Group C Preview

Led by reigning European Champions and World Cup Champions Spain, Group C is yet another difficult group to navigate. As well as the Spaniards, it holds the likes of 2006 World Cup Champions Italy, surprise packets the Republic of Ireland and the battle hardened Croat's.

Spain

The Spaniard's are quite obviously favourite's to progress on top of Group C. They are the current World and European Champions, and will be looking to become the first nation in history to win back-to-back European titles. They have quality and depth in all areas, but in particular their star studded midfield, which holds Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Juan Mata and David Silva. Their manager Vicente del Bosque's main concern will be picking who to start.

Key Player - Fernando Llorente

We all know Spain has so much quality throughout their midfield, however it's their forwards which worry me. We all know the troubles Fernando Torres has had in the past, and he only scraped his selection into this squad, so it could be up to Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente to score the majority of their goals. He grabbed 17 in 32 games for his club this season, and has a record of 7 in 20 games for his national side. Can he overtake Torres as Spain's number one striker in this competition?

Prediction - 1st

Regardless of who scores their goals, Spain will qualify on top of this group and with ease. Their passing and movement is too strong, and far superior to any other in the world of football. They could just be the first ever side to win back-to-back European Championship's.

Italy

The Italian's have been swamped with a lot of unwanted press prior to the 2012 Euro's, which could well and truly see their campaign derailed before it even begins. Italian internationals Stefano Mauri, Omar Milanetto, Kahka Kaladze, Giuseppe Sculli, Sergio Pellissier, Leonardo Bonucci and Domenico Criscito were all found guilty of match-fixing, with Criscito even being dropped from the Italian squad for the tournament. Their manager Cesare Prandelli has even floated the idea of forfeiting the tournament on the back of the scandal.

Key Player - Sebastian Giovinco

With an average age of 28 in their squad, there's no question these Italian's are moving on. Sebastian Giovinco provides an outlet of youth in their aging squad, having only been capped 8 times at international level. He scored 15 goals and gathered 11 assists for Parma throughout this season, and is a livewire up front for the Italian's. He could spark their tournament.

Prediction - 2nd

Despite a squad full of old legs, if the Italian's can keep their build-up out of the media's spotlight, they should qualify from Group C. They may have a bit of "dad's army" about them, but they still have enough quality to see off the competition from Ireland and Croatia.

Republic of Ireland

Perhaps a little fortuitous to get this far, the Irish will need to count on their luck to get out of Group C. There's good news for the Irish with keeper Shay Given proving his fitness prior to the tournament, yet they'll need more than him to qualify for the next round. It's their debut at a European Championship, so they must rely on their experienced players such as Given, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Richard Dunne and John O'Shea if they're to mount any challenge in this group.

Key Player - Robbie Keane

With 53 goals in 117 international matches, Irish captain Robbie Keane must perform for his national side if they're to qualify for the next round. Keane has proven his ability to score in big matches, and has done it at just about every level and for every side in the Premier League, so he must show he can do it at a major European tournament.

Prediction - 4th

The Irish are perhaps a little short of quality, and a little short of experience to qualify from Group C. In their first match against Croatia, it will be crucial to get off to a good start, and if they can come out of that with the 3 points, then take advantage of Italy's poor lead-up to the tournament, who knows how far the luck of the Irish can get them.

Croatia

The Croat's are a little bit of a dark horse coming into Group C. No one really expects them to get past the might of Spain and Italy, however there's lots of quality in their squad, and they could provide some upsets. Luka Modric, Dario Srna and Danijel Pranjic provide the quality in midfield, while Nikica Jelavic has stunned the Premier League with his goal scoring record since arriving at Everton in January this year.

Key Player - Luka Modric

With an impending transfer away from Tottenham hanging over his head coming into this tournament, Modric needs to show where his focus lies this summer. He's such a brilliant, creative player when he's on his game, and will need to be if Croatia are to qualify from Group C.

Prediction - 3rd

I have Croatia missing out on qualification just, however with the way Italy has arrived at the Euro's, they may be a sneaky chance of qualifying from this group. They play the Italian's in their second match, and must win that to qualify from Group C. They could be a smokey to qualify for the knockout stages.