Introduction
When the final 23 man squads are announced at the end of May I shall be en route to the Attersee in the Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria for a well-deserved holiday. So I won’t be around to comment on them. Instead I will take a closer look at the provisional squads and some of the notable players we hope to see next month when Euro 2012 gets underway.
spot51
Prediction
So, here we go - I expect the following 8 countries to contest the quarter-finals: POLAND / RUSSIA v GERMANY / HOLLAND, SPAIN / ITALY v FRANCE / ENGLAND I rather hope I’m right, as that will produce some cracking ties in the knock-out stage.
Game on!
Poland
The co-hosts named a 26 man provisional squad containing just 5 home-based players. They are coached by Franciszek Smuda, the last man to take a Polish club to the knockout stages of the CL (Widzew Lodz in 1996).
In goal should be Arsenal’s Szczesny with club-mate Fabianski as back up. They play a flat back four likely to include Anderlecht’s Wasilewski and Sochaux’s Perquis and Dortmund’s Pisczczek. Sebastien Boenisch of Werder Bremen, having recovered from a year out with injury, could fill the left back berth.
Poland play two holding midfielders. Murawski of Lech Poznan will be one. The other will either be Auxerre’s experienced Dudka or maybe Polanski of Mainz.
The front four line up as a bank of 3 behind a central striker which will certainly be Robert Lewandowski who leads the line for German double-winners Borussia Dortmund. He is a striker at the peak of his powers and will get goals. Another certain starter is Poland’s captain Jakub Blaszczykowski who plays on the right. He too is at Dortmund. Poland have struggled to find the right blend across the middle but Ludo Obraniak of Bordeaux may play centrally with Rybus who now plays his football in Russia wide left.
The bench will feature players from the Turkish, German and French leagues and should include Pawel Brozek of Trabzonspor who has been on loan at Celtic since January.
Of the host nations, Poland look to have the easier task of progressing.
Greece
Eight years ago Greece surprised us all by going all the way in Euro 2004 and then mugged their Portuguese hosts in the final. Current coach Fernando Santos (of Portugal) started by naming a provisional squad of 12 Greeks who play abroad before completing the squad with home-based players.
Palermo keeper Tzorvas is a likely starter but the CL exploits of Apoel has propelled Chiotis into contention. Avraam and Kyriakos Papadopoulos (no relation) of Olympiakos and Shalke respectively are probable defenders, as is the less pronounceable Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Werder Bremen. Torosidis of Olympiakos usually plays right back and his team-mate Holebas will contest the left back berth with Panathanaikos’ Spyropolous. (Can’t wait for their game against the Czecks when the ITV commentary team have to say all these names!)
Greece set up as 4-3-3 but don’t get the idea they’ll be playing attacking football. The 3 across the middle are all defensive minded players – Panathanaikos pair Katsouranis and Karagounis are there to break-up play. They’ll be joined by club-mate Ninis or Makos of AEK. Greece’s Plan B involves replacing one or more of these with creative players like Fotakis of PAOK or Fetfatzidis of Olympiakos.
The front 3 are therefore obliged to do their own fetching and carrying but are at least a settled unit with plenty of game time under their belts. Celtic’s Samaras and PAOK’s Salpigidis usually play either side of Gekas, currently with Samsunspor in Turkey. Other options include Mitroglou who has spent a season banging them in for Atromitos, on loan from Olympiakos. Another regular substitute is veteran AEK striker Nikos Liberopoulos.
I’ll be amazed if they get beyond Group A but 2004 should be a warning to us all!
Czech Republic
From the early days of international competition Czechoslovakia competed, sometimes punching above their weight. In 1976 (yes, other football matches did take place) they won the thing. Who can forget Panenka waiting for Sepp Maier before chipping his penalty over the prone keeper?
Michal Bilek’s provisional squad includes 4 keepers but unless they win their first 2 you can’t see anyone other than Petr Cech between the sticks. The back four is just as settled with Gebre Selassie (Liberec), Sivok (Besiktas), Hubnik (Hertha) and Kadlec (Leverkusen) usually starting. Rajtoral and Limbersky (both Viktoria Plzen) have recent CL experience and Suchy of Spartak Moscow and Cesena’s Pudil are other options.
Tomas Rosicky captains the side and usually plays in the hole behind a central striker. This is usually Milan Baros who these days does his stuff at Galata, Istanbul. Options from the bench include Necid of CSKA or Tomas Pekhart once of Spurs but now at Nuremburg.
The midfield four usually include a pair sitting deep – Plasil of Bordeaux will be one of these. The other could be Hubschman of Shaktar but Wolfsburg’s Petr Jiracek may be preferred. The two attack-minded midfielders will probably be Jan Rezek (Famagusta) and Vaclav Pilar of Plzen. Kolar and Petrzela (both of Plzen) provide options.
The Czechs don’t give much away (I know – I watched Scotland’s qualifying games) but they don’t score many either. Rosicky is the main threat but it may be beyond him to carry his side into the knock-out stage.
Russia
Russian football is on the up and only two of Dick Advocaat’s provisional squad play their football abroad. Their 1-0 home defeat by Slovakia was their only qualifying blemish in a campaign where only 4 goals were conceded – but only 17 scored including 8 in the two games with Andorra. So expect Russia to be hard to beat without rattling too many in at the other end.
