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Taz.
Giants to meet in Euro 2016 group stage
The Netherlands and Portugal will meet in the group stage of Euro 2016.
Both sides were drawn in Group B alongside 2004 champions Greece and Slovenia. Italy and Belgium were also drawn together in the draw for the twenty-four team finals, which took place in Paris tonight. Denmark and first-time qualifiers Albania make up Group C. Hosts France were handed a straightforward task in Group A. Coach Didier Deschamps will breath a sigh of relief after Les Bleus were drawn to play Romania, Bosnia and Ireland. France will open the tournament on 10th June at Stade de France in Saint-Denis against Bosnia.
England face a more demanding task in Group E. Roy Hodgson's men will take on Fabio Capello's Russian side, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. There was also a difficult draw for Wales, who came through the play-offs after overcoming Norway. In their first major tournament in nearly sixty years, Chris Coleman's side were drawn to face world champions Germany, a dangerous Croatia side and Slovakia. Defending champions Spain will play Switzerland, Poland and Austria as they look to claim a third successive triumph at the finals.
"It will be a real challenge for us," Hodgson said following the draw. "We will be playing three well-organised, bright teams and we obviously have to treat them with a lot of respect. We have a little bit of familiarity with Ukraine having played them in the World Cup qualifying group but Russia and the Czech Republic will be new teams for us to encounter. Fabio has done an excellent job with Russia and there is a bit of added pressure there. Our planning began a long time before this evening and we will be as prepared as possible for the summer."
"We know it's going to be tough," Wales boss Coleman admitted. "I think Germany and Croatia were two of the teams you would want to avoid from the top two pots but on the day, it doesn't matter. We're at these finals for a reason and we've proved that surprises can happen. We've got some world-class players of our own and we can cause problems. It's going to be a fantastic experience for the players and we want to make it last. We'll go into the tournament with the pride in ourselves that we've shown throughout the last two years."
Group A: France (hosts), Romania, Bosnia, Ireland.
Group B: Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Slovenia.
Group C: Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Albania.
Group D: Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Austria.
Group E: England, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic.
Group F: Germany, Croatia, Wales, Slovakia.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:53
France's squad has come of age and Les Bleus look strong candidates to triumph on home soil.
The hosts qualified automatically for the finals and have played a series of friendlies over the past two years, giving coach Didier Deschamps plenty of time to experiment with his squad. France begin the tournament with three consecutive wins under their belt. Les Bleus eased past Austria, Turkey and Cyprus in the warm-up games but remain relatively untested against strong nations, apart from a 2-1 defeat against England back in November. They will hope that Deschamps has stumbled on the right formula through his tinkering.
The former Marseille coach has opted for a 4-5-1 hybrid in recent games, with star player Paul Pogba and Geoffrey Kondogbia bursting forward from centre midfield. Blaise Matuidi sits in front of the back four as the holding midfield player. Deschamps encourages his wingers to drift inside and support the lone striker, although there is still a lot of debate surrounding who will be on the flanks. Antoine Griezmann has enjoyed a superb season with Atlético and should start on the left, although his finishing prowess makes him a formidable false nine.
Matuidi has emerged as an increasingly essential player under Deschamps and he performs the most important job, guarding an aging defence. Gaël Clichy and Patrice Evra are competing to occupy the left-back spot and both are obvious targets for their advancing years. Pogba is possibly the tournament's most complete player. The dazzling Juventus midfielder can finish, tackle, pass and run all day and he is a good bet for the Golden Ball should France deliver on their clear potential to go all the way on home soil.
Les Bleus should have no problems in a kind group. A superbly well-rounded midfield and a pacy attack make them our pick for champions.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:54
Romania are a strong bet to make it through a straightforward group.
They ended qualifying as winners of Group F in a tight race with Greece. An impressive 3-1 win over their nearest rivals in the first game set the tone for the opening matches but Victor Piturca's side hit a roadblock midway through qualifying. An embarrassing defeat to the Faroe Islands and a 2-1 reverse in Athens threatened to derail their hopes but Romania kept their cool, beating Northern Ireland and Hungary to seal first place. An entertaining draw with Portugal and big wins over Georgia and Armenia has boosted morale before the finals.
