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Group B

Team profiles

DENMARK

Denmark manager Morten Olsen has been manager of the national team for the past 12 years and he would have been totally thrilled to qualify as group winners from a section which also included Portugal.

Niklas Bendtner

Nicklas Bendtner will need to fire in the goals if Denmark are to avoid a group-stage departure

  PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES 

However, Olsen won't be as happy with the Euro 2012 finals draw which sees the Danes in with European heavyweights Germany and Holland as well as reacquainting themselves with Portugal once more.

Nicklas Bendtner is the key forward for Denmark and there is much to admire about young Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen but this looks too difficult and a group-exit is on the cards.

 

 

GERMANY

They were beaten finalists in 2008 and semi-finalists at the 2010 World Cup and Germany have got their eyes set firmly on first place at Euro 2012.

Miroslav Klose

Miroslav Klose and Germany strike partner Mario Gomez scored goals for fun in ten qualifying success

  PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES 

Joachim Low's side should be full of confidence after they won all ten qualifying matches and strikers Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez both helped themselves to a bucketload of goals with Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil also influential.

However, the large Bayern Munich contingent will have to pick themselves up quickly after losing the final to Chelsea on penalties which is a slight negative for a country which should go close to landing the trophy.

 

HOLLAND

The Dutch came so close to winning the World Cup and they must be on the shortlist for glory at this European Championship with attacking quality which is the envy of most of the continent.

Robin Van Persie

Premier League golden boot Robin van Persie is not the only man at present grabbing goals for Holland

  PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES 

Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar topped the scoring charts in the Premier League and Bundesliga respectively, while Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder are also more than capable of chipping in with goals.

The defensive unit is not as good as some of the others on show but the Oranje should be on any tournament shortlist.

 

 

 

PORTUGAL

The big question here is whether Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of leading Portugal to the latter stages all by himself.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The form of Cristiano Ronaldo looks key to Portugal's chances of glory

  PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES 

No team will be more reliant on one individual than Portugal, who qualified after beating Bosnia in a play-off, but lets face it there are few in Europe you would rather have on your side than Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo.

Nani will do his best to help his former Manchester United pal but don't expect too much from Helder Postiga and experienced defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa have been axed from the squad.

Other teams in Group B make more appeal.

Click on team names for team page

Click here for EURO2012 Group B page

 

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