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Now that all group matches for Euro 2008 have concluded, it is time to tally the actual results against the predictions I’ve made in the Countdown towards Euro2008. Those in brackets are my initial predictions.

Group A
Winner: Portugal (Portugal)
Runner-up: Turkey (Czech)

As expected, Portugal took top spot and was the first team to book a quarter-final place after winning their first two games. They were able to rest eight of their first team players for the last group game, giving co-host Switzerland their first victory in European Championsip.

I’ve predicted the Czechs to take the runner-up position in this group but Turkey deserves their place in the quarters after their epic battle against the Czechs in the Mother of all Comebacks in Euro2008.

Group B
Winner: Croatia (Germany)
Runner-up: Germany (Croatia)

Croatia raised more than a few eyebrows with their intelligent play against the Germans and maintains 100% record by winning all 3 group matches to take top spot in Group B.

Pre-tournament favorites Germany stuttered and sputtered en route to the last eight after a dour narrow win against hopeless co-host Austria.

Group C
Winner: Holland (France)
Runner-up: Italy (Romania)

The Group of Death tag doesn’t come without good reason, for 3 teams were fighting for the runner-up berth until the last match, and my predictions for this group were totally off!

A new look Holland team did not self-destruct with their famed in-fighting in the dressing room as in previous tournaments and not only win but win with style over their more illustrious opponents!
Reigning World Champions Italy barely scrap through when they ended an era of French football.

Group D
Winner: Spain (Spain)
Runner-up: Russia (Sweden)

The Spanish matadors stuck to the script and top Group D winning all 3 matches. Defending champion Greece returned home pointless with only one goal to show for their ultra-defensive strategies.

Gus Hiddink proved his coaching pedigree by motivating the rumbling Russians into the last eight to set up a mouth-watering quarter-finals against his motherland Holland.

Euro 2008 Quarter-Finals
The group games are all water under the bridge now. Let’s move on to the Quarter-Finals match-ups and let me gaze into my crystal ball and get my predictions.

QF1 : Portugal vs Germany
My prediction: Portugal

QF2: Croatia vs Turkey
My prediction: Croatia

QF3: Holland vs Russia
My prediction: Holland

QF4: Spain vs Italy
My prediction: Spain

I’m pretty confident my predictions will be spot on in this round. Enjoy the football, and the betting, in the knock-out stages!