Euro 2016: Guide to Group D

We head into day three of the tournament with the shock and disappointment of that last-gasp Russian equaliser still looming. But there is a long way to go and plenty more football to come.

Turkey faces up against Croatia in an early kick-off. Elsewhere, Spain doesn’t play their match against the Czech Republic until Monday. This is a group which could rustle a few feathers. Any of these teams in Group D have the potential to go through, which means at least one decent side is going to be facing an early exit from the tournament.

Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey

Croatia

Ante Cacic’s Croatia has been drawn into one of the strongest groups in the competition. As always, Croatia has some real star quality in their squad. It is that star quality which enabled them to lose on just one occasion during qualification and remain undefeated against group winners, Italy. They are now on a seven-game unbeaten run and, in their last Euros warm-up match, they beat San Marino 10-0.

This Croatia team tends to dominate the middle of the park, with the outstanding Luca Modric partnered by Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona. Out-wide they have the pace and power of Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic, who has recently been linked with Liverpool. Up top is the centre forward maverick, Mario Mandzukic. The Juventus striker is an absolute handful in the air, but it is also very adept with the ball at his feet. At the back the Croatians have the experience of skipper, Darijo Srna and Vedran Corluka.

Domagoj Vida plays alongside Corluka at the back, he is known as the hard man of the two. Vida lived up to that reputation back in 2012 when playing for Dinamo Zagreb, when he decided to open and drink a can of beer on the way to an away game, to the disgust of his manager, who kicked him off the bus and left him in a lay-by. Coincidentally, that just happened to be current national team coach, Ante Cacic. Hopefully the pair has since resolved that issue - maybe over a pint.

How will they do?

It has to be said again that Croatia finds themselves in a very tough group, so they could quite easily be eliminated. However, given the strength of their squad, they are more than capable of making it through. Not many teams would like to be pit against this team; a quarter-finals appearance is possible for this side.

Star man – Luca Modric

There is no questioning the value Modric has to this squad. The former Premier League star has everything you want in a midfielder; he puts in challenges, breaks up play, has a vast range of passing, is more than able of getting on the score sheet and creates a number of chances. Should the Croatian be at his ultimate best in France, his team will make the next round.

 

Czech Republic

Many people may have already written this team off. But believe me, this is a good Czech Republic team. They have the ability to press high against a lesser outfit and drop back and soak up pressure against so-called better sides. Shape and organisation is this team’s key to success. On the way to topping their group, remarkably, the Czechs did the double over Holland and finished a massive nine points above them. They only lost twice during their qualifying campaign, but since then, they have been defeated three times.

Pavel Vrba encourages his team to attack and in Tomas Necid they have an in-form striker. He holds the ball up well, allowing his team-mates to join him in the attack. The Bursaspor front man has recently been linked with Italian giants, Juventus. Captain Tomas Rosicky will look to play off the centre forward as often as possible. The 34-year-old midfielder may be passed his best, but even in his twilight years he still has plenty to offer this team; he has 103 caps for his country. It is of great importance that rock of the back four Tomas Sivok has a solid tournament. The Championship’s Daniel Pudil and Jiri Skalak will be in contention for a place in the line-up.

How will they do?
Any team from this group could face elimination. The Czech Republic will go out and give their all to try and win every game they play. That attitude will either prove highly fruitful or see them sent packing. This could be the shock team of the tournament, with the potential of reaching the later rounds. They will be hoping to emulate their success twelve years ago, where they reached the semi-finals of this competition.

Star man – Vladimir Darida

The importance of the Hertha Berlin attacking midfielder to this squad is often overlooked. He is not your typical forward-thinking player, he defends from the front and chases back on a regular basis. Darida is often employed to limit opposing team’s central midfielders time on the ball. That being said, he is still a very useful player on the ball and has an eye for goal. Darida will be looking to impress at the tournament, in order to gain a move to a bigger club.

Spain

This is a team going for an astonishing third European Championship title in a row. However, there are plenty of stars missing from that wonderful squad they had at their disposal four years ago. They did have a solid campaign, winning nine of their matches, losing only to Slovakia. In the build-up to the tournament they annihilated South Korea 6-1, but just a few days ago, Georgia beat them 1-0. So who knows what to expect. Surprisingly, Coach Vicente del Bosque opted to leave Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Santi Cazorla and the tenacious Diego Costa at home. A decision that has came under much scrutiny.

