Predictions

Group Stage (In predicted order of finish) - 

Group A – Portugal, Czech Republic, Turkey, Switzerland

Group B – Germany, Croatia, Austria, Poland

Group C – France, Italy, Netherlands, Romania

Group D – Spain, Russia, Sweden, Greece

Knock out round -

Portugal vs. Croatia – Portugal

Germany vs. Czech Republic – Germany

France vs. Russia – France

Spain vs. Italy – Italy

Semi-Finals -

Portugal vs. Germany – Portugal

France vs. Italy – France

Third Place - 

Italy vs. Germany – Italy

Finals -

France vs. Portugal – France

Top Goalscorer – Miroslav Klose (Germany)

Player of the Tournament – Franck Ribery (France)

Potential Surprise Package – Coratia

Key Players – Group D

Let’s start with the holders…

Greece - Angelos Charisteas (F, Nurnberg) and Traianos Dellas (D, AEK).  Looking closely at Greece’s squad and their recent friendly loss to Hungary (yeah, seriously what the heck?), the Greeks don’t seem to have much of a chance of repeating as European Champions.  If they make a run, Charisteas will be a key player, as he was Greece’s top player in the last tournament.  Nikopolidis, the aging goalkeeper and Dellas, the aging defender will both have to hold down the back also in order for Greece to have any chance at advancing.  The Greeks have a solid midfield and a solid bench, and this might help them if they are to make any run at retaining the Championship.

Russia - Andrei Arshavin (F, Zenit).  Guus Hiddink is a mastermind coach.  No matter where he goes, he seems to have success.  Now, noting against Russia, but this isn’t the most assuming squad in the tournament, even after Zenit defeated Rangers for the UEFA Cup.  Arshavin, the captain will have to come up big for this extremely young, and relatively inexperienced squad, lacking the institutionalized Yegor Titov.

Spain – Fernando Torres (F, Liverpool) and David Villa (F, Valencia)  Spain are the lovable losers you hate to love, but love to hate.  They always have a solid team in every tournament they enter, but never seem to win anything.  Could this year be it for the Spainards?  The answer lies in the hands of El Nino, one of the best strikers in the World.  He had a splendid first season with Liverpool, and now, he’ll need to duplicate the feat by performing well with his national side.  Villa burst onto the international scene with a great performance at the World Cup.  The last two friendlies have shown the Spaniards to be extremely reluctant up front, and if they want to do anything in the tournament, Torres and Villa will have to score.  Spanish fans and Luis Aragones are losing their patience.

Sweden – Zlatan Ibrahimovic (F, Inter).  Zlatan’s fallen off the map a bit since his introduction into Serie A football, and is slipping even further with the funk he’s currently in.  In order for the Swedes to slip into the next round, they will need him to perform, because without his goals, it could be a long tournament.

Key Players – Group C

The so called ‘Group of Death’…

France – Franck Ribery (M, Bayern Munich).  Gregory Coupet and the combination of youngsters Samir Nasri/Karim Benzema will be vital to the success of France, but Ribery will be the key player.  After a stellar World Cup campaign in Germany, Ribery traded in his Marseille shirt for Bayern Munich and immediately demonstrated why he’s so often considered one of the brightest talents in Europe.  Ribery had a stellar season in Germany, earning honors for player of the year in the Bundesliga, and he looks to continue his hot season, this time needing to replace Zidane in France’s midfield.  Overall, France are one of the favorites to win the tournament.

Italy - Andrea Barzagli (D, Wolfsburg).  Fabio Cannavaro’s injury was crushing for Italy’s chances of repeating in a major tournament, and someone will have to step it up a notch for them to get back there.  That player could well be Marco Materazzi, or it could be Barzagli, unknown to Italian soccer fans as much as four years ago.  Progressing through the ranks of Italian football in recent years, he’ll have to prove he can step it up on the World stage and step in for one of the most clever defenders in the World, whom he’ll be relied on to replace.  He’s already secured a move to Wolfsburg due to his outstanding performances with both Serie A minnows Palermo and Italy, but it’s time to step it up another notch.

Netherlands – Robin van Persie (F, Arsenal).  I’m partial to the Dutch as they were one my favorite side growing up, but they really have some awesome midfielders and forwards.  They could potentially play 4-3-3 with Sneijder, van der Vaart and van Persie across the midfield, and Robben, van Nistelrooy and Klaas Jan Huntaellar up front.  That’s firepower right there folks.  But at the same time, van Persie’s recovering from a severe injury which limited his action this season, and he’ll have to work hard to regain his fitness for the tournament.  If he can, and if John Heitinga can hold up the back well, there’s no telling how far the Oranje can go.

