Euro 2008

With a day to go before the hotly-anticipated European Championships 2008 get underway in Austria & Switzerland, it seems that the bookmakers have made their minds up with regards to the competition’s runners and riders. As usual, the European heavyweights have been heavily backed to go all the way this summer, although it is Joachim Lów’s side that lead the way with the shortest outright odds of winning the tournament. SkyBet, William Hill and PaddyPower all have the Germans at 4/1 to end their twelve-year wait for silverware, with their nearest challengers Spain at 5/1.

The Germans under Lów have only ever lost once, and even that was with an experimental side against Denmark in March 2007. They only dropped two points in their qualification campaign under him, and have bagged an impressive 41 goals in the new manager’s eleven games in charge, conceding only six. Lów’s squad for Euro 2008 contains a host of familiar faces, both for Premier League followers and those on the continent.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who has just signed a one-year contract with Stuttgart after leaving the Gunners on a free transfer, is expected to be the Germans’ No.1 for the tournament, despite a host of problems in North London last season. Chelsea’s Michael Ballack, who will captain his country as usual, is also among the Premier League’s German contingent, whilst one-time Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, renowned for a bullet-like shot, has also made the final 23. Others well-known on the European big-stage include Philip Lahm, Torsten Frings, Cristoph Metzelder, Miroslav Klose, Kevin Kuranyi and Lukas Podolski.

Germany will, however, face a stern test in Group B, alongside England’s conquerors Croatia as well as old foes Poland and Austria, the joint-hosts. Yet the bookmakers still firmly believe that the Germans go into the tournament most likely to pick up that coveted piece of silverware, and it will certainly boost the credentials of 48-year-old Lów if they did so.

Their nearest challengers, in the eyes of the bookmakers, are Luis Aragaonés’ Spain, quoted at 5/1 or 11/2 depending where you look. The Spanish however, as perennial under-achievers in major competitions, face a tough task in Group D, alongside Russia, Sweden and reigning European champions Greece.

Like England, their squad comprises of many big-name stars, although they have often been criticised for not gelling as a team when it matters most. Amongst the Spanish party travelling to Austria are Liverpool quartet Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona duo Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta, Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, as well as Valencia stars David Villa, Carlos Marchena and David Silva. After finishing two points clear of their qualifying group, which contained Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, the Spanish have a good shot of going all the way in the tournament if their big guns turn up and start firing on all cylinders.

Although the black horse of the tournament could be Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Portugal side, containing the unofficial ‘best player in the world’, Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as a host of other top European names such as Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Simáo. Priced at a rather generous 7/1 with most bookies, the Portuguese look like they could be worth a punt. Any side with the majestic and match-winning Ronaldo has a chance in knock-out competitions, and it seems that everything the boy touches turns to gold this season, so why not? The only doubt may be the side’s reliance on their wonder winger, and with Real Madrid’s constant interest in him, as well as his admission yesterday that he ‘would like to join Real’, Scolari’s chances seem stacked with the 23-year-old.

Other hot-shots to look out for in the betting stakes incude Croatia, who beat England to a place at the tournament, priced at 12/1. Slaven Bilic, a vastly impressive up-and-coming young coach, is believed to be attracting interest from a certain Russian in West London, and an impressive outing with the Croats will do his Chelsea job prospects no harm whatsoever. It may also be worth noting that the current world champions, Italy, are out at 13/2 with Hills and even further out at 7/1 with PaddyPower. Despite the dramatic injury to inspirational skipper Fabio Cannavaro, the Italians surely cannot be overlooked. Or how about current European champions Greece, priced at 22/1, to do the unthinkable and retain their crown?

And the longest shot of the competition this summer? Hosts Austria are currently priced at 100/1 and, with a group containing Germany and Croatia, it doesn’t look too prosperous for them.

So rather than sitting on your couch and remaining positively neutral this summer, why not take a gamble, trust your instincts and back the Portuguese for Euro 2008 glory. Or watch Big Brother. I know what I’d rather do.

Tags: Austria, Croatia, Euro 2008, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain

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