Introduction / Feizal Rahman / 06 June 2008 / Leave a comment

Spain should have little trouble getting out of Group D and Russia should join them but the quarters are as far as Luis Aragones' perennial underachievers can expect to go. And there's no chance of Greece replicating their Euro 2008 heroics, says Feizal Rehman.

Sooner or later it simply has to be Spain's year, doesn't it? Hear it enough and the assertion that 'Spain Win Euro 2008' may persuade you but however much the percentages suggest that something is bound to happen, it doesn't necessarily actually happen. There is a reason that countries like England, Holland, Portugal and Spain bewilder at major tournaments. While all may possess certain individuals to lay claim to a place in history, like a distraught child at Christmas, the flashy package when unwrapped neglects to reveal the expected gift.

Blessed with attacking prowess equal to the Netherlands and Portugal in this tournament, similarly Spain give the impression of being vulnerable at the rear. The stats will show that the coach Luis Aragones' defence has been breached only 12 times in 22 matches since the World Cup. Yet cold, hard facts also reveal that under the high pressure of competition and the burden of under-achievement weighing heavy, Spain fail to deliver when most needed. Each of Fernando Torres, David Villa, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi has the capability of slicing in half any defence put in front of them to turn a game on its head, but then a half-decent opposition is just as likely to return the gesture.

Iker Casillas is surely worth a goal a game between the sticks for Real Madrid, but shielded by Carlos' Puyol and Marchena in front of him, neither of whom have had a water-tight season for their respective clubs, he'll need to be worth two. Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos - who along with Cassilas is the only player in this squad to actually win anything significant this season - has tinkered with the idea of establishing himself as sagacious defender but tends to offer more in the final third than the first. Meanwhile, Joan Capedevila, Juanito and Raul Albiol hardly roll off the tongue in a discussion about the world's finest defenders.

And so the affliction shall continue for 'La Furia Roja.' An inevitable encounter with the decidedly more convincing France or Italy in the quarter-finals hints that Spain can be backed to say 'Adios' here at [2.52]. Intriguingly, Liverpool's Fernando Torres is favourite to score the most Spanish goals, yet notched up only two in qualifying behind strike partner Villa (7), Xavi (4) and Iniesta (3). Defences will be all too aware of the threat of the Spanish frontline so some value may rest in Xavi and Iniesta to find the net more often at [15.0] and [17.0] respectively.

What's the link between United States President George W. Bush and the Greek national football team? Well, in 2003 one was responsible for an operation of 'shock and awe' while a year later, another was culpable for a campaign of 'shock and bore.' Perhaps symptomatic of the direction modern day football is heading, Greece's victory at Euro 2004 was an mind-numbing as it was unexpected. Based on a the simple tactic of frustrating opponents and somehow grinding out a result, it was uneasy on the eye and utterly forgettable for all but the most fanatic Athenian. Regardless, coach Otto Rehagel made the best of his earnest lot against profligate superiors and his formula paid off lavishly.

Greece later failed to make it to the World Cup and embarrassed themselves at the Confederations Cup. A recent run of 8 friendly wins included the scalps of Portugal and the Czech Republic (as at Euro 2004) but the chances of retaining their trophy are slender. To make it through this group, then past France or Italy and then possibly Germany or Portugal (again) would be a repeated insult to those teams and anyone flush enough to lay them doing so at [34.0] should make hay.

Merely mentioning the word 'Sweden' conjures up visions of the bland and hum-drum and efforts to speak passionately of anything remotely Swedish are taxing on the mind. Never offensive nor spectacular, you always know what you are getting with the so-so Scandanavians. They have decent enough players in all of Europe's major leagues, that should in theory provide for an enhanced perspective of the beautiful game.

Except how many Swedes would make a list of the world's top 50 footballers? The great pretender Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Wannabe underpants model Fredrik Ljungberg? The 36-year-old Henrik Larsson? It's bordering on the soporific just thinking about it. Let's face it, Sweden are simply average; occasionally very good, infrequently very bad but most of the time just OK. They may well make it to the knockout stages, they may not, but they certainly won't win. From a betting perspective there's just nothing to form a strong enough opinion over, so it's best to look elsewhere.

The much-travelled Guus Hiddink clearly loves a challenge, having previously steered South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals on home territory in 2002 and then guiding Australia to Germany four years later for their first World Cup in three decades. While the financial benefits of his job are sure to be lucrative, Hiddink's chances of repaying that with silverware are as likely as a return to communism. The Russian influence in club football has come to prominence in the last few years with Chelsea benefactor Roman Abramovich bankrolling a blue revolution in the Premiership and CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg gaining UEFA Cup success in 2005 and 2008.

But how many of us can actually reel off the national team's starting eleven? Frankly, it's doubtful even Guus can. Nevertheless, the Dutchman has built his reputation on a stringent team ethic and for this the Russians must be respected. It's a close call on who joins Spain in the quarter-finals but Hiddink has not failed to reach the knockout stages with any country he's managed at any previous international tournament and Russia are [2.26] to preserve the trend.

Tags: Euro 2008 betting, Euro 2008 odds, Xavi