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Portugal find themselves as the surprise team in the Euro 2012 Cup. Portugal is actually a team most would consider a world power, but based on their group of death draw they were only given an outsiders chance to get by Germany and Holland.
Even more intriguing is the Cristiano Ronaldo chapter that has played out over the years with the Portuguese National Side. Cristiano's meteoric rise was initiated with his National Team performances where he outclassed many of the world's strongest defenders and demonstrated enthusiastic creativity. Chapter two of his National Team performances were slightly different. Now as one of the world's highest paid Footballers, Ronaldo's Portuguese team outings started to look a bit more like those of a player who is looking to protect his investment avoiding on field challenges and potential injuries that could sideline a profitable career. This became a point of criticism for the media and tipped the scale to Leonardo Messi getting the nod over Ronaldo as the World's best player. This criticism of Ronaldo became prevalent even in the local press.
This Euro 2012 Ronaldo made a pledge to his fellow Countrymen during a Presidential send off to the tournament. He ensured that the Portuguese team and the Portuguese people would get the best he had to offer as a player. So far he has not disappointed. Ronaldo has entered into this new chapter in his National Team playing career as he started way back when. Creating chances with creativity and finishing when called upon at the net. He currently is tied for the most goals for the Euro 2012, and may bring home the MVP honors if his play stays at this current level.
Portugal is one of the few European soccer powers to have never won the Euro Cup. Maybe this 2012 will give both Ronaldo a chance to become the World's undisputed best player and his Portuguese team their first Euro Cup championship. Portugal will take on Spain in the Euro 2012 Semi-Finals.
Spain will get the duty of derailing Ronaldo and Portugal on their way to their first Euro Cup Championship. Spain who came in as the world's number #2 ranked team has moved through the tournament without a lot of fan fare or drama. They have put themselves in a position to win three major tournaments in a row starting with the 2008 Euro Cup and the 2010 World Cup, and now this 2012 Euro Cup. Spain is set on demonstrating their choke-hold over Global National Team supremacy.
Germany has probably been the most dominant side in the tournament. They have been able to move past opponents with relative ease (including Portugal) into their semi-final match up. The Germans do have a tough date with a very defensive and game Italian team that seems to thrive off of controversy.
Italy's last big tournament win came in the 2006 World Cup amidst a plethora of match fixing incidents. This Euro 2012 has the same overtone to it as the Italian squad has several star players in the middle of match fixing investigations. Maybe this will be the key ingredient to another major tournament championship for the Azzure.
Notes* This is the second time in the history of the Euro Cup that the host nation did not make it past the group stage of the tournament. It is also unique in that there were two host teams; Poland and the Ukraine. Neither squad was able to advance to the knock out stage of this year's tournament.
Holland came in as the World's number #1 ranked team and finished without a victory in this Euro Cup.
Group: C Coach: Vicente Del Bosque
Spain's Strengths
The reigning Euro Cup champions are returning the same team from their 2008 Championship act. The very experienced Spaniards currently hold the world's number 2 ranking and come into this Euro 2012 competition as the favorite to win it all. Spain has probably too many strengths to mention in this small excerpt. They are the complete package on offense with a style that focuses on time of possession and well defined small space control. The defense consists of three of the world's top players with Sergio Ramos, Gererd Pique and goal keeper Iker Casillas of which all play for two of the world's top professional clubs.
Spain has not been so Super Human over the last several months with some lack luster showings in International friendly competition including a late draw versus Costa Rica.
Injury will keep striker David Villa off of the pitch for Spain. The goal scoring antics of Villa are at their best when he is playing for his flag, but a broken leg will give opposing defenses at least one less thing to worry about this Euro Cup.
Age is another concern for the Spanish side. Many of the focal points on the Spanish team have high mileage on them. While experience is a strength, age can be a Weaknesses.
Spain is the tournament favorite for all of the right reasons. They will attempt to become the first team to repeat as Euro Cup Champion ever. Look for Spain to get very deep in this competition.
1964 Euro Cup Champion, 1980 Eliminated Round 1, 1984 Finalist, 1988 Eliminated Round 1, 1996 Quarter-Finalist, 2000 Quarter-Finalist 2004 Eliminated Round 1, 2008 Euro Cup Champion.
Group: B Coach: Joachim Low
Germany's Strengths
Joachim Low has a very offensive minded philosophy. German teams have always been technical, but this German squad also has great athletes that provide a physical element that not always been a German trademark. Under this new German prototype team, the result has been impressive winning 52 of their last 75 outings.
The success of this team will rest with the creativity of Mesut Ozil. Ozil contributed to nearly half of Germany's goal scoring in Euro Cup qualifiers. Beyond Ozil you have the goal scoring prowess of Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski. Throw in the athleticism of Mario Gomez on the front line and it becomes a very scary affair for opposing defenses.
