Group D

Only one more group to go

GROUP D
Spain Sweden Greece Russia (The Group of Life)

Well, for every group of death you must have its opposite. Instead of four tight contendors ala Group C, here we have an overwhelming favourite in Spain and the rest are essentially also-rans with a great chance to get to the Quarterfinals. There is very little between Sweden, Greece and Russia, so this could easily end up being the tightest group as it pertains to qualification. Russia/Sweden on the final match day could well be crucial.

SPAIN
I think everyone has been picking Spain as there dark horses to do well since about 1950, and with the exception of one miserly European championship in the 1960s, they've done little to encourage those predictions. With each passing tournament, Spain comes in with an array of riches, has a memorable match that gets people talking about their chances (see Spain 4-0 Ukraine, Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia, etc) and then slump out in a daze by the Quaterfinals, if that. Now the Spanish, on the whole, are so disinterested in the national set up that this might seem fair enough. But to the neutral, a warning: any money spent on Spain is likely to be wasted, yet again.
Which is a shame, as they really do have a overload of talent, such is they can leave the likes of Raul and Bojan out of the provisional squad. This will be Luis Aragones last tournament.
In goal Iker Cassilas will continue to be No#1, short of assassination. Pepe Reina of Liverpool is there in case of injury/suspension, so they have two fairly decent stoppers at the back. Aragones recent back fours suggest he will go with Puyol and Marchena at centre defense and opt for Sergio Ramos on the right and Capdevila of Villarreal on the left. Doing their best to imitate total football, both Ramos and Capdevila are both known for going up front to attack at opportunities.

Trying to make sense of UEFAs bit about the midfield is a bit difficult. Here is what they say

UEFA

QUOTE

With Marcos Senna occupying a holding midfield role, central players Xavi Hernández and Cesc Fabregas are free to create for a lone striker or a pairing up front. Andrés Iniesta provides the pace on the counterattack with the versatile midfielder comfortable bursting through from central positions or from the right or the left, where he can switch with player, David Silva. Both Xavi and Iniesta are also capable of scoring goals, managing seven between them in qualification.

I think this implies 4-5-1 with a midfield ala

Senna (holding defensive midfield)
Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta (your centre midfield)
David Silva

Then they can link up to Torres, with Fabregas and Iniesta coming forward. Personally I'd put Torres/Villa up front as a pairing, but apparently that would mean Aragones would sacrifice Fabregas. Embarrasement of riches, eh?

This suggests a line up of

Casillas
Capdevila, Marchena, Puyol, Ramos
Senna
Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta
Silva
Torres

Which is not too shabby a lineup, especially when you consider they have David Villa, Xabi Alonso and Getafe sensation Ruben de la Red on the bench if needed.

Prediction
They wont win it. They'll get through this group, dazzle us all with some fine attacking play, and then capitulate to the runners up of the Group of Death. Its the Spanish way.

GREECE

Greece caused a major seismic shock when they won Euro2008. Unfortunately for me, I ignored the advice of Glasgow underground musician "Mad" Mick Stewart when he put his money on Greece. I could have been well off, I tell you, well off. But the chances of them doing the double are very slim. Lightning never strikes twice and all that.

Now this may toy with your expectations of Euro 2008, but my mysterious sources (ie, magazines, experts and fans from Greece, yeah, I know my sources aren't all that mysterious after all) tell me that, faced with elimination in the Qualifiers, Otto Rehagal dropped his defensive tactics and opted for a attack minded offence, leading to Greece qualifying with easy and lots of goals. Now, will this change continue to the Euros? I have my doubts, but it would be nice to see some of this new Greek outlook. In fact, UEFA.com expects Rehagal to drop his qualifying 4-3-3 for the tournament itself.

Nikopolodis, the George Clooney lookalike, is still the unreplaceable Greek no#1. (He must be like one of the most recognisable goalkeepers on the planet!). Marshalling the defense is Dellas and Krygiakos (a liability at Rangers but steadfast one of his countries most reliable defenders), with Antzas and Tosiridos filling out the back four. The midfield will definetly contain holding midfielders Katsouranis and Basinas, and attacking midfielder Karagounis. Amanatidis may fit on the left wing. Gekas, Charisteas, Samaras and supersub Liberopolous will fit it out for the strikers berths.

This leaves us with a lineup like this

Nikopolodis
Antzas, Dellas, Krygiakos, Tosiridos
Katsouranis, Basinias
Amanatidis, Karagounis
Gekas, Charisteas

Something like that. Greek could go far, but dont expect a repeat success.

