Good football and Germany

SPAIN again? I don't think so.

For Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010, I rooted for the Spaniards, mostly due to my affinity for the football Barcelona play.

And both times, they came out tops. But I don't expect the Spaniards to be third time lucky.

Sure, they are a good side and one of the favourites to lift the European Championship, alongside the Germans.

But I think their good run has to come to an end. Just like Barcelona were toppled, I suspect the Spaniards will suffer a similar fate.

So who will be the new kings of Europe?

For the record, Brian picked Holland, Eric Ding chose the Italians and the ever-controversial Ali Kasim plumped for Portugal.

How about me? Well, I am no pundit but I had a feeling ever since the last World Cup that this will be the year for the Germans.

My faith was shaken a little when Bayern Munich lost to Chelsea in the Champions League final, because I wonder what effect it will have on players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Mario Gomez and Philipp Lahm.

Can they lift themselves from the disappointment of losing the Champions League at home, in front of their own fans?

Or can the young stars of Borussia Dortmund like Mario Goetze and Mats Hummels, who have had a tremendous season of their own by winning the Bundesliga and German Cup titles, be the catalyst for the Germans?

The Dortmund boys will also be aided by Real Madrid's Spanish La Liga winning duo of Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira.

Put all of these players together, with a coach like Joachim Loew who has been with the national side for the last six years, and you understand why the bookies are rating the Germans as co-favourites with Spain.

On that count, I expect the Germans to reach the final, as they have done so often, even in the years when they are written off.