Expert views of Euro 2008
Okay – who's going to win Euro 2008 and what makes them the strongest team?
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Alan Shearer [AS]: The usual favourites will be there or thereabouts; you'll have Holland, France, Italy, but if it was down to me I'd go along with France. I look at the players that they have, and the experience that they have – they've still got players who have won World Cups, who have won European Championships, and they know how to win a tournament. That's why I would go for them.
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John Motson [JM]: Germany. Unlucky in 2006.
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Mark Bright [MB]: I'm thinking France or Spain... Both teams have experienced and very good players and both are capable of producing the goods for the tournament. But I'll go with Spain, David Villa and Fernando Torres aren't a bad strike force, it's about time they won something. Viva Espana!
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Steve Wilson [SW]: Germany – history and current form means you cannot ignore them.
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Guy Mowbray [GM]: I'm going to say Spain, if for no other reason than I have a punt on them in every Euros and World Cup and the moment I stop doing so they're bound to finally come good. I think it's a wide open tournament to an extent – but not with a total surprise package winning it like Greece last time. I might have said Croatia as an outside bet after what they did to England, but think they may struggle to replace Eduardo.
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Jake Humphrey [JH]: I am tipping the Czech Republic. They conceded just five goals in a tough qualifying group, making it through as winners ahead of Germany. Germany will run them close and Portugal will impress too.
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Jonathan Pearce [JP]: Portugal are my dark horses. They came close four years ago on home soil and have a younger, improved squad this time.
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Garth Crooks [GC]: Italy are the most experienced and they love the big stage. Spain are my outsiders.
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Who's likely to be the top striker?
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AS: That's a very difficult question. I think that's what I'll be looking forward to most, the strikers, having played in that position myself. I'm interested to see whether Fernando Torres can carry his Premier League form on to the Euros.
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JM: Fernando Torres (Spain).
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MB: Always difficult to predict this, possibly Van Nistelrooy, Torres, but I'll go for the best player in Europe at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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SW: Look out for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Holland.
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GM: To support my first answer, Fernando Torres. He was good in Germany, but with two more years know-how and a goal-filled season in England behind him he'll be able to score against any team. And if he doesn't do it, David Villa alongside him will.
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JH: If only Northern Ireland had qualified David Healy could have continued his goal scoring exploits! In Healy's and Eduardo Da Silva's absence from the tournament, my money is on Lukas Podolski – part of an efficient and entertaining German side that banged in 35 goals during the qualifying campaign.
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JP: Cristiano Ronaldo, the best player in the world right now.
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GC: Fernando Torres.
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Which player(s) do you think will be the most influential?
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AS: You look at one player – Ronaldo. It will be fascinating to see how he goes, totally different to him playing in the Premier League every week, and again, like Torres it will be interesting to see whether he can carry that form on into the Euros.
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JM: Gattuso (Italy), Modric (Croatia), Nihat Kahveci (Turkey).
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MB: Huntelaar from Holland, Daniel Niculae from Romania and Gekas, a forward for Greece, are all going to impress, but I'll go for Ronaldo; I fully expect him to confirm his place as the world's best footballer.
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GM: You have to say Cristiano Ronaldo will be the one everyone will be watching – just as he likes it. I'm hoping Cesc Fabregas can make the mark on the international stage that his talent merits.
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JH: He made headlines in 2006 and I think he'll make a few more in Euro 2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the player of the moment in the Premier League.
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JP: Ronaldo has the pace, power and breathtaking talent to dominate any game. There have been critics who say he doesn't perform in the big games. He can prove them wrong this summer.
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GC: Fabio Cannavaro, Carles Puyol.
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Anyone we may not have heard much of yet likely to make a name for themselves?
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AS: When I watched Croatia when they played England I was impressed with them and I'm fascinated to see how they get on. They've got a couple of Premier League players, not really household names, in Vedran Corluka from Manchester City and Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar, plus Dinamo Zagreb's exciting young playmaker Luka Modric who's attracting interest from a lot of bigger teams – but whether they can go on and be a success remains to be seen.
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JM: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Holland).
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MB: Huntelaar from Holland, if he plays could end up in the Premier League.
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SW: There are very few quality players who are not well-known long before they reach this level.
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GM: Many may not know about 22-year-old Germany striker Mario Gomez yet as he's only emerged at international level since the last World Cup. He's German-born with a Spanish dad, and has been banging in the goals at a great rate for Stuttgart over the last two seasons.
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JH: The Swiss striker, who'll be just 19 when the tournament kicks off, Eren Derdiyok, could surprise a few people.
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JP: Lyon's holding mid-fielder Jeremy Toulalan can emerge as the natural successor to Claude Makelele.
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GC: Bastien Schweinsteiger (Germany), Karim Benzema (France), Wesley Sneijder (Holland).
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Any particular games you're most looking forward to, and why?
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AS: There's that group with France, Italy and Holland; that'll be a great group, all those games will be big games.
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JM: Italy v France (repeat of 2006 World Cup Final).
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MB: France and Italy, all the talent and stars on the pitch, should be a beauty.
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SW: Watching the Dutch play anyone.
