Euro 2016: Guide to Group E

Last night we saw an unshakable German side run out winners over a slightly underwhelming Ukraine. Moving forward onto Group E, the so-called group of death, we have Republic of Ireland kicking off their tournament against Sweden. The second game brings the two group favourites together with Belgium versus Italy.

 

Group E: Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Sweden

Belgium

An underachieving Belgium side will be hoping they can bring European Championship glory to their nation this summer. The Belgians spent the majority of last year on top of the world rankings, but have since slipped down a place to second. Despite topping their group, they were slightly unconvincing in qualification, failing to beat Wales on two occasions. They did go on to win seven out of their other eight games, though. Belgium has a fantastic balance between defence and attack, scoring 24 and conceding just 5. Since their run to the quarter-finals of the world cup two years ago, they have lost just twice in twenty three matches.

The quality of much of this squad is the envy of most managers at this tournament; Marc Wilmots needs to work out a way of getting the best out of his side on the big stage. Tottenham Hotspur’s excellent centre-half, Toby Alderweireld, is the defensive mainstay of this squad. His positioning is the best part of his game. Alderweireld is going to have lead this back four, with the unfortunate loss of Vincent Kompany, who was struck down with yet another muscle injury. Another Spurs defender in Jan Vertonghen will line up in the defence, either in the centre or at left-back. Jordan Lukaku, brother of Romelu, is another option on the left of the defence.

In midfield the options within the squad is unbelievable. The vibrant Eden Hazard has to put a disappointing season with Chelsea behind him; he is the stand-in captain of the side in Kompany’s absence. Elsewhere they have speedster, Dries Mertens, he had a fabulous season with Napoli. Box-to-box midfielder, Radja Nainggolan, ties the middle of the park together for this Belgian side; he also loves a crunching tackle. If you watched this seasons Champions League final, you will know just how good Yannick Carrasco can be, he didn’t come on until half-time for Atletico Madrid, but he completely changed the face of the game.

The forwards at Wilmots disposal is, again, preposterous. Any of Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke, Divock Origi or Michy Batshuayi would walk into most teams at this tournament. The menacing pace of Origi could see him get the nod, though.

 

How will they do?

If they turn up and play to their absolute best, they will without doubt go far in this competition. It’s pretty unconceivable that Belgium would not manage to make it through, but in the group of death, anything can happen. If this team didn’t make it until at least the semi-finals, it would be seen as a disappointing campaign for them. Just about everyone fears this Belgian side.

Star man – Kevin De Bruyne

The Manchester City attacking midfielder is a player from the very top-drawer. De Bruyne looks dangerous every single time he gets the ball, he is technically brilliant. He is the catalyst of this squad, has an abundance of skill in his locker, can pick out a pass from anywhere and beat a man with relative ease, he has also hit some emphatic strikes from long-range over the last couple of years. It’s imperative that his team-mates provide the midfield maestro with the ball as often as possible, he can hurt any side.

Italy

This is a national team most definitely on the decline. It is the least talented Italy squad there has been in years – very few of them would make the 2006 World Cup winning side. That being said, the Italians still managed to go unbeaten in their qualifying group. They are hardly a free-scoring team, and nor are they as solid as they have been in the past. There is very little promise ahead of the Euros for them. They head into the tournament having failed to beat any of England, Portugal, Croatia, Spain or Germany over the last year, no wonder optimism is low.

Throughout qualification, Antonio Conte (who leaves for Chelsea after the Euros), tried out many formations, he will likely opt for a defensive-minded 3-4-3. The men at the back will probably be Juventus stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli. Should they decide on a different formation, the versatility of midfielder Alessandro Florenzi will be utilised, for club side Roma he has played everywhere from left-wing to right-back.  A key-figure of Conte’s set-up is Sunderland flop, Emanuele Giaccherini, many Italians are in disbelief that he is still in the international picture. Southampton centre-forward Graziano Pelle is the best striker in the squad, says everything about the lack of quality they possess.

