Gareth Sciberras, J.J. Aquilina, Pierre Brincat and Richard Saliba share their Euro 2012 predictions. Who will score, asks Kyle Tabone Betts.
Hearts are beating faster than ever, blood pressure is soaring and heartburn is rampant. Yes, the Euro 2012 tournament has definitely, and finally, kicked off.
This is the time when people all around us bicker, swear and sound their undisputable opinion that the powers that be are rooting against their favourite team. Every match is accompanied by cheering or nursing a cuppa with a wedge of lemon for comfort, depending on the outcome. And it’s not uncommon to see grown men blubbering their eyes out when their team books the return ticket.
Another phenomenon which is never lacking during the course of such major sporting events is that of predictions. While some are based on wishful thinking and conjured up by football fanatics, others are the results obtained by professionals after meticulously analysing every aspect of the tournament.
With the latter in mind, we ask four people with plenty of sports credentials to share their Euro 2012 predictions.
Let’s start from the very end: who will lift this year’s cup?
I think Cristiano Ronaldo’s star will shine bright in this tournament.- Gareth Sciberras
According to Birkirkara FC midfielder Gareth Sciberras, this year’s honours will go to Germany.
Joseph John Aquilina is of a different opinion. Better known as J.J. Aquilina, he is currently the head coach of both Pembroke Athleta and the Special Olympics football team and has previously played for Sliema Wanderers FC, Floriana FC and the National Team.
“I think Spain will win this year’s cup,” says J.J. “The team currently has three world class players with extensive experience: Iker Casillas, Gerard Piqué and Andrés Iniesta.”
Additionally, the Spanish team is motivated by the unprecedented glory awaiting it should it win the Euro 2012 tournament.
I think the star player of the tournament will be Robert Lewandowski.- J.J. Aquilina
“If they win this time round,” says J.J., “they will have won three consecutive major trophies, something which no other team has ever done.”
Pierre Brincat shares J.J.’s view. Having previously played for Zurrieq FC, Floriana FC and the National Team, Pierre currently coaches the Women’s National Team.
“Spain will lift the cup because they are the best team and have the highest number of talented players,” Pierre predicts. “Besides, they have a secret weapon in Fernando Torres.”
Former Sliema Nursery Team player and current U-15 Qormi Nursery team coach Richard Saliba is also of the opinion that Spain will win the tournament.
“The Spanish team possesses a talented group of very technical players,” says Richard.
So it appears that Spain’s pool of talented players is tipping the scales in the nation’s favour. But will it be one of these 11 men who will achieve the title of star player?
Spain will lift the cup because they are the best team and have the highest number of talented players.- Pierre Brincat
In Pierre’s opinion it will be Manchester City’s Spaniard David Silva.
“He has been fantastic for Manchester City throughout the whole season,” says Pierre. “He is an intelligent player who is also psychologically boosted by the way Manchester City won the league.”
However, Gareth thinks that it will be Spain’s neighbouring country, Portugal, which will turn out the tournament’s star player.
“I think Cristiano Ronaldo’s star will shine bright in this tournament,” he says.
Richard believes that it will be Holland’s Robin van Persie who will be the tournament’s star player. This is attributable to his will and desire to achieve more than any other player.
Löw has the capacity to not only motivate his players but to also take them to a higher level.- Richard Saliba
But it will be one of Poland’s players who will be lifted to stardom during the course of this year’s Euro tournament, predicts J.J.
“I think the star player of the tournament will be Robert Lewandowski,” says J.J. “He is the most exciting Polish player of these past 10 to 15 years. The 23-year-old was prolific in his homeland before moving to Dortmund in 2010, where he has been rather impressive thanks to his goals and link-up play.”
And what about the tournament’s star coach? Who do our four intrepid forecasters think will claim this title?
J.J. believes that the honours will go to Croatia’s Slaven Bili´c.
“The Euro 2012 will be Bili´c’s last tournament as Croatia’s coach. He will definitely want to go out with a bang,” says J.J.
In Pierre’s opinion, Spain’s Vicente del Bosque will claim the title of star coach. After all, if Spain wins the Euro 2012, del Bosque would have won two major honours in two years after having previously managed the Spanish team to its first-ever World Cup win in 2010.
However, Gareth believes that it will be Germany’s Joachim Löw who will be the tournament’s star coach – a prediction which is seconded by Richard.
“Löw has the capacity to not only motivate his players but to also take them to a higher level,” says Richard.
Naturally, foul play has a tendency to rear its ugly head during such tournaments, although Gareth believes this is dwindling.
“I don’t think that foul play exists to such a large extent in modern football,” says Gareth. “But I think there will be a few intense matches with a few hard tackles.”
Pierre predicts that any foul play during the course of the tournament will not be attributable to malice.
“It might happen,” he says, “but only because the players’ legs will be heavy after a long, arduous season with their respective clubs. On average, I think we might see two yellow cards per match.”
According to Richard, foul play will become more evident as the tournament progresses. He predicts that yellow cards will average three per match and at least one in every five matches will see the referee give a red card.
J.J. also believes that gameplay will be tougher towards the tournament’s end.
“This normally happens in every major competition,” says J.J. “When teams are competing in later stages, they become more determined and, consequently, more aggressive.”
That said, J.J. predicts that referees will not be booking all that many players as his guess is that the yellow card will be given to 10 players and the red card to just one.
Will any of these predictions turn out to be true? We will know as soon as the tournament is over. Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the game.