Just a few early predictions I have for EURO 2004 1) Italy might not qualify, but only if Serbia and Montenegro don't get on fire 2) Wales is going to go FAR 3) France stands a chance of winning it... 4) Portugal is gonna be upset early. 5) Turkey is gonna be out, if they even qualify Its kinda too early to go on to say who will win what, so, if anyone else has any ideas, or doesn't like mine, go ahead and tell me
As for Italy not making the Euro 2004 and Wales going far, lets investigate further. Wales has two big games coming up. Lets draw the scenerio and tell me if this can't happen. Italy travels to Finland and Wales travels to Yugoslavia. Most likely Italy and Yugoslavia will both win. Italy just beat the pulp out of Finland last month (even thought the score was only 2-0) and I have a feeling that Wales luck has run out. Then Wales travels to Italy right after the Yugoslavia match. So if Italy beats them (at home) which most likely again will happen, this will put Italy in top of the group and with 2 remaining they should easily finish off the group (as they play Azerbijian last) or atleast finish the group in 2nd and have a chance at a playoff. So don't count Italy out as most likey they will win the group. As for Wales, they might go as far as only 4 more games, nevermind travelling to Portugal!!!
I don't see France as the team to beat, I'd say the team to beat is Germany, after all, they did go the farthest in the world cup out of all euro teams
germany the team to beat.......are you kidding me......... france,holland and the czechs can all beat germany easy perhaps even england....... remember at WC02 germany didnt really face any strong teams.......what they beat paraquay,usa and korea to get to the final........ my final 4 right now would be france holland england czech republic right after wc02 i picked holland to win EC04 so ill stick with that...........
I see France as the team to beat in Portugal Italy will not just go to Portugal, they will go far maybe semis. Czech Republic will go to Portugal but will not do well. Holland (i'm not sure, they are very danger) Portugal will do very well at home but i don't think they will win. May reach finals. Germany will not do well
Dont count Italy out, that is when they are at their best....when you least expect it! I think that the Semi's will be: Portugal France Italy Czech Just a hunch...
How can *now* be when you "least expect" Italy to do well, with Serie A teams triumphing in Europe and off of three straight national team victories?
Italy does have a knack for coming up big when needed - except when they get caught for diving. Look at who made the big contributions to the Serie A teams - particularly in attack. Shevchenko, Davids, Seedorf, Dida, Rui Costa, Martins, Crespo, et al - non-Italians. Players follow the money to Italy, Spain, and England. My four semi-finalists: Portugal, Germany, Spain, and France.
Re: Re: early predicitions What are you on about? You think that Wales will only play 4 more games? May I ask why? Wales haven't rapped it up yet but we're in the driving seat, and if we can beat Serbia away, then we wil be favourites to top the group.
final four: France England or Portugal (can't decide) Serbia & Montenegro (gotta support ur country) Holland
serbia dude what are you smoking....... (wales and italy are coming out from that group) this eurocup will have some very good teams...... france holland czech i forgot about italy before england turkey germany and portugal wont be that great......... and i have a darkhorse but i will wait for them to qualify
Re: Re: Re: early predicitions Hey comme, Wales have done great thus far. Don't get me wrong, they have been playing well and as "a team" but reality will hit them very soon! There next two games are both on the road in Yugoslavia and then Italy. I can't see them getting a point at either game. IF they loose both these games then where do they stand? Do you still think they will qualify after the next two games have been played and they loose? The way I look at it, after the next two rounds of games the standings will look like this (when everyone has 6 games played): Group 9 Italy 13 Yugoslavia 12 Wales 12 Finland 7 Azerbaijan 1 This will leave two games to play, Italy will have to play in Yugoslavia (which they can't lose) and then they play at home to Azerbaijan so you can give them 3 more points. That means Italy would most likely have 16 points at minimum with a loss to Yugoslavia in Yugo. Wales would still have 2 games at home to play but against Yugoslavia and Finland. NOT an easy task to win both but they might be able to get 4 out of 6 points. It will definitely come down to the wire but I think Italy will win the group with 17 points in total (they will tie Yugoslavia in Yugo).