Despite all of the talent the German side brings to the table, they seem to be in perpetual bridesmaid mode. They have lacked that extra push to win the big game when it masters most. In their Last Euro Cup appearance Germany lost in the finals with a 0-1 result versus Spain.
The other knock on the German side is on the defensive end of things. A slow backfield in Mertesacker and Badstuber makes them vulnerable to smaller quick counter attacking teams. Against German tradition, their goal keeping has also been suspect at times.
On paper they look like a solid bet. Will that be the case on the field? Their grouping also makes for one of the more difficult paths to the Euro Cup Championship with Holland, England and France as potential pitfalls to the title. Anything less than Semi Finals appearance would be a big disappointment for this German side.
1972 Euro Cup Champion, 1976 Finalist, 1980 Euro Cup Champion, 1984 Eliminated Round 1, 1988 Semi-Finalist, 1992 Finalist, 1996 Euro Cup Champion, 2000 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Eliminated Round 1, 2008 Finalist.
Group: B Coach: Bert Van Marwijk
Holland's Strengths
Bert Van Marwijk has brought cohesion to a talented but often unsettled Dutch side. Stars Van der Vaart, Van Persie and De Jong have learned to share the spotlight and this new attitude Holland team has catapulted to the Number 1 world ranking ahead of Spain. Holland is packed with enough talent and momentum to win the 2012 Euro Cup.
Holland's Midfield is creative and progressive with the likes of Sneijder, Robben and Van der Vaart. The Dutch squad should be able to parlay that into goals with striker Robin Van Persie and Euro Cup qualifiers top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
The younger Dutch players bring something to the table as well. Holland is deep in talent and the quality of the side does not drop off much beyond the starting 11.
If Holland has a downside it would be their defense. They have experience in the back, but age and athleticism are question marks. Van Bronckhorst, Heitinga, Boulahrouz, Ooijer and Mathijsen are all older players that will have to cope with a tough tournament schedule.
Holland's progressive mid-field play does leave them susceptible to counter attacking tactics. They will need to put up solid goal production to get deep in the tournament. This is not the type of squad that excels in grinding out close games.
Group B is a tough draw, and past round 1 the road to the Championship game most likely includes England and France. There is not a lot of room for error for the Dutch side.
Holland may end up winning it all. They were the best looking team throughout the qualifiers and have momentum coming into the Euro Cup competition. Their key to success will be "a great offense is the best defense" mentality. This Holland team looks to be a real contender, and they could hoist their second Euro Cup trophy in 2012.
1976 Third Place, 1980 Eliminated Round 1, 1988 Euro Cup Champion, 1992 Semi-Finalist, 1996 Quarter-Finalist, 2000 Semi-Finalist 2004 Semi-Finalist, 2008 Quarter-Finalist.
Group: D Coach: Roy Hodgson
England's Strengths
Talent is by far their biggest strength. The English soccer league is by far the most balanced and competitive in the world. England has the size, athleticism, and the technical ability to win any game they are in.
Hodgson needs to focus on creating from midfield to capitalize in the Euro Cup. The English side has had a tendency for low scoring affairs which has come back to haunt them in big tournaments. Using their size in the attack could get them over the top for once.
"Under New Management" is typically the battle cry for a group trying to change an image. Will Hodgson be able to right the English national Team's ship in as little as 6 weeks is probably their biggest question mark? A chaotic locker room more often than not leads to early exits in big tournaments.
To add to England's troubles, their star Wayne Rooney will miss two group games due to suspension.
England has never won the Euro Cup. Their most notable showing was Semi-Final appearance at home in 96. Close games have been their enemy with several exits in the form of penalties. England did not even qualify for the 2008 Euro Cup.
England qualified for the 2012 Euro Cup at the top of their group, but in non-exciting fashion. England did score victories over Spain and Sweden in recent friendly matches which may bolster their confidence and momentum heading into this tournament.
England will need a strong start out of the gates. Anything short of that could lead to another embarrassing exit for the notorious underachieving side. If all falls well for England they have the talent to make a finals run.
1968 Third Place, 1980 Eliminated Round 1, 1988 Eliminated Round 1, 1992 Eliminated Round 1, 1996 Semi-Finalist, 2000 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Quarter-Finalist.
Group: D Coach: Laurent Blanc
France's Strengths
France is fielding an excellent line up of starters for this 2012 Euro Cup campaign. While they are not considered a favorite to win the Euro Cup, they do have the chops to get deep in the tournament. The team is littered with European Club star players. The midfield package consisting of Nasri, Ribery and M'Vila, combine experience and youth in a very forward attacking system. Throw in English Premier League defenders Evra and Sagna and you have a team looking to push the tempo from an offensive perspective. Lastly, the playmaking and scoring prowess of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema gives their front line world class quality.
