European Country Football Competition 2012

Well the draw, for the competition taking place in Poland & Ukraine during next summer..

Group A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic
Open group which all the contenders must feel that they have a chance of escaping.

Group B
Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Portugal
Tough group. Two of the favourites really in Germany (because they always perform at competitions) & Holland who were World Cup runner ups. Denmark are no pushovers either & while Portugal only just scrapped through any side with Ronaldo & Nani in it can win a 1 off game.

Group C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia
Tough, tough group for Ireland to progress from. Spain, rightly, will be favourites to win the competition. Italy are always hard to beat & Croatia are not to be taken lightly. The fates could have been a lot kinder to The Republic.

Group D
Ukraine
Sweden
France
England.
England should stroll out of this group, but probably won't. Ukraine are hosts which gives them an edge in home ground advantage, but the disadvantage that it has been ages since they had a competitive game. Sweden will be fit & tactically sound, but are a bit predictable. France are masses better than at the World Cup, but no longer have the stars that would frighten any side..If the fates were cruel to Ireland then they are more than generous to England.
Will probably make it all the more disappointing when they fall flat on their faces....

France are masses better than at the World Cup, but no longer have the stars that would frighten any side..

It will be interesting to see how Terry/Cole/Lampard fare tonight against some of the French Young Guns, who must be hopeful of a place in the French squad. Yohan CABAYE/Hartem BEN ARFA/Gabriel OBERTAN and possibly Sylvain MARVEAUX

IMO i cant see England getting past the group stage ..... always promise so much , a nation expects and the team dont turn up ...... same old story.

mash ........ winners Germany

All the teams in Englands group will fancy there chances of going through.
Group B is very tough with Germany and the Netherlands favourites to progress.
In contrast Group A is pretty weak with none of the four teams expected to do well in the tournament.
Rotten luck for the Irish to be put in with Spain,Italy and Croatia but the last two arent unbeatable.

I think,for the England and Irish fans,interest will end after three games and we can sit back to enjoy a Spain v Germany final.