Lucky draw for Germany

One reason the Germans are Euro 2008 favourites is the draw. In terms of text book predictions, the top half of the draw is considerably lighter weight than the bottom half.

Germany could reach the final having only played one of the other leading soccer teams of the tournament - the Portugese potentially in the semi final, and after last night’s corruscating display from Pepe, Deco and Ronaldo that could be a tremendous encounter.

But either team would reach the final without confronting any of their big rivals - France, Italy, Holland and Spain. Only one of those can get through to the final. So the prospect of a German or a Portugese victory is twice as good as one of those teams.

So much for the theory. Tonight Gerrmany play Poland who have it within them to upset the whole applacart, just as probably do Croatia. With the Czech Republic looking sterile and bereft of fire power in their opening game against the Swiss, their main skill seemed to be to park the bus across their penalty area and wait for lady fortune to smile on them, which it did as the Swiss missed a good header, hit the bar and ended in lively fashion. The incentive for Poland tonight and for Crotia is that edging Germany out of top spot in the group offers a clear run to the semi finals. Either could just do that.

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