Don't Kick It, Pass It.: Euro 2012: Group D- Group Of England (and Co)

It seems whatever group the English are in they get a most disproportionate amount of media coverage, the English media and supporters are usually excessively optimistic regarding their team's chances of winning tournaments. Thankfully, that isn't the case this time as they field a very average team and their best player, Wayne Rooney, is suspended for the first two games.
Oh yeah and there are three other teams too. France are considered the favourites while the Swedes will fancy their chances. As for the Ukrainians one gets the feeling they are there to make up numbers.
Must watch game: The France vs England match looks like the must watch but the first games of group stages tend to be very conservative and defensive. England vs Sweden on the 15 June should decide who will go through to the next round. It won't be exciting football but it will be tense and tightly contested.

I honestly don't know how they are ranked number six in the world as they are rubbish and have been for a while now. Expectations from media/supporters are surprisingly low as the team has been riddled with injuries and is going through a rebuilding stage with new coach, Roy Hodgson.
Why they can advance- The Group is not particularly difficult, all they need to do is beat Sweden and Ukraine. A draw with France in the opener is not so far fetched. They have young, quick wingers and strikers, which will make them dangerous on the counter-attack, something they will have to do a lot.
Why they may not- The side is very inexperienced and has been beset by injuries. No Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker or Gary Cahill. They could be knocked out of the tournament by the time Wayne Rooney comes back from suspension.
Player to watch- Ashley Young-forward- the Man Utd player creates goal scoring chances, he needs to convert them for England to have any chance of going through to the next round.

Why they can advance- The favourite to win the group, they have maybe the most talented squad of individuals in the whole tournament. Players like Nasri, Benzema and Ribery can create and score goals with ease.
Why they may not- They may have too much talent, they haven't decided on their best starting XI yet. They could spectacularly implode as a team like we saw at the 2010 World Cup. Their defence is suspect, leaks goals.
Player to watch- Frank Ribery-wing- the Bayern Munich player sums up the enigmatic French squad. Brilliant individually and can win games single-handedly but also tries too hard to win it all himself and holds on to the ball for too long. Where he goes, France goes (literally).

Why they can advance- They play solid, sound football and have one of the best strikers in the world in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Though they lost to England last month in a friendly they could beat them on a neutral site.
Why they may not- They haven't done much at tournaments they have been in lately. Ibrahimovic needs to play well for them to advance, there is a lack of striking power around him.
Player to watch- Zlatan Ibrahimovich-striker-the entertaining striker from AC Milan is the captain and hero of the Swedish team. He is up there with Balotelli of Italy for the most interesting character at the tournament.

Why they can advance- being hosts they will have home town advantage. That's about it though. I don't rate them with such tough opposition.
Why they may not- Lack of talent. Their captain, 35 year old striker Andriy Shevchenko, is still their best scoring chance. They are also recovering from suspected food poisoning earlier this week. The excuses are already being written up, not a good sign.
Player to watch- Anatoliy Tymoshchuk- holding midfielder who plays for Bayern Munich will direct play for the Ukrainian side.

Prediction of who advances: France and England.

NZ TAB bet for the group: Ukraine not too qualify $1.57

Photo sourced from oleole.com

Don't Kick It, Pass It.