The Round Football Column 06.03.08: 155th Edition – Euro 2008 Group B preview
Posted by on 06.03.2008
Today is the turn of Group B featuring stars like Mario Gomez, Luka Modric and Ebi Smolarek. One Click Away.
There's only four days before the big kick-off and the previews will be arriving every day until then.
Today it's the turn of Group B.
AUSTRIA
I don't know how much there is to say about this bunch of shit-kickers. People thought Latvia would struggle at Euro 2004 before that Verpakovskis (sp?) fella ripped some nets, but this bunch are about ten times worse.
Apparently their fans have tried to get them out of the tournament and from what I hear they would be nowhere near the pitches this summer if it wasn't for the fact they are co-hosting.
I like the fact they have a player called Christian Fuchs in their squad and it may be fun to see them get hammered three times, but damn this could be embarrassing.
GERMANY
Germany are a weird side. They are the bookies favourites and as a unit they certainly look the part, but if you break down their squad there's barely a superstar in the ranks.
However, as Arsene Wenger said recently - big talents are better than big names – and Germany definitely have that in abundance.
Miroslav Klose has got to be the favourite for the golden boot, with the group his country are in and his major tournament record, yet somehow he still struggles to garner that worldwide acclaim that players like Wayne Rooney and Emmanuel Adebayor undeservedly take in his place. He will definitely score goals, as will Mario Gomez - if he ends up partnering Klose.
Then you have Michael Ballack, who's had a very impressive last five months in England, Per Mertesacker, who is probably the most underrated centre-back in Europe right now and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is still capable of some match-winning performances when he decides to stop being so pedestrian.
On the negative side, I think Christoph Metzelder and Jens Lehmann could hinder them in the long run and with a semi-final against Portugal looking inevitable, the aforementioned pair may be one of the primary reasons why they fall a hurdle earlier than the bookies are predicting them to.
POLAND
They have a good manager and were great in qualifying, but there's something so damn boring about Poland going into this tournament.
The lad, Ebi Smolarek could be worth a look after his record in qualifying, but David Healy walked away with the top scorer gong back then, so maybe it's irrelevant until a stage like this.
Either way, they'll need to beat Croatia to get through here and I don't see it.
CROATIA
Slaven Bilic hates Martin Taylor, for he has ruined the charismatic manager's grand masterplan.
I saw a lot of Croatia in qualifying, because they were in England's group, and it was clear that the midfielders really worked around Eduardo's movement. He and Luka Modric had an established communication, and the Arsenal striker's absence could be a huge blow for Croatia.
They should grab second easily, but for me, Petric or Olic don't seem to have the quality to lead the line when it matters in the knockouts. They have some really good defenders in Simunic and Corluka, and all eyes will be on Luka Modric, but no longer do I see them as tournament dark horses – merely endearing quarter finalists.
