Euro 2008 Group A Review...

Group A

Countries

I really wanted to do this throughout the games, but as I have my high school finals to deal with while they play, I decided to do it now. I will not pick or predict the standings in the group. Instead, I will analyze each team and give you an all in all look at the Group.

Switzerland

A hosting country with great talent and conviction, they did really well in the World Cup in 2006 passing the Group stages going on to play in the Last 16 playing against Ukraine. Unfortunately, the lost via penalty kicks. They have their sights on winning the trophy, but all I can say is that it wont be easy at all, with Portugal and Czech Republic in their group. So the opening game will have a lot to do with there performance throughout the Euro’s.

Switzerland’s 23 Man Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg)
Eldin Jakupovic (Grasshopper)
Pascal Zuberbuehler (Xamax Neuchatel)

Defenders:
Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund)
Johan Djourou (Arsenal)
Stephane Grichting (Auxerre)
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lille)
Ludovic Magnin (Stuttgart)
Patrick Mueller (Lyon)
Philippe Senderos (Arsenal)
Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Midfielders:
Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen)
Valon Behrami (Lazio)
Ricardo Cabanas (Grasshopper)
Gelson Fernandes (Manchester City)
Daniel Gygax (FC Metz)
Benjamin Huggel (Basel)
Gokhan Inler (Udinese)
Johan Vonlanthen (Red Bull Salzburg)

Forwards:
Eren Derdiyok (Basel)
Alexander Frei (Borussia Dortmund)
Marco Streller (Basel)
Hakan Yakin (Young Boys)

Players to Watch:

Tranquillo Barnetta and Ludovic Magnin

Portugal

A wonderful team with talented players and a tactical manager, Portugal is the group favorite and a lot is expected from them. They managed to get 4th place in the World Cup and reached the Semifinals. However, they lost to a well developed and experienced team in France. They are one of my favorite teams to watch and it won’t surprise me if I see them go far.

Portugal’s 23 Man Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Ricardo (Real Betis Balompié)
Quim (SL Benfica)
Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal)

Defenders:
Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC)
Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC)
Bosingwa (FC Porto)
Bruno Alves (FC Porto)
Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista FC)
Miguel (Valencia CF)
Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart)
Pepe (Real Madrid CF)

Midfielders:
Petit (SL Benfica)
Deco (FC Barcelona)
Raul Meireles (FC Porto)
Miguel Veloso (Sporting Clube de Portugal)
João Moutinho (Sporting Clube de Portugal)

Forwards:
Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica)
Simão Sabrosa (Atlético de Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC)
Nani (Manchester United FC)
Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)
Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto)
Hélder Postiga (Panathinaikos FC)

Players to Watch:

Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the man to look out for, as he helped Manchester United this season to win the Premiership and the Champions League, scoring 42 goals all in all.

Other players are Simao Sabrosa, Nani, Pepe and Ricardo Quaresma

Turkey

An underdog team to any major European or international event, Turkey has got some talented and strong players, as well as a very experienced manager. They might have some trouble beating teams in the Euro Cup, but I can, and would, like to see them advance because I just love the way they play.

On a side note, in the 2002, World Cup, Turkey was 4th place, and they currently hold the record for the fastest goal scored in the World Cup (11 Seconds).

Turkeys 23 Man Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce)
Rustu Recber (Besiktas)
Tolga Zengin (Trabzonspor)

Defenders:
Gokhan Zan (Besiktas)
Sabri Sarioglu (Galatasaray)
Emre Asik (Ankaraspor)
Servet Cetin (Galatasaray)
Emre Gungor (Galatasaray)
Hakan Balta (Galatasaray)
Ugur Boral (Fenerbahce)
Gokhan Gonul (Fenerbahce)

Midfielders:
Mehmet Aurelio (Fenerbahce)
Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray)
Arda Turan (Galatasaray)
Ayhan Akman (Galatasaray)
Emre Belozoglu (Newcastle)
Tumer Metin (Larissa)
Hamit Altintop (Bayern Munich)
Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan)

Forwards:
Nihat Kahveci (Villarreal)
Semih Senturk (Fenerbahce)
Mevlut Erdinc (Sochaux)
Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough)
Colin Kazim-Richards (Fenerbahce)

Players to Watch:

Nihat Kahveci Scored 18 Goals this Season in The Spanish League, is an Exceptional Forward with Great Sight on Goal and is a very Good Shot.

Other Players are Hamit Altintop and Tuncay Sanli

Czech Republic

To me, they are onsidered the underachievers, as I remember they were considered the #1 team before the World Cup in 2006, but didn’t even pass the Group stages that year. They have a very strong team and beat Germany 3-0 in the Qualifiers, so they will be a tough team to beat.

