Opening Game Prediction

In many ways, the opening game is an event unto itself, its dynamics completely detached from the rest of the tournament. There are far too many intangible factors like the build-up of anticipation. Certainly, it’s impossible to read too much into its result. It’s also quite difficult to predict its result. Since the European Championships expanded to 16 teams, only one host nation has won the opening game. They were also one of the few to go out in the first round: Belgium in 2000. Complicating all of this, of course, is that this is effectively a very young Polish team’s first ever competitive game. In terms of average age, they are the second youngest squad in the tournament. In the time since their last World Cup qualifier in 2009, manager Franciszek Smuda has built up an evolving new team. At the least, though, the freshness of their faces is matched by a freshness in attack. With a Borussia Dortmund core spearheaded by potential golden-boot winner Robert Lewandowski, Poland can be penetrative on the break and have won three of their last six friendlies. What’s more, despite perceptions, Greece haven’t quite been as dependable at the back as previous given that they’ve conceded almost a goal a game of late. Incidentally, the average number of goals in this fixture is around two. But, given that both teams tend to sit back, the caution of the opening fixture might be amplified. One goal should do it. Prediction: Poland 1-0 Greece