Euro 2008

[Closed Account 2]

Of the outsiders I'd back the Russians... some very skillfull players in that team and all bar the big name European players (Saenko, Bulyakin, Izmailov) will have had a good few months rest as the Russian League is a summer league. Added to that the climate will suit them much more than the roasting heat of Portugal and the humidity of Japan / Korea (their last 2 big tournaments).

My major worry is the absence of Arshavin for the first few matches (due to a red card in the qualifiers) but Spain (1st match) is the toughest anyway, and then I'd still expect them to see off Greece (as they did in Euro 2004) setting them up for a final match against a weak Sweden side. They would go through in second place, and with the little magician back would beat Italy France or the Dutch, and then the tournament would be theirs.

[Armando]

Henry top scorer 20/1 is a great bet. He'll be going into the tournament fresh as a daisy and that french team is built around him scoring goals.

On a side note, I see a lot of long range goals in this tournament because I have seen the match ball being used in Germany/Portuguese and French leagues and the movement on the ball for shots from distance has to be seen to be believed There was one match in particular a few weeks back, Porto v Benfica, where there was a replay looking straight at goal directly behind the player shooting and the ball swerved left first then right before finally dipping left again!

Suppose with this in mind throwing a few bob on a player like Ballack, RVP, Ronaldo etc, who shoot from range, to be top scorer isn't a bad idea?


...I think France will win it and am convinced Switzerland will make at least the semis.



In other news Larsson has been called back into the Sweden squad ....LEGEND

[bennocelt]

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.

hate him, can never get over the low dive he did to get Blanc sent off.

Torres looks a nice price for top scorer

[bennocelt]

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.

yeah def agree, is there a worse forward line then them two in international football?

(but they do have Klose and Odonker???)

[superfrank]

Got a free Euro 2008 sticker album with the RTE Guide.

I've never filled a Panini book. At least these years I have a bit more money.

I'm really looking forward to the Euros now. It's quite possible that I won't have a job this summer (again) and I'll get to watch all the matches.

[lionelhutz]

Metzelder is the other centre half. Can't get into Madrid team. Out wide they have Schweinsteiger and the pacey Odonkor. Not bad really and as for your thoughts on their atttack well I disagree with all of it to be honest. I tell you what. I'll bet you a dollar they win it!! The old Trading Places bet. What you reckon Attorney Hutz???

I accept your offer Ruben. I'll take Croatia to win it!! Now what will I do with my dollar..............

[lionelhutz]

I find this Podolski bashing very puzzling. I think he is a talented player capable of goals at this level and was impressed by him and Klose in 06. Kuranyi is weaker yes but Podolski is as good for me as say, Van Persie or Smolarek.

Sorry but Podolski reminds me alot of Baros, alot of pace and movement but no football intelligence whatsoever. If the game gets frantic and chances are abundant, Podolski could prosper, otherwise he doesn't have the brain to make the right runs.

I would rate Van Persie a few levels above Podolski, he's got unbelievable vision and technique. Van Persie could be a revelation at this world cup and I think Arsenal would have ended up with a trophy if he had been fit for the majority of the season.

[seanog2001]

I will be taking a bit of the Germans at 4/1 i fancy them to go on and win it its been a while since Ze Germans have won anything

[lionelhutz]

Meh...

I take it you don't agree??

Whats your take on Van Persie?

[lionelhutz]

Are most of the squads named by now or would some of them wait until after the Champs League final?

[abbeyvale]

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

Benzema at 40/1 looks a nice bet

[seanog2001]

Ballack at 50's could be a good outside bet but ill be backing villa at 20's

[TheBoss]

I really do think that Portugal will win it, they will go far in the tournament.

[Pike B]

Benzema at 40/1 looks a nice bet

It has to be Torres at 14's lads. Spain will stuff the three teams in their group and Torres will get 5 goals before the second round I reckon.

[bennocelt]

I take it you don't agree??

Whats your take on Van Persie?

Well i think he is a world class player, if he could sort out his head as he seems to lack the concentration for a whole 90 mins of a game

[stojkovic]

It has to be Torres at 14's lads. Spain will stuff the three teams in their group and Torres will get 5 goals before the second round I reckon.

Possible but Spain will meet the runners up from the Group of Death in the QFs. Think France and Italy will be too (physically) strong for them.

[gustavo]

Spain Squad

No Raul

ARSENAL: Cesc
BARCELONA: Puyol, Iniesta y Xavi
BETIS: Juanito
GETAFE: De la Red
LIVERPOOL: Arbeloa, Reina, Torres y Xabi Alonso
REAL MADRID: Casillas y Sergio Ramos
MALLORCA: Fernando Navarro y Güiza
SEVILLA: Palop
VALENCIA: Albiol, Marchena, Silva y Villa
VILLARREAL: Capdevila, Cazorla y Senna
ZARAGOZA: Sergio García.

[redtildead]

France Squad (30 man provisional)

Goalkeepers Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Mickael Landreau (Paris St Germain), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), William Gallas (Arsenal), Julien Escude (Sevilla), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona).

Midfielders Alou Diarra (Girondins Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan).

Forwards Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

Its hard to pick 7 to drop but I would guess at the ones underlined

[Armando]

Wow, no Clichy, Sagna or Trezeguet!
I expected 'Trezegols' exclusion, but not the other 2 who are really excellent, young world class full-backs.

[superfrank]

Pretty sure Sagna is still out injured. Even if he's fit, he hasn't played any football in about two months.

I would keep Nasri, Ben Arfa and Alou Diarra in the squad. All very talented players. I'd drop Lassana Diarra, Govou (squad player at best) and Malouda.