Group F - Will we have a surprise?!

Group F:

Group F is the last but not the least of this competition, even if because it includes one of the top 5 FIFA National Teams: Portugal. 
Since Euro2000 Portugal has been a constant presence in the final stage of the event, finishing in third twice, and losing the final match in 2004.  In the qualifiers Portugal looked solid but their productivity left something to be desired as they only scored 11 goals in 8 matches. In this period they managed to change the National Coach with Mr. Paulo Bento (which had been in charge since: 2011) resigning and Mr. Fernando Santos coming to take control of the situation in 2014.

Coach: Fernando Santos

Also, Portugal team is divided between some old world-class veterans, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, or Nani, and young new players which are starving to have an opportunity to show their talent to the world, such as Renato Sanchez, Bernardo Silva or João Mario. Nevertheless Portugal is considered the favorite team of the group and everyone is expecting them to succeed further in the competition.

Last Selection:

Goal Keeper: Rui Patricio / Eduardo / Anthony Lopes

Full-backs: Bruno Alves / Pepe / Fabio Coentrão / Vieirinha / Eliseu / José Fonte / Cedric / Ricardo Carvalho

Midfieldes: Renato Sanches / André Gomes / João Moutinho / Rafa / Adrien Silva / João Mario / William Carvalho / Danilo Pereira

Strikers: Danny / Nani / Ricardo Quaresma / Bernardo Silva / Cristiano Ronaldo (C)  / Éder

Iceland: Even not being one of the favorites, they have done remarkably well and finally qualified for the finals of a big event. Even considering the National team has a lack of experience at the big stage and no real world class player, they did a convincing qualifiers season in a difficult group, so we are looking forward to see what they can do from now on.

Coach: Lars Lagerbäck & Heimir Hallgrímsson

Last Selection:

- Goal Keeper: Hannes Þór Halldórsson / GunnleifurGunnleifsson / Ögmundur Kristinsson

- Full-backs: Birkir Már Sævarsson / Ragnar Sigurðsson / Kári Árnason / Ari Freyr Skúlason / Haukur Heiðar Hauksson / Sverrir Ingi Ingason / Hörður Björgvin Magnússon

- Midfieldes: Aron Gunnarsson  (C) / Emil Hallfreðsson / Birkir Bjarnason / Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson / Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson / Ólafur Ingi Skúlason / Theódór Elmar Bjarnason

- Strikers: Kolbeinn Sigþórsson / Alfreð Finnbogason / Jón Daði Böðvarsson / Viðar Örn Kjartansson

Austria: In the qualifiers, Austria just lost 1 of the 10 games and their present in this final stage of the competition is more than fair, however it is the first championship for which Austria had actually qualified since 1998. Players like Alaba or Arnautovic and well-known names in the European Football and their Swiss coach Marcel Koller has also shown his experience.

Coach: Marcel Koller

Last Selection:

- Goal Keeper: Robert Almer / Heinz Lindner / Ramazan Özcan

- Full-backs: Christian Fuchs (C) / Sebastian Prödl / Aleksandar Dragović / György Garics / Florian Klein / Markus Suttner /  Martin Hinteregger

- Midfieldes: Zlatko Junuzović / David Alaba / Julian Baumgartlinger / Jakob Jantscher / Stefan Ilsanker / Guido Burgstaller

- Strikers: Martin Harnik / Marc Janko / Marko Arnautović / Rubin Okotie / Lukas Hinterseer

Hungary: remains the biggest outsider at Euro 2016, beating Norway in the playoff match. This is the first finals Hungary is since 1986 and they do not have any real star player, making them the weakest team in the group. However is not uncommon to see an underdog team to surprise everyone and succeed further in these kind of competitions, it would be Hungary this time?!

Coach: Bernd Storck

Last Selection:

- Goal Keeper: Gábor Király / Ádám Bogdán / Dénes Dibusz

- Full-backs: Roland Juhász / Tamás Kádár / Mihály Korhut / Richárd Guzmics / Attila Fiola / Ádám Lang

- Midfieldes: Zoltán Gera / Balázs Dzsudzsák (C) / Ákos Elek / Ádám Pintér / Zoltán Stieber / Ádám Gyurcsó / László Kleinheisler

- Strikers: Tamás Priskin / Ádám Szalai / Krisztián Németh / Nemanja Nikolić / Dániel Böde

Player to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo

Considered one of the world’s best players in the world, with 3 FIFA Ballon D’Oro Awards, he is the Portuguese player with most internationalization and the top scorer in the National Team, with 63 goals. It is proved that Ronaldo alone can make the difference, either in in club (Real Madrid FC) and in the National Team. The most recent example of it was in 2013 in the playoff match against Sweden to qualify for the World Cup 2014, where Cristiano scored an Hat-Trick and lead the team to the final stage of the competition.

Group E: the strongest group of the competition?

