UEFA Euro 2016 - Group C: Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Northern Ireland

Germany: the current world champion tries to win the UEFA Euro for the fourth time.

Quick facts:

• Appearances: 12 - leading all teams
• Championships: 1972, 1980, 1996 - tied for most
• Runners-up: 1976, 1992, 2008 - tied for most
• FIFA-ranking: 5th

After the dissappointing final loss to Spain in 2008 and loss to Italy in the 2012 Semi-finals Germany bounced back in 2014 and won the FIFA World Cup 2014. They are now focused on the UEFA Euro once again and want to make it their fourth championship overall, after they won the competition last in 1996.

Coach: Joachim Löw  (since 2006, assistant-coach from 2004-2006)

Current squad:

• Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer / Bernd Leno / Marc-André ter Stegen / Kevin Trapp
• Full-backs: Mats Hummels / Shkodran Mustafi / Matthias Ginter / Jonathan Tah / Antonia Rüdiger / Jonas Hector
• Midfielders: Emre Can / Christoph Kramer / Sebastian Rudy / Toni Kroos / Sami Khedira / Mesut Özil / Mario Götze / Julian Draxler
• Strikers: Marco Reus / André Schürrle / Karim Bellarabi / Lukas Podolski / Thomas Müller / Kevin Volland / Mario Gomez

Players to watch during the tournament:

• Manuel Neuer: Arguably the best goalkeeer in the world, it will be interesting to see whether he plays as spectacular as he did during the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil (e.g. against Algeria)
• Sebastian Schweinsteiger: After his move from Bayern Munich to Manchester United the long-term national player is out of form and it will be interesting to see whether he can bounce back.
• Mats Hummels: After he announced his desire to leave Borussia Dortmund he will most likely be paired with his future teammate Jerome Boateng. 
• Mario Götze: He scored the winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 final but has disappointed in his team Bayern Munich ever since he moved there in 2013. Can he once against show the best at an important tournament?
• Thomas Müller: The best striker on the German team. Can he show it again during the UEFA Euro?
• Marco Reus: Having been in the form of his life he got injured during the last test before the FIFA World Cup started in 2014 and thus still waits for the fist title of his career. 

Prognosis: Germany is the big favorite in group C and will most likely make it to the next stage. From there on they will face fierce competition, but they are among the favorites to win the championship.


 
Ukraine: the first-time qualificant eyes the Quarter-finals.

Quick facts:

• Appearances: 2
• Championships: none
• Runners-up: nonce
• FIFA-ranking: 22nd

Ukraine co-hosted the last European Championship together with its group C opponent Poland, which marked the country's first participation in the tournament since it became independent from the Soviet Union in 1992. Despite a win in its opening game against Sweden the group stage marked the end for their outsider hopes. This year, they try to improve upon their previous participation and are eager to make it to the next round.

Coach: Mykhaylo Fomenko (since 2012)

Current squad:

• Goalkeepers:Andriy Pyatov / Denys Boyko / Mykyta Shevchenko
• Full-backs: Evgen Kchacheridi / Oleksandr Kucher / Evgen Selin / Artem Putivtsev / Mykyta Kamenyuka / Vyacheslav Shevchuk / Artem Fedetsky
• Midfielders:Taras Stepanenko / Maksym Malyshev / Anatoliy Tymoshuck / Denys Garmash / Sergiy Sydorchuk / Ruslan Rotan / Oleksandr Karavaev / Ivan Petryak / Viktor Kovalenko / Oleg Gusev
• Strikers: Andriy Yarmolenko / Artem Kravets / Roman Zozulya / Pylyp Budkivsky

Players to watch during the tournament:

•  Anatoliy Tymoshuck: The captain and former Bayern Munich player is already 37 years old and the UEFA Euro 2016 will most likely be his last tournament. Can he lead the team with his experience to the Quarter-finals and potentially further?
• Andriy Yarmolenko: THE superstar in the team. There are fewer players in the world which are heavier chased than the Ukrainian striker. Can he show potential new clubs why he is one of the hottest names on the market?
• Viktor Kovalenko: the youngster in the team. He just turned 20 in February but made already two appearances in the national team and 40 for its club Shakhtar Donetzk. He could turn out to be one of the most positive surprises of the tournament.  

