Euro 2008

[Buschkauz]

italy, france, holland, spain and germany are the main contenders

[johan neeskens]

How come Italy are an overwhelming favourite?

I actually thought Germany was your big favourite for the euros, judging by everything you've written on the topic over the past year

Personally it's Germany,Italy and France. No overwhelming favourite.

I do think you're a favourite. Just not the biggest favourite. Italy are better than Germany because I believe they have better players than Germany and a more mature approach to football. Please note that I hate Italian football!

[johan neeskens]

IfI don't see honestly Holland go through, they seems to me to have enough quality, but they aren't cohesive as a team.

That's a bit of a myth. And UEFA agrees with me, they list mental strength as being key for the Dutch in their Euro 2008 country profile:

http://euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/teams/team=95/profile=16/index.html

The truth is no-one knows how Holland will do, the Dutch don't even know themselves. We could be brilliant yet we could also be rubbish. I personally think we'll make it to the second round (along with Italy) and that it'll then be all over for us.

[iDiveStevieG]

Spain, Holland, Germany.

[Prenn]

Personally, I do. I think a Euro without England will be much more enjoyable -- no BS from the English-speaking press about how your boys are destined to win it this time.

Not to mention less likelihood of hooligan incidents.


:rolleyes:

[FNU]

It's easy to point out the favorites, but how about the dark horses? Greece, Turkey, Swiss, Romania, Croatia, Sweden, Poland, and Russia. Of those teams, I think Greece, Turkey, or Croatia could win it all.

[squidward123]

I do think you're a favourite. Just not the biggest favourite. Italy are better than Germany because I believe they have better players than Germany and a more mature approach to football. Please note that I hate Italian football!

I also think the italian players are better. It's a bit like comparing germany in 1993 to Italy in 1993. The German players had actually won stuff at international and continental club level.

In 2006 this gap was bigger, but now I think the gap is much smaller so that is why Germany and Italy are in the same group as favourites for me, and if Germany win the Euros then I'd have to say the gap is closed or Germany are ahead.

So how come you were bigging up Germany quite a lot as the singular favourite in the past year? What made you change opinion here?

[AFCA]

Consistance, good results, good play.

My guess.

I agree with it btw.


My favourites:

- Germany
- Spain (gotta catch a break sometime)
- Italy

Dark horses:

- Switzerland
- Greece
- Russia
- Netherlands (I get a feeling we'll see a different NL than in qualifying)

[johan neeskens]

I also think the italian players are better. It's a bit like comparing germany in 1993 to Italy in 1993. The German players had actually won stuff at international and continental club level.

In 2006 this gap was bigger, but now I think the gap is much smaller so that is why Germany and Italy are in the same group as favourites for me, and if Germany win the Euros then I'd have to say the gap is closed or Germany are ahead.

So how come you were bigging up Germany quite a lot as the singular favourite in the past year? What made you change opinion here?

I was bigging Germany up because they were by far the most consistent side in qualifying. Again I do rate you. I just think that Italy are the cleverer side and have more individual quality.

[johan neeskens]

Consistance, good results, good play.

My guess.

I agree with it btw.


My favourites:

- Germany
- Spain (gotta catch a break sometime)
- Italy

Dark horses:

- Switzerland
- Greece
- Russia
- Netherlands (I get a feeling we'll see a different NL than in qualifying)

If we fail to get far I'm going to switch allegiance to Spain. The most likeable national team in Europe.

[AFCA]

if we fail to get far, I'm behind Greece again.

If only so all those so-called experts can go cry about injustice again :)

[TariboWest33]

The multi-talented Croatian soccer team coach Slaven Bilic has taped a new Croatian football team anthem at the EURO 2008 with his Rawbau band, the song titled Fiery Madness (Vatreno ludilo) He is the sole author of the lyrics and music and plays the guitar.

VIDEO: SLAVEN BILIC - FIERY MADNESS (VATRENO LUDILO) (http://vinovo.magnify.net/watch/playlist/M7RYSGZJ4B2VQD5V)

[FIXXXER]

There seems to be some support for Switzerland as a dark horse. I saw Euro '04 so I do understand the "Greece Effect" and with them being a co-host that will also offer some advantages. But I do not see them advancing in a group of Turkey, Czech's & Portugal - just can't see it. Is Switzerland that strong?? I saw them lose 1-0 to the US in Basel at the end of '07....

[ViscaBarca]

There seems to be some support for Switzerland as a dark horse. I saw Euro '04 so I do understand the "Greece Effect" and with them being a co-host that will also offer some advantages. But I do not see them advancing in a group of Turkey, Czech's & Portugal - just can't see it. Is Switzerland that strong?? I saw them lose 1-0 to the US in Basel at the end of '07....
they are rubbish right now. but you never know, once the tournament starts, with them being hosts, and the coach making a great job preparing the team in the weeks leading up to the euros, they could be completely transformed..

[iDiveStevieG]

I don't even see how its possible that the Swiss are being considered as contenders to win the Euros..:confused: hahaha (although, stranger things have happened.)

[ViscaBarca]

I don't even see how its possible that the Swiss are being considered as contenders to win the Euros..:confused: hahaha (although, stranger things have happened.)
I certainly don't. they were really quite bad lately. but the euros are more open than the world cup. but to pull off a Greece, one needs a genius manager. and I don't think the Swiss have that. I still think they'll make it to the qarters, with luck maybe the semis, but that'll be it.

[ForeverRed]

If we fail to get far I'm going to switch allegiance to Spain. The most likeable national team in Europe.

Spain? Likeable? With that coach? With all that disunity?

[FNU]

Basing anything on friendlies is ignorant. The Swiss advanced to the second round of the WC, losing to the Ukraine by PKs. They're not a great side, but with home advantage they could push far.

[johan neeskens]

Spain? Likeable? With that coach? With all that disunity?

They're one of few big football nations that still dare to try and play proper football, and they have the least number of annoying footballers in the squad as far as I can tell.

[johan neeskens]

Basing anything on friendlies is ignorant. The Swiss advanced to the second round of the WC, losing to the Ukraine by PKs. They're not a great side, but with home advantage they could push far.

And they've got superstar striker Blaise N'Kufo.