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Euro 2008 Power Rankings, 1 to 16

June 18th, 2008 | By: Daryl | 23 Comments »

The group stage is over and all sixteen teams have played three times.

So what finer moment than now to do our Euro 2008 Power Rankings?

Below are the Euro 2008 teams ranked 1 to 16, with a brief explanation why.

Disagree? Feel free to tear us a new one in the comments. We can take it.

1. Netherlands - Brilliant Oranje so far. Marco van Basten’s men demolished the World Cup 2006 winners and runners up so convincingly that they deserve a retrospective WC06 winner’s medal. And then the reserves went out and beat Romania 2-0. And they all seem to be getting along. What could possibly go wrong? (don’t answer that)

2. Croatia - Looked a bit average against Austria but then excellent against Germany. And like the Dutch, the reserves looked just as good as the real thing when beating up on Poland. Three games, nine points, and what looks like excellent team spirit. Fiery madness might sound like a terrible mental condition, but it appears to be working.

3. Spain - Two words: Villa and Torres. Spain have talent all over (when little Fabregas can’t crack your midfield, things are good) but that deadly combination of quality, pace and pace up front gives Spain an edge.

4. Portugal - The big worry was where the goals would come from. The answer was: everywhere. Even centre backs like Pepe have gone up front and done Nuno Gomes’ job for him. And with C-Ron and Deco on song, Portugal won’t struggle to create.

5. Italy - They always say Italy are slow starters. But never as slow as losing 3-0 to Netherlands and then nearly succumbing to Romania. But now the early bump is over, and Donadoni has done a u-turn on his original (and wrong) starting XI, things are looking up for Italy. Now if only they can find the real Luca Toni…

6. Germany - Favourites coming in, not so much now. Haven’t really clicked, but won two out of three games and were arguably more impressive in losing to Croatia than in beating Poland or Austria. Plus Michael Ballack looks up for it.

7. Russia - How does Guus do it? The team that Spain ripped apart in the opening Group D game is through to the quarters. The big difference is that now they have Andrei Arshavin back from suspension, which just (but only just) gives them the edge over…

8. Turkey - Great heart. And if we did a Power Ranking where only the last five minutes of games counted, Turkey would be top. But wonderful as those comebacks were, the teams above all took care of business long before the final whistle.

9. Czech Republic - Were just minutes away from qualifying, until Petr Cech forgot how to catch a football and Nihat remembered how to strike one. Never really impressed but take ninth place mostly because they were so close to qualifying.

10. Sweden - It was all about Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And his knee. When Zlatan’s knee allowed him to contribute, Sweden looked dangerous. When it didn’t, Sweden looked lost.

11. Switzerland - Desperately unlucky against the Czech Republic, and all kinds of unlucky to lose to a last minute Turkish goal. And though the mostly youthful teams was too inexperienced for an international tournament, they did claim a solid win over Portugal in the final game.

12. Romania - Went for the defend like crazy approach against France and Italy, and damn if it didn’t work. Could have had a win over the world champions if Buffon hadn’t pulled out that glove then boot save from Mutu’s penalty.

13. France - Oh dear. Who saw France finishing bottom of Group C? Didn’t impress at all over the three games, in any area of the field, and mostly looked old and lost. Very sad to have to rank so many great players so low.

14. Austria - Not the disaster that most expected and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Ballsy? Yes. Plucky? Yes. Quality? No.

15. Poland - Oh dear. This went badly. Artur Boruc was magnificent, but mostly because he had to be. Howard Webb might be taking a lot of the blame in Poland, but his decisions weren’t half as bad as Poland’s avant garde offside trap.

16. Greece - Came to play the defensive football that won Euro 2004, but forgot that defensive football requires good defending. Some sloppy mistakes (Peter Hansson still can’t believe his luck) and a lack of any attacking threat saw the defending champions finish zero and three and bottom of Group D.

Got your own power rankings all figured out? Convinced you know who’s going to win Euro 2008? Then keep the bookies happy and go back it up with a bet.