Piturca is in his third spell as manager, having guided Romania to qualification in 2008. Nicknamed Satan in his homeland, the former Steaua coach has abandoned the defensive style of that team for an attacking narrow 4-2-3-1. The three attacking midfielders are charged with creating width in the team. Nicusor Stanciu has emerged as a great domestic talent and he will feature alongside Monaco midfielder Alexandru Maxim, a similarly gifted passer. Florin Gardos and Vlad Chiriches have established a stable centre-back pairing.
While their newly-found attacking talent should stand the Romanians in good stead against two weak sides in Bosnia and Ireland, Piturca will rely on the energy of experienced midfielder Alexandru Bourceanu to battle against Paul Pogba and company. Iasmin Latovlevici is likely to be used as a supersub on the left side of defence to offer some much-needed width. Striker Raul Rusescu scored twenty one goals for Sevilla in a prolific season but Piturca has doggedly stuck to playing the speedier Ciprian Marica as the lone man up front.
Romania look likely to comfortably make the second round but their imbalanced midfield should prove their undoing.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:55
Bosnia's stars are past their best but they stand a fair chance of progress from Group A.
While Safet Susic comfortably guided them to qualification in Group B, Bosnia trailed a long way behind eventual group winners Belgium and narrowly avoided the play-offs following Wales' slip-up against Cyprus. They impressively beat Chris Coleman's side 4-1 in Sarajevo and claimed a creditable late draw against the Belgians but a defeat against Israel threatened their place in France. Bosnia played all four warm-up games at home and struggled at times, losing against ten-man Peru and the Czech Republic.
Susic has enjoyed an unparalleled amount of success as Bosnia boss but he has had to adjust his style to fit an aging side. Edin Dzeko is not the feared striker that he was a few years ago, while Vedad Ibisevic has spent most of the season at Stuttgart as a substitute. Susic uses a 4-4-2 diamond shape, with Miralem Pjanic playing in the hole. The Roma midfielder struggled for form in qualifying and Sejad Salihovic emerged as Bosnia's main creative outlet, sitting as a deep playmaker to make use of his excellent passing range.
Dzeko has found it difficult to get gametime after joining Real Madrid but he carries the hopes of the nation as captain. He has saved his best performances for the national side, finishing as top scorer in qualifying with eleven goals. Aside from the impressive Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac, the backline needs protection and Salihovic's tendency to maraud forward could leave the back four exposed. Dzeko's clinical finishing and the creative talent of Pjanic could be the deciding factor in the race to be one of the best third-placed sides.
Bosnia should make it through as one of the best third-placed sides, but it is hard to see them going past the second round.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:55
Ireland endured a nightmare in 2012 and seem to be relying on the same old faces.
The Boys in Green survived a nerve-shredding race to qualify behind Germany in Group D. Poland's draw against Scotland ensured that Martin O'Neill's men would avoid the play-offs and Ireland can thank their strong start to the campaign for their qualification. An opening-day win over Scotland was followed by a crucial 1-1 draw away in Warsaw. Despite winning just two of the last six games, Ireland made it through. Their recent form includes a draw at home to Macedonia, a 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands and wins over minnows Latvia and Kazakhstan.
O'Neill inherited an aging team but the former Sunderland boss has handed a bigger role to the exciting James McCarthy in midfield, as well as bringing in English-born duo Alex McCarthy and Mark Noble. The West Ham midfielder has enjoyed a productive start to his career with Ireland and has a good eye for a pass. O'Neill's defensive 4-2-3-1 is set up to frustrate opponents and they only lost to Germany by one goal in both of their qualifying games. Shane Long is a dependable face up front, while the wingers work hard tracking back.
Seamus Coleman is a talented crosser of the ball but Ireland's attacking threat is mostly down to Long's bright movement. O'Neill's side defend solidly as a unit but they lack real depth in the squad. Fourteen years after his first tournament, Robbie Keane is somehow still on the plane as a regular starter, while Aiden McGeady has never quite delivered on his promise as a youngster at Celtic. Romania and Bosnia are not light years ahead of Ireland but their lack of creativity could prove fatal in a side set up to battle for a draw.
