Euro 2012 Bracket: Teams with Easiest Roads to the European Crown

The UEFA Euro 2012 tournament is just two matches old, but it was obvious when the groups were announced which three teams had the cushiest route to the final game. Here's a look at some of the likeliest names to find in the finals given their rather easy group draws.

Spain

The 2010 World Cup Champions are also the defending champions of Europe who find themselves with the lucky draw of Group C in this tournament.

Don't get me wrong, the Italians will give the Spanish all they can handle when they meet in the first game for this group, but Croatia and Ireland don't exactly have the champs losing any sleep.

The recent dominance by Spain on both a continental and world stage haven't been forgotten, and the team will build upon that reputation after they emerge from the group stage.

Croatia and Italy have the best chance to upset the FIFA No. 1 ranked team, but all indications point to one of those two grabbing the title of runner-up while Spain wins the group.

England

This isn't the most analytical of ways to start talking about England, but I think the ESPN tagline for this squad couldn't be more appropriate. "One month to finally play like lions" indeed.

Well, the English have a fine opportunity to do so with the once-mighty France being their only real competition in Group D.

The Three Lions have the highest FIFA ranking in their group, with the Ukraine pulling up the rear at No. 52 in the world. Sweden does have their captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic and France has a fine unit on paper, but England has pretty much been handed a softball of a group here by the football gods.

Italy

While Group D wins my vote for weakest division, I don't see any other squads beside England with a legit chance at the title; which leads me to Italy.

The Italians are my dark horse in this tournament. The squad has quietly phased out the old guard that lead to embarrassment on the world stage in 2010 and now finds itself with a core of fine young talent.

Coach Cesare Prandelli has veterans like Antonio Di Natale and Gianluigi Buffon to lead youngsters like Ignazio Abate, Sebastian Giovinco and Mario Balotelli in what could turn out to be an historic return to glory for the Azzurri.

The huge question for the Italians is if their biggest attacking threats in Balotelli and Antonio Cassano can keep a cool head through the entirety of the month-long tournament. Football fans realize that's a big question mark indeed, but Prandelli has been running a tight ship since being named the coach.

Finding themselves in Group C, Italy can easily capture one of the top two spots in the standings and take care of whichever Group D team they are matched against in the knockout stage.