Demba Ba possibly joining Chelsea

Due to the departure of Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool, Chelsea currently only have one striker, that being Fernando Torres, so the blues need a new one. Now, it looks like the new man will be Demba Ba from Newcastle for £7 million.

So what does this mean for Chelsea? Well, at 27, Ba is a fair bit older than other recent Chelsea signings who are closer to 19 than 27, so this is very much a "hear and now" signing. The deal, to me, strongly resembles the £15 million deal which brought journeyman striker Nicholas Anelka to Chelsea from Bolton in January 2008. Proven centre forward moving to Chelsea at a time when the London club are chasing the title and suffering from a shortage of strikers. Although Ba and Anelka are different players, Anelka did just fine at Chelsea and didn't take much time in settling in.

Ba has had a tremendous season so far, having scored an impressive 13 goals in all competitions. He proved just how talented and well-rounded he is on Saturday with two goals against Arsenal (one of which may be given as an own goal by Jack Wilshere). The Senegalese striker is always a threat, being able to score with his head as well as with his feet. He is often on the end of long distance passes and crosses, so he is always a menace for opposition defences. Ba will receive plenty of the ball from the likes of Oscar, Hazard, Moses and Mata, probably more than what he received from Simpson, Obertan, Cabaye and Ben Arfa at Newcastle. His almost two years of premier league experience (the first six months of which were spent with West Ham before they got relegated) will mean Ba shouldn't face any "settling in" issues. To be honest, I see no real reason why Ba shouldn't score goals in the blue of Chelsea.

So does the sale of Daniel Sturridge for £12 million and the signing of Demba Ba for £7 million result in a "good bit of business" for Chelsea? Personally, I think Chelsea were wrong to sell Sturridge as he provides another option, and gets many chances, despite not taking them regularly enough. However, I believe Ba is more reliable and trustworthy in front of goal, despite not having the longevity that Sturridge has who is 23, four years younger than Ba. But, a profit of £5 million means I think Chelsea have done right. For what it's worth, I still think Chelsea need a striker, even on loan, as I think Lukaku should finish his loan spell at West Brom.

To conclude, I am feeling very confident about how well Ba can do for Chelsea. As I mentioned previously, there is no real reason to doubt Ba's potential to score vast numbers of goals. As well as goals, he will provide industry, great movement and another option away from the highly unpredictable and sometimes frustrating Fernando Torres. It’s a thumbs up for this deal from me. 

WORLD FOOTBALL'S TOP 5 STRIKERS

The number “nine” is arguably the most famous and iconic number in football. The “fox in the box”, the goal scorer who gets on the end of things and in many cases, the key player in a team.

So with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Andres Iniesta being often debated as “the best” players in the world, who is the world’s best centre forward?

5. Sergio Agüero

When news broke of Manchester City signing Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Agüero for a huge £38 million, many proclaimed that he would struggle and take a while to settle in, if ever. But two goals on his debut against Swansea, 30 goals in the 2011/12 season as whole, and a Premier League title winning goal later, Agüero is considered as one of Europe’s greatest and most feared strikers.

He is extremely difficult to track and play against, meaning he can never be ignored. Even in Manchester City’s poor champions league campaign this season, Agüero has caused problems.

He’s already somewhat of a legend amongst some City fans and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

4. Robert Lewandowski

After a few good years, the last two have proven to be “breakout” years for Robert Lewandowski. With Borussia Dortmund winning the Bundesliga in 2010/11 and then in 2011/12, fans all over the world have realised just how good Robert Lewandowski is.

A huge 30 goals in all competitions led to many suspecting that the 24 year old Pole would be leaving Dortmund eventually, especially considering the fact he’s already scored 14 goals in 23 games so far this season.

However, Dortmund are one of the most heavily supported clubs in Europe so they won’t give him up easily.

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

At the age of 31, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has arguably been better than ever in 2012. Switching from AC Milan to PSG in the summer transfer window made some believe Zlatan was slowly but surely beginning to step away from Europe’s top leagues, and that next year he’d be going to the USA or China.

But Zlatan, who won the goal of the tournament at Euro 2012 after a stunning effort against France for Sweden, has been prolific in France, forming a formidable PSG attack with Jeremy Menez, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Some even claimed his spectacular goal against England in a friendly in November was the best goal ever scored, that’s something we’ll have to see about, but one things for sure, no one can question Zlatan’s “world class” tag after this year.

2. Robin Van Persie

Last season while with Arsenal, Robin Van Persie scored a magnificent 30 goals in the Premier League, helping the gunners to a third place spot which seemed unlikely after a catastrophic start.

Despite the Dutchman struggling at Euro 2012, Manchester United were willing to pay out £24 million in August, a decision that has worked out brilliantly so far. Van Persie has continued where he led off at Utd, having scored 15 goals in 21 games for the Red Devils so far.

Possessing arguably the most technically clinical and accurate left foot in the world, and able to score from anywhere, Van Persie is quite possibly the deadliest striker on the planet.

1. Radamel Falcao

In the past 12 months, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has taken himself from being a highly rated and dangerous striker, to the most feared (at least in my opinion) on the entire planet. The Colombian Falcao is the sort of player that can single-handedly destroy any defence in the world, as proven by his exploits against Chelsea in the UEFA super cup back in August.

Falcao’s goals in the 2012/13 season have pushed Atletico Madrid into the giddy heights of La Liga’s top three, alongside traditional heavyweights rivals Real Madrid and current leaders Barcelona.

Many are predicting that Falcao will soon be joining Chelsea, Manchester City or even Real Madrid, and it’s easy to see why as when at his best, Falcao is truly unstoppable.

Frank Lampard: Is his time at Chelsea coming to an end?

English football has seen few players as talented and effective as Frank Lampard. Since joining Chelsea in 2001, Lampard has slowly become somewhat of an institution at Chelsea. However, this season rumours surrounding Lampard’s future have been more rampant than ever with many expecting Lampard to leave the blues soon. So is it time for Lampard to move on or does he have a few more years left?

Unquestionably, Lampard has been a huge factor in Chelsea’s success over the last eleven years, with the central midfielder joining the club while it was on the up, but nowhere near the dizzy heights that they have reached in the past few years. Lampard cost Chelsea £11 million to sign from West Ham, and it seems incredible to think now, but at the time many were unsure about whether Lampard was worth the fee. However, after it initially took him a while to settle in, Lampard began to prove he was worth every penny.