Ireland have a strong team spirit but that can only carry you so far and fourth place in Group A looks likely.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:56
The Netherlands are in a transitional phase going into the finals but can still expect to do well.
Many had worried that Louis van Gaal's departure after a hugely successful World Cup would damage Dutch momentum but veteran coach Guus Hiddink presided over an imperious qualifying campaign. Holland collected nine wins from ten games in Group A, beating main rivals Czech Republic at home and away to win the group by nine points. A surprise 1-0 defeat to Bulgaria in a warm-up game was the first defeat since November 2014 and a 0-0 draw away in Spain on the road to the tournament showed some renewed defensive strength.
Hiddink has abandoned Van Gaal's patient counter-attacking style for a more spectacular attacking 4-4-2, which almost morphs into a four-man attack at times. Arjen Robben again has a pivotal role on the right flank, while Memphis Depay is set to start on the left despite a disappointing first season with Manchester United. The former Chelsea man's strategy places a big burden on midfield duo Jordy Clasie and Nigel de Jong, who largely stay back and chase down midfield runners, meaning no starting place for the more creative Kevin Strootman.
Daley Blind has enjoyed an impressive season for United but he is likely to be shoehorned in at left-back, a position where that the Dutch lack any real strength. Clasie is the more flamboyant of the midfield pair and the Liverpool man is tasked with the main creative duties, spraying the ball out to the wings. De Jong's brutal style has earned criticism but he is a key part of the Netherlands' defensive efforts. Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar make for a clinical strike partnership that looks rather light on pace.
Hiddink's side is between two worlds. An awkward combination of old and new should see them make the quarter-finals.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:57
Portugal are more than a one-man team but the pressure is on Cristiano Ronaldo's colleagues.
They have traditionally struggled in qualifying but Fernando Santos' well-drilled side won six of eight matches to finish top of Group I. Portugal's only defeat came in Copenhagen as Denmark won 3-2, leading up to a close-run final two games. Two calm performances in wins over Serbia and Albania ensured that Portugal finished four points ahead of the Danes. They face the hardest challenge of the top seeds but drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in Amsterdam in November and collected wins over Uruguay and Switzerland in friendlies.
Santos is known for his defensive approach and the former Greece boss places great importance on a solid backline. Pepe has enjoyed a career renaissance since joining Manchester United last summer and the centre-back is complemented well by his partner Bruno Alves. The highly-rated William Carvalho sits in the holding midfield of a defensive 4-3-3, with João Moutinho and João Mário also lying fairly deep. Ronaldo will start on the left side of the attack but the Real Madrid talisman has license to roam wherever he wants.
The thirty one year old is Portugal's clear superstar and remains almost impossible to handle on his day. He has struggled to find his best form at major tournaments in recent years but arrives having led Real to the title. Ronaldo's attacking partners are nowhere near his standard. Nani has been exiled from Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal, while Nélson Oliveira is yet to deliver the goods for the national side. Moutinho has thrived since joining Manchester City and Santos will rely on him to carve out the chances for Portugal's misfiring attack.
Portugal suffer similar problems to the Dutch side and they will likely meet the same fate in the quarter-finals.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:58
Greece are no longer the rigid defensive side of the past and this may prove their undoing.
Claudio Ranieri shook off a disastrous start to qualifying that saw Greece win just one of their first four games. Group F was possibly the weakest set of teams and a late run was enough to elevate Greece into second place. A crucial 2-1 win over Romania kickstarted their campaign and Ranieri went on to lead the Greeks to a series of impressive victories, including a 4-0 win over Northern Ireland. Greece were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Spain in their first warm-up game and also claimed creditable draws against Sweden and Switzerland.
Ranieri is famous for his tactical experimentation and the Italian found a winning formula after some early struggles. The former Chelsea coach ditched the ultra-defensive style that Greece perfected in 2004, opting for a more expressive style with Giannis Fetfatzidis behind the two strikers in a 4-3-1-2. Ranieri has introduced an energetic pressing style to the side and the stamina of Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Giannis Maniatis makes them perfect choices at the core of the side. Thanos Petsos will sit slightly behind them at the base of midfield.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kyriakos Papadopoulos are a fearsome partnership in defence and Ranieri will be confident in his side's ability to hold onto a lead. Thirty-four year old Dimitris Salpingidis is Greece's most in-form striker alongside Kostas Mitroglou. Although both execute their pressing duties well, Greece lack a killer edge and if Fetfatzidis is shackled effectively, they may struggle to create chances. Their counter-attacking strength could give them a reasonable chance against their stronger opponents in Group B.