Prognosis: Ukraine's chances to make it to the Quarter-finals are 50:50, but anything more would be a big surprise.



Poland: the national teams breakthrough year?

Quick facts:

• Appearances:3
• Championships: none
• Runners-up: none
• FIFA-ranking: 27th

Poland qualified for a European Chapionship in 2008 for the first time, just to finish the group - which included Germany - last with only one duce against the host Austria. Four years later the country expected big things from their national team as they co-hosted the UEFA Euro 2012 with the Ukraine, just to be disappointed with a last place in the group stage again. This year, however, they are grown as a team and are the favorite to finish the group as the second team.

Coach: Adam Nawalka (since 2013)

Current squad:

• Goalkeepers:Wojciech Szczesny / Luksz Fabianski / Przemyslaw Tyton / Artur Boruc
• Full-backs: Kamil Glik / Michal Pazdan / Bartosz Salamon / Igor Lewczuk / Jakub Wawrzyniak / Lukasz Piszczek / Artur Jedrzejczyk
• Midfielders: Grzegorz Krychowiak / Tomasz Jodlowiec / Ariel Borysiuk / Piotr Zielinski / Karol Linetty / Filip Starzynski / Maciej Rybus / Bartosz Kapustka / Jakub Blaszczykowski / Kamil Grosicki / Pawel Wszolek
• Strikers: Robert Lewandowski / Arkadiusz Milik / Lukasz Teodorczyk

Players to watch during the tournament:

• Lukasz Piszczek: The outside defender is playing a strong season for Borussia Dortmund under its new head coach Thomas Tuchel. It will be interesting to watch whether he can translate his form to the national team.
• Piotr Zielinski: The 21 old midfielder has already made 13 appearances for Poland, and scored three times. He currently plays for FC Empoli where he played 33 games during the season but is already being linked to Europes greatest clubs.
• Jakub Blaszczykowski: The former captain moved to Fiorence at the beginning of the season and had a disappointing campaign. If he finds his form, however, he can be a difference maker.
• Robert Lewandowski: The Bayern Munich superstar is one of the best strikers in the world - if not the best. He will make life difficult for every opposing defence.

Prognosis: Chances are good that Poland will make it past the group stage for the first time in history. How far they will get in the tournament is to be seen but will probably depend on one player - Robert Lewandowski.




Northern Ireland: The newcomer with(out) outsider chances?

Quick facts:

• Appearances: 1
• Championships: none
• Runners-up: none
• FIFA-ranking: 26th

Its Northern Ireland's first appearance at an European Championship - and that alone was a big win for the small country already. Despite its small size the country loves football and the qualification for the tournament was well deserved. That it won't be easy for the opposing teams had Greece to experience in the qualification matches as they got defeated twice and can also be seen by its high FIFA ranking, which lists them in the spot above Poland.

Coach: Michael O'Neill (since 2011)

 
Current squad:

• Goalkeepers: Michael McGovern / Alan Mannus / Roy Carroll
• Full-backs: Jonny Evans / Patrick McNair / Craig Cathcart / Gareth McAuley / Aaron Hughes / Luke McCullough / Lee Hodson / Conor McLaughlin / Michael Smith
• Midfielders: Steven Davis / Oliver Norwood / Stuart Dallas / Shane Ferguson
• Strikers: Jamie Ward / Niall McGinn / Kyle Lafferty / Conor Washington / Billy McKay / Liam Boyce / Josh Magenis

Players to watch during the tournament:

• Steven Davis: The 31 year old appeared in 75 matches for Northern Ireland and has a lot of experience. He is aso three-times Scottish Champion and knows how to be successful.
• Patrick McNair: He is only 21 years old but shows a lot of potential. He appeared in 8 games for his team Manchester United - which is a lot given the copetition he is facing and the fact that defenders are only rarely substituted. 