The arrival of Roman Abramovich in 2003 could have potentially left Lampard in turmoil with the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron, Geremi, Joe Cole, Claude Makelele and Scott Parker all threatening to take Lampard’s place. Instead, Lampard began to massively improve, especially from a goalscoring perspective. The 2003/04 season was the first of nine seasons (and counting) where Lampard’s goal tally finished in double figures. Without doubt, Lampard was one of Chelsea’s key players in their back to back league title wins of 2005 and 2006. His excellence for Chelsea was honoured with Lampard only losing out to Ronaldinho in the 2005 Ballon D’Or.

The following seasons have seen yet more success for the Chelsea and England man, with Lampard continuing to be an integral part of Chelsea’s team. With Lampard approaching one decade as a Chelsea player many began referring to Lampard, Petr Cech, John Terry and Didier Drogba as the ‘’backbone’’ of Chelsea’s squad despite various managers arriving and then leaving. Lampard has been an ideal servant for any club showing loyalty, quality and consistency. He achieved legend status at Stamford Bridge many years ago.

So with Lampard getting injured more and more regularly and with the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard, Victor Moses and Juan Mata constantly improving, is it time for Lampard to move on? To be honest, he has had better days, but I think that Lampard should stay at Chelsea for a short while longer at least, and maybe try to adapt his way of playing to prolong his career at the top level, much like Francesco Totti and Ryan Giggs have. The younger players at Chelsea could and should look at Lampard for guidance and inspiration, something a lot of them appear to need. Ultimately, the decision goes to Lampard, but I think he deserves some more time at the top level. LA Galaxy may have something to say about that however, especially now that Beckham has gone. 

West Brom's start to the season: can they keep it up?

For years, West Brom were known as the premier league's "boing boing club" with reference to the fact they always seemed to get relegated and then swiftly get promoted. They only managed to end this unwanted track record with a respectable 11th place finish in the 2010-11 season, in a season which started with Roberto Di Matteo in charge, but finished with Roy Hodgson as manager. In Roy Hodgson's one and only full season in charge of the Baggies, the 2011-12 season, his side made a small improvement, finishing 10th.

However, under the guidance of new manager Steve Clarke, West Brom have made vast and highly significant improvements. One of the best elements of West Brom's team last season was their defence. The centre backs Olsson and McCauley meant West Brom were always tough to beat, while Youssouf Mulumbu grafted in midfield. But Clarke has looked at these solid areas, and made advances on them. There is more width, more attacking options and more shape to the West Brom side.

The results speak for themselves in some ways. They have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea, Southampton and Everton to name a few. The win over Liverpool was probably the most impressive of these victories as they demolished the reds 3-0 on the season's opening day. Offensively, they possess many threats, all providing something slightly different. Peter Odemwingie is a typical goal scorer, always on the end of things, Shane Long uses his energy and pace to stretch defences, on loan striker Romelu Lukaku uses his brute strength to outmuscle defenders, and Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg offers yet another goal scoring threat. Just like last season, there is a heavy reliance on the attacking midfielders such as James Morrison, Graham Dorrans and Chris Brunt. In short, based on the evidence of the past five months, Steve Clarke has made West Brom better in most ways, slightly better in some ways, considerably better in others.

So to answer the question in the title, how far can West Brom go?

Well, if they continue with their high fitness levels and tactical shape, they could well do what Newcastle did last season and force a surprise Europa league place. However, in the past two games, cracks have appeared. Teams have begun exposing West Brom spacious defence and as the Baggies have started attacking teams more, therefore meaning West Brom's centre backs have to track back more, and something they are not really used to. However, Steve Clarke has shown plenty of tactical brilliance to give West Brom fans plenty of optimism for the season ahead. 

Fiorentina: how far can they go?

At the start of the summer, hopes for Fiorentina were relatively low. A disappointing 2011/12 season finished with them in 13th place and many of their fans feeling frustrated. Their season was hardly ideal, after manager Sinisa Mihajlovic was sacked in November, and replaced by Delio Rossi who steered them, well more like dragged them to a place in mid table mediocrity with a 13^th place finish.

Fans of the Florence based club were hardly filled with excitement heading into this season. With big named players who helped them qualify for the prestigious champions league regularly in the mid to late 2000's such as Alberto Gilardino and former Chelsea man Adrian Mutu now long gone, few felt Fiorentina had enough world class players to push the club into Europe again. However, the actions of the owner over the summer showed the club weren't willing to accept another mid table finish.

Over the summer, in came; Borja Valero from Villarreal, Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool, Emiliano Viviano on loan from Palermo and David Pizarro from AS Roma to name but a few. However, arguably the most positive news of the summer for Fiorentina was the news that the previous season's breakout star Stefan Jovetic would be staying despite rumoured interest from most notably Manchester City.

The season began well for Fiorentina, as they got impressive wins against, amongst others, Udinese, Catania and Lazio, and famously a 3-1 win against AC Milan at the San Siro. So what is it about them this season that wasn't there last season? Well of course the investment has helped. Borja Valero has been influential in central midfield, having played in all twelve of the club's games so far this season, as has on loan goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. Their defensive organisation has improved massively from last season, with the side having conceded a mere 9 goals in 12 games, significantly more impressive when you consider Fiorentina have played Internazionale, AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli already this season. As expected, Stefan Jovetic has been an integral part of the success enjoyed by the club this season. His guile, energy and trickery have helped him to six goals this season, a record that will only lead to more speculation in January or the summer over his future.

As long as they can keep Jovetic, I am confident that Fiorentina can remain in the top six, or even four, as they are now. With the new signings settling in well and the squad looking settled and confident, Fiorentina are the sort of side that look like they can defeat anyone on their day. Another huge advantage that Fiorentina have is the fact that they are not in any form of European competition unlike their rivals at the top of the table.  They could well be a team to watch for the remainder of the season.

Stephan El Shaarawy: Milan's saviour?

In a so far frustrating season both on and off the pitch, the emergence of Stephan El Shaarawy has been one of the few things Milan fans have had to get excited about. Now with the versatile 20 year old, who can play in central midfield as well as in attack, improving seemingly game by game, one wonders just how far this exciting young talent can go.

 

The journey of Stephan El Shaarawy began in the town of Savona, where he was born to an Egyptian father (hence the name despite El Shaarawy playing for Italy) and an Italian mother. He had only just turned 16 when he made his debut for Genoa in the 2008/09 season, but he didn't truly arrive on the scene until he joined Serie B side Padova on loan for the 2010/11 season. The youngster's exciting performances helped the normally mid-table side finish in 5th place and only a few play-off wins off a place in Serie A.

