Euro 2012 Fearless Predictions - Day 4

Mondays are typically bad and when you compound them with being at the office while the Euro is ongoing, it really does not make for a fun start to the week. Regardless, this is my situation, what is yours? Skipping work, taking a 'sick' day or enjoying the life of being a graduate student and waking up just in time for kick-off? Anyways, here are today's fearless predictions.

Day 4

France - England

Even though we were complaining about Monday earlier, to begin the week with England versus France is really not that bad. These two teams really do not like each other, as evidenced by their previous meetings and basic history between the two countries. It probably has something to do with sleeping with each other's women, but that is life.

In regards to the actual football match that will be played in Ukraine, England are facing a defensive crisis as John Terry is their only quality center back and quality might be a bit of a stretch. Furthermore, without Wayne Rooney, England probably does not have enough offensive firepower to muster an attempt on France's net.

For the French, they enter the Euros without a defeat in more than twenty games. Impressive stuff, but if you look closely at the matches they have played they still are not the dominant French squad of the early 2000s. The key for the French is the play of Karim Benzema and whether, at a major international tournament, he can score goals. I believe he will score at least one today as France should beat England by two goals.

France - England (2-0)

Ukraine - Sweden

While Poland opened the tournament, the other co-host, the Ukraine, will finally get their time in the sun as they kick-off the last match of the first set of games in the group stage. Ukraine, my surprise pick of the tournament, because I think they get out of this group, need to grab a victory in their opening game against the Swedes. Ukraine can follow the model the Polish used in their opening match, attack from the kick-off, pressure the opposition and score the opening goal. However, unlike the Poles, do not let off the gas.

Sweden, on the other hand, can continue the good form of their Scandinavian brothers, Denmark, with a solid defensive display and then nicking a goal from their all-world striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. For Sweden to surprise in this tournament, they still need to find scoring from someone other than Zlatan. So, with that being said Ukraine with a mini-upset to get the home fans rocking and rolling.

Ukraine - Sweden (2-1)

OVERALL RECORD

2-4