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Who will win Euro 2008?

  • 16-04-2008 12:12AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,404 ✭✭✭


    Wouldn't you almost forget that Euro 2008 is less than 2 months away without the usual Sky Sports and English red top press hype and furore when the inevitable happens and some England footballer breaks his foot, or should I say metatarsal, and England seem to go into a state of emergency?

    Anyway, who do people reckon will win? I feel there are no stand out team in Europe atm

    I was going to back Croatia but given that Eduardo is out and their odds aren't excellent so i'm not sure

    What about Portugal? They still haven't found a centre forward but could Ronaldo play there given his success for United this season, leaving a front 6 of

    Maniche---Costinha
    Quaresma
    Deco
    Simao/Nani
    Ronaldo

    and a defence which includes Ricardo Carvalho and a number of highly rated full backs such as Nelson, Miguel and Boswinga.

    I've backed Spain in every tournament since WC '98, so i'm not backing them this time. But a midfield that includes the likes of Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Senna, Diego Capel has to be worth looking at, especially with Torres and David Villa or Dani Guiza up top.

    Do Gallas and Thuram still start together at the back for France? If they do even with emerging talents such as Benzema and Nasri I can't see them winning. Or has Mexes come into the defence?

    Germany are Germany, you can never rule them out, but they have no stand out superstar players, and may suffer due to Bayern not being involved in the CL this year, their domestic league being reasonably poor and their talisman Michael Ballack only returning to the Chelsea team towards the latter end of this season

    The Italians don't look to be at their strongest, with Zambrotta having fallen away, Nesta and Cannavaro retired (I think), but a midfield of Pirlo, Gattuso and de Rossi would be up there with the best in the world, and after 2006 can never be ruled out.

    What about the Dutch? van Basten seems to have a thing for little known home grown players, but van Nistelrooy is back, Sneijder and van der Vaart are in good form and Huntelaar could use this tournament to signal his emergence onto the worldwide scene.

    Does anyone fancy someone else to cause an upset a la Greece in 2004?


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,951 ✭✭✭DSB


    Spain. Never backed them before, but I am this time around.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    I have a feeling for Spain, though I hope they get stuffed in the group stages along with France and Hollalnd and are eliminated as early as possible.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭Drag00n79


    Germans or Portuguese for me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,103 ✭✭✭estebancambias


    Great post.


    I think Germany, with their attacking style have a great chance, but I really think Greece(or Romania) could do it.:cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,404 ✭✭✭CantGetNoSleep


    DSB wrote: »
    Spain. Never backed them before, but I am this time around.
    I fancy them too given that this will be my first time not backing them


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭invincibleirish


    I was actually thinking to myself the past few days on how Euro 2008 has been airbrushed from getting a mention in the British & Irish media.

    I really enjoy the Euros as game for game, i think they are a lot better then the WC.

    I think the perennial big boys of France, Italy, Spain & Germany will be favourites but we all know a Greece or Denmark could appear from somewhere.

    But i think Germany will win. besides the fact the tournament is being held in their own backyard, its been a while since they won a tournament. its a crappy reason for thinking they will win. but i dont think there is a standout team in Europe at the moment.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,103 ✭✭✭estebancambias


    Personally Euro 2008 will be a very proud occassion for me....it will be first major tournament with Boards......


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    I don't think there's any standout team in Europe atm.

    Holland have a world class attack but an average defence.
    Portugal has a world class midfield and a great manager but no striker, and has argubaly the best player in the tournament.
    Italy are lacking in creativity
    Germany aren't that good imo
    Spain has a great midfield and attack, but a dodgy defence and an average coach
    France isn't great in central midfield imo


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,714 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    If you like dark horse punts try Switzerland. They have big championship experience over the past fourteen years; have all the mental intangibles of team spirit , good work ethic, etc; and have home advantage which is always huge.

    The best value bet imo is Portugal. Putting money on Spain is akin to lighting it on fire.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,589 ✭✭✭✭Necronomicon


    I said Croatia a few months ago, but Eduardo's injury was a big blow.

    Really hard to call, but I'd love to see Ronaldo and Nani have stand-out performances in the tournament so I'll have to throw my hat behind Portugal.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭Attractive Nun


    I think it's a very difficult one to call. I think, player-for-player, I'd have to look at France and Spain as favourites. The problem with both is that they their best players are very similar, leaving weakpoints in the starting teams. In the top half of the pitch (Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Torres, Villa :eek:), Spain are laughing - but they only have a spattering of top class talent elsewhere (Casillas, Ramos). Similar story with France, they're sorted in attack (Henry, Benzema, Ribery, Anelka etc) and have some great players elsewhere (Gallas, Evra, Clichy etc) but will be needing the likes of Vieira and Makelele to turn up big time to pull the whole team together.

