Euro 2008: Group B
Posted by gwil on June 8, 2008
Nazi puns at the ready, because Group B is of course full to bursting with Second World War tension. Shots have already been fired at the Germans by Polish tabloid Super Express, with a rather grisly depiction of gruff-faced national team coach Leo Beenhakker brandishing the severed heads of Michael Ballack and German coach Joachim Low.
The Poles may as well get their digs in off the pitch, because on it the Germans look imperious as ever. Despite some lukewarm performances in the group stages (including a 3-0 home defeat to a Czech Republic side that are beginning to look very average indeed), there is a genuine belief in the German camp that they can win Euro 2008, thanks in part to a kind draw which means that the first truly taxing game should only come in the semi-final.
The Germans reached the semi-finals of the World Cup two years ago, and were a little unlucky in their defeat to eventual victors Italy. Since then not a great deal has changed, which will probably be viewed as a positive. Germany do have a new coach in Low, but he was assistant to Klinsmann in 2006 and so can hardly be considered as an unknown. The playing style is a continuation of that which worked so well two years ago, high-tempo attacking football which utilises two mobile forwards. Low has been talking about recent attempts to emulate a Premier League playing style in training, so perhaps expect an even swifter Germany in Euro 2008. Germany, after all, do have the world’s fastest footballer in David Odonkor, although he tends to be used sparingly.
The personnel are also markedly similar to those in the last World Cup, with a few minor differences. Oliver Kahn has now retired from football entirely- his farewell match took place in Calcutta in front of a remarkable 120,000 spectators- so Jens Lehmann will finally be given the opportunity to impress in goal. In defence Phillipp Lahm, scorer of that fantastic opening goal two years ago, has been moved to right back to Incorporate Bayern Munich left back Marcell Jansen. Michael Ballack will control the centre of midfield as ever, while up front Miroslav Klose will either renew that devastating partnership with Lucas Podolski or will play with German football’s next big thing, Mario Gomez. Podolski rarely gets playing time at Bayern Munich, but his partnership with Klose is bordering on the telepathic, which means he is an always valuable option. Gomez meanwhile has been tipped by many to be the tournament’s top scorer. The Stuttgart player is a classic centre forward (eschewing the received wisdom that strikers are going out of fashion) with pace, height and a ruthless streak in front of goal.
Poland are Germany’s opponents on Group B’s opening day and seem a little more confident about their prospects than they were in 2006. Low has already said that he sees the Poles as a much stronger threat than the side that the Germans edged past in 2006, and an impressive performance in qualifying seems to confirm this. Poland have an excellent trio of British-based goalkeepers in Arthur Boruc, Tomas Kuszczak and Lucas Fabianski- though Kuszczak has had to withdraw from the squad with a fractured wrist-and have a solidity, if a lack of pyrotechnicality, in central defence and midfield. The most intriguing aspect of this Polish side is the attacking areas, where an interesting group of players, including goal-machine Ebi Smolarek and recently nationalised Pole (but really Brazilian) Roger, will hopefully try and break through Beenhakker’s dreary systems and play some decent football. The Poles will feel that they could sneak through to the knockout stage of the competition, but a competent performance in Austriland will probably be deemed satisfactory.
The Poles will most likely slot in at third in the group behind Croatia. The Croats’ impressive qualifying campaign we of course know a great deal about. Since then they have lost Eduardo to that injury, but still should have enough technical quality to progress. Mladen Petric and Ivica Olic will be expected to fill the huge Brazilian/Croat-shaped hole that Eduardo has left up front, but the romantics amongst us will be hoping that a revitalised Ivan Klasnic can put his health problems behind him and fire Croatia to the knockout stages. In midfield the trio of Nico Kranjcar, Luka Modric and Dario Srna will be a must watch; they may very well play the best passing football of any midfield in the tournament.
And so to Austria. So much has been written about Austria already that I don’t have the energy or originality to add anything illuminating. Here’s a couple of articles which should tell you what you need to know: 1, 2
Suffice to say that it will be beyond miraculous should they escape the group. Oh, and they have a player named Fritzl. Ho ho.
Prediction
Germany beat the Poles in a surprisingly tight game. Croatia cruise past Austria. Germany draw with Croatia in one of the tournament’s best games. Poland stick a few past Austria, but many faint with shock as the Austrians score. The Germans beat Austria heavily, while Poland manage to hold Croatia to a draw. Germany and Croatia go through.
Player to watch: Torsten Frings (Germany)
Obviously Michael Ballack runs the show in the German midfield but it is the discipline and intelligence of Frings allows him to do so. Playing in a deeper position behind Ballack, the Werder Bremen player brings Germany’s pair of marauding full backs, Jansen and Lahm, into the game using neat short passes. He also has one hell of a shot on him, and seems delighted with the unpredictable movement of the Euro 2008 ball. So expect at least one spectacular strike from Frings in the competition.
