Euro 2012: our own scenario

[love2bet]

Hey guys,

Being an economist, a football fan and a gambler I analyse anything related to my favorite game. I have my blog (hope I can post the link in my signature), where I talk about football, and, where, note, I do NOT write and sell my football tips or books

Another source of inspiration is my activity in couple of other forums. I hope I'll be accepted here at BEYOND FOOTBALL, too and receive lots of interesting opinions.

I would like to suggest a thread where we build our common Euro 2012 scenario. I suggest we divide our discussions into 7 parts: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and the Final.

We'll start discussing the groups, try to see whether or not we can agree on group winners, then make quarterfinal couples and so on. In the end of the day we'll have our own Euro 2012 scenario, which we'll compare with the real results and see how reasonable we are.

Anybody interested? Let's go and give each part of the discussions 5 days.

Group A, featuring Poland, Greece, Russia and Czech Republic.

Please come up with an argument about your choice.

Good luck!
Love2bet
 

[Adi]

I know you're trying to spam with your signature link, but since it's disabled due to a lack of enough posts, it won't matter.

As far as Group A is concerned, Poland will win that group.  They are at home and have some good talent, especially their 3 lads from Dortmund. 

Poland is my black-horse for this tournament.  I think 2nd place will go to Russia.

[love2bet]

Well well well, if pasting a link in the signature is spamming, then let's call it spamming

I know, Poles are all right, and they were lucky to be drawn in a such a group, but I don't see there anything special rather than the Dortmund trio and an Arsenal keeper, to be honest. And the atmosphere in the team could have been better. You don't suspend two of your crucial players two months before the the tournament. 

[Adi]

Well well well, if pasting a link in the signature is spamming, then let's call it spamming

I know, Poles are all right, and they were lucky to be drawn in a such a group, but I don't see there anything special rather than the Dortmund trio and an Arsenal keeper, to be honest. And the atmosphere in the team could have been better. You don't suspend two of your crucial players two months before the the tournament. 

They'll still be good enough to get out of their group.  Having 4 very good players should be enough to make a solid run, plus they have their 12th man.

[love2bet]

I don't mind that, and probably you'll turn right at the end of the day, but to me their squad looks to be the weakest in their group, if not in the whole tournament. Some other arguments would be their FIFA Ranking of 65 (!), which shouldn't be too far from the reality, and of course their last qualification campaign for WC 2010. They finished 5th, above San Marino.

And the 12th man - well, not a guarantee. Examples: Austria 2008, Switzerland 2008, South Africa 2010.

[Adi]

Switzerland was the only team to beat Spain in 2008... a true accomplishment.

South Africa looked solid and played much better than they would in any other country.  They actually competed... something they never do.

I think only Russia is more quality than Poland.  Greece and Czechs are past it if you ask me.

[love2bet]

Switzerland was the only team to beat Spain in 2008 - a false accomplishment
Switzerland was the only team to beat Spain in 2010 - a true, though irrelevant accomplishment ;)

So far we agreed on Russians to advance and waiting for another opinion on the second one