Igor Akinfeev is their top ranked goalie. Cover for the CSKA keeper is provided by Zenit’s Malafeev. The back four are a settled unit with CSKA pair Aleksei Berezutsky and Ignashevich flanked by Zenit’s Anyukov and former Chelsea left-back Yuri Zhirkov who now plays for Anzhi Makhachkala. Berezutsky’s twin and club-mate Vasili was surprisingly omitted from the squad but cover is provided by 3 more Moscow defenders – Granat (Dynamo), Kombarov (Spartak) and Shiskin (Locomotiv).
Advocaat has increasingly opted for a fluid 4-3-3 formation with Zenit’s Igor Denisov screening the defence. His team mates, the experienced Zyryanov and one-time centre half Shirakov often fill the other midfield positions. Also in the squad are the Locomotiv pair, Ozdoev and Glushakov. Portuguese based Marat Izmailov may also make the squad.
Upfront the line is led by Zenit’s Aleksandr Kerzhakov who returned to Russia after a sojourn in sunny Sevilla. He is usually flanked by Russia’s captain, Arshavin, who we know from his time at Arsenal. With any luck the third forward will be Russia’s golden boy, Alan Dzagoev of CSKA, who I’m really looking forward to watching. Former Spurs striker Pavlyuchenko and Stuttgart’s Pogrebnyak who did a recent loan stint at Fulham are alternative forwards and there may be a call up for former boxer, Aleksandr Kokorin of Dynamo Moscow.
Russia ought to navigate their way from Group A. But how much further?
Denmark
Another former Euros winner, Denmark breezed through the qualifiers, faultless at home and just a single defeat by Group runners-up Portugal. Morten Olsen has been in post since 2000 and what he doesn’t know about Danish football is not worth knowing.
A number of his players will be known in the UK and Stoke keeper Sorensen is most likely to start in goal. His understudies are Andersen who plays in France and Manchester United’s Lindegaard. Centre backs are likely to be Anfield’s Dan Agger and Simon Kjaer who spent last season with Roma. Nordsjælland’s Bjelland (careful there, IM) is the young pretender. Fullbacks are Lars Jacobsen (Copenhagen) and Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar) with Benfica’s Wass and Ajax’s Boilesen on the bench.
Denmark’s playmaker will be Christian Eriksen of Ajax. At 20, this lad is regarded as one of Europe’s hottest properties and is another I’m looking forward to watching. He’ll play either in the centre of midfield or in the hole behind Bendtner. The other midfielders will be Kvist (Stuttgart) and Zimling of Brugge. Options include the experienced Christian Poulsen and Kahlenberg (both Evian), Schone of NEC and the Wankdorf’s own Michael Silberbauer.
Presumably Bendtner is back at Arsenal after a season in Sunderland. He will play up-front between the Brondby pair of Michael Krohn-Dehli and the evergreen Dennis Rommedahl. Dennis recently became Denmark’s most capped outfield player. Only one other striker was listed in the provisional squad – Nordsjælland winger Tobias Mikkelsen.
Denmark are no pushovers but if Euro 2012 has a “group of death” then this is it. Do any Danes see them finishing above Holland or Germany?
Portugal
England’s oldest ally came out the hat with Denmark again. In Paulo Bento they have the competition’s youngest coach but, thankfully for me, they also have the most settled side. Barring injury, they will line up with Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon) in goal behind a back four of his club-mate Joao Pereira, Pepe and Coentrao (both Real Madrid) and Bruno Alves of Zenit.
The midfield comprises Meireles of Chelsea, Veloso of Genoa and Porto’s Moutinho. Up front will be Helder Postiga of Real Zaragoza with Nani (Man Utd) and Cristiano Ronaldo operating down the flanks. After his splendid season at the Bernabau, Portugal now expects Ronaldo to deliver on the international stage.
Portugal’s squad includes goalkeepers Eduardo of Benfica and Beto of Cluj. I share your pain in noting there was no place for Quim this time. Defensive cover is provided by Ricardo Costa of Valencia and Rolando of Braga. Carlos Martins (Benfica) is a midfield option as are Custodio (Braga) and Ruben Micael (Atletico Madrid). Other forwards we might see include the Besiktas pair of Hugo Almeida and Ricardo Quaresma and perhaps Nelson Oliveira of Benfica.
On their day Portugal are a match for anyone. Can their day arrive often enough next month to see them progress? I rather doubt it.
Holland
Runners up to Spain in South Africa, Holland may even have improved since then. The Dutch are certainly confident their side can go all the way in 2012. They qualified imperiously, only losing their final game (having already qualified) against a Swedish side chasing the “best runner up” prize. Dutch coach, Bert van Marwijk, has Mark Van Bommel as a son-in-law and a contract until 2016!
Their squad is packed with household names so we pretty much know what we’ll be getting. Both Newcastle’s Tim Krul and Swansea’s Michel Vorm will travel but neither is likely to unseat Stekelenburg who these days keeps goal for Roma. Van der Wiel (Ajax) and Pieters (PSV) were first choice fullbacks but the latter has withdrawn from the squad with a foot injury. Ajax’s Vurnon Anita may deputise. At centre back they play Malaga’s Mathijsen and Everton’s Johnny Heitinga who remains first choice despite rarely turning out for his club. Defensive options are Boulahrouz (now at Stuttgart), Bruma (Chelsea but on loan to Hamburg) and Feyenoord’s Ron Vlaar.
