A preview of 2008 European Championships taking place in Austria and Switzerland next summer. Who are the favourites, who are the outsiders and who simply hasn't a chance
The Euro 2008 draw has been made and the top 16 teams in Europe will head to Austria and Switzerland next summer to discover who is top dog. To find out who are the favourites, who has a chance and who will be heading home for an early summer break, read on.
The Groups
The top two from each group will qualify for the quarter finals.
Group A
Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland.
Group B
Croatia, Austria, Germany, Poland.
Group C
Italy, France, Holland, Romania.
Group D
Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia.
Favourites
It is no secret as to who will be the favourites going into the tournament. World Champions Italy topped a tricky qualifying group containing France, a resurgent Scotland and Ukraine and will certainly take some stopping.
Similarly France, beaten World Cup finalists will be out for revenge against the Italians and boast an impressive squad. However both teams have been drawn in the dreaded ‘Group of Death’, along with Holland and Romania, which means the tournament will lose at least one quality side early on.
Elsewhere, history suggests it is foolish to discount Germany, especially with the tournament being played so close to home. Another team to watch are the Czech Republic who topped their qualifying group, actually finishing ahead of Germany, and with only one loss along the way.
Outsiders
Portugal, Spain and Holland all brim with flair players who ply their trade at the very top level but it is yet to be seen whether they have enough to become champions. Will this be their year?
Portugal, beaten finalists at Euro 2004 have something to prove and with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Quaresma in their side they may well be the tournament’s entertainers.
The Spanish also boast an impressive squad and players like Torres, David Villa, Fabregas, Iniesta and Canizares with relish the challenge. However it remains to be seen whether either team can make that difficult transition from title pretenders to champions.
It would also be unwise to discount Holland, yet the Dutch frequently fail to live up to their billing at major tournaments and having to fight their way through the ‘Group of Death’ will do them no favours either.
All of which means that Croatia, impressive in twice beating England in the qualifiers, may just fancy their chances. A favourable group draw should see them qualify with Germany and no-one will relish facing them in the knock-outs.
Dark horses
It is fair to say that Greece’s victory in 2004 was quite possibly the biggest shock the European championships has ever seen. However, although they qualified with ease, it will be an even bigger surprise if they are to retain their title this year.
Sweden possess a decent side and enough quality players in Ibrahamovic and Ljungberg to suggest they may make it through to the quarter finals. Whether they have enough strength in depth to progress any further, however, remains to be seen.
Romania had an excellent qualifying campaign yet being drawn with Italy, France and Holland means they will have done fantastically well just to reach the quarter finals; in essence, a rotten draw for an otherwise strong side.
Yet perhaps the real dark horses of the competition are Poland. Although this is their first time in the finals of the competition, after qualifying top of their group and surprisingly, ahead of Portugal, they might just be worth a punt.
No-hopers
As co-hosts Austria may be expected to do fairly well but expectations at home are so low that even their own supporters have reportedly signed a petition asking the team to withdraw from the tournament before they embarrass themselves further. Not the best way to prepare for a major tournament one would suggest.
Co-hosts Switzerland are also expected to struggle and certainly their apparent lack of quality will mean they will find it tough. They will need every ounce of home advantage to make it through the group stages.
Russia did well to qualify, yet at times looked a poor team. Unless Gus Hiddink’s side can improve considerably, it will be an early trip home for the Russians.
The same goes for Turkey, who lacking the quality of past tournaments and in the same group as the Portuguese and the Czech Republic, may also struggle to make it through the group stages.
The smart money therefore will be on one of the big guns and certainly Italy, France and Germany will all fancy their chances. Yet the history of this tournament suggests that it is not always that straightforward. After all, Greece were 150-1 outsiders to win the tournament last time out, so don't be surprised if another shock win awaits the football world next summer.