RUSSIA
When the time comes to write the football eulogy for one Guus Hiddink, the term "miracle worker" wont be too far off the top. This is a man who seems to walk in and turn everything he touches to gold. PSV? National champions, sweeping aside the Ajax domination of the 90s and getting to Champions League semis. South Korea? Semifinalists of the world Cup. Australia? Qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, and getting to the 2nd round. Russia? Qualifying ahead of England for Euro2008. For a country whose national confidence in their national team hit rock bottom two years ago (when they missed a World cup playoff thanks to Slovakia and had trouble beatin g the likes of Latvia and Estonia, as well as falling 7-1 to Portugal) qualifying for this tournament is a major success. No matter how they perform this month, Hiddink and his players will be lauded for their achievement in their homeland. However, the group they landed in is very fortunate: the fixtures and the Hiddink touch could very well see Russia go to the Quarterfinals.

There is however, one unfortuate piece of bad luck. Remember Pogrebynak , the Zenit forward and top scorer in this years UEFA Cup? He missed the UEFA Cup final thanks to an overzealous referee, and now he may miss Euro 2008 due to injury. His chances of appearing though are marginally better than they were last week. Hiddink however will stay loyal to the striker and refuses to replace him in the squad. "Even if Pavel cannot make the Spain game, he is still not going anywhere!" said the coach. His options up front are further stimmied by the fact that star striker Andrei Arshavin is ineligble for the first two group stage games, a result of his suspension.

One fact for all you trivia buffs out there is this: Russia's first eleven should be the youngest in the tournament, as Hiddink turned to youth after he was appointed manager.

Akinfeev, surely due a big money move from CSKA Moscow before long, has cemented his place as the successor to Sergei Ovchinnikov in goal. Russian goalkeepers have a lot to live up to with the legend that is Lev Yashin looming over them, but Igor seems set to shine in his first major international tournament. Hiddink prefers the Martin O'Neill 3-5-2 formation, and goes for a back three of Ignasevitch and two Berezutskis's, Vasili and Alexsei. Hiddink responded to the leaky defence of recent years by packing his midfield. Shemshov and Zyrianov (Russian player of the year) act as the defensive midfield rocks. Bilyaletdinov and two of Zhirkov, Bystrov, Saenko and Tobinskiy form the attacking part of the midfield. As a result Russia conceded only seven goals in qualifying, though the fact that four of those goals were scored by England suggests they can be got at.
With injuries and suspensions, the front two may very well be Sychev and Pavlyuchenko, though expect Arshavin if he plays in Match #3 to be a more deep playing player.

So there line up should look something like this
Akinfeev
Ignasevitch, A Berezutski, V Berezutski
Shemshov, Zyrianov
Bilyaletdinov, Bystrov, Zhirkov
Sychev, Pavlyuchenko (though when Pobregnyak is fit and Arshavin unsuspended, they will fit in here)

Prediction
Like Greece and Sweden, Russia will be fighting it out for the 2nd spot in the group. What gives Russia the edge over Greece is that their last match is vs. Sweden as opposed to vs.Spain. However the fixtures have not been kind to Russia. Their first match is Spain, one they cannot expect much from, and if they lose their next game against Greece, they will be out before the postcards are sent, let alone arrive. Because of this, I'd rank Russia as 3rd favourites to make 2nd spot. But don't be fooled by that. This is a really tight group.

Last team! I'm almost free! Free to make more outlandish predictions that never go anywhere.

SWEDEN

Sweden is currently buzzing. Not just because its the Euros. Not just because they are at their 5th straight international tournament, a fantastic record for a smaller country. No, they are buzzing because Henrik frikkin' Larsson has responded to their prayers to take to the field as a Swedish international one more time. Henrik-mania has swept the country as Larsson, 37 in September, returns to the fold for what will certainly be a final bow. The amazing thing is Larsson has retired from international football three times this decade, and each time he has been begged out of it by his adoring public, UEFA and teammates. The man is idolized in his homeland beyond anything, and will be looking to score at an incredible 6th international tournament, a world record. Larsson playing is also beneficial to the team, as he tends to get the best out of Ibrahimovic, and Swedens hopes may fall or die by thier mecurial yet moody and bloody annoying scorer of great goals. (Ibrahimovic, to qoute Sir Bobby Charlton, is not a great scorer of goals, he is a scorer of great goals. He is also a bit of an arse who hasn't scored for his national side since 2005. So watch him score a 40 yard beauty with one foot against the Spanish now!). Also, this gives the impressive Elmander, ready to move from Toulouse to a number of interested clubs, a chance to play alongside his idol.

