Euro 2008: Group B Analysis

Germany

Coach: Joaquim Löw

The Guys You Know: Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose

The Ones You Should: Simon Rofles and Mario Gomez

Reasons for Hope: There is no outfield weakness. Michael Ballack is playing some of the best football of his career and has two great ball winners in Torsten Frings and Simon Rofles to partner with. If Metzelder is healthy, his partnership with Per Metesacker is outstanding and should make up for their goalie issue. Expect Mario Gomez to take Podolski’s starting position and win the Golden Boot. He’s that good. And while a huge name in Germany, he will be a household name throughout Europe by the end of this tournament.

Reasons for Concern: Germany is the one team that would probably be guaranteed the championship if a starter was injured. Keeper Jens Lehmann is shell of his former self, good for a blunder a half and a cancer to morale. Robert Enke and emerging superstar Rene Adler are much more reliable and would both be much better choices. Low may rue taking experience over competence. He may also pay heavily for leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach’s wonderkid Marko Marin off his roster, as he now lacks a natural left winger. For a team with the best aerial prowess in the world, forcing Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has to cut in to provide service and has difficulty utilizing the by-line, on the left takes away a significant offensive strength.

Unknown Fact: German Chancellor Angela Merkel hates Schnitzel so much that she refers to it as Shit-zel.

Bottom Line: There’s a reason the German’s are favorites. It’s their tournament to lose, but can they show the efficiency of previous generations?

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Croatia

Coach: Slavin Bilic

The Guys You Know: Nico Kranjcar and Luka Modric

The Ones You Should: Ivan Rakatic and Mladen Petric

Reasons for Hope: Contrary to popular opinion in South London, Croatia aren’t a one man team. And while Eduardo was key to qualification, Mladen Petric and Olic are both quality strikers coming off good years in the Bundesliga; meanwhile, youngster Nikola Kalinic could become a revelation this June. Modric, Kranjcar and wonderkid Rakatic are all wonderfully adept creators, with the ability to pass and stretch the defense. And at the back the pairing of Kovac and Simic is strong and stable. This is a team that is expected to go deep and rightfully so.


Reasons for Concern: They lack a holder to set in behind their creative players. Their choices are 36 year old Jerko Leko, the declining Nico Kovac or the untested Nikola Pokrivac. How this position is filled will go a long way in determining their fate. There are also worries about the quality of #1 Stipe Pletikosa, who can be brilliant one day, indecisive the next.

Unknown Fact: All Croats are conjoint-twins. Ask them where they are hiding theirs, the next time you meet one.

Bottom Line: Could make another 1998 style run. They should at least make the knock-out and cause headaches in that round.

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Poland

Coach: Leo Beenhakker

The Guys You Know: Artur Boruc and Ebi Smolarek

The Ones You Should: Mariusz Lewandowski and Roger Guerreiro

Reasons for Hope: In Beenhakker, the Poles have the most experienced manager in the tournament, and his ability to craft a team and change tactics quickly will make them a tough side to break down. While the defense has concerns, it is bookended by a phenomenal keeper in Boruc and the behemoth Lewandowski. If the defense performs, they have enough flair in recently naturalized Brazilian Guerrerio on the left and Blaszczykowski on the right to create chances. And in Smolarek they have a solid target man to hold the ball up for the speedy midfield, so this team should be able to cause problems for anyone.


Reasons for Concern: The defense is patchwork at best, especially with the injuries Beenhakker’s back line has endured. Few of their defenders play outside of Poland and they may be forced to bring the versatile midfielder Dudka into defense. They could find themselves outmanned against the German and Croatian attacks. But Beenhakker has done more with less (see T&T at the last World Cup).

Unknown Fact: Polish people are incapable of burping.

Bottom Line: It comes down to the Croatia game. If they win that one, they should make the knock out phase.

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Austria

Coach: Josef Hickersberger

The Guys You Know: You Don’t

The Ones You Should: You Shouldn’t

Reasons for Hope: They can only embarrass themselves thrice.

Reasons for Concern: Could be compared to Derby County at an international level.

Unknown Fact: Sigmund Freud thinks you want to nail your mom. Are you going to take that from him?

Bottom Line: Makes Belgium 2000 look like Brazil when it comes to host nations.