Prognosis: Even though the FIFA ranking would suggest otherwise Northern Ireland is the big outsider in this group.

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

Euro 2016 : Group A, the strengths in presence (France, Romania, Albania, Switzerland)

The host country of the Euro 2016, France inherited from a rather nice and easy group, even if you should not look very far to find examples of matches during which Romania, Swiss and Albania caused problems to the Fench. Certainly the last World cup allowed to refocus his watch-making neighbors, but he would be maybe impertinent for the French to bury so fast his opponents. Focus on the group A, a group seemingly too simple, but seemingly only.

France : The host country (8 participations / Winner in 1984 and 2000 / Semifinalist in 1996 / Fourth in 1960 / 21th in the Fifa ranking)

To try to gain its third European championship of nations (on 1984 and 2000), the second at home, the French team can count on the beginning of competition widely in its reach. June 10th, at the Stade de France, theater of the world coronation in 1998, Blues will face Romania. The Romanians had not qualified themselves during the last Euro. Their best performance is a quarterfinal in 2000.

June 15th, French people will be set against the Albanians in Marseille. It is the first participation of this country in the Euro. Even if on June 13th, 2015, Albania had beaten France 1-0 in Tirana, this opponent seems within the reach of the mens of Didier Deschamps.

Finally, on June 19th, it is an old acquaintance whom the French players will meet : Switzerland. Last summer in Brazil, during the World cup, France had been win 5-2. In the World cup 2006, both teams had separated on a draw ( 0-0 ) whereas in the first ballot of the Euro 2004, Blues had taken it 3-1.

The selector of Blues, Didier Deschamps, showed himself suspicious: " the objective is to finish the first one of the group. Switzerland, even if that passed well in the World Cup against them, that remains a very good nation, that remains the bravest opponent of this group, without offending two other teams. Albania, we can say what we want, we did not win against them, we even lost against them this summer. Romania, we know less, but we looked at its results in the phases of qualification for the Euro 2016, and they tookonly two goals (better defense of the qualifications), we are going to work on that with the staff. "

Coach : 

• Didier Deschamps (since 2012)

Last selection:

• Goalkeepers  : Lloris Hugo / Steve Mandanda / Benoît Costil
• Full-backs : Digne / Evra / Jallet / Koscielny / Mathieu / Sagna / Sakho / Varane
• Midfields : Cabaye / Diarra / Kanté / Matuidi / Pogba / Sissoko
• Strikers : Coman / Gignac / Giroud / Griezmann / Martial / Payet

The possible pleasant surprises :

• Alphonse Areola (Goalkeepers) : While the idea to see him returning to Paris the next season by disputing the place of Kevin Trapp makes its way, he was relegated on the bench of Villarreal for the benefit of Asenjo to League Europa and against Getafe. A situation which should bury its last hopes in spite of a big season in Spain.
• Layvin Kurzawa (Full-back) : He took advantage of the Parisian festival against Caen to accumulate time of game and give a magnificent center to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Four decisive passes and three goals.
• Benoît Trémoulinas (Full house-back) : Hurt in the thigh, he did not participate in the puffing qualification of Seville in semi-finals of the League Europa nor in the division of points this weekend against La Corogne. He still has time to catch with the end of exciting season which waits for Sévillans.
• Sébastien Corchia (Full-back) : A good service against Ajaccio with a magnificent center for the more sublime goal of Sofiane Boufal. On the other hand, those who underline his physical limits will have noticed that he is bulged and almost stamped on the second goal of the Gasmen. Develop the muscle of your game, Sébastien. It would have not bad been to test him at least once before the Euro not?
• Morgan Schneiderlin (Midfield) : He moved on as holder against Aston Villa with 90 minutes and a victory. He has four championship matches and FA CUP to take his seat back.
• Hatem Ben Arfa (Midfield) : What a very beautiful season in Nice, Hatem Ben Arfa well hopes to be of the list of 23 Didier Deschamps's Blues for the Euro 2016. The third better striker of League 1 with from now on 17 goals, Hatem Ben Arfa finally seems to answer, in 29 years, the promises placed in him of the time of his learning in the INF Clairefontaine or during his young years of Lyons. What to lead to forget the feeling of waste which sticks on him on the skin since his exile in England, in Newcastle then Hull City, and which he recognizes easily. Former Magpie makes a success even of his best season in career. Of what to show himself ambitious while he is at the end of contract in the OGC Nice and while is outlined the Euro 2016 in France. And if he refuses, he assures, to think of his future in club, asserting be able to take a new term in Nice while the PSG, Chelsea or the Atlético Madrid or the Juventus would be interested in him, HBA is obsessed well and truly by the prospect to compete for the Euro at home.

