Euro 2008: Another 'Greece'?
2008-06-06 13:10
Rob Houwing
Cape Town - Just about the only thing you can say with confidence about the European Championships is that Greece won't win it this time.
On second thoughts, make that "probably won't win it this time".
Traditionally, after all, this tournament is a veritable paradise for those thrifty souls who prefer to hedge their bets.
Somehow, the event inevitably seems more perilous to pick than even its more senior and more broadly-subscribed showpiece, the Soccer World Cup.
Maybe it is just because Europe, more often than not, produces a robust cupboard of technically-proficient, soberly disciplined national teams who habitually cancel each other out (quite often on knockout-phase penalties after 120 cat-and-mouse minutes, come to think of it).
While engrossing, purist-pleasing moments tend also not to be in short supply, what 'Euro' customarily lacks is the mercurial element brought to the World Cup party, even if sometimes in fleeting bursts, from South American and African teams.
Tough to crack
Ask the sage on the street corner before every European Championships for the past two or three tournaments and you can bet his reply will have been a stock, indecisive: "Hmm, Italy will be tough to crack; Germany too. France and Holland will have a shout if their teams gel, and we all know what Spain and Portugal could do on a good day..."
It is an observation, once again, not wholly inappropriate to this year's championships.
Besides, it's difficult to get too gung-ho as a tipster about an event which, going into the 2008 version on Saturday, boasts genuine minnows in Greece as defending champions and, in 1992, famously saw Denmark crowned after they were eleventh-hour entries to the event out of their summer holidays only because of Yugoslavia's political turmoil.
It is probably safe to venture that the Greeks, this time, won't repeat the joyous bedlam of 2004. Then, they simply caught everyone by surprise and, while their German coaching mastermind Otto Rehhagel remains comfortingly pulling the strings four years on, his charges will be merciless 'targets' this time.
There is every chance, even if many neutrals will egg them on to a sensational 'repeat', that Greece won't even advance beyond Group D this time, where they must eclipse two of Russia, Spain and Sweden to progress.
Cheeky stab
Similarly, it is most unlikely that the 2008 spoils will go the way of either joint-host nation, Austria and Switzerland. While the event is well-nigh guaranteed to proceed with clockwork efficiency so renowned in those parts, a tourney winner from either camp looks too unfeasible for serious contemplation. Still, that may have been said of Greece once?
The Austrians are paired in Group B with Germany, Croatia and Poland, while Switzerland, in Group A, ought to see their cheeky stab at advancing thwarted by two of the Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey.
While the Portuguese, fired by Cristiano Ronaldo's flash footwork, and Spaniards, for whom Fernando Torres incredibly is not guaranteed blue-chip game-time due to a swollen stock of strike weaponry, have yet another opportunity to overcome 'choker' labels on biggest stages, it is from the complex minefield that is Group C that Euro 2008 may find its destiny driven.
Every single 'Group of Death' match here will be of nail-chewing gravitas: you would expect that from a ding-dong field comprising France, the Netherlands, Romania and... oh yes, world champions Italy.
While your first instincts may be to scribble out the Romanians to likely non-qualification for later stages, bear in mind that they finished above Holland in their qualifying group.
Fireworks
Four weekend matches get Euro 2008 out of the blocks: Switzerland v Czech Republic and Portugal v Turkey on Saturday; Austria v Croatia and Germany v Poland on Sunday.
First true fireworks, however, may well occur on Monday, when Holland v Italy in Berne might provide a mouth-watering, cut-throat harbinger of the silverware's ultimate destination.
The Italians have been significantly shaken by the absence of Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro at the heart of their defence, and if the moody Dutch - themselves unsettled by seasoned Clarence Seedorf's stubborn refusal to get with coach Marco van Basten's 'programme' - prevail in this match, it will represent a giant stride toward the June 29 final in Vienna by the men in brilliant orange.
Okay, probably...