Hello readers, long time since I wrote on here, hope you are all well, with Euro 2012 just days away I will be writing articles upcoming and during the tournament, I will start by doing group by group previews, starting off with group A, which features, the hosts Poland, Greece, Czech Republic and Russia.
Poland
 |
| Lewandowski will be a key player for Poland |
The co-hosts to Euro 2012 along with the Ukraine already booked their place in Euro 2012 years ago. Poland are still a developing nation in football terms, but have come a long way in recent years to being 'noticed' on the football stage, boasting players such as Robert Lewandowski, Wojciech Szczesny and Jakub Blaszczykowlski who all play for high ranking clubs in Europe. The poles are in a medicore group with Russia being the only real threat, the Greeks, Czechs and Poles will be fighting it out for the other spot in my opinion to qualify for the last 8. Home advantage may just sway the Poles way as the Czechs are not as much of a force as they used to be, and the Greeks are again mediocre.
Player To Watch - Robert Lewandowski
Prediction - Last 8.
Greece
 |
| Ninis will be pulling the strings in the Greek midfield |
The Euro 2004 winners haven't made much of a mark on the world stage since that glorious night in Portugal 8 years ago. The Greeks find themselves as I said about Poland in a mediocre group with the Czechs, Poles and Greeks all in an equal level in terms of ability. It'll be an interesting group as anything can happen, interesting Greek players who will have to be on good form are, Sotiris Ninis mainly, in my opinion, the young midfielder will be pulling the strings in the Greek midfield, the Greeks have a older squad full of experienced players, some who played that night in 2004 still play there such as Giorgos Karagounis who also scored that night in the 2-1 win over Portugal, will the experience see them through? or will the older legs prove to be the stumbling block for Greece this time round?. I think they'll be heading home early from Euro 2012
Player To Watch - Sotiris Ninis
Prediction - Group Stage (4th)
Russia
 |
Zhirkov's experience will be important as the winger will
be putting crosses into the box to create chances |
Group favourites as far as I am concerned and a tough team to beat, the Russian's will be going into Euro 2012 expecting a decent run and certainly to get out of the group stages, the draw has favoured them well in my opinion and they should win with ease, but as the saying goes, there are no easy games in international football. Boasting such names as Yuri Zhirkov, Igor Akinfeev, Andrei Arshavin, Aleksandr Kerzhakov, and Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russians have big names and experience in the side which should be enough to see them through the group stages. But with potential ties against teams such as German and Holland in the knockout stages, I can't see their Euro dream going much further than the last eight.
Player To Watch - Yuri Zhirkov
Prediction - Last 8
Czech Republic
 |
Cech will be keeping the sticks well gaurded and will be
important if the Czechs want to go to the last 8 |
In recent years the Czechs have gone down hill in football terms in my opinion, to being a tough side, to being a mediocre side, after the likes of Jan Koller and Pavel Nedved hung their boots up, the Czechs still have talented players but the stand out players have dropped. My picks of the key players here are, Petr Cech and Tomas Rosicky. Striker Milan Baros will need to be on top form this tournament too, his international record is impressive with 48 goals from 93 appearances. But I think the Czechs will just lose out on qualifying and will be pipped by the Poles.
Player To Watch - Petr Cech
Prediction - Group Stage (3rd)
Hope you have enjoyed this first instalment on my Euro 2012 preview, I will be reviewing group B on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment