Quote:
Originally Posted by M.R.
If you want to win it, you must be able to beat any team. But you're right, in such short tournament it's also important how much energy you can save.
|
That's a crucial point, Italy lost the Euro 2000 final and went into trouble in the 2006 WC final due to exhausting semifinals. Usually, the team wich got trough the less difficult semifinal wins the tournament (with the exception of the last World Cup, but it was tight).
Quote:
Originally Posted by M.R.
However, I don't think Italy has much harder group than Germany or Portugal. There are two good teams in group C and that's Italy and France. Netherlands are overrated due to their football tradition, but curently they don't have a team that can match Italy or France, if they would be playing the same as on the last 2 tournaments, they're surely out. Romania is outsider, but they can get some points from the "big ones".
|
I can see that you know about football.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M.R.
Portugal in A has Turkey, Switzerland and Czech Republic, which are all good teams, they will probably be first, but would have to put a lot of effort.
|
Portugal will be a serious contender, Scolari's teams do always good in the big tournaments. And Switzerland is a very difficult team to beat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M.R.
I think Spain can be champion also, considering their first team, but they are usualy in bad form on big tournaments.
|
I will rule out Spain, because they usually are more a sum of talents than a real team.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M.R.
We can probably expect repeat of final from WC: Italy vs. France ( Europe vs. Africa  ). |
That's impossible, the draw has forbidden it. France and Italy can meet again, however, in the semifinal for a rematch of the classics of Rotterdam 2000 and Berlin 2006.