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Battle begins today

AFP, Geneva
The phoney war is over and now the real one begins as the 16 Euro 2008 finalists can get down to the real business of who is the fairest or rather
the best of them all in footballing terms on their continent.
The usual suspects such as world champions Italy, 2006 World Cup finalists France, three-time champions Germany and perennial contenders Spain and The Netherlands go into the championships as favourites -- but in truth they appear to be wide open
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes the world champions arc justified favourites at Euro
2008, though, the blow of losing inspirational captain Fabio Cannavaro earlier in the week could prove to be a decisive blow in stopping them from emulating France in adding the European crown to the world one that the French managed in 1998 and 2000.
Italy are in Group C, the group of death, with the team they beat in the final in Berlin in 2006. France, the Netherlands and Romania.
"It's hard, but that’s also because we're in the group. We're calm, and we respect our rivals -- the Dutch and the French of course but also Romania who have strong players like (Adrian) Mutu," said Buffon, who plays with Mutu at Juventus.
"In some respects the Euro is harder than the World Cup."
Spain look to have their strongest squad for many a year but unimpressive performances
against Peru and the United States may be the precursor for another letdown as they seek to add to their sole senior title, the European championships back in 1964.
However, their idiosyncratic coach Luis Aragones may be their biggest drawback and his ditching of star striker Raul was made to look even weirder when the Real Madrid icon was named Spanish player of the year by his peers.
If Aragones is the 'Wise Man of Hortoleza' then his French counterpart Raymond Domenech would be more at home in ancient Egypt playing the role of a sphinx --such is his deadpan expression whenever making an announcement or answering a question.
However, he was rather more upbeat than usual after the French had rounded off their three warm-u p matches against South
American opposition having won two and drawn one.
"I am optimistic that we can do something special at Euro." said Domenech, who defied the critics to guide France to the 2006 World Cup final.
"It is going to be hard for me to choose my starting line-up for the opening match against Romania on Monday..but then I don't mind sleepless nights on that son of matter, it is only when I can't sleep because of the injuries that I really getupset."
However, there is one major injury headache for Domenech and that is in the shape of his formidable captain Patrick Vieira, who suffered a thigh injury last week and while he trained with die team on Thursday a final decision as to whether the 1998 World Cup and
Euro 2000 winner stays will be taken on Sunday, the day before the Romanian clash.
Germany coach Joachim Loew is convinced that the Germans can at least break their winless streak in terms of matches at the finals which dates back to when they won their last title in 1996 — starting with beating old rivals Poland on Sunday.
"We have made progress since 2004 in all aspects of our game in terms of tactics, fitness and organisation," said Loew reflecting on the difference between Germany's class of Euro 2004 and 2008.
"If we go flat out on Sunday and are physical we will win th e ga me."
But while Germany are favourites to win what Loew described as "the toughest tournament on earth", the German coach insists sides such as France and Italy, as well as Portugal, Spain or even I Russia are also threats.
"There is no such thing as a clear-cut favourite, because there are so many unusual factors which
you just can't plan for,” said Loew.
The Dutch as usual go into the championships loaded with offensive talent -- sadly the same cannot be said of their defence and even more importantly a lackof top class defensive midfielders.
As is also traditional with the Dutch there has also been the schisms that has led to Marc van Bommel and Clarence Seedorf both refusing to play, though, for the neutral it will be no loss not to have the former there, as his displays during the 2006 World Cup did little to enhance the image of the game.
The team that perhaps embodies the old style of Dutch football as in terms of 'Total football' are the 2004 semifinalists the Czech Republic, whose veteran 68-year-old coach Karel Bruckner believes are as strong as the 2004 squad even with the retirements of Karel Poborsky and Pavel Nedved and the absence through injury of playmaker and captain Tomas Rosicky.
The Czechs have their first
challenge against co-hosts Switzerland on Saturday and could well show that the Swiss and their fellow hosts Austria are the weakest countries ever to host the championships -- but while one can discount those two that does not make it any easier to pick who the overall winner will be.