FanNation

Euro 2008 Team Preview #1:  Group A: Czech Republic and Switzerland

This is the first of eight entries that I will write giving an overview of the 16 nations participating in Euro 2008 Championships.  What I'm hoping is that I'll give casual football fans (eg, Americans) a marginally useful guide which they can refer to if they have any questions about a team, player, or the tournament.  And so:

Czech Republic

A lot of people, myself included, have both questions and expectations of this team.  They finished second at Euro '96 and made the semifinals in '04, but their performance at the '06 World Cup was widely considered one of the most disappointing of the entire tournament (they failed to get out of the group stage after suffering a huge upset at the hands of Ghana).

Their Euro '08 squad isn't as deep or talented as their '04 squad, and they are showing some age at some positions.  Additionally, they will be missing their captain and best outfield player, Tomáš Rosický, due to injury.

Predicted Starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

Defenders: Marek Jankulovski, Tomas Ujfalusi, Zdenek Grygera, Zdenek Pospech

Midfielders: Jaroslav Plasil, Jan Polak, Tomas Galasek, David Jarolim

Forwards: Milan Baros, Martin Fenin

The Czech Republic team has traditionally been somewhat less deep than Europe's major soccer powerhouses, but they have had success due to their excellent teamwork and strong play through the defense and midfield.  This team projects to be no different, although they will be missing some of the attacking firepower that past Czech teams have enjoyed.

Everything starts with Cech, who is this team's best player and arguably the best all around goalkeeper in the world.  He is a fantastic shot stopper, dominant in the air, and a masterful coordinator of his defense.  His presence on the backline is worth a great deal to this team.  His one major area of weakness is on penalty kicks, where in recent years it seems he just cannot get a win.

On defense, the heart of this team now rests in their outstanding center backs.  I think that Tomas Ujfalusi and Zdenek Grygera will be the first choice here, two guys who emerged as some of the best defenders in Italy this past season (for Fiorentina and Juventus, respectively).  Jakulovski remains a solid option at left back, but right back is a bit of a question mark (Ujfaluši may play there).

The midfield will miss the attacking skill and creativity of Rosicky, but Polak and Galasek will provide good defense and work rate in the middle (if Galásek's age starts to show, expect Radoslav Kovac or Tomas Sivok to step in the holding role).  The attack will have to come from a pair of speedy and skilled wingers, particularly Jarolím, who was in fine form for HSV all season long.

At forward, longtime fixture Jan Koller will most likely only be used as a substitute for this, his last tournament before retirement.  Milan Baros is extremely gifted but is also extremely inconsistent, but after a decent season on loan to FA Cup champs Portsmouth he may be in good form for Euro (it should also be noted that he always seems to be at his best playing for his country).  My sleeper pick here is Fenin, who is only 21 but is an amazing talent (he scored a hat trick in his first league appearance in Germany).  I suspect they will opt for the speed and skill of Fenin over the power of Koller.

All in all, this team looks like it will be extremely strong defensively, but will be somewhat lacking the attacking firepower of years past.  If they get the best from Baroš and solid attacking play from their wings, this team could be very dangerous.  If not, they will be a difficult team to beat, but will also find it difficult to win.

Prediction: 2nd in Group A, Loss in Quarterfinals

Switzerland

This Swiss team enters the tournament with high expectations from their fan base.  They enjoyed some success in the '06 World Cup, drawing eventual finalists France in the group stage, before bowing out to Ukraine on penalties in the knockout stage.  

In '06, this team put up a fantastic defensive performance (they did not allow a single goal), but their lack of attacking talent (and remarkably poor penalty kick performance) proved their undoing.  This team looks to have much the same makeup.

Predicted Starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Diego Benaglio

Defenders: Philipp Degen, Patrick Müller, Philippe Senderos, Valon Behrami

Midfielders: Daniel Gygax, Gelson Fernandes, Hakan Yakin, Tranquillo Barnetta

Forwards: Alexander Frei, Marco Streller

This was a difficult team to pick.  The Swiss have good depth, but they lack the one or two playmakers who can make a real difference.  They are also a huge team physically, with a good number of players over 6'2".

At goalkeeper, Benaglio has emerged as the #1 over longtime starter Pascal Zuberbühler.  He was a key player in Wolfsburg's remarkable rise this season (a midseason transfer) and he may well emerge as a top young player in this tournament.  He has shown excellent reflexes and shot stopping ability, though he obviously lacks a lot of experience at this level.

The major strength of this team is its defense, and it starts with Senderos.  He is a titan at the back for Arsenal, one of the strongest central defenders in Europe.  Muller is a highly experienced and technically skilled back who compliments Senderos well.  However, both players are notoriously slow footed, so against a pacey team (Portugal?) we may see Johan Djourou, another Arsenal player who is noted for his speed.  At fullback, Degen has been good enough to invite the interest of Liverpool, and Behrami is more of a wing-back option who I think will be used to exploit his amazing speed (he may also play on the wing).

In the midfield, much will depend on Manchester City's whiz kid Gelson Fernandes, who is an incredibly hardworking defensive midfielder with a real eye as a playmaker.  I suspect his compliment in the middle will be Yakin, who is experienced but isn't particularly talented.  The wings will be manned by similar players, my guess is the versatile Gygax and a young speedster Barnetta.  Barnetta in particular may emerge as their best attacking option.

Up front, Alexander Frei, long one of Europe's better strikers, had a tough season with Dortmund and might not be in top form, though he remains at age 28 a very solid option.  Marco Streller, a huge aerial target, will likely be used to compliment him.  Also available is Johan Vonlanthen, a very pacey young player who has put in some excellent performances for the national team in the past. 

This team will once again rely on a top shelf backline, which ideally will be complimented by a solid holding midfielder in Fernandes.  However, unless a player like Frei or Barnetta (perhaps Vonlanthen?) emerge as true attacking threats, this team will struggle to score goals just as they did in the '06 World Cup.

Prediction: 3rd in Group A