Group A
Portugal
Greece
Spain
Russia
Group B
France
England
Switzerland
Croatia
Group C
Sweden
Bulgaria
Denmark
Italy
Group D
Czech Rep
Latvia
Germany
Holland
Interesting pairings in each group; poor Latvia might have hoped for an easier draw. Further comments?
We could’ve done with avoiding France, but the first game is not a bad time to play them. Given the other two teams in the group, both teams would be happy to avoid defeat. We shouldn’t have too many problems qualifying past Switzerland and Croatia (cross fingers).
Group A: Probably looks harder on paper than it will be, I’d expect the hosts and Spain to qualify with something to spare. Greece have looked good, but will they bring it to the big occasion? Russia looked very limited against Wales.
Group C looks weak. Italy will qualify on know how alone. Denmark may edge Sweden.
Group D looks trappy. Latvia’s result against Turkey deserves respect but, like Greece, has to be doubts as to whether they bring that form to the tournament. Haven’t paid much attention to the Czech Republic recently. Anyone? Germany look functional enough to progress, but not good enough to win the tournament. Holland - well who knows? Could win the tournament, could lose all three group games.
Well, the top two in Group A seem easy enough to predict – Portugal vs. Spain is clearly the highlight. I agree that Russia failed to impress against Wales recently, and Greece will suffer from having no fixtures to play at home, as well as having shown their hand to the Spanish in qualifying.
Naturally, the toughest team in Group B is France, but most commentators seem to agree with you that it will benefit England to play them first because the French often start slowly and the first match in any group is usually played with a safety-first attitude. Certainly a draw would suit England in that one, but they shouldn’t be too complacent about Switzerland – they qualified ahead of Russia and Ireland after all. Croatia made hard work of qualifying though, and a lot depends on the match between those two, which opens the group. I suspect that any team will believe they can finish in second place.
Group C is another hard one to call. Italy should be OK if they can overcome their usual early stage fright, but the two Scandinavian teams will be hard to separate. All the teams in this group won their qualifying groups.
Group D is the toughest by far. The Czechs actually finished top of their qualifying group ahead of Holland. There’s a spicy battle to look forward to between Holland and Germany – remember Rijkaard/Völler for example? Every match between those two seems to have increased the historical rivalry between the countries, perhaps more than the England vs. Germany games.
How many qualify. One or two?
Top two in each group qualify for knock out stages.
Yes. Here’s a list of fixtures and dates.
The Quarter Final stage pairs the winners of Group A vs. the runners up of Group B; B1 vs. A2; C1 vs. D2; D1 vs. C2.
Thanks. So it really ought to be;
Spain , Portugal
France , England
Italy , Sweden or Denmark
Holland , Germany
Next stage
Spain , France , Germany , Holland
Then
France , Holland (if they don’t play each other)
So, by a process of logical deduction I have concluded France will win 
Hey! Your logic sucks. 
I guess that really does sum up Holland pretty well. When I heard last Saturday that the first match of Euro 2004 for Holland was going to be against Germany, I just about flipped out. That’s supposed to be the final, you jackasses! 
Ah, if anything, it’ll put the team right in edge straightaway. And God knows they need an edge, as proved per the last qualifying sequence…
Damn, I can’t wait!
I’ll enjoy it once it’s started… but I can’t really work up any enthusiasm for it at the moment …
Speaking of Holland, what’s that Patrick Kluivert dude upto? Haven’t heard much about him recently.
And how’s the Greek team?
Kluivert still plays for Barcelona, but he’s seen more of the bench than of the green stuff as of late. It’s a shame: I still rank him among Europe’s best strikers.
The Greek team. Well… there’s the issue of the aledged bribing of the Armenian team during the qualifiers. Other than that, I don’t rank them too highly. Some great offense players, but not a balanced team of top Euro quality on the whole.
Still could be, if you want to dream.
Nor I really – think of this thread as a stocking-filler before the big day – but there are some interesting pairings in the draw.
For example, it seems strange that Spain and Portugal have met only twice before (that I can find) in international competitions: in qualifying for the 1934 World Cup, Spain won 11-1 on aggregate over two legs, and they drew 1-1 in a group match at Euro ’84. Both seem to be underachievers, with talented players who blow it when the pressure’s on, but Spain’s record is better overall.
This time the home side may have a psychological advantage for a change, given that Spain didn’t qualify as easily as they might have. In any case, I’m sure it will be a great crowd to be in if you could get a ticket.
I wouldn’t build my hopes up for the Greeks; although they did win in Spain in qualifying I can’t see them repeating that. Surprises do happen though, and even the French coach is worried about how a busy end to the European club season will affect his players’ fitness. The same will apply to the Spanish and Portuguese.
Hmm. Well, we’re very capable of knobbing up our first match - but so are the French.
Germany and Holland, eh? Hee hee hee hee!
Don’t mention zee war.
Oh, come on! Surely some of our German Dopers have an opinion on the draw?
Ooooh, hadn’t seen this thread!
Just from an In-Ger-land pov, (although I didn’t think so to begin with) I do now suspect it’s a very good draw.
I’d much rather meet France now and in the Final than have to meet them in the quarters or semis.
As for Croatia and Switerland (the other teams in the Group) . . . well, it could have been better and it could have been worse - pretty much what you’d expect at this stage of the European Championships.
I agree with Tansu that it’s also good to be meeting the French (a) in the first game when they haven’t warmed up and (b) when they haven’t ballsed it up enough to need to win the match. Having said that, emotionally speaking they’ll be well up for it.
In-Ger-land are (obviously) two world-class players short players short of ideal, one forward and one left-side midfield. Or in other words, Shearer and Giggs.
Fwiw, I fancy us to the semis, then who knows . . .
Holland vs. Germany is obviusly the other stand out game from the Group statge . . . can’t wait!
btw, tickets on sale from 12.00 noon on Wed 9th December from the UEFA web site. Good bloody luck!
Um… Giggs is Welsh.
Anyone know how I can watch in the States? Fox Sports 18 and a half, maybe?
Um . . . wrong, Giggs’ father is Welsh.
That was an early morning stupid thing to say; I meant to say Giggs was qualified and actually did play for England as a youngster. He was born in Cardiff and chose to (ultimately) play for Wales only at his father’s urging.
Born Ryan Joseph Wilson on November 29th, 1973 in Cardiff. Oh, and yeah, he’s had 45 caps for Wales. In my book, that makes him pretty Welsh.