Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland Germany are surely overwhelming favourites to top this group. They won 3 European Championships, more than any other European team. They have a good chance of winning a fourth European crown. Germany’s youngish side have come along very well since finishing third as hosts of the 2006 World Cup. They generally impressed in the Euro qualifiers, & qualified for Euro 2008 with a few games to spare. German great Franz Beckenbauer has labeled them “best team in Europe”. The claim might have some patriotic bias, but it does have some truth. The current German squad may not have a superstar player in the “genius” category like Cristiano Ronaldo. But that does not matter to Germany, for 2 reasons. Firstly, Germany still have quality players. Secondly, team ethic, co-ordination between positions & organization will be the order of the day. Nevertheless, the current side play a more expansive, attacking game than past German sides. The high tempo, cavalier football employed by Jurgen Klinsmann at the World Cup will be retained by Joachim Low at the Euros, although perhaps with a little more patience. Germany has good goalkeepers to choose from. Key players in outfield positions include defenders Lahm & Mertesacker, midfielders Ballack, Frings, Schweinsteiger, & forwards in Podolski, Klose & Mario Gomez.
Co-hosts Austria are the outsiders, & considered the weakest team in the tournament. Would Austria have reached Euro 2008 if they had to play the qualifiers? Probably not. Because they qualify automatically as co-hosts, Austria had to make do with friendlies over the last 2 years. Results overall have not been very impressive. Some Austrian fans are concerned at the prospect of their team being humiliated at the Euro. However, there were moments in 2 recent home friendly matches (both lost) where Austria showed they might not be as bad as some claim. Against Germany, they competed well, before conceding 3 second-half goals. Against the Dutch, the Austrians raced to a 3 goal first-half lead, before astonishingly conceding 4 goals in the second-half to lose 4-3. Apparently, concentration & tactical discipline are problems which the Austrian coach must address before the tournament starts. Austria will depend heavily on playmaker Andreas Ivanschitz, who will have to shine if Austria are to make any impact. Other main players for Austria are defender Emmanuel Pogatetz & striker Roland Linz, their main hope for goals. Austrian fans will also keenly observe the performances of a couple of their youngsters – defender Sebastian Prodl, & forward Erwin Hoffer.
Croatia are favoured to join Germany in the knockout stages. And with good reason. Since their dismal showing at the 2006 World Cup, new coach Slaven Bilic rejuvenated the squad & they are now much improved from the out-of-sorts 2006 outfit. Youngsters like the talented midfielders Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Ivan Rakitic & Brazilian-born Eduardo da Silva are now regulars. They performed impressively for much of the Euro qualifiers, beating England twice to help eliminate the English. They consistently displayed the style, confidence & assurance not seen at the 2006 World Cup (i.e. such form surely would have taken the Croatians though to that World Cup’s knockout stages). Bilic allows the Croatian players greater freedom & flexibility than that afforded by the previous coach. Unfortunately for Croatia, they will be without Eduardo da Silva, who is out with a long-term injury. Eduardo scored 10 goals in 12 Euro qualifiers, & he will be missed. In Eduardo’s absence, Mladen Petric will probably lead the Croatian forward line. Croatia are still likely to finish second, but without Eduardo, it will be a close tussle with Austria & Poland. One bonus: the squad should enjoy plenty of support from the Croatian immigrants in Austria & Switzerland.
Poland deserve respect for topping their Euro qualifying group ahead of Portugal. However, recent friendly results & performances (losing to the US, drawing with Macedonia) were uninspiring. And they have a recent habit of playing well in tournament qualifiers, only to crash at the tournament itself (witness last 2 World Cups). The truth is that the current side is simply not as good as the Poland sides that finished third in the 1974 & 1982 World Cups. Goalkeeping is perhaps Poland’s strongest department – their Dutch coach, Leo Beenhakker can choose from Artur Boruc, Lukasz Fabianski & Tomasz Kuszczak (all UK-based). For inspiration, they will also look to midfielder Jacek Krzynowek, Brazilian-born Guerreiro & especially Ebi Smolarek. Smolarek, an attacking midfielder, is probably Poland’s most talented player. If he shines, then the Poles might just reach the knockout stages. Still, possibly the bigger problem lies in the mind. Do the players have the belief that they can reach the next stage? The players might have a mental block from the early departures from the last 2 World Cups. Can they overcome that block? Poland will co-host Euro 2012 with Ukraine, so they will have plenty of incentive to do well at Euro 2008.
Germany’s group opponents have "history" with them. Austria & Poland are neighbours with Germany, & their fans will love nothing more than seeing their teams defeat the Germans (though it may have been a long time since that last happened). Croatia remembers the hard-fought encounters with Germany during the quarter finals of Euro 1996 (which Germany won) & 1998 World Cup (which Croatia won). All 3 will raise their game against Germany – but it will probably not be enough to prevent the Germans from winning the group.
Prediction:
1 – Germany
2 – Croatia
3 – Austria
4 - Poland
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