Euro 2012 Qualifying, Preview: Group F

Israel’s 3-1 win over Malta on Thursday vaulted them to an early Group F lead, and while they are unlikely to keep that position in a group that includes Croatia, Israel has a good change to finish second. To do so, they will have to beat out a transitioning Greece squad and a Latvian team coming off a strong World Cup qualifying campaign.

FIFA Rank:14
Elo Rank: 7
Recent Performances: Third place in UEFA World Cup qualifying. Quarterfinalists at Euro 2008.
Coach: Slaven Bilic
Captain: Darijo Srna
Prominent players: Josip Simunic (Hoffenhim)Vedran Corluka (Tottenham hotspur), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Luka Modric (Tottenham Hotspur), Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham Hotspur), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich)
Outlook: Shockingly, Croatia not only failed to qualify for the World Cup, they didn’t even make the UEFA playoffs. They remain a seeded team and the solid favorite to win this group, having no glaring weaknesses. With Eduardo back, Slaven Bilic could actually improve upon a 2008’s result.
Predicted Finish: 1st

FIFA Rank: 12
Elo Rank: 38
Recent Performances: Eliminated in group play at both the World Cup and Euro 2008.
Coach: Fernando Santos
Captain: Giorgios Karagounis
Prominent players: Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Milan), Giourkas Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiacos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos), Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Theofanis Gekas (Eintracht Frankfurt), Georgios Samaras (Celtic)
Outlook: Does anybody really believe Greece is the 12th best team in the world. Oh, FIFA - you’re adorable like that. Greece’s ability to quality for a third straight Euros will be dictated by how new coach Fernando Santos incorporates the new young talent: Papastathopoulos, Sotiris Ninis, and Kostas Mitroglou.
Predicted Finish: 3rd

FIFA Rank: 38
Elo Rank: 35
Recent Performances: Fourth in their UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Luis Fernández
Captain: Yossi Benayoun
Prominent players: Dudu Aouate (Mallorca), Tal Ben Haim (West Ham United), Tamir Cohen (Bolton Wanderers), Biram Kayal (Celtic), Ben Sahar (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Outlook: If Greece continues to descend, Israel is set to take second place and threaten to qualify for their first major tournament since 1970. The emergence of Sahar as a second viable goal scorer may be the key. Now playing back in Israel, Sahar has given indications that his career may be back on track.
Predicted Finish: 2nd

FIFA Rank: 49
Elo Rank: 70
Recent Performances: Third in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Aleksandrs Starkovs
Captain: Vitalijs Astafjevs
Prominent players: Oskara Klava (Anzhi Makhackhala), Juris Laizans (Salyut Belgorod), Maris Verpakovskis (Ergotelis), Andrejs Rubins (Qarabag)
Outlook: A veteran team that gave Group 2 trouble during World Cup qualifying, Latvia may be relying on too many old warriors to take the next step forward.
Predicted Finish: 4th

FIFA Rank: 110
Elo Rank: 82
Recent Performances: Sixth in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Temuri Ketsbaia
Captain: Kakha Kaladze
Prominent players: Ucha Lobjanidze (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Zurab Khizanishvili (Blackburn Rovers), Levan Kobiashvili (Hertha Berline), Levan Kenia (Schalke), Levan Mchedlidze (Empoli)
Outlook: Georgia is a bright soccer future, but this year may be too soon. They should take a bit out of one of the group’s four top teams, but their collection of young players (six 23 or under) look more like a threat for 2016.
Predicted Finish: 5th

FIFA Rank: 151
Elo Rank: 158
Recent Performances: Sixth in their UEFA qualifying group. Did not qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: John Buttgieg
Captain: Gilbert Agius
Prominent players: Michael Mifsud has 25 career international goals.
Outlook: Malta got one point in World Cup qualifying: a 0-0 home draw with Albania.
Predicted Finish: 6th