 

Such excellent performances didn't go unnoticed as the mighty AC Milan sprung a surprise and took El Shaarawy off Genoa. His first season with the Rossoneri went better than many expected, with El Shaarawy, who had also been playing with Italy's U-21 side at points in the season, making 28 appearances in all competitions throughout the season.

 

But this season has undisputedly been El Shaarawy's breakout year. His international debut for Italy's senior squad came in August and he has had a superb start to the season, looking immensely sharp and lightning quick. Having played in 11 of Milan's 12 competitive games so far, El Shaarawy has consolidated his place in Milan's starting eleven, while his impressive scoring record of 6 goals, including one against Zenit St. Petersburg in the champions league have helped to increase the level of excitement around the young maestro. His dribbling ability and pace means he is rapidly becoming one of Europe's most feared attacking players and he has added a much needed dose of vibrancy to the Milan squad, with Nigel De Jong , Robinho and Kevin Prince Boateng not really offering any energy to the Milan midfield.

 

I am certainly predicting great things for Stephan El Shaarawy as at times this season he has looked absolutely unstoppable at times, and he has only just turned 20. One would think his levels of strength would improve and if it does he could be the complete package. Additionally, with both AC Milan and the Italian national team in a period of transition, I believe El Shaarawy with his lightning pace and top drawer technical ability can inspire and lead both his national and his club sides into further glory down the road. Then again, although Milan are still a major club around the world, their books still need balancing. The summer sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to PSG were out of a desperate need to, not simply to get a few million to add to their transfer fund. There are worries in Milan that if El Shaarawy continues to improve, eventually a super-rich club such as Manchester City or PSG could make Milan an offer they won't be able to refuse. However, for now the striker remains property of AC Milan and with his help he could be the man who leads the Rossoneri into a glorious future.

UEFA champions league game by game match day 3 preview

Group A

Porto v Dynamo Kiev

After a huge win at home to PSG in their most recent champions league encounter, Porto will host the Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev hoping to make it nine points from nine. However, Dynamo Kiev will be looking to take all three points after they lost to PSG in match day one 4-1. Their win at home to Dinamo Zagreb last time out will give the Ukrainian side hope, but to get something from this game will be the desire of their coach Oleh Blokin.

Key clash: João Moutinho v Miguel Veloso

Dinamo Zagreb v PSG

Super rich Paris Saint Germain's second away game in Europe this season will take them to Zagreb as the face Croatian champions, Zagreb. PSG haven't won away in the champions league since 1998, but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi in their ranks, they'll expect to get all three points and recover from their disappointing 1-0 loss against Porto last time out. Zagreb will have to get a result here, having lost both their opening games.

Key clash: Josip Simunic v Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Group B Arsenal v Schalke 04

When the champions league group stage draw was conducted, many expected these two teams to comfortably progress to the knockout stages. However after Schalke's disappointing 2-2 draw against Montpellier, the group is looking quite tight. After Schalke's 2-1 win away at Dortmund this past weekend, and Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Norwich, this game could be an unpredictable one. Expect fireworks

Key clash: Oliver Giroud v Benedikt Höwedes

Montpellier v Olympiakos

With two games gone both these sides have work to do if they want to progress to the round of 16. Montpellier's 2-2 draw away at Schalke however has given the French champions hope, especially considering how well they played against Arsenal in a 2-1 loss first time out. With both teams looking to win, this should be an interesting one.

Key clash: Konstantinos Mitroglou v V. Hilton

Malaga v AC Milan

An emphatic 3-0 destruction of Zenit St Petersburg on match day one surprised many at just how good Malaga can be. Away at Anderlecht, Malaga put in another solid performance winning 2-0 leading to many calling them favourites to get through group C. European giants AC Milan currently have 4 points and are slowly improving after a poor start to their Serie A campaign. With the exciting Malaga side hosting the experienced and adjusting Milan side this game could well be one of the best of match day three.

Key clash: Martin Demechelis v Robinho

Zenit St. Petersburg v Anderlecht

Pre match day one, there was a certain level of expectation surrounding Zenit St. Petersburg, heightened by their signing of powerful Brazilian striker Hulk. But with the Russian champions having  lost both their champions league games this season, this game at home to Anderlecht is essentially a must win. The Belgian champions got an impressive 0-0 draw at the San Siro first time out but lost at home to Malaga, meaning they'll need to try and win this.

Key clash: Hulk v Cheikhou Kouyaté

Group D

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

An excellent and fearless away performance away at Manchester City mean Borussia Dortmund will be going into this fixture with plenty of encouragement about their champions league hopes. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are now back to their best after a slow start to their La Liga campaign. They have won both their champions league fixtures so far too so they are in a great position to qualify from the "group of death". With Dortmund being the German champions and Real Madrid being the Spanish champions, this is a dream match that I'm personally very excited about.

Key clash: Mario Götze v Sami Khedira

Ajax v Manchester City

The always united and determined Ajax will represent a tough challenge for the premier league champions as they travel to Amsterdam needing three points to get their so far disappointing champions league campaign. Having lost both of their games so far, the Dutch champions are also needing a win or it could be a swift exit for Ajax.

Key clash: Christian Eriksen v Vincent Kompany

Group E

Shakhtar Donetsk v Chelsea

In form Chelsea will travel to Donetsk on Tuesday night in what will be a tricky game in the hostile Donbass arena. Both sides drew to have already drawn to Juventus and beat Nordsjaelland in their other group E games, but only one of the teams will be able to be on seven points at the end of the game. Shakhtar's Brazilian striker Willian allegedly nearly joined Chelsea both last summer and this, so many will be watching how he plays.

Key clash: Willian v John Terry.

Nordsjaelland v Juventus

Despite losing both of their champions league games so far, Nordsjaelland have impressed many with their passing moves and Juventus should expect a tough game at the Parken stadium on Tuesday night. The Danish side haven't yet scored a champions league goal, but they'll be determined to change that against the old lady. However, Juventus will be determined to get their first champions league win this season in what should be an interesting game.

Key clash: Jores Okore v Sebastian Giovinco

Group F

Lille v Bayern Munich

A shock 3-1 defeat against BATE Borisov last time out means Bayern Munich will need a result away at Lille to be in a strong position going into the next game. However, last season's runners up have had a superb start to the season domestically, winning all of their eight games played so far. Lille will be desperate for a win themselves though as a defeat would leave them on zero points after three games and essentially out of the competition.

