Post by JamesB on Jun 7, 2012 17:38:56 GMT
Group D is essentially England and the rest, as far as England is concerned. But it's an interesting, open group, with all 4 teams capable of advancing or self-destruction. It is unlikely the winner will emerge from this group but there enough sub-plots to make it fascinating viewing
England
Fabio Capello's Roy Hodgson's men enter the Euros on behalf of a nation that is finally now resigned to the fact that they aren't going to win the tournament, for the first time in some 20 years (and yes, I'm sure some England fans still expected to win the last Euros despite not qualifying). Numerous quarter-final exits have convinced most people that that is what they are capable of - you'd have thought the message would have got home faster given how many times it has happened
Having said that, I have had a funny feeling for a while that England might do better than expected, as they usually do when expectations are low. OK, so preparations haven't been ideal to say the least, but don't forget Chelsea's adventures in the Champions League this year - the defeat in Naples, down to 10 men and losing to Barcelona, missing key players in the final due to suspension, and yet they still managed to win it. This year has already seen a few unlikely stories in football. You wouldn't bet against another. Although it's cool to say England are rubbish, you'd never discount them, because the talent is there
In terms of the players, much rides on Wayne Rooney as ever, but until he returns from suspension, the key man will probably be Ashley Young, who will sit behind the main striker (be it Welbeck or Carroll). He has been in good form in recent matches. Behind this will be two banks of four, as per Hodgson's beliefs. Gary Cahill's absence means John Terry will probably be partnered by Joleon Lescott at the back, flanked by Glen Johnson and arguably England's best player, Ashley Cole. The midfield pairing of Gerrard and Parker is good but ageing and lacking in positional intelligence. The wingers are a question mark - Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner and, somehow, Downing are the contenders for those positions. The only player with a definite position in the team is Joe Hart, one of the best keepers in the world at the moment
The key will be how England's talented players adapt to playing in what is a rigid system. It will be less about creativity and flair, and more about solidity. Hodgson is at his best managing the underdog, and England are the underdogs. Underdog victories are possible - Denmark, Greece and Zambia show that. However, it just depends on whether Gerrard, Terry, Rooney et al are capable of adjusting their mentality to fit this
France
The 2010 World Cup was even more catastrophic for the French than it was for England. But the group stage exit marred by in-fighting and rebellion came after it had already been effectively confirmed that controversial coach Raymond Domenech was to leave after the tournament. He has been replaced by Laurent Blanc, who, although embroiled in his own controversy (the race quota affair), has gradually turned around the affairs of the slumping team. With old heads Henry, Anelka and the like gone, the team has an air of freshness about it, and is in-form - they are currently considered the best of the rest behind the current "big three"
France now have a much more effective attack. Karim Benzema has had a great season for Real Madrid and is comfortably their lead striker. He will be supported by Champions League finalist Franck Ribery and Premier League winner Samir Nasri - Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa is among the back-ups. The potential issues start in the middle - Yohan Cabaye had a great season for Newcastle and Alou Diarra is a capable player (though I'm sure Yann m'Vila will be in there ahead of him if fit), but Florent Malouda, set to be the third midfielder, hasn't played particularly well there for Chelsea. But there are more problems in the defence due instability - no centre-back pairing has been decided upon, with Koscielny, Mexes and Rami vying for places (the latter two seem the most likely, but lack pace), while the absences of Abidal and Sagna to injury means they are slightly weaker in the full-back department. Nonetheless, I would still expect them to top the group
Sweden
I don't really know what to say about the Swedes. Like most of the Scandinavian countries to me, their teams have always been a bit anonymous - not playing particularly attacking football or having much in their teams that is particularly exciting. This is despite having one of the world's great flair players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as their key man. Zlatan has had another great season in Italy, although has an infamous tendency to somehow not perform when facing English opposition, meaning he is criminally under-appreciated here
Aside from Zlatan, though, the Swedish side isn't much to shout about, though not average enough to discount from progressing. They play a more attacking style football than in the past thanks to new coach Erik Hamren, but the players remain largely the same. The main striker, playing ahead of Zlatan, should be Johan Elmander, but the former Bolton player is recovering from injury and may not be fit to start. Rasmus Elm and Sunderland's Sebastian Larsson play a supporting role. Svensson and Kallstrom are decent midfielders, but they look weak defensively. I find it surprising that English fans have been quick to write them off, giving that England have consistently not beaten them in competitive matches. But then English fans have always underrated Sweden
Ukraine
The Ukraine squad was recently hit by a bout of food poisoning affecting nearly half the squad. This could well have a disruptive effect on a side that was already lacking in stability. Coach Oleh Blokhin, a star of the USSR team of the 80s, has experimented quite a lot with the team in recent weeks and months, and has also suffered with injuries - among the absentees are veteran keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy and former Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy
The most well-known Ukrainian footballer, or perhaps even the most well-known Ukrainian full stop, is Andriy Shevchenko. The legendary striker is now 35 and well past his best, though, and will likely only play a supporting role. Dynamo Kiev's Artem Milevskyi or Shakhtar's Marko Devych will likely compete for the starting lead striker role, and may be supported by former Liverpool flop Andriy Voronin. Thus, the only player who seems to have his place secured in the team is their most capped player, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk of Bayern, who will play as a holding midfielder. Given the total lack of a defined first XI, Ukraine's performance is therefore unpredictable but likely to be disappointing, though England's record against host nations in major tournaments is notably poor