Greece's hard-working style should make it tough for their opponents but it is difficult to see them escaping a difficult group.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 11:59
Slovenia defied expectations to qualify but look to be out of their depth in Group B.
Srecko Katanec's side looked sunk after three straight defeats in qualifying. Although they tested England in a 2-1 defeat, further disappointments against Switzerland and Lithuania left Slovenia fifth in Group E at the halfway point. A last-minute win in San Marino was unconvincing but it kickstarted their campaign. Slovenia beat Estonia and claimed a vital point away in Basel to finish third. After easing past Hungary in the play-offs, Slovenia lost three of their four friendlies but performed reasonably in a draw against Russia.
Katanec aimed to frustrate bigger sides in qualifying with a defensive 5-4-1 setup that often brings eight players into their own half to defend. Fiorentina midfielder Josip Ilicic is at the tip of the midfield, playing off striker Tim Matavz who was Slovenia's top scorer in qualifying. They are remarkably strong in goal and both Samir Handanovic and Jan Oblak are among Europe's finest goalkeepers. Katanec deploys two defensive wing-backs, with Blaz Vrhovec acting as an anchor man in the middle behind the talented Monaco midfielder Kevin Kampl.
Ilicic is Slovenia's best outfield player and his confidence on the ball makes him stand out in a team designed to deny their opponents space. An obvious target is the left flank, where veteran striker Milivoje Novakovic has been converted into a left wing-back. The thirty seven year old's instinct to bomb forward could cause Slovenia plenty of problems. Katanec's reactive style offers little entertainment for neutrals but they should be difficult to break down despite lacking any real stars beyond the man between the posts.
Slovenia have little chance of making it out of the groups, although their ultra-defensive style should maintain some pride.
Dan
Taz.
Shedender
Taz.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:00
Italy's new generation has plenty of promise but they must prove their major tournament nous.
Antonio Conte picked up the pieces after the Azzurri's early exit in Brazil and although Italy qualified comfortably, the former Juventus coach used the road to the finals to experiment with his side. The Italians stumbled through their opening games, losing in Croatia and Bulgaria in their first four games before winning six consecutive qualifiers in mostly unconvincing fashion. Although the Azzurri looked impressive as they beat England earlier this month, a 1-0 defeat in Wales and a draw against Slovakia showed their inconsistency.
Conte used a 3-5-2 to great success with Juventus and he will stick to his familiar setup at the finals. The Bianconeri will supply the trio of centre-backs in the impeccable Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli. Andrea Pirlo once ran the show from a deep position but Conte has shifted his best passers into more advanced roles following Pirlo's retirement. Daniele De Rossi will act as a more traditional holding player behind Lazio's talismanic creative midfielder Antonio Candreva and the all-rounder Claudio Marchisio.
Mario Balotelli misses the tournament through injury, meaning that Giuseppe Rossi will lead the line for the Azzurri. Conte has managed to get the best out of Stephan El Shaarawy and the Milan striker is set to shine playing off Rossi. Italy's biggest struggle has seemed to be motivation in recent years and the absence of the temperamental Mario Balotelli could be a blessing in disguise. Conte is likely to stick with veteran Manuel Pasqual as his left wing-back but Matteo Darmian offers more far more security on the right flank.
Italy have the tournament's strongest defence and are serious contenders. They should reach the semi-finals at the minimum.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:01
Belgium may be statistically the world's best team but they have a familiar set of weaknesses.
Belgium's form over the past two years has been imperious. Marc Wilmots' side are unbeaten since losing to Argentina in the quarter-finals of the World Cup and easily topped their qualifying group, finishing with eight wins and two draws. The Golden Generation looked irresistible at times, especially in a superb 4-0 win away in Israel in the final qualifier. Their warm-up games have been equally as impressive, winning all three including a brilliant 3-2 win against Spain in Seville where Belgium's tremendous attack was on full display.