This makes the Swedish rather happy. And this pyschological boost is possibly exactly what they need to get out of this group. Sweden have form at international tournaments of getting out of the group stage, and at the last European Championships were highly unfortunate not to beat the Dutch in a Quarterfinal penalty shootout.

Likely lineup
Isakkson
Dorsin, Mellburg, Majstorovic, Stoor
Ljunberg, Linderoth, A Svensson, Wilhelmsson
Larsson, Ibrahimovic


The aging backline is dependable but could be a weakness to Sweden's chances, though their fast wingers mean the team is never far off going 4-2-4 at attacking. Defensive liabilities, but scoring potential? Expect big scores from Sweden in the tournament.
I think they'll finish 2nd (Sorry, John C!). The reason is the fixtures are in thier favour. Greece first, Spain in the middle and Russia last is exactly how to go about the group, and it may well help the Swedish get to the Quarterfinals again. From their, they would probably fall to a Group of Death survivor. Although, what price a Larsson swansong goal to knock out the Dutch in revenge for the penalty that never was in Portugal? Anything could happen.

Group C

Group C
The Group of Intense Discomfort and Ceasing to Exist Forever.....Unless You're a neutral.

Italy (world champions, former european champions)
France (world cup runners up, former european champions)
Holland (former two time world cup runners up, former european champions)
Romania (fecked)

So here we have it, the Group of, well anything other than death. Three former champions and heavyweights battle it out for qualification whilst the Romanians just hope everyone takes it easy on them. A cruel twist of fate, perhaps, that the best of the 4th seeds are stuck in the worst group of all, but that just adds to the spice of Group C. Three strong sides will duel, alongside one improving underdog, and only two will advance. But who will it be?

ITALY
Italy won the World Cup. I thought I'd bring that up because the French are STILL complaining about it. By whatever means you want to call it (and lets not get into another debate about that own goal, that penalty, and that headbutt) Italy were deserved world champions. Their record of 6-1-0 was unsurpassed, and their goal scoring feat surpassed that of even the lauded Brazil and Argentina (indeed, only Germany scored more goals at World CUp 2006 than Italy).
So, the main question is: will we see a dreaded return to the stereotypical variations of catenaccio, or will the tournament be graced by the attacking flair of Italy 2006?
Evidence on paper suggests the latter. Roberto Donadoni picked six strikers for his squad. Cassano, Del Piero and Luca Toni are well known to even casual European football viewers, with Toni's selection being obvious and Alessandro's form over the last year leaving undroppable from the squad. Also making the squad were faithful and dangerous Udinese frontman Antonio Di Natale, Sampdoria stiker Fabio Quagriella, and (hooray!) everybody's favourite rising star, Marco Borriello of Genoa, a man who came from nowhere to take Serie A by storm this season. All three are relative newcomers to the National Team, in fact all three were born in the same area of Napoli! But the quality of attacking options suggests a positive approach to proceedings. As does the unfortunate incident to befall the Italians last weekend.

A decisive injury to Fabio Cannavaro means the Italian captain will miss the Euros. One of the practical upshots of this injury is that the manager has been going for variations of a 3-4-3 lately. Yes, you heard me right, Italy with only three defenders on the field. Though to be fair, it makes sense, since this Italy's strengths come from the midfield up and not having Zaccardo play. Ironically for a team dubbed defensive, the Italians main problem may come from not being defensive enough. With Cannavaro missing, they may be relying on the likes of Grosso and Materazzi to shore up the defence: capable defenders, both, but not in the same class of the missing skipper.

Add in the fact that the midfield four is almost certainly predictable (Ambrosini, Gattuso, De Rossi; Pirlo) means that the holding three can defend whilst the maverick Grosso can turn himself into a makeshift winger/attacker joining the front pairing. As for Pirlo, he may be getting on in age, but he can still hit a free kick in from anywhere.

