Euro 2008 : Group A

Host team Switzerland could not capitalize on their home ground support they had in their opening tie with Czech Republic. With the quality of football I saw in this match, I have doubts on the Swiss team even making it to the knockout stage. They had plenty of chances to score goals, but they lacked a quality finisher in their frontline, who could convert these opportunities into goals. Czechs had a only a few chances and in a way were lucky to have been on the winning side. Both the teams played a very nervous game. I was expecting more quality in the Czechs game than what I saw. 

Portugal seem to be in great composition. They are a well co-ordinated team, who are one of my favourites to definately make it to the semis, if not the finals. Deco and Ronaldo are in great shape. Both can create sweet breaks and provide those all important passes for the finishers to score goals. They both themselves are great finishers which adds a lot of venom to this team. Scolari, their coach, is the best man they can have to provide them with the right strategy they should be following in the games to come. Portugal had a very easy first game and were never really tested by the Turks. Turkey needs to regroup their game a lot and could develop as a team as time progresses. They do possess the talent to out smart Czech that can add some life to this group.

After watching the first 2 games in Group A, we can easily conclude that Portugal and Czech Republic would easily qualify for the knockout stage from this group, unless the Turks produce something out of the blue.