Tags: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Euro 2008, Euro 2008 News, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, Switzerland, Turkey

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Comments

By Travis | June 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Italy needed an own goal, a red card, and a penalty kick to advance, so how did you end up putting them in 5th place instead of 13th or something? Russia and Turkey have done a lot better than Italy, I think u should reconsider your rankings!

By Ian Rose | June 18th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

Travis - there’s certainly a lot of room to argue, but I’d say Turkey and Russia both had much weaker opposition that Italy did. I think I just stood up for Italy. I have to go think about some things.

By sasha | June 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

I think Romania should be further up top, definitely better than Sweden.

Posted from United States

By A. | June 18th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

I think this is just about spot on. Well done.

By Weston | June 18th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

unfortunately, other than my blind italian support, i have to admit that this is pretty good. though i woul maybe put Switz. up a little more. they looked really good against the czechs. and got unlucky. lost frei and lost to turkey, and then beat Portugals b team, so i guess that other than the terrible luck, they did the best that they could and probably all that they were expected to do. poor co-hosts, ad if it counts for anything i was cheering them on

Posted from United States

By Johannes | June 18th, 2008 at 6:53 pm

@Ian: haaaaaaaaa, you crack me up… it is a strange tournament..

I fully agree with Daryl, good job

By Tony | June 18th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

Its not the 1st time the dutch have been the best team through the round robin. They were deadly in WC 98 and Euro 2000. If my spain cant do it I hope its them. Those fans deserve a title. Maybe they will avenge their Euro 2000 breakdown against Italy in the semi’s.

Posted from Canada

By AJ | June 18th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

Mostly agree. But some changes:

1.Holland
2.Spain
3.Croats
4.Portugal
5.Germany
6.Italy
7-16 the same.

Posted from Canada

By Goods | June 18th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Can’t see how Croatia moves ahead of Portugal & Spain.

By Sam | June 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Italy, fifth? Is this a joke?

By Adam | June 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

Hahaha loves it Ian.

But Travis… ugh… just ugh… I’m not even gonna dignify that with a response…

Nevermind. I kinda have to.
Own goal: It was a deflection, not an own goal. BIG difference. Henry made a mistake thinking he could stop a DeRossi free kick with a little kick of his toe. A STUPID defensive mistake. Kinda like Zambrotta’s header to Mutu that resulted in a goal… hmm… so Italy can LOSE rightfully because of defensive mistakes but not win them?
Red card: If that wasn’t a red card, then what is? NO contact with the ball, NO realistic chance of contact with the ball, EXTREMELY messy tackle and ruined a GREAT goal opportunity.
Penalty Kick: It seems you separated red card and penalty kick. I suppose this was so you would have some other sort of point. Nonetheless, I’m sure penalty kicks are okay when they’re against Italy but not for them, correct? Nonetheless, it was expertly taken and on this topic, let’s not forget Buffon’s incredible save.

The 3-0 loss was bad; I don’t deny that. But in a group with the top 2 teams in the world, AND a team that has better betting odds than either of those teams, AND a team that beat and tied THAT team in qualifying… I think there’s definitely something to respect there.

That is all.

By jonkon | June 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

what has spain proven? that they can score four goals in the first game? does anyone remember Ukraine??????? everything else is perfect, even if my greeks are ranked last (we earned it)

Posted from United States

By Mic | June 18th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

Pretty good. But Austria and Romania are reversed. Austria played limited, but gutsy football. Romania didn’t even make an effort.

Posted from United States

By Babyshoes | June 18th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

Turkey should move up a couple spots–after all, Hakan Yakin (a Turk) was the entire Swiss offense.

And how does Spain end up below Croatia? Wins against the #14 and #15 teams shouldn’t count for more than the destruction of the #7 team.

By russian exile | June 18th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Your list is pretty good, however placing Greece in last place and criticizing their performance in 2004 shows some real bias. First of all Poland should be last. Does Boruc having a great tournament raise their power ranking in any way? I shouldn’t think so. They scored one goal; an off-side, against the run of play, tap in against the weakest of the teams (Austria). The rest of the 89 minutes they were absolutely dreadful, looking fragile against Austria’s feared strike-force. Then they headed into the final match with everything to play for, still having a real chance to progress, yet they were out-played by Croatia’s 2nd team playing for nothing.

