EURO 2008 - Austria & Switzerland (June 7-29, 2008)

Hot Summer

Christiano Ronaldo himself is a very good reason to see Portugal as one of the favorites for the title of European champion. Germany have won the European title three times, more than anyone else, but - Germans have not won a match in the final tournament of a UEFA European Championship since winning the competition in 1996. French are the only other country to have won the competition more than once following successes in 1984 and 2000. Who's next?


By MARKO ANDREJIC
from Belgrade, SERBIA


The countdown has started, less than a month is left till the beginning of European football championship in Austria and Switzerland. National leagues are closing to the end, champions are already known in some countries and UEFA Cup and Champions League finals should be the last competition to finish before the national teams gather and start preparations for the hot summer. Let's see what we can expect out of 16 nations that qualified for the final tournament.

Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey

Switzerland: One of the co-hosts of the tournament has no much to expect but the real question is - can they be among the top two in the group and reach the quarter-final to fullfill the expectations of domestic fans? Jakob Kuhn's side pride themselves on being a hard team to beat, but have a corresponding problem in scoring goals. At FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, Switzerland was bowed out of the competition without conceding a goal in open play (0-0 against France, and beating both Togo and Korea Republic 2-0 - with Alexander Frei scoring in both games; 0-0 with Ukraine but lost 3-0 on penalties). They were much worse two years before in Portugal, Euro 2004: drew 0-0 with Croatia but then lost 3-0 to England and 3-1 to France to finish bottom of Group B. As Switzerland has not took part in qualifies, friendlies are the only mark of their form - three consecutive wins but also defeat against Austria, the other co-host. It was certainly successful game against Argentina 1-1 in June 2007 or win against Netherlands 2-1. This is their third consecutive final tournament (2004, 2006, 2008) but it's hard to believe that average Swiss team can be ranked before powerful Czech Republic and one of the favorites for the title - Portugal.

Czech Republic: Czech national team is very successful recently - it is in final 16 for fourth time in a row, since England 1996 where they made the best result - lost with the golden goal of Oliver Bierhoff in the final of the tournament five minutes into extra time after the sides remained deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes. The Czechs had earlier defeated France and Portugal in the knockout phase of the competition after finishing second to Germany in the group stage at the expense of Italy and Russia. They had no much success in World Cup 2006 but in Euro 2004 they were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the competition by eventual winners, Greece. After winning the qualifying group D in a two-horse race against Germany, Czech Republic has a good chance with one of the best European strikers Jan Koller (Borussia Dortmund), excellent goalkeeper Petr Cech (Chelsea, he will play UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow, May 21) and Fiorentina's defender Tomas Ujfalusi (still under question mark because of injury).

Portugal: Christiano Ronaldo himself is a very good reason to consider the national team of Portugal as one of the favorites for the title of European champion this summer. If we put there are also Deco, Carvalho, Nani, Maniche and Nuno Gomes, we don't need any further analysis. Anyway, after being runner-up as hosts in 2004 (they lost in the final to Greece), Portugal qualified for the final tournament after being second in group A, just after Poland. Some games were surprises but the players did their best even without coach Luiz Felipe Scolari who was banned from the touchline for three games, after incidents following the 1-1 home draw with Serbia. There is no easy group in Euro 2008 but everybody say Portugal must be in quarter finals, and many people think they are able to do much more.

Turkey: Turkey first participated in a UEFA European Championship final round in England 1996, losing all three of their group matches, but they returned four years later and advanced as far as the quarter-finals, their best effort to date in the competition. In qualifies, they finished second in group C just behind Greece but it was heavy work to do on their road to Austria and Switzerland. Turkish fans have great expectations but it seems their wishes are much stronger than the real quality of the squad. Nihat Kahveci and Hakan Sukur should guarantee goals but the main problem at the moment is injury of Hamit Alt?ntop - Bayern Munchen doesn't count on him for the last few weeks of the season and there is a big question mark against his participation in Euro 2008 finals campaign.

Forecast: 1. Czech Republic 2. Portugal 3. Turkey 4. Switzerland


Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland

Austria: Austria have never qualified for European Championship final tournament, and so will be playing in the finals for the first time when they co-host Euro 2008. They came within one round of the four-team final tournament of the inaugural 1960 competition, but lost 9-4 on aggregate to France in the quarter-finals. With only friendly games to prepare themselves for co-hosting the finals, Austria have endured some tough times. Coach Hickersberger continues to blood young talent, and said: "I'm convinced we will see a very different national team at the European Championship. Both Austria and Switzerland will be excellent hosts. They will put on a sensational tournament and I am convinced that both teams will reach the quarter-finals."

Croatia: National team of Croatia has missed only one UEFA European Championship final tournament since independence, missing out on a trip to Euro 2000. Their best result was in England 1996, losing in quarter finals against eventual winners Germany. Their road through qualifies was a hard work in group E facing Russia and England. Croatian coach Slaven Bilic has a good team with many internationals playing in Bundesliga, Premier League and all around Europe but their "best cards" are strikers Mladen Petric (Borussia Dortmund), Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen) and Ivica Olic (Hamburger SV) as well as midfielders Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric and trustful defenders Dario Simic and Robert Kovac. Croatians could be one of the big surprises in this tournament!