Holland are blessed with such talent in midfield that they often line up with 5 across the park supporting a central striker. That main striking role is shared by Van Persie of Arsenal and Schalke’s Huntelaar but if Holland go a goal down expect to see both on the park at the same time.
Holland’s defensive approach sees two deep lying central midfielders – Van Bommel (Milan) and De Jong (Man City). The more attacking variant leaves one of these on the bench. Playmaker Wesley Sneidjer has had a rotten season at Inter and could lose out to Van der Vaart (Spurs) if only one creative midfielder is selected. Width is provided by Robben (Bayern), Kuyt (Liverpool) or Afellay (Barca). PSV’s Strootman and Lens should travel as will Twente’s Luuk de Jong.
Holland selected a huge provisional squad with lots on interesting youngsters. I’m not prepared to second-guess their coach as to which may make the final 23.
If they abandon fighting for football, the Netherlands have a good chance of winning.
Germany
A number of serious pundits predict Germany will win Euro 2012. Having won every competitive match since their 2010 semi-final with Spain they do look capable of going all the way. Joachim Low has a wealth of talent at his disposal but it is his ability to blend them into a hugely effective team that may bring them victory in Kiev.
Manuel Neuer must brush aside the disappointment of Bayern’s penalty shoot-out failure last Saturday and concentrate on keeping goal for Germany. The other keepers likely to travel are Tim Wiese of Bremen and Hanover’s Zieler. The full back positions are usually filled by Bayern pair Philipp Lahm, the captain, and Jerome Boateng who can, of course, play centre half. Much depends on the fitness of Per Mertesacker of Arsenal. The big centre half missed most of last season so if he is fit he should also be fresh. His likely partner is Dortmund’s Mats Hummels but Bayern’s Badstuber will push them both for a start. Other defenders likely to feature include Howedes (Schalke) and Schmelzer (Dortmund).
Their performances in South Africa, 2010 earned Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil big money moves to Real Madrid. Both played massive roles in the Meringue’s 100 point season enabling them to overcome Barcelona in La Liga. They are just as important for Germany. They are supported in midfield by Bayern’s hardworking Schweinsteiger who must also put memories of that penalty shootout behind him.
To my surprise 33 year old Klose who plays for Lazio these days is still first choice centre-forward with Mario Gomez (Bayern) an able deputy. Width is provided by Thomas Muller (Bayern) and Arsenal’s newest capture, Lukas Podolski. Other options for the front 6 positions include Stuttgart striker Cacau and Dortmund midfielders Gotze and Sven Bender. Twin Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Toni Croos (Bayern) and Marco Reus (Möchengladbach) should also make the squad.
Never underestimate the Germans – especially not in 2012. Can’t wait for their game against Holland on Wednesday 13th June: write it in your diaries!
Croatia
The guys in the checkerboard shirts are back again and, as they don’t do defending, will have a right good go at their opponents in group C. Coach Slaven Bilic, guitar playing rock god in his homeland, is well known in England having played for Everton and West Ham. He has a growing band of admirers for his coaching work and is expected to land a Premiership club before too long. Croatia safely negotiated their way past Turkey in the play-offs and now look to go beyond the quarter-final stage they achieved in 2008.
Croatia’s top keeper Pletikosa now plies his trade in Russia with Rostov. He almost always starts; the only other capped keeper is Monaco’s Daniel Subasic. Croatia’s attacking intent is illustrated by them selecting Bayern’s Pranjic, a left winger by trade, at fullback. The option here is Dnipro’s Ivan Strinic but he also prefers attacking to defending. Corluka (Spurs but loaned to Leverkusen) is the usual right back. Veteran centre half Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb) is likely to start with either his team mate Vida or Lyon’s Lovren alongside him. Eintract’s Gordon Schildenfeld can also play centre-back. Buljat (Maccabi Haifa) and Vrsaljko (Dinamo Zagreb) provide defensive cover.
Captain Darijo Srna usually patrols the right flank while Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic and Kranjcar of Spurs contest the left side berth. Croatia’s defensive midfielders Vukojevic (Kiev) and Dujmovic (Dinamo Moscow) usually compete for a single starting place as Luka Modric (Spurs) is a certain starter. Ilicevic (Hamburg) and Perisic (Dortmund) will be available from the bench.
In recent games the German based forwards Olic (Bayern) and Mandzukic (Wolfsburg) have been regular starters but Jelavic’s scoring feats for Everton may dislodge one of them. Eduardo (Shaktar) and Kalinic (Dnipro) also bring Premiership experience although both now play in Ukraine - shame Croatia’s matches are in Poland.
If you like flowing, attacking football you’ll like Croatia. If resolute defending is your bag, forget it.
Republic of Ireland
On paper the Irish have one of the weaker squads but their great skill is to make their whole much more than the sum of their individual parts. Trapattoni’s men safely got past Estonia in their play-off to qualify for their first tournament since the 2002 World cup. Trapattoni has already announced his final squad so we know who’ll be going to Poland.