One of the better players in this team is ever-present Roma holding player, Daniele De Rossi. He is the highest scoring Italian midfielder of all time, with 17 goals from 102 caps. De Rossi has the heavy burden of replacing the extravagant yet, ageing, Andrea Pirlo, as the calm head in central midfield, but the highest paid player in Italian football should be able to handle that. He will sit in front of the defence and help soak up any pressure they come under. The experience of 38-year-old keeper Gianluigi Buffon will also be vital to this team.

How will they do?

The Italians are another one of those teams that always seem to be at their best when it comes to tournaments – they will need to be at this one in particular. All three of their group opponents have it within them to cause the Azzurri some real problems. Even if Italy does progress through the group-stage, they certainly will not repeat the feat of reaching the final like they did four years ago.

Star man – Lorenzo Insigne

The Napoli star is the shining light of this Italian squad; he is without doubt the most talented individual in the team. That is why it is absurd that he was left out of the international fold for almost two years; fortunately, Antonio Conte came to his senses back in March and decided to include him once again. Insigne excels when faced up against a full-back, he has an injection of pace and a lovely touch on the ball. The tricky winger could be the difference for this Italian side.

 

Republic of Ireland

Hard work and a positive approach to the game is how this Ireland team made it to France. Martin O’Neill’s team has confidence and composure. They was a nearly team under Trapattoni, but with O’Neill and Roy Keane at the helm their fortunes have changed. The Republic made it through courtesy of a play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In qualifying they snatched a late equaliser in Munich against Germany before then defeating the world champions 1-0 at home later on in their campaign. In their last three matches, Ireland has failed to secure a win.

The engine room is very important to this team, and with the dogged nature of Glenn Whelan and the gutsy play of James McCarthy they have two reliable individuals. Out wide they have the tireless James McClean, not always the most popular player, but he will do everything for the cause. Just off the striker in a number 10 is Wes Hoolahan. This guy is underrated; he plays with craft and guile and poses a huge threat to the opposition, which adds another dimension to this side. Centre-back is a bit of a suspect position for this team. With an ageing John O’Shea and an error-prone Richard Keogh, this could be the Achilles heel of the Irish team.

This is going to sound a bit odd, but full-backs Seamus Coleman and Robbie Brady will have a huge impact on the offensive end. Both of them love to get forward at every opportunity and look to provide an outlet out wide. Legendary striker Robbie Keane will be hoping to play some; he had fitness problems of late. The Irish captain is the nation’s record goalscorer with 67. Stoke City’s Jon Walters is another option up top. He may not be the most pleasing player on the eye by any means, but he does the job. Walters will probably line-up in a position slightly to the right-hand side.

How will they do?

Ireland will be a tough proposition for any of their group E opponents. They do have a stern test on their hands but this is a squad doesn’t lack any belief and will fancy their chances of making it through. However, it is usually star quality that guides teams to glory and the lack of that in this squad means that the Irish may not progress very far in this tournament. It would be a huge achievement for them to make it out of the group-stage.

Star man – Shane Long

The pacey Southampton forward is a valuable member of this squad. He loves to play on the shoulder and stretch defences. The 29-year-old Long is not exactly a potent goalscorer but he has come up with some massive goals in his time. In particular when he ran through one-on-on against Germany and despatched the ball away with aplomb to secure a monumental victory for the Republic. He needs to come up with more goals like that if Ireland is to make it through.

Sweden

The Swedes are usually a tough outfit when it comes to tournaments, as England have found out on several occasions. And this year they should be no different. Erik Hamren is a big fan of playing a conservative 4-4-2; they give little away but can be dangerous when breaking forward. Sweden ended up in third-place, having failed to beat either Austria or Russia. They earned a hard-fought 4-3 playoff victory over Scandinavian rivals, Denmark. In their last Euros warm-up game they beat Wales by three goals to nil.

Experienced centre-half, Andreas Granqvist is the man charged with leading the back four. The former Wigan Athletic man will likely be partnered by emerging youngster, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, 21. After three years in Portugal, he is just starting to become a regular figure in the Benfica side. The full-backs will be Celtic’s Mikael Lustig and Norwich City’s Martin Olsson. Moving up the field we find versatile midfielder, Sebastian Larsson, a proficient technician from dead-ball situations. Alongside Larsson will be journeyman, Kim Källström, he has been a fanatastic servant to this national team, taking to the field 128 times.