Czech Republic's 23 Man Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Jaromir Blazek (Nuremberg)
Daniel Zitka (Anderlecht)

Defenders:
Zdenek Grygera (Juventus)
Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan)
Michal Kadlec (Sparta Prague)
Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow)
Zdenek Pospech (Copenhagen)
David Rozehnal (Lazio)
Tomas Sivok (Sparta Prague)
Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina)

Midfielders:
Tomas Galasek (Nuremberg)
David Jarolim (Hamburg)
Marek Matejovsky (Reading)
Jaroslav Plasil (Osasuna)
Rudolf Skacel (Hertha Berlin)
Jan Polak (Anderlecht)
Libor Sionko (Copenhagen)
Stanisla Vlcek (Anderlecht)

Forwards:
Milan Baros (Portsmouth)
Martin Fenin (Frankfurt)
Jan Koller (Nuremberg)
Vaclav Sverkos (Banik Ostrava)

Players To Watch:

Jan Koller, standing 2.02 meters tall 6'7", has the most goals scored with Czech before and after its separation, is a killer in the air, and is exceptionally good with his feet.

RohandevganAll-American

527 days ago

Score 2

I have always been a strong Portuguese supporter and I'm sure it would be a shock if they don't go through from this group. However, it could be a battle for the top spot between them and the Czechs.

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Baltimoresports247All-American

527 days ago

Score 1

I agree...Portugal should have no issue getting through this group...it might be a stretch, but I'd be surprised if they lost at all

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

527 days ago

Score 1

This group is tougher than it looks. The last 2 World Cups have taught us to never underestimate a host country. Turkey always puts forth a strong effort. If the CR or Portugal ties either of these teams, or loses a match, they'll be sunk.

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SSreportersLegend

527 days ago

Score 1

I think after the crapshow the Czechs put up in the World Cup, they'll be determined not to do it again in Europe, but I believe Portugal and Switzerland will make it out of Group A.

O/T a little bit, but why not Spain winning it all? They have Torres and Villa and could be the darkhorse.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

527 days ago

Score 1

Isn't that always the question with Spain? Why can't they win? And don't they always provide an answer, typically in the group stage?

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IbeargRed-Shirting

527 days ago

Score -1

in fairness to the Czechs in 2006 they looked verrrrry good in the opening game versus the US, but suffered at least one if not 2 major injuries, including one to their top scorer Koller. So while they did perhaps underachieve it was somewhat understandable. I also wonder why you classified some guys on Portugal as forwards like Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani... i know they mainly play midfield for Man U. I haven't had the pleasure of watching portugal much... do they play forward for Portugal?

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Baltimoresports247All-American

527 days ago

Score 0

Maybe SS can back me up on this...I think Ronaldo is a striker and Nani is a middie?

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SSreportersLegend

527 days ago

Score 0

Ronaldo and Nani both work in the midfield.

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Baltimoresports247All-American

527 days ago

Score 0

Thanks SS...it's a little confusing to me sometimes because he's always so close to the goal...I guess that's what makes him so good...

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A QQVarsity

526 days ago

Score 0

i really dont know why they were put as forwards but i double checked and Scolari put them as forwards, like sabrosa, Nani and Quaresma...

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ThecrookedcapAll-Star

526 days ago

Score 0

I've usually thought of Ronaldo as a Winger/Forward

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RomiezzoLegend

527 days ago

Score 0

I can't decide who's going to advance in this group. All four teams are decent teams. They all have their strong points: i.e. Czech Republic has an amazing goalkeeper in Cech and a good defense. Turkey is a very underrated team (all around), and are playing in their own country. Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo... need I say more? I don't know much about Switzerland, but I know that they're a decent team and they can't be counted out. I guess it all depends on will: how badly do these teams want it?

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A QQVarsity

526 days ago

Score 0

Turkey isnt playing in their own country? Switzerland is....

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MegECass110AAA-er

527 days ago

Score 1

This is awesome...are you going to do this for every group?

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RomiezzoLegend

527 days ago

Score 0

Yes he is. The other from Kuwait has just confirmed that he is going to do this for every group... or at least attempt to. But as he said in the beginning of this article, he's pretty busy with exams and stuff. So, he'll see when the next one will come out.

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A QQVarsity

526 days ago

Score 0

Sure I'll try Meg, its funny but i posted this then the next day in the peapers, u can see the same things i wrote about, not kidding its ironic though....

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ThecrookedcapAll-Star

526 days ago

Score 0

I would not count out Switzerland. They are not just the home team, but they are not easy to beat. In fact, their last loss in a competitive (non-friendly) match was in Euro 2004. The thing that makes this tournament hard to predict is that you can make a case for most every team in it. Like for me, Turkey is a team to watch. Since a lot of their players play domestically in a league that is not followed by the West, it can be hard to predict.

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