It is a source of some amazement in world football circles that, apart from a European Nations Cup win in 1964, the Spanish have consistently failed to deliver at the highest level. Perhaps it has been the unwillingness of all the regional identities to unite as one on the big stage, with club loyalty always taking precedence over any commitment to the national team. Over the years La Liga has won respect as one of the most competitive and attractive environments, yet the players always seem to get stage fright on the international stage. Could this be the year the get it right? Well, if Fernando Torres can carry his Liverpool form into this competition, don't bet against it.
Much will depend on how the opening game against Russia pans out in Innsbruck. A good performance, more significantly a good result, would lift the spirits and set them up nicely for the games against Sweden and Greece. On the other hand, any adverse result would see all the old doubts raised again and could lead to more grief. However, they can be thankful they are not in a more difficult group and if, as I expect them to, they finish on top they could then be serious contenders in the knock-out rounds.
With half a dozen or more Zenit St. Petersburg players who helped beat the mighty Glasgow Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final and that wily old fox Guus Hiddink in charge, there should be no lack of belief in the Russian camp. They were lucky to qualify, losing in Israel and only going through because Croatia sorted out England at Wembley, but the lift they got from doing so and the ever-growing reputation of their domestic game could be evident in this competition. It is possible the squad will be made up entirely of home-based players which can only have helped the group to bond as they prepared for the finals.
Just as I'd thought Gio Van Bronckhurst had turned his back in international football, I'm surprised to see Soti Kyrgiokos still involved at this level. But if any player has a special incentive to be in Switzerland and Austria it is the big fella. Prior to Euro2004, he played in every one of Greece's qualifiers, only to be injured before the finals and forced to sit it out while Otto Rehhagel's team stunned everyone. He'll get his chance this time but I'm afraid there will be no action replay of events in Portugal. As holders, the Greeks should surprise nobody and will therefore find it much harder.
Unfortunately, I expect Rehhagel, having enjoyed all the success of four years ago, to go for the self-same negative outlook which served him so well in Portugal. Only last week I checked out recordings of a couple of Greece's games from that tournament and it was hardly pleasant viewing. Defensive? Walter's tactics last season were positively cavalier in comparison!!! But the rest of Europe has had four years to learn how to break down the Greeks and I certainly don't expect another few weeks of frustration.
Sweden will be solid and hard to beat but they will sink or swim on the efforts of their attackers and, while there has been much said about the diving Larsson's return to the international set-up, Ibrahimovic, Elmander, Rosenberg and Allback should surely be able to pose enough threat to keep such an old has-been warming the bench. If they need a penalty in a hurry, I suppose he is the man to get it for them but Spain and Russia look much too strong and should qualify comfortably.
CRYSTAL BALL GAZING
Spain 2 Russia 1
Greece 1 Sweden 1
Spain 1 Sweden 0
Greece 0 Russia 2
Russia 2 Sweden 1
Spain 2 Greece 0
Pld. W D L F A Pts.
SPAIN 3 3 0 0 5 1 6
RUSSIA 3 2 0 1 5 3 4
SWEDEN 3 0 1 2 2 4 1
GREECE 3 0 1 2 1 5 1
LITTLE BOY BLUE