Group A: Portugal, Czech, Turkey, Switzerland

[Missing Post Count]

With Euro 2008 just days away, it seems relevant to look at a few of the players who could be key to their sides’ chances of success in the championships. Group A pits Portugal, Czech, Turkey and co-hosts Switzerland. The chances of each team and who the likely key player for each of Group A’s side will be.

Portugal
As Group A favourites, Portugal will look to get their European Championship campaign off to a good start with a victory over Turkey. Being the losing finalists in 2004, the Portuguese will look to go one better this time around and their main threat will no doubt come from Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo found the net 31 times in the Premier League this season – 42 in all competitions; meaning he was Europe’s top goalscorer in 2007/08. The Madeira-born midfielder was voted PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in 2008, giving him back to back titles in each award. Portugal will look to the United talisman to continue his great form from their qualifying campaign, in which he scored eight times.

Czech
Euro 2004 semi-finalists Czech goes into these championships as strong contenders to qualify for the quarter-finals, having won their last five competitive games on the trot and conceding just one goal in their final seven games in the qualifying stages. Although still very much a raw talent, young striker Martin Fenin could be one of the gems unearthed in Euro 2008. 21-year-old Fenin scored six goals in his first season in the Bundesliga following his move from Teplice to Eintracht Frankfurt – including a hat-trick on his debut in a 3-0 away win at Hertha Berlin. Although still very much a newcomer on the international stage, Fenin will look to transform his domestic form onto the international stage and form a lethal partnership with the giant Jan Koller in the Czech attack.

Turkey
After failing to make a major international tournament since their third place finish in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, Turkey will hope to make up for lost time and perform above all expectations at Euro 2008. Being in a tricky group, the Turks will look to proven international quality players to carry them through – one being Middlesbrough’s Tuncay Sanli. Tuncay hit eight goals in his debut season in the Premier League with Middlesbrough following his free transfer move to the north-east from Fenerbahce. Although Tuncay would have hoped to have scored more, the eight goals that he did manage all came after December 1st 2007. If Turkey are to progress to the quarter-final stage; the form of Tuncay will be crucial in their ability to do so.

Switzerland
Despite being co-hosts of the tournament, Switzerland are relative underdogs in Group A. Unfortunately they haven’t got the best recent history in the European Championship finals; only managing two draws and two goals in their six games from Euro 1996 and Euro 2004. Nonetheless, a key player this time around for the Swiss could be Bayer Leverkusen’s midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta. Barnetta, who was shortlisted as one of the best young players at the 2006 World Cup, has had a productive season for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga – playing a part in 12 of their goals; scoring six. Despite still being relatively young at 23, Barnetta appeared in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup and his experience on the international stage coupled with his ability will make him a key player for the Swiss.

[Bomber]

Czechs and The Swiss - I hope anyway.

[HMFC]

Tough group to tip, but i'll say Portugal to win the group with the Swiss to edge out the Czech Rep.

[TM87]

I will say Switzerland surprise package on home soil followed by Turkey.

[username]

I will say Switzerland surprise package on home soil followed by Turkey.

that prediction is just as dumb as this bloke>>>

[Missing Post Count]

that prediction is just as dumb as this bloke>>>

That's says a lot for yout IQ

[username]

at least my IQ is high enough to understand how utterly useless k-mans statistics are!

[Missing Post Count]

But with pictures like the one above you lose all your credibility.

[username]

i lose no credibility. k-man and tuncay dribbled shit on greek threads, so i couldnt resist. its just a photo, its not my fault magazines print that stuff!

[delfino_1936]

this group is tough, the only certainty i see is that Portugal will go through, 2nd place will be a tough slog by each of the other 3 teams. I don't think the Czechs will go through though.

[COLOSSUS]

Portugal and Switzerland to go through.
Turkey to be the first team to pack its bags from this tournament, and head back to where it is they come from, OUTSIDE of Europe

[candyman]

Portugal,czech

[Robbie Williams]

Portugal,czech

Dito.

[Piola]

The Swiss will go through probably alongside Portugal

[TM87]

i lose no credibility. k-man and tuncay dribbled cabernet on greek threads, so i couldnt resist. its just a photo, its not my fault magazines print that stuff!

All ive put was stats nothing offensive.Not like you and your bum buddies all heros on the net shit themselves when it comes to the crunch

[The Cerebral Assassin]

Portugal wont lose a game in this stage
and the home advantage of the swiss will make them progress.


Portugal
Switzerland
Czech
Turkey

[Missing Post Count]

Match day one results:

Switzerland 0 Czech 1
Portugal 2 Turkey 0

standings:

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Portugal    1 1 - - 2 0    3
Czech       1 1 - - 1 0    3
Switzerland 1 - - 1 0 1    -
Turkey      1 - - 1 0 2    -

[The Kop]

after last nights games i see Portugal and Turkey through.

Czech's looked very average, solid back 4 and keeper. but no creativity in midfield and too one dimensional going to koller all the time.

Swiss just dont have the players. A bit unlucky on occasions last night, but even with a weakened Czech side i dont think they've got the players on paper to go through.

