Spain and the Netherlands have made the early running in the race to be crowned kings of Europe, with Germany and Portugal not far behind. But a look back to previous tournaments emphasises the danger of making hasty predictions at this early stage of UEFA EURO 2008.

Portugal revival
Remember four years ago when the host nation lost to Greece in their first fixture but then recovered to find a route that led all the way to the final? In Austria and Switzerland, Portugal could become the first team to book a quarter-final place should they beat the Czech Republic in Geneva tonight and the other Group A tussle in Basel between Turkey and Switzerland ends in anything other than a Swiss win. The qualifying ticket with one group game to go could, alternatively, be in Czech hands should they win and Turkey fail to do likewise.

Improvements needed
The way Luiz Felipe Scoilari’s team recovered in 2004 shows that the despair of a first-day defeat can be overcome. Italy and Russia were on the wrong end of three-goal deficits against the Netherlands and Spain respectively, yet need not be too despondent. Improvements can be made – and sooner rather than later. On the other side of the coin, those with three points already to their name – a list that also includes the Czechs, Croatia and Sweden – will be much more satisfied. Perhaps none more so than the Spain. Top of the scoring charts after the first round of games, they have, in David Villa, a player on cloud nine after scoring the first hat-trick in a UEFA European Championship final tournament for eight years. Perhaps Spain have at last assembled a team who can end their long drought for a major trophy. Not since 1964, when they made host status count in this competition, have they truly given their supporters something to shout about.

Serious thinking
The Netherlands have produced the first surprise result of the tournament – burying Italian pride in a three-goal, counterattacking masterclass. Next, against France in Berne, they have to show that was no fluke. For Raymond Domenech’s team some serious soul-searching has been undertaken since they launched their campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw with Romania, the only stalemate in the eight matches that have taken place so far. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup the French also began disappointingly, with two draws. Then they put matters right and travelled all the way to the final, beating Spain in the Round of 16. A Spanish team, no less, that had begun with a 4-0 victory. Tournaments evolve, things can change in an instant. So, like Italy and Russia, the other teams languishing on zero points – co-hosts Austria and Switzerland, Turkey, Poland and defending champions Greece – should not call time on their challenge just yet.

A superb hat-trick from Spain’s David Villa and goals of beauty from Portugal, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden have put an extra sheen on a bright opening round of matches at Euro 2008.

One hugely debatable goal plus defeats for the reigning world champions Italy and European champions Greece and both co-hosts Switzerland and Austria have also added to an intriguing first four days of competition.

The action has been relatively clean too with such high stakes — after eight games to Wednesday we had not seen a single red card.

Only one match, the sterile Group C opener between Romania and France has failed to produce a goal or an outright winner.

Unusually in all four groups, the top two teams are due to meet each other in the second round of games over the next few days, including France who are second behind the Dutch in Group C over Romania for alphabetical reason.

Depending on how the results go, four teams could reach the quarter-finals with a match to spare and while it is still early days, some likely favourites appear to be emerging.

Portugal, Germany, Netherlands and Spain all impressed in their openers, and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari summed up the feelings of all his colleagues after his side’s impressive 2-0 win over Turkey in Geneva in Group A on Saturday.

"It is so important to start well and win the first game as every opponent is tough," he said. "An opening win doesn’t guarantee a place in the next round but it helps enormously." 

OUTSTANDING GOAL

Portugal, runners-up on home soil four years ago, look as though they can reach the later stages again with Pepe contributing an outstanding goal after excellent build-up play.

Germany, who strangely had not won a match in the finals since winning Euro 96, ended that run in equally impressive fashion with a 2-0 win over Poland in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

Lukas Podolski’s second of the match, a stunning volley, finally broke Poland’s resistance.

The game of the tournament so far came when Netherlands beat Italy 3-0 in a match that evoked memories of Dutch Total Football of the 1970s.

Their second goal, a counter-attacking move ending with a volley from Wesley Sneijder, was simply breathtaking.

Their first, when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored from what looked like an offside position but was ruled as valid because Italian defender Christian Panucci was deemed to be playing him onside even though he was off the pitch, was the biggest talking point.

It could well lead to a clarification of the law by FIFA’s International Board.

David Villa’s hat-trick in Spain’s 4-1 rout of Russia has been the outstanding individual performance, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s incredible right-foot thunderbolt for Sweden against Greece is another contender for goal of the tournament.

The only blot for the two host nations were the defeats for their teams with Switzerland falling 1-0 to Czech Republic and Austria beaten 1-0 by Croatia. They now look set to struggle to survive.

Dutch look good in early going of Euro 2008

Rout of Italy shows Netherlands could be the surprise team during Euro 2008

The Euro 2008 tournament is well under way, with all 16 teams having a game apiece under their belts. There haven’t been many upsets, but there have been some surprises.
Here are the highs and lows of Euro 2008 so far.

Best-looking team: Netherlands. The Oranje was solid on both sides of the ball as it manhandled Italy in a 3-0 victory Monday. The Netherlands’ offense was flowing — especially on the counterattack that led to Wesley Sneijder’s goal — and Edwin van der Sar was unbeatable in goal.
Honorable mention: Spain, Germany.

Worst-looking team: Russia. Besides a late goal, the Russians did little to disrupt a Spanish side that did what it wanted for nearly the full 90 minutes.
After its 4-1 loss Tuesday, Russia manager Guus Hiddink told reporters, "If you see the second goal, if you see the fourth goal, some school teams don’t make those errors."
Honorable mention: Greece, Poland.

Standout performance: David Villa, Spain. The Valencia forward’s three goals against Russia marked the first hat trick in the competition since Patrick Kluivert did it for the Netherlands in Euro 2000.
Honorable mention: Van der Sar, Lukas Podolski (Germany), Andy Gray’s analysis for ESPN.

Best goal: Sneijder’s goal against Italy off the counterattack. Giovanni van Bronckhorst sent a long ball to Dirk Kuyt, who delivered an off-balance header to Sneijder for the one-touch strike.
Honorable mention: Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s rocket into the corner of Greece’s net Tuesday.

Biggest surprise: Italy’s 3-0 loss to the Netherlands. Who would have expected the defending World Cup champion to get slapped around in its first game of the group stage? The Dutch scored three goals on a team that allowed only two goals during the entire 2006 World Cup.
Honorable mention: Austria’s valiant performance against Croatia.

Biggest disappointment: No England. England failed to qualify, which means no Wayne Rooney, no David Beckham and no rowdy English fans.
And even if you don’t like the English team because you think it’s overrated, at least it would have given you someone to cheer against — besides Italy.
Honorable mention: France’s boring 0-0 draw with Romania, and ESPN’s commentators calling games from Bristol, Conn., and not Austria or Switzerland.