Two weeks is a long time to get over the hangover of a closely contested, enthralling European football season. If you still can't get over it, then too bad for you. The finest talent in Europe will soon come together again in Austria and Switzerland to fight for the ultimate football prize in Europe. | |||||||
So what if there is no Brazil or Argentina, or for that matter England, Euro 2008 promises to provide a sumptuous feast of football. We take a look at some of the players who could be the winning margin for their sides and make a mark on the biggest stage in European football. | |||||||
CRISTIANO RONALDO (PORTUGAL) Anything Ronaldo touches these days turns to gold, and Portugal will be hoping that his Midas touch continues in Euro 2008. After winning the English Premier League and Champions League with his club Manchester United, Ronaldo will confirm his status as the best player in the world if Portugal manage to win. | |||||||
With a whopping 42 goals in the season, he has a lot riding on his shoulders. It will be interesting to see how international defences cope with a player who can, at the moment, score with his left foot, take deadly free kicks and deliver thumping headers. It's a terrific repertoire of skills. | |||||||
FERNANDO TORRES (SPAIN) Dubbed El Niño, 24-year-old Fernando Torres will be looking to banish 44 years of underachievement by the Spanish national team. An astonishing debut season for Liverpool yielded 32 goals for the Spaniard and he will be hoping that his goal-scoring touch gets even better at the European Championships. With stars such as Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Sergio Ramos, Spain are more than a formidable side. | |||||||
But a lot depends on Torres and how many goals he manages to score. Already the bookies' favourite to win the Golden Boot, Torres has the talent to score against any defence in the world. Will he be the man to turn the perennial underachievers into European champions? | |||||||
FRANCK RIBERY (FRANCE) France's fortunes at the championships depend on how Franck Ribery plays. He has had a great season for his club Bayern Munich and was voted the best player in the German league. Ribery showed flashes of his brilliance at the 2006 World Cup but was always under the shadow of the great Zinedine Zidane. | |||||||
With Thierry Henry woefully out of form and not too many star names in their team, Les Bleus will be looking to Ribery to provide the creative spark. He has a tremendous engine, can run all day long, has an eye for goals and is probably the complete attacking midfielder. | |||||||
MICHAEL BALLACK (GERMANY) Michael Ballack might not have had his best season for Chelsea, but when he wears the German national shirt, he is a totally different player. He makes Germany tick, and inspires them. It's a relatively young team and Ballack is the one who's been there and done that. | |||||||
He narrowly missed out on the finals on two occasions for Germany but has proven his class on the international stage. He might not have young legs but his brain is sharp and can see a pass which most other footballers wouldn't even dream of. Germany's fortunes ride on Ballack's shoulders, and he will have a point or two to prove to the critics who say his star's on the wane. | |||||||
ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO (ITALY) At 34, he was the leading goal-scorer in the Italian league and outshone many of his younger rivals. A lot of people thought that he was past it and would struggle to make it to the Italian team. Yet Del Piero finds himself in the midst of the action and brings the experience of having played in six major tournaments. | |||||||
In the absence of mercurial forward Francesco Totti, who hung up his boots after the World Cup win in 2006, it's this Juventus forward who will lead the line for the Azzurri along with Luca Toni. He has proved over the years that it's foolish to count him out, and it will be no surprise to watch Del Piero prove his doubters wrong one more time this June.
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