Euro 2012: Group A Preview
Leave a commentJune 4, 2012 by joshilan14
Footnote: This is the preview for Group A. The previews for all the other groups will be uploaded in the upcoming days.
The 14th edition of the European Championships will be held in Poland and Ukraine, in a move that has courted much controversy. The buildings of many new roads, airports and stadiums have been much-delayed; the price of hotels in Ukraine have quadrupled and then there is the much publicised racism fears, which was portrayed on BBC’s Panorama recently. Despite all the off-the-pitch problems surrounding the tournament, it is impossible not to get excited about it. Spain are hoping to become the first European team to win three major international tournaments in a row; but the likes of Holland, Germany, France, Italy and England (who knows!) could halt them in their bid. But then there could be a team who could replicate the success of Denmark in 1992 and Greece in 2004. The three-week tournament will definitely excite us, and might even surprise many of us!
GROUP A
Poland
Lowdown: Poland legend Grzegorz Lato described his country’s group as an “ideal scenario and a great group that they could never have imagined getting”, and this mixed in with home advantage sees the pressure firmly placed on Smuda’s side. However they go into the tournament with only three losses in their last fifteen matches; and add this to a wealth of talented players amongst them and home advantage; Poland could be this year’s surprise package.
Manager: Franciszek Smuda
Player to watch: Robert Lewandowski
Prediction: Quarter finals
Greece
Lowdown: Eight years ago saw Greece shock the footballing world with a fairy-tale Euro 2004 win. Nowadays they remain regular qualifies for the tournament, but any chance of replicating that previous success is minimal. Now under the stewardship of Fernando Santos, he has introduced a more attacking team in comparison to the defensive style used under his predecessor Otto Rehhagel. The side has flourished under this new style of play, with the Ethnici only having lost once in Santos’ 21 games in charge.
Manager: Fernando Santos
Player to watch: Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Prediction: Group stages
Russia
Lowdown: Russia will be hoping to show that their brilliant run to the Euro 2008 semi-finals was not a one-off. And being seen as the superior team in their group could help their cause. Dick Advocaat has made the national team more organised, but he will be leaving Russia to join PSV Eindhoven upon the tournament’s conclusion. A 3-0 friendly victory over Italy has raised hopes, and if there is a dark horse in the tournament, it is likely to be Russia.
Manager: Dick Advocaat
Player to watch: Igor Akinfeev
Prediction: Quarter finals
Czech Republic
Lowdown: The Czech Republic are arguably the weakest side in the tournament. Their recent form is not the greatest, while they are lacking a bit both defensively and offensively. Many of the team has had a lack of competitive action this season, either for injuries or for not being a starter for their club-side. Many of the players though could be hungry due to it possibly being their last major international tournament, but progress beyond the group stages is unlikely.
Manager: Michal Bilek
Player to watch: Michal Kadlec
Prediction: Group stages
