EURO 2012
GROUP B
Colin Cowan
Denmark
Squad: Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City).
Defenders: Lars Jacobsen (FC Kobenhavn), Daniel Wass (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Simon Kjær (AS Roma), Andreas Bjelland (Nordsjælland), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Jores Okore (Nordsjælland).
Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Jakob Poulsen (Midtjylland), William Kvist (FC Nürnberg), Niki Zimling (Club Brugge), Thomas Kahlenberg (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Michael Silberbauer (BSC Young Boys), Lasse Schone (NEC Nijmegen).
Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Brondby IF), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby IF), Tobias Mikkelsen (FC Nordsjælland), Nicklas Pedersen (FC Groningen).
How they qualified: Denmark were drawn in a tough qualification group for the European Championships in 2012. They had the tough task of overcoming Portugal and also faced Scandinavian side Norway. Iceland and Cyprus completed the group. Denmark finished top of the group by three points, which shocked many as Portugal were seen as the favourites. The key game in the group was the final group game as Denmark hosted Portugal. The Danes came out victorious with a 2-1 win confirming their place in Poland and Ukraine.
Key Player: Nicklas Bendtner: The Arsenal striker will need to find form if the Danes are to make it into the knockout stages. Bendtner has had a season of mixed fortunes. He spent the 2011/12 season out on loan at English Premier League side Sunderland, and managed to get 8 goals in 22 appearances. The Danes will be hoping he can find the back of the net now for his national team and fire them to success in what some people are calling “the group of death.”
My Prediction: Most people will not give Denmark a chance of qualifying from group B in this year’s Euros. Some, however will remember back to Euro 92 where Denmark overcame Sweden, France and England in the group stages to finish second and from there went on to win the tournament. I personally can’t see Denmark making it through especially with international giants such as Germany and Holland but I would not be surprised if they managed to sneak into second place to qualify for the knockout stages.
Denmark
Squad: Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City).
Defenders: Lars Jacobsen (FC Kobenhavn), Daniel Wass (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Simon Kjær (AS Roma), Andreas Bjelland (Nordsjælland), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Jores Okore (Nordsjælland).
Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Jakob Poulsen (Midtjylland), William Kvist (FC Nürnberg), Niki Zimling (Club Brugge), Thomas Kahlenberg (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Michael Silberbauer (BSC Young Boys), Lasse Schone (NEC Nijmegen).
Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Brondby IF), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby IF), Tobias Mikkelsen (FC Nordsjælland), Nicklas Pedersen (FC Groningen).
How they qualified: Denmark were drawn in a tough qualification group for the European Championships in 2012. They had the tough task of overcoming Portugal and also faced Scandinavian side Norway. Iceland and Cyprus completed the group. Denmark finished top of the group by three points, which shocked many as Portugal were seen as the favourites. The key game in the group was the final group game as Denmark hosted Portugal. The Danes came out victorious with a 2-1 win confirming their place in Poland and Ukraine.
Key Player: Nicklas Bendtner: The Arsenal striker will need to find form if the Danes are to make it into the knockout stages. Bendtner has had a season of mixed fortunes. He spent the 2011/12 season out on loan at English Premier League side Sunderland, and managed to get 8 goals in 22 appearances. The Danes will be hoping he can find the back of the net now for his national team and fire them to success in what some people are calling “the group of death.”
My Prediction: Most people will not give Denmark a chance of qualifying from group B in this year’s Euros. Some, however will remember back to Euro 92 where Denmark overcame Sweden, France and England in the group stages to finish second and from there went on to win the tournament. I personally can’t see Denmark making it through especially with international giants such as Germany and Holland but I would not be surprised if they managed to sneak into second place to qualify for the knockout stages.
Be afraid. This man, Niklas Bendtner is Denmark's big hope for 2012.
Germany
Squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (SV Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96).
Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal).
Midfielders : Lars Bender (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (VfL Borussia Monchengladbach), Andre Schurrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (FC Koln).
How they qualified: Germany topped group A with ease, as expected. The group included Turkey, Belgium, Austria, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. They finished an impressive 13 points clear of Turkey in second place. The Germans came through all ten group games with ten wins. The key victory came early on in qualification as they beat Turkey who only had a slim chance of challenging them for first place, 3-0 at home.
Key Player: Mario Gomez: The Bayern Munich striker had an outstanding season, finishing with 41 goals in all competitions. He did, however finish the season without a trophy as the German giants finished runners up in the German League, Cup and the Champions League. He does however have the chance to make up for this by firing the German national team to glory in Poland and Ukraine. He will be vital for the Germans if they want to make it to the business end of the tournament and for them to have any chance of winning it.
My prediction: The Germans should have no problem making it out of the group. I predict that they will top the group. Many people see them as one of the favourites to win the tournament. I think that they should easily make it to the semi-finals but will need to up their performances if they want to go on to the final and win the tournament.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (SV Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96).
Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal).
Midfielders : Lars Bender (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (VfL Borussia Monchengladbach), Andre Schurrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (FC Koln).
