So the old favourites are all at the top of my predictions. But the Euros have a habit of throwing up surprises (and countries that no longer exist in past winners!). For all my love of an underdog I cannot see Wales or Scotland in the latter stages. Group F could produce the eventual winner? Maybe a team lacking major league stars will find the team spirit. Why have Ukraine named 4 goalkeepers? Surely that would need something catastrophic to occur?
Mathematically I wonder how much players differ. Physically one would expect them all to be within 5%, mentally those playing at the top week in and week out may be a bit below par? (as has happened in the past), so will it come down to the manager? Who can bring the best out of a team where players may be asked to play differently from their normal roles? 112 premier League players are in the various squads, and a few from the Championship. Why would a country chose 4 goalkeepers – especially as they are likely to be eliminated after 3 games? (Hungary, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine).
I know that more teams spreads the interest for UEFA to make money – but a tournament with half the countries in Europe taking part seems a little silly! (Less than half if looking at nations rather than countries). It really is an anachronism that the UK has 4 nations entered (and Gibraltar!), but it is great to see Scotland and Wales (and NI in the past) in the tournament – But would Bale even make the squad? Interesting how things have changed over past years. In the 60′;s Scotland beat the World Cup winning side and many of their players would have made a UK team – how many today (Robertson?).
Past winners include West Germany, USSR, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia. And then Greece and Denmark from the less moneyed countries. England have never won it, and a good quiz question – Italy!