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| | Author: MasterBets
| Euro 2004 Tips - Betting Preview Group B
Group B consists of France, the sports books' favorite to win Euro 2004, England, overpriced by English betting firms but lively contenders, Switzerland, who will go home early, and Croatia, who could provide plenty of competition.
France
The only team to qualify with a 100% record, France will start as clear favourites to win Euro 2004.
Coach Jacques Santini has exceptional strength in depth at his disposal with a team blended from 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship-winning stalwarts and a few gifted young newcomers, who might struggle to get enough playing time.
The team's quality is more evident up front. A central-midfield pairing of Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane is without compare in world football while striker Thierry Henry has no equal at this tournament. Robert Pires is also one of the world's best players, and when he is missing (as in the World Cup), this team does not look the same. But Pires and Zidane create enough opportunities to feed Henry and David Trezeguet. Both lack the clinical finish of a true striker, but their blistering speed and mercurial abilities are usually enough to see France to victory.
The few doubts over Les Bleus stem from a shock first-round exit from the 2002 World Cup, the holders leaving Japan and South Korea without scoring a goal, and the fact that their defense is old, slow, and overrated, especially their goalkeeper and central defense pairing.
But, coach Santini has enjoyed the luxury of competitive matches in the run-up to the tournament. While France cantered to the top of Group One ahead of Slovenia, Cyprus, Israel and Malta, the qualification process has restored a cutting edge that was so markedly lacking two years ago.
Consecutive championship successes may also have bred over-confidence in the French ranks but the humiliation of 2002 has eliminated any comfort zone. Euro 2004 represents a last chance for the likes of Desailly and Zidane to supplement their international honours while Henry and Vieira are desperate to cement their reputations as the new stars of the world game.
The return to more familiar surroundings will provide underachievers with the chance to atone this summer and no team are more desperate to set the record straight than France.
England
England has the ability to win this tournament, but they also have the potential of exiting early. The truth is that England has become an underachiever, in much the same way that Spain and Portugal flatters to deceive at this level. They have the stars, but lack the ruthless ability to finish that stamps those top-tier footballing nations (Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France). They are never far behind, but can they really win?
A lot depends on the phenom of the recent past, Owen, and the new golden child of England, Rooney. Scholes and Beckham will also need to be at their best, and their are questions surrounding the defense, which is competent but unexceptional (with the noted exception of Campbell). The top defenders in the Premiership are foreigners, as are the top goalkeepers, and the English national team seems a step behind in that respect.
England have the pace and skill to beat any team in this competition, but whether or not they can string together a run to beat the very best remains to be seen. They will beat either Spain or Portugal in the Quarter Final, but from then on their future is in doubt.
Croatia no longer have the stars that once burst onto the world scene to take them to the brink of the World Cup finals, but they have a lot of talent and determination. The lack of a second quality striker to partner Prso up front will hurt them in a very tough qualifying group. They should beat Switzerland but will struggle to secrure points against England or France.
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| Last Updated
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | | |
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