You’ll know most of these players. Indeed you’ll have seen several of them at St Mary’s and will see more next season. Villa’s Shay Given keeps goal and David Forde (Millwall) and Westwood (Sunderland) are his deputies. John O’Shea (Sunderland) and Stephen Ward (Wolves) are the starting fullbacks and St Ledger (Leicester) and Richard Dunne (Villa) the centre halves. Foley (Wolves), O’Dea (Celtic) and Kelly (Fulham) provide cover.
They’ll play four across the middle: McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Whelan (Stoke), Andrews (West Brom) and Duff of Fulham are the starters. Hunt (Wolves), Fahey (Birmingham) and Gibson (Everton) will be on the bench. If Eire want to stir things up a bit they have Sunderland winger James McLean available too.
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy) is Ireland’s captain and a certain starter. There are plenty of candidates for the other striking role but Kevin Doyle (Wolves) is in pole position. Baggies pair Shane Long and Simon Cox are also in the frame and Stoke’s Jonathan Walters provides a further option.
I’d be amazed if Ireland last beyond their 3 group games but if they do go down, be sure they’ll go down battling all the way.
Italy
Looking through this Italian squad I confess I’m seeing a lot of unfamiliar names. I certainly don’t watch as much Calcio as I did when it was on Channel 4 and Italy is a squad in transition. Cesare Prandelli was tasked with replacing the 2006 World Cup winners with the next generation of Italian stars. I’m interested to see then play. Italy dominated a relatively weak qualifying group but in Poland they’ll get a sterner test.
Italy’s huge provisional squad has still to be whittled down to 23 so here is my best guess of who we’re likely to see. Buffon (Juve) is still preferred between the posts with De Sanctis (Napoli) the usual deputy. Italy’s next long-term keeper will probably be Salvatore Sirigu of Paris St Germain but this is a tournament too soon for him.
Maggio (Napoli) and Criscito (Zenit) is the likely full-back pairing and Chiellini of Juve the senior centre-back. His team mate Barzagli may be alongside but Ranocchia (Inter) and Bocchetti (Rubin Kazan) will also push for a start. Ogbonna (Torino), Abate (Milan) and Balzaretti (Palermo) provide the defensive options.
Established internationals Pirlo (Milan) and De Rossi (Roma) are likely starters, the former sitting deep and firing “quarterback” passes downfield. De Rossi sits on his right with either Marchisio (Juve) or Nocerino (Milan) on the left. Motta (PSG) and Bologna’s Diamanti are the only other capped midfielders in the provisional squad but a number of uncapped youngsters are waiting for a call.
Cassano (Milan) has recovered from surgery following a stroke and may line up alongside Balotelli (Man City). Veteran De Natale (Udinese) is also available as are Giovinco (Parma) and youngsters Borino (Roma) and Destro (Siena).
Italy are rarely ordinary; they are sometimes great, other times awful. I haven’t a clue which path this year’s team will follow but my firm hope is that the Azzurri treat us to some of the beautiful football of which the Italian game is capable.
Spain
World and European champions with a squad drawn from world’s most powerful clubs, Spain last lost a competitive match in Sweden in 2006 – what could possibly go wrong? Well, Del Bosque may have gone mad; his provisional squad contained no Barca or Bilbao players (they contest the Copa del Rey final this Friday) and Mata and Torres were only added after safely coming through the CL final.
Having said that we can safely ignore his long list of players if they don’t play for Real Madrid. We pretty much know how Spain will line up.
I still think of Iker Casillas as a nipper but he is now 30, has well over 100 caps and has become Spain’s most successful captain of all time. One assumes Victor Valdes will travel so either De Gea (Man United) or Reina (Liverpool) won’t.
Ramos and Arbeloa (both Real Madrid) are usually the fullbacks but don’t be surprised if Jordi Alba (Valencia) is preferred on the left. If Pique and Puyol (both Barca) are fit, they’ll play in the centre. Bilbao pair Iraola and Martinez could also go as may Albiol (Real Madrid) and Malaga’s Monreal.
Barca trio Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta will surely team up with Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso in the middle of the park. Don’t ask me how they’ll line up. You watched Spain before – they are all over the place (like a mad-woman’s shit).
David Silva (Man City) and David Villa (Barca) should complete the team.
Spain have a hugely strong bench with Mata and Torres (Chelsea), Fabregas (Barca), Llorente and Muniain (Bilbao) and Soldado (Valencia) all capable of changing a game.
You’d be mad to expect Spain not to reach the semi-finals. You’d not be crazy to expect them to win it either.
Sweden
Holed up with their hosts in Kiev, Sweden won’t be wasting hours in airports as they travel to matches. It will be interesting to see if this gains them any advantages. Sweden qualified as best runner-up and coach Erik Hamren has plenty of experience to call on this summer. He named his 23 early in May.
Andreas Isaksson (PSV) is the first choice keeper with Willand (Copenhagen) and Hansson (Helsingborg) the probable back-ups. Lustig (Celtic) and Martin Olsson (Blackburn) are the starting fullbacks. Centre half is still the redoubtable Olof Mellberg who now enjoys the Pireus sunshine with Olympiakos. The other centre back role is contested by Jonas Olsson (West Brom) and Granqvist (Genoa). Other defenders included are Antonsson (Bologna) and Safari (Anderlecht).
