Euro Group A

Switzerland

As hosts, the Swiss have an outside chance of making the knockout stages of the tournament. They need to bank on home support AND luck. They will have to rely on veteran Alexander Frei to pump in the goals, but it seems unlikely in a group with Ricardo and Cech, top keepers, providing stiff opposition. Cech is an established name. Ricardo was a star performer at the WC 06. Instead, the Swiss' defence will have to step up a notch. Defenders Senderos and Degen will have to be at their best. Senderos is prone to blips, and he really got to shave off that to aid the hosts' bid for progress, as they will be facing opposition from Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal

Probable favourites for the group. With exciting attackers in the form of red-hot Cristiano Ronaldo and former Catalan Deco, and a stiff defence provided by Ricardo Carvalho and goalie Ricardo, there is reason to be optimistic. If Ronaldo can carry on his form, translate club form to country, Portugal have a good chance on emulating their final appearance when they hosted the competition 4 years ago.

Turkey

Very minor chance of making the quarters. They would have to be able to break down the opponents' defence to have any chance, because they have the weakest defence of the group. Thankfully, they should be able to bank on strikers Nihat Kahveci and Hamit Altintop, both of whom have gathered relative experience and success on the European stage. The Portuguese have a reliable backline, the Czechs have a great goalkeeper, while the Swiss have managed to keep the scores low for the past few years (look at their qualifying campaigns for the WC and this Euro). Turkey is hardly the team that made the semis of the World Cup 2002, but they must not be dismissed. They have a frontline that can match the Swiss and the Czechs', and possibly even the Portuguese.

Czech Republic

I would say this is an ageing team. Jan Koller is imposing but not at all fast. His only chance is to wait in the box for the crosses and passes to come, but at least he provides a good header. This is better than Milan Baros. Baros thrived on the last edition, but what a difference 4 year make! He had been switching clubs like sandwiches, and now I am not even certain where he will settle temporarily at for the next football season. The defence, marshalled by Cech, is strong, but the backline is not quick. Niko Kovac is 35 years of age. That is hardly young. And Jankulovski is also over 30 (I think 33). The Czechs will struggle against the Portuguese, and it will be Cristiano Ronaldo versus Petr Cech. But Deco will be free, and this is where the Czech team may fumble. Tomas Rosicky may find the boots of Pavel Nedved hard to fill, but he may well be the star performer for this team, who will need a good midfield to protect the defence and aid the attack.

Verdict:
I expect Portugal to breeze to the next round, and followed by either Turkey or Switzerland in 2nd. The Czechs, I feel, will flop. My sense tells me that the Turks are more talented and will progress.