By now, all football aficionados (I consider myself one) would already be aware that the draw for the Euro 2008 finals has already been made. Here are the groups:Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey
Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, PolandGroup C: Netherlands, Italy, Romania, France
Group D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, RussiaMany football aficionados would also have been just as shocked as I am at the teams lumped together in Group C. Take a look: Netherlands, France & Italy all in the same group! (Romania is also tough)
It's so unbelievable! The Euro 2008 draw was shown on channel SBS on Sunday night. Just before the show started, I had logged on to the internet while mistakenly believing that SBS would be showing the draw live. Then on the Soccernet page, I saw the heading announcing that France & Italy had been drawn together! Quickly realising that SBS was showing delayed telecast (& not live), I quickly got off the internet as I didn't want any further spoils to the surprises. The show then appeared on TV, & I had to sitting through all the entertainment prior to the draw. The draw then unfolded, & when it became clear that France was grouped with the Netherlands, I became absolutely stunned. Stunned at the realisation (given what I saw on Soccernet) that Italy was also grouped with the Netherlands.
The seeding system for the Euro draw works as follows. Each of the 4 groups have a seeded team. The co-hosts, Austria & Switzerland, & reigning European champions Greece took 3 of the seeded spots. The other seeded team was Netherlands, because the seeding system looked at the results in the qualifying competition for World Cup 2006 & Euro 2008, but not the finals of the tournament. The Dutch, apparently, had the best overall results in the qualifiers, even though teams like Italy, France, Germany & Portugal did better than them in the 2006 World Cup.
That seeding system put France as among the least seeded teams, even though they did reach last year's World Cup final. So that left the French open to the possibility of being drawn in the same group as the Dutch - a possibility which did eventuate. The look on the face of France's coach, when his team was drawn together with the Dutch, was priceless. He wasn't at all happy, & slammed the Euro seeding system after the draw. Given the choice, one would think that the French would have preferred to be drawn with Austria, Switzerland & Greece, as none of these teams are as strong as the Netherlands. In the event, the coaches of the Netherlands & Italy also recognised how tough it will be. The other team in the group, Romania, are no slouches either - they finished the Euro 2008 qualifiers ahead of the Dutch.
There's something odd about Groups C & D, as both groups bring together a reunion of "old friends". You got France & Italy once again. Both teams contested last year's World Cup final, & both teams were in the same group in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Now, they have been drawn together again in the final stages of the tournament! They must be sick of seeing each other. Then, as previously mentioned, the Netherlands & Romania, who were in the same group in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Needless to say, Group C is the toughest. As for Group D, Spain have interestingly been grouped with Greece & Russia. These 3 teams were also in the same group at Euro 2004, where Spain crashed. Surely this can't happen again. Spain certainly hope not. I certainly hope not, & will be hoping the Spaniards can go all the way. Sweden & Spain were in the same Euro 2008 qualifying group, & now they are again reunited. It won't be easy, but one cannot imagine Spain failing to qualify from this group.
People might think Groups A & B look straightforward for Portugal & Germany. But I don't think so, certainly not for Portugal. All of Portugal's opponents will give it a tough game. At a glance, Germany's group may look easier than Portugal's group. But look closer, & one will see teams with which Germany has some sort of history. Certainly that is the case with Austria & Poland, who though not exactly heavyweights, are teams who will raise their game when facing the Germans. Croatia have had some "feisty" encounters with Germany in recent tournaments (Euro 1996, World Cup 1998), & would fancy their chances of following Germany into the later stages of Euro 2008.
So, all in all, Euro 2008 promises to be very interesting. There's 185 days to go & I cannot wait. I can go on & talk all night about the teams & the players. But I guess I shall stop here. We will talk about Euro 2008 again. I will preview the tournament as it draws closer, & you will see that on this blog. Watch this space.
The seeding system for the Euro draw works as follows. Each of the 4 groups have a seeded team. The co-hosts, Austria & Switzerland, & reigning European champions Greece took 3 of the seeded spots. The other seeded team was Netherlands, because the seeding system looked at the results in the qualifying competition for World Cup 2006 & Euro 2008, but not the finals of the tournament. The Dutch, apparently, had the best overall results in the qualifiers, even though teams like Italy, France, Germany & Portugal did better than them in the 2006 World Cup.
That seeding system put France as among the least seeded teams, even though they did reach last year's World Cup final. So that left the French open to the possibility of being drawn in the same group as the Dutch - a possibility which did eventuate. The look on the face of France's coach, when his team was drawn together with the Dutch, was priceless. He wasn't at all happy, & slammed the Euro seeding system after the draw. Given the choice, one would think that the French would have preferred to be drawn with Austria, Switzerland & Greece, as none of these teams are as strong as the Netherlands. In the event, the coaches of the Netherlands & Italy also recognised how tough it will be. The other team in the group, Romania, are no slouches either - they finished the Euro 2008 qualifiers ahead of the Dutch.
There's something odd about Groups C & D, as both groups bring together a reunion of "old friends". You got France & Italy once again. Both teams contested last year's World Cup final, & both teams were in the same group in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Now, they have been drawn together again in the final stages of the tournament! They must be sick of seeing each other. Then, as previously mentioned, the Netherlands & Romania, who were in the same group in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Needless to say, Group C is the toughest. As for Group D, Spain have interestingly been grouped with Greece & Russia. These 3 teams were also in the same group at Euro 2004, where Spain crashed. Surely this can't happen again. Spain certainly hope not. I certainly hope not, & will be hoping the Spaniards can go all the way. Sweden & Spain were in the same Euro 2008 qualifying group, & now they are again reunited. It won't be easy, but one cannot imagine Spain failing to qualify from this group.
People might think Groups A & B look straightforward for Portugal & Germany. But I don't think so, certainly not for Portugal. All of Portugal's opponents will give it a tough game. At a glance, Germany's group may look easier than Portugal's group. But look closer, & one will see teams with which Germany has some sort of history. Certainly that is the case with Austria & Poland, who though not exactly heavyweights, are teams who will raise their game when facing the Germans. Croatia have had some "feisty" encounters with Germany in recent tournaments (Euro 1996, World Cup 1998), & would fancy their chances of following Germany into the later stages of Euro 2008.
So, all in all, Euro 2008 promises to be very interesting. There's 185 days to go & I cannot wait. I can go on & talk all night about the teams & the players. But I guess I shall stop here. We will talk about Euro 2008 again. I will preview the tournament as it draws closer, & you will see that on this blog. Watch this space.
No comments:
Post a Comment