>Top Scorer – Robin Van Persie. Hard to call this one so safe to go with the Prems best striker in a team in good form and one of the favorites to win. The Dutchmen is a consummate striker and will have be at his best if the Dutch are to fulfill their perennial promise.
Most publicized issue – The political and social undercurrent runs deeper through this tournament than in recent years. Expect the issues of race and sex to be highlighted over and over again over the next month, although we hope it is the football we talk about come the end.
First to get sent off – Mario Balotelli/Wayne Rooney. This may depend on the scenario in the group stages. If England find themselves struggling to qualify going into the final group game it would not be a surprise to see Rooney on his first game react petulantly as circumstances go against him. His discipline has been good at club level but the madness is always just beneath the surface. For Super Mario the madness is always in plain sight. His manager has called on him to let the football do the talking but it would be foolish to predict a whole tournament without a controversial moment from the bonkers City man.
Player of the tournament – It would be too easy to pick a member of the Spanish midfield, so how about Bastian Schweinsteiger? The Bayern man was outstanding in the C.L before incredibly missing the decisive penalty. However he is beginning to rediscover his best form and remains the closest thing to Xavi outside Spain. Elsewhere expect Robben to be excellent throughout until the chance presents itself to score a winner in which case he bottles it,
Most Entertaining moment – The female activist group Femen have made quite an impact in recent years particularly for their proclivity to protest topless. They have already targeted the host countries and the majority of male viewers (and a fair few female ones) will hope they bring their grievances to the football pitch at some time or another.
Revelation of the tournament – Andy Carroll. One day England may play free flowing and slick football but as sure as night follows day it aint gonna happen under Hodgson. Which means England will look to utilize the strengths of Carroll as much as possible, especially in the absence of Rooney for the first two games. England’s answer to the divine ponytail has looked in excellent form in recent weeks. The big Geordie has the capacity to physically intimidate any defender in the tournament. In a world of false number 9`s and roving centre forwards, it would constitute an innovation if a burly direct front man was to excel. So expect balls lumped in his general direction, and if England falter expect the country to lament the fact we have evolved so little in 60 years.
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Don’t agree with top scorer… As good as Van Persie has been, Huntelaar has not only equalled, but bettered him with 48 goals. He also has more international goals in fewer appearances. If that was anything to go by, firstly I’d play Huntelaar in their lone striker position, and secondly he’s, at least statistically, a better goalscorer. I think France would be the dark horses… England didn’t show a reason to justify why they should be considered to win Euro 2012 against Norway. A showing like that against the elites, and even France in the group stage, will see them out of the Euros earlier than expected. Sneijder for player of the tournament, or perhaps Ribery (who’s simply on fire)?
Plus the absence of Lampard and Barry, as well as Wilshere leaves England with a depleted midfield, whislt they’re missing their ‘star man’ Rooney too.