Weakness number 1 is the man in the mirror. France has suffered from self destruction over the last 4 years. If the trend continues, an early exit is imminent. This puts a lot of pressure on new coach Laurent Blanc. He does not have deep coaching experience and managing this locker room is a challenge to say the least.
France does not have a true identity. Frank Ribery is often considered their best player, but he is not much of a leader and tends to be a bit selfish with the ball on the offensive side of the field.
The defensive unit of Evra, Sagna, Mexes, and Koscielny give France a quality defense, but also a very offensive minded one that will be prone to counter attacks. This defensive unit will need to keep themselves in check to keep opponents out of their goal.
French soccer has imploded in the post-Zidane years. After nearly winning a The 2006 World Cup, the French National Team has flopped in Major Tournaments. Their 2008 Euro Cup and 2012 World Cup performances were not a battle first, but rather a battle for worst.
Despite the drama, France has managed to win and perform well in Euro Cup qualifiers. This team is a pure crap shoot and if you like value in a bet, their on-field experience and talent is hard to overlook. The question is can they hold it together for a month at this level of competition
Look for France to escape the first round. After that anything can happen.
1960 Fourth Place, 1984 Euro Cup Champion, 1992 Eliminated Round 1, 1996 Semi-Finalist, 2000 Euro Cup Champion, 2004 Quarter-Finalist, 2008 Eliminated Round 1
Group: C Coach: Cesare Prandelli
Italy's Strengths
New Coach Cesare Prandelli has the Azzurri back believing in defense. Italy has won Ugly for years and if they are looking to win this 2012 Euro Cup, it will be doing what the defensive minded Italians do best. After their World Cup run in Germany 2006, the Italian side had suffered from poor performance issues leading to a first round exit of the 2010 World Cup and a National team shake up. The shake-up has restored the boring yet successful style of strong defensive Italian soccer.
If you are going to win, goal keeping is essential and Italy's captain Gigi Buffon is an essential piece to the puzzle for this team.
The experienced Andrea Pirlo is creative at midfield. He has the experience and ability to create opportunities for the squad in the counter attack and will be paired up with the explosive and enigmatic striker Mario Balotelli.
Distraction is the number 1 issue heading into the 2012 Euro Cup. Several of the Italian footballers are in the midst of investigations for match fixing.
Offensive injuries are also a question mark. Italy has lost some players to injury over the course of qualifiers including starting striker Cassano. Balotelli and Barzagli both have some nagging injury issues and will be playing, but possibly not at 100%. This could hurt them in front of the net.
Age at mid-field could also bite the Azzurri. Andrea Pirlo is a magnificent creator, but how well he holds up to the youth and rigor of the Euro Cup schedule remains to be answered.
Italy's defense has been impressive allowing just 2 goals over the course of the qualifying rounds. After a disappointing exit from the World Cup this team will be looking for redemption in this tournament. They recently beat Spain in a warm up, and if the Italians stay focused they can be considered a dark horse to lift the 2012 Euro Cup. Anything less than Semi-Finals will be a complete fail.
1968 Eliminated Round 1, 1980 Fourth Place, 1988 Semi-Finalist, 1996 Eliminated Round 1, 2000 Finalist, 2004 Eliminated Round 1, 2008 Quarter-Finalist.
Group: B Coach: Paulo Bento
Portugal's Strengths
Offense is key for the Portuguese side and CR7 will be joined by Man U star Nani for goal scoring responsibilities. The midfield duties go to another Premier League star in Raul Meireles. He will be paired with Joao Moutinho who will have to assume the attack creativity role. The Portuguese squad should have no shortage of opportunities to score goals in this 2012 Euro Cup competition and sports perhaps the most potent offensive punch in the tournament.
Grouping will be the Portuguese side's biggest weakness. They are in the group of death and face matches with Germany and current world #1 ranked Holland. Their easiest match will be with Denmark which is still not a push over game for Portugal.
The dependence on CR7 is great for this team, but often it looks as if Cristiano is doing more to avoid injury in National Team competitions, than to win games at any cost.
The loss of defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa to retirement before the 2012 Euro Cup leave the Portuguese defense in a weakened condition. Portugal is left with Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao, as their defensive bright spot. Defense is not even his natural position.
Despite having the best player in the tournament in CR7, it is a team sport and one where defense wins games more often than not. Their group will more than likely do them no favors in round 1, but a big win and a little help might move them on to the Quarter Finals.