How will they do?
Given that Sweden finds themselves in an incredibly difficult group, they have a demanding task ahead of them if they are to make it through. The game against Ireland is make or break for this team. They simply have to win. A distinct lack of skill and talent in this squad could see an early exit for the Swedes.

Star man – Zlatan Imbrahimovic

The illustrious Zlatan Imbrahimovic is the heart and soul of this team. The fate of this Swedish side rests in the hands of the 34-year-old, he has to turn up and perform to the levels he is capable of playing at. The powerful centre-forward just about single-handedly guided his country to the Euros; he scored 11 of their 19 goals in qualifying. In addition to that he had the best season of his career at club level, scoring a ridiculous 50 goals and laying on 19 assists in all competitions. The self-proclaimed legend, Zlatan, is believed to be on the verge of a move to Manchester United this summer.

 

Euro 2016: Guide to Group C

This is a big day for Northern Ireland. They are hoping to cause a shock and overcome Poland. Following that, Ukraine has the mighty task of holding out Germany. So now let’s see what each of those teams have to offer.

Group C: Germany, Northern Ireland, Poland and Ukraine

Germany

The world champions head into the Euros on the back of a less than impressive qualification campaign. Two years ago in Brazil, they looked unbeatable. Since then, Germany has lost to Poland, USA, Ireland, France, England and Slovakia. Despite that, they still managed to win their group. Although Joachim Löw is without a few of the players he trusts most on the big stage, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Mirolsav Klose.

This is a team going through a transformation, nearly half the squad is under the age of 25 and very few of those players have tournament experience. The midfield has much creativity and flare, but it lacks steel. Bastian Schweinsteiger has held the centre of the park together for years for this German side; however, he has suddenly lost a yard of pace and is not as effective as he used to be. That means the weight falls mostly on Toni Kroos, the Real Madrid man is one of the best central midfielders in the world, but he needs help from somewhere. Mario Gomez is the only out-and-out striker in the squad, his experience could be crucial and a few goals would not go amiss.

How will they do?
Even though their form may not be great at this moment in time, the Germans always seem to find a little bit extra when it comes to tournaments. They will qualify from their group, most probably in top spot. It’s hard to say they won’t reach at least the semi-finals, and with the squad at their disposal, they could well go on to be victorious in France.

Star man – Thomas Müller

There are very few things that the Bayern Munich forward has failed to achieve in his footballing career, but European Championship glory is one of them. Müller will be doing his upmost to ensure he does everything he can to change that, with his tenacity and tireless exuberance. He is a very special player; he has a knack of going under the radar and being in the right place at the right time. It would be a shock if he wasn’t in the running for the golden boot yet again. Here is something to make your head spin a little; Germany’s main man is still only 26-years-old.

Northern Ireland

Michael O’Neil guided his team to their first tournament in thirty years and their first ever European Championship’s. They finished above Romania and Hungary to top their group, quite outstanding really. During qualifying they only succumbed to defeat once, which was down to their togetherness and resolute attitude. This team is not the biggest of scorers so defence is going to be highly important, fortunately, their back-line has bags of experience. Northern Ireland is currently the most in-form team at the Euros, having gone 12 games unbeaten.

The squad does have the odd Premier League player here and there, but it is mostly made up of individuals from English footballs lower tiers. That’s not all bad, though, as those players will be looking to grasp their opportunity and prove they are good enough to be playing at this level. The spine of the team is their biggest strength, in the form of Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley, Oliver Norwood and Kyle Lafferty. The latter scored 7 goals during qualification, he could have a huge say on their fortunes. Another man in great form is Will Grigg, the Wigan forward was on fire for his club this season.

How will they do?
Well, Northern Ireland finds themselves in a very tough group. There is no easy game when you are paired against Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Many believe they will not pick up any points, but given how well they have played over the last couple of years, they could shock a few people. A best third-place finish is a realistic target, providing they beat either Poland or Ukraine.

