Yet more attacking Euro 2012 squads announced

This week, we’ve already covered two other decidedly attacker-heavy, in terms of quality, squad announcements from Germany and Holland and, carrying on theme among many of the favourites for the tournament, France and Portugal have similarly shown where their qualities lie.

Starting with Portgual, who have named seven (yes, seven) forwards in their squad ranging from the imposing (Cristiano Ronaldo), the evergreen (Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga) to the just wingers really (Nani and Ricardo Quaresma). With the presence of Almeida and Postiga present, it’s something of a wonder room wasn’t made for Nuno Gomes but there we go.

With midfielders in the form of Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho backing up a presumed front three of Ronaldo, Nani and Quaresma, defences in the Group of Death (Portugal, Germany, Holland and Denmark) could be in for a chastening experience at the hands of not just that Portuguese attack but that of the German and Dutch too. It might as well be renamed the Group of Death By Goal Difference.

Meanwhile, after avoiding some unfortunate humiliation in Iceland earlier in the week, French manager Laurent Blanc has trimmed down his squad to the regulation 23 by omitting one-time ‘next big thing’ Yoann Gourcuff and defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, a reported Arsenal target.

Competition was rather fierce in the French squad for attacking berths what with Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Benzema, Oliver Giroud, Franck Ribery, Jeremy Menez, Yohann Cabaye, Flourent Malouda and Samir Nasri also in contention with Gourcuff for the role of “easy on the eye but a bit frail French striker/attacking midfielder”.

Meanwhile, Blanc might be targeting a good old-fashioned “we’re score one more than you...FRAAANCE!” approach as any defence likely containing an out of form Patrice Evra, slightly flawed defenders at the top level in Gael Clichy and Laurent Koscielny and an aging Phillipe Mexes may not be entirely reliable.

Still, speculation and judging is easy and boring but it’s still two weeks until it starts so it will have to make do.

The Portugal squad in full;

Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Benfica), Rui Patrício (Sporting), Beto (CFR Cluj).

Defenders: João Pereira (Sporting), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Zenit St Petersburg), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Miguel Lopes (Braga).

Midfielders: Raúl Meireles (Chelsea), Miguel Veloso (Genoa), João Moutinho (Porto), Rúben Micael (Real Zaragoza), Hugo Viana (Braga), Custódio (Braga).

Forwards: Nani (Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Silvestre Varela (Porto), Hélder Postiga (Real Zaragoza), Nélson Oliveira (Benfica)

The French squad in full;

Goalkeepers: Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).

Defenders: Gaël Clichy (Manchester City), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Anthony Réveillère (Lyon).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St-Germain), Yann M'vila (Rennes), Samir Nasri (Manchester City).

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jérémy Ménez (Paris St-Germain), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

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