Key clash:

Mathieu Debuchy v Arjen Robben

BATE Borisov v Valencia

Arguably more than any other team in the competition, BATE Borisov have shocked many by their performances in the champions league. With a team that is very similar to that of the Belarusian national team, BATE have won both of their champions league games so far by three goals to one, firstly against Lille then even more impressively against Bayern. Valencia currently sit on three points after losing 2-1 away in Munich, but 2-0 against Lille at the Mestalla. A win for BATE would put them on nine points and excitingly close to progressing to the knockout stages. Valencia are always dangerous however, so it won't be easy.

Key clash: Alexander Hleb v Fernando Gago

Group G

Barcelona v Celtic

Although both clubs are amongst the most famous and recognisable in world football, many people are fearing for Celtic as they travel to Spain to face the Catalan giants. If they are to take something from the game, Celtic will need to take advantage of a shaky Barcelona defence which conceded 4 in a 5-4 victory away at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. Barcelona are expected to win, and win emphatically but Celtic should not be underestimated after their 3-2 win against Spartak Moscow in match day 2.

Key clash: Cesc Fabregas v Victor Wanyama

Spartak Moscow v Benfica

Neither of these two sides have had the best of starts to their champions league campaigns but for different reasons. Spartak Moscow lost to both Celtic and Barcelona 3-2, showing evidence of a leaky defence. On the other hand, Benfica are yet to score in the champions league, and they were beaten comfortably 2-0 by Barcelona last time out.

Group H

Manchester United v Braga

Although they are one of only seven sides to have won both of their champions league fixtures so far, Manchester United are yet to have hit their best form in Europe this season. The visit of Braga on Tuesday will represent a tough challenge for the Red Devils, as it did for Galatasaray three weeks ago, when Braga won 2-0 thanks to goals by Ruben Micael and Alan. As United will remember from last year's horrible champions league campaign: underestimating lesser opposition could cost teams dear.

Key clash: Jonny Evans v Éder

Galatasaray v CFR Cluj

Galatasaray have had a disappointing start to their champions league campaign, losing both of their two games played so far, 1-0 to Manchester United and more surprisingly 2-0 at home to Braga. Romanian side Cluj have had a decent start, however, winning 2-0 away at Braga and giving Manchester United a very difficult game in what turned out to be a 2-1 loss. For Galatasaray, a loss would be disastrous, and a win is needed. After their last champions league away result, Cluj will be full of confidence, but can they thrive in the immensely intimidating Türk Telecom arena?

Key clash: Aldin Yilmaz v Ivo Pirlo.

EPL: How have the newly promoted teams faired so far?

When Southampton, Reading and West Ham respectively got promoted to the premier league all three clubs knew that they would have a battle on their hands if they wanted to stay in the "big time". Speculation surrounded all three clubs, would they be like the Derby of 2007/2008, who endured an absolutely torrid season or would they, be more like the Swansea of last season and impress those who doubted them. Now with seven games into the season, (or in Reading's case six) it is now time to judge how well each promoted team has started.

Southampton

Although they currently sit fourth from bottom, elements of Southampton’s game have impressed many people in the footballing world.

They've gone on the offensive in virtually every single game so far, with players such as Jason Puncheon, Ricky Lambert and Jay Rodriquez all performing impressively. However, their defence has let them down, having conceded twenty goals already this season. Southampton have already played both of last season's top two, Manchester City and Manchester United, losing 3-2 against both sides, both due to late goals after the Saints led. In many ways, these matches have summarised Southampton's start, plenty of attacking intent and prowess, but defensively, far too weak.  Their matches have proved to be entertaining, but with such a leaky defence, Southampton's first premier league campaign in seven years, could be very brief indeed.

Reading

Brian McDermott's side are currently one of only three sides who are currently winless in this season's premier league campaign so far. However, three draws against Stoke, Newcastle and most recently Swansea have given the Royals some hope. Before the season, many pundits believed that one thing Reading needed to do if they wanted to stay up was to make the Madjeski stadium a fortress. So far, although they are yet to win a game, only Tottenham Hotspur have won at the Madjeski, while Reading themselves have managed to score a respectable four in three games there, and eight in their six premier league matches, including two away at Chelsea, in an eventual 4-2 defeat. With Pavel Pogrebnyak already having four goals to his name so far this season, it shouldn't be too long before Reading break their winless streak, and when they do they could very well do more than simply stay up.

West Ham

Out of all three of the promoted sides, the hammers are arguably best equipped to deal with the top flight due to the wealth of premier league experience in the squad. Now having played seven games, the East London side have looked generally good upon their return to the league they were relegated from just two seasons ago. The loan signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool has looked to be a good choice, with Carroll impressing on his debut against Fulham, rekindling his relationship from his Newcastle days with Kevin Nolan. Although they have showed signs of defensive frailties, particularly in their 3-0 loss away at Swansea where James Collins and James Tomkins were run ragged by the Swansea attack, the hammers fans will generally be pleased with their side's performances and results this season. Now with Andy Carroll back fully fit, and Mohammed Diame, Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble all looking industrious in central midfield, I see no reason why West Ham can't finish well clear above the relegation zone this season. 

2012/13 UEFA Champions league predictions

The beginning of the 2012/13 UEFA champions’ league group stage is nearly upon us with many football fans in the world buzzing with excitement. As we head into the match day 1 fixture there are many questions on the lips of football fans across the globe. Can Chelsea become the first team in the champions league era to retain the trophy? Which teams will progress from each group? Whose skills will set the football world alight? In this article, I'll be giving my thoughts on various aspects of this season's UEFA champions league.

Favourites- Real Madrid

Ever since Jose Mourinho became the real Madrid manager back in the summer of 2010, many pundits and fans have been predicting the Spanish champions to win Europe's biggest prize. Now in previous years, I personally haven't predicted Madrid to win the tournament, but this year I think it's their time. After winning la Liga for the first time since the 2006/07 season, last season that winning feeling finally returned to the Spanish capital. Now with a team strengthened by the summer signings of Luka Modric and Michael Essien, plus with the usual stars of Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Coentrao and Mesut Özil among others, real Madrid could well be the side that lifts the trophy at Wembley in May.

Whipping boys- FC Nordsjaelland

Although the champions league features some of the world's best teams and players, there are always a few teams who are out of their depth. In previous years, we've seen the likes of MSK Zilina, Dinamo Zagreb and Otelul Galati struggle to gain even one point and this year, I fear for Nordsjaelland, the Danish champions. Seeing as the club only came into existence in 2003, this will be Nordsjaellands first venture into European football's elite competition and in a group that features the Italian champions Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk with star striker Willian and the European champions Chelsea, it could be a swift exit for Nordsjaelland. What won't help, their cause is the fact that they'll be playing their home games at FC Copenhagen's Parken stadium, as their own is too small to reach UEFA regulations.

