Home 
World
Euro 2008
Euro 2008 Predictions: Group A
Comments(8)
There’s only one tried and trusted way of correctly predicting final group standings at major international tournaments.
But replacing every single player and referee with robots would be time consuming and expensive.
So we’ll try the next best (and far cheaper) method: Close our eyes and hope for the best.
Predictions for Group A below:
Top keeper in Petr Cech and a defence packed with Serie A experience. But missing one very important piece of the midfield puzzle in playmaker Tomas Rosicky. Still there’s always the big head (and frame) of Jan Koller to aim for up front, and young Martin Fenin seems primed to make a name for himself. That should be enough to get out of Group A, but maybe not to go much further.
Read our Czech Republic Team Profile for more.
Penalty kick expert Ricardo in goal (just ask Stevie Gerrard) and the pairing of Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho should see Portugal looking solid at the back. The likes of Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and others will create chances, but who will be there to finish them? Should make it out of Group A, and if Ronaldo’s there might be no stopping Scolari’s team.
Read our Portugal Team Profile for more.
No telling whether Philippe Senderos will be a legend or a liability in defence. Either way, he’ll be protected by a whole host of defensive mids including Gelson Fernandes and Gokhan Inler. If the Swiss midfield gets round to doing any attacking it will come from young Johan Vonlanthen and (if fit) Tranquillo Barnetta, while the recently returned to fitness Alexander Frei will be on the end of things. The lift from playing at home could get them out of the group stage, but there are no guarantees.
Read our Switzerland Team Profile for more.
An experienced keeper in Rustu Recber and plenty of attacking midfield talent like Hamit Altintop (if fit) Emre Belozoglu and the feisty young winger Arda Turan. No Hakan Sukur this time, but Nihat Kahveci (of Villarreal fame) can finish and Tuncay Sanli has got the skills to pay the bills. The defence is almost exclusively made up of domestic players though, which could be Turkey’s undoing.
Read our Turkey Team Profile for more.
So, here’s a quick stab at how Group A might finish:
1. Portugal
2. Switzerland
3. Czech Republic
4. Turkey
Could go either way between Switzerland and Czech Republic, but I’m thinking home advantage plus the absence of Tomas Rosicky might give Switzerland the edge.
Think you can make a better prediction? Of course you do. So enter our Euro 2008 Predictor Contest. You get points for picking the order the four groups will finish in, and for predicting which teams will be in the quarters, semis and final, plus big points for selecting the overall winner.
Prizes up for grabs include a £100 ($200) voucher from UKSoccerShop.com three Euro 2008 team jerseys from SoccerPro.com and a pair of Nike Euro 2008 special edition football boots, also from SoccerPro.com.
The Czechs are a tough one to predict. They could win the group, or finish last, depending on how they show up and the tactics used. Koller is stil dangerous and Baros and Sionko aren’t too shabby either. The defense might let them down, though.
I agree with that. I also believe it will be Portugal first and Switzerland second. I believe Switzerland will defeat the Czechs on Saturday and then draw the other two games.
Posted from 
Italy
Switzerland go through on the top notch, and the Czechs follow them on the 2nd notch. My guess is that UEFA work on letting Switzerland win, but the Czech midfielders and some youngins with unmeasureble talent have potentials to be against all odds.
Posted from 
Japan
I think the czechs can not just win the group, but also the whole thing…
If PT comes from 2 victories when they meet SWI, they might win the third match. Less pressure, etc, plus the fact PT is technically much better than SWI.
If they start comming from a win and a draw, it’ll be difficult to beat SWI, cos they’ll have a better chance, cos PT will have the pressure and will depend of the result between TUR and CZE. SWI doesn’t score much but has a tight defense and PT, although an attacking team, also don’t score that many goals… So, if PT beats TUR and draws the Czechs, SWI gets a chance to sneak in and they will, cos they play home and the refs will be behind them a bit more…
So it’s essential for PT to beat the turks, which will not be easy at all…
Or not…
Posted from 
Netherlands
portugal germany frane espanha
czech croatia italy greece
switzerland poland holland sweden
turkey austria romania russia
portugal 2-0 croatia italy 1-2 spain
czech p.k 4-3 germany france 0-1 greece
portugal 1-0 spain greece 1-0 czech republic
finalssssssss portugal 2-1 greece
Posted from 
Canada
worst prediction ever!!!!! swiss for second place are you nuts?? the team you gave no change (TURKIYE) made to semifinal already the rest went back to sweet home long ago;) and it wont surprise me if Turkiye make the final and even win the title
That’s why they call it a prediction, arda … it’s nothing more than a glorified guess. I think you’ll find most people counted out the Turks, and we’ve watched in complete wonder at what they’ve been able to do. Great job done by them, and good luck in the semi.
As for the Swiss, it’s never smart to bet against one host going through. Besides, had the bad calls been for the host instead of against them (sort of Bizarro 2002), it might have been quite different, in the first game at least.
Comments are closed
MORE EURO 2008 BLOGS
CATEGORIES & ARCHIVES
I think the Czechs will be battling it out with Portugal for top spot. In my opinion, the other two pose little competition. I hope I’m wrong, and I hope its a very close game!
Posted from
United Kingdom