Guide to the Teams at the 2012 European Championship Finals

Daily Post › November 17, 2011

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Summary

CROATIA 33/1 Coach: Slaven Bilic Star player: Luka Modric Previous appearances: 1996 (quarter-finals), 2004 (first round), 2008 (quarter-finals) Chances: Were strong favourites to win what appeared an easy qualifying group but a shock defeat in Georgia and one point from their two games with Greece forced them into the play- offs, where they cruised past Turkey. Boast one of the most sought- after players around in Modric but not the force they were in the 1990s.

CZECH REPUBLIC 66/1 Coach: Michal Bilek Star player: Petr Cech Previous appearances: 1960 (third place*), 1976 (winners*), 1980 (third place*), 1996 (runners-up), 2000 (first round), 2004 (semi- finals), 2008 (first round) *As Czechoslovakia.

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Guide to the Teams at the 2012 European Championship Finals

Chances: Lucky even to reach the play-offs after a controversial penalty got them a draw in Scotland.

The Czechs look a shadow of the side that lit up Euro 96 and Euro 2004 and it would be a major shock were they to get out of anything but the kindest of groups.

FRANCE 12/1 Coach: Laurent Blanc Star player: Samir Nasri Previous appearances: 1960 (fourth place), 1984 (winners), 199...

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