Group D: Russia, Spain, Sweden, Greece

[Missing Post Count]

Group D pits Spain, Sweden, Greece and Russia. The chances of each team and who the likely key player for each of Group D’s side will be:

Spain
Technically, Spain are probably the best team in the tournament and their squad is full of players with big-game experience and talent. Thanks to this, Spain are the team that many are tipping to win Euro 2008. However, it is not uncommon for Luis Aragones’ side to be one of the pre-tournament favourites and they have always disappointed. Things could be different this time around however if Fernando Torres can convert his form for Liverpool this season into Euro 2008. Torres hit 24 goals in his first season in the English top-flight – which was a new record for a foreigner in his first season in the Premier League, and managed to score 33 in all competitions. He only managed two goals in qualifying however, and even then these came against Liechtenstein and Latvia – so the Liverpool front man will look to improve his goal-tally on the international stage.

Russia
The Russians managed to creep into Euro 2008 under the noses of the English but will no doubt have confidence in progressing from the group stages if they perform to their best. A crucial factor in any possible success could be down to having Guus Hiddink as manager as the Dutchman is no stranger to working miracles on the international stage. Hiddink managed to guide South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals as well as his home nation in 1998 and took Australia to the knockout stages in the 2006 World Cup. Despite being banned for their first two group games against Spain and Greece, Andrei Arshavin is undoubtedly the best talent in Russian football at present. If the Russians were to progress past the group stages then the Zenit playmaker would certainly be a key force in their quest to become unexpected Euro victors.

Sweden
After a disappointing World Cup 2006, and only managing to get to the quarter finals of Euro 2004 after a great start in which they hammered Bulgaria 5-0 in their opening game, Sweden will be looking to perform to a higher standard at these championships. After coming through the same group as fellow Group D side Spain, Sweden will be looking to star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic to shoot them into the knockout stages. Ibrahimovic managed to hit 17 goals in 26 appearances for Inter Milan in Serie A this season; including two in their final game to seal the Italian league title. Known for his ability as an aerial threat, but equally as skilful on the floor, Ibrahimovic will be surely key to any success that the Swedish side encounter this summer.

Greece
Reigning European champions Greece come into this tournament with no expectations of reliving their previous success. Their 2004 victory came as a huge shock and if Greece were to come through this group then it should be considered a success. However, write them off at your peril. The Greeks were the best team to qualify for the tournament with 31 points and were also the only side to manage 10 wins. A key player for Otto Rehhagel’s side will undoubtedly be Bayer Leverkusen striker Theofanis Gekas. Despite enduring a frustrating season at Leverkusen, where he was in and out of the Bundesliga side; Gekas hit 11 goals and provided two assists. Before joining Leverkusen last summer, Gekas managed to score 21 goals for Bochum and was the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer in 2006/07. The Greeks will hope that the sharpshooting forward can recapture his form and fire the Greeks through the group stages at least.

[delfino_1936]

Russia and Spain to go through imo

[Piola]

Spain and Sweden

Spain will wait until after the group stage to flop this time

[HMFC]

Spain and Russia for me.

[Bomber]

Spain and Russia for me.

Same

[Robbie Williams]

Spain ,Greece.

[candyman]

Spain,Russia

[Motley]

Ellas and the team that comes 2nd.

[Piola]

Spain and Sweden

both teams to then get knocked out in the quarters

[The Cerebral Assassin]

i predict spain will progress

and the other team will be between greece and sweden, whoever wins that game will progress, however if its a draw i think it will become down to the games against spain.

Spain
Greece
Sweden
Russia

[pannafc]

come on HELLAS , i dont rate spain this year just dont think they have what it takes to progress , sweden and greece to go through!!!!!!

[Ripper]

Watch Russia's keeper.
Igor Akinfeev
He will be the star off this years EURO
He'll send Russia through,
With Greece ofcourse.

[medallion]

Greece
Russia
Spain
Sweden

Greece and Russia have the tactical edge over Spain/sweden. With Guus and Otto at the helm, the other teams will find it hard to break their teams down. These two are probably up with the top 5 national team coaches in the world. Knockout tournaments are all about tactics and not always about the natural flair and flow of football, as Greece showed TWICE against Portugal in Euro 04!

[BigWaynesSon]

Spain, Sweden although Spain could choke, hope not

[Missing Post Count]

Match day four results:

Spain 4 Russia 1
Greece 0 Sweden 2

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Spain       1 1 - - 4 1    3
Sweden      1 1 - - 2 0    3
Greece      1 - - 1 0 2    -
Russia      1 - - - 1 4    -

[delfino_1936]

Russia and Spain to go through imo

ok sweden not russia

[Missing Post Count]

Second group match results:
Sweden 1 Spain 2
Greece 0 Russia 1

Spain win the group. Greece eliminated. Sweden and Russia meet each other for second spot. Sweden only needs a draw whereas Russia needs to win.

Code: Select all

            P W D L F A  Pts
Spain       2 2 - - 6 2    6
Sweden      2 1 - 1 3 2    3
Russia      2 1 - - 2 4    3
Greece      2 - - 2 0 3    -

If there is a god why is it the two sides to be eliminated at the earliest possble stage have crosses on their flags? Sweden's cross has nothing to do with religion.

[delfino_1936]

Russia and Spain to go through imo

ok sweden not russia

russia still in it

[Madridista612]

Spain and Sweden

Spain will wait until after the group stage to flop this time

HAHAHAHAHAHA....lets talk about Italy shall we?

[Piola]

Spain and Sweden

Spain will wait until after the group stage to flop this time

HAHAHAHAHAHA....lets talk about Italy shall we?

HAHAHAHAHAHA when I wrote that I don't even think Canna was injured and we had just beaten Belgium convincingly in a friendly with no sign of the problems we have now, not to mention we are campioni del mondo

so you can forgive me for being wrong. not that I will be, just Italy are also going to be flopping.

[Juventino]

Spanish fans have absolutely no right to criticise any others. Win something in the colour tv era and you may be taken seriously.

[medallion]

Spain and russia to go through from this group. Russia have some confidence going into the game against sweden knowing Zlatan's injury is causing him concern and at best will only play half a game. Russia also held off Greece for 60 minutes in their previous encounter so they will be seeking an early goal to close out the game and qualify for the knockout stages. A draw won't be good enough for Russia, so expect them to come out early searching for that quick goal.