Euro 2004 Draw

December 1, 2003 2:07 AM

Euro 2004: Now We Know Who Is Going To Play Who are we any wiser? Bets are on and early predictions from the bravest punters are welcome. Who's going to disappoint? Who's going to surprise? Who will win, dammit?!
posted by MiguelCardoso (22 comments total)

Some mouth-watering ties there - Portugal v Spain; France v England. Who's going to win? Well, I'd love to say England, but unfortunately I'm a realist - probably France, maybe Portugal, and definitely not Germany.
posted by BigCalm at 2:48 AM on December 1, 2003

Good result for England. France will be a tough game, but at least we haven't got the Germans in the first round!

If you fancy a bet - i'm going to put £20 on Germany to win. Everyone puts them down, but they did get to the world cup final last year! Good value at 18/1
posted by derbs at 3:42 AM on December 1, 2003

If Figo stays healthy and plays like the leader I know he can be, then Portual all the way!

To be fair, they choked big time during the World Cup.....not as bad as France, but a choke nonetheless.
posted by Dagobert at 4:28 AM on December 1, 2003

Yeah, Portugal and Spain have always chronically underperformed in major tournaments... a pity really because they have some great talent.
posted by derbs at 5:18 AM on December 1, 2003

Fratelli d'Italia, l'Italia s'è desta
dell'elmo di Scipio s'è cinta la testa
dov'è la vittoria? Le porga la chioma:
chè schiava di Roma Iddio la creò.

Stringiamoci a coorte, siam pronti alla morte,
siam pronti alla morte, l'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamoci a coorte, siam pronti alla morte,
siam pronti alla morte l'Italia chiamò....

Just a reminder that I have dibs on Mig's couch. ;)
posted by romakimmy at 5:21 AM on December 1, 2003

Here are a few things outside their team that makes Portugal a strong candidate.

1. Home territory. In the Mondo Cup, S. Korea and Japan played waaaaaay above what I expected them to. The Japan vs. Russia was one of the highlights of the tournament for me. Simply exhilarating.

2. If both Spain and Portugal traditionally play below par, maybe, just maybe, they'll cancel each other out and some righteous football will commence.

3. Talent base. OK, this is actually about the team itself but along with Figo, they have Pinto, Reynaldo, Costa along with a strong backfield....I dunno, but I'm all juiced about them.
posted by Dagobert at 5:45 AM on December 1, 2003

*sends Dagobert a case of Vintage Port; starts dusting and shooing the cats from kimmy's chaise longue*
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:06 AM on December 1, 2003

I perennially cheer for Germany, but their luck is running out. Ballack has underperformed, Klose isn't all that and Kuranyi isn't there yet. France and the Netherlands are the class of Europe I believe. England just never quite can perform. Netherlands too has underperformed but I love their strikers. Makaay can't even start for them, which underlines Germany's disadvantage. Of course, never forget Italia. They appear to be playing a more attacking style football and I hope they are rewarded. They frustrated me terribly in the World Cup trying to sit on 1-0 leads and I think they got their just reward.
posted by Mondo at 7:14 AM on December 1, 2003

Don't write off the Dutch either. Still smarting from the failure to qualify for the world cup, and having to qualify via the playoffs for Euro 2004 may make them extra determined to do well. With players like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Overmaas, etc., if they can get their act together they'll be a potent force indeed.
posted by BigCalm at 7:39 AM on December 1, 2003

i'll probably support latvia during this tourny , its very strange to actually see them in something like this , who knows what could happen ?
im also getting a terrible feeling that england might win this , winning the rugby world cup may have given the football team some sort of karma .....or removed them from the media spotlight long enough to make them play well enough to get back into the newspapers.
holland and germany will be a fantastic game , although not for the football.
I think if holland sack advocaat and employ martin o'neil (or wim jansen) then they would win no problem , get rid of the little general while you can my dutch friends.
I feel a bit sorry for sweden sans henrik larson , i think it would be a good way to .....im sorry , im still in denial about henriks ..........i cant even type it , why henrik ? why ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 8:10 AM on December 1, 2003

Worth a fiver on at 500/1 then sgt.serenity!
posted by derbs at 8:28 AM on December 1, 2003

I'll also be cheering for underdog Lativa and, of course, for whatever team steps up against the scourge of humanity, Croatia.
posted by Ljubljana at 8:32 AM on December 1, 2003

I'll be cheering for England.

Realistically, I wouldn't be surprised to see Italy or Spain win it. France, I think, will be bounced in the semis.

Don't tell my German wife, but I don't rate their chances this time.
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:03 AM on December 1, 2003

Sol Campbell, John Terry, Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, Gary Neville, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrad, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Emile Heskey.

That's who will win 2004.

Probably.
posted by ciderwoman at 10:42 AM on December 1, 2003

Ciderwoman, while I am hoping for an England-Italy final match, your England side has one midfielder too many and one goalkeeper too few. And I'm fearing that for England, keeper will be a problem.

Plus we are also chewing this over on SpoFi
posted by billsaysthis at 11:42 AM on December 1, 2003

you insensitive bastard.
posted by Espoo2 at 4:19 PM on December 1, 2003

I think Italy has a great chance of winning this year, you look at the total line-up and you see more total skilled players than any other side. However there is no way to really tell how the team will come together.

I think the big surprise will be Russia. Not to win, but to get out of the group (meaning Spain or Portugal doesn't) and perhaps even steal one in the next round.
posted by cell divide at 5:06 PM on December 1, 2003

Overall I would add that the draw for this Euro looks to be the most exciting in a long time... great group matches this time around.
posted by cell divide at 5:08 PM on December 1, 2003

And of course the whole tournament will be on PPV in the States, blowing another chance to attract a growing American audience smack in the middle of our pro season!
posted by billsaysthis at 7:44 PM on December 1, 2003

i can only discuss football if migs is here , it's a comfort thing, theres no migs in sportsfilter.

we should really be cheering migs up and talking about how portugal are going to win the damn thing and how figo is god and soforth , portugal were very unlucky last time.

i hear figo is signing for celtic ......
posted by sgt.serenity at 8:40 PM on December 1, 2003

No, Sarge, no Cardoso there, though he's more than welcome to join as out only active Europeans are in Great Britain (and the occasional pop-in from RomaKimmy), so I do my best to insert quonsar-like levels of inanity.

i hear figo is signing for celtic ......

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:31 AM on December 2, 2003

Cardoso here, standing up for the Sarge. I wish Figo was signing for Celtic, decent Catholic team that it is, much loved in Portugal, rather than swanning about the hated wanquereros of Real Madrid.

In other news (sorry, Sarge) Figo fancies England- a put-up PR job, if you ask me, the skiving traitor!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 5:36 AM on December 3, 2003