Vicente del Bosque’s men have not quite hit the heights that many expected of them and that is reflected in the betting, as they have now slipped to second favouritism for the tournament outright, priced at 5/2 behind 2/1 market leaders Germany.

Despite their relative troubles against Italy and Croatia it is worth noting that La Roja still qualified as Group C winners, while France had to settle for a runners-up berth in Group D in what looked an easier task on paper.

Spain are not expected to slip up in Donetsk as they are priced as the 4/5 favourites in the match betting, with the draw on offer at 5/2 while Les Bleus can be backed at 4/1 to cause a shock.

Forgetting the Republic of Ireland clash, Del Bosque’s side struggled to a 1-1 draw in their opener against Italy, while Croatia missed two golden chances to open the scoring before Jesus Navas popped up with a late winner.

Laurent Blanc’s team had started the tournament in reasonable fashion, enjoying the better of a 1-1 draw against England before easing past co-hosts Ukraine 2-0.

However, their dismal failure against already-eliminated Sweden in the last group game has perhaps dampened the spirits, particularly given the news of a dressing-room spat which brought back memories of the problems suffered at the World Cup in 2010.

At 4/1 though, France cannot be ruled out of the reckoning – providing the players have put the fallout from the Sweden defeat behind them – as they have never lost to Spain in a competitive fixture.

Les Bleus triumphed in the final of the European Championships in 1984, won again in the quarter-finals in 2000, while they were the last team to eliminate Spain from a major tournament when they triumphed 3-1 in the first knockout stage at the 2006 World Cup.

La Roja have of course gone on to win Euro 2008 and the World Cup since that defeat and have lost just one game in the process – 1-0 against Switzerland in South Africa.

Spain have won 36 of 38 competitive games since that French loss and will undoubtedly be hard to beat, although there appears to be one or two question marks over the current team.

Del Bosque started the tournament with a ‘false nine’ in Cesc Fabregas against Italy and, although he has two goals to his name, Fernando Torres has started the last two games.

Right-back Alvaro Arbeloa has come in for some criticism from the Spanish media with calls for Juanfran to start against France, who have the dangerous Franck Ribery operating down the left-hand side.

Laurent Blanc has his own issues to sort out, with Karim Benzema a constant threat in La Liga last season but yet to hit the target at Euro 2012.

Philippe Mexes is definitely ruled out through suspension meaning the France boss has to alter his defensive plan, although he is boosted by the news Samir Nasri has been passed fit to play.

Spain have won three of the last four encounters between the two, albeit in friendlies, and may find a little more space against the French, who were critical of England’s defensive tactics against them in the opening round of fixtures.

By the same token, the French forwards may find a little more space themselves and can cause the champions’ back four problems, which certainly sets up an intriguing contest.

Added to the mix is the possibility of the teams’ trying to win a psychological edge ahead of the World Cup qualifiers as they have been drawn together in Group I.

Spain are understandable favourites but history is on the side of the French and they look the value at 4/1 to score a shock, in a game that looks to have a good potential for goals (Over 2.5 Goals – 6/4).

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France, who are 12/1 to take the top prize, have been drawn in Group D with England, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine and there is a growing confidence amongst the French public that they could impress this year.

However, Blanc is quick to point out that his side have failed to navigate their way beyond the group stages in the last two tournaments (Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010) and believes reaching the quarter-finals would be an achievement for his side.

“We’re hoping to reach the quarters first and foremost,” said Blanc. “As you all know, once you’re in the knockout phase of a competition anything can happen over 90 or 120 minutes, and I can remind you that France hasn’t gone passed the first round the last two times. That’s the reality of the situation.”

Indeed, the French boss claims he cannot see his side winning the tournament and believes defending champions Spain, who are the 5/2 favourites ahead of Euro 2012, will take the top prize.

He added: “I can see Spain winning the Euros. I can’t say the same about us.”

Blanc’s caution should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt, however. Les Bleus are on an 18-game unbeaten run, which includes away victories over England and Germany, and they finished top of their qualifying group.

France are missing a number of key players for the tournament through injury, with Loic Remy, Eric Abidal, Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby and Younes Kaboul all sidelined, but they do possess plenty of talent amongst their ranks.

France are 7/4 to fall in the quarter-finals, but there is every reason to suggest they can go further than the last eight based on recent form and the players at their disposal.

The star names in the French squad include Franck Ribery, who will be seeking to bounce back from Champions League disappointment with Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, who is expected to start as a lone frontman in France’s opening group game against England.

There is also a strong Premier League contingent in Blanc’s squad, such as Manchester City pair Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri, Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Newcastle duo Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabeye, Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and Chelsea veteran Florent Malouda.

Ben Arfa will be eager to impress after a stop-start season with Newcastle, while Lyon’s Yoann Gourcuff will also be desperate to make his mark after a disappointing domestic campaign.

There are plenty of players who ply their trades in Ligue 1 and for some Euro 2012 offers an opportunity to put themselves in the shop window in order to try and secure a move to one of the major European leagues.  The likes of Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy and Marvin Martin all won plaudits for their performances in the French league this season and will be keen to show what they can do in international football.

Blanc may have played down France’s chances but they are one of the form teams heading into the tournament, they have a good mix of experience and younger players all eager to impress, and with players such as Ribery and Nasri to call upon they have some of the world’s most talented stars at their disposal.

So, at 12/1, Les Bleus are certainly worth some consideration.

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Admittedly, the draw has been a favourable one for the Red Devils considering London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been pitted against Barcelona and AC Milan respectively.