    I think the two of them serve as something of a metaphor for the other 'big' teams - some great individual talent, but some of the 'average' or maybe young players will need to step up to turn someone into a great team. Portugal need a centre forward. Italy need a new Totti. Germany need width. Holland need defenders. Some of the eastern European teams could struggle without their bigger names (Eduardo for Croatia, Rosicky for the Czechs seems perenially injured).

    Bearing all this in mind, I'm gonna predict that management will play a crucial role in the competition. Whoever can patch together the best 'team' out of so many great players will have the best chance (duh). So I predict Scolari's Portugal to win the day, probably with Ronaldo playing half the tournament as a centre-forward (and probably playing Hiddink's Russia in the final!).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭invincibleirish


    Any chance Donadoni will get on the phone to Totti?

    Also with Portugal having Ronaldo and his goalscoring threat does that nullify their perennial striker problem? he has 20 goals in 54 games, thats a decent strike rate.

    do we have any names of potential new big names who will then get a big money move and fail, im looking at you Nuno Gomes & Milan Baros!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,176 ✭✭✭Unearthly


    Germany I reckon

    They have a tradition of getting far in most tournaments they enter


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭Attractive Nun


    Also with Portugal having Ronaldo and his goalscoring threat does that nullify their perennial striker problem? he has 20 goals in 54 games, thats a decent strike rate.

    I think Ronaldo could be the answer to Portugal's problems, though an unorthodox one. It requires the likes of Nani and Quaresma to make space and create opportunites for him in the manner of Rooney and Tevex however, and I wouldn't be convinced that they have the ability to do that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,103 ✭✭✭estebancambias


    Russia is a good bet. Very normal player wise for a massive population, but Arshavin is great(and plus I share his surname:D) and with Hiddink as manager they have a chance.

    I think they are a normal team, not too much better than Ireland but with Hiddink managing and Pavlyuchenko, Zhirkov and Arshavin they have some firepower and could spring a suprise.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭invincibleirish


    If Euro 2008 was in Moscow then maybe, but they just dont seem to travel well do the Russians.

    remember Phil Babb coming on and instantly conceding an own goal against Russia in 2002 straight after the WC? his first game in a few years, it was hilarious, did he ever play for Ireland again?

    You mentioned Russia so its not off topic!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,881 ✭✭✭bohsman


    My moneys on France Italy and Portugal while I think Germany and Spain will struggle as per usual. I think Poland could do well, other than getting hammered by the US theyve been impressive and with Croatia struggling with injuries to strikers they a good chance to get out of their group alongside Germany.

    The official website is really good by the way - http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,584 ✭✭✭shane86


    Russia is a good bet. Very normal player wise for a massive population, but Arshavin is great(and plus I share his surname:D) and with Hiddink as manager they have a chance.

    I think they are a normal team, not too much better than Ireland but with Hiddink managing and Pavlyuchenko, Zhirkov and Arshavin they have some firepower and could spring a suprise.

    Would certainly be my dark horse team, though tbh even with Hiddink they are lucky to have made it. IIRC they were goaless in the first half vs Andorra in thw qualifiers (which, if a miracle had happened, iirc meant if the result stayed 0-0 England would have qualified despite the Croat beating)

    I would say Beenhakker and Poland being debutants and all, but tbh they were fancied as dark horses in 06 and did fook all.

    Dunno who Im supporting yet. Had hoped it would be the Scots after it became apparent Stan had forgotten the paddle when navigating sh1t creek last September.

    Realistic I call either Germany or Italy.

    Or France to stumble through with draws, single goal penalty wins and so forth.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,077 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    PHB wrote: »
    I don't think there's any standout team in Europe atm.

    Holland have a world class attack but an average defence.
    Portugal has a world class midfield and a great manager but no striker, and has argubaly the best player in the tournament.
    Italy are lacking in creativity
    Germany aren't that good imo
    Spain has a great midfield and attack, but a dodgy defence and an average coach
    France isn't great in central midfield imo

    Can't disagree with any of that.
    Also with Portugal having Ronaldo and his goalscoring threat does that nullify their perennial striker problem? he has 20 goals in 54 games, thats a decent strike rate.

    Short answer, no it doesn't. Lacking a good central striker is for me the reason why Portugal won't win the tournament. They need the likes of Toni or Klose or someone along those lines. An out and out goalscorer who hangs on the last defender. They don't have it. It's all well and good Ronaldo, Quaresma etc terrorising defences but of there's no one to finish the move off it's pointless.

    Of course Ronaldo will chip in with his fair share of goals but I don't think it'll be enough.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,563 ✭✭✭kinaldo


    Xavi6 wrote: »
    Lacking a good central striker is for me the reason why Portugal won't win the tournament.
    France won the World Cup without one. They relied on the goalscoring prowess of Thuram, not once but TWICE in the semi final!

