GROUP D:
England:
Top Players: Wayne Rooney (Manchester united; Forward): Although suspended for the first two games, Rooney is an over-achiever. A hard-nosed player, Rooney goes strong on every play and his great technique, passing, and playmaking make him one of the top-5 players in Euro 2012.
Ashley Young(Manchester United; Winger): Rooney’s teammate at Old Trafford, Young will provide wonderful speed and dribbling on the left or right flanks. He has great crossing abilities and will be a crucial player to assist Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck the first two games when Rooney will be missing.
Style of Play: Great style of play on the wings with Ashley Young and Theo Walcott. Engalnd is always known as having a very balanced midfield and strong defenders so see this team receiving few goals.
Projected Standings: 2nd place; 6 pts. (Loss-France; Win-Sweden; Win-Ukraine)
Notes: England is a very talented team with rich soccer history, and by default it is one of the favorites to win the title. However, they are under a new coach (Roy Hodgson), and their star Wayne Rooney is suspended for the first two matches. England will have to overcome these, and show the world of what they are capable of. They will take second place but one should not be surprised if they are eliminated in the group stages as they could very well bust of the Euro Cup.
France:
Top Players: Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich; Forward/Winger): Ribery is one of the top class players of this Euro Cup. He is the most gifted in the French squad with his dynamic speed, dribbling abilities, and outstanding passing.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid; Striker): A regular starter under coach Laurent Blanc, Benzema is on a great goal scoring streak. He is capable of being a playmaker and a poacher, and he will team-up with Ribery to create one of the strongest offenses in the cup.
Style of Play: A very balanced team with a good veteran defense, quick and technical midfield, and dynamic forwards. France will score many and receive a few.
Projected Standings: 1st place; 7 pts. (Win-England; Win-Sweden; Tie-Ukraine)
Notes: The most talented team in Group D and one of the favorites to win the title. France will take first place of the group by going undefeated.
Sweden:
Top Players: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan; Striker): The experienced forward is still at the highest level of his career. He uses his body strenght, height, and envious shot to create goal threats against any opponent.
Style of Play: A very weak defense but with a very talented and powerful offense. This team will score many, but it will receive more.
Projected Standings: 4th place; 1 pts. (Loss-England; Loss-France; Tie-Ukraine)
Notes: Although Sweden has a strong offense, its defense will be too weak against favorites France and England. Sweden would take third place but Ukraine’s homestand will push them to the lowest position in Group D.
Ukraine:
Top Players: Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev; Striker): The veteran striker will lead this team in front of a fierce home crowd with experince and a still great goal-scoring capability.
Style of Play: Weak team that will use the crowd as its biggest threat.
Projected Standings: 3rd place; 2 pts. (Loss-England; Tie-France; Tie-Sweden)
Notes: Ukraine along with Poland are the hosts of the Euro 2012 cup. But, along with Poland, Ukraine also has the other weakest team in the tournament. Compared to England and France, this team lacks superb talent but its intimidating home crowd will aid it to tie two very close games and take third place of Group D.