Portugal vs Holland may be the most exciting game of the first round matches. Expect 90% offense and 10% defense in that match from both sides.
1984 Semi-Finalist, 1996 Quarter-Finalist, 2004 Finalist, 2008 Quarter-Finalist.
Group: A Coach: Dick Advocaat
Russia's Strengths
Russian Coach Dick Advocaat will go with experienced players. He has several world class players including the Premier League duo of Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko who tend to excel in international competition. Throw in Aleksandar Anyukov from Zenit and you have a formidable defender at the right back position.
Newcomer Alan Dzagoev, a 21 year old Russian playmaker who is being sought out at the major international level has great talent and could bring a fresh creative style and much needed new energy to Advocaat's experienced starting eleven.
The Russians are experienced, but again with that comes the age factor. The Euro Cup has a tough schedule which could be hard for some of Advocaat's older players.
Injuries to stalwart central defender Vasily Berezutsky create a lot of issues up the middle for the Russian side. They have yet to announce who will be startimng in his place which will probably be a game time decision on the day of their first match.
After an easy group phase, Russia is looking at Germany or Holland as their most likely Quarter Finals match up. Getting through to the Semis will be long odds for the Russian squad.
The Russians went deep in the Euro Cup in 2008 before being eliminated by tournament champions Spain. Barring any First Round errors, their success in this Euro Cup tournament will hinge on their Quarter Final performance.
1960 Euro Cup Champion, 1964 Finalist, 1968 Fourth Place, 1972 Finalist, 1988 Finalist, 1992 Eliminated Round 1, 1996 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Eliminated Round 1, 2008 Semi-Finalist.
Group: C Coach: Slaven Bilic
Croatia is currently ranked 8th in the world and sports a hard working and well balanced side. They look tactically perfect and field talent on every part of the pitch.
Defensively they are laden with experience which will be tough for opponents to crack.
Offensively Croatia is driven by Tottenham star Luka Modric who is capable of finding the back of the net at any level of competition. Pair him with Nikica Jelavic who scored 11 goals in 16 matches for Everton in the Premiership this past season and Ivica Olic who has the ability to create and you have a team that is going to put up some points regardless of what team stands in front of them.
Croatia has a good draw and will play Ireland first which should allow for 3 points and some goal differential in their favor. They will more than likely finish in second place in group C.
You don't see any glaring chinks in the armor. But, this team has struggled to get out of their own way at times. Despite looking great on paper and their world #8 ranking, they finished behind Greece and struggled with games at home over the course of the qualifying round.
Team defensive speed could cause Croatia some issues, especially versus the Spanish side.
Bookmakers have set odds that they will finish 3rd in the group stage. Odds makers are usually better at pricing the sport than we are at picking who wins. Their match with Italy will more than likely be the deciding game for Croatia's Euro 2012 aspirations.
According to popular media sources, Croatia is the tournament dark horse to win it all. With a good mix of youth and experience, the current 8th ranked team in the world should be able to slide into the knock out rounds if they handle their business.
Croatia has never won a major tournament despite being regular participants in major competition on the world stage. This might be their year for a finals run. If you like dog action, this squad may be your best bet.
1996 Quarter Finalist, 2004 Eliminated Round 1, 2008 Quarter Finalist.
Group: D Coach: Oleg Blokhin
Home field advantage is the Ukrainian Nation Teams' biggest strength. Support from the home crowd and packed stadiums will serve the experienced team well.
Coach Oleg Blokhin will capitalize on experience. The Ukraine side still has some remnants from their 2006 World Cup Quarter-Finalist team.
Offensively, front man Andriy Shevchenko still has a lot of influence for this team. His ability to perform is paramount to this team's success. Shevchenko will be supported by talented and veteran midfielders Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich), midfielder Oleksandar Aliyev, (Dynamo Kyiv) and Andriy Yarmolenko. Young left winger Yevgen Konoplyanka looks promising and could benefit from attention paid to Shevchenko..
Depth will be a concern for the Ukranian team. Beyond their starting 11, the side is filled with names that are not very well known in the soccer community.
Age is also of concern for the Ukraine team. Injuries and a tough schedule combined with lack of depth could be a death stroke for the home team.
Despite being the co-host country, their draw is still pretty tough with a group that is very balanced with France, Sweden and England. It will be a toss-up for any of the teams in group D to progress to the next stage.
Making their first Euro Cup appearance, the Ukraine's high hopes might be just that. They are the home team, and that may be what gets them into the knock out round. Apart from that, it looks like it may be a struggle for them to do any real damage in this tournament.
