Group A + B

Group A and B have just concluded their first round of play and already a clear pattern is being drawn. The favourites have won each match so far with a clean sheet. The underdogs have performed admirably but a lack of quality has proved to be their downfall. However there has been one outstanding match and two rather dismal performances.

The curtain raiser between the Czechs and the Swiss was not pretty to watch. Quality was alarmingly absent from play for large periods of time. Only in the second half did the Swiss create some clear cut chances but their profligacy in front of goal ultimately cost them the match. Portugal vs Turkey was a much better affair and despite the resilience of the Turks, Portugal's class shone through at the end. Deco and Ronaldo looked lively and were involved in Portugal's best moves. Nuno Gomes was rather unlucky not to have scored twice, in a game where Portugal were denied by the frame of the goal thrice.

Austria vs Croatia was another match lacking quality. Austria managed to dominate the favourites in spells and were left ruing how they did not manage to get at least a point from the encounter. However, it does give them hope for the coming matches against Poland and Germany. Thousands of Austrians had signed a petition requesting that their team withdraw from Euro 08 so as not to embarrass themselves. Based on last night's performance, there is a sense of optimism within Austria now. Germany vs Poland has been the outstanding match of the Euros so far. The Germans were rewarded for their performance with a convincing win and it could have been more had Mario Gomez put away Miroslav Klose's unselfish pass. Poland did match Germany at times and had a few decent chances fashioned by their neat passing moves but two smart finishes from Lukas Podolski proved to be the difference. His second goal was a combination of quick thinking and deadly finishing, Klose's badly miscued shot expertly volleyed home.

The favourites have made their mark early and it looks like being a straightforward qualification process for them in Group A and B. Hopefully, Group C and D can provide a bit more uncertainty than that.