Anders Svensson (now back at Elfsborg) still pulls the strings in Sweden’s midfield – says much about the imbeciles who didn’t think he was good enough for Saints. He sits alongside the excellent Kim Kallstrom who has enjoyed many great years with Lyon. Outside them Seb Larsson (Sunderland) and Elm (AZ Alkmaar) provide the width.
Johann Elmander (Galatasaray) usually leads the line and the enigma that is Ibrahimovic (Milan) plays off him. Hysen (Gothenburg) and Toivonen (PSV) are the alternative strikers. The squad also includes midfielders Wernbloom (CSKA) and Holman (Istanbul) and wingers Bajrami of Twente and Wilhelmsson who counts his shekels with Al-Hilal.
Competitive, hard-working and with excellent strikers of a dead ball, Sweden can be a real handful. They so often are against England!
Ukraine
Ukraine also selected 26 players for their provisional list. All but two play for clubs in Ukraine. They are coached by Oleg Blokhin who folk of my era will remember as a sturdy, left-sided forward for Dinamo Kiev and the USSR. He was a smashing player and was named European Footballer of the year in 1975. This is his second stint as national coach – in his first Ukraine reached the ¼ finals of the 2006 World Cup.
Blokhin is a big fan of 4-4-2 but often drops one midfielder back to screen his defence. This role is normally given to the vastly experienced Anatoliy Tymoshchuk who played centre-back for Bayern last Saturday.
Shovkovski, the 37 year old Dinamo Kiev stopper, will be in goal and Shaktar defenders Butko and Kucher are also sure to start. Yevhen Selin of Poltava will play at left back but the final defensive berth will go to whoever is fit on the day. This may be Chygrynski of Shaktar, Mykhalyk of Kiev or his bad-tempered club-mate Khacheridi.
The new star of Ukrainian football is Kiev’s Andriy Yarmalenko and he is likely to play wide left. His club mate Husiev may start on the opposite wing with Dnipro’s Ruslan Rotan in the centre. Blokhin has other options for this bank of three.
If fit, 35 year old Andriy Schevchenko could start up front. His Kiev team-mate Milevskyi is in contention for the other striking role but Blokhin may opt for the more experienced Andriy Voronin who now plays for Dinamo Moscow.
With all his options home-based, Blokhin’s Ukraine side are somewhat of an unknown quantity. Hopefully England’s coaches know them better than I do or we may be in for an early return home!
France
One of the powerhouses of European soccer, les Bleus were bad in 2008 and truly awful in 2010. Laurent Blanc was charged with taking them forward and the recent 18 match unbeaten run suggests he is doing a good job. France qualified without much trouble and now look ready to test themselves against Europe’s finest.
Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris is first choice and he’ll be backed up by Mandanda (Marseille) and Carrasso (Bordeaux). Sagna’s injury opens the way for Reveillere (Lyon) to play right back. Regulars Mexes (Milan), Rami (Valencia) and Evra (Man Utd) complete the back four. Koscielny (Arsenal), Clichy (Man City) and Debuchy (Lille) also travel and with Kaboul also out injured Montpelier Captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa may also go.
Yann M’Vila (Rennes) and Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle) are the sitting midfielders who get hold of the ball and set up attacks. The front four is usually Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) leading the line with Nasri (Man City), Ribery (Bayern) and Malouda (Chelsea) assisting. France have plenty of options from the bench: Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Martin (Sochaux) and Valbuena (Marseille) are all eager to play. PSG’s Matuidi is cover for the defensive midfielders and Loic Remy (Marseille), Oliver Giroud (Montpelier) and Jeremy Menez (PSG) are the striking options.
If I were a betting man (which I’m not since an injurious hand of brag c1978) my fiver would be going on France to win Euro 2012. It will be interesting to see if they can overcome that handicap.
England
Unless injury strikes, England’s squad will be the 23 players selected by Roy Hodgson on 15th May. There is no point discussing who won’t be going so this is my view on those who are.
Joe Hart has come on leaps and bounds in the last 18 months. He has stopped spilling the ball in the box and now holds pretty much everything that comes near him. He is a major reason for Man City’s title win and should play every game. Green and Ruddy are competent back-ups but England will probably need to win their 2nd, 3rd and any subsequent games so there’ll be no chance to experiment.
I don’t like Johnson but see no more right backs so assume he’ll play. Terry, Cahill and Cole will provide Chelsea-like determination across the back four. Lescott and Baines are sound back-ups and Jones provides versatility – as indeed does Milner who can play right-back if required.
I’m not sure what shape Roy favours – perhaps the upcoming friendlies will give us a clue. Without Rooney in the first 2 games we could see Young and A N Other playing as a front two – I’d prefer Welbeck but can understand the case for Defoe. Carroll looks good coming off the bench so this may be how he is used.
