1Jargoneer
Just thought I would start a thread about Euro 2008 - will post profiles of the groups to get the discussion going (if it does get going).
Group A
Switzerland
Think of a Swiss footballer and you think of a solid no-nonsense player; put 11 of them together and you get a solid no-nonsense team. They will make it difficult for the opposition to play, keep it tight and attempt to nick a goal, rather like Greece in 2004 but they are not as good as the Greeks. An early exit seems almost certain for the hosts.
Key Player: Yakin
Czech Republic
The CR are one of a number of teams in Euro 2008 who seem to be comprised of players who have been around for years. Chief among them is Jan Koller, who is probably 104 now but has scored more than 50 international goals. The dilemma for the Czechs is that Koller is their biggest goal threat but they look more fluid and effective without him. However, I expect them to stick with the tried and tested, and I can't help thinking that this tournament is 4 years past their
peak.
Key Player: Jan Koller
Portugal
Every Portugese team for the last 20 years appears the same - lots of flair, no reliable striker, and a temperament problem that means they are likely to
self-combust at any moment. This team probably have more flair players than any other team in the competition, including Ronaldo, who is currently touted as the Best Player in the world. However, Ronaldo has struggled to deliver in the big games and that could be the Portugese achilles heel - when the going gets tough Portugal stall.
Key Player: Ronaldo
Turkey
Turkey are better than the Swiss but not as good as the Portugese or the Czechs. On their day however, they could beat either of this teams and sneak through - it's just hard to see this happening though. Have a even bigger temperament problem than Portugal - could end up fighting the opposition, the officials, and anyone else within a 10 mile radius.
Key Player: Alintop
Portugal & the Czechs to qualify in that order. Portugal potential winners if their players turn up when it matters, and if they keep their heads.
Group A
Switzerland
Think of a Swiss footballer and you think of a solid no-nonsense player; put 11 of them together and you get a solid no-nonsense team. They will make it difficult for the opposition to play, keep it tight and attempt to nick a goal, rather like Greece in 2004 but they are not as good as the Greeks. An early exit seems almost certain for the hosts.
Key Player: Yakin
Czech Republic
The CR are one of a number of teams in Euro 2008 who seem to be comprised of players who have been around for years. Chief among them is Jan Koller, who is probably 104 now but has scored more than 50 international goals. The dilemma for the Czechs is that Koller is their biggest goal threat but they look more fluid and effective without him. However, I expect them to stick with the tried and tested, and I can't help thinking that this tournament is 4 years past their
peak.
Key Player: Jan Koller
Portugal
Every Portugese team for the last 20 years appears the same - lots of flair, no reliable striker, and a temperament problem that means they are likely to
self-combust at any moment. This team probably have more flair players than any other team in the competition, including Ronaldo, who is currently touted as the Best Player in the world. However, Ronaldo has struggled to deliver in the big games and that could be the Portugese achilles heel - when the going gets tough Portugal stall.
Key Player: Ronaldo
Turkey
Turkey are better than the Swiss but not as good as the Portugese or the Czechs. On their day however, they could beat either of this teams and sneak through - it's just hard to see this happening though. Have a even bigger temperament problem than Portugal - could end up fighting the opposition, the officials, and anyone else within a 10 mile radius.
Key Player: Alintop
Portugal & the Czechs to qualify in that order. Portugal potential winners if their players turn up when it matters, and if they keep their heads.
2krolik
Ah, maybe you underestimate Turkey. I'm not rooting for them but they've got not only a potentially tough team but an extra emotional stake in the symbolism involved. They're spoiling for upsets. As you acknowledge, on a given day...
And if they get some momentum?
And if they get some momentum?
3Jargoneer
>2 krolik: - Turkey now aren't as good as Turkey 4-6 years ago; they struggled to qualify from an easy group, finishing 7 points behind Greece. I don't agree with the symbolism argument - I think the teams with the extra emotional stake are Switzerland, they want to prove they are worthwhile hosts as a football team, and Portugal want to prove they are just not talented players who constantly fail when they are expected to deliver.
I wouldn't be shocked if Turkey qualify for the QF but I will be surprised - it does raise the prospect of a Germany-Turkey, which would be interesting - I would be shocked if they win the tournament though.
I wouldn't be shocked if Turkey qualify for the QF but I will be surprised - it does raise the prospect of a Germany-Turkey, which would be interesting - I would be shocked if they win the tournament though.
4Jargoneer
Group B
Austria
One of the co-hosts but also the worst team in the competition - at one point their own fans and politicians were virtually saying they should withdraw from the tournament They will do well not to lose all three matches.
Key Player: Alex Manninger
Croatia
As they proved in easily winning a qualifying group containing England and Russia, Croatia are a good team. Losing Eduardo is a big blow as he was their
primary threat up front. The fact that they play an open free-flowing goal will probably be their downfall eventually but they will be one of the best teams to watch in the tournament.
Key Player: Niko Kovac
Germany
As per usual, Germany are one of the favourites - and why not? They qualified easily and are, along with Brazil, the best tournament team in the history of the game. This team has plenty of goals in it but the defense looks a little flat-footed and cumbersome. There is also still a doubt about some of their players at the very highest level. Just avoid penalties against them at all cost.
Key Player: Michael Ballack
Poland
Won Group A in qualifying, finishing ahead of Portugal (same old striker issue for them) but lost 3-0 at home to the US recently. Which team is the real Poland? Well, they qualified for the last WC easily and then fell apart at the tournament. I don't see any reason why they'll do better here. (It doesn't help that Germany have 4 or 5 players of Polish extraction who would seriously improve their team).
