Before every Euro 2012 match Ian Wright will unleash his inner gambler and predict the score. On this page you’ll find Football Friends Online as well other popular football bloggers from across the web wading into debate to make their expert predictions too.
Absolute Radio- Bloggers Predictions.
But as the action gets under way, will they be Wright, or will they be wrong? Follow the #WrightorWrong hashtag on Twitter and lend your voice to the debate.
Netherlands v Denmark-
Paul Hill- Netherlands 3-1 Denmark. Any side that includes the top goalscorers in both the Premier League and Bundesliga has a chance, and I fully expect the Orange firepower to be too much for a unspectacular Danish team too heavily reliant on Bendtner and Eriksen.
Ben McAleer- Netherlands 3-1 Denmark. That attacking trident of Robin van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Luuk de Jong netted an astonishing 117 goals between them last season and even though all three won’t starts, it’s proof of the attacking power of the Dutch. However, despite Maarten Stekelenburn in goal, they are suspect at the back and I expect the Danes to nick one through Nicklas Bendtner.
Adam Gray- Netherlands 2-1 Denmark.The danes will be typically cautious under Morten Olsen and although they do possess pace on the break with Dennis Rommedahl and creativity with Christian Eriksen that may test a weak back line. Netherlands’ attacking threat from Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder may see the Oranje have too much.
Dan Whiteway- Netherlands 2-1 Denmark In potentially the worst Group of Death in tournament history, 9th best team in the world Denmark (by the FIFA rankings, for what it’s worth) should be the team everyone aims to beat and it will be no different for the Netherlands. Robben, van Persie, Huntelaar, Sneijder, Afellay et al will prove too much for the Danish in the end but it won’t be a foregone conclusion with the combination of an iffy Dutch defence and Bendtner and Eriksen.
George Powell- Netherlands 2-0 Denmark. The attacking talents of the Dutch will have too much for a Denmark outfit that rely heavily attacking trio on Bendtner, Eriksen and, the evergreen Dennis Rommedahl. The selection choice of Bert Van Marwijk, who he picks out of Van der Vaart and De Jong could set the tone for the Oranje’s tournament.
Scott Balaam- Netherlands 2-0 Denmark.The Dutch scored 37 times in the qualifying stage, the in-form Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored 12 times. They aren’t the best at the back but should be good enough to handle anything the Danish throw at them – Bentner and co struggled to for goals on their way to the Championships, and with a tricky group I can’t see that changing in Poland.
Germany v Portugal
Paul Hill- Germany 2-1 Portugal. This should be a closer game than most think with the Portuguese having a good first 11, but if the Germans can sort out their centre-back pairing then even Spain will struggle to defeat them in this tournament.
Ben McAleer- Germany 2-1 Portugal. Hard to imagine the Portuguese only scoring once, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo alone scored 60 last season. Yet, they have faltered recently on the international stage and coming up against early tournament favourites Germany, the Joachim Loew led side are expected to pick up all three points in this fiesty encounter. Favouring Ronaldo to net the first goal in this.
Adam Gray- Germany 1- 1 Portugal. Germany, although possessing their famed tournament efficiency, shipped 5 goals recently to Switzerland and there may be a feeling that with Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani in attack, Portugal may be able to spring a surprise on the break.
Dan Whiteway- Germany 3-1 Portgual The thinking man’s favourites for the tournament versus a side that defines inconsistency. Any side containing Cristiano Ronaldo will score goals but the best German side since Italia 90 (Gotze and Reus on the bench!) will prove to have too much for a Portuguese defence yet to really replace Ricardo Carvalho in central defence who retired a year ago.
George Powell- Germany 2-1 Portugal.A German side that combines elegance and efficiency should triumph in Lviv, but only just. A harmonious Portuguese side, skippered by Cristiano Ronaldo, has the potential to Joachim Low’s men problems, but will fall short in this encounter.
Scott Balaam- Germany 1-1 Portugal. I think the Germans will get to the final, but start slowly. Portugal are a decent side but tend to rely heavily on Ronaldo, which led to them struggling in qualifying, whereas the Germans breezed through, winning 10 out of 10 and looked very dangerous. Gomez will be hard to mark and likely to score but the key man is Mesut Özil who has excelled under Jose at Real and looks class.
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