Those would be my bets as well. I think Poland is a dark-horse this year. Many of their players are in great form, and they have some real class in the squad. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they make the semifinals.
Russia was quite fantastic against Italy last week and Poland did reasonably well against us and they're at home so they're my picks as well. Boenisch, Polanski and the Dortmund contingent all starting.
Russia is my dark horse to win the tournament. Their predicted starting lineup has 6 Zenit players, 4 CSKA, and 1 Anzhi. Many of them are right around 30 so this could be their last hurrah.
actually i am also betting on them in real life we have a small tournament going at work right now where you have to predict the results of every game and the person with more correct predictions wins the money we put in. I think Russia will advance from the group stage tho, but i dont think they will go all the way to the final
I dont think Poland is very good to be honest. I could be completely wrong. After the first game, we can draw some conclusions.
I think the form of the BVB contingent is going to be key for them. It would be really ironic if Germany plays Poland and loses, while leaving all of our BVB players on the bench.
I think Poland is out efforting them, but Greece is so poor that it is making Poland look better than they are.
Should be a penalty for Greece, no call on the obvious hand ball by Poland. This is getting embarrassing.
Poor refereeing. That was a penalty for Greece. Poland have been better but nothing spectacular. Greece has been rubbish.
What a terrible red card for the Greek player. He got 2 yellows and neither yellow was even a foul. What an embarassment on the ref's part, and what a shame for the player who now has to miss most of the tournament.
How on earth did Sokratis get sent off ? Both yellow cards were absolutely non existent. I dont even think they were fouls let alone yellow cards. Then, a clear penalty for Greece not given. Exactly. Both teams are rubbish. Greece were giving the ball away so cheaply in dangerous areas and that's how they conceded.
This match only highlights why a top seed in a major tournament shouldn't automatically be the host team. Especially when 2 teams co-host a tournament. This group is ridiculously bad. The weakest team from Germany's group ( Denmark, on paper) would easily pass through this one.