EURO 2008: The Group of Death

When the groups were being drawn a few months back for EURO 2008, few expected three former World Cup finalists to be in the same group.

It was joy for the neutrals like me and was terror for supporters of the football teams involved. The Netherlands, Italy, Romania, and France were all drawn into Group C.

The group of death.

To most, the favourites would be France and Italy, the two World Cup finalists of 2006. But if we look carefully, Romania and Netherlands are more than capable of springing surprises.

The Netherlands will be looking to erase memories of the World Cup, where they were knocked out in the early stages. The performances of Marco van Basten as a manager are nowhere to what he was as a player.

His rift with Ruud van Nistelrooy was one of the chief causes for their early exit in the World Cup. Such off-field problems have really affected their game and damaged the team's unity.

There will be a lot of pressure on van Basten to quit on a high note. Ryan Babel's injury does not help him either. Although his chances look very few and distant, a spirited performance is all that they require to go through. Well, then again, that's easier said than done.

The Romanians are the least favoured team to go through. Victor Piturca's men will have to emulate their 1994 predecessors to even get out of the group stage, let alone win the tournament.

The team is a promising one, with the in-form Adrian Mutu and Christian Chivu, but the group they have been drawn in means that only a fool or a soothsayer would bet on them winning the tournament.

They also have young talent in the form of Ciprian Marica.

But it seems that the Romanians do not have enough to compete in this group. I think they will be bottom of their group.

In 2006, the Italians repeated history by winning the World Cup for a fourth time. They were less fancied then, and preferred the underdog role. However, here in 2008 they are considered one of the favourites.

With world-class players in every position, it will be hard to beat the Italians. But even the greatest of teams have failed under pressure, and the Italians are under some serious pressure.

Their hopes will be resting on the in-form Luca Toni, who is making a mockery of Bundesliga defences. Another man to watch out for is Alesandro Del Piero. the veteran has shown his class at Juventus this season and earned a place in the squad—it would be foolish to count him off.

The French have been a team that is under some rebuilding state. With the retiring of Zinedine Zidane, Franck Ribery has taken over as their new playmaker supreme.

However, they were not convincing in the friendlies, and failed to make most of their chances against Paraguay.

The hopes of the French will be resting on the wonder-kid Karim Benzema. He has had a dream season with Lyon and has attracted interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Benzema will have a point to prove. But I think that France will struggle against their opponents. The absence of David Trezeguet might also be a mistake. Bafetimbi Gomis hasn't really had any experience.

So, I think that Italy and the Netherlands will make it to the next round. But in the end, my guess is as good as yours.