Following
on from my profiles of the sixteen teams competing at Euro 2012, I thought I’d
throw my sixpence into the ring and have a bash at some predictions. Trying to
call what is likely to happen at major footballing tournaments, such as the
World Cup or European Championships, is always a leap into the unknown and can,
more often than not, lead to emerging from the three weeks with more than a
hint of egg on your face, such is the unpredictability of tournament football.
However, it is time to throw caution to the wind and get the face-cloth at the
ready because, beginning with the group stages, that is exactly what I’m about
to do.
Group
A consists of Russia, Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic, making it is a
fairly evenly matched group. Russia made a good fist of Euro 2008, reaching the
semi-finals, had an excellent qualifying campaign and look like a team in great
shape; as their 3-0 demolition of Italy in a recent friendly proved. The
Russians are a tight-knit unit and have some very creative players amongst
their ranks, Arshavin and Kerzhakov to name just two and, with good pace
throughout the team, they will be the ones to beat in this group.
Poland,
with their trio from Borussia Dortmund: Lewandowski, Kuba and Pizczsek, along
with Szczesny in goal, are much stronger than their ranking suggests. The Poles
have a very strong right side and great pace in wide positions, the understanding
between the Dortmund lads which comes from club level has also helped the
national team in terms of fluency and inter-play. With home advantage to
capitalise on and a burning desire to return some pride to Polish international
football, I see them coming through in second place.
Greece
and the Czech Republic are capable. Greece’s tournament will be built on
defence because they don’t score enough goals, I feel Poland will beat them in
the first game and after that, it will be a struggle for them. The Czechs are
historically strong, however, this team isn’t as good as teams of the past and
they lack in creativity and flair. The possible loss of Milan Baros through
injury, at least for the start of the
action, is a big blow and they could
find goals hard to come by, especially against teams who enjoy sitting back
like Poland and Greece. Like Greece, It seems likely to me that they will
struggle in their first game, which is against the Russians. Should they lose
that, a first round exit will be on the cards.
PREDICTION: Russia
1st Poland 2nd
Group B, The Group of Death,
so called because if the four teams that comprise it had have been drawn each
in separate groups they all would have been favourites to qualify, features
Holland, Germany, Portugal and Denmark. Germany were outstanding at the 2010
World Cup and have kept the coach and team together from that tournament. They
are all now two years older and two years wiser and, with a couple of new
additions, their team is even stronger.
Maximum
points in qualification bears this fact out and die Mannschaft are certainly my
favourites to top this group. Doubters have questioned Germany’s Bayern based
players’, of which there are eight, ability to recover from a gruelling season
which saw them finish second in every competition they entered. However it is
not the German mentality to let one setback run into another and I believe that
they will be even more determined to triumph in Poland & Ukraine as a
result. Mesut Oezil has had a magnificent season in Spain as Real Madrid won La
Liga and I expect him to be a real star once Euro 2012 gets underway.
Holland
are perennial qualifiers for the knock-out stages in tournaments and this year
should prove no different. Arriving on the back of a near flawless
qualification campaign, the Oranje looked in devastating form as they racked up
38 goals from their ten games. Van Persie and Huntelaar are in lethal mood, each
topping the scoring charts in their respective leagues and Sneijder and Afellay
look in tip-top condition also. Critics point to a relatively weak back four
which is compensated by playing with two holding midfielders, which can, in
turn, lead to slow movement of the ball. However, with such strong attack
minded players, these issues may prove to be less problematic than they might
otherwise.
Portugal
and Denmark are capable of springing an upset as both teams are very strong in
their own right. Denmark are compact, hard-working and have some real
creativity, particularly in Eriksen, and they will not be easy to beat. The
Danes qualified in assured fashion, topping a group which included their Group
B opponents Portugal and traded victories with the Iberians on route.
Goalkeeper Sorenson has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after sustaining an injury
in a warm-up fixture, prompting a call-up for Casper Schmeichel exactly 20
years after his father played a pivotal role in Denmark winning the European
Championship back in 1992.
Portugal
are back to playing more expansive football under Bento, however they still
lack a true striker and will rely heavily on the form of Cristiano Ronaldo. The
recent 1-3 defeat by Turkey in a warm-up friendly highlighted Portugal’s susceptibility
to counter-attacks and Bento’s feuds with Carvalho and Bosingwa have left the
Potuguese short of top quality options at the back. Although by the very nature
of this group a surprise is certainly possible, I can’t see past Germany and
Holland to qualify.