Key Player: Artur Boruc
Germany & Croatia to quality - they are really head-and-shoulders above the other two. If Croatia can find a goalscorer who knows what they are capable of; Germany are potential champions.
Austria
One of the co-hosts but also the worst team in the competition - at one point their own fans and politicians were virtually saying they should withdraw from the tournament They will do well not to lose all three matches.
Key Player: Alex Manninger
Croatia
As they proved in easily winning a qualifying group containing England and Russia, Croatia are a good team. Losing Eduardo is a big blow as he was their
primary threat up front. The fact that they play an open free-flowing goal will probably be their downfall eventually but they will be one of the best teams to watch in the tournament.
Key Player: Niko Kovac
Germany
As per usual, Germany are one of the favourites - and why not? They qualified easily and are, along with Brazil, the best tournament team in the history of the game. This team has plenty of goals in it but the defense looks a little flat-footed and cumbersome. There is also still a doubt about some of their players at the very highest level. Just avoid penalties against them at all cost.
Key Player: Michael Ballack
Poland
Won Group A in qualifying, finishing ahead of Portugal (same old striker issue for them) but lost 3-0 at home to the US recently. Which team is the real Poland? Well, they qualified for the last WC easily and then fell apart at the tournament. I don't see any reason why they'll do better here. (It doesn't help that Germany have 4 or 5 players of Polish extraction who would seriously improve their team).
Key Player: Artur Boruc
Germany & Croatia to quality - they are really head-and-shoulders above the other two. If Croatia can find a goalscorer who knows what they are capable of; Germany are potential champions.
5Jargoneer
Group C
Netherlands
The Dutch first team is made up of a players who are still trying to live up to their early promise; their bench is made up of players who wouldn't got near a Dutch squad in the past - they are one or two injuries away from disaster. The first team looks good in the middle and up front but they look weak at the back - they lack a Cocu or a De Boer or a Stam. If the first team click the Dutch could do very well but it looks more likely that they will disappoint their fans.
Key Player: Wesley Sneijder
Italy
Italy have virtually the same squad that won the WC 2 years ago which on paper looks good but on the pitch it looks like a few of them may be in decline. Italy will be hard to beat but whether they are still have the energy levels to play the closing down tactics and still be dangerous is debatable.
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo
France
Along with Spain, the most talented squad in the tournament, and they have the advantage of knowing they can win international tournaments. Bearing that in mind, they should be favourites, and probably would be favourites if they had a different coach. Domenech should have jettisoned some of the older squad members but he always turns to the tried and tested even when some of them have seen better days. If they are lucky they may find a good team by chance, or perhaps Henry will finally prove himself in a big tournament.
Key player: Thierry Henry
Romania
Romania are seen as the whipping boys of this group but it is worth remembering that they won their qualifying group which contained the Netherlands. With the exception of Mutu they may have the superstars of the past but that may work in their favour - their togetherness may see them through.
Key Player: Adrian Mutu
At least one major team is going out but I wouldn't be surprised if two major teams go out. France should go through - they could win the tournament, but Italy and the Netherlands could find themselves blindsided by Romania.
Netherlands
The Dutch first team is made up of a players who are still trying to live up to their early promise; their bench is made up of players who wouldn't got near a Dutch squad in the past - they are one or two injuries away from disaster. The first team looks good in the middle and up front but they look weak at the back - they lack a Cocu or a De Boer or a Stam. If the first team click the Dutch could do very well but it looks more likely that they will disappoint their fans.
Key Player: Wesley Sneijder
Italy
Italy have virtually the same squad that won the WC 2 years ago which on paper looks good but on the pitch it looks like a few of them may be in decline. Italy will be hard to beat but whether they are still have the energy levels to play the closing down tactics and still be dangerous is debatable.
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo
France
Along with Spain, the most talented squad in the tournament, and they have the advantage of knowing they can win international tournaments. Bearing that in mind, they should be favourites, and probably would be favourites if they had a different coach. Domenech should have jettisoned some of the older squad members but he always turns to the tried and tested even when some of them have seen better days. If they are lucky they may find a good team by chance, or perhaps Henry will finally prove himself in a big tournament.
Key player: Thierry Henry
Romania
Romania are seen as the whipping boys of this group but it is worth remembering that they won their qualifying group which contained the Netherlands. With the exception of Mutu they may have the superstars of the past but that may work in their favour - their togetherness may see them through.
Key Player: Adrian Mutu
At least one major team is going out but I wouldn't be surprised if two major teams go out. France should go through - they could win the tournament, but Italy and the Netherlands could find themselves blindsided by Romania.
6yalcinsuer
Well, the unexpected happened in a very unexpected manner. Down by two goals until the last 15 minutes and Turkish team has done the impossible or unthinkable, scored three goals and eliminated the Czechs. And now they are on to defeating Croatian team I believe.
7krolik
It was a surprising, even bizarre win. Now we'll see if it translates into momentum for the Turks.
8Jargoneer
Turkey deserve credit for the way they battled but the Czechs defeated themselves -they were secure but stopped playing, panicking when there was no need; and, of course, Peter Cech made an error that he wouldn't make 99/100.
In the knock-out phases anything can happen but you have to fancy Croatia, who are superior to the Czechs, and who can rest key players before the QF. There is also the problem that the Turkish have two key players suspended, plus a couple of injuries.
It's been a good tournament so far, the majority of the teams have played to win, rather than playing to avoid defeat.
In the knock-out phases anything can happen but you have to fancy Croatia, who are superior to the Czechs, and who can rest key players before the QF. There is also the problem that the Turkish have two key players suspended, plus a couple of injuries.
It's been a good tournament so far, the majority of the teams have played to win, rather than playing to avoid defeat.
