Well, well well, what else can I blog about, I guess the biggest news are Euro Draws. Summer is coming and the world is preparing for one of the most exciting events- Euro 2012. Groups are in and everyone in the world is full of predictions. No matter what happens there will be someone at the end saying 'I told you so". I am going to put my predictions in writing and it will be difficult to say I said so, because you can point out what I said. However, I am saying this- by June my predictions might change. But here we go. So first is so called in media group of nothingness. Which consists of Greece, Russia, Poland and Czech Republic. Maybe people think this should be an easy group to qualify out of but please do not forget several important things regarding ach of these teams:
Russia, even though they have failed to qualify for Euro 2004, they actually were in semi-finals of 2008 and lost to Spain 3:0 however, the game earlier they had beaten Netherlands 3:1. So when it comes to Russia it's hard to predict which way it goes. They certainly have advantage and if they play their games in Ukraine it can also feel like playing home, however if their games are in Poland, it's going to be hostile and they will not have an easy crowd- that's for sure. So Russia has a good chance to make out of group.
Next one is Greece- people don't want just to say that this is group of nothingness, because everyone clearly remembers that Greece went on to beat Portugal and actually win the Euro Cup in 2004. And they won against France and Czech Republic to do that. Is it the same type of team? Do they have the edge? In big competitions, even one goal chances the game. So the question is not can they do it based on skills and experience, the real question is if they have enough drive, passion and character to go on and win- and the answer is they did it in 2004 so don't easily dismiss them. Do I think they can possibly win again? No, I don't think so but when it comes to big games, no one really knows.
Czech Republic. No one can say they are not to be taken into account, they can fight. In 2008 they did not make it out of the group but please remember that Spain didn't either in 2004. And in 2004, they went further to loose to Greece.
And last is Poland, they have nothing going for them, except being a home team. But looking at the group we can say that it is its own group of death just because teams playing int his group have equal skills and experience so they have pretty much the same chance of making out of the group- which means they will fight against each other. But as a person born in USSR, I will say this: if Russia does not make it out of this group, they should not play in Euro. End of story. Here are my predictions: Russia wins the group, Czech Republic will be runners up.
Second of the list is group B. Group of Death indeed. Well, if one could hope for the worst and toughest games to play, they would choose this group. It is going to be world class football and each team will have to give their best. The worst part in playing in group of death, like my sister Alla says, is that they get so worn out in group stage that they rarely able to make it out far in knock out rounds. This makes sense. However is playing them gets and advantage card. Who will make it out of this group? As usual Portugal but they will be exhausted enough to loose their next round, and Netherlands has a good chance- being the best in the world as it is. Germany, everyone says they are going to be champions of 2012. Denmark has never being an easy side to play against and I do not think they are ready to be dismissed so fast. But here are my predictions: Germany will go on as winners in their group, followed up by Portugal who will win over Netherlands on goal difference.
Third group is a hard group but only if you are Ireland. Spain will have an easy run in this group- I can hardly imagine who can possibly slow them down? I expect to see the World Cup winning squad back, and they can get only better. Croatia will put a fight and they have equally good chance of making it out as Italy- which younger and fresher squad. Ireland plays well and wants it but they hardly qualified for this, so I think they will have little chances to go on. Good luck to all of them but here are my predictions for this group: Spain wins the group, Italy qualifies as runners up.
And the last and most talked about group will be group D- because England is in that group: Sweden, France, England and Ukraine. Interesting group but really even though Denmark and Ukraine have history going far in competitions of this importance, I think England will have it int them to win the group, France will be runner up- maybe only loosing on goal difference? I am just predicting.
So then Russia will meet Germany, and I think Germany will win that game. Czech Republic will meet Portugal, Portugal will win that fight.
Then Spain will play France, and shocking victory of France will help them advance. Italy will play England. I know, I know we will hope that England will go one and win, but here is my dark predictions: England will loose to Italy on penalty kicks. And Italy will advance.
Germany will play Italy and go on and win. France will kick Portugal out, and in finals we will see Germany take on France. And I think this time they will win Euro Cup 2012. Because just like Spain they have to win it.
Now I am not sure if I kept my groups and teams straight, I will have to review it. But I do think that Germany has a real shot this time around. I also think that if my predictions is wrong and Netherlands makes it out then maybe finally they will go and get it!.
So now, I have to seat back and watch this. But it is important to note that I am really not good at this predictions as my good friend Matt Curry had pointed out. So I will be enjoying a lot watching summer games of Euro 2012- and let's hope that I am wrong and Russia wins the cup! Победа будет наша!
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