Belgium 

Absent from the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, as well as Euro 2004, 2008 and 2012, the dimension of the royal selection increase sharply. Driven by a generation of exceptional players (Hazard, Kompany, De Bruyne, Courtois ...), operating in the biggest clubs, Belgium is placed back on the chessboard of world football. At the point of becoming, in recent weeks, first team in the Fifa rankings. Outsiders to the 2014 World Cup, where they fell with honors against the future Argentine finalist in the quarterfinals (1-0), the "Red Devils" and their coach, the former Bordeaux Marc Wilmots, figures favorite for Euro 2016. "Our goal in the Euro? Win, "does not hesitate to proclaim Eden Hazard.

Quick facts

5th participation at Euro
Best result in the Euro: Final (1980)
Coach: Marc Wilmots
Playoff Record: #1, Group B


Italy

"Italy always answers present in the major events." This refrain, rehashed before every major competition, is no longer valid. Recently, the "Azzurri" is rather roller coaster. Since their fourth planetary coronation (2006), the Transalpine thus alternating quarter-final (2008), two pitiful eliminations (2010, 2014) and final (2012). If they continue on this path, players of Antonio Conte should shine in France this summer ... "We will not be favorites, but I intend to work to create a small war machine," commented the coach at the end of a smoothly conducted qualifying campaign (zero defeat). So yes, this lack of madness Italy (16 small goals). Yes its renewal is painfully, like the case of Andrea Pirlo (retired then recalled). But with his strong stand "made in Juventus" (Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci, Marchisio), the Nazionale has the weapons to bounce. Once again.

Quick facts

9th participation in the Euro
Best result in the Euro: winner (1968)
Coach Antonio Conte
Playoff Record: #1, Group H


Sweden

In a CNN interview, Zlatan Ibrahimovic set the scene. It will mark the Euro. It will be "highly acclaimed by the public, more than the France team." The PSG star scored (11 goals in 12 matches, 1 assist, only the Polish Robert Lewandowski, 13 in 10 games, has done better) over half goals from Sweden (19) during the playoffs. A group in which figures Kim Källström. Ibrahimovic, top scorer in the history of the Swedish selection (62 goals in 111 caps, the first dating from 2001), throughout the campaign (author of the double qualification), paid himself not to miss the appointment. In 2012, Sweden was eliminated in the group stage but had dominated France (2-0) in the closing Group D with a goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The reference to the Swedish selection remains the semifinals hanging by Brolin, Dhalin, Ravelli in 1992 before the 3rd place at the 1994 World Cup.

Quick facts 

6th participation at Euro
Best result in the Euro: semi-final (1992)
Coach: Erik Hamrén
Playoff Record: #3, Group G



Republic of Ireland

Robbie Keane (35 years, 143 caps, 67 goals; the first green cloak from March 1998), is part of the symbol of the selection. LA Galaxy striker proved indispensable during the playoffs (9 matches, 5 goals and 2 assists). With him, Shay Given (39 years, 133 selections, the first cape in 1996), goalkeeper Stoke City, embodies the story of a team led by Martin O'Neill that Roy Keane as his assistant. Ireland was illustrated in 1988 by starting its first Euro with a victory against England (before a draw against the USSR and a narrow defeat to the Netherlands, the two eventual finalists); two years later, the selection conducted by Jack Charlton lost in the final of the Italian World Cup quarterfinal against the host country. In 2012, at the last Euro, Ireland had spend 3 defeats (Spain, Italy, Croatia) and only one goal scored.

Quick facts

3rd participation at Euro
Best result in the Euro: group stage (1988, 2012)
Coach: Martin O'Neill
Playoff Record: #3, Group D



Our pronostics: 

#1: Belgium
#2: Italy
#3: Sweden
#4: Republic of Ireland

Euro 2016: group D, the group of death (Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Croatia)

This famous group of death, with his undisputed leader, Spain and its three small scarecrows which will get in its way during the Euro 2016. Spain has to reconquer at all costs the heart of its supporters after a World cup more than disappointing, whereas Czech Republic, Croatia and Turkey will have nothing else to lose that their physical form.

The matches of group already announce as a great battle, a battle in which Spain will have to be for its best level to be able to hope to take out there. Furthermore, the infiltrated that are Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic and Turan will certainly have a word to say in the face of this Roja certainly too fast buried, jurisprudence France 2006.

Is Spain really cure? (9 participations / Winner in 1964, 2008, 2012 / 3rd in the Fifa ranking)

Many observers describe the Spanish losing momentum selection, the orphan of the level of the players who delighted the world between 2008 and 2012. In the mean time Roja qualified itself without shivering, author of performances maybe less blazing than as usual, but the results are there to testify : 9 victories gathered in on 10 matches of qualifications, startups (Alcacer) which finally seem to show the area of their talent. The only "negative" point to be retained is that Spain is knowing the end of a cycle, and its loss of symbolic players will more tend to galvanize the opponents rather than to terrorize them. The only question which remains is the following one: did Spain digest the fiasco of the World cup 2014?