The Ukraine is not the same team from six years ago. They reappointed Oleg Blokhin as the coach based on the solid result from the 2006 World Cup. Anything beyond knock out rounds in this Euro Cup would be considered a success.
2012 is their first appearance.
Group: A Coach: Michal Bilek
Michal Bilek took the charge of national team when the things didn't look so bright. Czech Republic missed to qualify for World Cup 2010 and started Euro qualifications with home defeat against Lithuania. He applied new system, helped his side to bounce back and guide them to Poland and Ukraine. The star of the team and certainly the biggest strength is Petr Cech. Chelsea's goalie starred in play-off game in Podgorica, pulling off a number of important saves. And of course there is Tomas Rosicky, Arsenal's experienced midfielder and skipper at this Czech squad. He has been unable to recover his best form since the long absence through injury (during 2008-2009), but he's Bilek's key player and he made six assists for Czech's 15 goals in the group.
Czech Republic doesn't have any specific Weaknesses, they simply lack with quality and are outsiders in group A. They're in the transitional period with some mix of veteran players and a number of under-21 who make the step to the first team. If there's anything good, public expectations are very low and Bilek's lads will be totally relaxed and focused.
Lucky even to reach the play-offs after a controversial penalty got them a draw in Scotland. The Czechs look a shadow of the side that lit up Euro 96 and Euro 2004 and it would be a major shock were they to get out of anything but the kindest of groups.
1960 Third place, 1976 Euro Cup Champion, 1980 Third Place, 1996 Finalist, 2000 - Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Semi-Finalist, 2008 Eliminated Round 1
Group: A Coach: Franciszek Smuda
Home Field Advantage is strength number 1. Only one time in modern history has the home side not passed through to the knock out rounds.
Poland coach Franciszek Smuda is considered a great coach. He has lead German teams in the past with a great degree of success.
Offensively, Dortmund stars Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski can put this team in some good positions. The Polish captain Blaszczykowsi is an experienced attacker and has over 126 professional appearances in Germany. Polish striker Lewandowski scored 14 goals in Bundesliga this season and should cause some troble for opposing defenses. These two can combo up to give Poland some firepower.
Defensively, England's Arsenal's goalie Szczesny and another German Dortmund's player - right back Lukasz Piszczek add world class quality to the Polish back end.
Poland did not have to qualify. This is a team that has not really been pushed hard under must win circumstances. Recent friendly losses to Germany and Italy are not confidence builders despite their win versus Argentina earlier in the year.
Defense is a concern. Besides great goal keeping and one strong outside back in Piszczek, the central defense is suspect at best and un-solidified as the opening games approach.
Depth is an issue. Outside of a decent starting 11 there is not a lot in terms of re-enforcements. The tough Euro Cup schedule or injuries could take its toll here.
Poland is no stranger to world class competition and is a regular in the World Cup. They still have only qualified for 1 Euro Cup in 2008 and were bounced in the group stage.
A decent draw and home field advantage should give the Polish a chance to do a bit better this time around. As history has dictated for Euro Cup home teams, Poland should get out of the first round. After that it gets precarious fast as they will most likely be matched up versus Holland or Germany to get to the Quarter Finals.
Poland's Previous Euro Cup Performances: 2008 Eliminated Round 1
Group: A Coach: Fernando Santos
Santos has tried to inject young talent in Panathinaikos' striker Sotiris Ninis. Greece also has some solid veteran players in Captain Giorgos Karagounis and supporting cast Kostas Katsouranis and Theofanis Gekas from the 2004 Euro Cup Championship team.
The defense features Olympiacos star Vasilis Torosidis, and the Greek defense has good size and has demonstrated the ability to hold under pressure with a number of 1 goal margins in qualifiers.
One of the team's strengths lies in its set-pieces. They should be able to pick up some goals on free kicks and corners kicks.
Greece's Weaknesses
There is nothing real great about Greece from a soccer perspective. A lot of solid talent, but not a lot of star level talent.
Age is not on the Greeks side. They are relying on a veteran group of players from their 2004 Euro Cup campaign. Durability may be an issue in this wide open and physical group.
Greece has won the tournament in the past, but can they overcome the likes of Europe's top soccer squads again? This team is not bad, but also does not have the swagger of a team looking to go after their second title run.
Greece's Outlook
Greece could very well find themselves in the knock out stages with some momentum if they can slide past host country Poland in their first match. They have a decent draw for group play and success versus the home team will more than likely decide their fate early.
They have played well in qualifiers and rolled off a long string of victories under new coach Fernando Santos. Who knows, maybe another surprise run could see the Greeks to the finals a la their 2004 Championship campaign. More than likely a quarter finals appearance would be considered a successful 2012 tournament for the Greek side.