For them the euro is compromised :

• Jérémy Mathieu : Since he is hurt, Barça is in crisis. The link of cause with effect is obvious. No?
• Mamadou Sakho : Positive during a dope test made March 17th, in 8th of finale return of the League Europa against Manchester United, he will maybe be deprived of euro.
• Frank Ribéry : He chains the titularisations and was in all the good blows against Stuttgart. Thus if ever Didier Deschamps wants a little of experience in front of or to make a big gamble on the post of right back ...

Albania, finally into the deep end (1st participation / 45th in the Fifa ranking)

Well, we are not going to fool ourself either, on the paper, Albania makes figure of Tom Thumb (with the Northern Ireland) or let us say rather of scarecrow. Indeed for their first appearance in an international competition, the team taken by the Italian technician Gianni de Biasi will not have so much to lose. The first phase was of an exemplary efficiency, with only 7 goals, the second place especially torn away in depends on Denmark after an unhoped-for victory in front of Portugal. One might as well say that Albania knows how to play it patient in defense, to contain the opposite attacks to fall better forwards thanks to its mid-court young person Taulant Xhaka (Granit Xhaka brother who is in Switzerland's team).

Coach : 

• Gianni De Biasi

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Etrit Berisha / Orges Shehi / Alban Hoxha
• Full-backs : Andi Lila / Elseid Hysaj / Lorik Cana / Berat Djimsiti / Ansi Agolli / Arlind Ajeti / Naser Aliji / Frédéric Veseli / Mërgim Mavraj
• Midfields : Ermir Lenjani / Migjen Basha / Ledian Memushaj / Shkëlzen Gashi / Burim Kukeli / Taulant Xhaka / Herolind Shala / Odise Roshi / Amir Abrashi / Ergys Kaçe / Milot Rashica
• Strikers : Armando Sadiku / Sokol Cikalleshi / Bekim Balaj

The players to follow :

The team-mates of Lorik Cana (Full-back) ally a big commitment to undeniable technical qualities with Gashi (Midfield), T. Xhaka (Midfield), Lenjani (Midfield), Hysaj (Full-back).

Switzerland has to cross the first phase (4 participations / 14th in the ranking Fifa)

The objective of the Swiss seems relatively simple, to cross finally the phase of group of an Euro, it who always ended last one during her previous three exercises. Taken by a talented and experimented generation (Shaqiri, Inler, Behrami to quote only them), Switzerland will be eager to represent well and to lead to forget her supporters the disappointment of the Euro 2008. The trainer Vladimir Petkovic managed to qualify his team, not without difficulty, after a really catastrophic departure, before ending on an impressive series and especially 17 registered goals. The second place that beckons them, to avoid the Albanian and Rumanian stumbling blocks.