Wilmots has stuck keenly to his 4-3-3 setup from two years ago, although Kevin De Bruyne is moved out to the right flank instead of the central role he played at the World Cup. There are no real natural wingers in the side and Eden Hazard will also drift inside from the left to create chances. The Belgium coach has his favourites and it would be little surprise if Wilmots consigned the likes of Radja Nainggolan and Marouane Fellaini to the bench, in favour of the energy of Steven Defour and Mousa Dembélé in the middle of the park.
Thomas Vermaelen's injury means Belgium are likely to play two natural full-backs. Club Brugge right-back Thomas Meunier is an obvious weak point in the side and the aging Jelle van Damme is also likely to start. Simon Mignolet will be preferred to Thibaut Courtois, who is still recovering from a calf injury. Wilmots is yet to decide who will operate as the lone striker. Romelu Lukaku has missed much of the season through injury but looked sharp in the warm-up games, while Christian Benteke has struggled for regular football at Juventus.
Belgium's attacking strength is superb but the defence looks weaker than two years ago. They should still make the quarter-finals.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:02
An inconsistent Denmark side faces a tough task to qualify for the second round in Group C.
The Danes pushed Portugal all the way in qualifying, losing just once in Lisbon before going unbeaten through the final seven games to finish second in the group. Although this run did include a magnificent 3-2 win over the Portuguese and a good performance away in Serbia, Morten Olsen's men dropped easy points against Armenia and Albania at home. They looked much-improved in beating Poland and Wales in their warm-up games and briefly made things difficult for both Germany and England before falling short.
Olsen's defensive shape places a lot of importance on Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen as a creative force. The emergence of Monaco man Pierre-Emile Højbjerg takes some of the pressure off Eriksen but Højbjerg operates in a midfield duo that mostly stays back and tries to pick out a pass. Michael Krohn-Dehli and the bright Viktor Fischer are charged with tracking back and forth down the flanks. Nicklas Bendtner is the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation and the Augsburg man is relied upon to hold up the ball and combine with Eriksen.
Beyond their starting line-up, Olsen has admitted that Denmark lack real quality and he will pray that his first eleven remain unscathed. Bendtner has found consistency in the Bundesliga and scored an impressive sixteen goals this season, while Højbjerg has also enjoyed a superb first season with Monaco. Olsen's style could struggle to challenge a well-drilled defence, especially if Eriksen is well-marked. First-choice centre-backs Daniel Agger and Simon Kjær will both miss the first two games against Italy and Albania through injury.
A difficult draw could prove too much for Denmark and they are unlikely to reach the second round.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:03
Albania are rank outsiders and probably have less technical quality than any other side.
After collecting just eight points from eight games in qualifying, Albania were huge underdogs in the play-offs against Turkey. Gianni De Biasi's side looked dead and buried after losing 2-0 in the first leg at home but produced a miraculous 3-0 away win in Kayseri to qualify for their first major tournament. Albania won just twice in qualifying, home and away against Serbia, and scored only seven goals. Their preparation games have largely been against weak opposition, beating Andorra and Belarus but also drawing at home to Luxembourg.
De Biasi has favoured a compact 4-3-2-1 formation, designed to minimise space in midfield. The former Udinese boss will make his side difficult to break down and stifling to play against. Taulant Xhaka and Herolind Shala are limited but hard-working players and they will sit in front of a tough holding midfield trio. Amir Abrashi is suspended for the first game against Denmark but he will marshal a line of hard-tackling central players, including the intelligent converted centre-back Loret Sadiku. The back four concentrate on staying in shape.
There is no real source of goals in the Albanian side. Their best bet is Zürich striker Armando Sadiku, who has a great shot for a side that must convert their few chances, but he started just one of their warm-up games. De Biasi is wise to focus on an effective defence. Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha is an excellent shot-stopper, while captain Lorik Cana and Mërgim Mavraj are both regular faces for two solid sides in Lazio and Köln. Albania lack spark in midfield and their narrow shape means that they pose little to no threat out wide.
Albania could frustrate opponents but progression from the group stage would be a huge surprise.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:04
Spain have something to prove again and the defending champions are a major threat.