Greece's Previous Euro Cup Performances
1980 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Euro Cup Champion, 2008 Eliminated Round 1
Santos has tried to inject young talent in Panathinaikos' striker Sotiris Ninis. Greece also has some solid veteran players in Captain Giorgos Karagounis and supporting cast Kostas Katsouranis and Theofanis Gekas from the 2004 Euro Cup Championship team.
The defense features Olympiacos star Vasilis Torosidis, and the Greek defense has good size and has demonstrated the ability to hold under pressure with a number of 1 goal margins in qualifiers.
One of the team's strengths lies in its set-pieces. They should be able to pick up some goals on free kicks and corners kicks.
There is nothing real great about Greece from a soccer perspective. A lot of solid talent, but not a lot of star level talent.
Age is not on the Greeks side. They are relying on a veteran group of players from their 2004 Euro Cup campaign. Durability may be an issue in this wide open and physical group.
Greece has won the tournament in the past, but can they overcome the likes of Europe's top soccer squads again? This team is not bad, but also does not have the swagger of a team looking to go after their second title run.
Greece could very well find themselves in the knock out stages with some momentum if they can slide past host country Poland in their first match. They have a decent draw for group play and success versus the home team will more than likely decide their fate early.
They have played well in qualifiers and rolled off a long string of victories under new coach Fernando Santos. Who knows, maybe another surprise run could see the Greeks to the finals a la their 2004 Championship campaign. More than likely a quarter finals appearance would be considered a successful 2012 tournament for the Greek side.
1980 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Euro Cup Champion, 2008 Eliminated Round 1
Group: C Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni
Coach Giovanni Trapattoni has plenty of experience in big competition and one of the reasons Ireland is in this Euro 2012 to begin with. He intends to keep it ugly. Ugly games mean Irish results. They need to make it inhospitable out there for opponents with hard defense and a compact midfield.
Irish goal keeping is usually staunch with Shay Given in the net. To add to that, Aston Villa duo Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane provide a lot of playing experience and some world class quality to the Irish squad.
Age is issue number 1. Their potential strengths are also their potentially biggest weaknesses. Goalie Shay Given is 35 years old and he's been showing some signs of slowing down. Attacking midfielder Robbie Keane did well in qualifiers, but he doesn't have real support in the front line.
Depth is also an issue, apart from 3 players with deep international experience; Ireland is a team filled with question marks.
They made this years' Euro Cup with hard play and gritty wins. To make it to the knock out rounds in this tournament will take a monumental effort and anything past round 1 would be a success for the Irish side.
Ireland's Previous Euro Cup Performances: 1988 Eliminated Round 1.
Group: D Coach: Erik Hamren
Their biggest strength is also their biggest Weaknesses. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the world's leading goal scorers and Sweden will live or die by his play. Injury or card suspension could affect the notoriously hot headed Swedish striker, and there is no real replacement for him.
Hamren's formations depend on Ibrahimovic. The whole scheme loses effect with him off the pitch.
Dressing room atmosphere is not always the best for the Swedes. This can have a negative effect on the supporting Swedish players.
Sweden seems to step it up in large scale international competition. Their 31 goals in qualifiers demonstrated that this Swedish side is looking to bring offensive action to the tournament. If the Ukraine can create problems for group foes England or France, Sweden could end up the biggest beneficiary. A quarter-finals appearance would be a complete success for the Swedish Squad.
1992 Semi-Finalist, 2000 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Quarter-Finalist, 2008 Eliminated Round 1.
Group: B Coach: Morten Olsen
Denmark fields a very sound team. Their coach and former Danish National Team captain Morten Olsen gives them a chance to be competitive versus most opponents. Under his guidance for the last 11 years they have regularly qualified for major world tournaments.
The Danish team is well balanced and has some experienced players. The defense does have some world class attributes in goal keeper Sorensen and central defenders Agger and Kjaer from Liverpool and Roma.
Midfielder Christian Eriksen is expected to be a world class talent. The 19 year old Ajax playmaker has already commanded the attention of Europe's largest clubs.
The team has some age to it, and even though they have performed well over the last decade, they have not managed any major results with the current roster.
The Defense is a little beat up and lacks true definition on the flanks. Their ability to respond to the rigorous Euro Cup schedule could be a make or break situation for them in the back.
Denmark is relying on 19 year old Eriksen's talent at midfield to carry the day. That is a lot to ask of a young player in this setting. His supporting staff is aging and could create problems in mid-field continuity.
Nicklas Bendtner is the only true threat around the goal. He will need to work well with Eriksen coming out of the counter for the Danish to get results.
Not good at all. Denmark faces too tough of a draw for any second tier European side. Of course anything can happen, but realistically, it will take a minor miracle for them to see the knock out rounds.