Coach :

• Vicente del Bosque

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Casillas / De Gea / Rico
• Full-backs : Juanfran / Mario Gaspar / Piqué / Bartra / Ramos / Nacho / Jordi Alba / Azpilicueta
• Midfields : Busquets / San José / Sergi Roberto / Cesc / Koke / Thiago / Isco / Silva / Mata
• Strikers : Alcacer / Morata / Aduriz / Nolito / Pedro

The players who should return :

To note absences of Diego Costa of Chelsea (wounded), Dani Carvajal of the Real Madrid and of Andrés Iniesta du Barça (wounded).

The Czech Republic, constant without being excellent (5 participations / 16th in the Fifa ranking)

The Czech Republic is less glittering than in the past (in particular since the separation of the country in 1993), the lack of charismatic face doubtless explaining it : nomore Nedved, Poborsky and other Smicer, but a well oiled collective who allows the country to show itself for the sixth consecutive time during a final phase of the Euro. Next June, it will also be necessary to keep in memory that if the Netherlands is not present, it is thanks (or because of, according to your point of view on the Batavian) to the team of Czech Republic. Around experimented captain Petr Cech, it is a team rather young person and unknown who will walk on the hexagonal lawns. The good performances of Czech republic will depend essentially on the level of shape of Rosicky : often hurt, the offensive middle will largely be responsible for the quality of game.

Coach :

• Pavel Vrba

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Petr Čech / Jan Laštůvka / Tomáš Vaclík
• Full-backs : Theodor Gebre Selassie / Michal Kadlec / Marek Suchý / Tomáš Sivok / David Limberský / František Rajtoral / Martin Latka
• Midfields : Ladislav Krejčí / Tomáš Rosický / Bořek Dočkal / Jaroslav Plašil / Tomáš Hübschman / Daniel Kolař / Petr Jiráček / Vladimír Darida
• Strikers : Matěj Vydra / Stanislav Tecl / Tomáš Pekhart / David Lafata

2 stars :

Around experimented Petr Cech and Tomás Rosický, it is a team rather young person and unknown who will walk on the hexagonal lawns.

Turkey, eternal challenger (4 participations / 13th in the Fifa ranking)

The last time when the Turkish selection made all Europe shiver, in 2008, it was already Fatih Terim who was in charge, a detail which does not go unnoticed. The faces of the Turkish soccer changed well since this dramatic semi-final, and Turkey can count on two new strong men, Arda Turan of FC Barcelona and Hakan Calhanoglu of Bayer Leverkusen today. Considered by many as the scarecrow of the group D, Turkey could well be a surprise one more time, as during the World cup in Japan in 2002 or during this famous Euro 2008: it is when we do not wait for it that this team is the strongest, but will it know how to thwart the Czech and Croatian traps?

Coach :

• Fatih Terim

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Onur Kıvrak / Harun Tekin / Volkan Babacan
• Full-backs : Şener Özbayraklı / Hakan Balta / Serdar Aziz / Gökhan Gönül / İsmail Köybaşı / Ahmet Çalık / Caner Erkin
• Midfields : Hakan Çalhanoğlu / Alper Potuk / Selçuk İnan / Nuri Şahin / Olcay Şahan / Arda Turan / Mehmet Topal / Ozan Tufan / Yunus Mallı
• Strikers : Cenk Tosun / Burak Yılmaz

A midfielder of world class :

The main strength of this Turkish team is its midfield with Hakan Çalhanoglu, Selçuk Inan, Nuri Sahin, Arda Turan and Mehmet Topal.

Croatia and its stars (4 participations / 18th in the Fifa ranking)

This time, Croatia can actually lean on an impressive number of quality players: Modric, Rakitic, Srna, Perisic, Mandzukic, Kovacic all play in the best European clubs of 2016, and all want to play a nasty trick to their opponents of summer. Experience, talent and ardour, Croatia seems to combine all the elements necessary for a grand course. Nevertheless, that the qualification was long and painful, losing a point for a tasteless swastika, changing coach in September : in final, the Croatian team went out of the Norwegian trap and can defend proudly its colors in France. Not sure that Spain is delighted to bang Croatia so early in the tournament!

Coach :

• Ante Čačić

Last selection :

• Goalkeepers : Danijel Subašić / Ivan Vargić / Lovre Kalinić
• Full-backs : Šime Vrsaljko / Vedran Ćorluka / Dejan Lovren / Darijo Srna / Gordon Schildenfeld / Domagoj Vida
• Midfields : Ivan Perišić / Ivan Rakitić / Alen Halilović / Luka Modrić / Marcelo Brozović / Milan Badelj / Domagoj Antolić / Marko Pjaca / Mateo Kovačić
• Strikers : Nikola Kalinić / Mario Mandžukić

Experience and talent in every posts :

• Goalkeeper : Danijel Subasic, one of the best goalkeepers of the LIGUE 1.
• Full-backs : Vedran Corluka and Darijo Srna, the experience in defence.
• Midfields : 2 of the best current midfields with Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric and 2 of the biggest world potential with Alen Halilovic and Mateo Kovacic.
• Strikers : Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandžukić of the values sures. 

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.