German players (clockwise from left) Clemens Fritz, Philipp Lahm, Thorsten Frings, Kevin Kuranyi, David Odonkor and a team physician get together during a training session in Tenero near Ascona, southern Switzerland yesterday. Favourites Germany are in Group B at Euro 2008. - AP
VIENNA, Austria (AP):
THIS MONTH'S wide open European Championship field has nine teams that look capable of winning the title, including defending champions Greece, who are out to prove that their surprise triumph four years ago in Portugal was no fluke.
Three-time champions Germany are the favourites with the bookmakers, even though the team has not won a European final tournament match in 12 years. World Cup champions Italy, another title contender, have been hindered by the loss of dependable captain Fabio Cannavaro.
The 13th European Champion-ship, being played in Austria and Switzerland, has something for everyone, quite apart from picking up the trophy.
Germany are both embarrassed and frustrated that they haven't won a major title since Euro 1996, and they are out to re-establish themselves as European soccer's strongest nation.
No excuses
The team's combined record at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 is zero wins, three draws and three defeats. German coach Joachim Loew, who took over from Juergen Klinsmann after the 2006 World Cup, has the pressure of knowing there are no excuses if the Germans flop again.
The draw has been kind to the Germans, who are in a comparatively easy group with Poland, Croatia and Austria. They have never lost to the Poles in 15 meetings, were beaten once in seven games against Croatia - at the 1998 World Cup - and haven't been beaten by Austria since 1986.
Poland, who have a respectable record at World Cups, are making their debut at the Euros, and the team hopes to capture its first victory over Germany after 11 losses and four draws. The teams meet on Sunday in Klagenfurt.
"In Holland, we say you are sure if you want to beat Germany you have to play them until they are on the bus after the match," said Poland coach Leo Beenhakker, a Dutchman, "Before that you are not sure if you've won the game."
Tournament's weakest
The Poles aren't expected to get to the quarter-finals, however, and Austria's team appears to be one of the tournament's weakest hosts. By contrast, Croatia, who visit Austria in Vienna the same day, are considered a strong candidate for a first title in international soccer.
At 39, coach Slaven Bilic is a rising star, and although Croatia are without the injured Eduardo Da Silva, they have a well-organised team capable of beating any of the traditional powerhouses.
Another advantage to the Germans is that three of their biggest rivals, Italy, France and the Netherlands, are not only in the other half of the draw, but are even in the same group, which means at least one of them will go out in the first round.
Italy are bidding to add the European title to the World Cup championship they won in Berlin two years ago.
Cannavaro's injury during a training session only six hours after the Italians touched down in Austria is a major blow, however. Although Italy have a wealth of defensive talent, Cannavaro's influence on the field has been missed, but he has had surgery to repair his torn ankle ligaments and is staying around to support the team.
"The absence of Fabio will weigh heavily, but the fact that he is staying here is really encouraging," said Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, whose team opens against the Dutch in Bern on Monday. "It's going to be impor-tant for the group."
Plenty talent
While the Italians still look strong in defence despite Cannavaro's absence, Dutch coach Marco van Basten has plenty of talent in attack. But the Dutch haven't won a major title since Euro 1988, when Van Basten's spectacular volley in the final was the star moment, and they are notorious for failing to deliver at the big events.
Robin van Persie is only just returning from a long injury layoff and Ryan Babel has been ruled out. But Van Basten still has Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to choose from to test the Italian defence.
France limp into the championship nursing injuries to four players, captain Patrick Vieira, defenders William Gallas and Willy Sagnol, and winger Franck Ribery. But the French argue that they perform better under stress.
"Every time the French team has problems, it has done well," said defender Lilian Thuram, whose team faces Group C outsider Romania in Zurich on Monday. "When you are a bit scared, you pay attention to everything. It is good to have some doubts before the Euro. This may enable us to have this fear which is necessary to go all the way."
France, the 1984 and 2000 European champions, had prob-lems at the last World Cup, too, but made it all the way to the final and lost to Italy on penalties. If Ribery gets fit and teams up with Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema on the forward line, the French should begin with a victory over the Romanians, who might struggle to get a point off any of their three rivals.
Underachievers
Spain and Portugal are striving to end their reputations as championship underachievers.
Although the Spaniards won Euro 1964, they have never played in a World Cup final despite having two of the greatest ever club teams, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Once again, Spain have a talented line-up with goalkeeper Iker Casillas, midfielder Cesc Fabregas and striker Fernando Torres. The Spanish open against Russia in Innsbruck on Tuesday.
By coincidence, Greece face two of their group rivals from Euro 2004, when they drew with Spain and lost to Russia.
Otto Rehhagel, the German coach who masterminded that triumph, has 10 of his Euro 2004 squad back as he hopes for a better result against both teams as they bid to become the first repeat winners of the European title.
"At every game we have to demonstrate that we really did deserve to be called European champions," said defender Giourkas Seitaridis, whose team faces Sweden in Salzburg on Tuesday. "At this Euro, we have come as the champions and we'll be feeling greater pressure because we have to show that what happened four years ago did not happen by chance."
Consistency
In 2004, the Portuguese lost to Greece both in the opening and final games in front of their own fans. But reaching the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup represents rare consistency. With Cristiano Ronaldo the front-runner for the FIFA world player of the year award by scoring 42 goals for English and Champions League champions Manchester United, Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the ingredients to add a European title to his 2002 World Cup championship with Brazil.
In a wide open group, the 36-year-old Henrik Larsson has come out of international retirement for the second time to team up with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the Swedes, who have never been past the semi-finals, hope to make an impact.
Portugal face unpredictable Turkey on the opening day of the championship in Geneva tomorrow after co-hosts Switzerland face the Czech Republic in the first game in Basel.
Stronger midfield
Turkey lost to the Portuguese at Euro 1996 and again four years later, but the Turks will rely on a stronger midfield that includes Brazilian-born Mehmet Aurelio to try and reach the quarter-finals.
The Czechs won the title in 1976, long before their split from Slovakia. But they are another team that fails to consistently play at its best at the major championships. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky will miss the tournament with a long-term left knee injury and his absence could mean failure to get further than the quarter-finals.
The Swiss were eliminated from the last World Cup without conceding a goal - going out on penalties in the second round - and will do well to reach the quarter-finals this time.
