In the last few years, the European Championships have provided better football than the World Cups. The last two editions of the European Championships, for example, have been high on substance and spectacle, even if Greece’s dour tactics triumphed four years ago. Indeed, that is the beauty of the tournament, for it promotes the continent’s disparate football philosophies on a stage uncluttered by whipping boys such as Togo and Saudi Arabia. That is not to say the World Cup’s global appeal comes at the price of good football; rather, that the European Championship’s sixteen team format ensures immensely competitive groups.

Taking a look the Euro2008 groups illustrates the point. Group D, which contains Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Russia, can be arguably described as “the group of life”. Spain and Sweden beat each other once in the qualifiers, while Russia came out of a group containing Croatia and England. Greece are the reigning European Champions and will definitely fancy a spot in the quarter-finals. All four teams, then, are on relatively equal ground. Certainly, Spain are the most talented side in the group, but their notorious knack to choke will comfort their opponents.

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