Who will win Euro 2012?
I have no idea. But I think Germany will go far. I have backed Germany at 4.8 to win Euro 2012, the strategy is as Germany progresses I would expect the odds to shorten at which point I will cash out of my bet where regardless of who wins I make a bit of money.
England may do well as there is'nt as much hype about them in this tournament so less pressure.
Euro 2012: predictions and previews
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/euro-2012-predictions-previews-115306651.html
Euro 2012: Sportsound pundits have their say
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18322810
Euro 2012: Who will finish as champions?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18091750
It is true that Gade's chances improve if Chong Wei isn't fit - as do everyone else's. Gade has lost 16 out of 18 matches against Chong Wei....but has also lost 17 out of 20 against Lin Dan. More worryingly he has lost 8 out of 11 against Chen Jin, who is his likely quarter-final opponent to judge from the seedings.
I think Gade is a bit too far over the hill (though almost all of the top players are right at the end of their careers)....but it is very difficult to call the results of individual matches, because there are frequently only a couple of points between winning and losing. It should also be noted that there is a group stage first, with 16 groups and 16 seeds - and I would think it highly likely that a third of the seeds won't make it through their groups.
Plenty of players can be considered to be dangerous floaters when the groups are drawn - Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand (winner of last month's Singapore Open), Kevin Cordon of Guatamala, Kashyap of india and Pablo Albian of Spain all look ones the seeds will hope to avoid. Personally I hope that Kevin Cordon does very well - he is probably Guatamala's best shot at a medal and will be carrying their flag.
Probably best to look again when the full draw is made.
