EURO 2016 - PREVIEW (Groups A to C)

The biggest football event of the year kicks off next Friday as 24 European nations will come together in France for the 2016 European Football Championships.  Over the coming weeks, Direct Soccer will be previewing the teams that are taking part, the stadiums the matches will be played in, and key games so you won’t miss a thing from the very first whistle next Friday when France take on Romania to the final on July 10^th.

For the first time in European Championship history, 24 teams will take part in the main finals themselves, an increase of 8 countries from 16 which has been the format since the Championships took place in England during a memorable summer of 1996.  With 6 groups of 4 teams battling it out, it will mean the top 2 sides from each group will qualify for a new Round of 16, where they will be joined by the 4 best 3^rd placed teams.  This scenario used to happen in the World Cup between 1982 and 1994 but it is a complicated method to determine which sides will advance from the group stage.

Kicking off our Euro 2016 series of blogs, we look at groups A to C and what players to look out for, as well as the key fixture in each group.

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GROUP A

FRANCE

Capital City – Paris  -  Kit Colour  -  Blue  -  Kit Manufacturer – Nike  -  European Championship Best Performance – Winners in 1984 and 2000  -  Manager – Didier Deschamps

The host nation is one of the favourites to lift the Henri Delauney Trophy and have a strong and youthful squad to pick from.  Hugo Lloris is the man charged with keeping the ball out of the France net while the experience of Patrice Evra and Laurent Koscielny will be vital in defence.  Led by star player Paul Pogba in midfield, France have an exciting attacking side and will look to the likes of Antoine Greizmann and Anthony Martial to fire Les Bleus to Euro 2016 glory!

ROMANIA

Capital City – Bucharest  -  Kit Colour  -  Yellow  -  Kit Manufacturer – Joma – European Championship Best Performance – Quarter Finals 2000  -  Manager – Anghel Iordanescu

The Romanians no longer have the likes of superstars Gheorghe Hagi and Adrian Mutu to call upon so instead rely on a strong team ethic which helped them qualify for the finals as Group F runners-up.  Names that will be familiar to British fans will be goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon of Watford and former Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches.  Romania’s main threat up front is Ciprian Marica who has scored for his country 25 times.

ALBANIA

Capital City – Tirana  -  Kit Colour – Red  -  Kit Manufacturer – Macron  -  European Championship Best Performance – 1^st Appearance  -  Manager – Gianni De Biasi

Shock troops Albania reached Euro 2016 for the first time in their history as runners-up in Group I qualification.  A team that will be unfancied by everyone (that didn’t stop Greece winning Euro 2004 though) will need to rely on their discipline to get out of Group A.  A lot of the Albanians are based in Italy, including goalkeeper Etrit Berisha who plys his trade for Serie A side Lazio.

SWITZERLAND

Capital City – Bern  -  Kit Colour – Red  -  Kit Manufacturer – Puma  -  European Championship Best Performance – Group Stages 1996, 2004, 2008  -  Manager – Vladimir Petkovic

Seen by many as the biggest threat to France in Group A, Switzerland will be hoping to get out of the groups for the 1^st time in their European Championship finals history.  Runners-up to England in qualifying, Switzerland have a young fast squad blessed with talents like Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner, Stoke’s tricky midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri and new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka.

KEY MATCH

Romania v Switzerland – June 15^th, Paris

With France likely to win all 3 of their group games, the key match will be between Romania and Switzerland as the runners-up of Group A will likely come out of this match and automatically advance to the last 16.  We think Switzerland will be the side celebrating come the full-time whistle in this match.

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GROUP B

ENGLAND

Capital City – London  -  Kit Colour – White  -  Kit Manufacturer – Nike  -  European Championship Best Performance – Semi Finals in 1996  -  Manager – Roy Hodgson

The golden generation is no more, now it is the time for England’s next wave to make their mark.  The youngest squad at Euro 2016, England will be fancied to win Group B and reach at least the Quarter Finals.  There is still question marks over England’s best 11 and best formation just a week before the first game while it will likely be a last minute decision over who plays up front for the Three Lions as Hodgson has an array of talent to pick from including the mercurial Wayne Rooney and hot-shot duo Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane.

RUSSIA

Capital City – Moscow  - Kit Colour – Maroon  -  Kit Manufacturer – Adidas  -  European Championship Best Performance – Semi Finals in 2008  -  Manager – Leonid Slutski

One of the most experienced squads in the competition, many of the Russians may see these finals as their last shot at glory in their country’s colours.  Runners-up in Group G qualifying behind Austria, Russia will pose a big threat to England and Wales’ ambitions of getting out of the group.   Defender Roman Neustadter is the only player in the squad that does not play his domestic football in Russia, meaning there is no place in the squad for the talented Denis Cheryshev or top scorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

[caption id="attachment_1291" align="alignleft" width="150"] The France midfielder will be the key man for the host nation as they seek to lift the Henri Delauney Trophy on home soil.  Pogba currently plays for Juventus but is likely to be the subject of a big money move back to England with Manchester his likely destination.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1290" align="alignleft" width="299"] The Real Madrid and Wales attacker is the key man for Wales and will look to lead his side through the group stages and deep into the competition.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1287" align="alignleft" width="150"] Unknown outside of Manchester back in January, Marcus Rashford's rise to fame has seen him score key goals for United and a memorable volley on his England debut in a recent friendly.  Will the 18 year old feature during Euro 2016 for the 3 Lions?[/caption]

