Euro 2012 Schedule: Biggest Blowouts No One Will See Coming

There have been plenty of surprises throughout the first five days of play at Euro 2012.

Who would've expected host nation Ukraine to be on top of Group D at the end of the first round of group matches? Who would've expected favorite Spain to come out of their first game with a draw? Who would've expected that the Netherlands would fall at the unlikely hands of Denmark?

Here's a look at some of the potential blowouts on the horizon that will come out of nowhere as we progress into the second round of group matches.

Netherlands vs. Germany
Wednesday, June 13, 2:45 p.m. ET

Holland and Germany are perfect opposites at the moment. After failing to escape from its first matchup with a win—the matchup versus Denmark, which it could least afford to lose—the Netherlands' chances of advancing look longer than ever. Germany, meanwhile, did exactly what it needed to do in its first matchup, knocking off Portugal 1-0.

Germany is riding high, and Holland is riding incredibly low. The pressure is on because if the Netherlands loses and Denmark wins on Wednesday, the Netherlands can pack up and go home. Unfortunately, a must-win against one of the odds-on favorites to win it all (via PaddyPower.com) is not the situation a desperate team like the Netherlands wants to be in.

Meanwhile, Germany will have to take advantage of a very vulnerable squad and put itself even further ahead of the deadly Group B pack.

Prediction: Germany 4-1

Croatia vs. Italy
Thursday, June 14, 12 p.m. ET

The Italians were supposed to put up a fight at Euro 2012, but both they and the Spaniards looked lackluster in their first matchup. Meanwhile, Croatia surged to the top of Group C with a huge 3-1 win over Ireland. If Croatia can capitalize on that momentum and bury Italy even further with a win on Thursday, then Italy's chances of advancing will take another huge blow and we could get one of our biggest surprises of all.

There aren't many who are expecting to see anyone other than Spain and Italy emerge from Group C, but a win on Thursday may give Croatia all the momentum it needs to shock the world.

Prediction: Croatia 3-0

Sweden vs. England
Friday, June 15, 2:45 p.m. ET

England needed a big win against France in its first matchup, but it had to settle for a draw instead. Still, the Brits are lucky because they don't have to face a Ukraine team that's riding high on momentum at the moment; instead, it gets to face Sweden, which suffered a 2-1 loss to the co-hosts on Monday.

It's the best possible situation for England. It gets an opportunity to bounce back and stay in contention against a very beatable team, and meanwhile, France—its top competition in Group D—gets to deal with Ukraine.  The Brits need a spark in order to stay alive, and they couldn't be facing a better opponent (100-1 odds of winning Euro 2012) in order to try to find one. This has the potential to be a big statement game for Roy Hodgson's squad.

Prediction: England 4-1