Euro 2012 Preview - Group D

A little later than planned, due to feeling the effects of the weekend drinking and other things, I haven't had chance to sit down and write the fourth and final part to the preview. But as the saying goes better late than never. So, lets get started, Group D at Euro 2012 is an interesting group with England, Sweden, France and the Co-hosts Ukraine involved. Ukraine have home advantage in this group, but I think the top two spaces will be fought out between, England, Sweden and France.

England 

Welbeck will be a player to watch this year for England

Having appointed Roy Hodgson as manager England have looked decent winning 1-0 in both their friendly games, but the style of play wasn't all that thrilling. This is the first time in a long time that I have seen so little expectation on the English squad, usually football fever hits England and everyone jumps on the bandwagon of 'it is our year'. This could sway England's way, still being a major team in the tournament, yet having probably the least expectation on their shoulders, relieves the pressure. A lot would say this is a straight forward enough group for England. I disagree, I think we could potentially struggle to get out the group and I think everything will be decided if we beat France. If we fail to beat them. I think we may struggle. France are a bogey team to us, we generally draw against Sweden and we have never beaten a host nation on home soil in a tournament before adding onto this, we have never won an opening game of a Europpean competition either to my knowledge. I just feel we don't posses the quality to get through the group stage at-all. I have never seen such a weak England squad. Wayne Rooney is suspended for two games and will be a major blow, but as a nation we shouldn't need to rely on one man. Look at the likes of Spain, Germany and Holland. They have so much depth in quality, why can't England do this?. I don't know. The key players for England who stand out for me are, Joe Hart who has had a fantastic season with Man City and is going to be a number one for England for years to come, he'll be guarding the sticks to his best ability to ward off the likes of Benzema of France and Ibrahimovic of Sweden. John Terry who in my opinion should be in the squad despite his off-field issues will be the obvious rock at the back, based on ability he is probably our best centre back to chose from. Just a shame Gary Cahill picked an injury up against Belgium otherwise I'd have picked a Terry/Cahill partnership at back. Midfield options are a blend of youth and experience, Ashley Young will be the man to keep an eye on down the wings, creating chances with his pace and trickery, he also has a tidy finish on him and has had a good season with Man Utd. Scott Parker, probably one of the most under-rated English midfielders ever finally gets his chance on the big stage, the solid midfield general will probably partner Gerrard in midfield, and that is a partnership that could work. Parker wins a lot of balls in midfield and Gerrard is more attack minded. This could be a partnership we have been long awaiting for, but sadly we have woke up and smelt the coffee too late. Striking options look, and I won't lie, terrible. Andy Carroll is expected to be the 'main man' of the competition, and judging by his season at Liverpool, well... I don't have to say anything else do I?. Though Danny Welbeck who has done well for Man Utd this season will be one to watch also. I feel this tournament could be disastrous for England and perhaps this is what we need as it is a wake up call to the FA and England fans, that we are not as good as we think we are, and change is needed within our youth systems, and quickly. I tip England to crash out in the group stages, just hopefully not having the embarrassment of coming 4th.

Player To Watch - Danny Welbeck

Prediction - Group Stages (3rd)


France 

Benzema has been on fire this season, and as been in
good form for France too

France, I feel are the dark horses in the Euros. I doubt they will win the competition but I think they will put up a fight and I reckon they could potentially get to the Semi-Finals. There is just something I like about the French side this time around, they seem in my eyes to have a fairly well balanced side, and have a good manager in charge in Blanc. They also won all three of their friendly matches, keeping two clean sheets in the process. I think they will win the group, with the biggest test coming against England. Whoever wins this, will go on to win the group, but I feel France could easily beat us with the players they have. The likes of Karim Benzema being on hot form. Creativity in midfield will be provided by Sammi Nasri, Franck Ribery and Hatem Ben Arfa who have all had very good seasons with their respective clubs. The defence looks solid enough with players such as Phillipe Mexes and Adil Rami pairing at centre back. With the option of Laurent Koscielny another centre back choice. Patrice Evra will be bombing down the left side of the pitch, the tireless Man Utd man will be setting alot of play up via the left side of the field I reckon. Hugo Lloris will be in net for France and he on his day is very hard to beat. The Lyon stopper is only 25 too, a good tournament here could set alarms off for the bigger European clubs to come offering in for him. But his price tag would be pretty high.This could be an exciting tournament for France as not many predict them to light up Euro 2012, expectation in France is similar to England over here. Not much, so pressure is off them as well. I predict them to win the group though.

