Euro 2012 Preview

Understanding Euro 2012

Been bullied into an office sweepstake? Drawn Sweden and not sure if that’s good news or bad news? Want the briefest of briefs? Every team put into bitesized chunks; find your group and your guide to Euro 2012.

Euro 2012 Group A

Russia and Greece must be getting pretty sick of each other meeting for three consecutive European Football Championships at the group stage. And despite Greece winning the tournament overall in 2004, Russia won both previous meetings. Greece are the wildcard no one wants to predict whilst Russia are more consistent and will expect to qualify out the group. Poland are co-hosts with Ukraine and have famous names such as Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski; excuse me whilst I blow the dust off my ‘Z’ key. For Czech Republic they have Petr Cech to keep the ball out of the net and Vaclav Pilar who has shades of Andrei Arshavin about his play.

Euro 2012 Group B

Never heard of any of these sides: Portugal, Germany, Denmark and Netherlands. Portugal are a funny one, players like Hugo Viana should have shone brighter throughout Europe but any side with Ronaldo can win a game and expect big things from Joao Moutinho. The Germans are the anti-racists favourite for the tournament with a selection of multinational players. Then there’s Denmark: Agger, Kahlenberg and Bendtner - goals from all over the pitch, don’t rule them out. Holland haven’t won the tournament since the 80s and since they finished 2nd in the World Cup they’ll want to put in a performance.

Euro 2012 Group C

Luck of the Irish… a half injured goalkeeper and not a single player who plays domestically in Ireland. They’d need an absolute saint to win this tournament and in Sean St Ledger they have one. Italy may have great World Cup success but their only win in this tournament came as hosts back in 1968. Spain are the current holders, but after Barcelona’s trophyless season and Pep Guardiola’s resignation, Spain now have their doubters. That leaves Croatia and they have the Brazilian born forward Eduardo leading their frontline with support from Nikica Jelavic who ended his season top goalscorer for both Everton and Rangers.

Euro 2012 Group D

England didn’t take Pacman Adam Johnson and therefore will not win. France have a shaky defence but Real Madrid’s Benzema up front, any squad strong enough to leave out Eric Abidal is one to watch out for. The Swedes won Eurovision and they’ll need a performance from Ibrahimovic if they expect to take anything from this tournament. The Swedish midfield is immense going forward; my prediction is to see Goal of the Tournament come from the Yellow and Blue. Speaking of yellow and blue, that leads us to the final participants, Ukraine. As hosts they have homefield advantage and Andriy Shevchenko (36) will be looked to in hope more than expectation. No Ukrainian has filled the boots of ‘Sheva’ as Coach Oleh Blokhin takes 5 strikers none of which under 27.

What are the odds on that?

Spain	3-1
Germany	3-1
Holland	6-1
France	10-1
Italy	14-1
England	15-1
Portugal	20-1
Russia	20-1
Ukraine	40-1
Poland	50-1
Czech Republic	50-1
Croatia	50-1
Sweden	66-1
Greece	66-1
Denmark	80-1
Ireland	80-1

Odds are to be used as a guide from How Football Changed Your Life and for more up to date football odds please visit a betting shop directly.

Why Children Don't Grow-Up Supporting Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish ...

Mr. Liverpool Football Club, King Kenny, however you want to describe the football manager - Kenny Dalglish truly epitomises what Liverpool football club is all about.

Or at least what they used to be about winning league titles and European Cups like there was no tomorrow. Children would grow up wanting to be just like their heroes. Those children who grew up in the 70's and 80's are in their 40s and 50s now.

I was born in 1991 and that makes me 21. I'm old enough to drive. I'm old enough to vote. I'm old enough to drink. I'm old enough not to be challenged for alcohol. I'm old enough to go into those specific clubs for specifically over 21 year olds (which by the way are definitely employing ladies under that 21 mark).

Strangely, I'm not old enough to have a Liverpool league title in my lifetime. But the television keeps telling me how people grow up supporting Liverpool. There weren't any Liverpool fans in my class!? I remember there being a boy in the year above who was nicknamed Robbie Fowler, but that's because he wore a plaster on his nose.

Still, I'd watch Match Of The Day with my Dad and my four big brothers who'd tell me that Liverpool are a good side who've been winning things for years; "Oh yes," I'd say to them, "Liverpool win loads." As I watch Michael Owen score a hattrick whilst Liverpool still fail to beat Sheffield Wednesday.

"They're the best." I'd say to fit in. Followed by, "They're a top side." Followed by, "Liverpool are a top four side." Followed by, "Liverpool will get into Europe easily." Followed by, "Hang on a minute, I'm sixteen and this is getting a little bit silly now."

Fowler had left, Owen had left and Gerrard was debating moving to a bigger club. Gerrard wanted to move to a bigger club. This wasn't the same Liverpool I knew growing up? TV kept telling me that Liverpool was bigger than sliced bread, but I'd always had sliced bread and I was fed up of that 'n' all. Gerrard never did leave and as he aged so did the club's ability.

Fastforward just a few more years and Kenny Dalglish is appointed as manager back at Liverpool. Suddenly the same clips are showed to me with a grainy picture that makes my Dad pull on his glasses. Finally the glory days are back to Liverpool again. Suddenly I'm 7 years old again, but I still don't have any Liverpool fan numbers in my Blackberry.

Supported clubs in my phone book

Something I do remember growing up is wanting to be Alan Shearer and how Kenny Dalglish masterminded that Blackburn Rovers team to the league title. After Kenny left the team fell to pot, I remembered that too. Everything started to fall into place now, of course Dalglish could bring Liverpool up the league table. Of course he sells that floaty Spaniard even if he is the top goalscorer. King Kenny remembers how to win a league title... with a rock hard centre-forward Geordie! What could possibly go wrong?

Let me tell you what can possibly go wrong. It's 2012 not 1990. Kids growing up are getting pretty fed up of hearing about Liverpool Football Club and the glory days. Did you like listening to your parents bang on about the war? No I guess not, but you sat and you listened because it was the polite thing to do. "And you should have been grateful to." And I bet you were.

But at no point did your Uncle Buck ever say to you, "Kids who grow up today know to run and hide in their Anderson shelters." Because that would make no bloody sense; because the war is over. So don't tell me that kids grow up wanting to support Liverpool Football Club, because they don't. Because it is over!

As I said in the opening paragraph Kenny Dalglish truly epitomises what Liverpool football club is all about and it is about time he stopped drawing games and start drawing his pension.

So dearest press, old people and 'football experts' please stop telling me that kids grow up supporting Liverpool because I experienced growing up more recently that you have and quite simply... you're wrong.