They are still very adept at defending, though. With a settled back four of Juanfran, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba. The wing-backs will play high up the pitch and look to be a threat down the flanks. Spain are going to have to win games in midfield, and with the reliable Sergio Busquets, the creative spark of David Silva and the tidy play of Cesc Fabregas they should have enough. But the Chelsea man needs to put a disappointing season behind him and not go missing in games, like he often does for this team.

Up front they lack world-class. The coach often plays with a false 9. Despite being 35, Aritz Aduriz, a striker who enjoys a bit of hustle and bustle, is in the form of his life. He scored a magnificent 36 goals in all competitions for Athletic Bilbao this season. Another option is gangly, long-legged forward, Alvaro Morata. He is maturing nicely in Italy, as he is ever-present in the Juventus lineup.

In goal it is unknown who will be the Spanish first choice keeper for the tournament. David De Gea has had his off field problems this week, having been accused of playing a part in an alleged sex scandal a few years back. Manchester United’s player of the season for the last three years categorically denies the allegations. However, it will not do his chances any favors, so legendary stopper, Iker Casillas, may well build on his 167 caps.

How will they do?

The harmony within this squad just doesn’t seem quite right. Two years ago at the World Cup they got knocked out in the group stages. Spain has got more than enough in this team to push on into the later rounds of the competition. But when they come up against a top-class opposition they could come up short. Their lack of options in the final third of the field could prove to be their downfall.

Star man - Andrés Iniesta

At 32, Iniesta probably isn’t as effective as he was in his prime at previous tournaments. But the little genius is still one of the best midfielders in the world. He has lost a yard of his pace, but when it comes to Spain’s tiki-taka approach to the game that does not become an issue. The Barcelona captain is a lovely player to watch; he gets the ball down and plays silky, attacking football with purpose. Iniesta ties the midfield together and will be at the forefront of any Spain success at the Euros.

 

Turkey
This is an exciting Turkish team; they have an abundance of talent within their squad. They had a terrible start to qualifying, failing to win their first three games. However, they followed that up by remaining unbeaten for the rest of their matches – a run which included a 3-0 win over the Dutch. Turkey also defeated group D opponents Czech Republic in qualifying, which will give them confidence. Because Turkey ended up with the best third-place record of all the teams, they gained automatic qualification to the Euros. Recently, England was fortunate to beat them 2-1 in a friendly encounter.

Three-time Turkey manager, Fatih Terim, just can’t keep away from the national set-up. He encourages his team to get the ball down and play out from the back. That is one of the main reasons why he opts to play defensive midfielder, Mehmet Topal, at centre-back. Young central midfielder Ozan Tufan, 21, looks to have a promising future ahead of him, he loves to play a passing game but he also doesn’t shy away from a tackle. The range of options Turkey has in midfield is quite impressive. One of which is Hakan Calhanoglu, he is known across Europe for being a dead-ball specialist. Leading the line will no doubt be Burak Yilmaz; he has scored over 150 goals in the Turkish top-flight.

How will they do?
It all depends on what Turkey team turns up. If they approach the tournament like they did the start of their qualifying campaign then they will not make it through. But if they go out and play their natural game and take it to the opposition then they will be pushing all the way to make the knockout rounds. This team could cause a few upsets. They head into France under the radar.

Star man – Arda Turan

The wonderful Arda Turan is the focal point of this Turkey team. The greatest player the nation has ever had, he is the footballing hero of the Turkish people. His high work-ethic is always a welcome addition to the side. Now playing for Barcelona, the Turkey captain is a tremendous player to watch, mesmerizing defenders with his quick feet and attacking flare. The pressure is on Arda to create opportunities and help guide his team into the last 16 of this competition.

 

 

Euro 2016: Guide to Group B

As we head into day two of the tournament, last night we saw Dimitri Payet score a sublime long-range screamer to claim an opening game victory for France. It’s now time for the start of Group B, where England will be looking to overcome Russia and Wales face Slovakia. The following team guide will hopefully give you an indication of what is to come from those teams.

Group B: England, Russia, Slovakia and Wales

England

It’s about time the Three Lions actually did something at a major tournament. It’s been twenty years since they progressed deep into the later rounds and a further thirty years since their only success. Roy Hodgson’s men had a marvellous qualifying campaign, winning all ten of their fixtures. On the back of that they have also defeated France, Germany and Portugal within the last few months, which can only breed confidence.

