Euro 2008 - Mystic Matthaeus: Group A

Eurosport - Sun, 15 Jun 19:14:00 2008

Former Germany captain and Eurosport pundit Lothar Matthaeus gives us his take on the final round of matches in Euro 2008 Group A.

FOOTBALL 2008 Euro 2008 Czech Republic-Portugal. Ronaldo y Galasek - 0

Matthaeus, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990 and the most capped German player of all time, will be giving us his thoughts on every game throughout the three-week long tournament.

And he is certainly well placed to do so - as well as featuring at five World Cups, the former World and European Player of the Year has appeared at four European Championships, winning one, in 1980.

Lothar says: Turkey 1-3 Czech Republic

"The Czechs haven't convinced at this tournament so far. Turkey have done their best up to this point, and you couldn't have expected anything more from them.

But if you compare the Czech players one by one with the Turkish players, the international experience is in favour of the Czechs and therefore they will make it to the next round."

Disciplinary situation: Suspended - none; Misses next match if suspended - Jan Polak (Czech Republic), Mehmet Aurelio, Hakan Balta, Colin Kazim-Richards, Sabri Sarioglu, Tuncay Sanli, Gokhan Zan (all Turkey)

Changes: Czech coach Karel Brueckner may well start with Jan Koller and Milan Baros in attack. That would mean an end to the 4-5-1 formation with midfielder Tomas Galasek missing out.

Coach Fatih Terim is expected to keep faith with the team that started the 2-1 win over Switzerland.

Key stats: Turkey have never beaten Czech Republic, conceding 13 goals in four matches against Sunday's opponents.

If the match ends in a draw a penalty shootout will take place to decide who goes through -- the first time this method has been used to separate teams at the group stage in a European championship.

Lothar says: Switzerland 1-1 Portugal

"Switzerland will get at least one point in their last game, because Portugal will play with some substitutes and Switzerland don't want to leave their home tournament with zero points."

Disciplinary situation: Suspended - none; Misses next match if suspended - Jose Bosingwa (Portugal)

Changes: Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok picked up a slight ankle injury in the defeat by Turkey, Daniel Gygax is his likely replacement.

With Portugal having secured top place in the group, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to rotate the squad. Seven changes are likely -- two in the back four, four in midfield and Hugo Almeida partnering captain Nuno Gomes in attack.

Key stats: Switzerland's last victory against Portugal came 26 years ago in a friendly in Lugano. Their last competitive victory over Portugal was a 2-0 win in a World Cup qualifier in 1969.

Switzerland's Johan Vonlanthen is the youngest scorer at a European Championship finals. He was 18 years 140 days old when he found the net in the 3-1 defeat by France on 21 June 2004.

Follow live text commentary on the games right here on eurosport.yahoo.com at 19:45 BST on Sunday!

Eurosport

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  1. MATTHAEUS!!! QUIT BEFORE YOU EMBARRASS YOURSELF ANY FURTHER

    From devil_88, on Mon 23 Jun 1:21PM

  2. Go Lothar Go! What great predictions they are :)))) this guy gonna lose all his wealth on betting :)))))))

    From elgun1903, on Tue 17 Jun 10:24PM

  3. he guessed only romania-italy 1-1... as far as i know

    From Constantin M, on Sun 15 Jun 5:16PM

  4. I wonder how much is Lothar getting for this gig, my Czech grandma would predict better. Let him have another cocoa and watch the German team playing to a tie with Austria.

    From Gerald C, on Sun 15 Jun 2:55PM

  5. The Czechs aren't that good, and Portugal's squad aren't that bad. I say 2-1 to the Czechs and the Potuguese.

    From The Undertaker (RIP), on Sun 15 Jun 2:55PM

  6. Lothar Matthaus, wonder y he cannot succeed in coaching. Last time, used to be the manager on the pitch, his father, the caretaker of the puma manufacturing plant in nuremberg n he likes puma a lot. His fiery comments to his team mates, playing so well last time, blasting at klinsmann...still wonder y he cannot succeed in coaching

    From shokaku12, on Sun 15 Jun 2:42PM

  7. the brilliantly stupid matthaeus is gonna screw the results again; this guy really doesn't know SHET about predictions

    From Dinu B, on Sun 15 Jun 2:02PM

  8. It was really nice Euro cup.I really enjoy so i love Portugal team.Portugal will be winner this euro.I show group stage mach Euro cup holder,Euro cup hoste they has already gone home also World cup holder will be gone home.after Germany&France both of team i think they will be gone.That's way this euro was really fentastic,romantic&mindblowing.Portugal,Spain,Nedarland,Cr otia,Romania they were really nice&lovely playing group of stage.I hope they will be nice play also quter final (nockout) round.Ronaldo was good player may be one of the best player in European football also world football.He was proved play from Manchester united club like{English premier league winner,champions league winner}other event.Thnks.

    From rupesh r, on Sun 15 Jun 1:10PM

  9. Matthaeus was a good player and maybe one of the best players in European football but in the predictions he isn't good,specialy when it come to Turkey!

    From ezzdx, on Sun 15 Jun 11:42AM

  10. Sorry! I clarify. I meant that group sections are on the last game for each team.

    From galbraith.andy, on Sun 15 Jun 11:08AM

  11. another 2 predictions that will be wrong...

    From beyondvision8, on Sun 15 Jun 11:02AM

  12. Now that the group stages are complete, is anyone able to supply statistics on the "Mistake Matthaeus" success rate over the last 8 days, both in terms of scorelines and results? Pretty poor I would imagine. Out of 16 scorelines maybe one or two correct? Of the actual outcomes did he get more than half right? Hardly "expert" material. You were a great footballer Matt! Leave the predictions to the guys in the pub!!!!

    From galbraith.andy, on Sun 15 Jun 10:56AM

  13. @#$% Chezh R. Go Tukey!!:D

    From rbatayev, on Sun 15 Jun 12:07AM

  14. Lother always predicts (wrongly) that Portugal will not win the game. Well, so far, they have just won games. Let's just hope they carry on doing so and win over "his" Germany too!!!

    From macedo_11, on Sun 15 Jun 12:04AM

  15. You continue asking Lothar to be a fortuneteller.But as I told before he was a very good player but he is a very bad commentator.

    From cetintas, on Sat 14 Jun 11:05PM
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