Great Dane Football Blog will go through the EURO 2012 groups and the squads. Today we take a look at Group C, where Spain, Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Croatia will meet.










 
Group C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia

The four teams will be listed after the position Great Dane Football Blog believes the teams will have after the group matches.


1.    Spain

FIFA World Ranking: 1

Del Bosque has announced a strong squad for the EURO, with Barcelona as the main provider of players. It is going to be a Spanish team as we know them with Iker Casillas on goal, Gerard Pique in the defends, Fabregas on the midfield and Fernando Torres in front. One of the key questions will be, if Torres can return as the goal scorer he used to be.

Spain had a fairly easy way to the EURO 2012 with the Czech Republic as the hardest opponent in the Qualification. The team is one of the favorites, if not THE favorite, to win the competition, and we should expect them to reach the final.

The Profile

It is hard to pick just one profile on the Spanish team, but Iker Casillas has been a strong goal keeper for both Real Madrid and the national team throughout his career, and he is expected to play a good EURO, as well.
Keep an eye on

Fernando Llorente has been a strong factor in Athletic Bilbao’s European success this season. It is going to be interesting if he can keep up the good form during the EURO 2012. As I see it, he deserves to be in the starting XI instead of Fernando Torres.



2.    Italy

FIFA World Ranking: 11

Cesare Prandelli has so far announced a provisional squad for the EURO 2012, with most of the players from the Italian Serie A. In fact, only four players is not to be found in the domestic league. The squad is a mix of older players with routine and a couple of young players ready for their breakthrough. Prandelli has also made two controversial selections in Antonio Cassano and Mario Ballotelli who, both has been surrounded by negativity this season.

Italy won their Qualification group with ten points between them and Estonia on the second place. The Italian national team has had problems in the competitions since their 2010 World Cup win, and it is going to be interesting whether this should be another failing final for the country.

The Profile

Antonio De Natale has played a great season for Udinese, scoring 23 goals. He will be one of the key attackers for Italy together with Barlotelli and Cassano. The thirty four year old striker might be playing his last season for the national team, and he will do whatever he can, to leave a good impression.



Keep an eye on 

Roma striker Fabio Borini has had twenty-six mathes for his club and scored ten goals. This has resulted in a selection for the natioal team. It is worth keeping an eye on the twenty-one year old attacker, as he looks like the future for Italy.

3.    Croatia

FIFA World Ranking: 8

Slaven Bilic has announced a preliminary squad with Luca Modric as the most prominent name. The squad has a good mix of domestic league players and players from European clubs. The attack looks very dangerous for the opponents defends, with players as Eduardo, Ivica Olic and Nikica Jelavic. However, most of the pressure will be on Modric to create results for the team.

Croatia ended as number two in the Qualification group, two points after Greece. Croatia will be able to cause problems for Italy and Spain with their hard playing style, as well as their high level of technique. However, I still believe that they will end as number three in the group stages.

The Profile

Luka Modric is one of the hottest names in England right now and will have a key role for Croatia this summer. There will be a lot of pressure on him to succeed, but I believe that he will be one of the profiles in the competition.

Keep an eye on

Nikola Kalinić plays for Dnipro in the Ukraine League. He has had a past in Blackburn where he made seven goals in 44 appearances. The striker, now stands in front of his breakthrough on the national team where he so far has had 6 matches and scored two goals.





4.    Republic of Ireland

FIFA World Ranking: 18

Giovanni Trapattoni has announced his preliminary squad with some English Premier League names included. The Italian has only found space for the veteran Robbie Kean, who will be a safe starter for the team. The midfield seems strong with players as Darren Gibson and Aiden McGeady. However, compared to the other squads in the group, Ireland are clearly the underdogs.

Republic of Ireland qualified to the EURO 2012 as number two in Group B, two points after Russia. However, with teams as Andorra, Armenia, Slovakia and FYROM in the group Ireland had an easy way to the EURO. I don’t see them winning anything in this group, but they can surprise.

The Profile

Robbie Kean might be a veteran, but he still knows where the goal is. He will be an important player for Ireland in their try to compete with the rest of the teams.


Keep an eye on

Simon Cox has been an important player for West Bromwich in the Premier League, as well for the Irish national team in the group stages, and will stand in front of his first finals ever. It is going to be interesting to see if he can keep up the steam.