I assume Roy has watched England fail in previous competitions by trying to play Gerrard, Lampard and Barry in the same midfield. Of the three, Gareth Barry screens the defence better so I’d have him. With Gerrard as captain we must expect him to start too. A year ago Parker would have looked a better bet but his star has waned somewhat. So is CL winner Lampard going as a substitute? Theo will start wide right and the other midfield place rather depends on how Young is deployed. If he provides width rather than playing up front we’ll need someone “in the hole”. The choice is presumably between Defoe and Oxo. Or if Young does that job then Downing or Oxo may play on the left. Milner suffers from being a jack of all trades but is a good squad member and will play wherever he is told to.
Don’t doubt I’ve got the above horribly wrong but I won’t be alone. Maybe Roy will go 4-3-3 with Defoe, Oxo and Theo up front and England will be so good when Rooney arrives he won’t be able to get into the side!
Final Squads With Numbers
The final squads were announced this week and, as I am not in Austria, I’ve taken a look to see who is in and who is not. The complete squads with squad numbers follow.
GROUP A
No major surprises in the Polish squad. Fabianski didn’t get the call but too much sitting on the bench at the Emirates is his problem. Greece’s squad is close to what was expected though it contains a couple more PAOK Thessalonica players including keeper Chalkias. The Czechs and Russians are pretty close to what I predicted in the Provisional squad article.
GROUP B
Denmark keeper Sorensen was injured last weekend in the Brazil friendly. Kaspar Schmeichel is the beneficiary. The German and Portuguese squads are pretty much in line with predictions. The Dutch have recalled Wilfred Bouma to their squad but there was no place for Chelsea’s Bruma.
GROUP C
A number of different names appeared in the Italian squad – at least one of the absentees, Criscito, is tied up in this match fixing business. The Spanish are without two huge stars – David Villa and Carles Puyol. Eire and Croatia sprang no surprises.
GROUP D
The Swedish and French squads are largely as expected. I didn’t quite know what to expect from the Ukraine - their squad remains the least known of the 16. Last but not least, England had to replace the injured Ruddy and Barry with Everton’s Jagielka and Butland of Brum.
It all kicks off Friday week!
Spot51
30 May 2012
(With updates 14th June 2012)
Full List of Players
GROUP A
CZECH REPUBLIC
12 RAJTORAL (Viktoria Plzen), 1 CECK (Chelsea), 13 PLASIL (Bordeaux), 2 GEBRE SELASSIE (Liberec), 14 PILAR (Viktoria Plzen), 3 KADLEC (Leverkusen), 15 BAROS (Galatasaray), 4 SUCHY (Spartak Moscow) 16 LASTUVKA (Dnipro), 5 HUBNIK (Hertha), 17 HUBSCHMAN (Shaktar), 6 SIVOK (Besiktas), 18 KOLAR (Viktoria Plzen), 7 NECID (CSKA Moscow), 19 JIRACEK (Wolfsburg), 8 LIMBERSKY (Viktoria Plzen), 20 PEKHART (Nuremberg), 9 REZEK (Famagusta), 21 LAFATA (Jablonec), 10 ROSICKY (Arsenal), 22 DARIDA (Viktoria Plzen), 11 PETRZELA (Viktoria Plzen), 23 DROBNY (Hamburg)
GREECE
12 TZORVAS Palermo 1 CHALKIAS PAOK 13 SIFAKIS Aris 2 MANIATIS Olympiakos 14 SALPIGIDIS PAOK 3 TZAVELAS Monaco 15 TOROSIDIS Olympiakos 4 MALEZAS PAOK 16 FOTAKIS PAOK 5 PAPADOPOULUS (K) Schalke 17 GEKAS Samsunspor 6 MAKOS AEK 18 NINIS Panathinaikos 7 SAMARAS Celtic 19 PAPASTATHOPOULOS Bremen 8 PAPADOPOULOS (A) Olympiakos 20 HOLEBAS Olympiakos 9 LYBEROPOULOS AEK 21 KATSOURANIS Panathinaikos 10 KARAGOUNIS Panathinaikos 22 FORTOUNIS Kaiserslautern 11 MITROGLOU Atromitis 23 FETFATZIDIS Olympiakos