There has been a huge revamp to the squad since their appalling World Cup two years ago, with an astonishing eleven new additions. There is many exciting youngsters all the over the park for this team, in particular, John Stones, Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford. Another newcomer is Leicester City’s industrious forward, Jamie Vardy. The former non-leaguer has come on leaps and bounds this season, scoring an incredible 24 Premier League goals. Captain Wayne Rooney’s position has come under a little bit of threat; his side need him to turn up on the big stage for once.

Finding the net shouldn’t be an issue for this team, but it must be said that, they are a bit suspect at the opposite end and really need to tighten up. Although Gary Cahill is occasionally unconvincing, he should now have the required experience to help out his fellow defenders. It is essential that England get off to a good start. They have never won their first game at the Euros (Drawn 4, Lost 4).

How will they do?

It is impossible to predict how this team will do. They have the potential to progress well into the later rounds, but you just never know what England team is going to turn up. If they are allowed to play their natural game, with little fear, the possibilities are endless. This young team has gone under the radar over the last couple of years, which could play into their hands. They will get through the group-stages. A semi-final appearance would be seen as a successful tournament, given their recent history.

Star man – Harry Kane

A couple of years back Harry Kane was an unknown quantity. His meteoric rise with Spurs has been fascinating; he won the Premier League’s Golden Boot this season. Kane has real star quality that is for sure. The centre forward hasn’t completely found his scoring boots for England, but it’s only a matter of time before his international career really gets going. There is no doubt Kane will be England’s starting striker, his goals will be paramount for his side. A nation’s hopes are resting firmly on his shoulders.

Russia

In July 2015, the Russian FA surprisingly axed Fabio Capello because they feared they may not qualify. They turned to CSKA Moscow boss Leonid Slutsky, whose change of formation and man-management style has proved to be more fruitful. Under Slutsky they won their four remaining qualifying matches. The team now plays with more flare down the channels and their forward players have been finding the net on a regular basis. They will be looking to build on their awful record of just two clean sheets in 15 games at the Euros.

The biggest worry for this Russian side is their lack of pace in defence. Despite a wealth of experience in Sergei Ignashevich and the Berezutski twins, they struggle massively against quick strikers. The coach has opted to only take three forwards, but each of them poses a threat. Young talent Aleksandr Golovin has found the net twice in his three appearances from midfield, the 20-year-old could be one to keep an eye on. Alan Dzagoev is Russia’s best player; unfortunately, he has been struck down with an injury and will not be heading to France this summer.

How will they do?
Now that this team is playing with more confidence and composure, they could be a tough test for anyone. This Russia team may not be as talented as they have been in previous years, but they have a wealth of experience and the odd bit of talent here and there. They will certainly fancy their chances of getting out the group-stage, but beyond that, it’s difficult to see their defence being able to contend with big-name strikers.

Star man – Artyom Dzyuba

The Zenit St. Petersuburg striker has an extremely big ego, but of late he has finally been backing that up. After failing to live up to his potential for many years, the centre forward has been in scintillating form so far this season, scoring a goal in every other game in the Russian top-flight. He also notched a further 6 in this season’s Champions League. Standing tall at 6’5”, Dyzuba is a menace in the air. The Russians will be counting on him finding the net as often as possible.

Slovakia

The Slovaks enjoyed an accomplished qualifying campaign. This will be their first ever European Championship tournament. Their most notable win came over three-time champions, Spain. This is yet another defensive-minded, hard-working team, which is shown in their squad selection, as they have opted to include just two strikers.

There are many names in this squad that the avid fan may recognise - Jan Mucha, Martin Skrtel, Dusan Svento, Miroslav Stoch, Vladimir Weiss, Robert Mak and Jan Gregus have all spent time in England. Juraj Kucka is a vital member of the midfield; he sits in front of the defence and does the majority of the dirty-work, which grants his fellow team-mates in front of him a bit more freedom. The wildcard of the squad is young midfielder, Ondrej Duda, 21; he has a sharp burst of speed, complemented by an array of tricks. The Legia Warsaw man is hoping to earn a transfer to a bigger club this summer. Vladimir Weiss made the joint-most assists in qualifying (6).

How will they do?
As previously mentioned, Slovakia defeated Spain during qualification, showing they can beat anyone on their given day. Group favourites England should take this opponent very seriously. In reality they don’t have enough to reach the latter stages of the tournament, but they will have their sights firmly on at least securing that second spot. It could be a real scrap between Slovakia, Russia and Wales to make it through.

