EURO 2012 PREVIEW

With the European Championships around the corner it's worth having a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each team and evaluate their likely line-ups.  Every international tournament springs surprises and the likes of Greece, Denmark, Ireland and Ukraine will be hopeful they might be the ones this time round however the playing field seems to be stronger than ever.  The heavyweights of Spain and Germany appear too strong on paper and in terms of current form but if there's anything this European league season has taught us, it's that anything is possible with luck and a good game plan.. 


Group A

Group A is probably the most open of the four groups. The battle for top spot is likely to be between Poland and Greece however Russia may cause a surprise as they did at Euro 2008. The Czech Republic lacks the quality to progress further.

 

Poland:  4-2-3-1 Szczesny; Piszcek Wasilewski Perquis Warwzyniak; Polanski Murawski; Blaszykowski Obraniak Peszko; Lewandowski 

Strengths: Home ground advantage, a centre forward in top form, a fine goalkeeper 

Weaknesses: Lack of experience at this level, fans pressure and lack of midfield quality

Watch out for: Scezcny, Piszcek, Lewandowski

 

Greece: 4-3-3 Tzorvas; Torosidis  Papadopoulos Papastathopoulos Holebas; Karagounis, Katsouranis Tziolis; Ninis Gekas Samaras

Strengths: Creative attacking mids/strikers, patience that is required at this level, a more attacking attitude than the past

Weaknesses: New defence lacks experience at international level, lack of speed in transition.  

Watch out for: Papastathopoulos, Ninis, Samaras

 

Russia:   4-4-2 Malafeev; Anyukov Berezutsky Ignashevich Zhirkov; Denisov Semshov Zyryanov Dzakoev; Arshavin Pavlyuchenko

Strengths: Experience from Euro 2008, good crowd support, tricky forwards.  

Weaknesses: Key players past their best, loss of surprise element 

Watch out for: Berezutsky, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko

Czech R.:   4-5-1 Cech; GebreSelasie Sivok Kadlec Limbersky; Stajner Plasil Rosicky Jiracek Rezek ; Baros

Strengths: A goalkeeper in top form, organisation, swift counter attacks

Weaknesses: No real X-factor, if Rosicky is kept quiet then lack of creativity will hinder them.  

Watch out for: Cech, Kadlec, Rosicky

Group B

The Group of Death! The Germans will most likely dominate however Holland and Portugal will push them all the way. Winner of these two will be very dangerous in knockout rounds.The Danes will also cause an upset at some point.

 

Germany   4-2-3-1 Neuer; Lahm Boateng Hummels Badstuber; Schweinsteiger Khedira; Ozil Reus Podolski; Gomez

 

Strengths: Extremely quick transition into attack, abundant world class options in attack, movement in final third

Weaknesses: Defence not up to standard of predecessors, a tough first round group may push them hard too early

Watch out for: Hummels, Ozil, Reus

Holland    4-3-3 Stekelenburg; VDWiel Heitinga Mathijsen Anita; Strootman VBommel Snejder; Kuyt VPersie Robben

Strengths: Familiarity with system, exceptional strikers, team with lots of experience at the highest level 

Weaknesses: Left back a problem, Sneijder and Kuyt not the players of 2 years ago, clash with Portugal a must win 

Watch out for: VDWiel, Strootman, Van Persie

Portugal   4-3-3 Patricio; Bosingwa Alves Pepe Contreao; Moutinho Veloso Meireles; Nani Postiga Ronaldo 

Strengths: The form of Ronaldo, very dangerous wingers, solid and technical midfield and defence  

Weaknesses: Lack of international class centre forward and goalkeeper.  

Watch out for: Pepe, Moutinho, Ronaldo

Denmark  4-3-3 Sorensen; Jacobsen Kjaer Agger Poulsen; Eriksen Kvist Zimling; Rommehdahl Bendtner KrohnDehli  

 

Strengths: Fast hungry players, experts of the 4-3-3 system, directness  

Weaknesses: Defence will be severely tested, placed in Group of Death, over-reliance on wing play

Watch out for: Agger, Eriksen, Bendtner

Group C

Spain is the hot favourite for the tournament and only Italy can seriously test them from this group. Croatia are not to be underestimated and have the class to progress but Ireland may find themselves out of their league. 

