EM 2008
EM 2008 is almost here.
how could there be no preview from me? so here goes.
Group A
Czech, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey
i think Portugal and Turkey will go through, although Switzerland should push Turkey all the way. Czech's midfield deficiency should mean this could be the weakest czech side in years. anyway i think this group could be the most boring group because the czechs and swiss will probably be defensive-oriented. turkey will be the surprise package. portugal will go through because it is a weak group, and ronaldo won't be superman.
Group B
austria, croatia, germany, poland
Germany and Croatia will go through, with Germany probably topping the group, although Croatia will be tricky, even without Eduardo. i think Austria and Poland largely have no chance of springing surprises, so it is really the game between germany and croatia which will decide who go through as winners. i have this nagging feeling that croatia will pip germany to top spot. nevertheless, i shall stick to germany topping the group.
Group C
romania, holland, france, italy
this is really the hardest group to decide. romania are really dark horses. france have put together a good team, although they cant seem to score at the moment. holland's biggest enemy has always been themselves, and italy...they have that ability to grind out the required result. it is also the hardest group to decide because holland is in it. and this is actually the toughest group i have ever seen, even worse than the one in 2006.
but i think holland and france will go through. romania will be in 3rd place, and italy in 4th. i think france will score. and i think holland will get their act together somehow, while romania will turn it on. italy will somehow flop.
Group D
Spain, Russia, Greece, Sweden
Spain and Russia to go through. i think after so long, Spain won't self-destruct again, at least not under Aragones. Hiddink's tactical brilliance should see off Sweden's challenge, while Greece simply don't have the surprise element anymore. i think it should be a straight forward group. Spain's to lose.
Quarter-Finals
Portugal-Croatia
Germany-Turkey
Holland-Russia
Spain-France
Croatia will narrowly beat Portugal. Germany and Turkey might become a goal fest. Hiddink wouldnt beat his former team, while Spain will take revenge against France.
Semi-Finals( i am not really sure abt who plays who, because normally i would expect the teams from Group A and B to only meet in the Final if they were to go all the way, not in the semis, but this seems to be the case here)
Croatia-Germany
Holland-Spain
Germany will go to the final, while Holland-Spain would be too close to call, especially given the fact that both teams have always failed to deliver when it mattered most, and this would be an interesting encounter, because both teams would for the first time in a few years deliver, in that they come such a long way in a major tournament.
if you look at it, Germany, if they get their act together, has a really good chance, because they don't meet a real contender until the final. the possible teams on the road to the final: portugal and turkey, even czech, are all decent teams, but simply do not have that extra quality that france, italy, spain, holland possess. By virtue of this, Germany has to be the favourites.
Spain are actually my second favourites. who actually gets out of Group C will really change the whole equation for Spain. i think Spain's biggest match is that quarter-final. whoever they face will be a real quality team. if they can get past that, then that would be a real morale booster. of course it doesn't make the next game any easier, but it is a huge boost psychologically.
whoever gets out of Group C as winners should make it to the last 4, where Spain await. that team would be my third favourites.
and of course, i always cling on to the hope that Holland will somehow win the EM, even on penalties.
lastly, my Dream Team(also who i think will shine)
goalkeeper: van der sar
left-back: lahm*
center-back: mertesacker
center-back: heitinga
right-back: sergio ramos
midfielder: xavi
midfielder: ballack
midfielder: sneijder
forward: arjen robben
forward: benzema
forward: ribery
honourable mention: akinfeev, goian, janssen, kranjcar, iniesta, moutinho, nihat, arshavin, gomez, fernando torres
*lahm would probably play at rightback.
how could there be no preview from me? so here goes.
Group A
Czech, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey
i think Portugal and Turkey will go through, although Switzerland should push Turkey all the way. Czech's midfield deficiency should mean this could be the weakest czech side in years. anyway i think this group could be the most boring group because the czechs and swiss will probably be defensive-oriented. turkey will be the surprise package. portugal will go through because it is a weak group, and ronaldo won't be superman.
Group B
austria, croatia, germany, poland
Germany and Croatia will go through, with Germany probably topping the group, although Croatia will be tricky, even without Eduardo. i think Austria and Poland largely have no chance of springing surprises, so it is really the game between germany and croatia which will decide who go through as winners. i have this nagging feeling that croatia will pip germany to top spot. nevertheless, i shall stick to germany topping the group.
Group C
romania, holland, france, italy
this is really the hardest group to decide. romania are really dark horses. france have put together a good team, although they cant seem to score at the moment. holland's biggest enemy has always been themselves, and italy...they have that ability to grind out the required result. it is also the hardest group to decide because holland is in it. and this is actually the toughest group i have ever seen, even worse than the one in 2006.
but i think holland and france will go through. romania will be in 3rd place, and italy in 4th. i think france will score. and i think holland will get their act together somehow, while romania will turn it on. italy will somehow flop.
Group D
Spain, Russia, Greece, Sweden
Spain and Russia to go through. i think after so long, Spain won't self-destruct again, at least not under Aragones. Hiddink's tactical brilliance should see off Sweden's challenge, while Greece simply don't have the surprise element anymore. i think it should be a straight forward group. Spain's to lose.
Quarter-Finals
Portugal-Croatia
Germany-Turkey
Holland-Russia
Spain-France
Croatia will narrowly beat Portugal. Germany and Turkey might become a goal fest. Hiddink wouldnt beat his former team, while Spain will take revenge against France.
Semi-Finals( i am not really sure abt who plays who, because normally i would expect the teams from Group A and B to only meet in the Final if they were to go all the way, not in the semis, but this seems to be the case here)
Croatia-Germany
Holland-Spain
Germany will go to the final, while Holland-Spain would be too close to call, especially given the fact that both teams have always failed to deliver when it mattered most, and this would be an interesting encounter, because both teams would for the first time in a few years deliver, in that they come such a long way in a major tournament.
if you look at it, Germany, if they get their act together, has a really good chance, because they don't meet a real contender until the final. the possible teams on the road to the final: portugal and turkey, even czech, are all decent teams, but simply do not have that extra quality that france, italy, spain, holland possess. By virtue of this, Germany has to be the favourites.
Spain are actually my second favourites. who actually gets out of Group C will really change the whole equation for Spain. i think Spain's biggest match is that quarter-final. whoever they face will be a real quality team. if they can get past that, then that would be a real morale booster. of course it doesn't make the next game any easier, but it is a huge boost psychologically.
whoever gets out of Group C as winners should make it to the last 4, where Spain await. that team would be my third favourites.
and of course, i always cling on to the hope that Holland will somehow win the EM, even on penalties.
lastly, my Dream Team(also who i think will shine)
goalkeeper: van der sar
left-back: lahm*
center-back: mertesacker
center-back: heitinga
right-back: sergio ramos
midfielder: xavi
midfielder: ballack
midfielder: sneijder
forward: arjen robben
forward: benzema
forward: ribery
honourable mention: akinfeev, goian, janssen, kranjcar, iniesta, moutinho, nihat, arshavin, gomez, fernando torres
*lahm would probably play at rightback.
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