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GM: Probably my first one – Austria v Croatia in Vienna. It's the opening game for one of the host nations, and a "local derby" of sorts to boot. Should be a cracking atmosphere.
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JH: Germany v Poland on the opening Sunday will be a match I'll watch with particular relish.
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JP: I always tingle before my first game. This time it's Germany v Poland. The Germans will be very strong again.
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GC: Germany v Poland, Holland v France, Italy v France.
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Which two teams do you think would make the best final?
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AS: Anyone and England but unfortunately that's not possible!
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JM: Holland v Czech Republic.
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MB: Portugal v Germany, contrasting styles.
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SW: Portugal and Holland.
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GM: For entertainment, Portugal v France. For atmosphere, needle and spice, Germany v Holland.
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JH: Italy are the champions of the world and I'm expecting big things of Germany – so that's my dream final.
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JP: Portugal/Spain.
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GC: Germany v Holland.
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Most exciting player of the tournament?
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AS: Ronaldo, I think he is without doubt the most exciting talent in the world at this minute.
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JM: Karim Benzema (France).
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MB: Cristiano Ronaldo.
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SW: Ronaldo.
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GM: All eyes on Ronaldo again!
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JH: Inevitably ... Ronaldo.
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JP: Ronaldo followed by Torres and Henry in his swansong.
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GC: Ronaldo.
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Any favourite memory from previous European championships?
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AS: The Holland game at Wembley [Euro 96] was incredible, and an unbelievable atmosphere – to beat them 4-1 as we did was great.
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JM: Euro 96 England v Scotland. The most memorable European game I've commentated on was the 1976 final, West Germany v Czechoslovakia.
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MB: Euro 96, when Stuart Pearce scored that penalty, the roar of emotion from him toward the crowd was sent right back to him from every England fan inside that stadium, incredible moment in time, a real "I was there" moment as a fan. And seeing Frank Rijkaard cry when Holland lost in the semi-final in 2000, I've never seen a manager cry, it showed how much it meant to him. I also loved the final in 2000, it was my first tournament for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, and I sat in the press box for the final. Italy were winning with a few moments to go when Wiltord scored for France, the game went into golden goal period and David Trezeguet scored for France, what a moment.
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SW:Watching England 4 Holland 1 in Euro 1996 at Wembley. For drama, maybe Portugal v England in Lisbon in 2004.
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GM: Has to be Gazza's goal against Scotland at Euro 96. To complete my top three goals I'd pick Van Basten's volley for Holland v USSR in 1988 and John Jensen's strike for Denmark v Germany in the 92 final. For sheer "good day out" factor it was the quarter-final between Holland and Yugoslavia at Euro 2000 – a 6-1 Holland win. Kluivert got a hat-trick and the Dutch played some of the best football I've ever seen.To top it all the party atmosphere that followed in Rotterdam was terrific. My last memory of the day is one of sinking beers with our hosts whilst wearing an orange hat styled like a cow.
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JH: My most vivid Euro memory is the utter dejection of England being eliminated from the tournament in 1996, it was the first time defeat had left me feeling totally deflated.
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JP: In 1992, Capital Radio decided to pull the second commentary team out of the finals once England had been knocked out, for budget reasons. Bobby Moore, my co-commentator, paid for the other two men to stay in Sweden because he saw how upset they were. On the field the richest memories would be watching the Gullit/van Basten Dutch team winning Euro 1988 and England's win over Holland eight years later; the saddest would be seeing Gareth Southgate's face at Euro 96 after the semi-final penalty shoot out. Commentating, the sheer drama and ultimate despair of England v Germany at Wembley in 96 sets it above all others.
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GC: England v France in Euro 2004; Zinedine Zidane pukes prior to his spot kick.
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Which foreign superstar do you wish had an English passport for a month?
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AS: Without a doubt, Ronaldo. England have not really ever filled the left-hand-side role and he can play anywhere across the front as well.
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JM: Frank Ribery (France).
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MB: Ronaldo, simple as that.
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JH: Simple, the world's best player right now. Ronaldo. Who else could you chose?
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JP: Ronaldo of course.
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GC: Fernando Torres.
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One former England player who could have helped them reach the finals?
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AS: A world-class Paul Gascoigne on his day. It's a shame what's going on in his life now, he's had a tough time but he's one of the best I've ever played with, on his day he was as good as anyone – he was the best in the world at one stage. People paid money just to watch him.
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JM: Peter Shilton.
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MB: Gary Lineker...
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SW: Alf Ramsey!
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GM: Gordon Banks.
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JH: Alan Shearer. He is precisely the player we need right now. Or possibly Peter Shilton; that would end any debate about who is England's number one ... and handling errors would hopefully become a thing of the past!
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JP: Paul Gascoigne.
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GC: Paul Ince.
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Who will emerge from Euro 2008 as the superstar of the future?
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AS: Ronaldo
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JM: Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich and Germany).
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MB: Ronaldo.
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SW: Huntelaar is already a superstar but will be the player everyone wants to sign this summer.
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JP: Ronaldo, Torres, the usual suspects.
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GC: Benzema, Schweinsteiger or Sneijder.
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