POLAND
12 SANDOMIERSKI Bialystok 1 SZCZESNY Arsenal 13 WASILEWSKI Anderlecht 2 BOENISCH Bremen 14 WAWRZYNIAK Legia Warsaw 3 WOJKOWIAK Lech Poznan 15 PERQUIS Sochaux 4 KAMINSKI Lech Poznan 16 BLASZCZKOWSKI Dortmund 5 DUDKA Auxerre 17 SOBIECH Hannover 6 MATUSZCZYK Dusseldorf 18 MIERZEJEWSKI Trabzonspor 7 POLANSKI Mainz 19 WOLSKI Legia Warsaw 8 RYBUS Terek Grozny 20 PISZCZEK Dortmund 9 LEWANDOWSKI Dortmund 21 GROSICKI Sivasspor 10 OBRANIAK Bordeaux 22 TYTON PSV 11 MURAWSKI Lech Poznan 23 BROZEK Celtic
RUSSIA
12 BEREZUTSKI CSKA Moscow 1 AKINFEEV CSKA Moscow 13 SHUNIN Dynamo Moscow 2 ANYUKOV Zenit 14 PAVLYUCHENKO Locomotiv Moscow 3 SHARONOV Rubin Kazan 15 KOMBAROV Spartak Moscow 4 IGNASHEVICH CSKA Moscow 16 MALAFEEV Zenit 5 ZHIRKOV Anzhi 17 DZAGOEV CSKA Moscow 6 SHIROKOV Zenit 18 KOKORIN Dynamo Moscow 7 DENISOV Zenit 19 GRANAT Dynamo Moscow 8 ZYRYANOV Zenit 20 POGREBNYAK Fulham 9 IZMAILOV Sporting Club 21 NABABKIN CSKA Moscow 10 ARSHAVIN Zenit 22 GLUSHAKOV Locomotiv Moscow 11 KERZHAKOV Zenit 23 SEMSHOV Dynamo Moscow
GROUP B
DENMARK
12 BJELLAND Nordsjaelland 1 ANDERSEN Evian 13 OKORE Nordsjaelland 2 POULSEN (C) Evian 14 SCHONE NEC 3 KJAER Roma 15 SILBERBAUER Young Boys 4 AGGER Liverpool 16 LINDEGAARD Man United 5 POULSEN (S) AZ Alkmaar 17 PEDERSEN Groningen 6 JACOBSEN Copenhagen 18 WASS Evian 7 KVIST Stuttgart 19 POULSEN (J) Midtjylland 8 ERIKSEN Ajax 20 KAHLENBERG Evian 9 KROHN-DEHLI Brondby 21 ZIMLING Brugge 10 ROMMEDAHL Brondby 22 SCHMEICHEL Leicester 11 BENDTNER Arsenal 23 MIKKELSEN Nordsjaelland
GERMANY
12 WIESE Bremen 1 NEUER Bayern 13 MULLER Bayern 2 GUNDOGAN Dortmund 14 BADSTUBER Bayern 3 SCHMELZER Dortmund 15 BENDER Leverkusen 4 HOWEDES Schalke 16 LAHM Bayern 5 HUMMELS Dortmund 17 MERTESACKER Arsenal 6 KHEDIRA Real Madrid 18 KROOS Bayern 7 SCHWEINSTEIGER Bayern 19 GOTZE Dortmund 8 OZIL Real Madrid 20 BOATENG Bayern 9 SCHURRLE Leverkusen 21 REUS Dortmund 10 PODOLSKI Arsenal 22 ZIELER Hannover 11 KLOSE Lazio 23 GOMEZ Bayern
HOLLAND
12 VORM Swansea 1 STEKELENBURG Roma 13 VLAAR Feyenoord 2 Van Der WIEL Ajax 14 SCHAARS Sporting Club 3 HEITINGA Everton 15 WILLEMS PSV 4 MATHIJSEN Malaga 16 Van PERSIE Arsenal 5 BOUMA PSV 17 STROOTMAN PSV 6 Van BOMMEL PSV 18 De JONG (L) Twente 7 KUYT Liverpool 19 NARSINGH Heerenveen 8 De JONG (N) Man City 20 AFELLAY Barca 9 HUNTELAAR Schalke 21 BOULAROUZ Stuttgart 10 SNEIJDER Inter 22 KRUL Newcastle 11 ROBBEN Bayern 23 Van Der VAART Spurs
PORTUGAL
12 RUI PATRICIO Sporting Club 1 EDUARDO Benfica 13 RICARDO COSTA Valencia 2 BRUNO ALVES Zenit 14 ROLANDO Porto 3 PEPE Real Madrid 15 RUBEN MICAEL Atletico Madrid 4 VELOSO Genoa 16 MEIRELES Chelsea 5 COENTRAO Real Madrid 17 NANI Man Utd 6 CUSTODIO Braga 18 VARELA Porto 7 RONALDO Real Madrid 19 LOPES Braga 8 MOUTINHO Porto 20 VIANA Braga 9 ALMEIDA Besiktas 21 PEREIRA Sporting Club 10 QUARESMA Besiktas 22 BETO Cluj 11 OLIVERA Benfica 23 POSTIGA Zaragoza
GROUP C
CROATIA
12 KELAVA Dynamo Zagreb 1 PLETIKOSA Rostov 13 SCHILDENFELD Eintract Frankfurt 2 STRINIC Dnipro 14 BADELJ Dynamo Zagreb 3 SIMUNIC Dynamo Zagreb 15 VRSALJKO Dynamo Zagreb 4 BULJAT Maccabi Haifa 16 DUJMOVIC Zaragoza 5 CORLUKA Leverkusen 17 MANDZUKIC Wolfsburg 6 PRANJIC Bayern 18 KALINIC Dnipro 7 RAKATIC Sevilla 19 KRANJCAR Spurs 8 VUKOJEVIC Dynamo Kiev 20 PERISIC Dortmund 9 JELAVIC Everton 21 VIDA Dynamo Zagreb 10 MODRIC Spurs 22 EDUARDO Shaktar 11 SRNA Shaktar 23 SUBASIC Monaco
