Recommeded readings: Are Poland and Russia going to dominate Group A?

Hosts Poland and EURO'2008 semifinalists Russia are no doubt favourites to qualify from Group A (matches in Warsaw and Wroclaw). Here are two previews that analyse their chances in detail:

Former Man Utd striker Andrei Kanchelskis makes a preview of Russia ahead of EURO'2012. He acknowledges the team isn't "quite as free-flowing and energetic as that of Euro 2008 and the form of the talismanic Andrey Arshavin is a concern". However, Kanchelskis point out Alexander Kerzhakov's "great season" and concludes that "a place in the last eight is perfectly achievable for Russia", something I would agree with …

Kanchelskis's preview for betfair: http://betting.betfair.com/football/euro-2012/group-a/russia/euro-2012-expert-team-guide-russia-by-290512-497.html

A rather neutral analysis by Dave Farrar on Poland's chances under the title "Are Poland being overrated just because they're the host nation?". Farrar makes some valid arguments about the fair price for Poland qualifying from Group A and reminds us that betting is, above all, about getting the right price …

Farrar's analysis on Poland: http://betting.betfair.com/football/euro-2012/euro-2012-betting-are-poland-being-overated-just-because-theyre-the-host-nation-260412-195.html

Russia's squad: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/teams/team=57451/squad/index.html

Poland's squad: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/teams/team=109/squad/index.html