.... a bold prediction? Perhaps on the face of it, but I have overwhelming evidence to support my claim: I rest my case!
they aren't in the best of form going into the tournament but they almost always get it right on the big stage. france are THE form side but as always it depends on the harmony within their squad. i personally don't think spain will reach the final - just beginning to lose their way a little.
Think Sneijder will we brilliant, got a feeling Llorente will get goals too and might win Golden Boot. But Player of The Tournament I think will be Mesut Ozil, Frank Ribery is hitting form or Thomas Muller. I think Germany will win it personally.
I find it staggering how people are just not even considering Holland. Their front 6 is arguably better than any other team: Hunterlaar Van-Persie VDV Sneijder Robben De-Jong/Van-Bommel The Spanish team, they haven't got (apart from Torres, the only one with more than 16 goals to his name in their squad), a regular goalscorer from their attacking division, whereas the Dutch quintet (Robben, VDV, Sneijder, Huntelaar, Van Persie) are proven goalscorers at International level, amassing a staggering 118 goals between them! For this reason, my money is on Holland to win the Euro's
Germany haven't won a tournament since Euro '96, still wouldn't bet against them though. Russia are my dark-horse tips - remember where you heard it first
Out of that front 6 I only rate RVP, Sneijder and Robben and I'd imagine one of those 3 will be injured at some point during the tournament.
I think Holland will do well too, but their defense is a problem. Also Spain have Fernando Llorente, I think he is a great forward.
I also think Holland could win the Euro's this year. I did a £10 bet on winners of each group and went for Russia, Holland, Spain and France and if it comes up trumps I would win over £260.
Go and do your homework on Huntelaar then! 2011/12 Season 48 goals in 47 games (Overall) 32 Bundesliga Games (29 Goals) 12 European Games (14 Goals) Top Goalscorer in Bundesliga 11-12 Top Goalscorer in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying competition with 12 goals Holland Record 53 Games (31 Goals)...just 9 away from their national record! --- Then you might rate him differently
They won't play that formation though. Huntelaar will be on the bench and their "front 6" is expected to be Van Bommel/De Jong as holding midfielders and Afellay, Sneidjer, Robben and Van Persie ahead of them. The weakness for Holland is the fact that their starting left back will be Jetro Willems who has not even managed over 50 professional appearances in his career yet so you'd imagine strikers would have great success peeling off the centre backs and into the area between them and Willems plus some wingers should have a field day with his lack of experience in getting into the right positions. And Llorente scored 29 goals last season.
