Euro 2012 Draw: Picking a Potential Group of Death

So, the seedings for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship are out.

First, a quick recap:

Pot 1: Ukraine, Poland, Spain, Netherlands
Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia
Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden
Pot 4: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland

With Ukraine and Poland having already secured places in Groups D1 and A1 respectively, the rest of the qualified teams will be separated into groups based on their Pot allocations.

Now, the final tournament draw will take place on December 2, 2011 in Kiev.

With the draw coming up so soon, let’s take a stab at picking a potential Group of Death—a group so labeled in almost every major international tournament because, somehow, some of the heavy hitters always end up facing each other in an exhilarating Group Stage fixture list.

This is my pick for the Euro 2012 Group of Death. What’s yours?

Pot 1: Spain

Who else?

Current world and European champions, Spain remain the team to beat.

Adopting a Barcelona-esque “tiki-taka” style of play, Vicente del Bosque’s men contain an embarrassment of riches in every single playing department, except perhaps at left-back.

They are already considered as one of the best international sides of all time, and with good reason.

Dominating and patient in possession and incising in attack, Spain have the propensity to outscore any opponent. And with the midfield and defence always capable of chipping in with their share of goals, this is a team capable of hitting the heights again.

It’ll take a heroic defensive performance to shut them out.

Ask Switzerland how they did it, but don’t bother checking how far they went in the 2010 World Cup after beating Spain in their first game.

Pot 2: Germany

This is the team that swept England and Argentina—two of world football’s traditional heavyweights—aside last June.

This is the team that has graduated their U21s seamlessly into the senior squad with great success, fluid interplay and an uncanny understanding of each other on the pitch.

This is the team that is always able to unearth new talent when old stars start to disintegrate, and whose domestic league offers one of the most competitive environments in which these new faces can develop.

In short, this is a team that can no longer be classed as one for the future. They were labeled that in South Africa to everyone else’s peril.

Germany will be a team to avoid this time around.

Pot 3: Portugal

Following Spain and Germany is another team with considerable strength in depth amongst their ranks.

Most frightening, of course, are their attacking and midfield options.

Any team with Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani is capable of turning in a victory based on the moments of individual brilliance these two players can conjure up. And behind them in support is a legion of creative attacking midfielders: Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho and Danny, to name but three.

Hitting a total of 27 goals in their qualifying campaign (including six in the playoffs) and 26 just in 2011 alone (including friendlies), Portugal possess terrifying attacking talent.

That alone will cause plenty of problems for any team fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have them as group-mates in Poland and Ukraine.

Pot 4: Republic of Ireland

Capping off my Group of Death are the perennial underdogs, Republic of Ireland.

Sure, they may not offer the best attacking options in their pot—France and Czech Republic may be a safer bet on paper—but one can never underestimate the value of pure hard work and guts.

And it’s not that they’re not a talented side, either.

Led by inspirational skipper Robbie Keane and superbly marshaled at the back by Shay Given, Ireland have come on in leaps and bounds under Giovanni Trapattoni.

Twenty-six goals in 2011 matches Portugal’s tally for the calendar year and is no mean feat for the Boys in Green.

On their day, they’re capable of springing a surprise against anyone—which is why I’d fancy them to come up with a few goods, even in a Group of Death.

So, what would your Group of Death be? Let us know in the comments below.