PREDICTION Germany 1st
Holland 2nd
Group
C is made up of Spain, Ireland, Italy and Croatia. Spain are the current
champions and the bookies’ favourites to retain their crown. Although they will
be without Carlos Puyol and David Villa, two players who played vital roles in
both the success at Euro 08 as well as at World Cup 2010, Spain have an
abundance of talent at their disposal and their squad is without doubt one of
the strongest in the competition. The omission of Roberto Soldado from the
final squad raised a few eyebrows, however it would appear that with Torres
seemingly recapturing some of his form at the right time and Fernando Llorente
now presumably well rested goals shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Look out
for Jesus Navas, a winger with rockets in his boots, he could light up the
tournament!
Italy’s
form in qualification, under Prandelli, was exceptional. Playing a more
attacking game, the Italians still only conceded two goals, finishing top of
their group. The recent match fixing scandal which has broken surrounding Serie
A is hardly ideal, however, it is nothing new in Italian football and is
unlikely to make much of an impact on the squad. The only real problem facing
Prandelli is his lack of an experienced goal-scorer, meaning that striking
duties may be handed to the unpredictable Mario Balotelli. Prandelli’s desire
to play three at the back has been dealt a blow by the injury to Andrea
Barzagli, however, the coach hasn’t given up on the system and feels that
Daniele de Rossi may well be able to fill that particular void.
Croatia
are a team that I fancy as possible Dark Horses in the tournament, perhaps not
to go all the way, but certainly to do better than expected. This will be their
last tournament under Slaven Bilic and the squad are keen to deliver something
special as a parting gift. With quality players in most departments, Croatia
have a really strong team and their compact counter attacking style may well
suit this tournament perfectly. Look out for Jelavic, if he can translate his
club form to international level we could be witnessing the birth of a
superstar.
The
Republic of Ireland arrive at the finals with, as usual, the minimum of
expectations. They are a solid side with great experience who arrived at this
point on the back of a great defensive record and the ability to take their
chances when they appeared. Whilst I can’t see the Irish progressing, it would
be folly to write them off completely as they delight in providing magic
moments for their fans and proving
doubters wrong. This is a really tough group to call, but I have to so here
goes.
PREDICTION Spain 1st
Croatia 2nd
Group
D features France, England, Sweden and Ukraine. France come into the tournament
on the back of a twenty game unbeaten run and recent friendly wins over Serbia
and Estonia, howed that Les Bleus are in confident mood. Both Karim Benzema and
Franck Ribery are in fantastic club form and have, it seems, been successful in
bringing that form to the national set-up. The French seem to be united as a
team for once, with the only exception appearing to be Patrice Evra, not a
popular man with the French support. Question marks over the centre-back
partnership of Mexes and Rami mean that Koscielny may be given a chance to
start. If anything, the inclusion of the Arsenal man could strengthen the
French team.
England
are getting used to life under Roy Hodgson. The new England boss has a very
tactical approach and likes to concede possession, soak up pressure and play on
the counter-attack. Whilst it has its detractors, this approach has worked so
far and could continue to be successful as England, in comparison with other
teams, are not so good at keeping possession and dictating the play. It may
just be that Hodgson proves to be the perfect fit for this current England team
with his commitment to organisation and discipline, something which the Three
Lions have been woefully bereft of at recent tournaments. Hodgson is without Wayne Rooney for the first
two games against France and Sweden so expect Andy Carroll and Ashley Young to
star.
Sweden
come into Euro 2012 after finishing best runners-up, defeating Holland in their
last game. Sweden have a strong, experienced squad with strikers such as Ibrahimovic and
Toivonen who’ve both had fantastic goal-scoring seasons at club-level. The
spine of the team is one of the most capped in the competition and, with the
set-piece delivery of Sebastien Larsson, the other teams in the group will need
to be very alert defensively when confronting the Swedes.
Co-hosts
Ukraine come into the tournament with nothing to lose. A very experienced squad
which, of course, includes Andriy Shevchenko, also features some really
exciting young talent such as Andriy Yarmolenko. Home support could prove to be
a real advantage for Ukraine and they will have to make the most of it, because
on paper, they are the weakest side in the group. All the groups are difficult
to call and this one is no different, Sweden are a quality side and with home
advantage Ukraine will be a tricky proposition however, when it comes to the
crunch, which it just has, my choice is this.
PREDICTION France 1st
England 2nd
For
a more in-depth look at the teams involved from their history, right up to the
coming tournament you can check out my Euro 2012 profiles, also available on
this site.
By Neil Patterson
Email: neil.b.patterson@gmail.com
Facebook: http://goo.gl/MJce0
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Neil1980
