Group C - who will get through?

[Podolski]

Holland, France, Romania, Italy.
Vote in poll.

[Blaugrana]

Gotta have faith

And if Scotland can beat France twice, why can't we?

[Robinho4Ever]

France are Italy are the best on paper, so they are my favs. But Romania and Netherlands won't make them easy lives . .

[Oliver_Kahn]

Italy to top the group.

Romania will be underestimated and because of that, they'll finish in 2nd

[Podolski]

Italy and holland for me.

[Vargas_4]

Holland are a good side but the during the qualification stages, they never really convinced me. In such a tough group, i don't think they'll be able to manage.

Italy & France. I feel the same way about both. They are unstable. Sometimes they do really well, sometimes they fuck up. So i'm not really sure about them. They have great sides but it will all depend on how they feel the day they play.

Romania has a very good chance to pull out a surprise. They played really well in the qualifications and convinced me. I think they have what it takes to surprise Holland, France & Italy.

This is a crazy ass group with a lot of kicks, fouls, excitement and goals. In the end, i think Italy (as much as i hate them) and France will go through. I think they'll be able to support the pressure (France supported great pressure when it almost failed to reach the knockout stages of the WC, then defeated dificult teams till it reached the final - they don't have Zidane no more but are quite capable of performing well). Romania will have an honorable performance while Holland will be left frustrated.

... But anything can happen

[BlackNess]

Good football bad football Italy wins .

And Holland .

[BlackNess]

Italy and France have been placed together in the same group along with the Netherlands and Romania as the Euro 2008 draw was made in Lucerne on Sunday afternoon.

There were fears from the major powers that they could be placed in the same pot, but there were gasps as Group C emerged as the one to watch in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

Both the Italians and the French had feared that they could be paired together after the seedings were made without their performance in last year's World Cup Finals being taken into account.

The incredible draw will see at least one of the favourites to win the tournament bow at the first hurdle and the French and the Italians have some scores to settle after their qualification meetings.

In the other groups, things are wide open as joint hosts Switzerland will do well to qualify ahead of either the Cezech Republic, Portugal or Turkey.

Germany maybe considered to be favourites in Group B, but Croatia have shown how strong they are in qualification, while Austria on home ground will be an unknown quantity and Poland could spring a surprise.

The Spanish have some familiar opponents as they played Greece and Russia in the first phase of the European Championships four years ago and met Sweden in the qualifiers for next year's tournament.

Switzerland will open the tournament on June 7 when they meet the Czech Republic in the St. Jakob-Park in Basel.

[Blaugrana]

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

Holland are a good side but the during the qualification stages, they never really convinced me.

And France, Italy did? So it shouldn't go against Holland only.

IMO all 4 teams in this group have equal chances. You're saying that Holland didn't convince you while Romania did. But if Holland wouldn't have lost that last match (we were already qualified), we would have finished behind Romania. While i'm confident that the big countries (France, Italy and Holland in this group) can step up, they always do in big tournaments.

You mentioned a good point about Zidane, he isn't playing anymore indeed. In recent history France have always looked lost without him. They lost all matches on the WC 2002 when he was injured (didn't even score!) and on the world cup of 2006 France needed mainly Zidane to guide them to the final. He was by far their best player IMO.

That should give Holland some confidence

But it's just a toss up really, who qualifies for the next stage

[Jager]

And France, Italy did?

Ah, yeah. Italy near the end really started to pick it up, since Don finally got his right formation, after dealing with Totti absence.

If Italy and France play to potential, and play like they have for the last year or so, I don't see how Holland can top them. Not saying they can't, but right now. Tough draw for the Dutch, they can't be happy.

Romania are in tough. I can't see both France and Italy fuking up, maybe one...but not two.

From an Italian perspective, this draw could not be any worse, however I think Italy will thrive on this. We play France yet again, and the games aren't too bad.

There aren't any easy games, unless you get a Swiss or Austria. But UEFA did this purposely I feel...how? That is the million dollar question.

[Aladino]

I want to say Italy and Holland but I have a feeling it will be Italy and France

[Trim]

Italy and France.

[sinoy1]

Italy and Holland is what I hope.But that moron Domenech makes for some great entertainment hence I want France to go through with Italy .

Romania will be damn tough.Holland were beaten twice by them but both will be very very tough matches.

I hope the winner of Euro 2008 comes from this group.Good luck to all...although its a bit premature

[lionel]

my prediction: (the matches are not ordered by date)

italy v. romania: 1
france v. holland: 1/X

italy v. holland: 2
france v. romania: 1

italy v. france: X
holland v. romania: 1

--------------

1. france 7
2. holland 6
3. italy 4
4. romania 0

-------

so, IMO, france and holland to go through.

[Forza_Roma]

Italy France...but it will be very close between Italy, France and Holland. Maybe a point or two separating each team.