As for Greece, I don’t particularly like their style, however 2004 was a monumental victory for all-around team football. That was team sport the way it was meant to be played, every player giving it his all. Iraq’s victory in the Asian Cup was inspirational, but Greece in 2004 is the stuff Hollywood films are made of. It was a miracle plain and simple. They didn’t even have the advantage of being at home, the reason most teams usually play with full passion (Austria this year, Portugal previously)

This tournament, they simply fucked up. Some of their players have retired, the others are getting old. They really blew it that first game, coming in not looking like the team we know. They had non of the spirit, and once Ibrahimovich struck with a piece of brilliance, they came undone. They had no belief, it was like the game was already lost.

But you know, in their final meeting with Spain they showed the team we all know, at least in spurts. You could see some hope, for 2010. With Poland? It’s depressing, you almost feel it’s better to close-up shop and give up the game, less pain that way. Did I mention I’m really happy I’m not Polish this month? Sorry guys, but it happens to everyone at one time or another (even Brazilians).

Posted from United States

By Jots | June 19th, 2008 at 12:53 am

good list….id say its just about right

By Mehemet | June 19th, 2008 at 12:54 am

These rankings are bang on especially Greece I see many Greeks posting fot Turkey this is ultimate what i would call peeing in another mans pocket I congratulate my arch rival cause my teams trash

Posted from Australia

By Sheps | June 19th, 2008 at 3:05 am

Italy -> 7th at least for me. I’d go, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Germany, Russia, Italy, Turkey in order of most likely to win this thing. Not sure if that’s what you were going for… I just put the most ridiculous bet of my life on. £1 on Arshavin to win the tournament as top goalscorer, 2000-1. Unlikely, but not 2000-1 unlikely…

Posted from United Kingdom

By GD | June 19th, 2008 at 3:31 am

I’d put France about Romania. Those guys lost to the Dutch’s B Team with 2-0, which is a good reflection of how the game went (actually, they should have lost with way more, they’re lucky the B team wasn’t really in the mood till at the end). However, France fought a pretty decent game against the Dutch. While the Dutch won convincingly, I think the 4-1 doesn’t reflect how the game went necessarily. France played a better game against the Dutch than Italy did. France losing to Italy 2-0 with a deflected ball and a penalty, with one of your two best strikers gone and a red card doesn’t really reflect the difference in skill level IMO. Although for that game, I thought both teams played bad, actually.

By Marco | June 19th, 2008 at 4:24 am

Being Italian and bleeding Azzurri, I must add this. Italy has shown their slow, old and tired. I agree with GD, Sheps etc. The france - italy game showed only one truth, age. Italy are too slow to even compete against Russia and or Sweden. That is either down to Coaching and the age of the team. Their transition game has been awful in comparison to what we produced under Lippi in 2006. Even more however, this team seems to be so poorly prepared. against teams like spain, germany, et al, I think their single minded attack (cross the ball from the right side to luca toni) will be easily foiled. Italy should rank 10th imo.

I agree with the rest of them, but heck we’ll see what happens. This tournament reminds me of Superman 3, when clark kent and superman get seperated and have to battle each other. Half of me wants Italy to win, the other half doesnt for fear of giving Donadoni the credibility he doesnt need.

By nsd | June 19th, 2008 at 7:57 am

Russian exile, its hard to put anyone but Greece last…they didn’t even manage a point. While the Polish draw with Austria may have been “easy”, its not like Greece was in the group of death.

They played ugly, terrible football and definitely deserve to be last on this list

Posted from United States

By ordeal_rules (JCS) | June 19th, 2008 at 9:11 am

dude, Austria was by far the weakest side in the Euro and should be higher up the list, they created so many chances with such a limited squad and only recieved 2 or 3 goals against… they deserve at least a top 10 ranking

Posted from El Salvador