The AzKicksIt Euro 2012 Predictions – Group A

If you have been following our site for a while now, you know there is nothing I love more than HOT GOSSIP. And that’s any type of gossip; transfer news, USMNT roster rumors,coaching changes, Wayne Rooney’s hair and even predictions for domestic league seasons and International soccer tournaments. A example of this is the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship that starts in a few days.

I thought it would be fun to see what the AzKicksIt crew thought about the Euro. So I rounded up the guys and after countless hours of research which resulted in lost sleep and angry girlfriends here are our predictions below. We were all split on who will win the group 2 votes Poland, 2 votes Russia, 1 vote Czech. However all of us but Josh agreed that Greece is the worst team. On a interesting note 4 of us had a player from Greece “becoming a household name after the Tournament.” Usually when a player becomes a household name, that means he has delivered glory for his country. Not being eliminated in the group stage.

Think our predictions are wack? Sound off below, we would love to see yours!

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Group A – Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic

Who will win the group:
Garrett – Poland
Odeen – Poland
Jon – Czech Republic
Eli – Russia
Josh – Russia

Darkhorse that may win the group:
Garrett – Czech Republic
Odeen – Russia
Jon – Russia
Eli – Czech Republic
Josh – Czech Republic

Worst team of the group:
Garrett – Greece
Odeen – Greece
Jon – Greece
Eli – Greece
Josh – Poland

Best FW of the group:
Garrett – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Odeen – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Jon – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Eli – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Josh – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

Best Mid of the group:
Garrett – Jakub Blaszcykowski (Poland)
Odeen – Andrey Arshavin (Russia)  No matter his form, he’s still the top midfielder in this group. And if he ever does find his form in this tournament, Russia and its old fogies will win this group.
Jon – Tomáš Rosický (Czech Republic)
Eli – Tomáš Rosický (Czech Republic)
Josh – Andrey Arshavin (Russia)

Best Def of the group:
Garrett – Sergei Ignashevich (Russia)
Odeen – Lukasz Piszczek (Poland) More of an attacking defender than a true defender. But the options in this particular group are thin.
Jon – Lukasz Piszczek (Poland)
Eli – Yuri Zhirkov (Russia)
Josh – Vassilis Torosidis (Greece)

Best GK of the group:
Garrett – Petr Cech…like it’s a surprise (Czech Republic)
Odeen – Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
Jon – Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
Eli – Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
Josh – Petr Cech (Czech Republic)

Player who needs to be “Messi” for his team:
Garrett – Tomáš Rosický (Czech Republic)
Odeen – Sotiris Ninis (Greece). There is no other team in this group that needs one player to step up more. He is the link that will start Greece’s attack.
Jon – Well, not ‘Messi’, but if Lewandowski doesn’t score, Poland doesn’t win.
Eli – Andrey Arshavin (Russia)
Josh – Michalis Sifakis (Greece)

Player in this group who will become a household name:
Garrett – Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Greece) & Alan Dzagoev (Russia)
Odeen – Alan Dzagoev (Russia) is of course the popular pick. He’s exciting and he can score. But Ninis, now back from injury, will standout on the worst team of the group.
Jon – Alan Dzagoev (Russia)
Eli – Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Greece)
Josh – Sotiris Ninis (Greece)

Player who will ruin it for his country:
Garrett – Andrey Arshavin (Russia)
Odeen – Roman Hubnik, DEF (Czech Republic)
Jon – I think he’s quality, but I’ll go with a gaffe from Poland GK Wojciech Szczesny
Eli – Wojciech Szczesny, GK (Poland)
Josh – Wojciech Szczesny, GK (Poland)

Player who will win it for his country:
Garrett – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Odeen – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Jon – Milan Barros (Czech Republic)
Eli – Tomáš Rosický (Czech Republic)
Josh – Andrey Arshavin (Russia)