Star man – Marek Hamsik

This guy is a top, top player. Put it this way, if you manage to nullify Hamsik then you will almost certainly stop Slovakia. In recent times he has come under much scrutiny for not performing for his country, but after a string of instrumental performances over the last couple of years that has since been put to bed. The Slovaks have very little else to offer in forward positions, so most of the attacking emphasis lies with the creative midfielder. He helped guide Napoli to a second-place finish in Serie A and will be hoping to carry that form into the Euros with him.

Wales

Chris Coleman’s team had a brilliant campaign, qualifying for their first tournament since 1958. In their group they took 4 points off one of the favourites for the championships, Belgium. It’s been years since the Welsh had a decent side capable of even challenging for a place at a tournament, let alone getting through at a canter. Just four players registered a goal on their way to qualifying - the least of any team at the Euros. But with their astute tactical approach, they have become very hard to beat, as well as deadly on the counter-attack. On their way to the finals they only conceded 4 goals, losing on just one occasion.

Keeping clean sheets and frustrating opponents is going to be Wales way to success, and with James Collins and captain Ashley Williams in the middle of their defence, they have two solid individuals. In central midfield Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey will be crucial to this team; Allen’s job will be to break up play and protect his defence, whereas Ramsey will push forward at every opportunity and hope to provide a goal-threat. Wales lack a recognised goal scorer up top, but what they do have is two hard-working individuals in Sam Vokes and Hal Robson-Kanu, both of which will be vying for a starting berth.

How will they do?
After their qualifying campaign, Wales head into this tournament with an awful lot of confidence. They don’t fear anyone and relish a challenge. The games against Russia and Slovakia will determine whether or not this team will get out of the group-stage. A second or best third-place finish is a more than realistic aim for this side. If they were to progress through into the knockout rounds, Wales will be tricky encounter for anyone, but they will probably come up short against a good team.

Star man – Gareth Bale

Well that wasn’t a hard choice. The glorious Gareth Bale is one of the top players in the world and is undoubtedly the best player in this Wales squad. He makes up for what they lack up front, by compensating for his team-mates shortage of goals; he scored 7 goals during qualifying. Bale has had another immense season with Real Madrid and comes into the tournament on the back of a Champions League triumph. He has had his injury problems, though, so it is imperative that he maintains his fitness. The attacker will no doubt be the difference maker for this Wales team.

Euro 2016: Guide to Group A

On the day of the start of the European Championship’s in France, let’s take a look at how each team will shape up. There will be a brief guide to each time and how their prospects look heading into the Euros. Each group will be posted in separate articles.

This year there is a big change from the usual format of the competition. For the first time in the tournaments history there will be twenty four teams competing, with the four best placed third place teams qualifying for the knockout rounds.

What happens if two teams end up with the same record?

UEFA's rule for Euro 2016 states: ‘If two teams which have the same number of points, the same number of goals scored and conceded play their last group match against each other and are still equal at the end of that match, the ranking of the two teams in question is determined by kicks from the penalty mark, provided no other teams within the group have the same number of points on completion of all group matches.’

Furthermore, if teams who did not meet in the final group game finish level on points, goals scored and goals conceded, fair play conduct (which is 1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card) will decide.

Group A: Albania, France, Romania and Switzerland

Albania                                                            

This is quite simply the best Albanian team there has ever been. They will be competing in their first tournament in the nation’s history, which is a fantastic feat for such a small country. Albania magnificently finished above Denmark and Serbia in their qualification group.

Gianni De Biasi has a solid defence at his disposal; his team only conceded 5 goals during qualifying, in a group that included European giants, Portugal. Their main weakness is their lack of goals, as they are without a recognised potent goal-scorer in their side. Sokol Çikalleshi is almost certain to start as a lone-striker, he is extremely hard-working and loves to run in behind and occupy defences; his importance to this team is underrated. Right-back turned defensive midfielder Andi Lila is the man employed to protect the defence in a team which prioritizes limiting their opponent’s opportunities.

How will they do?

Albania is unlikely to pull up any trees, just being there is a bonus in itself. They could be a stern test for opponents Switzerland and Romania, but France will simply be too much for this team. It’s hard to see the tournament debutants picking up any points; however, they did cause Portugal problems in qualifying so you never know.

