Euro 2012 qualifying predictions

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING PREDICTIONS

Is it time for another international tournament? Well not yet, the World Cup has yet to take place but the Euro 2012 qualifying draw has just been made. The final tournament will take place in Poland and the Ukraine(which I'm going to refer to as POLUKR) and therefore both those countries have automatically qualified. As with every Euro going back to '96, 16 teams will take part in the tournament, that means 14 teams have to come out of the qualifiers. The way that'll work this time round is the nine group winners will go to POLUKR with the second place sides going into a playoff mixer. The winner of the playoff mixer will also go to POLUKR with the other eight sides having to fight it out for the remaining four spots in the playoffs. So how will it play out?

Well in Group A we find Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Well out of that group Germany are definately the side going to POLUKR at the first attempt. So the only question remaining is who's going into the playoff mixer. Well Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are just going to be making up the number so second place is between Turkey, Austria and Belgium. None of those sides are going to South Africa. I'd say the weakest out of the three of them would be Austria which makes it Turkey vs Belgium for a spot in the playoff mixer and there I think the Turks would have the edge. So, Turkey in the playoff mixer.

Group B sees Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra. Well Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra aren't all that so it's going to come down to what happens between the Russians, Irish and Slovaks. Out of those three, well I saw how useless the Slovaks are at Wembley last year so that means that the Irish are garunteed at least a spot in the playoff mixer. Now while part of me wonders if the men in green might in fact manage to edge the Russians, particularly as Guus Hiddink's side failed to make it to South Africa, well the safe bet still says that Russia are going to POLUKR, with the Irish heading into the playoff mixer.

Group C sees Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia and Faroe Islands. Well out of that bunch Italy are the safe bet to be heading to POLUKR. So who out of the remaining five sides are going to the playoff mixer? Will NI be at all competitive? Well Estonia and the Faroes are unlikely to provide much of a threat so NI's big headaches are going to come from the Balkans. And I suspect that both of them are going to get the better of their British opponent unfortunately. So, it'll be Serbia vs Slovenia for a spot in the playoff mixer. Out of those two I'd say that the Serbs might have the edge and the playoff mixer spot will be theirs.

Group D sees France, Romania, Bosnia, Belarus, Albania and Luxumbourg. This looks like a pretty easy group to call. Other than possibly Romania, everyone in this group is probably going to have to bow down to Les Bleus so they're going to POLUKR. Next question, can the Bosnians, Belarussians, Albanians or Luxumbourg really challenge Romania for that playoff mixer spot? Maybe Bosnia, who are starting to come up with some decent players. However chances are, even the Bosnians are probably going to have to bow down for a second time. Romania are heading for the playoff mixer without having to sweat too much.

Group E sees the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova and San Marino. This group looks similar to Group D. In this case everyone else is going to be bowing down to the Dutch who will be headling to POLUKR fairly smoothly. Again that leaves us with a playoff mixer spot to fill. Here though I have trouble seeing how Finland, Hungary, Moldova or San Marino are going to give Sweden much of a match, let alone the Dutch. If anything the Swedes will have it even easier than the Romanians will in Group D. After missing out in South Africa, Sweden should easilly cruise a far as the playoff mixer at least this time around.

Group F finds Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia and Malta. Arguably this is the weakest group of the bunch. Despite the fact that they FUBARed getting to South Africa, Croatia still look like the best side out of this bunch and so will be heading to POLUKR. As for working out who's headed for the playoff mixer, well that's not so easy. At the bottom end of the scale, well are Latvia, Georgia or Malta going to be a serious factor in this group? Unlikely. So it'll come down to Greece vs Israel for a spot in the playoff mixer and Israel have been competitive in the last few qualifying campaigns. Still, I'll go for Greece having the edge and securing a spot in the playoff mixer.

Group G finds England, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Wales and Montenegro. Well given that draw I can only say one thing from an English perspective. All bow down to the Three Lions. Yes, Bulgaria should give us a match and the rumbles with Wales will certainly be interesting but Fabio's guys are certainly going to POLUKR. The question then becomes, does a decent, young Welsh side have a chance of getting to the playoff mixer? Well Montenegro are unlikely to provide much of a threat. Switzerland might give the Welsh a few issues though and Bulgaria might definately be too much for them. Bulgaria are the safe bet for the playoff mixer spot.

Group H sees Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus and Iceland. Well despite the Portuguese having a rocky road to South Africa I can't see them not getting to POLUKR from here. So out of the remaining four sides, who are heading into the playoff mixer. Well I can't see either Cyprus or Iceland proving much of a threat. So it's going to come down to Denmark vs Norway. There certainly isn't much to choose from between the two Scandinavian sides right now. The Danes may be off to South Africa but Norway have their share of class and will be the hungrier of the two sides. Norway to go into the playoff mixer though I'm prepared to be wrong.

Group I sees Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechenstein. Can Scotland under Craig Levein finally break their qualification duck for major tournaments? The answer is no, at least not directly, Spain are going to cruise their way to POLUKR, no questions asked. What about the Tartan Army's other opponents though? Well Leichenstein should be a non-issue. Lithuania will be more of a problem but if the Scots are on form, they should be dealt with. Which means that it's going to come down to Czech Republic vs Scotland for a spot in the playoff mixer. Hmmm...well I'd rather be pleasently surprised than dissapointed so I'm going to have head rulilng heat and say the Czechs will edge it.

So, that leaves us with the playoff mixer where we should find Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Serbia, Romania, Sweden, Greece, Bulgaria, Norway and Czech Republic. Do the Irish have the edge on the others? Well I certainly don't think Greece are in the picture to automatically qualify out of this bunch, probably not Serbia either and I would also bet on the men in green ahead of Bulgaria as well. So, Turkey, the Irish, Romania, Sweden, Norway and the Czech Republic. Who's the best out of this bunch? This one's way too close to call. Looking back at my group predictions I'll make it between Romania and Sweden and I'll take a punt on Sweden going to POLUKR though certainly not with money.

Anyway, that would put Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Serbia, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Norway and the Czech Republic in the playoffs. Assuming a sane draw I'd say that Turkey, ROI, Romania, and Norway will make it to POLUKR but again, it'll be tight.

So, here's my predicted qualifiers for Euro 2012:

Poland

Ukraine

Germany

Russia

Italy

France

Netherlands

Croatia

England

Portugal

Spain