So Who Will Win?

Euro 2004 – All Up And Running

Group A

It was billed as a shock when Greece beat Portugal in the opening game but hand on heart do you really believe that? Portugal can flatter to deceive at the best of times and on the day they weren’t in the game and deservedly got beat. Spain did what Spain do in major tournaments, very little but it was enough to get past the Russians (I still can’t help feeling that we should have beaten them in the play offs)

The next round of matches in this group sees the two winners face each other and you can almost guarantee a draw. Spain would rather see Greece through to the knock out stages than Portugal so get your money on the draw. Greece will have too much for Russia in the last game and for the hosts the tournament will be a short one.

Qualifiers from Group A – Spain and Greece.

Group B

Whatever your feelings about it, the end of the England game has provided the biggest drama of the tournament so far. I think they did a good job against the French but few can doubt that the French were the better side in terms of flair and ability on the night. Having said that, I cannot see England not beating either Croatia and Switzerland who fought out probably the worst game of the tournament.

Wins next time around for both France and England will put them in the driving seat and ensure that the expected two qualify for the quarter finals.

Qualifiers from Group B – France and England

Group C

Group C is probably the hardest one to call although Sweden look to have one foot in the next stage with their destruction of Bulgaria. The win for the Swedes was predictable, the manner of it not so much so.

Italy always seem to start slow in any group (remember Cardiff?) but class will usually show through. However, I can see three sides all ending with 5 points here meaning that twenty seven calculations will come into it knowing the way UEFA like to write the rules.

Sweden go through in terms of the biggest win over Bulgaria, Italy will join them with a better goal difference than Italy.

Qualifiers from Group C – Sweden and Italy.

Group D

The Czech Republic scraped through but they deserved their win over Latvia. Neither Germany nor Holland impressed in the 1-1 draw in Porto. Germany look organised as usual but they were troubled in the end by the Dutch and I think the Czechs may learn from this factor.

Both Holland and Germany will have too much for Latvia, the decider for me will be the fact that I can see the Dutch beating the Czechs, I cannot see the Germans managing that feat and a trip back to Germany beckons next week for a team that rarely can be written off. Bar of course I just did.

Qualifiers from Group D – Holland and Czech Republic.

Assuming my Crystal Ball now all pans out, it will leave a quarter final line up of

Spain v England

France v Greece

Sweden v Czech Republic

Holland v Italy

In the knock out stages, you can usually predict that anything will happen and throw in the lottery of the silver goals and penalty shoot outs and a surprise will always be on the cards.

Taking the quarter finals in turn, I think England will have too much for Spain. Euro 96 will be mentioned I don’t know how many times in the build up to the game and so will the words Stuart and Pearce. However, penalties won’t be needed as England go through in 90 minutes. France over Greece by two or three clear goals will see the favourites edge one step closer to being the first to retain the trophy.

Can you split Sweden and the Czechs? I find it the hardest to call and this could be one that ends in spot kicks, I’ll take a stab and go for Sweden. Just. The final one sounds a great prospect and there will be no second chances in this one. Italy should have woken up by then and if the Dutch have then don’t miss this game, it will be a cracker. I’ll take Holland to win this and a place in the semis beckons for them.

Semi final time and one match away from the final on Independence Day.

England take on Sweden, France take on Holland.

If you saw it on paper you’d normally assume England will win and I suspect that by this stage they might although I think penalties may be needed to split them. Media hype will be in overdrive by this stage and look for the phrase ‘Lisbon Lions’ to be used on more than one occasion.

The other one again is close to call and extra time at least will beckon. However, Henry always seems to get the better of Van Nistelrooy and I see this being no different as France go through.

It’s been predicted and I think it will probably happen, France and England will meet again on July 4th. You would assume that England will want revenge and know that they can beat the French but, sorry for those that want it, I can’t see it happening. France are the class act and probably deserve to take the tournament and probably will.

Strangely, although they lost, I think the results in the opening round of matches have done England a favour in making their half of the draw a little bit easier. That will give them the route to the final but the cream will always rise to the top and in Portugal the cream is French.

Of course, I could be talking b !

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?