Dark horses-Galatasaray

After four years without winning the Turkish super Liga, finally Galatasaray won the title in May this year. A lot of this success has been attributed to the work of manager Faith Terim. With their infamous "welcome to hell" banners that greet the opposition upon arrival, their fanatical support and squad which mix youth and experience well, games against Galatasaray will be difficult for any side. In a group consisting of Manchester United, Braga and CFR Cluj, it won't be easy for the Turkish champions to progress, but if they do, they could go a long way in this tournament.

Key player: Selcuk Inan

Top scorer-Lionel Messi

Although the Argentinian didn’t win the ‘’best player in Europe’’ award for his work last season,  Lionel Messi will once again spearhead Barcelona’s attack as they set out to win their third champions league in five seasons and I believe he’ll do so while scoring more goals than anyone else. Of course, the likes of Robin Van Persie, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mario Gomez amongst others will be in the running for the top scorer award but Messi could well have field days against Celtic, Benfica and whoever else Barcelona face on their European campaign. 

Chelsea: Florent Malouda set to leave the Blues

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Chelsea were preparing to sell Florent Malouda, as the French winger tweeted a picture of the under-21 building at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground with the words “this is where I’ll train for my last season with the Blues”.

Now even though Malouda’s Chelsea career looks set to end in a far from ceremonious way, will he ultimately be remembered by Blues’ fans as a successful player? He began his career, like most Chelsea players do, with fairly high expectations.

The French winger cost the blues around £13 million from Lyon in 2007, but despite a goal on his debut in the Community Shield against Manchester United, Malouda struggled to make much of an impact at Stamford Bridge. The 2008/09 season was a bit better for Malouda as he scored 9 goals in 47 games, an increase from the previous season when he scored just 4 in 38 games.

However, Malouda’s best season was the one where Chelsea secured their 4th ever league title, the 2009/10 season. Malouda was electrifying at times as he played a key role in a formidable Chelsea attack which consisted of the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard all hitting some of their best form.

In the end, the campaign which also led to the side winning the FA Cup, the season was a great one for both Chelsea and Malouda. Malouda’s performances in the 2010/11 were much like Chelsea’s season in general: inconsistent. Malouda showed signs of the excellent form of his 2009/10 campaign but couldn’t maintain it.

By the end of the season, Malouda was more of a substitute than a regular starter for the Blues. In many ways, the 2011/12 was Malouda’s worst yet at the Bridge as his place was taken over by Juan Mata and many expected him to leave in the summer.

However, as we all know, he didn’t and now Chelsea have a predicament on their hands. Lyon, Malouda’s former club, are reportedly interested in the man who is still a France international.

In my opinion, Chelsea’s coercion of the player has been unnecessary and even disrespectful.

After all, Chelsea aren’t in the situation Manchester City were after Carlos Tevez refused to play for them against Bayern Munich last season, to our knowledge, Malouda does still want to play for Chelsea.

Also, I believe Malouda’s experience and versatility can still benefit the club, even more so now due to the departure of Raul Meireles.

In my opinion, Chelsea should have kept Malouda until January and then sell him. Making him play with the reserves doesn’t benefit anyone, particularly not Malouda who now surely feels like some sort of outcast.

How far can QPR go this season?

A significant proportion of the 2012 summer transfer window deadline day was spent with football fans talking about QPR's new signings. So with so many well respected and recognised talent in their current squad, I think QPR ought to be aiming higher than to merely survive in the premier league this season.

Admittedly, QPR's start to the 2012-13 season has been far from perfect. A catastrophic 5-0 opening day defeat at the hands of Swansea city left many hoops fans feeling very concerned about the season ahead. The week after wasn't as bad as a Bobby Zamora goal earned a respectable point away at Norwich.

September began with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City but Mark Hughes would have been proud of the way his players remained positive and managed to equalize whilst the score was at 1-0. Also, many of the west London side's new signings were unable to play. So how about these new signings, and where will they fit in? Will they improve QPR's position in the league? In this article, I will be discussing where the west Londoners go from here.

In goal, many thought Robert Green, who arrived from West Ham earlier in the summer, would be the number one. However, just over a week after Green's terrible performance against Swansea, QPR confirmed the arrival of Julio Cesar from Internazionale. Sadly for Rob Green, I think it would be ludicrous for Mark Hughes to leave the former champions league winner Cesar out of the starting eleven.

Surprisingly, the only central defender QPR bought in over the summer was Ryan Nelsen, which was surprising considering the defence was widely considered to be the reason QPR only survived by the skin of their teeth last season. Another player that has been brought in is former Chelsea right back Jose Bosingwa who looks set to be one of QPR's most regular features this season.

As for midfield, the squad will in my opinion gain a player with sheer class in former Real Madrid man, Esteban Granero. Granero made his hoops debut against Man City and looked decent on the few occasions when QPR were on the attack. Potentially, he and Alejandro Faurlin could form an excellent technical central midfield partnership for the club. Another new signing who could help feature heavily in the centre of QPR's midfield is Stephane M'Bia who joined the hoops on a two year deal from Marseille with QPR's disgraced former captain Joey Barton joining the French club on loan. M'Bia may also play at centre back though so it's difficult to predict how much he'll play in central midfield.

One of the biggest team selection dilemmas manager Mark Hughes will have to face this season will be who will be the hoops first choice striker. Amongst the contenders are Bobby Zamora, Jamie Mackie, Andy Johnson and Djibril Cisse. Both Zamora and Johnson started against Manchester city but with so many central midfield options and talented wingers which include Shaun Wright-Phillips, Junior Hoilett and new club captain Ji Sung Park, it's quite possible that Hughes will choose to start only one striker at the majority of QPR's games this season.

Below is the line-up I'd choose if I was Mark Hughes presuming every squad member was fit (4-5-1)

Julio Cesar

Jose Bosingwa

Anton Ferdinand

Ryan Nelsen

Fabio da Silva

Ji Sung Park

Esteban Granero

Stephane M'Bia

Alejandro Faurlin

Junior Hoilett

Bobby Zamora

So how far can this team go? Due to their team that includes numerous highly decorated players, I think it would be safe to presume many of QPR's players will be aiming for a mid table place. However, due to some suicidal defending at times, I think the 2012/13 season maybe one with some considerable difficulty for QPR. So I think a 14th place finish will have to do for the fans of the hoops. However, once the squad gels, which shouldn't take long QPR can be expected to hit their stride and should improve each season. It may be a slow process but QPR should look to become a solid premier league side sooner rather than later.

Scottish football: where next?

