Spain
Euro 2008, World Cup 2012...are Spain on for the treble? I wouldn't bet against it. They have been struck down with a few injury problems with players like Villa and Puyol pulling out of the competition. However, their midfield is enough to make you salivate with Mata, Silva, Hernandez, Iniesta, Fabregas, Busquets, Alonso and Xavi all making up the numbers. Even Torres has been on form for Spain recently and could prove a mean threat up front. You should never write that man off. Their tika-taka football is still impressive and difficult to play against, although they will be up against some good defenses in this group. Xavi heads the threat from midfield being such a controlled footballer who can dribble the ball with perfection. He's always creating, always moving and along with Iniesta they add to the best midfield in the world. Vincente Del Bosque and his crew also are the one other team apart from Sweden who don't have to fly between any of their games which will help from a fatigue point of view.
Italy
The Azzurri boys are a team under a lot of pressure right now. Their game has been racked by claims of match-fixing with both the Prime-Minister and Head Coach, Prandelli, admitting that the team could be pulled out if necessary. It is certainly not the first time the Italian game has been linked with bribing and match-fixing claims but it is possibly the most serious. Their team also isn't in the best form as it is, with the team being heavily reliant on Pirlo and Buffon from midfield. Pirlo is a seductive player alright but whether he can hold the creaks together remains to be seen. Players left ,right and center have been pulled out, suspended and investigated and it is a huge thing for the team to come back from. If they are strong enough, it may be the kick they need to come out and show the clean face of football and restore a little bit of faith with Italian football. On the whole, Italy can defend pretty well, often staying quite deep and attacking on the break which could prove problematic.
Croatia
Cool kit, Croats. Slaven Bilic and his men could get definitely get through the group stages, and realistically I would imagine it would be between them and Italy in the fight for second. Croatia always prove difficult opponets and have a pretty good midfield, held up of course by Luka Modric. Modric is such a great player displaying brilliant accuracy and proving to be a real driving force in any team he is part of. Along with Bundesliga players Perasic, Pranjic and Mandzukic they should be able to be a bit of a force in their games. Croatia will need to use all of their expericence to progress in the competition and do have a hard time breaking down defensive teams at times.
Ireland
Already being the second choice team for most people, there is a lot of support out there for Ireland after being cheated out of a World Cup place by magic hands Henry 2 years ago. They might need to use this support and luck of the Irish (Cliches, gotta love 'em) if they have any hope of progressing. They do have talent amoungst them and a good spirit but it's hard to pick and real world class stars. Robbie Keane always comes good for Ireland and will no doubt be a crucial entity for them as well as being a leader and they do have some hard men in their ranks. I have no doubt they will be a hard team to beat and can defend with the best of them. If they get a chance to launch a counter-attack, or can maximise on their set-pieces, they could knock bigger teams off their stride and find themselves through the group stages. Trappatoni certainly has a structured team but they are very set in their ways and you know what to expect with Ireland. Their stubborness to defend can often leave their forward players left in a bit of a limbo but hopefully Keane and possibly Duff and McLean can provide some forward spark.
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