Vicente del Bosque's side were expected to qualify comfortably from an easy group and Spain won eight of their ten games to finish top of Group C. A humbling 1-0 defeat against Macedonia in Granada in their final game was a flicker of the complacency that saw them exit early at the World Cup, while La Furia Roja also lost 3-0 away to Slovakia. Del Bosque has rotated the squad in the warm-up games and Spain recorded a limp draw against the Netherlands and a defeat against Belgium before narrowly beating Greece and Finland.
Many had mourned the end of tiki-taka after their humiliation in Brazil but possession play remains Spain's biggest asset. Cesc Fàbregas plays a more important role than ever, constructing the majority of their moves. He retains a phenomenal understanding with his former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets, long regarded as Spain's most complete player. Much of the side's width is created by the two full-backs. The injured Jordi Alba will be hugely missed but Juan Bernat's lightning pace makes him a strong replacement.
The infamous 5-1 defeat against Holland in the World Cup saw Spain's high defensive line repeatedly breached and a clinical counter-attacking side could cause them problems. David Silva and Pedro both frequently cut inside to join the spiky Diego Costa, meaning César Azpilicueta and Bernat need to overlap frequently. Sergio Ramos and Gerard Piqué are the tournament's strongest centre-back pairing and both have enjoyed superb seasons, lifting La Liga and the Champions League respectively.
Spain will be extremely motivated by the events of 2014 and will be disappointed to reach anything less than the final.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:05
Group D is difficult to call but Switzerland probably have the edge in the race for second place.
Although Switzerland were no match for England in qualifying, losing 2-0 at home and 4-0 at Wembley, Vladimir Petkovic's side comfortably made it to the finals by finishing five points ahead of Slovenia. An early defeat to Estonia at home shuddered the Swiss into life and they collected vital wins over their nearest challengers. Petkovic sought to challenge his side in their warm-up games and Switzerland looked impressive in a 1-1 draw in France in March, although they were then soundly beaten by Slovakia and Portugal before the finals.
Petkovic has experimented with numerous formations but the former Lazio coach has settled on a slightly unadventurous 4-1-4-1 shape in recent games. Blerim Dzemaili sits just in front of the defence, behind a combative midfield duo of Granit Xhaka and Gökhan Inler. The spine of the team is mostly settled but Petkovic is yet to decide who will partner Timm Klose at centre-back. The attacking threat comes mostly from the wings, particularly on the left flank where the superb full-back Ricardo Rodríguez frequently overlaps with Valentin Stocker.
Xhaka has a great eye for a pass in addition to his committed style of defending and Petkovic will hope that he can combine well with his former Basel team-mate Xherdan Shaqiri, who will cut inside from the right wing and is capable of scoring spectacular goals. The Bayern man's finishing talent may well be needed. Switzerland typically field Haris Seferovic as a lone striker but the Sevilla player is yet to break ten goals in a league campaign. The pace of Josip Drmic makes him a good backup option should the Swiss need to chase the game.
A solid core group of players should see Switzerland into the second round behind Spain.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:06
Poland boast a genuine superstar in Robert Lewandowski but must protect their leaky defence.
Failure to beat Scotland in their final game forced Poland into the play-offs behind Ireland, where they recorded two narrow wins over Montenegro. The highlight of qualifying was undoubtedly a 1-0 win over the world champions Germany in Warsaw, although they suffered a chastening 5-0 defeat in the return fixture and also lost at home to Georgia. Recent results have also been disappointing. Two defeats against Denmark and Croatia were followed up by a flat 1-1 draw against Hungary and a shaky 1-0 home win over the Faroe Islands.
Coach Adam Nawalka favours a counter-attacking 4-5-1 that utilises the immense pace of wingers Jakub Blaszczykowski and Maciej Rybus to break quickly down the flanks and create chances for the lethal Lewandowski. Grzegorz Krychowiak has built up an excellent reputation over the past two seasons with Sevilla and is an energetic presence in defensive midfield. Full-back Lukasz Piszczek has a strong partnership with his Dortmund colleague Blaszczykowski on the right and is the more attacking full-back by some distance.
