Slainte

No Home Nations in it so it's not that big a deal here and I'm guessing it's still pretty small in the US, so most likely not many people on here will be following it closely. However it's still a huge tournament so I thought it deserved a thread.

I fancy the Germans, it's practically on home soil for them and they look strong. Game vs Poland is about to kick off. Portugal looked classy as well and Russia under Hiddink are my dark horses.

France, Italy, Holland, Spain are all contenders and Croatia and the Czechs are outside shots. I hope Greece get knocked out in the groups stage, they're boring and ordinary and it's embarrasing for them to be European Champions.

It's certainly a blow to the stature of the tournament that world class players like Gareth Barry and Ledley King aren't there.

What does everyone else think...

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Arcana XV

Spain, Italy and France fan here.

Portugal is cool too.

Hate the Germans, they play like machines with no souls.

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"Yes, but are you a Protestant atheist or a Catholic atheist?".- Northern Irish joke

Scucca

Football does not exist this summer

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mikhail

i got a bet on russia 25/1

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ludahai

Go France.

Czech Republic did NOT look impressive and Croatia looked sluggish against Austria. Italy is in trouble in the Group of Death without Cannavaro.

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The Truth about the Chinese KMT, Taiwan's ruling party
KMT Terror Poster

Infinite Chaos

Don't want them to win but I suspect Germany will at least get to the final. I'd love to see a resurrection of Dutch football - as long as the players remain on good terms long enough.

Volker

I like the Germans, they play like machines with no souls

bub

Netherlands Netherlands Netherlands!!!

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ludahai

The Dutch had a great first result. The French looked ABSOLUTELY LETHARGIC! BRING BACK ZIDANE! - just not the headbutts

Infinite Chaos

Holland destroyed the World Champions! They were electrifying, but history reminds me of when they similarly destroyed Germany in 1974 (Germany were in an equally strongly fancied position) and then were roundly beaten by Germany in the final.

Don't be surprised if Italy recover from this (I'll be eating humble pie if Italy now go and crash out in the group stages) and return to meet Holland in the final.