Euro 2012 
/ Michael Lintorn / 02 December 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Fabio Capello poses with the three coaches that he will face next summer
"Germany and Netherlands were the two frontrunners dealt the worst hand, joined in Group B by Portugal and Denmark."
The Euro 2012 draw was fairly kind to England but Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark all face the scrap of their lives just to escape Group B....
England's odds to win Euro 2012 have come in noticeably despite being paired with France in Group D after they avoided the nightmare scenario of drawing either Spain or the Netherlands.
Fabio Capello's men will also have to face co-hosts Ukraine and the Sweden side that they recently defeated in a friendly, however their shift from [12.0] to [10.0] reflects the fact that they should negotiate a way through, even without Wayne Rooney.
The other reason that the Three Lions' price has shortened is that the two nations separating them and favourites Spain in the betting - Germany and Netherlands - were the two frontrunners dealt the worst hand, joined in Group B by Portugal and Denmark.
As a consequence, Germany have drifted from [4.1] to [4.5], having been breathing down the now [3.6]-rated holders' necks earlier on Friday, and the Netherlands have shot out from [8.4] to [9.6].
It has been an exciting time meanwhile for the Republic of Ireland after securing their return to competitive summer action following a decade in the wilderness and Giovanni Trapattoni extending his contract, and their appearance in Group C is certain to be a memorable one.
A collision course with world champions Spain, rejuvenated Italy and the technically sound Croatia probably provides a bit more glamour than even they had anticipated though, and the Boys in Green are out from [70.0] to [80.0] to "do a Greece".
In fact, Greece might quite fancy their own chances of replicating their Euro 2004 heroics having landed in easily the least intimidating group. The former winners are in from [100.0] to [75.0] after being placed in Group A alongside Poland, Russia and Czech Republic.
That means that the tournament opener will pit Poland against Greece in a match that gives the co-hosts a crack at a victorious start but might not be the most appealing for neutrals.
Portugal head into this game as favourites having beaten Bosnia in a World Cup play-off two years ago...
They are 3-0 down after the first leg and there is little to suggest Turkey will get anything out of this...
James Eastham is expecting an open and attacking encounter when Montenegro take on the Czech Republic in their Euro 2012 play-off second leg in Podgorica on Tuesday night....
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