Euro 2012 - Dark Horses

Three teams to watch at Euro 2012

(c) Anosmia, Flickr

It is difficult to look beyond the usual suspects for Euro 2012 in terms of picking an overall winner.  Germany, Spain and the Netherlands look to be among the favourites, while France and Portugal also have a tendency to thrive in this tournament.  But in recent history, the Euros have provided a dark horse that advances further into the knockout stages than many would have predicted (Russia – 2008, Greece – 2004), and there is no reason to believe that the same cannot occur this year. Here are three teams who could follow in the footsteps of former European underdogs.

Russia

It could be argued that any two of the four teams in Group A could advance to the quarter-final stages, to the point where many have already focused purely on the other three groups in which the heavyweights lie, and those teams effectively getting a bye to the semi-finals.  However, with a FIFA ranking of eleventh and a recent history of performing well against their European counterparts (they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008), Russia have the potential to inflict damage on their group rivals and build up momentum on their way to the knockout stages, where they are likely to face either Germany, or a quarter-final rematch against the Netherlands (who they upset with a 3-1 victory four years ago).  Dick Advocaat's side also won their qualifying group and are undefeated this year in friendlies (including a 3-0 away win over Italy).

Croatia

Group B has been labelled 'the group of death' in this tournament, as one of either Germany, Portugal or the Netherlands not advance to the quarter-finals.  But ousting either Italy or reigning world champions Spain is no easy task either.  That being said, Croatia are a talented side who are ranked seventh in the FIFA world rankings, and with this being Slavan Bilic's last tournament before taking the helm at Lokomotiv Moscow, they could cause a disturbance in Group C against Italy, who have struggled in recent friendlies, and a Spanish national side without their all-time leading goalscorer David Villa.  Croatia were seconds away from the semi-finals in Euro 2008, and would have set up a rematch with Germany (who they defeated in the group stages that year) were it not for an extra-time injury time equaliser from Turkey's Semih Sentűrk.  Nikica Jelavic is also coming off a fantastic half-season for Everton, and it will be a challenge for opposing defenders to contain him.

England

It is important to remember that England are not considered to be a favourite to win Euro 2012, and injuries and suspensions to key players have thwarted their chances to impose themselves as a genuine threat amongst the stronger teams in this tournament.  But two clean sheets later in friendlies against Norway and Belgium, England look as though they might be a difficult side to break down defensively.  A lack of national expectation could world in England's favour, and Roy Hodgson also has the opportunity to grant youngsters like Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Carroll more playing time which could prove to be fruitful in the long run (Germany coach Joachim Löw favoured youth over experience at the 2010 World Cup – a decision which led his side to the semi-final stages). It is difficult to see where England's goals will come from (Ashley Young will be heavily relied upon to create scoring opportunities), and they will also need to top Group D in order to avoid Spain in the quarter-finals.