ITALY
12 SIRIGU PSG 1 BUFFON Juventus 13 GIACCHERINI Juventus 2 MAGGIO Napoli 14 De SANCTIS Napoli 3 CHIELLINI Juventus 15 BARZAGLI Juventus 4 OGBONNA Torino 16 De ROSSI Roma 5 MOTTA PSG 17 BORINI Roma 6 BALZARETTI Palermo 18 MONTOLIVO Fiorentina 7 ABATE Milan 19 BONUCCI Juventus 8 MARCHISO Juventus 20 GIOVINCO Parma 9 BALOTELLI Man City 21 PIRLO Juventus 10 CASSANO Milan 22 DIAMANTI Bologna 11 Di NATALE Udinese 23 NOCERINO Milan
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
12 KELLY Fulham 1 GIVEN Aston Villa 13 McSHANE Hull 2 St LEDGER Leicester 14 WALTERS Stoke 3 WARD Wolves 15 GIBSON Everton 4 O’SHEA Sunderland 16 WESTWOOD Sunderland 5 DUNNE Aston Villa 17 HUNT Wolves 6 WHELAN Stoke 18 O’DEA Celtic 7 McGEADY Spartak Moscow 19 LONG West Brom 8 ANDREWS West Brom 20 COX West Brom 9 DOYLE Wolves 21 GREEN Derby 10 KEANE LA Galaxy 22 McCLEAN Sunderland 11 DUFF Fulham 23 FORDE Millwall
SPAIN
12 VALDEZ Barca 1 CASILLAS Real Madrid 13 MATA Chelsea 2 ALBIOL Real Madrid 14 XABI ALONSO Real Madrid 3 PIQUE Barca 15 RAMOS Real Madrid 4 MARTINEZ Bilbao 16 BUSQUETS Barca 5 JUANFRAN Atletico Madrid 17 ARBELOA Real Madrid 6 INIESTA Barca 18 ALBA Valencia 7 PEDRO Barca 19 LLORENTE Bilbao 8 XAVI Barca 20 CAZORLA Malaga 9 TORRES Chelsea 21 SILVA Man City 10 FABREGAS Barca 22 NAVAS Sevilla 11 NEGREDO Sevilla 23 REINA Liverpool
GROUP D
ENGLAND
12 BAINES Everton 1 HART Man City 13 GREEN West Ham 2 JOHNSON Liverpool 14 JONES Man Utd 3 COLE Chelsea 15 LESCOTT Man City 4 GERRARD Liverpool 16 MILNER Man City 5 KELLY Liverpool 17 PARKER Spurs 6 TERRY Chelsea 18 JAGIELKA Everton 7 WALCOTT Arsenal 19 DOWNING Liverpool 8 HENDERSON Liverpool 20 CHAMBERLAIN Arsenal 9 CARROLL Liverpool 21 DEFOE Spurs 10 ROONEY Man Utd 22 WELBECK Man Utd 11 YOUNG Man Utd 23 BUTLAND Birmingham
FRANCE
12 MATUIDI PSG 1 LLORIS Lyon 13 REVEILLERE Lyon 2 DEBUCHY Lille 14 MENEZ PSG 3 EVRA Man Utd 15 MALOUDA Chelsea 4 RAMI Valencia 16 MANDANDA Marseille 5 MEXES Milan 17 M’VILA Rennes 6 CABAYE Newcastle 18 DIARRA Marseille 7 RIBERY Bayern 19 MARTIN Sochaux 8 VALBUENA Marseille 20 Ben ARFA Newcastle 9 GIROUD Montpelier 21 KOSCIELNY Arsenal 10 BENZEMA Real Madrid 22 CLICHY Man City 11 NASRI Man City 23 CARRASO Bordeaux
SWEDEN
12 WILAND Copenhagen 1 ISAKSSON PSV 13 OLSSON (J) West Brom 2 LUSTIG Celtic 14 HYSEN Gothenburg 3 MELLBERG Olympiakos 15 ANTONSSON Bologna 4 GRANQVIST Genoa 16 WERNBLOOM CSKA Moscow 5 OLSSON (M) Blackburn 17 SAFARI Anderlecht 6 ELM AZ Alkmaar 18 HOLMEN Istanbul 7 LARSSON Sunderland 19 BAJRAMI Twente 8 SVENSSON Elfsborg 20 TOIVONEN PSV 9 KALLSTROM Lyon 21 WILHELMSSON Al Hilal 10 IBRAHIMOVIC Milan 22 ROSENBERG Ex Bremen 11 ELMANDER Galatasary 23 HANSSON Helsingborg
UKRAINE
12 PYATOV Shaktar 1 KOVAL Dinamo Kiev 13 SHEVCHUK Shaktar 2 SELIN Poltava 14 ROTAN Dnipro 3 KHACHERIDI Dinamo Kiev 15 MILEVSKIY Dinamo Kiev 4 TYMOSHCHUK Bayern 16 SELEZNYOV Shaktar 5 KUCHER Shaktar 17 MYKHALYK Dinamo Kiev 6 HARMASH Dinamo Kiev 18 NAZARENKO Tavriya 7 SHEVCHENKO Dinamo Kiev 19 KONOPLYANKA Dnipro 8 ALIYEV Dinamo Kiev 20 RAKITSKIY Shaktar 9 HUSYEV Dinamo Kiev 21 BUTKO Illichivets 10 VORONIN Dynamo Moscow 22 DEVYCH Metalist 11 YARMOLENKO Dinamo Kiev 23 HORYAINOV Metalist
