Euro 2012 Preview

I'm very excited about the Euro's starting tomorrow. Although I'm not too crazy about the opening games, as Group A looks amazingly mondain compared to the other groups, espcially the one that includes Germany, Holland and Portugal. How on Earth can they all be drawn together in the same group and then there be another group like group A? The seeding system needs looking at it.

But anyway, it is very exciting. In a way it's better than the World Cup because you get more interesting games, especially in the group stages. Rather than watching games like Tunisia vs Costa Rica, you're watching games like Spain v Italy, Holland v Germany and France v England. There are some mouth- watering fixtures and there are going to be two games a day for the next week and a half.

In terms of who I think will win it, my bet is Germany. I think it'll be between them, Holland and Spain. I think Spain are a bit weaker this year, Torres isn't the player he was during the last European Championships, David Villa's out injured, as is Carles Puyol.

A few of Germany's players will be on the rebound from their agonising Champions League final defeat so will be determined to make up for it with a major European trophy. They've got plenty of goals in them and plenty of attacking talent; Mario Gomez, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Mueller, Miroslav Klose (a legend of international football) and Lukas Podolski are just a few of them. The only worry for them is their defence. Are they solid enough? I don't know to be honest, it's just speculation, but Per Mertesacker is one of their first choice centre backs and he's pretty dodgy at times.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Arsenal players there; Van Persie (for now!), Walcott, Oxlade- Chamberlain, Rosicky, Szczesny et al.

Overall, it should be a good tournament and there are a few contenders for winning it. It's quite open and there are some pretty good teams around at the moment; Spain, Holland, Germany, France, England, Portugal etc.

I think Poland may spring a surprise and get to the quarter finals, England will get to the semi's, knocking out Spain in the process, and it will be a Germany v Holland final with Germany winning. The big early departures I think will be Portugal and Italy, with Croatia qualifying from group C at the expense of the 2006 World Cup winners.

I think England will do OK. They'll be quite dull with 'Woy' in charge and I think Walcott and Oxlade- Chamberlain will get at least some deserved game time. I've gone for Walcott to be England's top goalscorer with 3, but it remains to be seen whether he'll start the majority of the games or not. I actually think Danny Welbeck might be England's dark horse. *Finger taps nose*

Here's to three weeks of wall to wall footy!