    I think Portugal are a good shout. They will have probably the best manager and player in the tournament.

    Spain have the best group of players but their manager will **** up again. Not taking Raul is a great start.

    France and Italy have done nothing to impress me in the last two years. I'd fancy Germany ahead of them tbh.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,677 ✭✭✭genericgoon


    kinaldo wrote: »
    France won the World Cup without one. They relied on the goalscoring prowess of Thuram, not once but TWICE in the semi final!

    I think Portugal are a good shout. They will have probably the best manager and player in the tournament.

    Spain have the best group of players but their manager will **** up again. Not taking Raul is a great start.

    France and Italy have done nothing to impress me in the last two years. I'd fancy Germany ahead of them tbh.

    Well technically they've been the WC winners and runners up within the last 2 years :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,077 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    kinaldo wrote: »
    France won the World Cup without one. They relied on the goalscoring prowess of Thuram, not once but TWICE in the semi final!
    I think Portugal are a good shout. They will have probably the best manager and player in the tournament.

    Spain have the best group of players but their manager will **** up again. Not taking Raul is a great start.

    France and Italy have done nothing to impress me in the last two years. I'd fancy Germany ahead of them tbh.

    While a valid point, can you see Nuno Valente chipping in with two goals?!

    Of course Portugal are one of the favourites but it's not exactly the strongest bunch of teams to pick from. The likes of Germany, Italy and France are going to be going through transitional stages between now and the next World Cup. They would be considered 'big hitters' yet could easily struggle.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,563 ✭✭✭kinaldo


    Well technically they've been the WC winners and runners up within the last 2 years :p
    I was even taking that into account!

    Edit: Everyone knows Argentina were the best team...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,452 ✭✭✭✭Dont be at yourself


    Spain, Portugal and Holland all look strong enough on paper, but I'd be hesitant to back them. I might stick a bit on France


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,508 ✭✭✭Green Giant


    I'm aware of the history, but you know what? I'm gonna come out and say it. Spain for Euro 2008. So there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 41,926 ✭✭✭✭_blank_


    Holland.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭Loomis


    I think there's no clear favourite. Germany are Germany and will typically be tough to beat but can't see them winning it. Italy will bore the ring off us as normal, do well but can't see them winning either. Holland have always been right up their in terms of quality but never deliver and I can't see that changing to be honest.
    Spain, Portugal and France I think have the best chance. Spain have a stupid amount of talent in midfield and Torres in great form all season could bring them a long way. But again like Holland, they seem to be lacking when it comes to the crunch. The same goes for Portugal and Ronaldo. They have no real centre forward but have half a dozen players who could get a goal any time. France could be dark horses in a sense for this - I think they're overlooked since a lot of players have retired since their tournament victories in '98 and '00 and also since their loss in the final of the World Cup but still have a huge amount of quality. I think it's the perfect stage for Benzema to properly announce himself.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,103 ✭✭✭estebancambias


    I think there's no clear favourite. Germany are Germany and will typically be tough to beat but can't see them winning it. Italy will bore the ring off us as normal, do well but can't see them winning either.
    Spain, Portugal and France I think have the best chance. Spain have a stupid amount of talent in midfield and Torres in great form all season could bring them a long way. The same goes for Portugal and Ronaldo. They have no real centre forward but have half a dozen players who could get a goal any time. France could be dark horses in a sense for this. A lot of players have retired since their tournament victories in '98 and '00 and also since their loss in the final of the World Cup but still have a huge amount of quality. I think it's the perfect stage for Benzema to properly announce himself.


    You find Italy boring? I found them one of the best teams to watch in 2006. They don't play fluently, but in my opinion they have an easy on the eye style.

    Portugal on the other hand bore me, despite the fact of their attacking players.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭Loomis


    You find Italy boring? I found them one of the best teams to watch in 2006. They don't play fluently, but in my opinion they have an easy on the eye style.

    Portugal on the other hand bore me, despite the fact of their attacking players.

    Ye, they always have and presumably always will.
    How can attacking football be boring? Something is always happening. Something always happens with Italy too I suppose...defending.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭ibh


    I'm backing Spain, same as for every Tournament since Euro96 and they are going to fcuk up on me again.
    I'm going to the 1/4 final in Vienna prob between Spain and whoever comes second out of the Holland, France, Italy & Romania group.

    I have a sneaky feeling it'll be Italy or Germany but if I was to put on an outside bet i would say Croatia. They are in the easiest group as well. I would have had a sneaky punt on Romania but they are in the strongest group so much like Ivory Coast in the WC they will probably put up a good fight but not have enough to get through.


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