Euro 2008
Euro 2008: Semi-Fearless Predictions
With an optimistic eye, one could make the case for nine of the 16 teams in this year’s European Championships lifting the trophy on June 29. Emmett Williams offers his predictions -with two firm favourites fighting out the final.
With an optimistic eye, one could make the case for nine of the 16 teams in this year’s European Championships lifting the trophy on June 29. Of course you have teams like Germany, Italy, and France who will always be tagged with the “favorite” label. But as Greece showed four years ago, a little coaching and a LOT of defense (organization?) can take you a long way. That’s why Russia, Croatia, and again, Greece must be considered as having an outside but serious shot at going deep in this year’s tournament.
Group A – Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey
Despite having Deco, Nani and Simao Sabrosa, Portugese success solely depends on Christian Ronaldo continuing his fine form. They should advance out of an easy group, but going any further completely depends on the (former?) Man United player scoring like he does in the Premiership. Hosts Switzerland will have their country behind them, but don’t’ have enough up front to mount any serious challenges. Turkey’s coach Fatih Terim is the main liability on a team without anyone resembling a dangerous striker. Also injuries and infighting have stalled the Turkish campaign before it even starts. Luckily for the Turks, Czech Republic have just as many problems, starting with Tomas Rosicky out through injury, and ending with an inexperienced midfield. And they are relying once again on Jan Koller and Milan Baros for goals.
Portugal will win the group and the Czech Republic will battle Turkey for the second spot on June 15, with the Czechs only just going through.
Group B - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland
On the back of their incredible run in the 2006 World Cup, Germany are not only favorites to win this group, but to win the entire tournament. With just a few small questions (at goalkeeper and central defense) and an easy draw up to the semi-finals, they have time to find their form. And look for striker Mario Gomez to become a star. Croatia’s chances at Euro success seemed to have been shattered along with the ankle of Arsenal’s Eduardo. Mladen Petric and Spurs Luka Modric may be able to make up the goals, but coach Slaven Bilic may have to conjure up another miracle to reach the quarterfinals. To the Czech’s advantage, Poland might simply be happy just to be in the Finals for the first time in their history. The fourth team in this group, hosts Austria, will be relieved that their trip home is a short one.
Germany cruises through this group. Poland had a chance to upset Croatia until Jakub Blaszczykowski was ruled out through injury.
Group C – France, Holland, Italy, Romania
Poor Romania. They have a decent side, have Adrian Mutu scoring bags of goals and topped a qualifying group that included Holland and Bulgaria. Sadly for them, they were drawn with a Dutch team looking for revenge, an Italian team playing for a second consecutive major trophy, and a French team looking to reclaim the glory of the first part of the decade. A case could be made for all three of these teams to go through, and they all have innumerable strengths, so it might come down to who is healthier as the Finals begin. France has many questions as neither Ribery, Viera, nor Henry are completely fit. Lucky they have players like Toulalan and Benzema of Lyon and Samir Nasri to not only take up the slack, but some would say, make Les Bleus an even better team. Italy have the quality but most importantly the experience to go far, but the injury to captain Fabio Cannavaro could be a huge setback. Holland will be thrilled if Robin Van Persie is healthy, but a laughable defense could see the Dutch once again going home unexpectedly early.
France top the group and the world learns just how good this team is. Italy also go through and the Dutch end up fourth and start all over, once again.
Group D – Greece, Russia, Spain, Sweden
Despite recent lackluster friendly performances, Spain simply have too much quality to not win this group. Fernando Torres is simply one of the top three strikers in the world, and with Fabregas, Villa, and Iniesta in support, they will score a lot of goals. Sadly for them, they will also let in just as many. Greece has already announced they will play the same compact/organized/defensive/boring manner that they did four years ago. While this may keep them in matches, Russian coach Guus Hiddink is too smart to not take advantage of their lack of overall talent. Sweden is still so desperate for quality that they recalled soon to be octogenarian Henrik Larrson.
Spain go through on top, but Russia could easily pull of the upset. Greece gets found out and we all get to see Larsson’s farewell international performance..again.
More semi-fearless predictions:
Quarterfinals – Germany crushes the Czech Republic with Gomez scoring two goals. Croatia almost gets past Portugal but don’t have the strikers. France get a scare from Russia but move on. Italy is stunned by Spain (only writing that because at some point you have to pick a big upset).
Semifinals – We will all get great pleasure out of the tears coming out of Christian Ronaldo’s eyes as the Germans completely shut him down and move on to the Final. We will also get great pleasure out of France defeating Spain 4-3 in the match of the tournament.
Final – The new faces of France run circles around the Germans who, in the end, lack the creativity to lift their fourth trophy. Allez Les Bleus!
Tags: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Euro 2008, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey
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I think the teams to watch will be Germany, Russia and Holland. germany is the perennial powerhouse and with their superb showing in thier World Cup, have a bone to pick with the footballing world. Their turnaround from the overly technical style of the years past, has impressed and the crop of new (and racially diverse) players has benefitted them greatly. Holland is also a new team and with a bunch of foreign based players who are world class, will do well this time and also being under a great coach who they can still identify with from his recent playing days. I think the “Clockwork Orange” style will return. The Russians have a strong team with largely ‘unknowns’ on thw world stage (kinda like the Patriots)but a strong cohesive unit that is expected to do well.
Portugal….Im not sure about them..! Ronaldo has not been able to emulate his Premiership goal scoring prowess in the Burgundy and green to date, but maybe this may be his year, Deco has been a bit of a shadow of himself lately and the supporting cast of Nani & co need to step up.
France…are in transition and need a a year ot two to getthe new team (post Zizou)to become a cohesive unit.
But as you said and the Greeks proved 4 years ago, a great coach and a mediocre team, alongside a great crowd, upsets can happen.
Should be fun…
Italy beat by spain in quarter? geez… Spain have to face the experience one.. think about that
[...] RUSSIAEuro 2008: Semi-Fearless Predictions [...]
My predictions were:
GROUP A: Portugal, Czech Republic, Turkey, Switzerland.
GROUP B: Germany, Croatia, Poland, Austria.
GROUP C: Italy, Holland, France, Romania.
GROUP D: Spain, Russia, Sweden, Greece.
QF: Portugal 0-1 Croatia
Germany 2-0 Czech Republic
Italy 0-0 Russia (ITA win 5-4 on pens)
Spain 2-2 Holland (SPA win 4-3 on pens)
SF: Croatia 1-0 Italy
Germany 1-0 Spain
3rd Place: Italy 0-1 Spain
Final: Croatia 2-1 Germany
haha you were so wrong. The first posters predictions were good mind.