EURO 2008 INFO

That's it, we know the sixteen qualified for Euro 2008. The opportunity to take stock on the forces, bookmarks and possible surprises in the continental event of next summer. Virtual diving in Switzerland and Austria.

Before the last day of playoffs, twelve nations were already assured of participating in Euro 2008. These are Austria, Switzerland (organizers countries), Germany, Croatia, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania. The last 4 tickets have been allocated, not without difficulty, to those of Russia, Portugal, Turkey and Sweden. While the great absent from the Euro will be England, beaten at home by Croatia (2-3). Tribunefoot gives you a picture of the 16 qualified teams and gives his ratings.

GERMANY

Three of the last World Cup it hosted, Germany was the first nation to qualify on the ground. A good point, therefore, for the Mannschaft who nevertheless benefited from the clemency of the draw by inheriting a group rather low. But the main thing is assured, as usual, Germany made the trade, and has done well. However, the team coached by Joachim Löw does not dream and does not present any proof of permeability she was able to express in the past. Since his coronation at Euro 96, Germany remains a piteuse series of 6 consecutive matches without victory in the final phase (3 void, 3 losses, 3 goals, 8 assists).
 

AUSTRIA

No name, an indigestible 88th place at the FIFA index, Austria made spot among the 16 qualifiers. Let us not be afraid of the dead, it is the scam of the Euro. Even its supporters wonder if it's a good idea to participate in the European tournament very high, you say ... Yet in its last two friendly matches, the host nation was reassured by beating Côte d'Ivoire (3-2) and then conceding defeat worthy of England (0-1), last Saturday. Nevertheless, it remains sceptical about the possibilities of the Eagles in many included in "their" Euro. Three of the World Cup 1954, Austria regain Does its former glory. Nothing could be less certain, it is rather a prognostic expeditious disposal.
 

CROATIA

Author of a remarkable campaign eliminatory, Croatia could be one of the pleasant surprises. Very well supplied in the offensive with an abundance of very talented young players: Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Rakitic (Schalke 04), Eduardo Da Silva (Arsenal) and Petric (Dortmund), the country in the checkerboard presents many advantages. Because in addition to its impressive strike force, Croatia also has a solid defense which has collected only 6 goals. So attention to those Croats, capable of feats, like in 1998 where they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, it will be remembered.


SPAIN

Forty-four years of scarcity! Since 1964, and its success at home to the euro, after Seleccion course always a new trophy. Often disappointing in the final stages Spain has ruined many generations promising. Irresistibles in youth leagues, the Furia Roja has always been difficult step to take. In 2006, she had suggested beautiful things in chicken before completely subjected to the French experience. This generation of Fabregas, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta Torres will be two or more years to the euro and could wreak havoc. Technique, grinta and realism are the main values embodied by these gifted the ball. Very decried, Luis Aragones therefore is a great opportunity to leave office by a wide doorway.


FRANCE

With its "title" vice-World Champion, France place as one of the next logical favorites Euro. Raymond Domenech has a group rich in quantity and quality. At each position, the competition is tough, as we have seen recently with the 1987 generation of Ben Arfa, Benzema, Nasri, which already puts the pressure on "old", and so much the better! The breeder must make a choice essential to its list, but the complexity of this puzzle simply reflects the incredible pool lights in the presence. The number Bleus is certainly one of the most, if not THE most quality of the Euro. So yes, we can dream of a continental 3rd title.


GREECE

European Champion 2004, Greece had surprised all his World Portugal. Absent from the World Cup 2006, the training was able to find Greek Euro at the end of a campaign waged eliminatory smoothly. The Greeks thus defend their title he won four years earlier in the stupor. They have in any case made a remarkable journey with 9 wins, 1 draw and one defeat. The strength of the group of Otto Rehhagel: continuity, as a large number of survivors of the epic of 2004. Greece will, this time, expected at the turn, but certainly still difficult to manoeuvre. A nice performance as a confirmation during the Euro 2008 can not therefore be excluded.


ITALY

Indémodable, perennial champion in the World title, Italy will again be one of the big favorites. Based on an impressive spine: Buffon, Cannavaro, Gattuso, Pirlo, Toni, the Squadra Azzurra inspires respect and distrust. Between a guard, considered by many as the best in the World, a captain central defender, capable of transcending in major appointments, a aboyeur service, always ready to fight, a regulator of international class and a giant in every attacker sense of the word, in Italy imposes. The success of the qualification recorded in Glasgow (2-1) summarizes alone any competitiveness of the team. As is often the case in recent years, French and Italians may well find itself in the peaks of the competition.


NETHERLANDS

Despite very respectable playoffs (8 wins, 2 were invalid, 1 defeat), where the Netherlands thought. Young oranje is crammed with talent, but the multiple choice grope Marco Van Basten. The breeder Batavian uses a lot of players, but slow to find a team type. The lack of automation are feeling the painful mix and the "young-old" found it difficult to operate. Héroïques tiny defensively with 3 goals conceded, the Netherlands, however, significantly disappointed offensive in the field with only 14 goals scored. A mess in view of the armada offensive Netherlands: Van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar, Babel, Van Persie or Kuyt. If click, beware of the Oranjes, but otherwise, a failure is possible.


