Euro 2008 - Groups C&D

Here we go with the last two groups.

Group C -
France, Italy, Holland and Romania...aka the group of death

• France - Ah where to start with my beloved Bleus. First of all, on paper this team is stacked, the fact you can leave Mexes, one of the best defenders in Italy at home is ridiculous...well maybe that is more because the manager has some questionable ideas when it comes to selecting players. Regardless this team is loaded - offensively we are looking at Benzema, Henry, Anelka, and Ribery carrying the load, and one of these 4 will not start. Gomis has shown some real potential and scored two superb goals in their first tune up game against Ecuador. Malouda will have to live up to his form from Lyon. To me the potential weakness finds itself on defense, not because there is a lack of talent but due to the fear of injury and not being 100% - Gallas has been hampered with nagging injuries, Sagnol is just coming back to 100%, Thuram is not a spring chicken (he is 36 that is OLD) and Coupet is also coming back from injury. The cover is solid, but not as strong as could have been had Mexes and Escude not being 100% meant they were left off the roster. I have no faith in Boumsong, Squillaci is solid but in my mind not better than Mexes or Escude, although probably healthier. I am also concerned about the injury to Vieira, but I have faith in Toulalan slotting in for the injured French captain. Okay enough about the French, I will write a dedicated entry about Les Bleus...Player to watch - Henry to me is the main man for France, Titi has been a mainstay for Les Bleus since the 1998 World Cup, however he has never really taken over a tournament. He has had flashes of brilliance but never lived up to his immense talent and form for club. This has to be his tournament for France to go deep.
• Italy - The defending World Cup champions will look to copy what Les Bleus did in 2000 which to win the Euros after winning the World Cup. The Italians remain loaded, however the untimely injury to Cannavaro will be more difficult to overcome than some may believe. Granted, Italy lost another central defender prior to Germany 2006 - Nesta only to have Materazzi step in seamlessly to partner with Cannavaro. But this is not Nesta this is Cannavaro the captain and rock of the Italian defense. They still have Buffon between the pipes and still have Gattuso and De Rossi to protect the back four and destroy any offensive play in the midfield. Offensively everything will go through Pirlo from his deep midfield looking to feed the wingers Di Natale and Camoranesi to keep the pitch wide and lean on Toni to score the goals. On this side of the pitch I think Italy will not have too many problems and they can still call on Del Piero to come off the bench. What I will be watching is how the central defense handle the loss of their rock and captain. Player to watch - Materazzi, without Cannavaro he will be expected to anchor the defense and the central axis. And can he control his sometimes over aggressive play.
  
• Holland - The Oranje go into this tournament with enough talent to win everything or to come crashing out after the group stages. The Van Basten error has been fraught with highs and lows, but mostly lows. I think this tournament will be another low. First the former AC Milan star has already announced he is going to Ajax to manage post Euro...um that is not good for team or manager focus entering a tournament...see Santini and France last Euro when he was announced at Tottenham just prior to Portugal 2004. I am also not convinced that van der Saar has the legs for a month long tourney. Also, what formation 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1? And if the latter who steps in for an injured Babel? What about Van Persie, can he hold up? Player to watch - Van Persie the talented but oft injured Arsenal player will determine how dangerous and how far the dutch can go. He needs to be a goal scoring threat to take some pressure off an aging Van Nistelrooy.
  
• Romania - On paper the team that will not make it through the group of death, but upon further review this is a solid team with star power. Many of the players come from the same team in Romania, so they are very comfortable playing on the pitch together, and they have Mutu who after a disastrous spell at Chelsea has found himself in Italy and is a threat to score at any moment. In Chivu they have a player who practices his trade at the highest level with Inter and who will be the key to holding the center of the park together. I am very nervous about playing them in the opening round. Player to watch - Mutu has been sensational for Fiorentina, if he carries over this form to his national team Romania could surprise and come out of this group.

This is definitely the group of death, any two team can emerge from the group. I think nothing could be decided until the last game, which is not good for Les Bleus since of all teams they can use the extra day of rest. While I want to, I cannot pick against the established sides of France and Italy....Predictions:

1. France - all will be determined in game 1, if they can get the max points I think they go into the Holland game at ease and beat Oranje....if they draw or lose game 1...all bets are off.
2. Italy - defending world cup champs have too much talent and experience, even without Cannavaro they have the defensive talent to play Italian football and with Toni up front can score goals
3. Romania - they will challenge for a spot in the knock out round until the last day, I think they could be the surprise of the tournament if things fall their way
4. Holland - loads of individual talent, but have not found themselves the past 2 years. If they click this table could be inversed, but something tells me there is too much upheaval in the Dutch camp.

Group D -
Greece, Russia, Spain, Sweden

• Greece - The defending champs missed qualification to the World Cup Germany but had a strong qualifying campaign for the Euros. The team remains much the same as the one that hoisted the trophy in Portugal which means they are experienced and cohesive but also older. They will lean on their defense, anchored by the ageless Nikopolidis in goal. The difference between this Euro and the one 4 years ago, is that no one will underestimate the Greeks and their whily coach Otto Rehhagel. Player to watch: Charisteas and Samaras, which of these two will provide the goal scoring threat for the Greeks.
• Russia - Guus Hiddink did the impossible and got Russia through qualifiers to the Euros...but barely. After having been given a life line by England, Russia could not hold on in Israel and barely beat Andorra to squeak through. Without one of their best players Arshavin for the first 2 games this could be a bridge too far for the Russians. Player to watch - Zyrianov will look to replicate his clubs brilliant run to the UEFA cup title. He will be called upon to destroy any threats coming through the midfield, which will be crucial against Spain in particular.
• Spain - Once again Spain come into a major tournament with outrageous talent up and down their roster. When Fabregas, one of the best players in the England, is not the best player on your squad that is saying something. They are strong everywhere on the pitch and even on the reserves bench. Casillas is arguably the best keeper in the world right now, Ramos the best right back, Torres one of the best strikers, Fabregas one of the world's best midfielders...add in Villa, Senna, Xavi, Iniesta, and you have a team dripping in talent. Additionally, unlike other Spanish teams they have a number of key players working in foreign leagues, adding an element of toughness they otherwise have been lacking. They have a relatively easy group, so should find themselves in the 1/4 inals. Player to watch - Fabregas, if he can replicate...even at 75%, his Arsenal form this team could go very far.
  
• Sweden - Ah the Swedes, they always fly under the radar and do so for a reason. They have some world class players in the mold of Ibrahimovic, but never seem to go very far in major tournaments. I think this will be much of the same. They have some nice players in Kallstrom, Mellberg and Ljungberg, the key will be can they score enough to get through the group stages? Player to watch - Elmander, the Toulouse player will be looked upon to take some pressure off Ibrahimovic, if he can replicate his goal scoring touch from his club this could be a good attacking duo.

This group looks vanilla on the surface, Spain will win, Greece and Sweden fight for second with Russia the whipping boy. Predictions:

1. Spain - too much talent to fold this early, in the knock out round maybe but not in the groups.
2. Greece - I think Otto has a few tricks up his sleeve and will find a way to get the defending champs to the knock out stages
3. Sweden - lack of creativity will cost this team
4. Russia - just happy to be there, without their captain and best player will struggle to stay above Austria as the worst team of the tournament.