Euro 2008 Predictions: Group B

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 B below:

Pessimism is mounting and an Austrian disaster is expected by many, but they’re not quite as bad as some would have you believe. Are they? Alex Manninger has had a decent season in goal with Siena, we know Emanuel Pogatez can defend (but not really play) and Martin Stranzl is solid enough. Which is good because the defence and keeper will likely be busy. Andreas Ivanschitz is a proper player in midfield, but a lack of quality strikers means a place in the quarter-finals would be a miracle and even finishing third would be better than expected.

Read our Austria Team Profile for more.

Slaven Bilic seems like one of the few managers who everyone actually likes, so there’s good vibes from camp Croatia. They boast a solid keeper in Stipe Pletikosa, decent defenders like Vedran Corluka and Dario Simic and two – count ‘em -playmakers in Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar. Also strong down the flank where right back Corluka is BFF with right mid Darijo Srna. Eduardo and his broken leg will be missed, but Ivan Klasnic and Mladen Petric have decent international scoring records, while Ivica Olic can pull of the spectacular. Should have enough to get out of this group.

Read our Croatia Team Profile for more.

The turnaround from 2006 to 2008 has been incredible, and Germany come into Euro 2008 as arguably the most confident team. Jens Lehmann drops occasional clangers (and is plain mental) but is still a talented keeper, while Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder are a nice combo of height and class in central defence. Philip Lahm will be important at full back or as a defensive mid, Torsten Frings will crush you if you get in his way and Michael Ballack looks back to his imperious best. Up front Germany have a bevy of talented half-German forwards, with Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez in good form. The heated games against Poland and Austria will be hard work, but Germany should win this group.

Read our Germany Team Profile for more.

A lot of domestic players, but a nice sprinkling of quality. Keeper Artur Boruc is already a hero at Celtic, right mid Jakub Blaszczykowski has nice technique (but he’s hard to spell) while Wisla Krakow defensive mid Dariusz Dudka is apparently primed for a big league move. Further forward Ebi Smolarek will pose a threat and Maciej “Magic” Zurawski takes a free kick worth fearing. Maybe lacking top quality at the back, but could rival Croatia for a qualification spot and will put up a passionate fight against Germany.

Read our Poland Team Profile for more.

1. Germany
2. Croatia
3. Poland
4. Austria

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.