Ordinarily, throughtout all the previous "Groups of Death" in all major competitions, from the World Cup, to the Olympics, to EURO, to the ECL; there has always been ONE team that you just know, despite the odds and the challenges will come out of it. In the ECL this year was Barca, last year ManU. However, in the World Cup of 98, the only tournament that matters, the Group of Death consisted of Spain, Paraguay, Nigeria and Bulgaria. Everyone thought, despite Spain's previous shortcomings, they would come out, maybe not in first, but surely second. With the world on their shoulders and the team that many predicted to end Brazil's dominace, they did not. Instead Nigeria won the group and Paraguay finished second. Spain was once again sent home in dispear.

But EURO 2000 is different. Unlike the World Cup where 32 teams compete, there are only 16 in EURO. Unlike the first round being headlined by the traditional powerhouses' domination of "lower" football countries and the occasional Cinderella team, EURO 2000 is different. There are 4 intensley competitive groups. Each group has at least three teams that can qualify for the quarter-finals. But, the class of the groups is Group D. The World Champions, France. The Co-Hosts and possibly the favourites, Holland. Giant-Killers, and 92 Champions Denmark and finally the hottest team in football, the Czech Republic. Now, this brings me to the point of this topic, France is not playing exceptionally well. Holland, despite recent wins, has been struggling. Demark's Great Dane is in his swan-song, his last major European tournament. The Czech's recent success has been near perfect, and despite their lack of experience, have talent and momentum to carry them very far. Is there a team who combine skill and intelligence to win this group?? And, will the winner of this group have a decided mental edge over the other group winners??

Logic dictates that Holland and France will qualify. Holland is in front of their home fans and are arguably the most talented and deepest side in EURO. While France are the simply the World Champions. But ..... the Danes and the Czechs are not teams that will roll over, and are capable of beating these two teams. But do they have enough?

Who is going to qualify from this group? Please state why. I have writen more than enough and I have some more research to do, so I will post my topic later on.

CHEERS.

Well, this is quite a group....

We hadn't had such a group since the Barca-Manchester-Munich trio of ECL 98-99.

btw, what was that part on Barcelona in this year's ECL? They only reached the semis, and they relatively easily groups....

Well, this is quite a group....

We hadn't had such a group since the Barca-Manchester-Munich trio of ECL 98-99.

btw, what was that part on Barcelona in this year's ECL? They only reached the semis, and they relatively easily groups....

Anyways, some comments:

the Czeck (sp) Republic have done exceptionally well in the qualifying stages, although you DO have to consider their extremely weak opposition. I mean, Lithuania?

Now, either France or Holland is weaker than you say. Because, either Home advantage IS a major advantage, and then France will be significantly weaker than they were in Le Mundial; or Home advantage ISN'T that great, and then Holland loses its edge.

Although France is now much better, now that is has a "decent" striker - Henry et Anelka.

Holland, although all its fame, look at their players, most of them aren't in top form:
The Barca Folk - their empire's crumbling
Overmars and Bergkamp - mostly the latter, not himself for quite a while
And when even Stam is messing up, things aren't looking so good....

As for Denmark - I wouldn't give up on them just yet. Schmeichel still ain't that crappy. I mean, come on, he's STILL the best in the world! Plus, Denmark are in very good form. Granted, their Friendlies aren't that hot, but their last few formal games include that wonderful thrashing of Israel (okay, Israel, but still http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif )8-0 and beating Italy in Napoli.

Nobody thought we'd no nothin in 92, and same here : I declare now, this one's all ours!

Thanks for the comments. http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif

As a Czech, I would have to root for the Czech Republic but...

...realistically I don't think they have much of a chance. The fact we had an easy (??) qualifying group goes, in many ways, against us. There is a real feeling here that the team HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE because everyone says we got there too easily. Even the newspapers don't hold out much hope, and we have all seen what that has done to the moral of other great teams in recent years. However, the team have more passion than talent, and they have that in bucket-loads. http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif Also spurring them on will be the recent successes of the ice-hockey team here. http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif

But what is an easy group? It bothers me that people said it was. Not so long ago people would have said it was an easy group if it had Denmark and Czechia in it... they aren't saying it now.

So I HOPE we get through to the latter stages.

Other than that, I would say Holland and Denmark. (Or Holland and Czech Rep http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif) I don't think France will get through, but I can't put my finger on why. Gut feeling I suppose. I certainly don't think it is because of the fall after such recent highs, I just don't think they have got what it takes.