Player To Watch - Karim Benzema

Prediction - Semi-Finalists

Sweden 

Ibrahimovic will be the key man for Sweden

The Swedes head to Euro 2012 with two friendly wins under their belts and an average squad on the look on the team sheet, but as the old saying goes, the game is not played on paper. They on their day a tough side to beat and also have that attacking power too, to go and win games. Netting five goals in two games, yet conceding three, their defence on the first look, could be leaky. I expect the Swedes though to steal second spot ahead of England and Ukraine by the odd point or even goal difference, as I feel they will beat Ukraine, and nab a draw against England as they always tend to do. Sweden have a few quality match winning players in their squad, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be the main man to watch at Euro 2012. The powerful striker has strength in the air and ability to win high balls and get onto crosses, the forward also has a lethal finish and will put defences on high alert and will have to be closely marked. The Swedes defensively look a little weak and average. Forever present for the past 12 years is Olof Melberg in the Swedish squad who now plays for Olympiacos. Martin Olsson of Blackburn Rovers also features and will be playing probably down the left side of the pitch for the Swedes, the 24 year old player will be looking to impressive any higher league clubs as he probably won't want to be playing Championship football next season as it could harm his Sweden career. Jonas Olsson will also feature most likely as a centre back option, the West Brom defender has had a good season with the baggies and his experience at back will be important. Going into the midfield obvious candidates here are Seb Larsson and Kim Kallstrom both talented midfielders, and Larsson a product of the Arsenal academy will most likely be the set piece man, the midfielder has a lethal free kick on him. Whilst Kallstrom will be in the middle of the park pulling strings for the Swedish midfield. Galatasaray midfielder/forward, Johan Elmander finds himself at Euro 2012 also, the versiatile Swedish man could play a midfield or a forward role, or even play behind Ibrahimovic setting plays through for the big Swedish striker. Elmander has netted 12 goals this season in Turkey and will be wanting to add now, to his international tally too. As said at the start here, I believe the Swedes will edge England out this time round and I predict them to slump in the final eight. Second place for Sweden

Player To Watch - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Prediction - Last Eight

Ukraine 

Yarmolenko is dubbed the new 'Shevchenko' will he live
upto his name?

Co-hosts Ukraine kick off their Euro 2012 campaign on Monday against Sweden. Home advantage could well favour the Ukrainian's in their first ever major competition, although they are widely favoured to go out at the group stage, and I can see why, as player quality is few and far between. But the under-dogs tag never stopped the likes of Greece and Denmark firing their way to glory in years gone by. Hopefully the Ukraine fans will not live up to their tag names of recent weeks of 'racist mobs and thugs'. As it will be an embarassment to the nation and also to UEFA. Ukraine go to Euro 2012 with one win in three to their name. Which doesn't look promising for them I must admit. Probably one of the saddest things about the Ukraine squad and 'lost talent' on the international stage is Andriy Shevchenko, who is one of Ukraines most successful players and one of the highest capped with 107 caps, also netting 46 goals in the process too. He himself has admitted this will be his only shot of glory to win something with his home nation. A sad statement from a striker who has played at some of Europe's finest clubs in his history. Who knows what he could have won if he played for a bigger European side. He will hopefully want to bow out of his international career on a high, getting out of the group stages would probably be something he would settle for. Though with every older generation that retires and moves on, a new generation evolves and highly rated forward Andriy Yarmolenko is dubbed the new 'Shevchenko' and you can see why, in 84 appearances for Dynamo Kiev he has netted 30 times. The 22 year old forward will be relishing a chance to showcase his skills on a bigger stage, and I widely expect him at a bigger European club this summer if he does well. his international record isn't too bad either scoring seven goals in 20 games. Artem Milevskiy will me a target man option for Ukraine the big broad forward who usually plays as a second striker will win high balls in the air and hold the ball up for others to come into play. He has spent his entire career with Dinamo Kiev, scoring 51 goals in 152 appearances. The midfield or Ukraine looks very alien to some people, with the only notable names being Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, the centre midfielder who plays for Bayern Munich will probably be playing his last international tournament too at the age of 33. He will be the anchorman for Ukraine this competition and his experience will be needed. All in all I think Ukraine will struggle to get a win in the group and will come rock bottom as the other three nations in the group have much more quality than the co-hosts. Bottom of the pile for Ukraine.

Player To Watch -  Andriy Yarmolenko

Prediction - Group Stage (4th)


This now rounds off all my reviews on the group stage teams, and everyone at Euro 2012, apologies for the lateness of the final part. Thank you for reading and keep an eye out throughout the tournament for more write-ups on events in Ukraine/Poland. If you are out there now reading this, whoever you support have a enjoyable tournament, a safe one, and safe trip home too.