brillian mr. sparrow

In 2004, we had a suprise winner: Greece. In 2008, I think we'll have another one...

Since September 7th, 2005, I have always believed in Northern Ireland's potentiel. They beat England, they got the momentum, more and more people started to talk about them... they were not a 'noname' team anymore...

The year after... they beat... Spain ! ...another 'top 10' team...

Finally, Northern Ireland are now leading their group in the Euro qualifiers. They have David Healy, a 'scorng machine'. I pick them to win the next European Cup.

Croatia.

I posted after you said Northern Ireland, so my post won't seem as stupid.

David Healey is a goal machine, but not for Leeds. Though looks like he''ll be heading off to pair up with Sanchez at Fulham.

england?! lol!!!! you english are so dumbsky and vain. your team's shite! well you got a couple of good players but that's about it...your keeper's crap, besides u don't even know if u'll qualify

exactly.the brits are so friggin blind. and they're saying yeah england will win come on england etc. fcuk you muppets. you won't even qualify

CROATIA

GO CROATIA

Current number 7 in the world (Croatia)can hardly be an outsider on that kind of a competition,so I don't think it's stupid that you've put Croatia to win Euro,not even the claim of Northern Ireland although I doubt they'll qualify (I 'd like them to qualify really but..)

Ah, so I'm not alone in my support for Croatia.

Big help that Kranjcar will likely get a full season and starting spot at Pompey, Eduardo at Arsenal and Corluka at City. Just need to stay injury free.

Try to look a bit to this Tournament history, in last 12 years 2 teams who nobody thought could reach even quarters of final won the Cup.

I'm talking indeed about Denmark in 1992 and Greece in 2004.

Football evolved in a way where even small teams can be hard to beat.

I don't like to make predictions, overall for my italian nature of being superstitious

This tournament will be host in Austria/Switzerland, 2 nations where German influence is very very big. I think this will play a big role in giving more thances to Germany to make it.

Indeed i hope not.

Germany and Italy can do it. Portugal and France also have a chance. Holland will have to finally start showing some of that talent they have if they want to win something again (but they have to qualify first). Spain always underperform, so i'm not sure they have a chance. England, i don't think so.

That leaves the smaller teams. I doubt Greece can repeat their 04 triumph, as much as i want that to happen. We just don't have the necessary quality and we have lost the element of surprise.

Croatia can probably do well, with a bit of luck and solidarity in the team. Sweden might also have an outside chance.

Doubt the Czech Republic can do it.

Poland is doing very well in their group but i doubt they have a chance.

Same goes for Israel. Romania and Bulgaria, no way.



Personally, i doubt we'll see a surprise this time.

It seems so indeed,but I've predicted that long time a go,same as elimination of either France or Italy in favour of Scotland or Ukraine ,luckilly for the italians Scotland lost in Georgia and now they need to win against Italy to qualify,I'm also dissappointed with N.Ireland and Denmark,they've had Spain on the ropes and still managed to f...it up,I'm saying this because people in west of europe are still living in belief that they are superior in everything to the eastern conference (that includes football too)despite Greece have won the last title and Ussr and Czeckoslovakia have done that before,Yugoslavia was close aswell,but unfortunately there's still a cold war going on in heads of most western europians,which is a shame actually.(EU will still have the reds,and the countries colonized by the americans,except maybe for the uk),it will take more than few years for the "westerners"to realise that they are not superior in anything at all,(there was a guy who thought similar for some nations,and he was f....up)

P.S There are some breakthroughs seen in football,cause nowadays eastern teams are doing better in euro competitions (both national and club level) it's only the question of money,or better yet the distribution of it.The proofs for that is that Abramovich is considered to be the most controversial owner of one football club.If he was an american, nobody would care,but since he's from the east...well the westerners still can't think of someone from the east having money.


Conclusion: It's all about the politics and the economics,the west was as "poor" as the east after the ww2,and the best football was played in the 50's,cause it wasn't business.But most of people (from east and west)prefer to be slaves to either money or ideology.That's just the way it is (although 90 percent of people were,are and will be "poor" ,from the east and the west,but at least we'll all have "great" football teams to cheer for:)))))))

None of them, a giant elephant will come down from space and block the sun, thus causing aoher ice age.

If that doesnt happen then Scotland

Romania. I have a good feeling about them.

Germania.

Shock team: Switzerland.

Home advantage plus some good young players coming through.

Last World Cup, they were eliminated after not conceeding a single goal. You need a good defence to win tournements.

I dont think theyll be thret at all, not even with home advantage, i reckon te not coceding at the WC was a one-off. I hope Holland can win it, that would be great, id scotland dont qalify that is.

That's good indeed ,but Croatian team is not only those 3,the rest of the team (mostly)play in Bundesliga in German best clubs,those teams are not as spectacular as english but still they produce,so it's Kovac and Petric (both Borussia D) Vranjes,Klasnic (Werder Bremen) Joe Simunic (Hertha Berlin)Olic (HSV) Rakitic (schalke04) the keeper is from probably the best Russian team (Pletikosa) Srna is playing for Shaktar Donetck (along with Dynamo Kiev,the best in Ukraine league,and is their best player and the captain of the team),plus of course Simic from AC Milan,and Modric (who's probably going to play in some english top team,Chelsea was mentioned,but the best thing about this team is that they all play as regulars except for Simic,and yes I forgot the second keeper from Lens (Runje) who 's one of the best keepers in french league,quite good isnt'it?

So its not only Eduardo,Corluka and Kranjcar

I voted Germany for two reason.

1. I think they'll win.
2. I want hem to win it.

You want us to believe there's some1 out of Germany who wants them to win???