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Eurotrip 2012: Who’s going to claim the final spots?

 

By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer

ith Euro 2012 right around the
corner (give or take*’seven months
or so), the qualifiers are slowly

wrapping up. There were no surprises among
the group winners: Germany, Russia, Italy,
France, Netherlands, Greece, England,
Denmark, and Spain. The next to gain an
automatic spot was the top second place
finisher, Sweden. The result of all this has left
eight second place teams fighting for just four
more spots.

Taking a peek at my favourite matchup of
the lot, Ireland takes on Estonia. Estonia is one
of the many minnows in the world of European
soccer, boasting a population of just over a
million. This minnow, however, has come to
the very edge of making it to one of the world’s
most prestigious competitions. Unfortunately
for the Estonians, their road likely ends here.
Ireland has consistently put out strong squads
in recent years, with a Thierry Henry handball
being the only thing that kept them from last
year’s World Cup, and despite some injuries
and suspensions, should prevail in this playoff.
The key to this one will be the quality of
Ireland’s strikers. Robbie Keane is coming
off an adductor muscle injury and may not
be available for selection. The Republic’s
next best is Kevin Doyle, who is currently
suspended for the first leg. It may be more of a
struggle than it should be, but look for Ireland
to win this one.

Another two countries pairing off are
Croatia and Turkey. It is of note that in the last
Euro competition in 2008, Turkey defeated
Croatia (in the quarterfinals), but I don’t think
the same will happen again. Despite having the
magical Guus Hiddink patrolling the touchline,
Turkey won’t be able to keep up with the
Croats. Never bet against Luka Modric;
Croatia will move on.

Montenegro and the Czech Republic are
also fighting for one of the final spots. Neither
of these countries are footballing powerhouses,
and I highly doubt the winner will do much
at Euro 2012, but the Czechs should find
little difficulty in dealing with Montenegro.
Montenegro barely squeaked by the group
stage, beating out Switzerland and Wales by
one and two points respectively. The same
could be said for the Czech Republic and
Scotland (two points difference), but let’s be
honest here, the Scots were never really in the
running. The Czech Republic takes the punch
in this one.

The final playoff matchup is Portugal
versus Bosnia and Herzegovina. If I had to
stick the ‘guarantee’ label on any of these
games I’d pick Portugal in this one as that
guarantee. Portugal has struggled as of late,
not quite performing to their capability, but
with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani
in the lineup, they will come through in the
clutch against the no-name roster of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Portugal will claim this spot.
And with that, I’m off to find my bookie.

 

Football Fever Tebow’s success in Denver

By David Hollinshead

enver Broncos quarterback
D= Tebow can’t seem to stay

out of the spotlight. He also
doesn’t seem to like to do what people
tell him.

After being told that he wouldn’t
be a successful college quarterback,
he won the Heisman in his sophomore
year for the Florida Gators University
football team. After “experts” claimed
that he wouldn’t be a high draft pick,
and would be a huge project, Denver
drafted him in the first round. He also
stayed at quarterback when others
claimed he would be more useful at
an H-Back position, a combination of
fullback and tight end (Dallas Clark
of the Indianapolis Colts is the best
example of an H-Back).

Tebow had his work cut out for
him once he got to Denver, with two
quarterbacks ahead of him: veteran
starter Kyle Orton who had just
asserted himself as the top dog, and
former first round draft pick Brady
Quinn. He was then able to climb to
the second on the depth chart behind
Orton, as head coach at the time Josh
McDaniels was fully committed to
developing him. Once McDaniels was
fired though, Tebow’s future was up in

22

the air.

Hall Of Fame quarterback John
Elway, who led the Broncos to their
latest Super Bowl victory, was hired
in an attempt to turn the team around.
Elway stated that he had no faith in
Tebow as a quarterback, leading to
several trade rumors. The system that
brought him in had left, and new head
coach John Fox looked like he had no
interest in Tebow. He started training
camp this season back at the bottom of
the depth chart. Once again though, he
worked his way to the second spot.

Denver again came out to a
slow start this year and the worm
started to turn on Orton. The career
year that Orton had and the other
consistent performances he produced
become obvious that it was because
of McDaniels system, which was
very successful for New England
quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt
Cassel. With the fans chanting Tebow’s
name, Fox had no choice but to put him
in. After a dismal three quarters, where
it looked like he was going to finally be
what people had labeled him as, Tebow
led his team back from a 15-point
deficit against the Miami Dolphins...
and his Broncos eventually won in
overtime. In the first three quarters
though, he missed receivers who were

wide open, but won Denver their
second game in his first start.

Fox proceeded to name him the
Starting quarterback for the time being.
He doesn’t have much of a choice, as
for at this point, all Denver can ask for
are the Ws.

 

Raiders see a future in Palmer
The Oakland Raiders traded their
first round draft pick this year, and

a conditional second rounder which
could become a first-rounder if the
Raiders win a playoff game this year,
with Cincinnati quarterback Carson —
Palmer.

The trade came after Raiders
starting quarterback Jason Campbell
suffered a broken collarbone and
was expected to miss the rest of the
season.

The Raiders quarterback
situation had always been a question
mark, as people were expecting
Campbell to have blown the coop
after this year if he didn’t give the
Raiders a legitimate reason to re-
sign him. Palmer hasn’t played a
game since last year, and hasn’t
even attended any training camp in
the offseason, but was a pro bowler
during his time playing for the
Bengals.

Expect a slow start from Palmer,
it could even just be a warm up year
for him, depending on how well he
picks up the playbook. Next year,
with a full offseason and training
camp, I’d expect Oakland to build
the team around him, and finally be a
legitimate playoff contender.