Euro 2008

[jmurphyc]

I rate all 3 of them very highly. Abidal should definitely be in the squad IMO. I rate him as the best of the 3. It's just unfortunate for them that France have three of the best left backs in the world (arguably the 3 best). Lahm and Zambrotta are also excellent but they can play on both sides.

[Pike B]

I rate all 3 of them very highly. Abidal should definitely be in the squad IMO. I rate him as the best of the 3. It's just unfortunate for them that France have three of the best left backs in the world (arguably the 3 best). Lahm and Zambrotta are also excellent but they can play on both sides.

Maybe Abidal on the right, Clichy on the left?

[jmurphyc]

Maybe Abidal on the right, Clichy on the left?

As far as I'm aware Abidal can't play on the right. He can play in the centre. I haven't seen him play there but I'd say he's nowhere near as effective in that position as he is playing at left back.

[Pike B]

As far as I'm aware Abidal can't play on the right. He can play in the centre. I haven't seen him play there but I'd say he's nowhere near as effective in that position as he is playing at left back.

I always find that strange. He is a powerful athlete, and a very good footballer, and has played the game all his life, but he can't play anywhere but left back!!!! Can't shouldn't be a word in a footballers vocab. We have a 45 year old legend playing with us, and this season alone, he's played in goals, centre half, centre midfield, left mid, right mid and up front. We call him the Golden Nugget....

[lionelhutz]

I rate all 3 of them very highly. Abidal should definitely be in the squad IMO. I rate him as the best of the 3. It's just unfortunate for them that France have three of the best left backs in the world (arguably the 3 best). Lahm and Zambrotta are also excellent but they can play on both sides.

Yeah thats just lowsy on them - I'd hate for Ireland to have that problem - thank God we have Kevin Kilbane

[jmurphyc]

Yeah thats just lowsy on them - I'd hate for Ireland to have that problem - thank God we have Kevin Kilbane

I actually meant it's unfortunate for the three players because only one of them is likely to start. My apologies if it was poorly worded.

[lionelhutz]

I actually meant it's unfortunate for the three players because only one of them is likely to start. My apologies if it was poorly worded.

Oh right. Apologies for the misunderstanding

[gustavo]

They certainly have the best squad ,I think Aragones will probably relent and have Raul in the squad in the end , He'd be mad not to really , With the exception of Torres and Villa there's no Spanish striker that comes close to matching his class

[Closed Account 2]

The exiles at Valencia might be back now, Koeman has left and they could get a run in the squad.

[Pike B]

From uefa.com

Luka Modrić has earned comparisons with Johan Cruyff



The reasons why Tottenham Hotspur FC were in such a hurry to spend €21m on Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić will become clear at UEFA EURO 2008™. That is the message from Modrić's national-team coach Slaven Bilić who has no doubts about the quality of the 22-year-old from NK Dinamo Zagreb.
Cruyff comparison
Modrić and company also helped to eliminate England from the EURO, so Tottenham Hotspur fans will not be completely incredulous of the comparisons their recruit has earned with both Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff. Increasingly, he has been likened to Cruyff, whom he resembles both in frame – being of slim build – and in speed, agility and creativity, as master of the pinpoint pass. And if Modrić could become NK Zrinjski's star player in the Bosnia-Herzegovnian top flight as an 18-year-old loanee in 2003/04, Bilić will be expecting a similar impact from his protégé in north London and beyond.

High praise for new Spurs recruit.

[skitz3]

I think Germany or Italy.

Agreed.

[jmurphyc]

He's been playing really well from what I've heard. It's unfortunate, but Spain do have some other fantastic strikers though.

[bennocelt]

Raul has been left out of Spain's 31 man preliminary squad. A real blow for a great player. Aragones is obviously not sentimental.
I know this is old news but was still a bit shocked by it.

I actually think he is a very overrated player who (like Spain) never achieved anything at Euro/World cup level

[Closed Account 2]

I remember he had a real stinker in Euro 2004... no shots on target!

Torres and Villa are better and he's too old to make it to 2010, so I think Aragones is correct. Obviously the legions of pro Real Madrid fans in the Spanish sports press (like Marca etc) are clammoring for him to be in the squad, but if it was up to them Manuel Sanchis would be wheeled out of his nursing home and lead the back line for Spain this summer.

[holidaysong]

I seen the ads on TV for the tournament already. I can't believe it starts on June 7th, it seems quite early. I'm really looking forward to the France, Italy, Netherlands and Romania group. Spain won't win, they always bottle it. It will be Italy or France for me.

[lionelhutz]

Here's the best odds at the moment for each team;

Germany 4/1 Paddys
Spain 6/1 Paddys
Italy 7/1 Paddys
Portugal 8/1 Coral
France 9/1 Boylesports
Netherlands 14/1 Boylesports
Croatia 14/1 Totesports
Czech Rep. 16/1 Stanjames
Greece 25/1 Paddys
Switzerland 25/1 Sporting bet
Sweden 33/1 Boylesports
Russia 40/1 William Hill
Romania 50/1 Betfred
Turkey 50/1 Totesport
Poland 50/1 Totesport
Austria 125/1 Totesport

Anybody see value for money in the outsiders?

Holland look a decent price, as do Croatia

[lionelhutz]

Top goalscorer - here's the pick;

Klose, M 10/1 Bluesquare
Ronaldo, C 11/1 Paddys
Torres, 14/1 Bet 365
Toni, L 16/1 Bluesquare
van Nistelrooy, R 16/1 William Hill
Henry, T 20/1 Bluesquare
Villa, D 20/1 Betfred
Gómez, M 25/1
Podolski, L 25/1
Kuranyi, K 33/1
Trezeguet, D 33/1
van Persie, R 33/1
Anelka, N 40/1
Benzema, K 40/1
Ibrahimovic, Z 40/1
Petric, M 40/1
Almeida, H 50/1
Ballack, M 50/1
Baroš, M 50/1
Gilardino, A 50/1
Huntelaar, KJ 50/1
Inzaghi, F 50/1
Koller, J 50/1
Mutu, A 50/1
Nuno Gomes 50/1
Charisteas, A 80/1

[lionelhutz]

A lot of people I work with fancy Croatia. Can't see it myself. If they get out of tough group it's probably Portugal then France or Italy. Don't see them beating those teams.

I'd have to disagree with you there Ruben. I think their group is the weakest. Austria are the worst team in the tournament by far, I feel Germany are over rated (I know this has been said before but I just don't think they have the players to win it) and Poland are only an OK team. Croatia could easily top this group and play the Czechs/Turkey in the Q/F which would be winnable

[placid casual]

i think Poland are a dark horse for the tournament.
they play as a team,and work very hard for each other.
like greece you could almost say.

croatia tore the sassanach a new ar$e -hole at wembley and they have some wonderfully skilled players so you never know.
cannot see any of the so called big teams winning -Germany,france,spain,holland

Italy have a good a chance as in the last WC.

[lionelhutz]

Intresting point. I have a lot of time for Slavan Bilic and would like to see them do well. I think you are wrong on the German's though. The team of 06 is now two years more experienced and I really fancy them to win it out. So do the bookies by the looks of it!! And Poland under Beenhaker are going to be awful tough too. Austria are poor but you can never rule out host nations. Look at Korea Japan 02 for that.

You could look at that as being 2 years older too!! I think Germany were carried on the crest of a wave of optimism in 06 - which papered over alot of cracks in their team. I don't rate Mertezacker or the other centre half. Their centre midfield is strong with Ballack and Frings but theyve no class out wide and up front Podolski is a headless chicken and Kuranyi is like Heskey.