                               

WALES

Capital City – Cardiff  - Kit Colour – Red  -  Kit Manufacturer – Adidas  -  European Championship Best Performance – Quarter Finals in 1976  -  Manager – Chris Coleman

After many years of disappointment and the likes of Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Ian Rush never playing in a major championship, Wales finally achieved the seemingly impossible and qualified for the European Championships by finishing as runners-up in group B to Belgium.  Wales’ star man is Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale who led his country from the front, scoring many vital goals – he has 19 for Wales so far in his career, just 9 behind the legendary Ian Rush.  The Welsh aren’t a one-man team though, and Bale is backed up by the likes of Arsenal’s midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Liverpool’s Joe Allen, the Welsh Pirlo!

SLOVAKIA

Capital City – Bratislava  -  Kit Colour – White  -  Kit Manufacturer – Puma  -  European Championship Best Performance – 1^st Appearance  -  Manager  - Jan Kozak

The Slovakians will be the dark horses in Group B, and will hope to emulate their efforts at the 2010 World Cup when they reached the knock-out stages.  Star man for Slovakia is Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik while at the back they are led by Liverpool stopper Martin Skrtel.  Slovakia scored a famous victory over reigning champions Spain during qualification for Euro 2016 so will hope to cause more shocks this summer.

KEY MATCH

England v Wales – June 16^th, Lens

Home interest will be huge in this game between two of the Home Nations, with both hoping to score bragging rights over their opponent and make a huge stride towards qualifying for the next stage.  Wales will likely play a counter-attacking style against a stronger England side and hope that Gareth Bale can lead them to victory.  A close game awaits, but we think England will just edge an exciting match in the battle for 1^st place in Group B.

 

GROUP C

GERMANY

Capital City – Berlin  -  Kit Colour – White  -  Kit Manufacturer – Adidas  -  European Championship Best Performance – Winners in 1972, 1980 and 1996  -  Manager – Joachim Low

World Champions Germany will hope to emulate Spain and become the latest side to hold both the World Cup and European Championships, and with a strong squad assembled for the finals, they will be heavy favourites with a lot of people to do so.  Featuring arguably the best goalkeeper on the planet in Manuel Neuer, Germany have a talented side from front to back with the likes of Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels in defence, Mario Gotze, Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos in midfield, and the deadly shooting skills of Thomas Muller up front.  The Germans should breeze through their group as comfortable winners.

UKRAINE

Capital City – Kiev  -  Kit Colour – Yellow  -  Kit Manufacturer – Adidas  - European Championship Best Performance – Group Stage in 2012  -  Manager – Mykhailo Fomenko

The Ukrainians needed a playoff victory over Slovenia to make Euro 2016, and won’t likely be seen as a threat in the actual finals themselves.  Star player for Ukraine is Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko.

POLAND

Capital City – Warsaw  - Kit Colour – White  -  Kit Manufacturer – Nike  -  European Championship Best Performance – Group Stage in 2008 and 2012  -  Manager – Adam Nawatka

Led by top striker Robert Lewandowski, the Poles will be favourites to join Germany in the last 16 as their collective experience should be too strong for Ukraine and Northern Ireland.  Goalkeepers Artur Boruc and Lukasz Fabianski play in the Premier League for Bournemouth and Swansea respectively, while keep an eye on 19 year old Bartosz Kapustka and Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milak, two stars of the future in European football.

[caption id="attachment_1289" align="alignleft" width="231"] The Germany hitman leads the line for the World Champions and will be a key member of one of the pre-tournament favourites.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1313" align="alignleft" width="150"] The Beau Jeu - the official match football for Euro 2016, made by adidas. This thermo-bonded FIFA Pro football will be used all the way up to the Final at Euro 2016. You can win this very ball by entering our great competition on our Direct Soccer Facebook page.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1286" align="alignleft" width="248"] Another member of the Bayern Munich side to feature at Euro 2016, Lewandowski's goals propelled Poland to the finals and they will look to him to lead the charge again.[/caption]

                               

NORTHERN IRELAND

Capital City – Belfast  -  Kit Colour – Green  -  Kit Manufacturer – Adidas  -  European Championship Best Performance – 1^st Appearance  -  Manager – Michael O’Neill

An historic qualifying campaign saw Northern Ireland win Group F and reach the Euro Finals for the first time.  Northern Ireland will call upon the experienced heads of Roy Carroll, Jonny Evans, Aaron Hughes and Steven Davis to guide their young talents like Paddy McNair and Josh Magennis through the group games while the attack will be led by Kyle Lafferty and Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn.  Expect Will Grigg to feature heavily when Northern Ireland are profiled after the Wigan striker recently became the subject of a catchy reworking of a 90’s dance tune!

KEY MATCH

Ukraine v Northern Ireland – June 16^th, Lyon

With Germany likely to win the group and Poland to finish runners-up, the key clash will pit Ukraine against Northern Ireland to see who will finish 3^rd and hopefully take one of the 4 spots in the knockout stages for being a best 3^rd place team.  With this at stake, expect a close nailbiter which Northern Ireland will nick by a single goal.

COMING NEXT WEEK – PREVIEW OF GROUPS D TO F