Who Are the Favorites to Win Euro 2012?

Six games and millions of fans watching, there can’t be anything more to this that can ever stand between a team and the Euro 2012 trophy. And then there’s also that one team that is set to stand in the way of the other fifteen teams participating in the tournament this summer. Actually, there can’t be just one; “Tournament favorites” as they are usually called, let’s take a look at some of them and check on how they could fare in the tournament.

The Favorites

Germany

Joachim Low’s troops are in the best position to win Euro 2012. Even ex-Netherlands star Ruud Gullit has confessed his admiration for the Germans, ranking them alongside Spain as the possible team to lift the trophy at the end of the tourney. Gullit’s statement came in reference to a November friendly between Germany and Netherlands where the Germans massacred the Oranje with a 3-0 scoreline.

The Germans have great quality all over the pitch, from the goalkeeper to the most advanced striker, and against any team, they have the quality to match-up position for position, player for player. Disciplined, tough, and downright proficient, Germany is your best choice to win Euro 2012.

Spain

All eyes will be on Spain as they try to engineer the first-ever Euro title defense this summer. Vicente del Bosque will be barging into the tournament with 19 players who won the World Cup two years back; a core of experienced champions most admired for their ability to play as if they share a single brain. Del Bosque will most definitely put forward the patented Spanish brand of football; attractive and noxious at the same time.

Spain will have a number of issues once they take the pitch on June. Without David Villa and Carles Puyol, the Spaniards also have an injury concern in Cesc Fabregas. It’s good to know that Xavi will be able to play fit and strong, and this masks Fabregas’ concerns. Outside this Spain will be a healthy bunch, and should be the team to watch come June.

Netherlands

It’s no surprise for Holland to come in third as this tournament’s favourites. They have the players, the style, and the lineage to manufacture their second-ever Euro trophy this year. Add to that the fact that Netherlands has been consistently breaking into the knockout stages since 1988 – two quarter-finals appearance and three semi-finals showings – and you really can’t write them off on any given day.

The Dutch could book a colorful rematch against Spain after losing the World Cup last 2010 on a narrow 1-0 scoreline. With Spain missing a few key players, the Oranje may finally put their unfinished business to rest. Thing is, they are seeded in a group that contains the likes of Germany, Portugal, and Denmark. So while a finals-revenge may be too sumptuous to resist, there is something more that should preoccupy the Netherlands at the moment; the thought of booking a finals ticket may not come to their consciousness until the semi-finals.

The Dark Horse

England

You’ve heard this story before and you’ll hear this again now: England is this tournament’s ‘dark horse’ to lift the trophy and silence all their critics once and for all. For a team that has never won the Euro, England will be starting their campaign in a ‘winnable’ group that could lead them to a ‘manageable’ quarter-finals match. More importantly England will have Roy Hodgson calling the shots this summer; Hodgson may not be the most successful coach of his generation but you cannot deny that he brings profound stability and security to the team.

England’s 23-man squad for this tournament is versatile, and a good mix of old and young, and promising to say the least. Familiar is also an adjective frequently used to describe the Three Lions, with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Jermaine Defoe, and Wayne Rooney in the team – we haven’t mentioned all the familiar names yet but at least you get the idea. Well for one, this speaks for the lack of options back home in the EPL. But at least Hodgson has the benefit of playing an experienced set of players this Euro 2012.

All odds are from Bet365.com (£200 FREE BET!).