Germany: Germany have won the UEFA European Championship three times, more than anyone else, and were the first side to secure their qualification for the finals. But take care - Germans have not won a match in the final tournament of a UEFA European Championship since winning the competition in 1996. Since then, they have played six matches, drawing three and losing three with three goals scored and eight conceded. These statistics is very surprising for the most of football fans but this time Joachim Low and his guys are planning a big come back. Problems with injuries did not let them down as Michael Ballack, Miroslav Klose, Kevin Kuranyi, Bastian Schweinsteiger... should be enough for good result. And what is a good result for three-times-champions?

Poland: Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker led Poland to their first ever UEFA European Championship finals, with nine-goal striker Euzebiusz Smolarek securing their qualification with a game to spare when he struck both goals in a 2-0 home win over Belgium. Polish football team has no many results to remember in their history, so this will be a great opportunity to prove themselves. Artur Boruc, Grzegorz Bronowicki and Ireneusz Jelen should bring a good game, we'll see about the results.

Forecast: 1. Germany 2. Poland 3. Croatia 4. Austria


Group C: Netherlands, Italy, Romania, France

Netherlands: Netherlands finished second in their qualifying group, behind Romania, after an unexpected 2-1 defeat in Belarus. Besides qualification for Austria and Switzerland, another major positive from the Dutch campaign was the opportunity given the stars of their 2006 and 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship winning squads to impress at senior level. Attack with Ryan Babel, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Dirk Kuyt, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Robin Van Persie, supported with Clarence Seedorf, Wesley Sneider, Arjen Robben and with Edwin Van Der Sar on the goal-line makes one of the best European teams ever. As the Netherlands won the competition in 1988, their only appearance in the final to date, thanks to goals from Ruud Gullit and current coach Marco van Basten, experts agree it's time for total football again!

Italy: Replacing Marcello Lippi after Italy's success at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, coach Roberto Donadoni made a shaky start in qualifying but his team eventually did enough qualify as Group B winners. Strong defence with Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Alessandro Nesta, Christian Panucci is base of today's Italian's team but the best Bundesliga striker Luca Toni, Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino promise goals on the other side. Italy have qualified for the last four UEFA European Championship final tournaments and won the Euro 1968. Numerous titles of World and European champions and the last successfull periods make Italians think only about the new medal.

Romania: Romania have reached their third UEFA European Championship finals in four attempts after finishing above the Netherlands in their qualifying group. And now, the history is back. This team seems not strong enough among former European and World Champions in group C, but that is only motivation plus for the successors of Georgi Hagi to present their best and try to reach the quarter finals or even more.

France: France are on the hunt for a third European Championship title and have the experience and youth to make their dreams a reality. They are the only other country apart from three-time winners Germans to have won the competition more than once following successes in 1984 and 2000. Franck Ribery is in a great shape and Anelka, Henry and Trezeguet are promising trio. French hope they will bring title back to Paris.

Forecast: 1. Netherlands 2. France 3. Italy 4. Romania


Group D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia

Greece: Greeks arrive to Austria and Switzerland to defend the title won in Portugal 2004. They were the best in qualifying group with only one draw and one loss in 12 matches and with Kyrgiakos played in all 1,080 minutes of Greece's qualifying campaign. Otto Rehhagel's place in Greek football history was sealed after winning the title four years ago but mentality of Greeks always asks for more.

Sweden: By reaching Euro 2008, Sweden qualified for their fifth successive major international tournament. They qualified in second place in Group F behind Spain. The best performance in final tournaments so far, Sweden did as tournament host 1992, reaching the semi-finals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Frederik Ljungberg (still under question mark because of injury) don't seem to be enough for passing the group stage.

Spain: One of the favorites for winning the title. Fernando Torres had a great season in Liverpool, Raul Gonzales and Fernando Morientes have numerous goals in their accounts, and Xavi Alonso, Iniesta, Puyol and Casillas make strong team with legendary Luis Aragones on the bench. Spain's greatest European Championship moment came in 1964 when they won the competition in Madrid, defeating the Soviet Union 2-1. They were not so successful recently comparing to always strong and powerful team. Maybe this is a chance to do something more and clash for the title.

Russia: Russia played very good qualifies for Euro 2008 but finally, they needed luck in the final rounds to reach Austria and Switzerland, playing in the group against Croatia and England. Pavel Pogrebnyak, the striker who took Zenit St.Petersburg to the UEFA Cup final, as being the best scorer in this competition, is dangerous for all the opponents and Dutch coach Guus Hiddink made a compact team. Russians seems like able to make a surprise.

Forecast: 1. Spain 2. Russia 3. Greece 4. Sweden


If you like sports betting, we hope these tips and advices will be helpful to you but also ask you to say your opinion. If you like football, there is no doubt this will be interesting June and for some of you excellent warm-up for Olympics in August.


(Published: 10.05.2008.)

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