Michael's suggested line up (I'm going 4-4-2 for safety, though dont be surprised if the 3-5-2/3-4-3 appears instead)
Buffon
Chiellini, Zambrotta, Materazzi, Grosso
de Rossi, Gattuso, Ambrosini
Pirlo
del Piero, Toni

Prediction
This called the group of death, and with good reason. However I am going to say - perhaps controversially - that there are, in my mind, 1 spot for 3. Because I cannot see Italy failing at the group stage. The Italians have a great record against Holland (havent lost to them since 1978, only lost twice in their history) and then take on Romania. It should be all done and dusted before France. Of course, that could be famous last words, and how many times have we heard the words "Team X is too good to go down/get eliminated this early". But if one of the victims of Group C turns out to be Italy, I will be well and truely surprised, as they certainly seem to be the superior side of the four.
Once out of the group, Italy will face one of the Group D teams, surely not beyond their ability. Ironically, the biggest stepping stone to a second straight international final could be the other Group C survivor wanting revenge in the Semifinal. Either way, Italy are a team you can reasonable expect big things from this month.

ROMANIA
Nobody really expects much from Romania in this group, on the completly spurious notion that the rest of the teams are former Champions and better. Can't think why this prevailing thought came to be. Romania can legitimately curse their luck as had they been in any other group they would have probably qualified for the Quarterfinals. As it is, the Quarterfinals are a pipe dream. However, it is not all for nowt. They have hope, manifested in their recent better head-to-head record against Holland. If they beat the Dutch again, and maybe nick a point off the other two.....isn't that the great thing about these tournaments, when even the lowliest of group participents can think positively. Hell, Romania only have to look to the performances of Latvia in a similar group in 2004, and Romania are a far more talented side than that Latvia side can hope to be.
There are two instantly recognisable faces in the Romanian lineup, Christian Chivu and Adrian Mutu, now fully matured into a dangerous striker. There is also, for anyone in Scottish football, the inclusion of Marius Nicolae of Inverness CT, and Ciprian Marica, possibly the striker with the brightest future in Europe.

Romania's likely line up
Lobont
Rat, Tamas, Chivu, Contra
Dica, Cocis, Radoi, Petre
Marica, Mutu

Prediction
Actually, looking at that likely starting eleven, Romania aren;t all that bad. In fact, if they can catch the bigger names off cold, they could very well qualify from this group. I don't see it happening, but they'll make everything interesting to say the least.

HOLLAND
Oh, to have the embarassement of riches that befall the Dutch. Dripping in forward playing talent, they are. This will be Marco Van Basten, current winner of greatest goal ever at the Euros on BBC extra, in his last month in charge of the Dutch side. However, Holland had similar riches at the World Cup, and there they only scored three goals and crashed out in a infamous red-card melee to Portugal. (Wasn't there like four red cards in that match? By the end Scolari and Van Basten had gone variations of 2-3-4 and chances were falling at every end...never prayed for extra time more in a game! Anyway, I digress...)

Edwin Van Der Sar is, yet again at an international competition, both goalkeeper and captain. The formidable Dutch backline - only five goals conceded in qualifying - will be made up of some combination of Ooijer, Heitinga, Mathijsen, van Bronchorst, Melchiot, Bouma or de Cler. Or Khalid Boulharouz, who is back in the squad after being originally dropped. Common sense dictates Bouma, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Heitinga as a likely starting line up.

Since the Dutch go 4-3-3, that leaves Van Persie, Sneijder and Van der Vaart as their attacking midfield lineup with a front three of Van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar and Kuyt/Venegoor of Hesselink to finish the puzzle.

Holland's likely lineup
Van der Sar
Bouma, Ooijer, mathijsen, Heitinga
Van Persie, Sneijder, Van der Vaart
Huntelaar, Van Nistelrooy, Kuyt

Predictions
Failure. With everything being so tight in this group, Holland are the only team who have proven they will probably fall to Romania. That, and France and Italy have far superior squads to the Dutch. Also, its a tight group: who cracks under pressure fastest? The Dutch.

In fact, I can predict the entire group

France and Italy will both draw with Holland.
France and Italy will both beat Romania
Romania will beat Holland
Italy and France will fight out for leadership of the group.

Holland will exit at the group stage, because they haven't proven this squad can cope under pressure at the early stages of a tournament, and a weakness against Romania will almost certainly prove their undoing as well as continually disharmonious pressure from inside.

France

Likely line up

Coupet
Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal
Malouda, Makelele, Viera, Ribery
Henry, Benzema

Prediction
Semifinals at worst, sadly. Though I would like to see them fail faster.


What? That wasn't a cheat at all. Everyone knows the French side in and out. They've barely changed since 2000 and the few changes (Ribery, Benzema) are well known. And they'll exceed modest expectations before crashing spectacularly.

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.

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.