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| | Author: MasterBets
| Euro 2004 Tips - Betting Preview Group D
Group D is going to be ultra-competitive with Holland, the team that loves to underperform, Germany, a team that can't help underperforming, Czech Republic, the dark horse to go a long way in this tournament, and Lativa, the true minnows of Euro 2004.
Czech Republic
They're our longshot pick for Euro 2004. We think they can win this group and get to the semi-finals at least, perhaps further.
The Czechs stormed their qualification group for this year's tournament, topping the table ahead of Holland. The only points they dropped were in Amsterdam, where they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Having qualified so well the Czechs would have been dismayed to find themselves grouped with both Germany and Holland, though appeased that Latvia made up the quartet.
Euro 2000 was a similar story, having waltzed to the competition proper with a perfect qualifying record they were then pooled with France, Holland and Denmark. The Czechs managed to beat Denmark in the final game but it was already too late after two defeats. Euro 2004 is certainly an easier proposition and the Czech Republic find themselves second favourites to win the group.
The bookmakers may well be going against accepted opinion by writing off the Germans but the Czechs fully deserve their status and after their impressive qualifying displays against Holland could well wonder why they are not favourites. They are favorites in our eyes, because they outplayed the Dutch in qualifying, and betting on Holland is a fool's pursuit.
In Pavel Nedved, the Czechs have the European Footballer of the Year and it is the midfield - one of the best at the tournament - that has propelled them to the finals. Tomas Rosicky gets his first chance to shine at a major tournament and he, like Nedved, will be one of the players to watch in Portugal. The defence does not include as much talent but has the same mixture of youth and experience that runs throughout the team while up front is the imposing figure of Jan Koller who is likely to lead the line.
In goal is the much heralded Petr Cech, who at just 22 has become the Czech Republic's number one and has been snapped up by Chelsea. The bookies have chalked up Karel Bruckner's team as sixth favourites to scoop the ulitmate prize.
Holland
As always the Dutch have tremendous talent at their disposal but looked awful when it counted, almost failing to qualify at all. They had to come through the playoffs, and even after this ignominy for players of the calibre of Kleiverts and Van Nistelrooy, they might not respond in Euro 2004. They should qualify ahead of Germany, who are at a nadir, but Holland will be swept aside by the first disciplined, hard-working team they face in the knock-out phase.
Germany and Latvia are unlikely to progress out of Group 1 - the Germans have a rich history (at least in football, har har) but their recent form is abysmal and they lack the talent to compete in Euro 2004. The Latvians are happy to be in Portgual and out of Latvia, and will treat this as a nice holiday.
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| Last Updated
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | | |
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