2008 Group D European Cup Soccer Predictions

[Shame About Ray]

The last Group in 2008 UEFA EURO Cup Betting we are going to examine is Group D. The 2004 UEFA Euro Cup champions Greece occupy this quartet along with highly favoured Spain, dark horse contender Russia and Sweden. With soccer odds currently available at BetUS.com for sports betting on the Group stage at the UEFA EURO Cup, here is a preview of the four squads along with my soccer free picks for which nation has the best chance to emerge into the final eight.



Group D: Spain Greece Sweden Russia

Greece

In 2004 Greece stunned the world when it upset favourites Portugal in the finals to win the coveted Euro Cup. Entering the championships as the defending cup holders, the qualifying run up to 2008 UEFA Euro saw Greece win Group C, qualifying with two games to spare and finishing their campaign with 31 points – more than any other team in qualifing. Clearly this is a capable team and should not be underestimated for that is when they are at their most dangerous.

Although the failed to follow up their Euro Cup glory with an appearance at the 2006 World Cup, the Greek side lead by the nation’s longest serving coach Otto Rehhagel is confident they will be a tough team to beat this year.

Spain

Spain has not won the championship since 1964,when they beat Soviet Union in the finals in Madrid. But in spite of this long championship drought, they enter the 2008 UEFA EURO Cup championships as one of the favourites – largely owing to a relatively easy group and a star-studded team. This is not the first time Spain enters the championships with high expectations, but history has seen them repeatedly fall short. In 2004, they failed to negotiate a path beyond the Group stage. After winning their opening game against Russia, they lost valuable points with a 1-1 draw against Greece and a loss to Portugal, exiting the competition on goals aggregate – Portugal won the group with six points and Greece finished ahead of Spain having scored more goals. In the 2008 finals, Spain will hope to put their past failures behind them. Indeed, Spain should advance out of this group. Liverpool FC striker Fernando Torres, who in his debut season for the English Premier team scored 24 goals, and David Villa, Spain’s top scorer in qualifying with seven goals, will be expected to deliver on their scoring promise.

Sweden

Even though Group D is not the toughest in the finals, nor even Spain an indomitable side, I do not think Sweden will have a memorable campaign – I would go so far as predicting they will not advance out of the group stage. The Swedes are a relatively predictable team and their game has seen little change over the years. The formula has brought them success from match-to-match – but a championship cup it has not. Consistent but unmiraculous, the cornerstone of their game is patience. In 2004, Sweden reached the quarterfinals, bowing out to Netherlands on penalties. While in recent years, Sweden has become increasingly more forward thinking, they have a weakness between the posts, which coupled with their low-scoring game could see them out of the Group stage on goals aggregate.

Russia

Russian failures in final tournaments over the years leads many to dismiss Russia’s chances in the finals this year. Gus Hiddink, although considered a wizard in Russian media, has not convinced the betting markets, in spite of his vast experience and authority, that he can neutralise the unpredictable Russian side. In the run up to the finals, Russia see-sawed through the qualifying stages, only to advance dramaticaly at death when Croatia stunned England on the final day with a 3-2 victory, allowing a ten-man Russian side with the 1-0 victory over Andorra to move into second spot in Group E. As I see it, Russia’s unpredictability make it a weaker team than Greece, but no less threatening for it. More importantly, they fall into a relatively easy group and could benefit as such. They hava a golden opportunity to emerge in dramatic fashion once again. They open their finals against Spain – so if they hope to advance they will have to be stunning right from the start They may stun the Group and emerge in dramatic fashion into the knockout stages. More likely than not, they will have a tough time, but as long as they remain undefeated against Spain, they have a good chance to shift the balance in this relatively easy group.

Group D Soccer Free Picks: Russia and Spain to emerge as the winners of Group D

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