Euro 2012 Preview Group D

(Carl Remmer)
Group D


France

This France squad could really do something at this tournament as it’s the most together group since their back-to-back World Cup and European Championship wins in 1998 and 2000. The embarrassing and ridiculous antics of both the players and manager at the 2010 World Cup, led to Nicolas Anelka being sent home, and subsequently a players revolt and a refusal to train. This now seems long forgotten as Laurent Blanc has put to together an exciting and vibrant team that has every chance of becoming European Champions for the third time. The fractured squad of 2010 has been broken up with just a few players remaining from it, including a revitalised Franck Ribery who has helped them on an unbeaten run that has stretched to 21 games.

They have a dynamic forward in Karim Benzema who scored over 30 goals for Real Madrid last season, who is the obvious choice for the lone striker role. There’ll be competition from Montpelier’s title winning frontman, Olivier Giroud who was the leading scorer in Ligue 1 last season with 21 goals. And with Samir Nasri and Ribery behind them, you’d expect them to create plenty of opportunities to score. There’s a serious doubt about Yann M’Vila’s fitness for at least the England game, which is a huge blow as he’s been instrumental in dictating play from a deep position. Marseille’s Alou Diarra is a likely replacement to play alongside Yohan Cabaye, who had a terrific season with Newcastle. There’s plenty of creative and attacking options from the bench to be called on if needed, including the highly rated Marvin Martin, PSG’s Jeremy Menez and Cabaye’s Newcastle’s team mate Hatem Ben Arfa. France are a serious title contender.

Group placing prediction: 1st

One to watch: Marvin Martin


Sweden

Sweden qualified for Euro 2012 as the best of the 2nd placed team after a thrilling win against the Dutch in Stockholm. The Blågult are quietly confident at qualifying for the next stage at the expense of England, and they have every right to be, considering their pretty good record against them. They have the mercurial talent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who on his day, can be unplayable. Does he have enough of those days though? His current hairdo, however, puts Andy Carroll’s to shame.

Under new coach Erik Hamrén, they look to play a more expansive style than previously, where Lyon’s Kim Källström is given free rein to come in from the left-hand side to dictate play. After an injury plagued first couple of seasons at AZ, Rasmus Elm has started to look like the player he promised to be, putting some impressive performances in as AZ qualified for the Europa league. They’ll always be a threat from set-pieces too, with Sunderland’s Seb Larsson a danger from anywhere around the box, as well as the aerial threat of Olof Mellberg and Jonas Olsson. They have every chance of getting out of this group but I think will ultimately fail to do so.

Group placing prediction: 3rd

One to watch: Pontus Wernbloom (what a name!)

Ukraine

Qualifying as hosts can often be as much of a hindrance as it is an aid and I feel it could be the former for Ukraine. Having not played a competitive game since the attempted qualification of the 2010 World Cup, Ukraine have had to settle with a series of friendlies, where for the most part, they’ve flattered to deceive. Two losses in their last two against Austria and Turkey will worry the Ukrainian fans, and rightly so.

They do have some experience that could be crucial. Andriy Shevchenko is still their main threat in attacking playing just in front of Andriy Voronin, in what looks like the tournament’s least dynamic front pairing. There’s another old head in Bayern Munich’s Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, who operates as a holding midfielder, whereas at Bayern, he only filled in at centre-back due to injuries and suspensions. There’s much hope in the young Yaroslav Rakitskiy who is likely to start at left-back, despite playing mostly central for Shakhtar Donetsk. It’s always good for the tournament when the host nations do well, but unlike Poland, I don’t think Ukraine will.

Group placing prediction: 4th

One to watch: Yaroslav Rakitskiy

England

I know what you are thinking. What are England going to do without their talismanic forward for the start of this tournament? How will they cope without their one truly world class player? Well Emile Heskey didn’t make the plane, so they’ll just have to get on with it. Roy has only had the boys for a few weeks, and just a couple of games. What has he learnt in this time? Nothing he didn’t already know I’d say. England can’t keep the ball for more than four passes, Scott Parker runs around a lot, Oxlade-Chamberlain could be England’s key player and Stewart Downing would have trouble crossing his legs. Danny Welbeck’s goal against Belgium may well have made him the starter upfront, with Ashley Young certain to play behind him. Without Wayne Rooney, a lot is resting on Young’s shoulders to provide a bit of attacking spark. There are a few (limited) options out wide with James Milner, Theo Walcott, Downing and Oxlade-Chamberlain vying for two spots. Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker are the likely pairing in the middle, essentially making it a 4-4-2, which is a tad worrying. Although, it’s definitely more flexible than previous versions England have used.

This is probably the least exciting England squad since Euro ‘92 and that had Keith Curle, Andy Sinton and Tony Daley in it. It really is duller than Stoke City v Bolton, in February, with commentary from Peter Drury. It’s such a shame that the likes of Wilshire, Rodwell and Sturridge didn’t make the squad, for differing reasons. A lot of of people have been talking about how nobody is talking about England, and this somehow, gives England more chance of doing something in this tournament. Less pressure on the team etc. Yet, with everyone talking about everyone not talking about it, we’re all talking about England winning it! So a whimper through group, and out on penalties in the quarter-final it is then.

Group placing prediction: 2nd

One to watch: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

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