Euro 2012 draw: Pot 4
Channel 4 News takes a look at Pot 4 in the draw for Euro 2012, which consists of Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and France.
Republic of Ireland
Having missed out on the World Cup in the most ludicrous of circumstances in the play-off against France, Ireland will head east believing that they have a good shot at reaching the knock-out stages.
They still depend on the world-weary Robbie Keane to produce the goals, but there is a pack of industrious type of players in this team that make them very heard to beat. Spartak Moscow’s Aiden McGeady and Everton’s increasingly impressive Seamus Coleman (pictured) will need to perform. Probably the last tournament, too, for goalkeeper Shay Given.
Read more: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 3
France
There is easily enough talent in the ranks of Les Bleus for them to be considered potential champions – on paper. Rancour, mutiny and turmoil reigned at their dismal World Cup in South Africa. But by most accounts, Laurent Blanc has restored some semblance of unity in the side.
If he can combine the talents of strikers Karim Benzema and Loic Remy, midfielders Yann M’Vila and Franck Ribery and defender Mamadou Sakho, France could be unstoppable.
Czech Republic
Like Croatia, the Czechs are not on the same level as their ’96 predecessors, who reached the final before losing to Germany. Unlike the Croats, though, there is a dearth of raw talent at their disposal this time around.
Where once, the towering Jan Koller was their biggest goal-threat, there is now ex-Liverpool flop, Milan Baros. Where the lion-maned Pavel Nedved once dominated the midfield with the same gusto as Zidane, there is the unpredictable Tomas Rosicky. And where the gifted Karel Poborsky and Patrick Berger roamed on the wings, there is now no-one of note.
Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, will obviously continue to perform remarkably in goal, but that will not be enough to see this side in transition repeat the achievements of teams gone by.
Denmark
As with Sweden, Denmark combines over-the-hills and bright young things.
The likes of Martin Jorgensen, 36, Dennis Rommedahl, 33, and Lars Jacobsen, 32, are surely on their last legs, and they are all playing in the Danish league. But highly sought-after midfielder Cristian Eriksen, Manchester United’s goalkeeper Anders Lendegaard, captain Daniel Agger and the promising Simon Kjaer should make Denmark competitive.