England’s Euro 2012?

So, as Africa disembarks after a troubled African Cup of Nations, the World continues to prepare itself for the World Cup in South Africa this coming summer. Yet, amongst all the anticipation, not just the elite in Europe find themselves with an invite to Warsaw, where the qualifying groups for Poland and Ukraine Euro 2012 will get drawn.

For England, this is the chance to remove John Terry from the headlines, letting football be the main topic of conversation once more and not whether England should have an adulterous captain or one who, quite probably, was on drugs earlier in his career. But let’s be honest, the rest are probably not much better.

However, England find themselves in what many appear to be a tough group. Group G will see Wembley play host to boring, yet consistent qualifiers Switzerland. No doubt their inclusion in the World Cup will help prove this statement, although, I hope for everyone’s sake, that they do not live up to such high expectations and actually play in a game which is remembered for its exciting football, rather than its insurmountable amount of rain or extensive penalty misses against co-hosts Ukraine.

Bulgaria will also come to the home of football. A nation whose name has an almost onomatopoeia like element, instantly suggesting a hard fought graft will be needed for any visiting team who comes to Sofia with any point taking aspirations. Montenegro pose similar prospects. The side may be deemed a minor, but then again it has risen sharply up the FIFA’s world rankings in the last couple of years.

The crowning glory of the fixture list, is an old fashioned home nations fiesta against Wales. Well, maybe fiesta is not quite the right word, unless of course Wales cause a major upset and beat their only real neighbours, taking hope from the shock Northern Ireland gave England when David Healy scored the only goal when qualifying for Euro 2008 World Cup 2006??? As for Wales, let’s just hope they do not receive a thumping like the one they got at Twickenham in the 6 nations yesterday.

Hard though this group may be, if England are really worried by the likes of Montenegro, then they do not deserve to make it to Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Especially when you look at the group their northern neighbours have been landed in. Scotland, due to their collapsing world ranking, find that they will face the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Liechenstein and current European Champions, and most people’s favourites for the World Cup, Spain. In a tournament where only the top placed team qualifies, Scotland’s chances look slim at best.

However, 6 months is a long time in football. Maybe by that time Scotland will have recaptured their former glory, under new manager Craig Levein. Maybe Wales will have enticed Ryan Giggs back into the national side, enabling them to conquer over the English. And maybe England will have a captain who actually deserves to wear the armband. Put all three together, and you have some idea of the odds of England winning the World Cup in summer, so let’s just hope we qualify for Euro 2012.