The UEFA European Championship is a football competition held every after four years featuring the national teams of European countries. The competition began in 1960 as the European Nations’ Cup and the European championship was adopted in 1968. The European championship is currently regarded as the third strongest soccer event organized internationally behind the champion’s league and the world cup. This is why winners of the European championships are offered high points by FIFA rankings.
The UEFA European Championship is a football competition held every after four years featuring the national teams of European countries.
The competition began in 1960 as the European Nations’ Cup and the European championship was adopted in 1968.
The European championship is currently regarded as the third strongest soccer event organized internationally behind the champion’s league and the world cup. This is why winners of the European championships are offered high points by FIFA rankings.
Next year’s championship finals will be staged in Poland and Ukraine. Ever since the tournament was inaugurated, it has been staged in 13 countries [France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Serbia and Montenergro the former Yugoslavia, Germany, Sweden, England, Belgium and the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland].
The three super powers are amongst favourites to win the competition after showing great potential in qualification campaign. Germany has won the European championships three times where as Spain are the reigning champions.
Holland last won the tournament in 1988 and have all been yawning to get the crown again. It also shows the depth strength of the tournament because every country involved is strong enough to win.
Unlike the Dutch, Germans have clinched finals of the tournament more times than any other European country and Spain are currently on rise in their football standards.
Spain won the European championship in 2008 and went a head to claim the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in South Africa, their first world title.
Germany and Spain were both at the semi-finals of the World Cup 2010 and were at the final of 2008 European championships three years ago.
Now, with European championships 2012 qualification approaching the end, super powers in world football have already qualified. Germany, Spain and Holland secured their qualification ticket and only playing for pride.
Germany was drawn in a seemingly tricky group of Turkey, Belgium, Austria with minnows Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan but have managed to win all their group games and hold a 100 percent qualification record.
The Dutch also drawn against Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova and San Marino have won all their games as well.
Spain also holds a 100 percent record in qualification with a group comprising of Scotland, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Lichtenstein.
Germans are always among the favourites at major tournaments. And am sure they will be looking to bring the next European Championship trophy to Berlin, but it’s going to be tough because there are five or six other nations with the potential to win the tournament and perhaps with the exact same goal.
Germany has very much revised their game and no longer relying on old fashioned strikers to search for goals. Germany current crop of players are world class with veteran Miloslav Klose still offering his goal scoring evidence.
Klose was on top at 2002 world Cup in Korea and Japan, and has since played in 2004, 2008 European championships and 2006, 2010 World Cups respectively.
So many Germany youngsters including Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedhira, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller are now playing at top level and this gives Germany great chance.
Germany is currently ranked a head of Holland and Spain in terms of scoring ability. Spain has lost Fernando Torres due to form depletion and current Spanish strikers are not as imaginative as Torres at 2008 euro championships.
The Dutch have been relying on injury prone Arjen Robben to provide assists in attack but current Dutch strikers are not as good as declining Ruud Van Sterooy of Malaga. Robin Van Persie and Dirk Kuyt have got pace and shooting power but are not good finishers.