POLAND

A first for Poland, which has finally qualified for the final phase of the Euro after 12 unsuccessful attempts. Little or no big names, Poland makes no noise. She still brilliantly qualified for the Euro after showing some interesting footage at the last World, in spite of the elimination in the first round. The inexperience of this very high level of the majority of the workforce will inevitably be a handicap for Poland, but under the leadership of its detonators Krzynowek (4 goals) and Smolarek (9 goals), it might even create a few surprises .

PORTUGAL

Technically, Portugal is above the lot. It is not for nothing that it has been called the Brazil of Europe. The troublemakers Quaresma and Cristiano Ronaldo are there to remind you. Incredibly gifted ball to the feet, these two phenomena trained Sporting are able to divert to their own defence. For a hook, a feint, a sudden kidney, they are footballers of those who make the difference. Add to this a very solid defense and an environment as experienced (Deco, Maniche, Tiago) that promise (Moutinho, Veloso) and get a very credible candidate to Euro 2008. Better still, the Lusitanians even seem to have found their scorer in the person of Hugo Almeida. Very successful in this season with Werder Bremen (7 goals), the athletic attacker is in the process of exploding at the highest level. Finalist of Euro 2004 at home, Portugal has the means to do better. The Selecçao was certainly the team, which had caused most problems for Bleus in 2006.


CZECH REPUBLIC

An owner who knows by heart and a few "stars" (Cech, Jankulovski, Rosicky, Koller), the Czech Republic is seen as a good value. To be sure, it has the means to chickens, but perhaps no more. It seems to be missing that little extra, that flame that would difference to climb onto the roof of Europe. But all the same attention to the formation of the emblematic Karel Brückner, in place since 2002 on the chassis of the Czech selection.


ROMANIA

Leaded by its flagship Mutu and Chivu, Romania came out with flying colours in a hen which included the Netherlands and Bulgaria found. However, the lack of homogeneity of the workforce can be a problem. No clumsy with the ball, the nation Carpathian bear Does the pressure of such a tournament? It is rather circumspect on the subject, but who knows…


RUSSIA

Finally, the guest surprise, it was Russia that was imposed by the smallest of margins in Andorra (1-0) thanks to the former Marseille Dimitri Sychev, but that has mainly benefited the success of Croatia England (3-2) to win its place in the Euro. Incredible! Russia relies almost exclusively on players operating in the country (CSKA Moscow, Zenith St Petersburg, Lokomotiv Moscow…). One of the few "outsiders": Aleksandr Kerzhakov, who plays with the little Sevilla FC, is however, the top scorer of the selection with 5 goals to the counter at the playoffs. The countries of Eastern Europe is also much of its success to its coach Guus Hiddink has already shone at the helm of PSV Eindhoven and Australia. Finally fairly unknown, the Russians have a football of a high technical quality, but unfortunately the team travel poorly. The last three trips to Russia have resulted in two losses to England (0-3) and Israel (1-2), and a victory minimum Andorra (1-0). It will quickly adapt to Switzerland and Austria for to succeed at the game next June.


SWEDEN

A zero home to face Latvia enough for Sweden to join the Euro. A challenge to the broad scope of the Vikings. Décevante in 2006 with a qualification to the group pulled out, and a favourable disposal plume in eighths of the final against Germany (0-2), Sweden must revenge. In recent years, the Scandinavian country is based on an almost unchanged at high potential, it is expected that its explosion. With a big Zlatan Ibrahimovic in June 2008, the Swedish sensation could do in Switzerland and Austria.


SWITZERLAND

Coriace opponent of the French team in the qualification phase and then pools of the 2006 World Cup, will play Switzerland before his audience the next Euro. On the agenda: infatuation and popular pressure. Very young and promising, training Swiss could yet be the great disappointment of this tournament. Because if we look a little more closely, we find that most of the players play in the selection of second-tier clubs and that some have regressé. As for Alexander Frei, it is still in the pool. If the former Stade Rennais attacker is not the top to the euro, Switzerland can already make a cross on his chances. It pulls the alarm bell if it is neutral, the country is not immune to a national disaster.


TURKEY

By winning in Norway, Turkey has made the perfect shot. It is now ideally placed to the qualies. Do it remains to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina. If that were the case, it would be the young children of the country in the Bosphorus major championship after having missed the two previous grand rendez-vous with dams. Surprenant 3rd World Cup 2002, Turkey found its superb, but could be content to play utilities in Switzerland and Austria. Not bothered by the ball, the Turks are however often uncomfortable far from their homeland. In particular, they conceded defeat in Bosnia (2-3) and two ties Malta (2-2) and Moldova (1-1), three opponents yet substantially lower. In addition, most of the workforce plays in the country, which is not necessarily an advantage.