Don't worry this is'nt a post about The Euro...
No it's a post about The Euro's...Beginning this coming Friday
It's said by some that The European Championship is harder to win than The World Cup.There may be some merit in that as it contains supposedly the best sixteen teams in the continent in the finals after the dross has been eliminated.
This year's finals are jointly held by Poland & Ukraine.Hopefully all will go well but there have been worrying stories coming out concerning racism & Anti Semitisim combined with old school and very nasty football hooliganism...Unfortunately extreme Right Wing Nationalism is on the rise in both countries and they crave the free oxygen of publicity to forward their warped ideology.Maybe things are'nt as bleak as they're being painted but i still doubt it will be without some unsavoury incident...
So what of the teams? There are four groups of four with each team in their group playing each other in the hope of finishing in the top two thereby qualifying for the knockout stages.
Group A
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Czech Republic; Have to declare an interest here as my Dad was Czech so obviously have a soft spot for them.May have a chance to qualify out of a weak group but it all could depend on the last game V hosts Poland.
Greece; Mention Euros to a Greek and you'll probably end up with a plate smashed over your head.However mention The Euro's and they'll regale you with their great triumph in the 2004 competition.Ok they parked more buses than Chelsea could ever dream of but hell they won it.Absolutely no chance.But we said that in 2004...
Poland: One of the hosts so will have home pressure.Many Poles i speak to in UK think they have no chance It's a weak group though so fervent home support may see them through to quarter finals
Russia: The great Bear are favourites of the group and should get through with comparative ease but will have to be strong against both The Czechs & Poles who love shoving it up their former Soviet allies/rulers* Always have talented players and should have done better than just one semi.Be interesting to see if the new oil money has bought any improvement.*Delete as applicable.
Group B
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Denmark; Always a good team despite only having a population akin with Scotland.Probably won't get out of the group this time but capable of springing a surprise as they did in 1992 when replacing war torn Yugoslavia at the last minute and only going on to win the damn thing!
Germany: The Behemoth of any tournament.Respected & feared in equal measure.Universally hated but not by me,Always liked Germany as a country and their football.One of the favourites but that may be just because of their record in World Cups & Euro's.Unlike Germany to have a leaky defence but they have one now.
Holland: Everybody's second favourite team even after abandoning their footballing principles to kick seven shades of shit out of any Spaniard that moved in the last World Cup final.Notoriously flakey in terms of team spirit so expect stories of infighting from day one coupled with a trip to the final...Eagerly awaiting one of the biggest international grudge matches with hated neighbours Germany...
Portugal: Europe's showponies.Look good but to little effect when the pressure's really on...
Group C
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Croatia; Oh those crazy Balkans! Like all Balkan teams can be a joy to behold on their day but also have a habit of imploding to laughable proportions.Will struggle to get out of the group but will also have the loudest and most fanatical support.
Italy; Another giant of world football.Like Holland nearly always seem to be mired in some sort of pre tournament in fighting and scandal but nearly always pull through.As is the Italian way will probably just do enough to qualify.Game V Eire is key...
Republic of Ireland; Wolves fans will be following their progress with more than a passing interest as their squad contains many current & ex players.Unfortunate to be in a very strong group but are on a tremendous run of form and have proven to be hard to beat.May spring a surprise and qualify...The only qualms i have about Eire doing well is the better they do the more those talentless pricks Jedwood will be in evidence to ride on their success...
Spain; Current World Cup & Euro Cup Champions and the obvious favourites.Obviously a very talented team who can rip any team apart quite easily.They're so far ahead of many teams that most games resemble a training session of Attack V Defence as they camp out in the opponents half for much of the game.Truth to tell it starts to get boring as hell after about twenty minutes.They also are world class in petulance,constantly harassing the officials at every turn.Hope they don't win the thing this time...
Group D
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England ; Ah the old country...For the first time i can remember many England fans are totally underwhelmed by our prospects.The squad looks a bit thin on the ground with regards to quality---It was ever thus---So will have to rely on those age old qualities of fighting spirit and never say die attitude.New manager Hodgson always makes his teams hard to beat first and foremost so don't expect open attacking football.However his pragmatic approach may just be enough to get a quarter final place...
France; The group favourites.After the debacle of the last World Cup have bought in Laurent Blanc as boss and he appears to have sorted out the mess left by the previous incumbent in the managers hot seat.Most importantly has stamped out the infighting which has plagued French football for a while.Could well win the whole thing...
Sweden; Solid,dependable Sweden.Certainly enjoy playing England who have'nt beaten them for forty years.May well qualify at England's expense.
Ukraine: The other host nation who i have to admit i know little about.If they manage to get to the quarter finals that will be seen as a triumph.
That' that then. I suppose i now have to pick a winner...Spain are obvious favourites but i think--or hope--they may falter in defence of the title.Germany will always be there or there abouts but their leaky defence may scupper them...
I am going to plump for Holland with France as my dark horses...
Most importantly though lets all hope it's a trouble free three weeks and we see some memorable games...
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