UEFA Euro 2012 Group B (NED/DEN/GER/POR)

[theTROOF]

Death group takes down Portugal, who would win 2 other groups in this Tournament



1. Germany
2. Netherlands
---------------------
3. Portugal
4. Denmark

[theTROOF]

Country over Club. Always

Don't think for a second the Germans don't remember losing the last Euro Cup to Spain. Losing the World Cup on South Africa soil.....lol oh well

I didn't ever doubt that this is something they remember. Just from a rational point of view. I think the competition in the CL knockout stages is better than in the wc knockout stages.

Country always over club isn't true btw.

Basques for example would not choose their country (Spain) over their club (Bilbao).

Good example. You are right about the quality of play

[BelgianMagic]

I don't worry about Schweini and Neuer. Gomez and Badstuber will hopefully be irrelevent to the national team and both Kroos and Boateng have been resilient so far in their careers so I'm optimistic that this won't hurt the national side.

Also think Thomas Mueller will have a great Tourney. He's so much better on the wing and him, Oezil and Klose have great chemistry together. After the way this final ended for him I expect to see him play with a vengeance in the summer. Add the fired up Hummels and Mario Goetze, who will be the most dangerous bench player in this tourney, off their great seasons with Dortmund. And things look pretty good for the german team. I'm hoping to see use starting:
Klose
Reus-Oezil-Mueller
Schweini-Khedira
Schmelzer-Hummels-Boateng-Lahm
Neuer

Which is a squad I'd be very confident in.

I think Low will put Podolski in there instead of Reus .. Podolski has hardly ever disappointed for the National Team and Low likes him (so do I).

If only Poldi would play for his club like he plays for Germany ..

[BelgianMagic]

For me, Germany is the big favorite in this group and to win it all.

I think they've learned from their defeat against Spain at the Worlds. And if you look individually, lotta players improved a lot since that tournament. And I think Spain isn't as strong as they were in the previous tournaments. Iniesta&Xavi haven't played that great this season, both looked a little washed up late in the season, and everyone knows Spain goes as far as Iniesta&Xavi take them, there's no denying that.

Netherlands, I really have my doubts about that team. Great individual players but IMO bad coaching and not a good locker room. There's a big thing going on with the coach and Van Persie/Huntelaar. He says he's going to bench one of them.
Another bad thing for Holland is Robben. The guy is a world-class choker. The guy has had a chance to decide the final of the Worlds & in every "final" Bayern played this season. He always chokes when it really matters.
I'm not even gonna start about Holland's defense. VDWiel is the only good defender, the rest .. Well .. There's a reason their coach said "I wish we had Belgium's defense (Kompany/Vermaelen/Vertonghen)"

I predict Germany and Portugal to come out of this group. I think Ronaldo & Nani will be a nightmare for Holland's defense.

[Man of Steel]

For me, Germany is the big favorite in this group and to win it all.

I think they've learned from their defeat against Spain at the Worlds. And if you look individually, lotta players improved a lot since that tournament. And I think Spain isn't as strong as they were in the previous tournaments. Iniesta&Xavi haven't played that great this season, both looked a little washed up late in the season, and everyone knows Spain goes as far as Iniesta&Xavi take them, there's no denying that.

Netherlands, I really have my doubts about that team. Great individual players but IMO bad coaching and not a good locker room. There's a big thing going on with the coach and Van Persie/Huntelaar. He says he's going to bench one of them.
Another bad thing for Holland is Robben. The guy is a world-class choker. The guy has had a chance to decide the final of the Worlds & in every "final" Bayern played this season. He always chokes when it really matters.
I'm not even gonna start about Holland's defense. VDWiel is the only good defender, the rest .. Well .. There's a reason their coach said "I wish we had Belgium's defense (Kompany/Vermaelen/Vertonghen)"

I predict Germany and Portugal to come out of this group. I think Ronaldo & Nani will be a nightmare for Holland's defense.

As happy as it would make me to see Portugal progress, the level of improvement we need is ridiculous. CR7 missing the penalty was the start but that own goal today was just demoralizing.
Portugal has good defenders but not a good defense (if that makes any sense).
Apparently they were jeered by supporters as well, doesn't bode well.
Nani is still my favorite though

[treiz]

This is Germany and Netherlands. Really hope Schweinsteiger recovers after the CL final, love him as a player and he's too good of a player to have that affect him for the rest of his career. Let's just hope it happens much sooner than later.

[Basti]

Oh my, I didn't realize until today that it's just a few days until EC starts. I better get into tournament mode soon.

GO SCHLAAAAAAND!

I'd love to see Denmark advance alongside Germany, too. That would be funny as hell for the Dutch/German rivalry.

[Foye]

Jens Lehmann says Germany would be lucky to make it past the group stage considering their really bad preparation.

I tend to agree with Lehmann. We might play very sloppy in the group stage. Hopefully, we'll be able to advance to the quarter finals. After that everything is possible.

[Slava]

Portugal lost to Turkey, even going by current form Germans should make it past the group stages.

[Captain_Obvious]

Got a bad feeling about Germany. I think one of Holland and Germany will not make the K.O. stage.

[Next Coming]

I have it Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal

[Man of Steel]

Portugal lost to Turkey, even going by current form Germans should make it past the group stages.

I know this seems ridiculously homeristic (not a word, but now it is) of me to say this but they could have easily tied that match.

Ronnie makes the penalty and the Pepe deflection is handled better and it would have been level.

With Nani a question mark though I can certainly see why there's so much doubt about this squad but like Ronaldo said, not being favorites takes a large amount of pressure off of the team that they have played under in the last few major competitions.

[Det the Threat]

So today it starts.

I don't think anyone really knows what will happen in this group. Germany and the Netherlands are the favourites, but both have pretty big question marks on defense and could have a hard time if they trail.
Portugal has great players but Ronaldo hasn't really been good during tournaments and there are some question marks as well.
And Denmark's been looked over a bit too much for me and could be the surprise here.
I'd be really interested how that Denmark vs Netherlands game would end if the Danish side scores first.

Anyways, there are still some question marks for the german starting eleven today, but I think it will look like this.

---------------------------------Gomez--------------------------------

-Podolski-------------------------Ozil-------------------------Muller-

--------------------Schweinsteiger-----Khedira---------------------

-Lahm---------------Badstuber-----Mertesacker----------Boateng-

----------------------------------Neuer--------------------------------

We could play Klose instead of Gomez(what I'd prefer) but I think the Bayner striker will get a shot at it. Mertesacker is pretty slow and hasn't played for quite some time but has been very solid during all tournaments and seems to have beaten out Hummels as of right now.
Boateng will probably get the start with Lars Bender maybe the surprise at that position.

[MitchellUK]

I'm really looking forward to this group. Even though I obviously can't root for them as an Englishman, the German team has to be admired. Quality throughout. Holland are always great value, Portugal underachieved in the qualifiers but have plenty of talent, and I've always had a soft spot for Denmark ever since their improbable run back in 1992.

Hopefully the entertainment and drama lives up to the standard set by group A.

[magik9113]

can't wait for these games

[AdamTheGreek]

Not to disrespect the Danes, but the Dutch shouldn't disappoint today.

[AdamTheGreek]

Stadium only looks 85% full. Weird to see a few empty seats for a match involving Holland.

[Basti]

Go Denmark!

[MitchellUK]

Stadium only looks 85% full. Weird to see a few empty seats for a match involving Holland.

I don't know if it's been similar for other nations, but I know that our F.A had to return a fair chunk of England's ticket allocation. Lots of people have apparently been put off by the inflated travel and accommodation costs.

[5DOM]

1-00000