Actually right now I think Wales is playing great. I personally see them at least picking up a point or two in their next 2 matches. It really could go any way right now in this group and it should be close. France I think is back to their original form and have showed at least for the time being that the 2002 WC was a fluke. Germany has not looked good at all in the qualifiers and are lucky that they are in an easy group. Holland and the Czech Rep. are both playing very well and will be tough to defeat if they both qualify. Spain will qualify and will probably get out of the group phase but will be eliminated in the quarters. England and Turkey are playing well and I actually expect Turkey to go far. Norway too is a very great team and if they qualify look out, they are my dark horse. Right now it's tough to predict a final four, but I'll give it a try: Portugal Turkey France Holland
It would not surprise me if Italy top the group, but I fancy our chances of getting something from the away game in Serbia. I also expect us to beat both Serbia and Finland in our last 2 games. that would put us tied with Italy assuming they win all their games. As for reality, simply because we haven't made it to major championships in the past we still have a strong side, particularly in attack. There aren't many teams with the pace or talent of Giggs, Hartson, Bellamy, Davies when going forward.
Deutschland The favourites are: Portugal (with Scolari they have one of the best coaches of the world) Spain (This will be almost every game at home) and France Germany Czechs England Italy Netherlands possible surprises are Turkey Croatia Denmark Russia Ukraine Norway Sweden ---------- Germany missed half of their team last World Cup. Nowotny, Woerns, Deisler, Scholl! Nowotny will be back 2004, also Deisler. Possible squad is: --------------- Kahn -------------- Frings--Nowotny--Metzelder--Rau Schneider----Hamann----Deisler- --------------Ballack-------------- -------Klose-----------Lauth------
Wales are playing great, I actually hope that they advance instead of Serbia. I think that Italy will win the group and I hope that Wales can hold on for second place to atleast get a chance to qualify. For a smaller country, they have a great team and not many countries have a Giggs-Bellamy type players to boast about. As for Wales getting something from Serbia in the away game, Serbia is a very strange team - you will be surprised. I can see Serbia beating up on Wales 5-0 and totally dominating and then travelling to Finland and losing 2-0 or 3-0 there. They are a strange team, they will play great when needed or against another top team and then they will lose or tie a game that they should win. Their game against Wales will be a must win game if they want to qualify so I think that they will go all out and will put in a few goals as they are strong upfront as well.
Portugal (with Scolari they have one of the best coaches of the world)????????????????????????????????????? best coaches in the world!!!!!!!!!!! are you kidding me any moron would look great with the brazilian squad he had at WC02......... as for euro2004 i think portugals golden generation of players stunk it up at WC02 and theyre gonna have alot of pressure on them and will crack........... portugal to get knocked out in the quarterfinals
Do you know anything about Portugal? They beat Brazil not long ago in a very impressive way. So what about everybody could handle the brazilian squad? Scolari is a very good goach, he has had lot of success with south american club teams before his time as brazilian coach. He knows the game! Trust me.
Well, China did The game against Brasil was a friendly: inconsequential. Portugal's got a shot at winning the Cup because of the talent that is in the team, but saying Scolari is one of the best coaches in the world = overrating him.
Big wow, Portugal beat Brazil in friendly game in Portugal. I HOPE SO, they were favourite to win the match since they were playing at home. Portugal is no slouch, they are a TOP 15 team in the world and on some days play as if they were a Top 3, but do lack experience on the big day! Portugal are underachievers and have never really amounted to anything since 1966 when they made the Semi-Finals of the World Cup. Pretty sad from a country with some great stars to not make both the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
Countries like Brazil and Italy usually dont play well in friendlies. They try out new players and dont play full out as that is what a Friendly is all about. BUT when it counts Brazil and Italy always find a way to win. I live in Canada, even Canada beat and tied Brazil in friendlies over the past 8 years. DO YOU THINK Canada would ever have a shot of beating or tieing Brazil at a World Cup level intensity game....NO SHOT! China just tied Brazil 0-0 but I recall that they played in the World Cup and Brazil thumped them 5-0!