Germany go into tonight's final Group B games as the only team in Euro 2012 with a 100% record. A draw is enough for them to win the Group. Opponents Denmark have to win to guarantee a Quarter-Final place.
Germany have so far beaten Holland and Portugal who looked like the next best teams in Group B before the tournament started. Based on the first two games Germany should win this but in this tournament there are no guarantees as we saw last night when Russia looked a certainty to go through.
If Germany can play as they have they will be facing Greece for a Semi-Final place. It is as simple as that. Germany are better than Denmark & should beat them but we all know that funny things can happen in football so Germany cannot afford to be complacent.
Denmark sit on 3 points after a 1-0 win over Holland in their opening game & a 3-2 defeat to Portugal in their 2nd game.
The Danes looked good against Holland and defended very well to hang on for the win. However, it looked like a very different Denmark that lost 3-2 to Portugal last Wednesday.
For Denmark to progress they need to find another performance like the one against Holland. Germany are very solid & don't give much away so Denmark's best option is to keep it tight defensively & perhaps hope results go their away & that a draw is enough to reach the Quarter-Finals.
The other game is between Holland and Portugal.
For Portugal a win & they are in the Quarter-Finals. If they draw they have to hope Denmark don't beat Germany. If they lose by one goal they could still go through if Denmark lose to Germany.
Portugal really need more from their star man, Cristiano Ronaldo. He missed two bad chances against Denmark when one on one with the goalkeeper. In a Real Madrid shirt those were both goals but he seems to struggle to reenact that form for Portugal.
Holland have been very poor in this tournament & can count themselves lucky to still be in with a chance of qualifying after defeats in their opening two games.
I see their team includes all the stars tonight so it will be interesting to see what way they line up. They haven't looked like a team so far & need to get that right tonight.
I believe Germany will beat Denmark which will make the other game a shootout. If Holland play together as a team they have enough to beat Portugal by the two goals required. They might just do it you know.
Germany 2-0 Denmark
Holland 2-0 Portugal
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