The start of Euro 2008 is upon us (the opening game will be on Saturday with Switzerland vs. Czech Republic at 12 ET on ESPN Classic) and so I figured it'd be a good time to break out my rankings/impressions of all 16 teams, as well as who I think will win. This might be the most wide-open Euros I can remember in a while:
1. Spain -- Pros: Arguably the best midfield in the tournament in Xavi, Cesc, Iniesta and Xabi Alonso, two lethal strikers in Fernando Torres and David Villa, the best right back in the world (Sergio Ramos) and a goalkeeper in Iker Casillas who can compensate for any shortcomings in his back line. For the first time, a lot of its key players are mentally stronger after being battle-tested overseas in the Premiership. Cons: A dubious coach in Luis Aragones, a baffling exclusion of natural wingers in the squad (aside from David Silva), a history of choking/underachieving and the usual accusations that regional cliques will prevent the squad from truly bonding. Outlook: The Spaniards shed their chronic underachiever tag at last and win Euro 2008.
2. France --
Pros: A new generation of talent (Karim Benzema, Samir Nasri) has emerged to supplement the holdover veterans from the team that almost won the last World Cup. Winger Franck Ribery has taken his game to another level and keys the French attack.
Cons: With the loss of Bakary Sagna to injury, right back is a weak spot for the French and the danger remains that coach Raymond Domenech might continue to play old reliables over some of the kids, while recent performance suggests that the veterans are on the wane. If there's one thing that can hold this French team back, it's Domenech's penchant for peculiar personnel choices.
3. Portugal --
Pros: The most explosive set of wingers in the world bar none (Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and Simao Sabrosa), a coach (Luiz Felipe Scolari) that is a proven winner, and a team that has knocked on the doorstep of every major recent championship.
Cons: The age-old problem of a lack of a finisher. Once again Portugal is forced to roll out goal-light Nuno Gomes and Helder Postiga. There's no way to get all of the best talent onto the field at the same time, unless Scolari gambles and plays Ronaldo up top with Quaresma and Nani on the wings (in my opinion, the best option).
4. Italy --
Pros: Solid across the board in all positions, despite several key losses to injury and international retirement from its World-Cup winning team. The Italians are fronted by Luca Toni, arguably the best striker around when it comes to functioning in the lone target man role, with Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi dovetailing nicely on the wings. The addition of the enigmatic and temperamental Antonio Cassano could provide the creative spark to push this team over the top.
Cons: Cassano is just as likely to melt down and implode the team as he is to benefit it. With the unfortunate loss of Fabio Cannavaro earlier this week in training, the Italian defense is no longer the peerless back line we're used to seeing.
5. Germany --
Pros: No matter what the prognosticators say, the Germans always do well. The lineup is more or less the same one that got to the semifinals of the '06 World Cup. Michael Ballack has regained top form, and Mario Gomez is an upgrade over Lukas Podolski up top.
Cons: Coach Joachim Low's blind faith in keeper Jens Lehmann, who's well past his prime and always good for one comedy error at a critical moment, and a back line that's shaky on paper.
6. Croatia --
Pros: Artistic, creative and very technical, the Croatians are the ideal dark horses. Playmakers Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric are exceptional and coach Slaven Bilic is considered a star-in-the-making.
Cons: The loss of striker Eduardo was a huge blow that seriously dents Croatia's chances. The team simply has no one capable of replacing him in the lineup.
7. Czech Republic --
Pros: As always, the Czechs will be very technical, and in Martin Fenin, they have a rising young star.
Cons: The Czechs have underachived at the last two major tournaments and with much of their golden generation either old or retired (Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved, et al.) or just injured (Tomas Rosicky), it's hard to see them doing much damage in this tournament.
8. Netherlands --
Pros: After Spain, the Dutch possess the top pair of strikers in Ruud van Nistlerooy and Klaas Jan-Huntelaar. They also have a bevy of talented creative playmakers in the midfield, such as Wes Sneijder and Rafael Van der Vaart.
Cons: A horrible defense (quite possibly the worst back line in recent Dutch memory) that is likely to leak goals by the handful, a lack of any decent ball-winning midfielders and coach Marco Van Basten's bizarre reluctance to start Huntelaar as his preferred option at forward.
9. Greece --
Pros: The team is almost exactly the same as the 2004 edition that shocked the world and won the European Championship. Coach Otto Rehhagel is still around and so is his suffocating 4-5-1 formation. The emergence of Fanis Gekas as a quality finisher gives this Greek team more firepower too.
Cons: It's easy to argue that the 2004 tourney was a once-in-a-lifetime run for Greece and it's hard to see a repeat of that. Outside of right back Giorkas Seitaridis, Greece doesn't possess many world-class players and the decision not to include wonder kid Sotiris Ninis might haunt Rehhagel.
10. Turkey --
Pros: Talented and temperamental, one never knows what they'll get from Turkey. It's a team that is capable of beating anyone on any given day and at the same time, capitulating to just about anybody as well. How Nihat Kaveci plays will be critical for advancing.
Cons: Suspect goalkeeping from Volkan Demirel, sketchy defenders and erratic finishing in front of the net, all of which are likely to overshadow Turkey's abundance of creative flair midfielders.
11. Romania --
Pros: The Romanians have been out of the limelight for a few years now after missing out on qualification for several major tournaments. The talent pool remains more or less the same, but the reappointment of Victor Piturca as coach has been the key. Romania remains as technical as ever but this side has more defensive rigidity -- largely due to the emergence of Dorin Goian at the back, which allows Piturca to deploy Christian Chivu as a holding midfielder. Up front, Adrian Mutu is a world-class talent.
Cons: The midfield is a little more workmanlike than it was in the glory days of Gheorghe Hagi and Co. and lacks the playmakers to carry this team far.
12. Sweden --
Pros: Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the form of his life. The Swedes are always a consistent force at any tournament and are a veteran, experienced crew.
Cons: Same old, same old. With Freddie Ljungberg well in decline, no one outside of Ibrahimovic on this squad is a difference-maker -- unless 36-year-old Henrik Larsson can contribute heavy minutes. The lack of offensive punch will see Sweden get bumped at the quarterfinal stage as usual.
13. Russia --
Pros: Rapid improvement under Guus Hiddink (arguably the best coach in the world), who has reshaped the team's spirit, confidence, and style of play. In goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and playmaker Andrei Arshavin, Russia has two genuine match-winners and Hiddink's team is capable of brilliant attacking play at times.
Cons: Arshavin will miss the first two games through suspension, by which time Russia could be all but eliminated. The loss of dangerous striker Pavel Pobregnyak also hurts, as does a dodgy back line. It's also unclear what we can expect to see from a very young Russian team.
14. Poland --
Pros: As usual, Poland qualified easily enough. In fact it sailed through a group that included Portugal with surprising ease. Racing Santander's Ebi Smolark is a quality striker and Poland is loaded at the goalkeeper spot.
Cons: A lack of world-class attacking talent hurts and outside of Smolarek, there doesn't another player on this roster capable of generating a goal. Poland qualified easily for the last two World Cups too before going down in flames each time.
15. Switzerland --
Pros: Despite lacking any real standout defenders, the Swiss are notoriously hard to score on. Playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta is also quality and the team has the benefit of home-field support.
Cons: A poor run of form in preparation games and a lack of any real firepower offensively means it's unlikely the Swiss will have much of an impact.
16. Austria --
Pros: The origin country of Red Bull. Captain Andreas Ivanschitz is a pretty decent player.
Cons: Too many to list. A draw with Poland is probably Austria's only realistic aspiration.
Jen Chang
