Ukraine
A horrible kit for a horrible team. Ukraine are possibly the weakest squad out in the competition and to top it off, half their team has been struck down with injuries. 2 major losses at the back are defender, Chygrynskiy and goal-keeper, Shorkovsky. It's hard to know what this team can offer really. Shevchenko, their main attacking threat is now 35 and generally to score a goal, you need to do a bit of work first. Tymoschchuk could be a leading player for them, also being a Bayern Munich man. He is tough and could form a bit of order within the team but there are very few beacons of light. Yarmolenko, a Dynamo Kiev player, could be one to watch going forward being a bit crafty in front of goal and thus far proving very versatile. After that...erm... What you can say about Ukraine is that manager Oleh Blockhin has formed a tough, organised squad but it's going to be an uphill struggle.. Best of luck there Ukraine.
France
Was this kit designed by Jean-Paul Gautier? It has a touch of him about it. I'm probably wrong but what I am very correct about is that this is a beautiful kit. To look at France on paper, you would probably stuggle to see why they wouldn't come into this competition and smash it. Nasri, Ribery, Benzema, Malouda, Cabaye, Evra, Menez, Debuchy...some big names and a good manager in Laurent Blanc. I would like to keep an eye on 24 year old Marvin Martin too who has a killer pass. Things still don't seem to be gelling for Les Bleues just yet and rumours of arguements breaking out in training are never too far away. After the mess that was the World Cup 2010, France had a lot of work to do to get harmony back within their ranks. Hated manager gone, things have improved for them but they are not back to their best by any means. Saying all that, I think they will walk this group. Ukraine and England may prove hard defensively but I still think France have more than enough to do it. If they can get their team playing, it could really help build their confidence for later games.
England
It's no secret that things are not right at England right now. Roy Hodgson was given very little time to even get his head around the job before all of a sudden the Euros were coming and a team needed to be picked. For the first time in a long time, even the media are pessimistic. The usual rallying calls are silenced, belief is low and injuries are high. With the likes of Ruddy, Lampard, Wilshire, Walker, Barry, Cleverly, Cahill and Bent out, Carrick and Richards having ruled themselves out and Ferdinand not being an option, England have had slim pickings. To top it all off, the most skillful and consistent player, Rooney, has to miss the first 2 games. It's not looking good. Euro prep matches have shown an England that pile up in defense and have proved hard to get by. Welbeck showed he can be a viable option up front and players like Henderson and Kelly have been written off so quickly that I hope they prove to be real shockers in the competition. Parking the bus may get them through the group stages with Ukraine and Sweden definitely being beatable, but England are not having to have an easy ride. Such have been the negatvity surrounding the team that tickets haven't even sold out (although racism and hooligan fears, as well as huge distances between games have been attributed to low sales).Maybe in a weird turn of events, the lack of pressure, interest and media-jibing may make for a more relaxed team.
Sweden
Quiz question - who can you name from the Swedish team!? If you answered anything other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic then you are either a nerd or Swedish. Possibly even both. Maybe if you said Elmader you may be a Bolton fan? Or the Villa fans may have picked up on Mellberg? Hmm, maybe even Larsson? My point , really, was who else do you need when you have that man in your team? Such a presence on the field; he has strength, control, pace and precision. Sweden don't have an excellent squad but manager Erik Hamren has mixed it up a bit. They are solid defensively and have more pace about them recently. Ibrahimovic has also been allowed to play a freer role as of late which has allowed for more creativity. They also do well from set pieces do Sweden so they could be tricky and I'd imagine it will be between themselves and England for a top 2 spot. Sweden also benefit from staying near all the stadiums they are playing in, cutting out any flying whatsoever. England on the other hand never bloody stop. One final factor tipping the scales is the Eurovision Song Contest. Who won? Yesss, only bloody Sweden. Can I take you back, many, many moons ago to the ESC of 2004? Belter wasn't it? Well, it may also serve to remember that Greece in fact won this very competition and that summer went on to be crowned winners of the Euros 2004. Coincidence? I think not. F*ck it, it's practically a sure thing, Sweden are going to win.
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