Can Spain Repeat at Euro 2012?

October 17th, 2010 | by: Ian Rose | Comments Off

The Spaniards won both the 2008 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup, and so are defending champions in both of their major competitions. We have a long way to wait before knowing whether they can do the nearly-impossible and retain the World Cup in Brazil 2014, but with Euro qualifying underway, it’s only mildly ridiculous to start thinking about Euro 2012. Teams change significantly between World Cups, with the old guards retiring or at least losing their edge (see Italy 2006-2010). But with the European Championships about a year and a half out, Spain will look vaguely similar to how they look now, which is to say fantastic.

Of course, once you get into the knockout rounds of a tournament, anything can happen, and as Spain proved in their first World Cup group match, on any given day they can be beaten. That’s why sports betting houses usually give pretty high odds even for the favorites – higher than in other sports anyway – it’s a funny old game, and surprises happen all the time.

Still, you have to put Spain on top of the favorites. You don’t win those two trophies in succession by accident, after all. The consensus is that they are about 4-1 to win the whole thing, which is actually pretty slim odds considering there are 20 months until the tournament even starts. Interestingly, Germany is tending to be the second favorite, not World Cup runners up Holland. The young side that they brought to the World Cup should be maturing nicely by 2012, and I think if I had to put money down, the smarter bet would be on them at about 6-1.

There’s also the small matter of France, who have been underperforming for so long that we almost forget how talented they are. With Raymond Domenech finally stripped of command, there is every chance that the days of training boycotts and other circus acts are over, and that they will find their feet again and make a run.

Spain, Netherlands, Germany, France, England, Portugal (if they qualify) … there are a number of reasonable contenders. Now all we can do is wait for the next round of qualifiers to learn more.