Euro 2008 Predictions: Group C

Our predictions for Euro 2008 continue. In the last day before the tournament, we’ve made a shock rotation, and I’ll be taking over for Daryl to predict Group C. Since three of our four main bloggers support to some degree a side in this group, we’ve given up on being objective, but I’ll try to keep the predictions to Daryl’s standards.

I’ll even try to do it in an English accent, for consistency’s sake.

Predictions for the Group of Death, Dismemberment and General Malaise below:

Even without captain Fabio Cannavaro, the World Cup champions are a force to be reckoned with. The old guard of Materazzi, Panucci, Del Piero and others is joined by a new class of young Italian talent. Danielle De Rossi showed his amazing quality with Roma all season, and Marco Borriello similarly emerged for Genoa. If Borriello’s 19 Serie A goals aren’t enough to scare opposing defenders, Luca Toni proved once again this season he can win games all alone, netting 24 for Bayern Munich. They also happen to have one of the best keepers in the world, Gigi Buffon, at the back. Captain or no captain, the Italians are always dangerous.

Read our Italy Team Profile for more.

Matching up with Italy, for the umpteenth time in a major tournament, is France. Les Bleus are, as always, brimming with talent, and this year feature a pair of players that could make their permanent mark on the international landscape. Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema are the future of the French attack, but whether they can match up with more experienced opponents on the biggest stage is yet to be seen. Like Italy, France has taken a hit to their captain, but remain strong. The problem is certainly not talent, but whether that talent will gel together in the right way at the right time. Pre-tournament friendlies suggest there may be reason to worry, but we all know they can be deceptive. They got the better of Italy in qualifying, but can they do it again?

Read our France Team Profile for more.

Holland comes into this tournament with a side that is very much a Holland side. Great attackers? A questionable defense? Pre-tournament bickering? Check, check and check. Clarence Seedorf is home with a bruised ego, and Ryan Babel with much more visible injuries, but for the most part, their first choices are available. Though their back line may not be the class of the group, there’s a certain Manchester United keeper behind them who wants very much to add a European championship winner’s medal to his Champions League honor from just a month ago. The attacking quality of Robin Van Persie, Jan Vennegor of Hesselink, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar cannot be denied, but the question remains of whether their defenders can stand up to the likes of Luca Toni, Karim Benzema and Adrian Mutu.

Read our Netherlands Team Profile for more.

The darkest of horses in the group of death. The Tricolorii come into this tournament with no expectations from the mainstream media. Despite the dazzling talents of Adrian Mutu and Ciprian Marica in attack, and a starting back line with over 200 total caps, no one expects them to progress. Those who ignore the past, though, like the four points Romania took from the Netherlands in qualifying, are doomed to repeat it. This team has the potential to be the Greece of 2008, not to say they will win, but they may very well surprise. The biggest question mark is their keeper. Bogdan Lobont will have to have the tournament of his life to lead his team to a good result, and after a disappointing club season that saw the Romanian Liga title leave Bucharest for the first time in recent memory, he is certainly hungry for it. Their qualifying and pre-tournament friendlies all point to a very good team, an underestimated team, and if any of their three groupmates take them at all for granted, they will find themselves on the wrong end of a shock result.

Read our Romania Team Profile for more.

Before I make my final picks, a quick note. No one knows quite how this one is going to finish up. The safe and popular choice would be France and Italy, but I just don’t see it happening. France’s injury worries and pre-tournament form leave a bit of doubt in my mind about whether they can make the cut. As I brace for the inevitable comment storm, here are my picks. They represent only my opinions, not those of the bloggers as a whole (especially Laurie):

1. Italy
2. Romania
3. France
4. Netherlands

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.