The draw has just been done with this groups;

Group A: Czech Republic, Poland, Greece,Russia

Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Germany

Group C: Spain,Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Italy

Group D: France, Ukraine, Sweden, England
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Group of death has to be Group B; Netherlands, Denmark ,Portugal, Germany. All ranked Top 10 by FIFA, 2 of the favourites for the tourney.

Group of dearth = Group A


My favourites; Germany. They play good football. They were the best team in the last World Cup in SA, beaten by lucky Spain. They were missing their star player Thomas Muller in that Semi + Paul the Octopus decided to go against them.

Spain & Portugal..

Group B is the group of death, but don't count out surprises. Denmark won it out of the blues in 1992! Remember the Afrca Cup of Nations qualifiers? No Naija, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Zambia...Each team has equal chances. Recent past winners:'84-France,'88 Oranje, '92-Den, 96-Germany, '00-France, 04-Greece, '08-Spain and '12-???

My money would have been on Spain but it's very hard to retain a title and Vicente Del Bosque has gone for youth instead of experience this time with his preliminary squad. So I'll bet ze Germans to win it with tight compe from Spain, The Dutch and Italy

And Roy Hodgson has chosen his team....I expect France to thump them!

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man Utd), James Milner (Man City)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd), Andy Carroll (Liverpool)

My money is on a German Vs Dutch Final and the dutch to take it!