TBH, it all comes down to Ronaldo with Portugal, so with their group only Turkey "may" be able to stop them. However, once in the knock outs, they probably won't last much. Granted they meet someone "manageable" if they top their group, since Germany are virtually group 2 winners, but in the semi-final I would give the portuguese no chance. Obviously I'm voting Turkey to also qualify from that 1st group.
2nd group -as mentione- will be dominated by Germany, but it looks to me that Austria have a decent "half a chance" to progress. Poland are poor, and have always been (Whjat do you think a team that has RASIAK in their starting XI looks like? A championship level at best??). Croatia lost Eduardo, and that has proved their undoing. I saw them getting ripped apart by Holland in a recent friendly, eventhough the Dutch were missing 14 players!! Gosh! Boulehrouz was on the pitch and th Croatas still couldn't score!!!
Group 3 is a massacare. Italy will have a decent shot at topping the group because of their defense (and Buffon). Luca Tomni shoould take care of scoring goals for them. France are pretty on paper, with the likes of Ribery being the driving fore, but you can never rely on Henry on the international scene.
Holland are a decent side, but they could trip over Romania, while neither Italy nor France will, so albeit the trio's head-to-head games being most decessive, Holland start the competition with a virtual handicap.
Romania are also a decent side, but they're unlucky to be drawn in this group. They would have had a decent chance ha they been playing in any other group.
Group 4 could be tricky, and this is actually where the "lucky" punters will make money. While Spain are supposidly the stronger side on papre, you can NEVER trust them Spaniards. They ALWAYS seem to have it going wrong somehow, sometime.
Sweden are not so strong, but they can manage. They can also disappoint at times (remember the goalless draw to Trinidad?).
Greece play defensively for the most part of their games, but can hit on the break, and I would say they can really do some damage to both Russia and Sweden, while the Russians could prove a little tough to break with Heddink tactics.
The q-final thus will feature Portugal winning over group 2 runner up, Germany winning over Turkey, and whoever qualifies from group 3 will BOTH beat group 4 top 2.
The semi-final will have a BIG game, as -suppsidly- Italy/France will face-off with Germany. The luckier of the blue outfits will be facing Portugal and progress to the final.
Personally, I fancy a de ja vu of the WC in Germany. Portugal v France and Germany v Italy, with Italy and France playing in the final. Maybe this time around France will get their revenge, but it's going to take a great deal of effort from Ribery and Nassri to set Anelka with decent chances to score.
There! Go place your bets.
Euro 2008 - To Win
I've thought they were poor for quite a few years now but they don't seem to care.
I'd rather be betting after getting a look at everyone.
MArtens here's another madman. Surely not George? Hows their form been the last 2 years? they looking strong?