Star man – Steven Davis

The Southampton midfielder may be the captain of his country, but even with that honour, he is still an unsung hero. He has been through thick and thin with this squad, from the disbelieving days where they struggled to win a game, all the way to last year’s qualification glory. Davies is what makes this Northern Ireland team tick; he covers every blade of grass, and has popped up with the odd crucial goal. On and off the pitch, Davis will have a pivotal role this summer.

Poland

This is a good team with an interesting mixture of youth and experience. They qualified second in the group, just one point behind Germany. In the past, Poland relied heavily on counter-attacking football, but now they play with a much more methodical approach where they build attacks and always look dangerous. They scored 33 goals in qualifying, the most of any team. The offensive freedom the coach has granted does leave the door open a bit defensively. That means their chances of keeping their first ever clean sheet at the Euros is slightly doubtful.

As previously mentioned, this team likes to attack. Adam Nawalka was searching for a number 10 to play behind Robert Lewandowski, but failed in his attempts to find that. So he instead opted to play Arkadiusz Milik alongside their main striker, and the pair went on to form an almost telepathic partnership. 19-year-old Bartosz Kaputska is a skilful midfielder, who is very adept at linking up the play; he is one to keep an eye on. Dortmund’s right-back Lukasz Piszczek is a defensive mainstay of the back-line, his experience will come in handy. Between the sticks will guarantee a recognisable keeper, in Lukasz Fabianski, Artur Boruc or Wojciech Szczesny.

How will they do?
Just like they did in qualifying, Poland will be hoping to challenge Germany for first place. If they keep up their impressive goalscoring record, they will be hard to stop in the group stage. It would be a surprise if this team didn’t make it through. Should they get through, they will be an awkward opposition for anyone.

Star man – Robert Lewandowski

The Bayern Munich centre-forward is not only the best player in this Poland squad; he is without doubt one of the leading strikers in world football. Lewandowski is tall in stature, but agile across the turf, making him almost the complete attacker. His goal record speaks for itself; he has 34 international goals to his name. Most teams will try and double up on him, which will give license to some of his team-mates. If Lewandowksi doesn’t turn up, Poland will struggle.

Ukraine

This is a team that has benefited from the extended number of places at the tournament. After finishing third in their qualifying group, Ukraine faced Slovenia in a playoff match. Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side were victorious in their home leg before going on to hold out for a draw in the away tie. They are a defensively solid team, who only conceding four goals throughout qualifying. The Ukrainians head into the Euros on a four game winning-streak.

The manager has opted to take just six defenders – the lowest of every team. Yevhen Khacheridi is the rock of the back four, but not just that, he is a huge threat in the opposing penalty area. That’s where captain and set-piece master, Ruslan Rotan, comes in handy. The midfield maestro is the on-field leader, but it is legend Anatoliy Tymoshchuk who is the driving force in the dressing room. At 37, the former Bayern Munich man sees little action on the pitch these days; he has played 143 times for his country. This Ukrainian team lacks goals, so the pressure is piled on tricky forward Andriy Yarmolenko to deliver. Having been linked with clubs all over Europe, he has a price tag of £25m on his head.

Included in the squad is tireless striker, Roman Zozulya, strangely, he is currently banned from domestic football for six months due to him attacking a referee in a match earlier on this year.

How will they do?

In reality, Ukraine should not be challenging for first place in this group. They are a resilient team, who will work hard and be dangerous on the counter-attack. For them it all depends on the big players, but the lack of goals in the squad could prove fatal. An early knockout would not come as a surprise.

Star man – Yevhen Konoplyanka

The 26-year-old winger is the talisman of this squad; he has a pocket full of tricks and is very direct when facing up against a full-back. If for some reason he was unavailable for selection it would be catastrophic for Ukraine. The Sevilla wide-man is more than capable in front of goal; he has scored 13 times for his country. Also, if you cast your mind back to 2012, you may remember Konoplyanka despatching a wonderful curling effort past England goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

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.