Euro 2012 Qualifying, Preview: Group G

The first of UEFA’s five-team groups features two of the home nations. England is the group’s seeded team and will have two matches against a Welsh team with high hopes. Switzerland is the group’s other threat, one that could take the group. We’ll get a good indication of how dangerous they are next Tuesday when they host the Three Lions.

FIFA Rank: 7
Elo Rank: 6
Recent Performances: Second round exit in the World Cup. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008
Coach: Fabio Capello
Captain: Rio Ferdinand, with Steven Gerrard filling-in
Prominent players: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), James Milner (Manchester City), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)
Outlook: It feels strange having to clarify this: the World Cup is not the only competition in the world. I mention this because the Three Lions’ poor showing in South Africa has crafted this view that England’s a weak team, the country’s in soccer crisis and it can’t produce a good player or hire a decent coach. Not true, at all. They’re neither as good as they thought nor as bad as they now think. They win this group.
Predicted Finish: 1st

FIFA Rank: 17
Elo Rank: 27
Recent Performances: Eliminated in group play at both the World Cup and Euro 2008.
Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Captain: Alexander Frei
Prominent players: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Stephan Lichsteiner (Lazio), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria), Gökhan Inler (Udinese), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer LEverkusen), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Streller (Basel)
Outlook: Switzerland has the talent to win this group, and while they should not be considered favorites to do so, they are a strong bet for second place. Ottmar Hitzfeld has said this will be his last tournament before retirement.
Predicted Finish: 2nd

FIFA Rank: 43
Elo Rank: 35
Recent Performances: Third in their UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Stanimir Stoilov
Captain: Stiliyan Petrov
Prominent players: Nikolay Mihaylov (Twente), Stanislav Manolev (PSV), Martin Petrov (Bolton Wanderers), Valeri Bojinov (Parma)
Outlook: Dimitar Berbatov has retired from international football, leaving the Bulgarians without the team’s all-time leading goal scorer. They also have a void on karaoke night, not knowing how will sing the 30 Seconds to Mars songs. If the team skips them entirely, they could improve on World Cup qualifying’s third place finish.
Predicted Finish: 3rd

FIFA Rank: 84
Elo Rank: 59
Recent Performances: Fourth in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: John Toshack
Captain: Craig Bellamy
Prominent players: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), James Collins (Aston Villa), Joe Ledley (Celtic), Robert Earnshaw (Nothingham Forest)
Outlook: All eyes will be on Gareth Bale to see if the young left-sider can transfer scintilating club form to the international game. Between him and Bellamy, John Toshack has two world class players, which may have been enough to do some damage in other groups. In this one, Wales will merely be a major inconvenience.
Predicted Finish: 4th

FIFA Rank: 72
Elo Rank: 57
Recent Performances: Fourth in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Zlatko Kranjcar
Captain: Mirko Vucinic
Prominent players: Vucinic is by far the best player on this team.
Outlook: Montenegro was thought to be a potential pest in World Cup qualifying but proved to be no trouble in Group 9. There, they finished fourth but should take a step back with this draw.
Predicted Finish: 5th