The
tournament is just about to get underway in a couple of hours and so here are
my predictions!
Group A
Russia topped their group in
qualifying for Euro 2012, conceding only 4 goals in 10 matches, and they will
top this group as well.
Behind them will be co-hosts Poland
who go into Euro 2012 with the second youngest squad at the tournament. Despite
their youthfulness, they have players who will offer more of a goal threat than
Greece or the Czech Republic, who are heavily reliant on the creativity of
their captain Tomas Rosicky and the goals from Milan Baros who is under an
injury cloud.
Poland will look to their captain
Jakub Blaszczykowski and striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored 22 goals in the
German Bundesliga, to carry on the form that helped their club Borussia
Dortmund to the title last season.
Greece will set out to defend,
something they did well in the qualifiers having conceded only 5 goals in 10
games. However, as New Zealand showed at the 2010 World Cup, three draws do not
get you into the next round! Just like the Greek economy at the moment, this
team will be at the bottom.
Group B
The so-called “Group of Death”
featuring the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Denmark. Given the quality of
players across the board, this is also the glamour group. From one of the greatest
players in the world in Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, to the Netherlands’ Robin
van Persie, both of whom are coming off barnstorming domestic seasons. As the
chants go, “He scores when he wants”!
van Persie has a bit more star
support in the likes of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder however! The Dutch also
have Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who finished as top goalscorer in the German
Bundesliga with 29 goals for Schalke. Then there’s a German team playing
dynamic, free-flowing football and currently averaging three goals per game.
Oh, and a young rising star in Denmark’s Christian Eriksen.
So how does this group pan out
then? Germany is only one of two teams with 100% records in qualifying but the
Dutch also had a 100% record until they lost their final match against Sweden
having already sealed qualification. The Germans conceded 7 goals in 10 games
whilst the Dutch conceded 8 goals in 10 games. On that basis, most bookmakers
have the Germans favourite to top this group. However, given their recent
defensive frailties in the pre-Euro friendly internationals, I am going to pick
the Dutch for top spot and Germany second.
Although Denmark beat Portugal
twice during qualifying and ended topping the group, I think Portugal will get
revenge here and finish above the Danes.
Group C
Easy group winner to pick here.
It is the other team to finish with a 100% record in qualifying, the current
European and World Champions, Spain. Ole! Despite the loss of David Villa
upfront, Fernando Torres seems to have realised where the goal is just in time!
Italy will finish second,
provided they do not play Mario Balotelli who, by all accounts, will be a
liability! Defensively, the Italians were very solid during qualifying,
conceding only 2 goals in 10 matches and ending up undefeated. Of course, the
downside is that they have the ‘calcioscommesse' scandal back home affecting
their domestic football.
Croatia will finish third, just
ahead of Ireland.
Group D
When I reviewed the England squad
announcement in my last blog, I wrote that France would top the group with
England behind them. I think that will still be the case provided England does
not pick up further injuries. They have already lost Gareth Barry and Gary
Cahill, and Roy Hodgson has only called up one adequate replacement in Phil
Jagielka. No disrespect to Martin Kelly, and Rio Ferdinand aside, there were
easily other choices that Hodgson could have made.
So it would not surprise me if
Sweden sneaks into that second spot. Remember, England play Sweden in the
second group match with Wayne Rooney still suspended. At least for English fans’
sake, Andy Carroll has also realised where the goals are, much like Torres!
Co-hosts Ukraine will not present
much threat to these three teams and will finish last.
Quarterfinals
So therefore the QF matches will
be:
Russia
|
vs
|
Germany
|
Netherlands
|
vs
|
Poland
|
Spain
|
vs
|
England
|
France
|
vs
|
Italy
|
Semi-finals
Germany
|
vs
|
Spain
|
Netherlands
|
vs
|
Italy
|
Finals
Spain
|
vs
|
Netherlands
|
Looks like we will have a repeat of the 2010 World Cup final!
Can Spain become the first team
to win the Euros twice either side of a World Cup? Given their depth of talent,
they possibly could. However, I think the Dutch will get one over Spain this
time round!
That's assuming that the Dutch haven't walked off the pitch beforehand of course! This is something that their captain Mark van Bommel has stated they will do in the face of racism and a stance I agree with. Hopefully they do not get punished given the comments from UEFA President Michel Platini.
In this day and age, in such a multicultural society, there simply is NO place for racism.
KICK IT OUT - LET'S KICK RACISM OUT OF FOOTBALL
That's assuming that the Dutch haven't walked off the pitch beforehand of course! This is something that their captain Mark van Bommel has stated they will do in the face of racism and a stance I agree with. Hopefully they do not get punished given the comments from UEFA President Michel Platini.
In this day and age, in such a multicultural society, there simply is NO place for racism.
KICK IT OUT - LET'S KICK RACISM OUT OF FOOTBALL
