Euro 2008 - Mystic Matthaeus: Group D

Eurosport - Tue, 10 Jun 20:42:00 2008

With the final teams about to kick off their Euro 2008 campaigns, former Germany captain and Eurosport's expert pundit Lothar Matthaeus gives us a rundown of how he sees Group D shaping up.

FOOTBALL 2008 Euro 2008 Luis Aragonés Aragones entrenamiento de la selección española España Spain Foto: EFE - 0

Matthaeus, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990 and the most capped German player of all time, will be giving us his thoughts on every game throughout the three-week long tournament.

And he is certainly well placed to do so - as well as featuring at five World Cups, the former World and European Player of the Year has appeared at four European Championships, winning one, in 1980.

The Germany legend sees the hotly-tipped Spaniards getting off to a good start.

Lothar predicts: Spain 2-1 Russia

"With goal machine Fernando Torres, Spain are my secret favourite and the Spanish league is really strong. With Arsenal's Francesc Fabregas in the midfield, Torres virtually guaranteeing goals for Liverpool and outstanding players featuring in their own country, Spain really have a chance to go far.

"Russia with Guus Hiddink are certainly better educated tactically now than in the past. The club success of Zenit St.Petersburg also adds something positive for them. Nevertheless, the Russian team isn't strong enough to face up to Spain and therefore the Iberians will get the opening win."

Lothar predicts: Greece 1-1 Sweden

"Greece won't be the same as they were four years ago, they won't get to the final. The team, a credit to manager Otto Rehhagel, managed to qualify top of their group, a really easy group though.

"However, they did lose during their preparations in a friendly against Hungary.

"The Swedes will provide awkward opposition, as they are a physically strong team. That won't suit Greece, especially on set pieces, one of their strengths. Sweden have a player in Ibrahimovic who can make the difference at the top level.

"Nevertheless, Greece will manage a draw in the beginning against a Sweden side that is man for man stronger than the defending champions."

Click on the link below the photo for team news and predicted line-ups and be sure to follow LIVE text commentary on the game right here on eurosport.yahoo.com! Kick off in Innsbruck is at 17:00 UK time on Tuesday, while the match in Salzburg gets underway at 19:45 UK time!

Eurosport

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  1. Appeal to whoever moderates this system: Please, do not let it become a platform for pimps. I suggest those who consider themselves 'lonely but hot' find a more appropriate medium to pimp around and not spoil the fun of soccer fans.

    From Ciloolo Wamutende, on Wed 11 Jun 8:30AM
  2. David Villa will be a treat for this game. Russia will rely on Arshavin and Pavyluchenko to treathen the defence.

    From camillerijacob11, on Tue 10 Jun 7:02PM
  3. In my opinion Raul would have been perfect to play right behind Torres. His class is undeniable, and this season he had the form to match. I can understand Aragones' reluctance to call him up at the start of the campaign, considering Raul's poor form the last couple of seasons, but this season he was really there and deserved to be called up in my book. He is getting older, however, and this will probably have been his last shot at international football seeing as how he will be too old by next Word Cup.

    My prediction? Spain 3 - 2 Russia. I am hoping this will be Spain's tournament for once.

    From lolqbabolq, on Tue 10 Jun 4:20PM
  4. Mystic Matthaeus, master at stating the obvious. Amazing your could make a job of it.

    From seriousness_one, on Tue 10 Jun 4:11PM
  5. Can all those women who post sex on this site use another forum? I have complained twice about this This is a serious forum for dicussion on the Euro Championship 2008 yours John Hamer

    From John Hamer, on Tue 10 Jun 4:09PM
  6. Well Matthaeus was totally wrong yesterday in his prediction so I don't think he'll do much better today.
    I see Sweden 1-0 Greece and Spain 0-0 Russia.
    The problem of spain is their coach, he's really , really @#$%. How did he manage to stay in the job so long really bugs me. But as long as he'll be there, Spain won't win a thing!

    From slebmaster, on Tue 10 Jun 4:04PM
  7. Here is my two cents about match between Spain and Russia.
    Spain will win this game, but it will be much more harder task since WC group match. Russia finally posses some attacking power and skill that they were lacking years ago, but their defense still needs a lot of improvement. Between Torres and Villa they should score couple of goals. They dont need Raul because he is old and is not worth the place in the team that needs to build around new, young and better attackers.

    P.s. Arshavin is suspended and will only play the last group stage game.

    From viy_98, on Tue 10 Jun 3:51PM
  8. kl

    From eoghan2good, on Tue 10 Jun 3:21PM
  9. Spain are hottest favourite, along with Holland, Portugal and Germany. But a coach that leaves Raul at home, and a Raul in great form, well that's a loser. Not only Raul's skill is great, he has the kind of personality a captain should have, to provide a constant motivation to the team mates. He has international experience as nobody else in Europe, and yet still an amazing scoring efficiency.
    Spain has so far always failed on a big stage (I remember them only in the 1984 final), but this could be the right time. In spite of a poor manager. Maybe a great coach, but a poor manager, afraid of strong personalities.

    From Giovanni T, on Tue 10 Jun 3:13PM
  10. How good is it to see Henrik Larsson back in the Swedish team for tonights game. He is a genius and pure legend. Sweden to beat Greece 1-0.

    From aidanmcaleese, on Tue 10 Jun 1:23PM
  11. I am an ugly fat b@stard looking for young, sexy, ladies to use and abuse. The more, the better. Just call me sugar pops...
    Now for the real business of the site. Russia to upset Spain and Sweden to beat Greece by the odd goal. I just reckon Spain will 'bottle' it again, like they always seem to at the major tournaments. Man for man, they should have the best squad in Euro 2008 and, as a neutral, I hope they do it, but I wonder...

    From JASON B, on Tue 10 Jun 12:19PM
  12. I don't really want to get into this whole dating debarcle, but I feel obliged to question whether having a sugar daddy is, "absolutely an extra-marital relationship". The definition of a sugar daddy denotes a large age gap, and has nothing to do with marital status. So, Chloe, Linder, and all you other desperate retarded bitches: Please @#$% off and die (in a grizzly manner) and/or take an English class before posting again.

    Anyway, I think the sheer individual ability of the Spanish players should see them to a hard fought victory over an ever improving Russian team. (That's not to say the Russians don't possess gifted players of their own.) Despite numerous claims that Torres cannot play in the current Spanish system, his club form should ensure he plays. Althoug it is too late to make alterations at this stage, I think Spain would be better off adopting a system suiited to their wealth of talented attackers, as opposed to the other way round. They also need to beware of that pesky schemer Arshavin. 3-1 Spain, perhaps some what flatteringly.

    From Terry Midnite, on Tue 10 Jun 11:45AM
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    From lovegirl10020, on Tue 10 Jun 8:47AM
  14. good old Lothar

    From T B, on Mon 9 Jun 11:46PM
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    From wpvfe, on Mon 9 Jun 9:31PM
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    From hzhberg, on Mon 9 Jun 9:17PM
  17. Linder pls buzz off, whether you're beautiful or not this website is for sports and not for finding dates! if u want ur ideal date u can join hi5! www.hi5.com! thank u!!!

    Anyway Spain rocks! El- Nino, Alonso, Arbeloa & Reina all the way! Liverpool......the best in Spanish talents! Rafa, you rock!

    From DeeBee, on Mon 9 Jun 7:28PM
  18. hail to spain! they surely beat those russian.

    From lllcc_cosmo, on Mon 9 Jun 6:13PM
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