Turkey showed some good signs in attack, Nihat can cause problems and i believe will get them the candy against Swiss/Czech. But their defence is very suspect. If they finish 2nd and meet a Germany in the knockouts, i see thier tourny ending there.

Portugal. Brilliant. Perhaps only a quality striker (nuno gomes = caca) away from being the clear best side on paper. The array of attacking midfielders is breathaking (the fact that Quaresma cant get a game off the bench speaks volumes!). If they got out of 2nd gear against Turkey it could have been a spanking. Paulo Ferriera playing out of position is their only weakness in defence and midfield. Ricardo can occasionally flap at crosses too. Other than that, sure sure semi finalists at least.

[Piola]

Swiss just dont have the players. A bit unlucky on occasions last night, but even with a weakened Czech side i dont think they've got the players on paper to go through.

mate they have a stronger midfield and backline than the Turks. Inler, Behrami and Barnetta is a solid midfield and a good mix of players who can attack and track back to defend when needed. Senderos and Muller were good enough at the back, how they'll go against Portugal's super attack is another question.

What they lack is a man up front who'll score the goals. Marco Streller is useless as fuck and Alex Frei is out injured for a few months.

[The Kop]

But in the guts theyve got Gelson Fernandez who reminds me of Sissoko. Very clumsy on the ball and seems all huff and puff. And the other guy next to him Huggel (?) was nt anything special either.

Dont rate either of em. Rkn Turkey are a better side on paper than the Swiss.

But with the crowd behind em, you never know they could pull off a result.

[username]

turkeys going nowhere fast! that late goal they copped will be crucial on game day 3. swiss turkey draw, czech 2, turkey 0. 1 point and bottom. end of story.

[COLOSSUS]

i lose no credibility. k-man and tuncay dribbled cabernet on greek threads, so i couldnt resist. its just a photo, its not my fault magazines print that stuff!

All ive put was stats nothing offensive.Not like you and your bum buddies all heros on the net cabernet themselves when it comes to the crunch

With the History we have k-man, that would be the most stupidest thing you have ever written my friend. Dont for 1 minute, think we are scared of ANYONE let alone your miserable bunch

Get a life mate, your blinded by alot of shiite.

[COLOSSUS]

Swiss just dont have the players. A bit unlucky on occasions last night, but even with a weakened Czech side i dont think they've got the players on paper to go through.

mate they have a stronger midfield and backline than the Turks. Inler, Behrami and Barnetta is a solid midfield and a good mix of players who can attack and track back to defend when needed. Senderos and Muller were good enough at the back, how they'll go against Portugal's super attack is another question.

What they lack is a man up front who'll score the goals. Marco Streller is useless as fuck and Alex Frei is out injured for a few months.

I agree with you Il Duce, Switzerland are a better side than turkey in my opinion also, and with the home support, i still think they can get through. I also agree that the other team to qualify with Portugal from this group will come from the 2 teams who havent yet got a point. Czechs were lucky, but Portugal and turkish attacks may well end up in the back of the net unlike the Swiss ones on Sunday morning

[candyman]

Turkey were taught a footballing lesson.
The only problem,the pupils walked away
learning nothing.

[medallion]

Portugal will top the group along with the czech republic. Switzerland push the ball around well but are lacking that star striker to finish all their hard work in the midfield. As for Turkey, I think they will perform worse then Austria. They relied heavily on Tuncay and Nihat and they both got shut down too easily. The other teams in the comp would've worked this out and will continue to do the same. At the back the Turks are useless and will continue to kop easy goals against them.

[Missing Post Count]

Second round of matches:
Czech 1 Portugal 3
Switzerland 1 Turkey 2

Portugal are through to the quarterfinals as group winners.
The Czech and Turkey will fight out for the other place.
Switzerland are the first team to crash out of the tournament.

Should the Czechs and Turkey draw their final game they will finish level on points, goal difference, goals scored and in the head to head. I think there are plans for a penalty shoot out to decide who goes through in this scenario.

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Portugal    2 2 - - 5 1    6
Czech       2 1 - 1 2 3    3
Turkey      2 1 - 1 2 3    3
Switzerland 2 - - 2 1 3    -

[Missing Post Count]

Full time:
Turkey 3 Czech 2
Switzerland 2 Portugal 0

What a finish to the group. We almost got that penalty shoot out. Turkey march on to face Croatia in the quaterfinals. Portugal await to see who their opponents will be.

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Portugal    3 2 - 1 5 3    6
Turkey      3 2 - 1 5 5    6
Czech       3 1 - 3 4 6    3
Switzerland 3 1 - 2 3 3    -

[delfino_1936]

this group is tough, the only certainty i see is that Portugal will go through, 2nd place will be a tough slog by each of the other 3 teams. I don't think the Czechs will go through though.

[diegom]

this group is tough, the only certainty i see is that Portugal will go through, 2nd place will be a tough slog by each of the other 3 teams. I don't think the Czechs will go through though.

good tip son, now can u pick Group C results????

[Missing Post Count]

He wants you to pick Italy