Probably, I'm sure is the word most people would utter should they be asked to predict the winners of this summers European footballing championship. And who's to say that they can't cap an incredible 4 years of international football dominance by retaining this trophy.
What with the likes of Xavi, Ramos and Silva gliding around the pitch with intent to inspire awe and victory it's hard not to cave in and accept them as all-mighty once again. But, there are a few other nations who may have something else to say about that.
The Dutch team who came so close to World cup glory themselves two summers ago, will be looking to the likes of Robben and van Persie to lead them to the prize, head-scratchingly for only the 2nd time in their history.
As the cliché goes – 'Never underestimate the Germans' (or something like that anyway) as it is always foolish to do so seeing as that warning rarely fails to be a false claim. We all remember the cruel but incredible tearing apart of England in the last World cup, a game in which Joachim Löw's young side introduced themselves as the next generation of German footballing power houses. With top class experience in the shape of Captain Philip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger and youthful talent like Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller they can count themselves well among the favourites.
Those three nations, the Dutch, Spanish and Germans are in many peoples minds the top three teams who have the most likely chance of emerging as victors at the Euros and one could gush on until the lights of time switch off forever, about the individual talent that those nations possess. But what of the 'lesser' nations taking part in this summer's tournament and their respective star names, even perhaps their rising star players?
I've hand picked a few who have the potential to get commentators tongues wagging and journalists ink flowing.
There is shaky news about the Italians not taking part in this tournament, due to the hideous corruption scandal around match-fixing that is once again engulfing the nation. However, as a football fan first and foremost I hope they do take part as they possess one of the most intriguing and extreme young talents in the modern game; everyone’s favourite new pantomime baddie Mario Balotelli. You feel if he is in the right frame of mind and the team can supply him with the chances, they're probably worth a good outside bet.
Along with Balotelli, Russia’s Pavel Mamaev could be one to catch the eye. Though the Russian midfield is blessed with very good players, there is every chance he could bundle his way into contention. He is versatile in that he can operate as a defensive midfielder or a play-maker, but has been used to good effect as a wide player at his parent club CSKA Moscow. Intelligent on the ball too is this 22 year old, with eyes like an eagle to spot the perfect pass- he has supreme technical ability to boot.
Stability is craved desperately in Greece right now and although he won't be able to have any effect on the crumbling economy, Kyriakos Papadopoulos can provide a rock-solidness to the country’s footballing defensive unit.
Only 20 he has the ability to become one of the worlds best centre-halfs, he possesses a Vidic-like presence on the pitch and has cemented himself in the back four of his domestic club FC Schalke. As Greece's youngest ever representative at 15 years and 283 days old, this player has a long and potentially glittering career ahead of him.
Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko has already got tongues wagging in the footballing world, not least because he has been personally recommended to AC Milan by the one and only Andriy Shevchenko. Another versatile midfielder, capable of playing down the left or through the middle, his goals have seen him propelled into the spotlight in his home country and he is already being talked about as being the nations 'great hope' in their quest for home-turf glory.
Denmark have always been blessed with talented players over the years, the Laudrups to name but two, but keep an eye on Christian Eriksen. Of course we already know something of this 20 year old attacking midfielder, he was rejected by Chelsea a few years back for being too weak for the rigours of the Premiership, but he has since flourished within his current club, Ajax. He's quick, clever and creative and comes with a stamp of approval from Dennis Bergkamp and who can say fairer than that?!
“What about Les Blues?” I hear thee cry! Surely they must have some diamond in the rough, ready to be unearthed and presented glitteringly in front of our eager eyes.
Well as a matter of fact they do. It may be a shame that Gourcuff will not be gracing the tournament but the silver lining may well be that 24 year old Marvin Martin, who's name sounds like a frontman for a 1960's garage rock band, has got the opportunity to shine now.
Quite how he is still playing in the French top division and not been snaffled up by one of the European giants is either a mystery or a credit to football. He plays in the middle and much like Paul Scholes, keeps things ticking over patiently before he releases his intelligent passes around the pitch. The possibility of him replacing Scholes at Manchester Utd is not beyond comprehension.
Knowing the way football can go, all of those players so far mentioned could fail to ignite the green pitches of Poland and Ukraine and others may hold the burning torches instead but that’s the beauty of these tournaments.
The unearthing of great young players, the very idea that at some point we are witnessing the world wide discovery of the new masters of the footballing universe. Of course it is also the time when players worth, as well as their profiles, become inflated and I wonder just who is going to break through the ranks and add a cool £20 million or so to their price tag.
Watch this space.