Euro 2012: Portugal, England, Germany, France and Others That Could Go out Early

Euro 2012 is about to start in less than a week. Life is bland without speculations and forecasts, and so let us get straight to the point. We are looking at seven major teams—or big guns, as one might call them—that are liable to bow out in the first stage of the European Championships 2012 itself.

England

Seventh on the FIFA rankings list ahead of the likes of France and Italy, one would expect England to get through to the next stage at least. A new manager means that the task this summer will be hard.

With France, Ukraine and Sweden as the other teams in the group, I won't be surprised if England come in last. I predict that Roy Hodgson and England won't win a single game at this year's championships, bowing out in the process.

France

In the same group as the English, Les Bleus will not be finding it easy. With a likely battle with Italy or Spain in the quarterfinals, the French may succumb to that pressure in the group stage itself. 

Germany

The Germans are the most unlikely out of this lot to go out early. However, a group with Portugal and Netherlands in it means that even a slight degree of complacency may bring about a debacle that sees them play no further part in the tournament.

Portugal

After losing the first game at Euro 2004, Portugal went until the final against the same opponents to whom they lost the first game. The result was repeated in the final, and Greece were crowned champions.

Portugal can't afford to lose the first game against the Germans and still expect to attain that kind of feat this year. In 2004, Spain was the other team with Portugal, but the Spanish were still reeling under the tag of "the underachievers" until they would win Euro 2008. 

Netherlands

Sharing a group with Germany and Portugal is often not easy in the 21st century. The two mentioned teams have hardly gone to a tournament in the previous 20 years with a less-than-great team. Having a weaker fourth team in Denmark is nothing to get excited about either as all three of Portugal, Netherlands and Germany will be expected to beat the Danes, and it will ultimately boil down to matches amongst each other. 

Italy

The reason I have left out Spain out of this list is that I see the Spanish coming in at least second despite an odd result that does not go their way. The Italians, however, have been known to choke in big tournaments.

Losing to South Korea in the World Cup and not getting even out of the group stage at Euro 2004 are examples that come to mind. With Ireland and Croatia as the other teams in the group, Italy are possible candidates to go out early. 

Czech Republic

The Czechs are certainly no favorites to head into the next stages of the competition. However, they are expected to clear their group comprising the Russians, the Polish and the Greeks besides themselves.

Greece are the underdogs that last won anything of note in 2004, while the Russians just thrashed the Italians 3-0 in a recent friendly. Thus, Czech Republic may well be saying bye early to Euro 2012.