World Football Round Table: Who Do You Think Will Win Euro 2008 and Why?

The second "Round Table" discussion is here and this time we asked several of our top writers:

"Who do you think will win the Euro 2008 Championships and Why?"

Below is what they had to say on the matter.

Zahi Sahli: Portugal

Although the Dutch team has started in fabulous fashion by humiliating the World champions and World Cup runners-up Italy and France 3-0 and 4-1 respectively, Portugal are my favorites to win the Euros. 

The attacking game that Marco Van Basten's team is currently playing gives them the edge over any other European national team, unless it's a team with a very good defensive line lead by the excellent Ricardo Carvalho.

Portugal are short of defensive options in midfield when Moutinho and Deco play in front of Petit, but if Fernando Meira is introduced into the mix, replacing one of the two attacking midfielders, the class and experienced Portugal including the likes of the "world's best" Cristiano Ronaldo will lift the European Championships come June 29.

Dakota Rubin: Portugal

The only team thus far that has looked capable of winning both the dirty and the beautiful games.

Portugal has talent that rivals the best teams in the world and they have been through this all before. Save for a few changes, this was the team that lost to Greece in the 2004 final. That experience can not be underestimated.

They have the best balance from goalkeeper through defense, midfield and attack of any in the world and always seems on an even keel. Portugal is determined to win after their failure in 2004 and it is time to jump on the bandwagon.

Khalid Shakran: Portugal

My heart says Netherlands because Marco van Basten is continuing their fine traditions in total football, but my head says Portugal.

They have a group of players that reached the final in 2004 and got to the semis of the World Cup in 2006 and they have the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. They boast of great talents like Joao Moutinho as well.

I can also include Croatia as the dark horse of this championship; the Greece of the 2004 tournament.

Wow! Portugal 3-0 Rest of Europe

Tahira Adams: The Netherlands

I think that The Netherlands will win the Euro 2008. My reason is simple, the Dutch have simply dominated the "group of death" destroying Italy and France in the process.

Their results have been fantastic and the way in which they attained their results was both effective and stylish. They attack even when they are four goals to the good, with that attitude you are bound to score goals and win matches.

If the Dutch are consistent they will surely take the Euro Championship home.

Dafydd Wood: The Netherlands

I think that Holland (The Netherlands) will win Euro 2008 for several reasons: firstly, they possess a world class goalkeeper in Edwin Van der Sar. They have players who will work from the first whistle to the last in Dirk Kuyt, Sneijder, and Boulahrouz (Chelsea fans must be wishing they never sold him after his performances so far), as well as players with the skills of Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie, and Robben.

Then, there's the fact that they use this perfect balance of players to play football. You rarely see them diving, they don't berate the ref, unless he makes a blatantly ridiculous decision, and they have finally stopped fighting within the team.

Unlike Ronaldo during the Portugal game, every time Van Nistelrooy did a trick or a skill against France, turning on the ball or stepping over it, there was a purpose, an end product that benefited the team, which on one occasion allowed Robben to sprint to the corner and deliver the cross for Van Persie to score a goal.

All these qualities are wonderful to see in a football team, but the thing I like most about Holland is that they never stop attacking.

Even when they were up 3-1, they continued going forward until the final whistle. They put men forward for set pieces even when it would be safer to sit back and protect their lead. This makes them a joy to watch, and allows them to keep the opposition on the back foot.

All of these factors make Holland, in my opinion, one of the best teams in the world, and favourites to go all the way this summer.

Salomon : Croatia

Croatia is my pick. This team might not be everyone's cup of tea and are probably not fancied by many. They came through the qualifying rounds beating England home and away. They struggled past co-hosts Austria in their opening game and then blew away Germany in the second game. Their play is compact and free-flowing at the same time.

In Luka Modric they have a possible future world star. He is accompanied by Niko Kranjcar and Nike Kovac who are very capable players. They could easily put a stop to Holland and Spain's so-called "tournament winning" football. If coach Bilic gets his tactics and formation right, they are the team to beat in this tournament.

Salaar Shamsi: Spain

Spain? Not many lads are favouring them but that is probably because Spain are grinding wins out at the moment, Chelsea style, getting a goal at the death and nipping the opponent right in the bud.

Everybody's thinking Portugal, Germany, or the Netherlands, some putting their weight behind the likes of Croatia and Turkey but not Spain, why? Because they are playing beautiful football.

I'll tell you why I'm backing the Spaniards: I think Lady Luck is smiling at them, fortune favours the brave? What better example of great fortune then their last minute shocking victory over Sweden.

Yes, luck is siding with them, the rub of the green is tilting Spain's way but that's not the only thing they have, oh no! Not just luck! What they have is real quality!

David Villa and Fernando Torres surely make Europe's most threatening pair upfront. Kuyt and Van Nistelrooy? Villa is definitely Europe's most sought after striker, Benzema and Huntelaar might have something to say but I'd leave that to your better judgement.

What I'm saying is luck and quality make a million dollar combination. You might say, "don't the Netherlands have luck with them?" I wouldn't say so, the Dutch have "thrashed" everybody including Italy and France, if it's football then they'd soon be running out of steam.

Luis Aragones needs to get his combinations right, Iniesta, Alonso, Fabregas, Xavi are all "world class" and Marcos Senna has got all the experience in the world to pull out.

With Capdevilla, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Puyol, and Marchena, even their defense is firing. They've already got the quality if luck sticks by them till the end of the month then they will probably take the glory home.

Portugal want to win bad? Because they lost last time out? Spain last won it in 1964? Do they have the determination to win?

Your guess is as good as mine

Ronaldo Assis De Moreira: The Netherlands

More than anything I hope Holland (The Netherlands) win Euro 2008, the football they played in the opening two games was just superb. This tournament has not disappointed for the attacking flair and the Dutch have been the best so far.

Marco Van Basten  has also thrown caution to the winf in both the opening games putting on attacking substitutions to force the issue even when the Dutch have been leading. His success proves the importance of appointing young managers which is missing from the top club teams.

Mark Kaveh : Spain

Spain comprises of a deadly strikeforce in David Villa and Fernando Torres and a compact, creative midfield boasting the likes of Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Xavi Hernandez . A solid defense including Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol and Co and one of the world's greatest goalkeepers in  Iker Casillas.

They should win it but are complete bottlers, if they can beat Holland in the semi's they'll win it.

Ben Weixlmann : The Netherlands

I think that The Netherlands have the best chance to win the Euro 2008 Championship. They have torn through the "Group of Death", and have looked extremely comfortable in doing so. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder are carrying this squad through to the quarterfinals, but don't be surprised to see Van Persie and Robben come up big in the single-elimination stage.

This team has the full arsenal of midfielders and attackers, and I think they can outscore opponents, even if their defense is shaky. Not to mention, Edwin van der Sar is in between the pipes.

Missed out on this week's round table discussion?

You can email your contribution to [e-mail] and I'll be glad to add your contribution here, the World Football "round table" will probably be made on a weekly basis from now on.

Till Then I'd sincerely like to thank our writers, who took their valuable time out to contribute to this week's "round table" discussion.

I would also like to thank Micheal Whittenberg from the NBA section and Jon Naylor from the Cricket section for putting forward the "round table" idea.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Zander Freund and Ryan Alberti for all the help that I have gotten from them.