Sunday July the 29th will be a day that lives long in the memory for Rangers fans as it was the first match that the club played under their new name Rangers Newco. Playing against Brechin city was a unique experience for Rangers fans as they took up approximately 75% of the stadium which held just over 3000 people. So with its most decorated club in the third division can Scottish football survive in its current state?

Now despite the whole Rangers situation only being big news for two or three months, it is hard to deny that Scottish football was on a state of decline before that. Long gone are the days of the likes of Rangers and Celtic being amongst the most feared names in world football like they were in the 1960's with Celtic winning the European cup in 1967. For example last season, Rangers were eliminated before they could even get to the group stage and Celtic went out of the Europa league at the group stage.

For many years now Scottish football has been widely considered as a "two club league" meaning Rangers and Celtic. In fact, the last time the top Scottish league was won by a team other than Rangers or Celtic was in the 1984/85 season when Sir Alex Ferguson guided his Aberdeen side to the title. Last season, despite Rangers being deducted 10 points by the SFA as a result of them going into administration, the gap between 2nd place Rangers and 3rd place Motherwell was still 11 points highlighting the difference in class between Scottish football's elite and those who want to be in the same breath as the traditional powers that are Celtic and Rangers. If past years are anything to go by, this season could see a huge difference in points tallies between 1st place (presumably Celtic) and 2nd place which many are predicting will be one of Motherwell, Dundee United and Hearts.

Not only do they make the title race very interesting but the SPL have now lost the old firm derby between Rangers and Celtic. Celtic have a large Catholic fan base while Rangers have a predominantly Protestant fan base. Because of these factors, the derbies are often fierce with even death threats being sent to the Celtic manager Neil Lennon before the derby in 2011. For many, the old firm derby is the only Scottish league match they watch and the viewing figures for the match are tremendously higher than any other Scottish league match. Without this game, it is likely that the Scottish premier league will struggle to attract tv networks and sponsors which could provide a big blow to an already struggling league. Rangers couldn't cope even with a decent amount of income, how will others cope without it?

So without its joint biggest name, can the SPL keep up a solid number of viewers? Many have already said that due to Celtic's squad strength in comparison to all the other teams in the league, that they won't be watching any of the SPL this season. Also, with Rangers still possessing the likes of Lee Mcculoch and Kirk Broadfoot in the ranks, many are predicting Rangers will romp to the third division title which could undermine the other clubs in the league. However, some light has been shed. Sky sports, the British channel have agreed to show some Rangers third division matches as well as many SPL games. Depending on the financial situation of many Scottish clubs across the league, the future of Scottish football could change drastically.

Oscar: Introducing Chelsea's newest signing

After weeks of speculation, Chelsea appear to be on the verge of signing 20 year old Brazilian midfielder Oscar from Internacional for a fee thought to be in the region of £25 million, quite a considerable price. So is he worth it? Can he be a top player who will play a key role? In this article, I will explore the case for and against.

Oscar began his career at União Agrícola Barbarense before moving onto Sao Paulo, a club whom he played for between the ages of 13 and 18. During this time, Oscar impressed many with his flair and was rumoured to have appeared on many European clubs’ radars while at Sao Paulo. Oscar did eventually leave Sao Paulo in 2009, choosing to move to another Brazilian club Internacional, a move that led to Oscar becoming a prominent member of Brazil’s under 19 team, and later the under 20 team. Oscar’s earliest major success was his hat trick against Portugal in the FIFA under 20 world cup in 2011, and led to scouts from Chelsea and reportedly Tottenham travelling to Brazil to watch the midfielder. Chelsea’s offer came in after a superb 2011 season for Oscar where he scored 13 goals and got 10 assists in 44 games.

So what exactly are Oscar’s attributes and what will he offer to the new look Chelsea? Well, if there is one top player the Brazilian can be compared to, it is none other than Andres Iniesta. Oscar’s passing is excellent and as I’ve already mentioned, he chips in with a few goals as well. Some have also drawn parallels to Kaka and even Chelsea’s own Frank Lampard so he’s quite a rounded player.

As rounded as Chelsea’s latest purchase is, he will enter his new club quite low down in Chelsea’s deep midfield pecking order. It’s difficult to see how Roberto Di Matteo will suddenly decide to play Oscar, a 20 year old from Internacional above the likes of Raul Meireles, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, and Ramires amongst others. Fellow new arrival Marko Marin will also be expected to feature more regularly due to his superior stature before joining Chelsea. Oscar will undoubtedly have to work for and earn his potential spot in Chelsea’s team next season.

One question that remains on the lips of most Chelsea fans is will Oscar make an impact this season or will he be confined to only games in the early rounds of the league cup. Well it’s difficult to say for sure, but I believe Oscar is ready to play quite regularly. Some would say that Chelsea will keep their exciting new talent on hold until they are sure he’s ready to become a regular starter like they have done with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Josh Mcceachran but I believe due to Oscar’s flair, Chelsea will really benefit from Oscar’s talent. So please Roberto, give Oscar a chance like Andre Villas Boas did last season with the promising Oriol Romeu but didn’t with Romelu Lukaku. You may reap the benefits of the £25 million man.

Should Chelsea buy Hulk?

Due to the departures of Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba this summer, Chelsea only have  three centre forwards in their squad at time of writing. These three consist of Daniel Sturridge, Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku, which could get cut to two if Lukaku goes out on loan like many are recommending. There is no question that Chelsea need another striker, but is Hulk the right man to buy? In the following article, I’ll be looking at the Brazilian striker’s positives and negatives.

Hulk, whose real name is Givanildo Vieira de Souza joined FC Porto in 2008 and from very early on in his time at Porto, he set Portugal’s primiera Liga alight, and by the end of his first season at the club, he was firmly established as one of Porto’s most important players. Despite serving a four game ban during the 2009/10 season for his part in a tunnel brawl during Porto’s match with rivals Benfica, Hulk’s continued to impress, with the forward scoring 10 goals and getting 11 assists in 31 matches. The 2010/11 season saw Hulk’s stock rise dramatically with the Brazilian forming a superb partnership with Colombian striker Radamel Falcao. The dynamic duo of the livewire Falcao and the powerful Hulk went a long way to helping Porto secure a Europa league and Primiera league double.

The season just gone however has undoubtedly been Hulk’s best and it has had to be due to Falcao leaving at the end of the 2010/11 season. Hulk has bought a great deal of attention to himself due to his numerous excellent performances with him contributing 21 goals and 15 assists in just 38 games. Hulk’s importance to Porto cannot be understated and without him, Porto may well not have been Portugal’s most successful team during this time. His power, presence and determination would definitely give Chelsea a potential replacement for Drogba.

