Euro 2012 Group B
GROUP B
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
The Netherlands
The Netherlands are one of the bookies' favourites for Euro 2012 after reaching the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa and breezing through qualifying for this tournament, winning 9 of their 10 games, scoring 37 goals in the process. Holland are a team stacked with attacking talent in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Rafael Van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder. However, there are doubts about the rearguard and Euro 2012 may be a tournament too far for the likes of midfield destroyer and captain Mark van Bommel, who has recently been released from Milan.
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Netherlands Kit 1
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Netherlands Kit 2
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Netherlands v Denmark 9 June; Kharkiv
Netherlands v Germany 13 June; Kharkiv
Netherlands v Portugal; 17 June; Kharkiv
Coach
Bert van Marwijk
Record
1960-1972 Did not qualify, 1976 3rd Place, 1980 Group Stage, 1984 Did not qualify, 1988 Winners, 1992 Semi-Final, 1996 Quarter-Final, 2000, 2004 Semi-Final, 2008 Quarter-Final
Men to watch
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has had a superb season but doubts over his future amid rumours of an impending move to one of the Manchester clubs, Barcelona or Juventus may pray on his mind. Joris Mathijsen is an experienced centre back now playing his football with Malaga. Arjen Robben has the dribbling and shooting skills to trouble any defence and if he avoids injury, he could be one of the stars of the tournament.
Will make it out of the group but semi-finals at best is our prediction.
Euro 2012 Betting
How they qualified
Won Group E with 9 wins on the spin before losing to Sweden away.
On the sidelines
Holland will stay at the Sheraton Krakow Hotel and train at Wisla Krakow's Reymana Stadion. Like England they will fly into the Ukraine for their matches.
Analysis
Denmark
Denmark play a solid 4-3-3 formation with some exciting talent coming through into the team in the shape of Ajax's young playmaker Christian Eriksen and Wolfsburg defender Simon Kjaer. Stuttgart's William Kvist is another important member of team. Coach Martin Olsen may need to replace veteran Thomas Sorensen in goal with Manchester United's reserve keeper Anders Lindegaard, as the Stoke custodian is prone to the occasional howler.
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Denmark Kit 1
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Denmark Kit 2
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Denmark v Netherlands 9 June; Kharkiv
Denmark v Portugal 13 June; Lviv
Denmark v Germany; 17 June; Lviv
Coach
Morten Olsen
Record
1960, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 2008 Did not qualify; 1984 Semi-finalists; 1988, 1996, 2000 Group stage; 1992 Champions; 2004 Quarter-finalists
Men to watch
Christian Eriksen provides the flair and Euro 2012 may be a showcase for a move to a bigger club for the 20-year-old. Niklas Bendtner will be relied on for goals from crosses supplied by the veteran winger Dennis Rommedahl.
A repeat of their shock 1992 triumph is not on the cards and it is hard to see Denmark emerging from this tough group..
How they qualified
Won Group H including beating Portugal 2-1 at home in Copenhagen.
On the sidelines
Denmark will stay at the Hotel Marine in Kolobrzeg and prepare at the home ground of Kotwica Kolobrzeg.
Analysis
Portugal
Portugal came through the play-offs after a roller-coaster qualifying campaign which saw the sacking of Carlos Queiroz, the former assistant coach of Manchester United, and his replacement by ex-Sporting Lisbon manager Paulo Bento. Further bickering between the new coach and some of his players lead to Real Madrid's Ricardo Carvalho and Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa being excluded from the squad. Portugal's 4-3-3 formation includes the attacking talents of Ronaldo and Nani and the uncompromising Pepe in defence but the midfield lacks creativity and Portugal will struggle to qualify from the "Group of Death".
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Portugal Kit 1
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Portugal Kit 2
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Portugal v Germany 9 June; Lviv
Portugal v Denmark 13 June; Lviv
Portugal v Netherlands; 17 June; Kharkiv
Coach
Paulo Bento
Record
1960-1980, 1998, 1992 Did not qualify; 1996, 2008 Quarter-finals; 2004 Runners-up; 1984, 2000 Semi-finals
Men to watch
Besides Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United's Nani, Zaragoza's Helder Postiga will be relied on to score goals. Sporting's Rui Patricio is the new man in goal.
We think they'll struggle to get out of the group.
How they qualified
Portugal were second in Group F; qualified via the play-offs thumping Bosnia & Herzegovina 6-2.
On the sidelines
Portugal are based at the Hotel Remes Sport & Spa in the small town of Opalenica.
Analysis
Germany
Germany have a young and talented squad with some outstanding individuals and with Spain possibly in slight decline this could be the year that the Germans take yet another major title. Brimming with confidence and athleticism, Germany's crop of bright young things includes Mesut Ozil, Thomas Mueller, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira, with only Ozil and Mueller consistent starters. Most other teams just don't possess this amazing strength in depth. Joachim Low's preferred 4-2-3-1 system is highly flexible with the Polish-born duo of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski regular goal scorers at this level with Mario Gomez as back up.
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Germany Kit 1
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Germany Kit 2
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Germany v Portugal 9 June; Lviv
Germany v Netherlands 13 June; Kharkiv
Germany v Denmark 17 June; Lviv
Coach
Joachim Low
Record
1960, 1964 Did not enter; 1968 Did not qualify; 1980, 1976, Runners-up; 1988 Semi-finals; 1984, Group stage as West Germany*
1992, 2008 Runners-up, 1972, 1996 Champions; 2000, 2004 Group stage
Men to watch
Captain Philipp Lahm is a world class left back and should anchor a young defence if Arsenal centre back Per Mertesacker fails to recover from injury. Bayern's Bastian Schweinsteiger is the fulcrum of the team.
We think they will make the final but can they lift the ultimate prize?
How they qualified
Finished top in Group A with some dominating performances in winning all 10 matches and scoring 34 goals.
On the sidelines
Germany will be based in Gdansk, the former German city of Danzig in the Hotel Dwor Oliwski.
Analysis
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