Romania – Cristian Chivu (D, Inter).  Let’s face it – Romania are pretty fucked from the look of things, having to go up against the World Cup winner and runner up, along with the Dutch.  But, they have some talented players.  Chivu and forward Adrian Mutu lead the list as the two most popular players since Popescu and Hagi.  I believe Romania can do it, but getting past this group will be quite difficult.  Chivu has always been a solid player, and he’ll have to be on his game in order for Romania to have a chance at all.

Key Players – Group B

Lets keep it going.

Austria – Ronald Linz (F, Barga) and Emanuel Pogatetz (D, Middlesborough).  Simply put, Austria lack the quality to make a run in the tournament, despite being the host nation.  Linz returns home as the conquering hero of the side, after a nice season with Barga in the Portugese league, scoring 14 goals for the mid-table squad.  He’ll need to fire on all cylinders in order for Austria to have a fighting chance at scoring even a single goal.  Pogatetz is a solid talent for Boro, but he’ll have to grow from being a fringe player on a mid-table Premiership side to a star for his side to succeed.  With goalkeeping questions still in the air for the host nation, you’ll see a side that will struggle to score and defend.

Croatia - Ivan Klasnic (F, Werder Bremen) and Nico Krancjar (F, Portsmouth).  Croatia had a stellar run through qualifying, led by the naturalized Brazilian and former Dinamo Zagreb player Eduardo.  Things were looking up until Martin Taylor broke Eduardo’s leg one fateful Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, stunning not only his newly adopted nation, but also his club team Arsenal, who never really recovered after the blow.  Klasnic and Krancjar have both proven they can score at club level, but their international prowess will be tested.  Croatia is coached by former West Ham player Slaven Bilic, one of the best up-and-coming managers in the world.

Germany – Jens Lehmann (G, Stuttgart).  Apart from Oliver Kahn retiring from the German squad, the team looks essentially the same.  That’s why Lehmann really needs to step it up.  Lehmann had a horrible year with Arsenal, losing his spot in the starting XI to the Spaniard Manuel Almunia and the Pole Lukas Fabianski.  The appearances he did make for Arsenal, he looked shaky at best, especially in Arsenal’s pounding at Old Trafford.  If Lehmann can regain his form of years past, there’s no telling how successful Germany can be, so close to home and in such a comfortable environment.  If not, it could be a long summer for the Germans.

Poland – Jacek Bak (D, Wein) and Ebbe Smolarek (F, Santander).  Bak is back in his native Austria after many years of playing abroad and will lead a relatively inexperienced defense into battle.  This will probably be his last major competition at the age of 35, so he’ll need to step it up and leave international football with a bang.  In the midfield and up front, the Poles possess a lot of solid players, led by Krzynowek and Zuraski, but Smolarek and his goal-scoring antics may well separate the Poles from moving on, or bowing out after the first round.

Key Players – Group A

With about five day left before the tournament starts, it’s time to look at which players will be keys to their team’s success in the tournament.  

Lets start our tour with a look at Group A’s key players.

Switzerland – Philippe Sendros (D, Arsenal) and Alexander Frei (F, Borussia Dortmund).  Tranquillo Barnetta will be the key in the midfield, but in order to win, the Swiss are going to need solid performances from both the offensive and defensive ends of the pitch.  Sendros had a disastrous term at Arsenal this past season, and needs to re-establish himself as a competent central defender.  He needs to hold at the back, while Frei needs to score.  With Barnetta working the midfield, the Swiss will be hoping for a lot of low scoring games.

Czech Republic – Marek Matejovski (M, Reading) and Milan Baros (F, Portsmouth).  The Czech will need someone to play effectively off of Jan Koller.  Both Matejovski and Baros are looking to impress and move away from their respective clubs after the tournament, and this could be a showcase for both to impress.  Matejovski will be looking to play behind Koller, while Baros will be partnering with him, depending on the lineup.

Portugal – Helder Postiga (F, Porto) and Nuno Gomes (F, Benfica).  Portugal have an outstanding goalkeeper in Ricardo, a stellar back four, a solid midfield, but I’m really, really concerned about their ability to put it in the back of the net.  While Ronaldo has Rooney and Tevez at Manchester, he only has a Premiership failure in Postiga, and a Serie A reject in Nuno Gomes to play with in this Portgual squad.  Portugal possess one of the strongest squads in the tournament, but they’ll need Postiga and Nuno Gomes to really step it up to ensure a solid finish.

Turkey – Emre (M, Newcastle).  Not very familiar with the Turkish squad, I’ll have to say Emre remains the key man in the midfield for the Turks.  He’s coming off a disappointing season with Newcastle, so he’ll need to redeem himself with a good performance.  They’ll still need Nihat to score, but Emre will need to control the midfield.

…and so it begins

Welcome to my blog.

This blog contains my thoughts and feelings regarding Euro 2008, the second biggest tournament in the World.  What can I say?  I’m a loudmouth and I love European football, so I figure I’d write a blog to document my thoughts and feelings.  It should be a great tournament.