Euro 2008: Group C Analysis

Italy

Coach: Roberto Donadoni

The Guys You Know: Buffon, Gattuso, Pirlo and Luca Toni

The Ones You Should: Antonio Di Natale and Andrea Barzagli

Reasons for Hope: It’s a tournament and they are in it. That alone is enough reason to be excited for Italian fans. The world class player at every position doesn’t hurt either.

Reasons for Concern: The injury to Cannavaro hurts. Make no mistake about it. It’s not that he’s irreplaceable as a pure defender,as Italy is blessed with them. The problem is that few people read the game the way Fabio can. And his ability to read the game, allows the midfield freedom. With Materazzi filling in as Barzagli’s partner, De Rossi and Gatusso are going to be forced to play deeper to insulate the back line, throwing off the balance of their partnership with Pirlo.

The other small factor that could cause issues for the Italians is the service that Luca Toni will get. At Bayern he gets service from wide (which the Italian wings will provide easily) but also from quick passes to his feet from Ribery or when he partners with Klose. Italy’s set up is based around a deep lying playmaker. Those quick passes will be lacking and he will either have to create, which is the one weakness in his game, or wait for play from the wings

Unknown Fact: Have you ever considered that the monument in Pisa isn’t leaning, but that your fucking eyes are crooked, you cross-eyed mook!

Bottom Line: Only Italy can stop Italy. But as most Italians will tell you, it happens too often.

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Romania

Coach: Victor Piturca

The Guys You Know: Adrian Mutu and Christian Chivu

The Ones You Should: Dorian Goian and Ciprian Marica

Reasons for Hope: The team that everyone will overlook in the group of death also happens to be best suited to playing the teams in it. With a double pivot of Christian Chivu and Siena’s Paul Cordia, they are the only team likely to play a 4-4-2 in the group. The emergence of Dorian Goian, gives Romania and man-marker of extraordinary ability whose physical presence will allow him to handle Toni, Henry, Benzema or van Nistelrooy. The fact is that his partnership with Gabriel Tamas has become so good that Piturca moved the captain Chivu into a defensive midfielder role. They will be able to counter from the wings with the Rat, Dica and Nicolita providing service to a reborn Adrian Mutu and the guy that every defense in this group will overlook: Ciprian Marica. Remember that name; you will see it a lot.


Reasons for Concern: Their fullbacks play more like wingbacks. Shaktar’s Razvan Rat and Getafe’s Cosmin Contra will bomb forward relentlessly. However they will be up against three teams that will attack from the wings. If these two can’t get back and defend as well as they attack, Romania could end up where everyone expects them: at the bottom of group C.

Unknown Fact: Romanians hate Costa Ricans. For no reason whatsoever.

Bottom Line: They can score and they can defend and they may well win this group

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The Netherlands

Coach: Marco Van Basten

The Guys You Know: Ruud van Nistelrooy and Edwin Van der Sar

The Ones You Should: Orlando Engelaar and Demy De Zeeuw

Reasons for Hope: Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooj, Dirk Kuiyt, Ibrahim Afellay and Robin Van Persie make up their attack force. Read that again and marvel at the creativity.

But the main glimmer of hope is that the team is united for the first time ever.


Reasons for Concern: Johnny Heitinga, Wilfred Bouma, Joris Mathijsem and Andre Ooijer are their starting back four. Read that again and try not to laugh.

But the main problem is that Van Basten is rather tactically inept and plays defensively when he doesn’t have the tools to do so.

Unknown Fact: 5’8 is the cutoff height for dwarfism in Holland.

Bottom Line: While Van Der Saar is a goalie that will help mask the obvious deficiencies of the Dutch defenders, their tournament hopes are pinned to their double pivot of Orlando Engelaar (there’s a reason Twente are in the UCL next year) and AZ’s De Zeeuw. If these two protect the back line and are able to link with the attack (and Engelaar is a magnificent passer for someone so big), this team could actually win the whole thing. If they can’t handle it, the Dutch will do what the Dutch always do: fall short.

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France

Coach: Raymond Domenech

The Guys You Know: Ribery, Henry, Viera, Gallas, etc. etc.

The Ones You Should: Jeremy Toulalan, Benzema and Bafetimbi Gomis

Reasons for Hope: Nobody has their talent. Nobody!
Reasons for Concern: Domenech does not run a meritocracy. Phillip Mexes is France’s best defender but wasn’t included in the squad because Domenech doesn’t like him, while headcase Gallas and centenarian Thuram start at the back. Bacary Sagnol, the EPL’s best right back isn’t even on the team, while Wally Sagnol, who was last seen uninjured in Euro 2000 will start. Viera and Makalele are their starting central midfield pairing, when Jeremy Toulalan and Matthieu Flamini are coming off incredible years. Patrice Evra won a double but will sit behind the struggling Eric Abidal. And Thierry Henry will start up top, forcing Benzema and Gomis, who could both start for even the mighty Brazil, to be subs. Managing is about making the tough decisions, and he is incapable of doing so.

Unknown Fact: All letters are silent in the French language.

Bottom Line: : In two years, they will win the World Cup. They will do so because their starting lineup for this tournament will finally be done. I can’t see them winning a game unless they suffer massive injury problems to their starters