GROUP A: ANALYSIS

Group A: Analysis

Much of the attention has been focused on Group C as the potential group of Death for someone, but this is a finely balanced group and any team not coming out of the starting blocks quickly could find themselves in for a shock. Equally both the Czech Republic and Portugal have good reason to fancy themselves as potential champions.

Group A is really going to be about which teams show up for the championship. One suspects this is going to down to temperament. There are two great goalkeepers in action who may influence things in Chelsea Petr Cech and Fenerbache’s Rustu.

On paper the Czech Republic look like favourites, although they have had to live with a burden of expectation that their ageing manager Karel Bruckner knows only too well of brilliant teams of the past that did not go on to dominate in the way their counterparts in Holland did.

Turkey too promised so much at the World Cup in 2002 where they finished third but then disappeared from the stage, but they also have a wily manager in Fatih Terim who has coached AC Milan and the Galatasaray team that beat Arsenal in 2000 UEFA Cup Final.

Switzerland could surprise everyone. They are long odds but solid and should outshine co-hosts Austria. They are at home and have been getting good results in friendlies. Probably not tournament winners but maybe capable of a shock or two.

Throw into this mix the glittering midfield of Portugal with Ronaldo, Deco, Nani and Quaresma and we have another potential tournament winner managed by the irrepressible Filipe Scolari.

The opening games on June 7 could be decisive. The Czech Republic play Switzerland in the tournament opener followed by Portugal and Turkey. Anyone who loses is going to be up against it for the next 10 days.