With no British or Irish representation in this year's European Championships, it will be a simply neutral point of view!
No Three Lions, Shamrocks or Bagpipes to cloud the judgement of what should be a cracking month!
The tussle for the title of European Champion will be fought competitively by sixteen teams. The favourites for the crown include Portugal, Germany, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Spain and World Cup winners Italy.
As Greece showed in 2004 the smaller teams can have a big impact on the tournament. Croatia, Sweden, Russia and Turkey will fancy their chances coming off the back of impressive qualifying campaigns.
The event is being held in Austria and Switzerland and the consequence of that is Austria's first ever Euro appearance. The Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna will host the June 29 final.
So which team is best equipped to win this years version of the 48 year old competition. Will it be the Ronaldo driven Portugal, the effective Germans, counter-attacking Italy or will French flair ignite Austria?
First Portugal, they hold one weapon no one in Europe can counter, Cristiano Ronaldo. The scorer of 30 EPL goals and the Champions League top scorer with seven.
Can the players around him reach to his standards? Deco, Maniche, Nani, Queresma and Gomes. The quality is there to succeed.
The Germans come in on the back of a scintillating qualifying campaign, rounded off by a record 13-0 drubbing of San Marino. If Joachim Low continues Klinsmanns policy of attack, with the players available then Germany stand a great chance of glory.
The Netherlands are the underachievers of world football, with a deadly attack and quick midfield the Dutch should be reaching the latter stages each time. A no-show in 2002, played poorly in 2004 and went out in the last 16 in 2006.
Van Basten will be expected to lead the Orangemen to the semis and beyond in his last year in the job
The Czech Republic are a dogged yet classy eleven. Galasek, Matejovsky, Baros and the giant Koller are well capable of scrapping with the more established names. An effective team in which everyone knows their role. Can they gatecrash Switzerland?
Spain, with a deadly attack, skilful midfield and solid defence have one of the best eleven's on paper. Problem is football isn't played on paper. Like the Netherlands their recent history suggest decline but with players like Ramos, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Torres and Villa the Spanish team have the quality to beat anyone on their day.
France, bounced back from defeat to Greece in 2004 to reach the World Cup final against Italy marred by Zidane's red card. Les Bleus have every component of champions bar the mindset. As unbelievable as it sounds Gallas, Henry, Malouda and Abidal when wearing the blue are completely different players devoid of confidence. Will the French media cause Les Bleus to crash out?
Finally World Champions Italy, go in on the back of a shaky qualifying round when losing out to Scotland became a real prospect. They scraped through but this isn't the side that won in Berlin two years ago. Older, slower and prone to more mistakes.
However the Italians have great players in nearly all positions and will expect to go far. Can the Azzurri do the double?
Personally I can't wait for the start and what I'm looking forward to most is none of the "best team since 1966" crap on the BBC!
Let's enjoy the football marathon objectively and let the best team win.
Comments (13) Add a comment »
from 6 days ago
Van Basten's performance as coach in Euro 2008 has no significance as to the security of his job as he announced he would step down as head coach some time ago.
from 6 days ago
either Germany or the Netherlands will win it.
from 5 days ago
I agree.
However...Kiran shouldn`t you be counting on that team which is fielding the supposed `best in the world` chap?
You know me ...any opportunity for a Cristiano dig.
from 5 days ago
LOL......I do like Ronaldo and Portugal,but I dont fancy them to go very far.....
from 6 days ago
I am really looking forward to Euro 2008. Its a shame England aren't there but in a way I think it might make this tournament more enjoyable, and I am half French anyway so I still have a team to support.
For me the clear favourites are Italy, France and Germany with the Portugal as the outside bet so if you want a good value bet I would go for them.
I don't think Holland are that good these days, not the team they were in the past.
If Spain play at their best they should be able to beat anyone but in tournaments they never play well so it is hard to reccomend to put money on them but if Torres and Fabregas hit top form then who knows.
from 6 days ago
I think Italy will be a bigger threat than you give them credit for. I always thought it was France underperforming in Group 2. But having said that you can never rule the French out.
The Czech team sounds a little old and Croatia are missing their goalscorer. Just don't fancy Germany or Holland either.
Portugal and Spain have the quality and maybe just maybe this is their tournament.
from 6 days ago
Hi Andrew...did a reply below.
from 6 days ago
`Can the players around him reach to his standards?` hoho hehe......already making excuses for Cristiano, Andrew?
Just two years after the world cup Italy are suddenly old now. Sounds like more excuses but this time for the FIFA world paper champions...........by the way what ever happened to that massive corruption scandal in Italy.....seems to have all ended in pizza.
from 6 days ago
I also thought that comment was a little out of taste S.....Deco etc have plenty to offer Euro 2008.
As for the Italian scandal it is ongoing I believe. Fabio Capello has been called to give evidence about the same scandal I think. Don't quote me.
from 5 days ago
"Can the players around him reach to his standards" not an excuse for Ronaldo more of a compliment S!
I felt France simply underestimated Scotland (to their demise) and beat Italy comfortably at home just a few months after the WC final.
from 5 days ago
Yes Italy had a shocking start to the campaign but that was nearly two years ago. The game you are talking about surely can't be a factor.
I'll admit both Italy and France had their ups and downs in qualifying. I just can't wait for it all to kick off.
from 5 days ago
As a Portuguese it pains me to say, but Italy are the favorite. The isse is Totti and Toni's health, if they are good to go they should be fine.
Germany always knows how to put the ball in the back of the opposition's net, they seem to be very efficient with their chances... they always perform well at these big tourney's.
France is aging and I know little to nothing about who they will come in, although they always have big bodies on their D and with Ribery at the helm you just never know.
Portugal has been in a bit of a rebuilding mode the last few years with Figo and Pauleta etc... retiring from Internationals. Yes Ronaldo is having a career year as his focus is on his play and not his theatrics any longer. Hugo Almeida has been playing well for Werder Bremen, Quaresma had one of his best games for portugal in a 3-1 friendly loss to italy. But therein lies the problem, the team still lost the game to a big team. I like their D, for once, only if Bosingwa and Pepe start, their Midfield always has tonnes of talent and this year they should be able to finish.
One thing for certain: it should be a cracker of a tourney. Sorry you're not there England... by sorry I'm kidding :)
Cheers!
from 4 days ago
Why are the Dutch, still a country with only 15 million people in it, the underachievers of world football? They played 14 big tournaments since 1974 and reached at least the semi's in 8 of them? That's more than England and Spain together in their all history. And then the Dutch are underachievers! Strange way of thinking. If Holland wins 1 game more than Germany then they become the nummer 1 at the European Championship all-time ranking.
My favorites are Portugal and Germany, due to the draw also. Portugal have probable the best squad,Spain looks promising, Italy is starting to get old but will be, like always, extremly difficult to beat. France looks better than Italy, but Henry looks no longer the Henry of Arsenal and Ribery is no Zidan. Holland is the dark horse but with an attack of Van Nistelrooy, Robben, van Persie and van der Vaart, Sneijder behind them, with Seedorf Affelay, Kuyt, Babel and Huntelaar als back-up, the look capable of winning, if their defence has only the half of that quality then they should win it, but he has not.
Final: Portugal - Holland
Winner Portugal
But it would probable become so:
Final: Germany - France
Winner: France
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