1964 Semi Finalist, 1984 Semi Finalist, 1988 Eliminated Round 1, 1992 Euro Cup Champion, 1996 Eliminated Round 1, 2000 Eliminated Round 1, 2004 Quarter-Finalist.


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VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Canada Safeway, Calgary, Alberta, and Overwaitea Food Group, Langley, British Columbia, reopened their stores here last week after striking union members accepted a new two-year contract. Ratification, though, did not come easy. While members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518, which represents about 12,000 Safeway and Overwaitea retail clerks, approved a tentative agreement July 5, their counterparts -- the Safeway meatcutters of UFCW Local 2000 -- ...
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Main Menu
Pantry Specialties
Finger Steaks$7.95
Meat Loaf Dinner$7.25
Steak And Shrimp$9.95
Spaghetti Dinner$6.95
Shrimp Platter$7.55
Fish And Chips Platter$6.75
Chicken Strips Platter$6.95
Deli Sandwiches
- $5.75
- Substitute French Fries $6.75
Veggie Sandwich$5.75
served with cream cheese, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, sprouts and onions with chips.
Veggie Burger$6.45
topped with grilled mushrooms and cheddar cheese with french fries.
Grilled Tuna, Cheese & Tomato$5.95
Bacon, Lettuce, And Tomato Supreme$6.45
Hot Dog Coney Island$5.25
The Pantry Grill
Philly Sandwich - Beef Or Chicken$7.25
Steak Sandwich$7.95
Cha Cha Chicken Sandwich
Bbq Chicken Sandwich$6.25
California Chicken Sandwich$5.95
Mushroom Feta Melt Chicken Sandwich
Bodacious Burgers
Guacamole Burger$7.15
topped with bacon, pepper jack cheese, and guacamole.
Big Sky Burger$6.95
topped with bbq sauce, bacon and american cheese.
Mushroom Burger$7.15
topped with mushrooms, bacon and choice of cheese.
Mexicali Burger$7.15
topped with our great taco meat mixture, cheddar cheese, and jalapeno peppers.
Hawailan Burger$7.15
topped with grilled pineapple, bacon and choice of cheese.
Pattie Melt-grilled Onions On Request$6.45
Bacon Burger$6.75
topped with choice of cheese and bacon
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General Info
Boise, ID 83702


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Sounds Like:
Mike Jones, Haystack, Biggy smalls
Rayos Records
Underground Take Ova
I'm a producer/Artist been in the game since 2002, I love my life just having fun with my fam.. I got mad love for my fans, anything else you wanna know hit me up peace
"OMG!! Cenobio Rayos HAS UPPED HIS LEVEL RIDICULOUSLY!!! UH YAYY YAYY!!!"
"I don't know you, but I do know you are a dad who is in you kids life, you are dedicated to your music, & I've seen compassion & dedication when you believe in something. that has earned my respect."
"decent sound quality/production... dope lyrix/delivery... overall 8.9"
"ur an achiever and thats the first thing that comes to mind someone who pushes for success and will prolly get it`"
"YEAH, Don't h8, leave that to me
hey everyone, I'm a producer/artist that loves music. here is a freestyle I post...
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1996's Best Rap Albums
1996 saw a steady stream of classic albums from some of the genre's most significant artists.
1996 saw a steady stream of classic albums from some of the genre's most significant artists.
Large Professor's production genius came to the fore on a seminal album in the summer of 1991.
He's gotten arrested, engaged in beefs, mentored artists, helped old ladies--so we decided to take a look back at Great Moments in Guwop History.
Drake doesn't back down from a fight. He's not always the most blatant aggressor, either.
The Chicago rapper talked to the Boombox about growing as a person--and how it's changing how he approaches music.
Travi$ Scott's 'Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight' project is coming soon than you think.
FLOTUS isn't the only one in the White House who's musically inclined.
On July 27, 1984 the film that elevated and cemented Prince as a pop culture icon was released.
In her race to the White House, Hilary Clinton has apparently tapped Pusha T to help register voters.
Future's opening a Future Hive pop-up store in New York next week.
You're not going to get a pair unless you can call Pharrell up and ask him to send them to you personally.
Rihanna and Madonna have something in common.
Mariah Carey graces the August/September cover of Complex magazine.
Beyonce is living it up in Paris during the European leg of her Formation World Tour.
The perfect pair for those sockless summer days.


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We asked and you answered. Here they are, the top 25 South Florida towns, as voted on by our Facebook fans.
Viewers Choice: Best South Florida TownUPDATED 12:23 PM EDT Aug 16, 2013
Slideshow Central
CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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STARKE, Fla. (AP) - A man convicted of executing two young girls after raping and shooting their mother is facing execution at Florida State Prison.
