Euro 2012 Draw: Dream Draws for the Favorites in Poland and Ukraine

The time has finally come after a year of qualifying. The draw for the UEFA Euro 2012 will be held on Friday in Kiev, Ukraine.

Going into the draw, there is always speculation on who is the dark horse in each group, who will be dealt the group of death and what favorites will have the easiest and toughest times advancing past the group stage in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

There are six nations that can be considered favorites in the 16-team tournament, and they are Spain, Holland, Germany, Italy, France and England.

This article will present not the easiest or toughest draws, but what other nations the favorites would love to face in the group stage.

Spain

Dream Draw: Russia, Croatia and Ireland

Let's be honest, the Spanish national team is the team to beat next summer, and it honestly should not matter who La Furia Roja draw in the group stage.

But, ideally they would want these three nations.

If Spain draws these three nations, they will most likely win all of their group games, but the Spanish will have to show up and defeat all three of these sides, who could upset the defending champions if they have a lackluster performance.

Holland

Dream Draw: Germany, Greece, Czech Republic

The Dutch would love to avoid Sweden out of Pot 3, and would willingly take Greece out of that pot, as Sweden were the only team to beat them in qualifying.

The Czech Republic should not offer much of a challenge to the Dutch, but the Germans will.

What football fan would not want to see a Holland versus Germany game in the group stage, and then a potential rematch in the knockout round. The match would be a highlight of an otherwise lackluster group stage schedule that will not see two powerhouses play each other.

Germany

Dream Draw: Ukraine, Portugal, Denmark

Germany sits in Pot 2 and will avoid Italy, England and Russia, but they have to hope and pray not to get Spain or Holland from Pot 1.

Drawing Poland from Pot 1 would pose an interesting matchup between rivals, but a Ukraine side would be easier to beat, even though they drew with the Germans in November.

Portugal is a team in disarray, and the in-form Germans should be able to handle them as well as the Danes, who possess a lot of talent, but not with the world-class quality that the Germans have.

Italy

Dream Draw: Poland, Greece, France

You may call me crazy for putting Italy in as a favorite, but they have a lot to prove after the disappointment in South Africa at the World Cup.

Poland and Greece are two very winnable games for the Azzurri. Every team needs a challenge in the group stage to prove they are battle-tested for the knockout round, and that test would be France.

In a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final, the story lines could be endless for the media heading into this match, with both teams being disappointments in South Africa at the last World Cup and both teams trying get back to glory with a long run in the Euro tournament with their next generation of talent.

England

Dream Draw: Spain, Croatia, Ireland

England is making their first venture into the tournament since 2004, and they are looking to make a statement that they are back on the international scene.

The Three Lions defeated Spain in their November friendly, and would love to upset the main favorites in the group stage.

As for Croatia, this is a revenge game where the English can avenge the loss that knocked them out of the Euro 2008 qualifying.

A matchup with the Irish would be a true rivalry matchup that both English and Irish supporters would love to see, as the two nations do not play much, and even more rarely in major tournaments. This will be a game for pride, and the English would not want to lose to the Irish at any cost.

France

Dream Draw: Poland, Russia, Croatia

The French are looking to get past the group stage, something they could not do in the 2010 World Cup, and go far into the knockout round.

Coming out of Pot 4, the French need to dodge a lot of bullets and avoid a group of death situation with the other favorites.

Poland and Russia are the weakest teams in their respective pots, and Les Blues would love to avoid Portugal and Sweden from Pot 3.

The matchups against all three of the these nations favor the French. Whether they come through with a result is a different matter in itself.