Group B: England has to be careful !

The group B of UEFA Euro 2016 is composed by England, Russia, Slovakia and Wales. Surprisingly, within this group, only Russia won the competition in 1960 (Soviet Union). England, always present on big competitions, is looking for its first trophee. Slovakia and Wales are participating at this European Championship for the first time.




- England

Will the Three Lions win the Euro 2016, 50 years after their last win in  an international competition in 1966 ? Two years after their elimination from the group stage during the Brazilian World Cup, the English arrive in France with a morale boosted by their perfect preparation (10 wins in 10 games). To win the Championship, England will use the talent of its youth (Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley) and its exemplary captain Wayne Rooney (top scorer of history of the selection with 51 achievements, including 7 in the playoffs).

Quick facts:

9th participation in the Euro
Best result in the Euro: Semi-finals (1968, 1996)
Coach: Roy Hodgson
Playoff Record: #1, Group E.

- Russia

Regularly qualified for the Euro, Russia meets difficulties during the group stage. The 24th nation in the Fifa rankings ended up shot after Leonid Slutski replaced Fabio Capello. If he will have difficulty to compete with Oleh Blokhin (42 goals with the USSR), Artem Dzyuba (27) is in the form of his life. Supporters of Olympique Lyonnais (France) can attest. Zenit striker scored 8 goals in 8 games in the playoffs. In an experienced selection, Alan Dzagoev (25) makes it almost part of young people. Billed as a future crack debuting selection at 18, CSKA midfielder reaches the age of maturity. In 2012, he finished top scorer in the Euro 3 goals tied with Mario Gomez and Fernando Torres. An impressive performance, even if Russia was eliminated in the first round. Russia hopes this time to cross the group stage before, why not, to repeat the performance of 2008.

Quick facts:

11th participation in the Euro
Best result in the Euro: Semifinals (2008)
Coach: Leonid Slutski
Playoff Record: #2, Group G

- Slovakia

Accustomed to regularly miss the finals of major tournaments since independence in 1993 (excluding the 2010 World Cup), Slovakia will participate in its first Euro next summer. Thanks to a flying start in Group C qualifiers (Spain, Ukraine, Belarus, Luxembourg, Macedonia) with 6 straight wins including a sensational in October 2014 against Spain, thus ending a series of 36 games without defeat Roja in the 8 years of qualifying for Euro and world Cup! Led by captain of Napoli, Marek Hamšík, Slovakia will try to play spoilsport in France. As in 2010 during the World Cup in South Africa where Vladimír Weiss team had created the surprise by eliminating Italy in the group stage before breaking during 8th finals against the Netherlands (2-1).

Quick facts: 

1st participation in Euro
Coach: Ján Kozák
Playoff Record: #2, Group C

- Wales

Nearly 60 years since Wales expecting that. For the first time since the World Cup in 1958, the Welsh will take part in the finals of a major tournament. Where Ian Rush or Ryan Giggs failed in recent years, Gareth Bale excelled. Aaron Ramsey, the other star of the team, and his partners finished just behind Belgium, first of Group B. The team is not really spectacular (11 goals in 10 games) but secured (4 goals conceded). Wales, 17th nation according to Fifa rankings, has assets to bring to this first participation in a European Championship.

Quick facts: 

1st participation in Euro
Coach: Chris Coleman
Playoff Record: #2, Group B


Our pronostics:

1: England
2: Russia
3: Slovakia
4: Wales