Euro 2012: Teams That Spain and Germany Should Fear

Spain and Germany are the clear favorites heading into Euro 2012, but it will not be an easy path to victory. 

Each and every time these two squads take the pitch, they will face maximum effort from their opponents. Both teams will face very stiff competition right away, as both will have two tough games in the group stages.

Here are the four teams with the best chance to knock out the front-runners.

Netherlands

The Dutch national team were World Cup finalists two years ago, and many of the 2010 squad’s best players will be back this summer.

There will be a host of dynamic offensive players wearing orange in Poland and Ukraine. Robin van Persie is coming off the finest season of his career, and he will be supported by Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart.

Losing track of any of these players can be a fatal mistake for an opposing defense. The Germans will need to be constantly vigilant as they will face Holland in the group stage.

The Dutch defense does not boast as much talent as their attack, and it could end up being the team’s Achilles heel. Still, any team with that much firepower going forward has a chance in any match. 

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the tournament, and that gives Portugal a serious advantage.

However, the Portuguese side has a lot of solid, but unspectacular players surrounding the Real Madrid star. Their depth will be a serious problem throughout the tournament, as Goal.com notes. Their deficiencies will show early, as they are in the same group as Germany and the Netherlands.

While the Portuguese lack the overall talent that the other sides have, their defense is solid and Ronaldo is capable of taking on a defense by himself. 

Italy 

The Italians have convinced goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Andrea Pirlo to play another tournament with the Azurri. 

The two veterans were instrumental parts of Italy’s 2006 World Cup win and they have seen it all in their long careers. They will show talented youngsters like Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Giovinco the ins and outs of international play. The mixture of youth and experience on this squad could prove to be a foreboding combination.

The Italians will take on Spain in the group stage and have the necessary requirements to challenge the reigning champions.

Croatia

Croatia may seem like an underdog against traditional powers like Spain and Italy, but the Balkan nation is capable of taking down either one of these two teams in their groups.

Two Tottenham men, Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar, will run the midfield. Both players are creative and strong on the ball. Modric has exceptional vision, and he will playing with hopes of increasing his stock in this summer’s transfer market.

Up front, Bayern Munich’s Ivica Olic and Everton’s Nikica Jelavic are both scrappy players and excellent poachers.

This team has plenty of talent, and if either Spain or Italy takes them lightly, Croatia could be moving on at their expense.