Further info:
England: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-england/
France: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-france/
Sweden: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-sweden/
Ukraine: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-ukraine/
England
Having said that, I have had a funny feeling for a while that England might do better than expected, as they usually do when expectations are low. OK, so preparations haven't been ideal to say the least, but don't forget Chelsea's adventures in the Champions League this year - the defeat in Naples, down to 10 men and losing to Barcelona, missing key players in the final due to suspension, and yet they still managed to win it. This year has already seen a few unlikely stories in football. You wouldn't bet against another. Although it's cool to say England are rubbish, you'd never discount them, because the talent is there
In terms of the players, much rides on Wayne Rooney as ever, but until he returns from suspension, the key man will probably be Ashley Young, who will sit behind the main striker (be it Welbeck or Carroll). He has been in good form in recent matches. Behind this will be two banks of four, as per Hodgson's beliefs. Gary Cahill's absence means John Terry will probably be partnered by Joleon Lescott at the back, flanked by Glen Johnson and arguably England's best player, Ashley Cole. The midfield pairing of Gerrard and Parker is good but ageing and lacking in positional intelligence. The wingers are a question mark - Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner and, somehow, Downing are the contenders for those positions. The only player with a definite position in the team is Joe Hart, one of the best keepers in the world at the moment
The key will be how England's talented players adapt to playing in what is a rigid system. It will be less about creativity and flair, and more about solidity. Hodgson is at his best managing the underdog, and England are the underdogs. Underdog victories are possible - Denmark, Greece and Zambia show that. However, it just depends on whether Gerrard, Terry, Rooney et al are capable of adjusting their mentality to fit this
France
The 2010 World Cup was even more catastrophic for the French than it was for England. But the group stage exit marred by in-fighting and rebellion came after it had already been effectively confirmed that controversial coach Raymond Domenech was to leave after the tournament. He has been replaced by Laurent Blanc, who, although embroiled in his own controversy (the race quota affair), has gradually turned around the affairs of the slumping team. With old heads Henry, Anelka and the like gone, the team has an air of freshness about it, and is in-form - they are currently considered the best of the rest behind the current "big three"
France now have a much more effective attack. Karim Benzema has had a great season for Real Madrid and is comfortably their lead striker. He will be supported by Champions League finalist Franck Ribery and Premier League winner Samir Nasri - Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa is among the back-ups. The potential issues start in the middle - Yohan Cabaye had a great season for Newcastle and Alou Diarra is a capable player (though I'm sure Yann m'Vila will be in there ahead of him if fit), but Florent Malouda, set to be the third midfielder, hasn't played particularly well there for Chelsea. But there are more problems in the defence due instability - no centre-back pairing has been decided upon, with Koscielny, Mexes and Rami vying for places (the latter two seem the most likely, but lack pace), while the absences of Abidal and Sagna to injury means they are slightly weaker in the full-back department. Nonetheless, I would still expect them to top the group
Sweden
I don't really know what to say about the Swedes. Like most of the Scandinavian countries to me, their teams have always been a bit anonymous - not playing particularly attacking football or having much in their teams that is particularly exciting. This is despite having one of the world's great flair players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as their key man. Zlatan has had another great season in Italy, although has an infamous tendency to somehow not perform when facing English opposition, meaning he is criminally under-appreciated here
Aside from Zlatan, though, the Swedish side isn't much to shout about, though not average enough to discount from progressing. They play a more attacking style football than in the past thanks to new coach Erik Hamren, but the players remain largely the same. The main striker, playing ahead of Zlatan, should be Johan Elmander, but the former Bolton player is recovering from injury and may not be fit to start. Rasmus Elm and Sunderland's Sebastian Larsson play a supporting role. Svensson and Kallstrom are decent midfielders, but they look weak defensively. I find it surprising that English fans have been quick to write them off, giving that England have consistently not beaten them in competitive matches. But then English fans have always underrated Sweden
Ukraine
The Ukraine squad was recently hit by a bout of food poisoning affecting nearly half the squad. This could well have a disruptive effect on a side that was already lacking in stability. Coach Oleh Blokhin, a star of the USSR team of the 80s, has experimented quite a lot with the team in recent weeks and months, and has also suffered with injuries - among the absentees are veteran keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy and former Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy
The most well-known Ukrainian footballer, or perhaps even the most well-known Ukrainian full stop, is Andriy Shevchenko. The legendary striker is now 35 and well past his best, though, and will likely only play a supporting role. Dynamo Kiev's Artem Milevskyi or Shakhtar's Marko Devych will likely compete for the starting lead striker role, and may be supported by former Liverpool flop Andriy Voronin. Thus, the only player who seems to have his place secured in the team is their most capped player, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk of Bayern, who will play as a holding midfielder. Given the total lack of a defined first XI, Ukraine's performance is therefore unpredictable but likely to be disappointing, though England's record against host nations in major tournaments is notably poor
Further info:
England: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-england/
France: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-france/
Sweden: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-sweden/
Ukraine: www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/06/euro-2012-preview-ukraine/