However, despite all his accolades some have accused Hulk of being an average fish in a small pond in the Portuguese league, and that he isn’t good enough to make the step up to the EPL, La Liga or even Serie A at this stage, and it’s easy to see why. After all, Hulk has never scored in a competitive match for Brazil and has only been deemed worthy of playing 13 times for Brazil at a time where his nations aren’t exactly blessed with many strikers. Also, Hulk’s performances against top teams such as Manchester City and Zenit St. Petersburg have been largely underwhelming. Is this really the resume of a £30 million striker?

Conclusion

To answer the question in the article’s title: not quite. Although Hulk has dominated many opposition defences in Portugal, he hasn’t quite done enough on a higher level to justify the rumoured price tag. If Chelsea bought him for £20 million would I be ok with it? Yes, but with financial fair play supposedly coming into play soon, Chelsea can’t afford to through away £30 million on a player who could very well suffer the same fate as the likes of past Chelsea signings Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo. Instead, I’d rather Chelsea make a bid for a more proven striker such as Radamel Falcao or Edison Cavani.

Five players who could be England's future

After last Sunday's Euro 2012 exit at the hands of Italy, England fans and the English media came to the realization that they aren't quite at the level of the likes of Spain, Germany, Italy and others. Some are even demanding that there are some widespread changes, if not a complete overhaul of the FA and how it runs its operations. However, in this article I'll be going through the players who could turn England's fortunes around in the coming years.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

When the line-ups were announced for England's first Euro 2012 game against France, I like many others was very surprised to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's name on the team sheet. The Arsenal man had a relatively quiet game as England were pinned back in their own half for most of the game and he spent the rest of the tournament on the bench. However, it's important to remember that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still only 18 years old, and he is unquestionably one of England's most exciting young talents with incredible pace and excellent timing. At the 2018 world cup in Russia, he'll still only be 24 years old which highlights the longevity of him. 

Phil Jones

One year ago, Phil Jones signed with then English champions Manchester United from Blackburn with many heralding the youngster as a player with the potential of becoming one of the best defenders in English football in the coming years. The 2011/12 was a mixed one for Jones as injuries as well as uncertainty over whether he was best as a right back or a centre back became an issue for him. In my opinion, his immense physical presence means he's best at the heart of the defence but can be a makeshift right back. Due to his leadership, he reminds me and many others of a young John Terry and with some more experience, he could well reach his full potential sooner rather than later.

Tom Cleverley

Just like Phil Jones, injuries were a major factor in him not reaching the levels of expectation placed on him. In the opening games of the season, Cleverley impressed many with his assurance on the ball, silencing many doubters who claimed he wasn't at the standard suitable for Manchester United. Despite the ankle injury that restricted him to just 15 games in all competitions last season, I believe that Cleverley showed enough talent to warrant the hype surrounding his future.

Kyle Walker

In his first full season as Tottenham, the Sheffield-born Kyle Walker was truly magnificent. His superb season was rewarded by him winning the prestigious PFA young player of the year award, as well as earning a place in the PFA team of the year. Sadly for Walker, injury led to him missing Euro 2012, with many saying he would have started most of England's games as opposed to Glen Johnson. But the 22 year old Walker still has plenty of time to feature in a major international tournament and as long as he maintains the form he showed in the 2011/12 campaign he should have no problem getting into England's starting eleven's in years to come.

Jack Wilshere

As England fans watched their own team's miserable performances at the 2010 world cup in South Africa, many of them must have thought to themselves "if only we had a player like Xavi or Iniesta". But many felt they did in the shape of Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. The 20 year old had a superb 2010/11 season and famously gave Xavi and Iniesta a very tough game during a champions league tie against Barcelona. However, the 2011/12 one was essentially non-existent due to a multitude of injuries suffered which denied the youngster any chance of getting into England's Euro 2012 squad. Hopefully for both England and Arsenal fans, Wilshere will soon recapture his best form to lead England into the next four or five, perhaps even six tournaments.

Didier Drogba: A Tribute

Didier Drogba- A tribute to a blues legend

Back in June 2004, a 26 year old striker named Didier Drogba joined Chelsea from Olympique Marseille for £24 million. The expectation was high on both Chelsea and the young Ivorian as he was in demand after an excellent season with the French side, in which he helped them to the 2003/04 season's UEFA cup. Chelsea new they had a player with potential, but how much potential, went beyond what most fans could ever imagine.

His 2004/05 season was a mixed one for the powerful centre forward. He showed some flashes of brilliance as he helped Chelsea to both the premier league and the carling cup but he also struggled with injuries and some Chelsea fans became frustrated with Drogba's attitude and he got a reputation as somewhat of a diver. All in all, Drogba scored 16 goals in 41 appearances in a blue shirt during the season.

The season after, the idea that Drogba was a diver became more widespread and many Chelsea fans wondered whether if he'd ever improve enough to reach his full potential. However, he again showed flashes of the form he displayed at Marseille. He scored 16 goals in 41 games again.

Although Chelsea didn't win the league like they did in Drogba's first two seasons, the 2006/07 campaign was undoubtedly Drogba's best. During the vast majority of Chelsea's games, Drogba looked almost like a man possessed. He added his name to Chelsea's history books with the winning goal in that season's FA cup final against Manchester United. The season saw a marked improvement in Drogba as he scored 33 goals in 60 games.

The season after wasn't quite as good for Drogba as he struggled to cope with the departure of Jose Mourinho and controversially got sent off in Chelsea's unsuccessful champions league final match with Manchester United. However, on his day Drogba was still unstoppable. The season after was again, plagued by controversial moments including his frosty relationship with Luiz Felipe Scolari and his reaction to Chelsea's semi final exit to Barcelona. But when Guus Hiddink became Chelsea's manager in February, Drogba was back to his best.

New manager Carlo Ancelotti forged a very close relationship with Drogba and this showed as Drogba's goals earned Chelsea their first premier league title in four years and earned Drogba the golden boot thanks to his 29 league goals. The season after wasn't quite as good for Drogba or Chelsea, as he only scored 13 goals.

In a season where his place was threatened by Fernando Torres, many felt it would be Drogba's least fulfilling yet. Yet they couldn't be more wrong as Drogba played an integral role in Chelsea's winning of their very first champions league title, a trophy Chelsea had been chasing since Drogba joined the club. His slotting home of the winning penalty in that final will secure his place as one of Chelsea's greatest ever.

