European Championship 2008 group by group analysis, by Emmet Malone.

Austria

Manager:Josef Hickersberger.

Star Players:Not a lot of world-beaters here but Emanuel Pogatetz and Sebastian Prodl are, for all their limitations, committed. Skipper Andreas Ivanschitz is well regarded in midfield but there is little for rivals to fear with Werder Bremen's 20-year-old Martin Harnik, the only striker even playing in a big league.

Previous tournaments: They've never qualified for a European finals tournament, although they did make the last eight and qualified fairly regularly for World Cups until their recent decline.

Prospects:Hickersberger is only aiming to get out of the group but even that looks a fairly tall order. Playing at home will obviously help to some extent and they might prove hard to beat but it seems entirely possible the co-hosts will not win a game.

Betting:100/1.

Germany

Manager:Joachim Loew.

Star Players:On their day, Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack should be the tournament's best central midfield pairing. Philipp Lahm is the pick of the back four, while Miroslav Klose's goals at the last World Cup showed he can do it at this level even if his club form is erratic.

Previous tournaments:Three times winners, the Germans look to build on a good World Cup but in Portugal they went out in the first round with just two points from three group games.

Prospects: Here, they start as the bookies' favourites, although that's largely down to the fact their path to the knock-out stages is somewhat more straightforward than that of the other major contenders. More likely to come up a little short.

Betting: 4/1

Poland

Manager: Leo Beenhakker.

Star Players:Artur Boruc and Maciej Zurawski may be better known in these parts but Racing Santander's 27-year-old striker Euzebiusz Smolarek is the team's key man. He scored nine goals in 10 qualifying games and Beenhakker, who knows him well from their days together at Feyenoord, has reshaped the team to capitalise on his talents.

Previous tournaments: Remarkably, it's their first time at the event. They've a better record in World Cups but, having qualified, they haven't made it out of their group in the last two.

Prospects:Not great really, although the order of their games is quite favourable and if they can avoid defeat against the Germans tomorrow then they have a decent chance of making the knock-out stages.

Betting:40/1.

Croatia

Manager: Slaven Bilic.

Star Players: From the back where Bilic can select the veterans Robert Kovac and Dario Simic, through midfield, where the likes of Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric provide plenty of creativity, there is undoubtedly talent here but Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva's injury is a huge blow and a lot now depends on Mladen Petric and whoever partners him.

Previous tournaments:They've qualified twice, reaching the quarters in 1996 before going one better at the World Cup two years later.

Prospects: Without da Silva, goals could prove a problem but the team should be solid at the back and lively in attack, which might well be enough to get them through to the quarters after which they might yet prove a surprise package.

Betting:12/1.