Group B: Germany, Croatia, Poland, Austria

[Missing Post Count]

With Euro 2008 just days away, it seems relevant to have a further look at a few of the players who could be key to their sides’ chances of success in the championships. Group B pits Poland, Croatia, Germany and co-hosts Austria. The chances of each team and who the likely key player for each of Group B’s side will be.

Germany
Germany come into the Euro Championships as many people’s favourites and will be looking to follow their third place finish in the 2006 World Cup with a record fourth Euro victory. After managing the highest goals per game average in qualification (2·9) and only losing one game, the Germans are undoubtedly equipped for their assault on the title, and in Miroslav Klose, they have one of the most deadly strikers at the tournament. Klose managed to grab the golden boot in the 2006 World Cup and followed this up with 23 goals in the following two Bundesliga seasons. Although he only managed one goal in his last 15 league games with Bayern and scored five in qualifying for Germany, he seems to come alive in international tournaments. His form will be crucial and the German’s will no doubt he can strike up a formidable partnership with fellow Bayern forward Lukas Podolski.

Croatia
After qualifying with consummate ease at the expense of England, Croatia enter the finals as the dark horses. Manager Slavan Bilic has formed a formidable side with plenty of creative flair and they will look to follow up their excellent qualifying campaign. Germany (35) were the only side to have scored more goals in qualification than the Croatians (28), but with top-scorer Eduardo (10 goals) missing out, Croatia will be hoping that another of their strikers can step up to the plate. Borussia Dortmund striker Mladen Petric looks like being the main candidate to fill the diminutive Arsenal strikers shoes at Euro 2008, having found the net seven times in qualification. Petric finished the Bundesliga season with 13 goals – which meant he was Dortmund’s top scorer – and he also played a part in creating two further goals.

Poland
Poland will be taking part in their first European Championship finals after qualifying in top place from Group A above Portugal and at the expense of both Serbia and Belgium. Although not much is expected of the Poles at the championships – opposing teams may write them off at their peril as they are unbeaten in their last five competitive matches and remained unbeaten against both of the big names in their group in qualifying – Portugal and Serbia. The key player in Poland’s qualifying success was undoubtedly playmaker and forward Ebi Smolarek. The Racing Santander player managed to grab nine goals in qualifying; including a hat-trick against Kazakhstan and a brace against Belgium – but his finest game was against Portugal where he scored twice in a 2-1 win against the Euro 2004 finalists.

Austria
Austria are at the finals due to the fact that they are co-hosts – which is surely the only way they could have managed to qualify for the tournament. Being the lowest ranked side in the finals (101 in the FIFA rankings); Austria will look to prove their doubters wrong in what is their first European Championship finals appearance. It seems that if Austria are to stand any chance of qualifying from their group, the last line of their defensive will be incredibly important. Alex Manninger will be the man in between the sticks for Austria during the tournament and the former Arsenal goalkeeper will enter the finals after a great season for club side Siena in the Italian top-flight. Manninger managed to keep 10 clean sheets in his 26 Serie A appearances and due to the form of the Austrian, Siena conceded just 46 goals in the whole of the league season, which was the lowest of all the teams in Serie A, bar the top five.

[Bomber]

Would love to see Poland and Croatia get through but Germany is a big gun to knock off.

[HMFC]

Germany near certainties to go through. Croatia to join them. Austria rubbish!!!

[Piola]

easiest group.

Germany and Croatia all class and will go through.

Poland OK but nothing special.

Austria, would struggle to play Serie B football.

[COLOSSUS]

Yeah, i also think Germany and Croatia have too much class, but the Poles will be no pushover. Austria have to be the worst host nation ever i reckon

Germany top, Cros 2nd, Poles 3rd, and home nation 4th without crossing the halfway line

Look at this way though, at least the Austrians havent far to travel to get home

[TM87]

I think Germany and Poland in this group. I would like to see croatia through i guess time will tell.

[the_gun]

poland #1.

[candyman]

Germany,Croatia

[The Cerebral Assassin]

Easiest group i believe by far

Germany will win every game by atleast 2 goals.

Croatia to just scrap in infront of Austria

Austria will be unlucky not to make it, they will have a good tournament in front of there home fans.

Germany
Croatia
Austria
Poland

[ramosrules]

Germany Croatia to go through, but Poland will be thereabouts, the Germany Poland game will be a cracker on and off the pitch!

[Missing Post Count]

Like match day one group B has gone to form (results wise) in the opening round. Croatia were poor but still got the result against a host, as did Czech yesterday.

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Germany     1 1 - - 2 0    3
Croatia     1 1 - - 1 0    3
Austria     1 - - 1 0 1    -
Poland      1 - - 1 0 2    -

[Missing Post Count]

Second match results:

Croatia 2 Germany 1
Austria 1 Poland 1

Croatia win the group. Germany will finish second if they can get at least a draw out of their final match, but should they lose either Austria or Poland could qualify above them.

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Croatia     2 2 - - 3 2    6
Germany     2 1 - 1 3 2    3
Austria     2 - 1 1 1 2    1
Poland      2 - 1 1 1 3    1

[Andy_Pipkin]

If Germany win and Croatia lose their next games then Germany would finish top on goal difference.

Croatia thru anyway

[The Kop]

Its head to head record, goal difference is never used in tournaments (well not at least in last 4 or so majors).

[PinchWeasel]

Easiest group i believe by far

Germany will win every game by atleast 2 goals.

Croatia to just scrap in infront of Austria

Austria will be unlucky not to make it, they will have a good tournament in front of there home fans.

Germany
Croatia
Austria
Poland

Looks like your cerebrum has been assassinated.

[Missing Post Count]

Third group results:

Austria 0 Germany 1
Poland 0 Croatia 1

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Croatia     3 3 - - 4 2    9
Germany     3 2 - 1 4 2    6
Austria     2 - 1 2 1 3    1
Poland      3 - 1 2 1 4    1

Germany qualify for a quarterfinal against Portugal. Croatia will meet Turkey.