How they qualified: Germany topped group A with ease, as expected. The group included Turkey, Belgium, Austria, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. They finished an impressive 13 points clear of Turkey in second place. The Germans came through all ten group games with ten wins. The key victory came early on in qualification as they beat Turkey who only had a slim chance of challenging them for first place, 3-0 at home.
Key Player: Mario Gomez: The Bayern Munich striker had an outstanding season, finishing with 41 goals in all competitions. He did, however finish the season without a trophy as the German giants finished runners up in the German League, Cup and the Champions League. He does however have the chance to make up for this by firing the German national team to glory in Poland and Ukraine. He will be vital for the Germans if they want to make it to the business end of the tournament and for them to have any chance of winning it.
My prediction: The Germans should have no problem making it out of the group. I predict that they will top the group. Many people see them as one of the favourites to win the tournament. I think that they should easily make it to the semi-finals but will need to up their performances if they want to go on to the final and win the tournament.
A familiar sight during Euro 2012? Germany's Mario Gomez celebrates.
Holland
Squad: Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea), Tim Krul (Newcastle).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Lisbon), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham).
Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Luciano Narsingh (Heerenveen), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich).
How they qualified: The Dutch were drawn in a group along with Sweden who would give them a tough test on the road to Poland and Ukraine. They also faced Hungary, Finland, Moldova and perennial minnows San Marino. The Dutch ended up top of the group, finishing three points ahead of the Swedes. The key game in the group came when the Swedes travelled to Holland to face the Dutch and the Swedes came out on the wrong end of a 4-1 result. This gave Holland the push they needed to go on and finish top of the group.
Key player: Robin Van Persie: Van Persie has had an outstanding season for club side Arsenal, scoring 37 goals in all competitions. He finished the season the top Premier League scorer with 30 goals in 38 games. He needs to continue this form into the European Championships for Holland. The Dutch fans will be expecting good things from their side, especially after they came runners up in the 2010 World Cup and Van Persie may be the key that leads them to glory this summer.
My prediction: Although the Dutch have been drawn in a tough group I think that they should make it through the group stages. I feel that they have the ability to make it into the latter stages of the tournament and would not be surprised if they went on to at least the final and possibly win the tournament.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea), Tim Krul (Newcastle).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Lisbon), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham).
Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Luciano Narsingh (Heerenveen), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich).
How they qualified: The Dutch were drawn in a group along with Sweden who would give them a tough test on the road to Poland and Ukraine. They also faced Hungary, Finland, Moldova and perennial minnows San Marino. The Dutch ended up top of the group, finishing three points ahead of the Swedes. The key game in the group came when the Swedes travelled to Holland to face the Dutch and the Swedes came out on the wrong end of a 4-1 result. This gave Holland the push they needed to go on and finish top of the group.
Key player: Robin Van Persie: Van Persie has had an outstanding season for club side Arsenal, scoring 37 goals in all competitions. He finished the season the top Premier League scorer with 30 goals in 38 games. He needs to continue this form into the European Championships for Holland. The Dutch fans will be expecting good things from their side, especially after they came runners up in the 2010 World Cup and Van Persie may be the key that leads them to glory this summer.
My prediction: Although the Dutch have been drawn in a tough group I think that they should make it through the group stages. I feel that they have the ability to make it into the latter stages of the tournament and would not be surprised if they went on to at least the final and possibly win the tournament.
Can Robin van Persie match his League form in Euro 2012.
Portugal
Squad: Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting), Eduardo (Benfica), Beto (Cluj)
Defenders: Joao Pereira (Sporting), Bruno Alves (Zenit St Petersburg), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Rolando (Porto), Miguel Lopes (Braga)
Midfielders: Hugo Viana (Braga), Joao Moutinho (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Genoa), Raul Meireles (Chelsea), Ruben Micael (Zaragoza), Custodio (Braga)
Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Helder Postiga (Zaragoza), Nani (Manchester United), Nelson Oliveira (Benfica), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Silvestre Varela (Porto)
How they qualified: Portugal were drawn in a group alongside Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Cyprus. Most people thought that they would have no problem finishing top of this group. The Danes however had different ideas. Denmark finished top of the group leaving Portugal in second place meaning they had to go into the play offs to make it to the Euro 2012 finals. Here Portugal faced Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first leg in Bosnia finished in a 0-0 draw meaning the winner of the second leg in Portugal would make it through to Poland and Ukraine. The Portuguese won the game comfortably 6-2, confirming their place at Euro 2012.
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo: Currently one of the world’s greatest players, Ronaldo has yet to really bring his club form to the international stage. This is one of the reasons that Portugal have struggled in recent years in international competitions, as was shown in the qualification for Euro 2012. Ronaldo is going to need to show why many people think he is the world’s best player if Portugal are to have any chance of making it out of the group stages, especially with European giants Germany and Holland in the same group.
My prediction: I think that Portugal will struggle in this group and I can’t see them making it out of the group stages as Germany and Holland are much stronger than they are. I would not be surprised if Denmark finished above them in the group and can see them finishing in last place.
Ronaldo: One of football's most 'beloved' figures.
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