As Spain were crowned World Cup winners in Soweto, the curtain fell on the first World Cup Finals to be staged in Africa. European teams completed a 1-2-3 with Spain defeating Holland in the final in addition to Germany getting 3rd place after a 3-2 success over Uruguay.
This definitely reinforces the theory that European football is the most effective worldwide and that the European Championships are a wonderful tournament. Qualifying matches for the Euro 2012 finals will begin in September and regardless of finishing 3rd, Germany will certainly be among the favourites to lift the trophy. Their more youthful side manufactured some remarkable football all the way through the Fifa World Cup with Thomas Muller winning lifting the Golden Boot with 5 goals and three assists. With several other young starlets like Ozil, Boateng and Kediera, Germany will be one of the teams to look out for.
As current World and European champions, Spain will be a very difficult opposing team. Many of their players will still be young enough in 2012 to supply difficult opposition and they will be willing to defend their title.
At last Holland was able to leave their individual egos behind during the FIFA World Cup and due to this fact, the Dutch made it to their 3rd World Cup final beating a great many peoples favourite, Brazil, along the way. With more effective finishing from Robben, Holland could well have won the tournament as an alternative to Spain and they will aim to continue in the same vein all through Euro 2012.
The traditionally powerful nations of France, England and Italy all failed miserably in South Africa and subsequently, the curtain will absolutely come down on numerous of the older players careers. England have quite a few impressive young players to deliver to the international stage and if they can emulate the German team, there will be increased hopes within the English fans.
The Euro 2012 host nations of Poland and Ukraine will both take advantage of enormous support but in the long run, they generally undertake not have the quality to seriously challenge for the title.
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