Richard Henyard will be put to death at 6 p.m. Tuesday unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes.
He was convicted of fatally shooting 7-year-old Jamilya Lewis and her 3-year-old sister Jasmine. He and a younger partner had carjacked their mother in the central Florida town of Eustis. The pair raped the mother, shot her four times and then shot the girls.
The mother, Dorothy Lewis, survived and is now a minister in the Ocala area.
Henyard's attorney, Mark Gruber, has filed two appeals with the Supreme Court.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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Diabetes Health Center
Islet Cell Advances May Fight Diabetes
Nov. 29, 2005 -- An advance in an experimental treatment that promotes natural insulin production among people with type 1 diabetes may mean that more patients will one day be able to live without daily insulin injections.
Researchers used ultrasound guidance to help them inject and transplant insulin-producing cells, known as beta-islet cells, into the liver. They also developed a technique that appears to lower the risk of bleeding complications associated with the procedure.
Their islet-transplantation technique is minimally invasive and could potentially be done as a same-day procedure, says researcher Saravanan Krishnamoorthy, MD.
Krishnamoorthy presented the findings in Chicago at RSNA 2005, the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
"There are still problems that have to be addressed, but this could be done as an outpatient procedure," he tells WebMD.
Making Insulin
Although still experimental, islet-cell transplantation offers the promise of helping large numbers of people with type 1 diabetes lead more normal lives.
People with this type of diabetes produce little or no insulin, the hormone that helps cells break down glucose (sugar) in the blood for fuel. This is due to the body's destruction of the islet cells that make insulin. Islet cells are found in the pancreas.
diabetes and requires lifelong insulin supplementation.has been traditionally known as "juvenile"
The transplantation of beta-islet cells from donor pancreases has been shown to promote natural insulin production among patients. But like other transplant patients, islet recipients must take powerful immune-suppressing drugs to prevent rejection of the foreign cells.
About 400 patients worldwide had received islet cell transplants from donor pancreases as of late last year, with varying degrees of success.
Ultrasound Technology
The study reported by Krishnamoorthy and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis included 13 patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.
The researchers used ultrasound technology to locate the best site for islet cell infusion. They were able to transplant cells on the first attempt in two-thirds of cases and were successful on the second attempt in most other patients.
They also used a specialized technique to help prevent bleeding complications from the needle used to inject the cells.
No major complications or deaths were reported among the patients, who were followed for a month after receiving the islet cells. All 13 were producing insulin on their own. Transplant recipients had some reported anemia (lower blood count) and abnormal liver enzyme levels.
Today on WebMD
WebMD Special Sections
- Managing Diabetes, Insulin, and High Blood Sugar
- Your Child and Type 1 Diabetes
- Next-Level Fitness When You Have Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes: Learn How New Treatments Can Help You
- Live Better Daily With Diabetes
- 8 Snacks That Won't Spike Your Blood Sugar
- Living with Diabetes Assessment
- Diabetes: Keys to Better Daily Control
- Diabetes as You Age: Stay Active, Live Better
- Diabetes: Ready to Lower Your Blood Sugar?


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July 27, 20168:32 AM ET
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — It's her party now.
July 27, 20162:13 AM ET
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — There have been millions of words, decades of video and reams of commentary devoted to their story. It's been dissected, defended and decried at kitchen tables and on cable news, in tabloids and classrooms.
July 27, 20167:13 AM ET
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
July 27, 20162:10 AM ET
SAGAMIHARA, Japan (AP) — Japanese police on Wednesday searched the home of the suspect in a mass stabbing spree that left 19 people dead at a facility for the mentally disabled.
July 27, 20166:55 AM ET
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudanese government soldiers raped dozens of ethnic Nuer women and girls last week just outside a United Nations camp where they had sought protection from renewed fighting, and at least two died from their injuries, witnesses and civilian leaders said.
July 27, 20168:53 AM ET
LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the Rio Games (all times local to Rio de Janeiro):
July 26, 20163:42 PM ET
Roger Federer is sitting out the rest of this season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and U.S. Open, to protect his surgically repaired left knee.
July 27, 20162:05 AM ET
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The most dominant runner at Jamaica's national track and field championships this summer was not a superstar sprinter like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake or Veronica Campbell-Brown.
July 27, 20166:41 AM ET
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) — The Olympics has thrown another wrinkle into the golf schedule, this one affecting the American team for the Ryder Cup.
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MOSCOW (AP) — At least 105 athletes from the 387-strong Russian Olympic team announced last week have been barred from the Rio Games in connection with the country's doping scandal.