Star man – Lorik Cana

If you are thinking you recognise that name from somewhere, you have reason to do so; Cana was the captain of Sunderland back in 2009. In the past he played in central midfield, but now operates in the heart of the defence. The Kosovo-born defender is the captain of his country; he is also their record appearance holder with 91 caps. If Albania is to have any success then their leader will be at forefront of it.

France

The hosts have been registered as tournament favourites by the bookies. Although France hasn’t played a competitive game since the World Cup in 2014, they have been in highly impressive form of late, having won nine out of their last ten outings. There are nine different faces from the squad that went to the World Cup two years ago. This is down to the sharp emergence in young players, most notably in the form of Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial.

Defence is a problematic area. The loss of centre-back Raphaël Varane is massive and means that Laurent Koscielny has to step up. Accompanying him in the back four is two ageing full-backs in Bacary Sagna (33) and Patrice Evra (35).

Dimitri Payet has become a key player for Les Bleus, following a fantastic first season in the Premier League. The majestic attacking midfielder has an abundance of skill and is deadly from set-pieces. Paul Pogba is another crucial player; the midfielder is strong on the ball and provides a perfect balance between defence and attack. This is his chance to set the footballing world alight and show what he is really capable of.

How will they do?

A major hindrance for France throughout the last few tournaments has been a lack of unity between the squad and its staff. But that issue seems to have been resolved over the last couple of years, with the removal of the big egos. The squad now seems to be settled, and with the talent they possess, there is no reason why they can’t go all the way.

Star man – Antoinne Griezmann

The Atletico Madrid man has had the best season of his career so far. Griezmann scored goals at will in La Liga, and almost single handedly guided his club to Champions League glory. The winger/ second striker is very quick and agile on the ball, which will cause opposing defenders numerous problems. Should France progress deep into the tournament, Griezmann would be a good bet for the golden boot.

Romania

This is a hard-working, organised Romanian side. Their strong, physical approach to the game is one of the main reasons as to why they only conceded twice during their 10 qualifying matches - no team boasts a better record. That being said, they did manage just 11 goals, which could be a problem in their tricky group. Romania remained unbeaten in qualifying.

Promising young attacking midfielder Nicolae Stanciu could have a big impact on the fortunes of his side. This Romanian outfit likes to break quickly and Stanciu is a huge part of that. At the other end they have defensive stalwart, Razvan Rat; the left-back has amassed 110 caps in his international career, his experience will be pivotal on and off the field.

How will they do?

The Romanians will be hard to break down and will likely be dangerous on the counter-attack. Coming into the tournament on the back of a superb qualifying campaign, they should be challenging Switzerland all the way for that second spot. If they do progress through, they could frustrate some of the big-hitters, but will have little else to offer.

Star man - Vlad Chiricheș

The former Tottenham Hotspur centre-half is the rock of this Romanian defence. His time in London may not have worked out so well, but he was outstanding during qualification; he was one of only two players to play every single minute for his side. Chiricheș could have a key part to play in the group stage, with his no-nonsense defending and his speed across the ground.

Switzerland

The Swiss have been slightly indifferent since their splendid run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. They qualified second in their Euros qualifying group, but barely put up a fight against group winners, England. However, they did go on to win seven out of their other eight games. But, Vladimir Petkovic’s men head into the tournament on the back of two friendly defeats, which doesn’t exactly bode well.

They have opted to only take three strikers, which may suggest that they’re focussing more on defence than they are attack. Switzerland depends on being strong in midfield and keeping clean sheets. Players such as Valon Behrami and Granit Xhaka are going to have a crucial role for this team; it’s likely they will be employed to protect the defence. Xhaka has recently joined Arsenal, so he will have extra motivation to impress. Left-back Ricardo Rodriguez is a dead-ball specialist; his delivery could provide an excellent platform for this team to score goals.

How will they do?

The Swiss are not going to score many goals in this tournament, but what they’re going to do is frustrate teams. They should have just about enough to get them through the group stage, either in second place or as a best third placed team. Beyond that, it’s unlikely they will go very far.

Star man – Xherdan Shaqiri

The winger has been a very important player for the national team over the last few years. He has had an up and down club career, but his international form has never been under question. Shaqiri’s attacking flair and eye for goal has made him the heartbeat of the Swiss attack; could he be the man to guide them out of the group stage.