 

Spain:   4-2-3-1  Casillas; Arbeloa Ramos Pique Alba; Xavi Alonso; Silva Fabregas Iniesta; Soldado  

Strengths: Ball possession, combination play, most technical players in Europe, strongest midfield in the world. 

Weaknesses: Possible rift between Madrid/Barcelona players, loss of Puyol in defence and Villa in attack

Watch out for: Iniesta, Fabregas, Soldado.

Italy  4-4-2 Buffon; Abate Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini; Marchisio Pirlo Montolivo DeRossi ; Cassano Balotelli

 

Strengths: Tactical discipline, strong options in midfield, unpredictable in attack

Weaknesses: Centre backs not proven on international stage, lack of width in attack

Watch out for: Pirlo, Cassano, Balotelli 

 

Croatia    4-4-2 Pletikosa; Corluka Simunic Schildenfeld Vida; Srna, Modric, Kranjcar Rakitic; Mandzukic Jelavic

Strengths: Skilful playmakers, dangerous forwards,

Weaknesses: Do not respond well to adversity, defenders likely to overdo fouls, drawn against two super powers

Watch out for: Corluka, Modric, Jelavic

Ireland     4-4-2 Given; Kelly O'Shea Dunne Ward; McClean Whelan Andrews Duff; Keane Doyle

Strengths: Coach with vast experience and tactical ability, fighting quality of team, defensive organisation.  

Weaknesses: Lack of a quality centre forward, key players past their peak, majority of players untested at this level

Watch out for: O'Shea, McClean, Keane,

Group D

Group D should be a fight between France and England. England can expect Rooney to play like an uncaged lion when he returns from suspension but both they and France do have their weaknesses. Ukraine/Sweden lack the necessary quality to beat them but anything is possible with the right tactical plan and will provide stern tests.  

 

France    4-2-3-1 Lloris; Koscielny Mexes Rami Evra; Cabaye MVila; Nasri Valbuena Ribery; Benzema 

Strengths: Hungry and determined to make amends for disappointing World Cup, lethal world class players in attack.

Weaknesses: Lack of experience in midfield, loss of Sagna and Abidal in defence due to injury 

Watch out for: Rami, Ribery, Benzema

England   4-2-3-1  Hart; Johnson Cahill Terry Cole; Lampard Barry; Walcott Gerrard Young; Rooney

 

Strengths: Expereinced and talented players all over the pitch, the form of Chelsea players

Weaknesses: Coach appointed too late, loss of playmaker (Wilshere), loss of Rooney for first 2 games due to suspension

Watch out for: Cole, Gerrard, Rooney

Ukraine   4-4-2  Piyatov; Kusher Rakitskiy Shevchuk Mikhalik; Gusev Rotan Tymoschenko Yarmolenko; Voronin Shevchenko

Strengths: Home support, surprise element, core of Shaktar players experienced in Champions League football  

Weaknesses: lack of creative midfielder, poor current form, loss of goalkeeper due to injury, forwards well past their best

Watch out for: Shevchuk, Timoschenko, Shevchenko

Sweden    4-4-2 Issakson; Grandqvist Mellberg Olsson Olsson; Elm Kjallstrom Svensson Toivonen; Elmander Ibrahimovic

Strengths: The form of Ibrahimovic, tactical organisation, always tough to beat. 

Weaknesses: Two old and mighty adversaries in their group, back four not up to international standard

Watch out for: Mellberg, Kjallstrom, Ibrahimovic

 

PREDICTION There is no one in the world willing to bet against Spain and Germany meeting in the final, however should Italy and Portugal advance into the knockout rounds from their tough groups I expect them to provide a serious challenge to the favourites in the semi finals. Greece is my tip of the 'smaller' nations to cause a major upset. 

I believe Spain will take out the title once more, there is simply too much class through the team and they are all on the same wavelength and play fantastic football. Only a game of missed scoring opportunities can stop them.