can they keep up this form into the Euros. Qualification was a formality. Everyone remembers the 13-0 over San Marino but reasonably comfortable wins over the likes of Slovakia and Ireland meant the group was over for them rather quickly.
So lets look at the team the group favourites have. Joachim Low tends to stick to the 4-4-2. If fit, Jens Lehmann will be the goalkeeper throughout the tournament, with Adler and Enke ready to step in should the No#1 face injury or suspension. The evidence so far suggests the back four will be almost identical to the WorldCup one, so expect Marcel Jansen, Christophe Metzelder, Per Mertesacker and Phillip Lahm to make that up.
Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings will surely make up centre midfield, and the last two midfield spots depend on whether Low wants two holding midfielders to allow Ballack to unleash his attacking potential, or if he shall go for wingers. I'd expect Bastian Schwienstieger on the right and Hitzlsperger on the left as the only left-winger in the squad. However, Tim Borowski, Simon Rolfes and Piotr Trichowski are also there to adapt to any formation change the manager wants.
Up front it will be Miroslav Klose, his record is undeniable. Who partners him is up in the air. You have Kuranyi, Podolski and Stuttgart's German Player of the Year Mario Gomez. And, to complicate matters, Podolski has recently impressed on the left-wing, so he may be positioned there in preference to Hitzlsperger. This would imply 4-4-2 with Podolski on the wing and Klose/Gomez up front.

My suggested lineup
Lehmann
Jansen, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Lahm
Podolski, Frings, Ballack, Schwienstieger
Klose, Gomez

Players to look out for
The new kid on the block, Mr Mario Gomez.
Podolski on the wing if he plays there.

Questions to ponder
1. After a disappointing season, can Kevin Kuranyi prove his doubters wrong with a good showing when given the chance?
2. After a fantastic season, can Mario Gomez show he belongs on the main stage, and secure a mega-bucks transfer in the process?

Prediction
What is it they say about football? That football is a 90 minute game and at the end of the day, the Germans win? Germany have the caliber to win this tournament, whether they will or not depends on how they perform in the latter stages against better opponents. As it, they will coast this group. If they can continue that form on in the tournament, that is the question. I'd expect a semifinal berth at worst for the Germans.

CROATIA
I think Croatia are many peoples picks to win the tournament. And certainly they seemed a good shout, until Eduardo's injury scuppered a lot of their attacking arsenal. However, the Croatians have something that will see them in good stead through this group, and that is quite simply one of the best attacking midfields in the entire tournament. Their scoring from midfield will certainly help as they bid to win a major tournament for the first time ever. Memories are rife of that great Croatian side from 1998 who came within a whisker of the World Cup final. Whisper it, but I've heard it said that the potential of this side is even greater. If that is true, remains to be seen.

The midfield will almost certainly be Kranjcar, Niko Kovac, Modric and Srna, a lineup that could cause a football purist to drool in excitement. Certainly the wonderfully named Jerko Leko will have to hope for a miracle to replace Darijo Srna, as his crosses are vital to Croatia's chances. Think of him as the Croatian Beckham. The back four of Simunic, Robert Kovac, Simic and Corluka is probable. Pletikosa will be the goalkeeper, with Runje as his understudy. Up front will be 2 of Klasnic/Olic/Petric, with Klasnic's health problems probably seeing having a limited role.

Michael's suggested starting lineup
Pletikosa
Simunic, R kovac, Simic, Corluka
Kranjcar, N Koac, Modric, Srna
Petric Olic

Players to watch
Modric. He has a big money move to Spurs this summer.
Srna. His crossing can change a game.

Questions to Ponder
1. Can Croatia continue to impress without their talismanic striker?
2. Will one of his replacements make a name for themselves in Eduardo's absence?
3. Can the back four, caught out so often by Australia at the World Cup, redeem themselves on the big stage?

Predictions
They'll qualify. Not sure they'll get beyond the Quarterfinals though. That will depend on the luck of the draw. If they face the Swiss, they could easily go through. If they get the Portuguese, I think they'll go out. It's probably a tournament too early for Croatia's new generation. If they can keep the momentum going to 2010, then will be their time to really shine.

AUSTRIA
The co-hosts are on a hiding to nothing. Everyone is waiting for them to collapse like a house of cards. Their own fans think they are the worst side to ever host the tournament! As it is, I don't think they'll be the worst team in the tournament, I think the host effect will come into play. That said, they're going out here.

Austria, on paper, have the weakest side here, but with the goals of Roland Linz, the passing of Rene Aufhauser and the crossing of the youngster Ivanschitz (the Austrian Beckham, says World Soccer magazine) they could spring a surprise or two with a little confidence. Austria's entire campaign depends on the first goal. If they score the first goal against Croatia, they could make things interesting in the group. Defeat with honour, that sort of thing. If they concede the first goal, prepare for an avalanche. However, if you gave me the chance, I'd rather be in Austria's spot than Romania's!

The Austrian side (as suggested by UEFA)
Manninger
Prodl, Pogatetz, Stranzl, Hiden
Ivanschitz, Aufhauser, Standfest, Harnik
Linz, Kuljic

Players to look out for
Prodl. A young defender turning heads in Eastern Europe.
Ivanschitz. The Great Austrian hope. World Soccer refers to him as the "next Beckham"
Linz. Continual scorer of goals in Portuguese league for Braga, many of them crackers.
Kuljic. Played in UEFA Cup this season. Lot of hope for him in Austria.

Questions.
1. Will they get thumped, or exit with pride?
2. How will the youngsters deal with the demands of top class international football?
3. What will the reaction be if they defy the odds and win a match, let alone qualify?



Prediction
See, Austria have talented youngsters in key positions, players who could become big things in Europe. But this tournament is WAY too soon for them. My major hope coming into this tournament is that what confidence they have gained so far is not killed in the next three weeks. And, had the next team not been in this group, I could easily have seen them been the first hosts to go bottom of a group.

POLAND

A wise man once said to judge a team on recent friendlies is a foolish errand. But lackluster friendly performances against the likes of the USA, Albania and Macedonia strongly suggest that the Polish are not going to be contendors at Euro2008 for long. The decline in Polish football has been sudden and shocking. In 2004/5, they were arguably one of the finest attacking sides in Europe, scoring for fun in the World Cup Qualifiers. Then manager Pawel Janas, in a move that got him the sack, decided to play defensive football. The Polish team can't play defensive football, as shown in the World Cup. The results of that tournament was a weak in confidence side who fell into the Euros as Finland and Serbia cut their own throats with crucial draws. The current squad have little passing skill or speed on the ball, are too easy to cut off at the back and are suseptible to playing like a team of strangers. That they qualified for Euro2008 after being second best to Finland and Serbia is largely testament to Leo Beenhakker's management. However, they lack the fight and class to put a proper fight up for the top two spots in the group.

Poland (according to UEFA)
Boruc
Żewłakow, Bak, Jop, Wasilewski
Błaszczykowski, Dudka, Lewandowski, Krzynówek
Zurawski, Smolarek

If Boruc plays like he is capable of, and Zurawski/Smolarek link up well, then Poland have a slim chance of upending one of the top two. If they dont, Poland will be bottom.