So thanks Didier, you have become a Chelsea legend. Also, your immense humility and devotion to improving conditions in your home country make you a great human being also. On behalf of every Chelsea fan, thank you.

Euro 2012 group D key players

Group D

This Friday, Poland and Greece will begin Euro 2012 in Warsaw in front of approximately 50,000 fans. So in honour of the beginning of world football’s most captivating events, I will be going through the key players and possible ‘’it factors’’ for each team, group by group. Here’s group D.

Sweden: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

After Sweden’s failure to qualify for the 2010 world cup in South Africa, the talismanic Swedish striker decided to quit the national team. However, due to persuasion from the newly appointed Sweden manager Erik Hamren, the AC Milan striker decided to make a return to the national team, and what an inspired decision it was as Ibrahimovic scored an impressive 5 goals in 8 Euro 2012 qualifying games. With a solid mix of youth and experience around him, Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s undisputed best player. Whether he can produce the performances to help Sweden get through this tough group remains to be seen.

Ukraine: Anatoliy Tymoschuk

If Ukraine are to spring a surprise, and progress beyond the group stages at their very own tournament, they will need a lot of determined, strong willed players. Now who better to provide this than Anatoliy Tymoschuk? The Ukrainian captain has done well in all of his three seasons at European giants Bayern Munich so he is comfortable in high pressure situations. Tymoschuk is a highly versatile player, who can play at centre back, as well as his more favoured position in the centre of midfield. A good tournament will surely make Tymoschuk a national hero in Ukraine.

England: Joe Hart

For the past six years, Wayne Rooney has been England’s most feared and vital player. However, due to suspension, the Manchester United number 10 will miss England’s first two games against France and Sweden respectively. Instead, England will require another key player and that man is Joe Hart. Hart has had a magnificent season with premier league title winners Manchester City, with many calling him the league’s best goalkeeper and one of the world’s best. This is Hart’s first tournament as England’s first choice goalkeeper and many are tipping him as a future England captain. A good Euro 2012 will only add to this idea.

France: Karim Benzema

When Raymond Domenech left the Real Madrid striker out of France’s world cup 2010 squad, many were surprised. However after a truly dreadful tournament from France, new manager Laurent Blanc had to create a better French side and Benzema is at the heart of it. Benzema had a magnificent 2011/12 season as his 21 goals helped Real Madrid win La Liga, their first in five years. Arguably more than any other player in the tournament, Benzema will arrive in Poland and Ukraine brimming with confidence, and could very well inspire France to a magnificent tournament.

Euro 2012 Group C key players

Group C

Spain- Xavi Hernandez

If Spain emerge triumphant, they will become the first team ever to win the euros, a world cup, and then another euros within three years. In both of these previous tournament wins, central midfielder Xavi has been an integral part of the Spain side due to his passing and organization skills, which summarize the philosophy of the Barcelona academy Xavi came from. However, with reliable goalscorer David Villa missing the tournament due to injury, Xavi may be required to chip in with more than just assists.

Italy- Andrea Pirlo

This time last year, Andrea Pirlo had just left AC Milan to join Juventus with many people thinking that at the age of 33 he was in the twilight of his career and past his peak. However, his spectacular performances in the 2011/12 season went a long way to helping the Turin side win the Scudetto with him chipping in with 13 assists, the most in the entire league. If the central midfield maestro can replicate this form it could give Italy’s strikers; Giampaolo Pazzini, Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli plenty of chances, which could lead to the Italians going far in the tournament.

Croatia- Luka Modric

In many people’s estimations, Luka Modric is the beating heart of Croatia’s team. Much like Andrea Pirlo with Italy, Modric will be expected to produce his trademark excellent passes for the Croatian strikers, namely fellow premier league player Nikica Jelavic and former Arsenal striker Eduardo. The dynamic central midfielder has a great deal of expectation on his hands, but if he can produce the sort of performances he did at Euro 2008, where he helped Croatia to get an unexpected quarter final place, it could allow Croatia to get out of a very tough group. Another impressive tournament could lead to Tottenham losing the in-demand player.

Republic of Ireland- Shay Given

Being the team who are widely considered as the weakest in the group, Ireland will most likely have a lot of defending to do at Euro 2012. However, luckily for the Irish, they have an outstanding goalkeeper in Shay Given. The 36 year-old will want to make this tournament special as due to his age it will likely be his last European championship. The Aston Villa number one has been in the premier league for an impressive 15 years and has faced numerous world class players. If Ireland can counter attack well, they may cause an upset and progress from their group.

Euro 2012 key players: Group B

On Friday 8^th June, Poland and Greece will begin Euro 2012 in Warsaw in front of approximately 50,000 fans. So in honour of the beginning of world football’s most captivating events, I will be going through the key players and possible ‘’it factors’’ for each team, group by group. Here’s group B.

Netherlands: Robin Van Persie

After a truly brilliant 2011/12 season in which he won the premier league’s prestigious golden boot award with 30 goals, Van Persie will begin Euro 2012 as one of Europe’s most feared strikers. The Oranje are considered by many to be one of the best teams in the tournament after getting to the world cup final in 2010, and due to their excellent qualifying campaign, where they picked up 27 points out of a possible 30. With players around him such as Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Eljero Elia, Van Persie should get plenty of chances. If he manages to bury a few of them, he could very well lead the Dutch to Euro glory.

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo

Perhaps more than any other team at Euro 2012, Portugal will be relying on one man’s form if they want to do well: and that man is Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Manchester United man is unquestionably one of the world’s top players and possesses incredible pace, a ferocious shot, great heading ability and a bag full of tricks to rival any player in a world. Portugal will need Ronaldo to be at his very best if they want to progress through the ‘’group of death’’ in which they are in.

Germany: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Germany’s final appearance at Euro 2008 was largely due to the excellent performances by combative central midfielder, Bastian Schweinsteiger. However, the emergence of young, determined players such as Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller means the 27 year old will be one of Germany’s more experienced players at Euro 2012. If Germany are to go far and possibly win Euro 2012, it will likely be down to the determination and exceptional leadership of the Bayern Munich man.

Denmark: Christian Eriksen

For the last two seasons, the 20 year old Ajax man has developed into one of Europe’s most exciting young talents. In fact, such is the hype surrounding the youngster; some have even gone on record as saying he is Denmark’s best young talents since the Laudrup brothers; Michael and Brian. Having played in every single one of Denmark’s qualifying games, Danish coach Morten Olsen clearly doesn’t view the attacking midfielder as being too inexperienced. If Eriksen’s creativity and skill helps Denmark advance through their incredibly difficult group, it could lead to the 20 year old moving to another top European side.