Euro 2012 Qualifying, Preview: Group A

Given only one World Cup qualifier is in the packet, it would appear Euro 2008 finalists Germany have an easy ride through Group A. In actuality, the group might have qualifying's best set of three teams. Germany is joined by 2008 semifinalists Turkey - now being guided by Guus Hiddink - and a Belgium team that’s expected to be one of the up-and-coming teams in Europe.  Still, Germany should have little problem navigating the group, but between Turkey and Belgium one good team will miss out of Euro 2012.

Germany

FIFA Rank: 4
Elo Rank: 4
Recent Performances: Third place at the 2010 World Cup. Second place at Euro 2008.
Coach: Joachim Low
Captain: Philipp Lahm, until Michael Ballack returns (if that even happens).
Prominent players: Heiko Westermann (Hamburg), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (Köln), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich)
Outlook: They’ll be fine. They might lose at Belgium or Turkey, but they won’t be favored to do so. By the time they conclude qualifying with a Turkey and Belgium week, they could already be in Euro 2012.
Predicted Finish: 1st

Turkey

FIFA Rank: 28
Elo Rank: 19
Recent Performances: Third in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Semifinals of Euro 2008.
Coach: Guus Hiddink
Captain: Emre Belözoğlu
Prominent players: Servet Cetin (Galatasaray), Görkhan Zan (Galatasaray), Hamit Altintop (Bayenr Munich), Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund), Tuncay Sanli (Stoke City), Halil Altintop (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Outlook: After a great Euro 2008, Turkey failed to even make the playoffs in World Cup qualifying. Hiddink was brought-in to right the ship, but he's coming off his own failure to qualify Russia. For many players making-up the team’s core, this could be their last major tournament qualifying cycle before the generation headed by Arda Turan becomes the heart of the squad.
Predicted Finish: 3rd

Austria

FIFA Rank: 68
Elo Rank: 59
Recent Performances: Third in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Eliminated at group stage of Euro 2008.
Coach: Dietmar Constantini
Captain: Marc Janko
Prominent players: Christian Fuchs (Bochum), Paul Scharner, Erwin Hoffer (Kaiserslautern), Roman Wallner (Red Bull Salzburg)
Outlook: Though they’ve made seven World Cups, Austria’s never qualified for a European championship. They played decently in World Cup qualifying, but this group is much tougher. Too tough.
Predicted Finish: 4th

Belgium

FIFA Rank: 48
Elo Rank: 65
Recent Performances: Fourth in UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Did not qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: George Leekens
Captain: Thomas Vermaelen
Prominent players: Jean-Francois Gillet (Bari), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Steven Defour (Standard Liege), Marouane Fellaini (Everton), Eden Hazard (Lille), Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht) Moussa Dembele (Fulham)
Outlook: Sixteen of Belgium’s 25 call-ups are 24 or younger, including the likes of Kompany, Vermaelen and Defour, who have been around long enough to make us forget how young they are. In that way, Belgium’s a mirror image of Turkey, their main competition in this group. While Turkey’s slowly having to phase out parts of its core, Belgium is approaching that precarious point where their young players will be asked to live-up to expectations.
Predicted Finish: 2nd

Kazakhstan

FIFA Rank: 126
Elo Rank: 166
Recent Performances: Fifth in their UEFA qualifying group. Did not qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Bernd Storck
Captain: Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev
Prominent players: None.
Outlook: In ten World Cup qualifiers, Kazakhstan failed to beat any team besides Andorra. Unfortunately, Kazakhstan might be the Andorra of this group.
Predicted Finish: 6th

Azerbaijan

FIFA Rank: 106
Elo Rank: 102
Recent Performances: Fifth in their UEFA qualifying group. Did not qualify for Euro 2008.
Coach: Berti Vogts
Captain: Rashad Sadygov
Prominent players: Besides Sadygov, who plays in Turkey, the only other Azerbaijani who plays abroad is Mahir Shukurov, who plays for recently promoted Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala. Qarabag midfielder Elvin Mammadov may be their most dangerous player.
Outlook: In their last competitive match, Azerbaijan got a draw against Russia. The match was meaningless to the Russians, but still: They got it. Their goal in that match was one of four they scored in World Cup qualifying.
Predicted Finish: 5th