However, United will have to do without five players for the game in the south of France.

The major losses are central defender Rio Ferdinand, who has still not recovered from a calf injury, and Anderson who was forced off the field during United’s 1-0 win over Crawley Town in the FA Cup.

Jonny Evans would be the go-to man in the absence of Ferdinand but the Northern Irishman is also on the injury list with an ankle problem.

Add to this the injuries suffered by Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen, and you’re left with some tough decisions for Sir Alex Ferguson to make on Wednesday night.

Fortunately for United they still have firepower up front with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov fit and ready to go.

Meanwhile, playmaker Nani will be bursting forward from midfield to create chances and bag goals of his own.

Marseille will be no pushovers on home soil, as they currently sit in third place in Ligue 1, and have only suffered two defeats in their last 22 games.

United were lacklustre in their last outing in the FA Cup and they would probably be happy with a draw in Marseille, especially if they can bag themselves an away goal, so at 23/10, that looks appealing.

In Wednesday night’s other game, Inter Milan take on Bayern Munich at the San Siro in a replay of last year’s final (Inter 5/4, draw 9/4, Munich 11/5).

Under former boss Jose Mourinho, Inter were the side to come out on top at the Santiago Bernabeu to break German hearts.

There has been a change of manager at the San Siro as Leonardo has since taken the reins after former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez struggled to find his feet in Milan.

Inter are not the same side that they were under the ’special one’ Mourinho, as they have shown a weakness at the back that has been exploited a few times this season.

Tottenham were able to exploit a lack of pace at the back, as Gareth Bale glided past Maicon on a number of occasions to bag himself a hat-trick in the group-stage clash.

Bayern do not have that same out-and-out pace in their ranks as Spurs do with Bale and Aaron Lennon, but they do boast technical players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Frank Ribery who will pose problems for the Italian club.

With Inter on home soil they will be the favourites but Munich might be able to get something out of this mouth-watering clash and money on another draw, at 9/4, could be rewarded.

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France

Raymond Domenech’s team did not enjoy the best qualifying campaign and were forced to rely on Thierry Henry’s handball in order to edge past the Republic of Ireland in their two-legged play-off clash last autumn.

France will face South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay at the World Cup and Malouda knows they have improvements to make after winning the World Cup in 1998 and contesting the final last time around in Germany against Italy (France 15/2 – To Reach Final).

The Chelsea flyer told the Guardian: “The problem is, after what we did in 2006 – and of course there was a great generation in 1998 and 2000 – expectations are very high.

“And the Euro in 2008 was a disaster. So when you are in a bad situation everything is coming out, and people are pointing the finger.

“The World Cup is really close and honestly we have a lot of problems to fix. When there is tension, when there is high pressure games, you need characters.

“You need people to come out and say ‘I will take responsibility’.”

Malouda, at 29 years of age and with 54 appearances for his country, is possibly playing in his last World Cup and along with William Gallas (81), Eric Abidal (55) and Thierry Henry (121) he is one of four players in Domenech’s 23-man squad to have won over a half-century of caps.

Veterans like Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram are no longer around and Malouda knows there is a vacuum to fill in terms of leadership, both on and off the pitch.

He added: “Honestly we have a lot of problems. We have to talk about a lot of things.

“But for that you need someone to take the first step. Guys like (Patrick) Vieira and (Claude) Makelele who can take the lead. If they are not there, somebody has to do it.”

France kick off their World Cup Group A campaign against Uruguay on Friday before games against South Africa and Mexico (France 11/10 – Group A Winner).

Domenech will bow out after the World Cup with his successor, France legend Laurent Blanc, already confirmed in the post for the start of the Euro 2012 qualifiers (12/1 – Euro 2012 Outright).

France will face games against Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania and Luxembourg in Group D (Les Bleus 4/9 – Group Winner).

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After an unimpressive start to the season Bayern have really moved up through the gears and have begun to impose themselves in the Bundesliga and in Europe. This month alone they have knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League in the last round, beat Bundesliga title rivals Schalke away from home whilst keeping their momentum going with a draw at the other domestic challengers in Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern smashed seven goals past Hannover at the and are now two points ahead at the top of the Bundesliga, with three games left to play it looks as though they will be league champions.

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They have two of the best wide midfielders in the world today in the form of Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery (7.50 to score first goal) and both have been on song recently playing an instrumental part in Bayern’s upturn of fortunes.

Lyon, like Barcelona last night, have been forced to travel to Munich by bus. It is a long arduous journey and they will be hoping it doesn’t affect the team and they get a better result than Barcelona could manage after their long road trip.

Lyon have not been playing great this month and were involved in a tough match at the weekend against a Bordeaux side who have dramatically lost form. Lyon managed a 2-2 draw but at the cost of losing Lisandro Lopez through injury which is a massive blow.

The momentum is definitely with Bayern Munich in this semi-final and Lyon will be happy to just get an away goal if they can.

“We are not favourites. The game is 50-50. We might have beaten United, but Lyon knocked out Real Madrid in the last 16, so they have proved their strength,” said Bayern defender Daniel Van Buyten.

“Lyon defend and attack very well and their forward, Lisandro, is very dangerous. They have players who can make a difference and Hugo Lloris is a very good goalkeeper. Lyon are a very strong team.”

Related posts:

1. Inter Milan v Barcelona Champions League Semi Final
2. Arsenal v Barcelona – A Meeting Of The Pass Masters
3. Contrasting Champions League Fortunes Await the Italians

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