With all the domestic leagues in Europe just about finished and this being an even numbered year, it means there's more football to come in the Northern summer.
This time it's the turn of the European Football Championships - or the Euros as we like to call them - and again it'll be hosted in two countries; this time it's the two former Eastern bloc neighbours, Poland and the Ukraine.
It looks set to be the biggest Euros yet in terms of following and money. Qualification saw little upsets and all the traditional giants like Germany, England, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, France & of course the champions, Spain, made it through to the Finals.
It means all groups are highly competitive with sides like Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Ukraine, the Czechs, etc. capable of an upset or two to knock one of the fancied sides out.
Group D
The second toughest group at this year's Euros with the hosts, Ukraine battling for a spot in the quarterfinals with traditional powers, England and France, and the capable Swedes.
France
Make no bones about it. This is a different French team from the one that performed so disastrously at the 2010 World Cup. The national team has had a huge makeover from coach to players to the kit - France and Nike have signed the biggest sponsorship deal for a national team kit ever.
The French have always had the flair and this side is no different with Samir Nasri, Frank Ribery and Hatem ben Arfa having all been electric this season for their clubs. In the centre of the park, will coach Laurent Blanc pick the impressive Yohan Cabaye over the established but out-of-form Yoann Gourcuff? At the back, Roma's Phillippe Mexes should start but will he be partnered with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny or Valencia's Adil Rami? Whoever the pair will be, Hugo Lloris will definitely be behind them in goal.
France's qualifying results have been fairly impressive and one wonders if they are back to the form that saw them win the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000? Whatever the case, France should make it out of Group D, and I'd go as far and say that they'll win it and possibly be a semifinal contender.
France to win group, play Italy in the quarterfinals, but lose to Germany in the semifinals.
England
What to say about England, who go into this tournament with the lowest expectations ever in the nation's history? To say the Three Lions' build-up to the Euros has been chaotic is an understatement summed up in three names: Capello, Rooney, Hodgson.
To be fair though, England still have a squad that on paper, is talented and capable of being European champion. After all, the likes of Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, John Terry, etc. play with some of the greatest players in the world in the greatest football league of them all. Then there's an exciting crop of players who are just emerging and ready to play for the country for the next 10 years or so, i.e. John Hart, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, etc.
Perhaps now that Hodgson is at the helm that this apparently "average" England side could actually cause a surprise. It'll take a monumental effort though, having stupidly based themselves in Krakow despite playing all their pool games in the Ukraine. That'll definitely be picked apart by the pack of wolves that is the English media should England fulfill expectations and exit the tournament early.
Let's not forget too that England should have drawn 2-all with Germany in their round of 16 match in South Africa having been 2-nil down so early in the game but for a blindspot by the linesman. Yes they probably would still have lost to the mighty Germans but it just shows that England aren't quite as bad as people made them out to be even if they are still downright dull.
I'm gonna back the English here under Woy. They'll finish 2nd in the group but lose to Spain in the quarterfinals.
Ukraine
What to make of Ukraine. Like Russia, they have struggled for consistency since the breakup of the USSR and it is a bit of a surprise that it took till 2006 for the Ukraine to qualify for their first major tournament. They were a bit anonymous then but made the quarterfinals where they lost to Italy. Since then, they've been close in qualifying but have always just missed out.
Without the pressure of qualifying for EURO 2012, the Ukraine have had time to work on building a squad that will perform respectably at home. 35-year-old Andriy Shevchenko is still around to lead the squad, and will probably bring the curtain on his illustrious career after the tournament. Anatoliy Tymoshuk is probably the best Ukrainian playing beyond Ukraine and Russia, being a key member of Bayern Munich's squad.
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| Controversy over former PM, Yulia Tymoshenko has overshadowed Ukraine's preparations for EURO 2012 |
It is hard to predict how this team will perform - they will be tough to beat at home but probably won't quite have the quality of the Germans, Dutch & Spanish to really be a factor at this tournament. Having said that, a quarterfinals appearance is easily attainable and the public will be expecting nothing less. But can they?
Ukraine to just miss out. Don't think they quite have the quality of the French and English.
Sweden
Ah the Swedes. Their blonde haired fans have always caught the eye even when their football hasn't.
One thing's for sure, Sweden will not fear England when they meet even in the post-Eriksson era. Sweden's record against England is exceptional and they have been a thorn in the Three Lions side over the years.
The other thing for sure is that Sweden do have one of the best strikers in the world at the moment in captain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic is backed up by former Bolton striker, Johan Elmander. There are also names familiar to Premier League fans, i.e. Blackburn's Olsson twins, West Brom's Jonas Olsson, Sunderland's Seb Larsson and former Aston Villa captain, Olof Mellberg.
It is a solid, steady side but one that is unlikely to wow the world at this tournament. They are very much a contender for a quarterfinals spot in this group but I think will lose out on quality. Which is a shame as they will have some of the hottest fans at this tournament.
Sweden to miss out and finish 4th - nothing to be ashamed of though given it is the Euros.
So my tip: France 1st, England 2nd, Ukraine and Sweden to miss out.
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