If Group C has been labelled this year’s European Championships much maligned “Group of Death”, then one wonders what sort of label one might place on a group that includes no less than three major contenders for the title. Group B features three of Europe’s heavyweight nations in the shape of Portugal and two real tournament favourites in Holland and Germany. Denmark might be cast as the “other” team in the group, but with players of the calibre of Christian Eriksen, Christian Poulsen and Nicklas Bendtner, they also have the potential to surprise in a group where only the best will secure qualification to the knockout rounds.

Portugal’s narrative will centre around one man. Cristiano Ronaldo who built a very strong case to be recognized as the world’s best player after an amazing season with Real Madrid, could make that case watertight with a good series of performances at the Euros this year. Ronaldo carries demands of near messianic proportions when he dons the national team kit and his ability to cope with that expectation will determine how well he, and in turn how well Portugal, performs at the competition.

With a talented support cast, which includes the likes of Nani, Raul Meireles and Bruno Alves, Portugal are well poised to make an impact at this year’s European Championship, but the lack of a real quality centre forward, assuming Ronaldo and Nani take up the wider berths in Portugal’s favoured 4-3-3 system, could prove their undoing. It seems an odd criticism to make of a team which boasts one of the world’s most prolific goal-getters but it remains true. Solving that conundrum could prove key to the Portuguese’s chances of escaping what should be a fiercely competitive group.

Whilst there are a number of supposed dark horses that could prove surprise European champions, the Germans are one nation who stand out from the rest as genuine favourites to take out the title. A fantastic run at the 2010 World Cup in which a number of Germany’s young, burgeoning talents made a fantastic impact could go one better given many of those players now have another two seasons of football under their belt.

Mesut Ozil was one of those talents and since moving to Spanish champions Real Madrid, the young German midfielder has stepped his game up another level completely. Mario Gotze is another player with the potential to create and score a number of goals for his country on the back of a wonderful season with German champions Borussia Dortmund, whilst his teammate Mats Hummels will provide great strength at the back. There is no shortage of fire power either with old heads Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski all set to take part in trying to lead the Germans to a first major trophy since their triumph at the same tournament in 1996.

The Netherlands too are a team that will expect to be there or thereabouts come the conclusion of the prestigious tournament. After the 2010 South African World Cup which the Dutch finished runners up in, the Netherlands will look at this tournament as an opportunity to bring home some silverware.

Bert Van Marwijk, despite taking his side to a World Cup final, is not universally popular in his homeland, where his conservative style is seen as a regression from the days of “Total Football”. It is hard to argue with the manager’s results though, and though his preference for honest, hard working sides, he certainly has his fair share of flare players to choose from. Robin Van Persie, Rafael Van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Klaas Jan Huntelaar are all players capable of brilliance. Therein lies the biggest conundrum heading into the tournament. Will it be a return to “Total Football”, or will conservatism rule? Van Marwijk will most likely ensure that his side is defensively responsible, particulary in such a tight group in which progression is by no means a given, but beyond that, Van Marwijk might just set his best players free.

Denmark are firmly the team given the least hope of progression. This is a side that is sprinkled with quality throughout the squad, particularly in the form of Christian Eriksen, Christian Poulsen and Nicklas Bentdner. It is a side however that lacks the depth in quality boasted by the other three in the group.

If the Danes best players fire, then the unlikely could be possible, but with an average supporting cast at best, it is certainly going to be a massive ask of them to progress from their group. Nothing is really expected of the Danes in that sense, but although they may not progress, they could have a vital say in who does with a side more than capable of punishing anyone who is not at their best on the day.