© EuroFootball.com
With only a few days left until the start of the final stage of the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, "EuroFootball.com", relying on insights from BBC and other experts, presents all participating teams.
This time, your attention is drawn to Group C, where Croatia, Ireland, Italy, and Spain will compete.
Group C:
Schedule:
2012/06/10
19:00 Spain - Italy
21:45 Ireland - Croatia
2012/06/14
19:00 Italy - Croatia
21:45 Ireland - Spain
2012/06/18
21:45 Croatia - Spain
21:45 Italy - Ireland
Croatia:
How they play:
Croatia struggles to find suitable replacements for brothers Robert and Niko Kovač, who were the best players and spiritual leaders. They also lack reliable defenders in the backline, as Josip Šimunič is often plagued by injuries and finds it increasingly difficult to reach top form.
This means that midfielder Luka Modrić must shoulder more responsibility within the Croatian ranks, as he undoubtedly dictates the pace of the game.
However, the 26-year-old player is not known for his goal-scoring ability, so there are doubts whether his teammates will be able to convert the chances he creates into goals.
Possible lineup:
Formation 4-4-2. Stipe Pletikosa; Vedran Corluka, Gordon Schildenfeld, Josip Simunič, Ivan Strinič; Darijo Srna, Tomislav Dujmovič, Luka Modrić, Niko Kranjčar; Mario Mandžukič, Eduardo.
Star Player:
Less football-interested fans, if asked about Croatians, would probably mention only Luka Modrić. Undoubtedly one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, one of the best players in the world. Last summer, London's Tottenham had to put in all their efforts to prevent the talented player from moving to Chelsea, and it seems they were right - Modrić was again the leader of the team and created opportunity after opportunity for his teammates.
The 173 cm tall midfielder moved to England in 2008 and was selected for the symbolic tournament team during the following European Championship. However, in the penalty shootout of the quarter-final match, Modrić failed to beat Rustu Recber, and the Turks advanced to the next stage.
Coach:
Guitar virtuoso and law-educated Slaven Bilić, who speaks German, Italian, and English, helmed the national team in 2006, raising them to the top ranks of the FIFA rankings - Croatians are frequent visitors among the top ten national teams in the world.
However, the renowned S. Bilić seems to have pushed his words to the background, where working with the national team is a "duty" and "love" - according to Premier League standards, the poorly paid coach has already announced that he will resign after the championship and take over the leadership of the Moscow "Lokomotiv" team.
There will be only two coaches at the European Championships who have been in their positions longer than the Croatian - Morten Olsen leading the Danish team and Joachim Löw in charge of the German team.
European Championship History:
The country, which only regained independence in 1991, can boast participation in only one European Championship (in 2000 in the Netherlands and Belgium), as well as reaching the quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008.
Ireland:
How they play:
The championship will start optimistically for the Irish - they managed to break the ice and after a 24-year hiatus, they once again managed to qualify among the strongest teams in the Old Continent. The team is not short of experienced players - goalkeeper Shay Given and center-back Richard Dunne, midfield virtuosos Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff, who like to switch flanks and will try to tear apart the opponent's defensive structures.
In the attacking front - Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle. Also, let's not forget about "Sunderland" defender James McClean, who has already made a name for himself in the Premier League.
Possible lineup:
Formation 4-4-1-1. Shay Given; John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward; Aiden McGeady, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Damien Duff; Robbie Keane; Kevin Doyle.
Star Player:
Robbie Keane was the main Irish sniper in the 2002 World Cup - the last famous tournament in which the "Boys in Green" participated.
In the European Championship qualifiers, the 31-year-old striker scored 7 times, despite the fact that this team rarely created one hundred percent chances to score. There is no doubt that R. Keane, who has scored over 50 goals for Ireland, will force the opponents to retreat.
Last August, the veteran moved across the Atlantic and donned the Los Angeles Galaxy jersey, but only gained fame with a goal in the MLS Cup final. During the player transfer window in the winter, he was loaned to Birmingham City.
Coach:
Giovanni Trapattoni's tactics may be criticized, but they bring results. Perhaps the Irish will surprise Europe and repeat the success of the Greeks in 2004?
However, the football veteran cannot boast success in final tournaments - in 2002, the Italian national team he coached scandalously lost to South Korea at the World Cup, and in 2004, the "Azzurri" failed to advance past the group stage in the European Championship.
The 73-year-old coach began his career 37 years ago, before any Irish national team player was born.
G. Trapattoni, who recently extended his contract with Ireland until 2014, strengthens his authority with a CV including leading clubs like Milan, Juventus, Inter, Bayern Munich, and Benfica.
European Championship History:
In the world arena, they shine brightly, but in the European Championships, the results are modest.
Four-time world champions and European gold medalists only once in 1968.
In 2000, Italy was close to the goal, but a golden goal from Frenchman David Trezeguet in extra time dashed all the hopes of Dino Zoff's protégés.
Italy:
How they play:
Italy's style of play has changed, and that is the merit of coach Cesare Prandelli. Although "Squadra Azzurra" had the best defense in the qualifiers, Italians decided to abandon the catenaccio tradition and focus on a more control-oriented football.
The four-time world champions strive to dominate the game, control the midfield, and not settle for just one goal. The Italians' goal is to demonstrate their strength and convincingly defeat their opponents.
Possible lineup:
Formation 4-3-1-2. Gigi Buffon; Christian Maggio, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Balzaretti; Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi; Antonio Cassano; Mario Balotelli, Antonio Di Natale.
Star Player:
Forward Antonio Cassano was ignored by coach Marcello Lippi, but he blossomed under Cesare Prandelli's leadership.
In the national team, the 29-year-old A. Cassano managed to thwart the opposing goalkeepers six times in the qualifiers.
While his career was marred by scandals in clubs like Bari, Roma, Real Madrid, and Sampdoria, this does not scare C. Prandelli, who claimed that the "enthusiasm of the striker is contagious and more of such players are needed."
Coach:
C. Prandelli successfully coached Fiorentina for five years before taking over the Italian national team from Marcello Lippi, who experienced a fiasco at the 2010 World Cup.
The 54-year-old football expert managed to "revive" not only A. Cassano but also tried to introduce a new generation of players - Riccardo Montolivo and Sebastiano Giovinco.
In Prandelli's team, he strives to create a positive atmosphere and avoid conflicts with the media, which were ready to tear the team apart after the 2010 fiasco. The latter even nicknamed the national team "Italy's Smiles".
European Championship History:
Twice European champions (1964 and 2008) and one-time silver medalists (1984). The darkest periods were between 1968-1976 and in 1992 when Spain failed to advance among the top European national teams.
Subjective Prediction:
1. Spain
2. Croatia
3. Italy
4. Ireland