Coach : 

• Vladimir Petković

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Bürki Roman / Hitz Marwin / Sommer Yann
• Full-backs : Djourou Johannes / Elvedi Nico / Klose Timm / Lang Michael / Lichtsteiner Stephan / Lustenberger Fabian / Moubandje Jacques François / Rodriguez Ricardo / Schär Fabian / Senderos Philippe / Von Bergen Steve / Widmer Silvan
• Midfields : Behrami Valon / Dzemaili Blerim / Fernandes Gelson / Frei Fabian / Inler Gökhan / Kasami Pajtim / Shaqiri Xherdan / Steffen Renato / Stocker Valentin / Xhaka Granit / Zuffi Luca
• Strikers : Derdiyok Eren / Drmic Josip / Embolo Breel Donald / Mehmedi Admir / Seferovic Haris / Tarashaj Shani

The players to follow :

Taken by a talented and experimented generation : Lichtsteiner, Schär, Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Xhaka, Inler, Behrami to quote only them

Romania, real outsider (4 participations / 16th in the Fifa ranking)

Let us be honest, it is far the time of Romania which illuminated the World cup 1994 of its talent. This being said a statistics speaks in their favor : only two goals granted during the matches of the first phases and especially no granted defeat, what makes of Romania the best team of the phases of qualification, at least in defense. At the level of the attack, the Rumanian team seems inexperienced, a lack of knowledge of the high level widely filled by the talent of its new nuggets, Claudiu Bumba and especially Alexandru Maxim, the explosive offensive midfield of Stuttgart.

Coach : 

• Anghel Iordănescu

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Ciprian Tătăruşanu / Costel Pantilimon / Silviu Lung Jr.
• Full-backs : Vlad Chiricheș / Dragoș Grigore / Alexandru Mățel / Valerică Găman / Cristian Săpunaru / Cosmin Moți / Steliano Filip / Alin Toșca
• Midfields : Gabriel Torje / Mihai Pintilii / Ovidiu Hoban / Lucian Sânmărtean / Adrian Popa / Adrian Ropotan / Nicolae Stanciu / Florin Tănase
• Strikers : Bogdan Stancu / Claudiu Keserü / Raul Rusescu / Florin Andone / Andrei Ivan / Ioan Hora

The star  :

• Ciprian Tătăruşanu (Goalkeepers ) : Fiorentina Holder, the Rumanian guard symbolizes in the perfection the iron defense of the Rumanian team. With its meter 98, Tătăruşanu feels at ease obviously rather in the air game. However, it does not prevent him from being also successful and skillful on the goal line. Other high quality, its serenity on the mental plan.

The young talents which should be there :

• Claudiu Bunba (Midfield) : A multi-purpose and very talented player who can decide him alone on the fate of a match. Younger, he seemed to be a classic winger, but he now discovered that he could be important in the game, with more responsibility.
• Alexandru Maxim (Midfield) : The explosive offensive midfield of Stuttgart.

Group Sorting and Schedules

Group sorting

Thirteen of the 24 nations qualified for Euro 2016, directly qualified for the final tournament. The host France is automatically assigned position A1. The rest of the 23 teams are categorised in four groups with defending champions Spain assigned to Pot 1. A total of 15 matches will be played to see who is coming out as the champion this time.

Pot 1	Pot 2	Pot 3	Pot 4
Spain	Italy	Czech Republic	Turkey
Germany	Russia	Sweden	Republic of Ireland
England	Switzerland	Poland	Iceland
Portugal	Austria	Romania	Wales
Belgium	Croatia	Slovakia	Albania
	Ukraine	Hungary	Northern Ireland

On 12^th of December 2015, in Paris, there was the official sorting for the final fase of the championship. For the group stage there was decided to be composed by 6 groups (A to F) of 4 teams, which will play against each other and the best two teams of each group will proceed to the knock out stage.

 The inauguration day will be on Friday 10^th of June, between the host national team, France, against Romania, in Stade de France, Paris. The group stage will continue until 22^nd of June. After it, the knock out stage will begin, and for the first time there will be a round of 16 teams, before the Quarter Finals. The first knock out match will be played on Saturday 25^th of June, the tournament will continue until the final match where the next European champion will be decided, in the same place that the championship began – Stade de France, Paris - on 10^th of July, one month later.