Germany coach Joachim Low and Holland's Bert van Marwijk have both admitted it will be tough to progress to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.
Van Marwijk and Low reflect on tough draw
Germany coach Joachim Low and Holland's Bert van Marwijk have both admitted it will be tough to progress to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals from a group also containing Portugal and Denmark.
The draw for next summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine was held in Kiev on Friday and there was one group that stood out as looking tougher than the rest.
Group B, which will be based in the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Lviv, consists of four nations with European pedigree and Holland chief Van Marwijk says everyone was disappointed.
He told
www.vi.nl: "All the coaches in the group had a photo together and I can say that no one looked happy.
"Actually, it seems a bit like the last World Cup when we started against Denmark. It is important to make a great start. They are three great opponents who we know well. It's a huge challenge."
Van Marwijk, who had hoped his side would be in the Poland-based Group C, added: "I'm especially sorry for the fans, who now have to travel much further.
"For us, it does not even really matter. It's only 15 minutes longer trips, but in the plane."
Strongest
Low is looking forward to an exciting competition but recognises that the draw has not helped Germany's chances of reaching the knockout stages.
Low told his national association's
official website: "I think that this is the hardest, strongest and most balanced group of the tournament.
"The Netherlands and Portugal have world-class players, because we can look forward to interesting duels.
"Denmark is an uncomfortable tournament team. The Danes can always take the role of the underdog and thus compete against all unencumbered and unafraid. This makes them so dangerous."
