The European Championship may not be as important as the World Cup but it is more intriguing for the simple fact that there are no pushovers in this short, 16-team tournament.
With the recent poor form of South American powerhouses Brazil and Argentina, European soccer currently reigns supreme. In fact, 14 of the top 20 countries featured in the FIFA world rankings are from Europe.
With so much quality packed into four neat groups, upsets are bound to happen, if you can even call them that. Here is a look at a team from each group that may surprise some of the heavyweights, just like Greece did in their memorable run eight years ago.
Group A – Poland
Poland is co-hosting Euro 2012 with Ukraine and will have an undisputable advantage over their opponents as the home team in all three group games. They enter the competition with the lowest FIFA ranking by far (No. 65), but don’t let this fool you, as this team is full of quality.
They are led by three key players from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, including left back Sebastian Boenisch, midfielder and captain Jakub Blaszczykowski, and striker Robert Lewandowki, who finished third in Bundesliga scoring this year, behind only Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Mario Gomez. Add world-class Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and it becomes clear Poland is a team to be reckoned with.
Poland also has the great fortune to be placed in the weakest group along with Greece, the Czech Republic, and Russia. None of these teams are particularly aggressive in attack, so coach Franciszek Smuda has the option to push the tempo with this youthful side in an attempt to dictate play in front of the home fans.
Don’t be surprised to see Poland sneak into the knock-out stage along with Russia.
Group B – Portugal
It’s not very often Portugal is looked at as an underdog to advance from the group stage of an international competition. It’s also not very often they are grouped with heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands.
This is Cristiano Ronaldo’s time to shine. If it weren’t for Lionel Messi, soccer writers would be making the argument for Ronaldo as this generation’s finest player. But with no Messi to contend with, Ronaldo will do whatever he can to take this talented Portugal team to the top of European football and cement his claim as one of the best all-time.
The Germans may be a tough team to oust from the group stage but if you look at the June 17 match-up between Portugal and the Netherlands, it could be of great consequence. One only needs to look back to the heated match between the two teams in the second round at the 2006 World Cup: there were 16 yellow cards resulting in four expulsions.
Portugal is full of agitators such as Raul Meireles, Nani and Ronaldo, while the Netherlands employ two tough-tackling central midfielders in Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong.
If it comes down to their final game with the Netherlands to determine who qualifies for the quarter-finals, we might be in store for another classic.
Group C – Ireland
No, they haven’t qualified for the European Championship since 1988, but Ireland seems to be on a mission. After their omission from the 2010 World Cup via a Thierry Henry hand ball in a playoff against France, the Irish were a determined bunch to make it into Euro 2012. They again took the long route by qualifying in a playoff against Estonia, but qualify they did.
This Ireland team is full of English Premiership League experience, so they know how to play against quality opposition. Though lacking in star power, the Irish are led by veteran Aston Villa goaltender Shay Given and likewise battle-tested LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane.
A strong defensive team, relying on the likes of Given’s Villa teammate Richard Dunne and former Manchester United man John O’Shea, the Irish will be a tough team to infiltrate.
Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni, like his team, is as experienced as they come at age 73 and will want to get the better of his scandal-ridden motherland in the final game of Group C on July 18.
Group D – Sweden
Sweden is also chock-full of experience, with the core group of six players playing in at least their third European Championship (Olof Mellberg is playing in his fourth).
This continuity is in contrast to the French team, who has gone through a major overhaul since their embarrassing 2010 World Cup and an English side that is in disarray due to injuries, suspensions, while trying to incorporate a new coach right before the tournament begins.
Of course, Sweden’s true ace in the hole is world-class striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. So dynamic is the AC Milan target man that as long as he’s on the pitch, the Swedes will never be out of a game.
Sweden’s attack is actually where they have the greatest depth, with the likes of Johan Elmander and Markus Rosenberg, so Ibrahimovic will get to show off his distribution skills sitting slightly behind the main striker.
Sweden always seems to be placed in a group with England, so it will be interesting to witness the two familiar foes square off on July 15.