The Round Football Column 06.04.08: 156th Edition – Euro 2008 Group C preview
Posted by on 06.04.2008
Today we look at Group C, featuring stars like Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Rafael van der Vaart. One Click Away.
Three days to go.
The Group of Death is here! Ooooooooooh and stuff…
HOLLAND
Ah, the Dutch. It's genuinely difficult assessing these and Spain ahead of tournaments like this. They have such rich quality, but always those killer flaws to put that doubt in your mind. When they continue to back-up your concerns, it makes it even harder to pick them next time.
To sum up, their defence is shit and they'll finish bottom because of it.
It's such a shame too, because Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder are incredible talents.
Seriously, their attacking and creative threat is at such a level that it's almost annoying how much their back-line could potentially hinder them in this tournament. I would love them to prove me wrong, because everyone higher up than defensive midfielder, Engelaar, is a great player. Not just Wesley and VDV, but Van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar, Robben and Van Persie - all genuinely exceptional attacking players. That makes it all the more bizarre for me to predict them finishing fourth.
ROMANIA
Here they are - the team for which my incredibly small reputation lies on. Why? Well they are my dark horses this summer. Everyone has a team they think will do well and Romania are mine.
I know it seems ridiculous to predict them qualifying from arguably the craziest major tournament group in recent memory, but I really do have a feeling for them. They play it tight at the back, have that great camaraderie that everyone thinks is so important in all walks of life and an attitude that doesn't allow them to fear anyone.
More relevantly, they have great talent - not just as a collective unit, but individually. In Adrian Mutu they genuinely possess one of the tournament's finest strikers and with Nicolae Dica they have that much-needed attacking threat from central midfield. In any other group the latter would be a must for your fantasy football team.
I don't think I'm just trying to be cool and different predicting Romania to qualify, but only time will tell if I actually know what I'm talking about on the international stage.
FRANCE
Raymond Domenech is a tosser. That's a given. He and Aragones must have contests to see who the most annoying-looking manager is in international football.
However, he has quite the squad at his disposal and France are rightly one of the favourites to win the whole thing. In fact, their squad is so deep that the manager has some genuine selection dilemmas – not those fake ones you hear other managers' whinging about.
The problem Domenech has it that he's incredibly loyal, almost to the point where it doesn't matter how bad his chosen few are playing domestically. There are examples of this all over the pitch. Lillian Thuram is a legend and he has a good understanding with William Gallas, but players like Mexes should surely have a better chance than they currently do. Then there's Eric Abidal, who should never be in at left-back ahead of Patrice Evra. Patrick Vieira is a joke nowadays, but the excellent Jeremy Toulalan and dynamic Lassana Diarra still fail to dismantle him unless he's injured like he is now. Elsewhere, Samir Nasri should probably have Florent Malouda's place and Karim Benzema shouldn't have had to fight anywhere near as hard as he and the supporting French media have to secure a starting place next to the ever-fading Thierry Henry.
Either way, the team is strong, the super subs like Batefimbi Gomis and Samir Nasri are ready to pounce and Karim Benzema is ready to make a name for himself. A final between them and Portugal looks a good bet to me right now.
ITALY
I know it's a bit silly to say the following about the reigning world champions, especially when they only have a few names missing from their trophy-lifting exploits in Germany........but I see Italy going out here!
Even before Fabio Cannavaro's injury I just felt like they were missing a little something. Maybe it was Totti's absence in the final third or maybe it's Roberto Donadoni's erratic decision-making, inexperience and all-round influence compared to the incredible Marcelo Lippi.
Fabio Cannavaro's injury is a huge blow and I'm still not convinced of using Mauro Camoranesi in such a prominent role on the right – especially with the in-form Del Piero, Quagliarella and Cassano waiting in the wings – but to speak positively for a second I'm a huge fan of Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni and the vastly underrated Antonio di Natale. They certainly do have big strengths.
Of course, they have great quality and would qualify from each of the other three groups with ease. Hell, they could still easily top this one despite my plight. However, I envisage a shock early exit and in-turn the Italians falling at the group stage hurdle for the third time in the last four European Championships.
Interesting thoughts....I too have Romania qualifying from this group, but at the expense of France, who I think will rely too much on Henry (like most teams he's played for seem to), neglect the fastest rising star in European Football (Benzema), and finish third to Romania and the most frustrating national side in the world, (and this isn't just because I'm Scottish and they knocked us out), Italy. I think the return of Del Piero to the international fold is going to inspire them to the quarter finals...where Russia will destroy them
Posted By: Brian (Guest) on June 04, 2008 at 05:53 PM
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