Lewandowski's movement puts him among the best strikers at the tournament, but Krychowiak's performances will be essential. The former Bordeaux midfielder must lead a lightweight-looking central midfield while protecting the defence. The sturdy Hoffenheim centre-back Kamil Glik offers some reassurance but Nawalka has struggled to find a left-back of international quality. Poland are likely to play inexperienced Hapoel Tel-Aviv defender Daniel Dziwniel, who inspires little confidence against the likes of Pedro and Xherdan Shaqiri.
In a tight group, Poland are likely to pick up at least one win and should advance to the second round.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:07
Austria are a much-improved team but lack a consistent attacking threat.
They sealed a place in the final for only the second time after finishing second in Group G behind Russia. A strong home record was the key to Austria's success, winning four and drawing one of their home ties. Marcel Koller's side collected important victories over Montenegro and Sweden and eased past Moldova and Liechtenstein, but were also thrashed 5-0 by Russia. Confidence was restored by a 0-0 draw against England at Wembley, while Austria also led against France before three late goals saw them lose 3-1 in Lyon.
Koller has stuck to a 4-2-3-1 shape since his appointment in 2013, with three central attacking midfielders regularly swapping positions. Marko Arnautovic failed to recover from a back injury in time to take his usual place, so the former Köln boss has a dilemma on his hands. Veteran Andreas Ivanschitz was recalled to impressive effect in qualifying and will claim one place in that trio. David Alaba is the standout player and he fills a box-to-box role in the centre, alongside the more defensively-minded Julian Baumgartlinger.
Much of the team's width is created by Stuttgart defender Christian Fuchs, who is a superb crosser of the ball. Winger Martin Harnik was Austria's top scorer in qualifying and could be a candidate to start in attack. Rennes striker Philipp Hosiner has started the last three games up front, despite scoring just three league goals this season. Koller can count on a top-quality centre-back in Aleksandar Dragovic and right-back György Garics will also largely stay back, leaving one of Harnik or free-kick specialist Zlatko Junuzovic to plunder the right flank.
Austria are unlikely to be outclassed but will struggle to score goals and should exit in the group stages.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:08
England arrive in France with renewed optimism and an impressive crop of young players.
Roy Hodgson's side made light work of qualification, ending the campaign with a unique record of ten wins from ten games. Recent friendly results will have been disappointing for an England boss, including defeats to Uruguay and Italy and an uninspiring draw against Austria at Wembley. Two decisive victories over Switzerland stood out for the Three Lions, who ended qualifying with a 4-0 win over the Swiss. Laboured wins over Slovenia and Estonia hinted at complacency, while England have also suffered the curse of pre-tournament injuries.
Hodgson may need to adapt his side in the group stages. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere will both miss the finals through injury, while a particular problem could be in goal. Joe Hart and Fraser Forster have travelled to France but will miss the opening game against the Czech Republic, handing John Ruddy an imposing task between the posts. England are likely to setup in a 4-2-3-1 shape, anchored by the industrious James Milner and Jordan Henderson. Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will drift inside on the wings.
Wayne Rooney lifted the title as Manchester United captain in May but Hodgson must figure out where to fit the skipper into the line-up. Daniel Sturridge has staked a strong claim to lead the line and Rooney could slip into Wilshere's role behind the striker. Full-backs Luke Shaw and Kyle Walker provide plenty of energy but remain slightly suspect defensively. Centre-back has emerged as England's main issue and both Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill's aging legs were caught out painfully at the World Cup two years ago.
Several bright attacking players make England exciting to watch but a defence in transition could be exposed in the quarter-finals.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:09
Russia are well-placed to advance to the knockout stages from a remarkably even Group E.
Fabio Capello continued his impressive qualifying record with the Russians, losing just once on the road to the tournament and finishing three points clear. The highlight was a stunning 5-0 win in Moscow over nearest challengers Austria. Russia conceded twelve goals in ten games in qualifying as they looked to play opponents off the park and comfortable friendly wins over Macedonia and Northern Ireland showed off their attacking talent. A 3-2 home defeat to Bosnia in November was an example of the downsides of an all-or-nothing style.
Among the dullest sides at the World Cup two years ago, Capello's promise to change Russia's defensive approach after their group-stage exit saved his job. He faces a fascinating rematch with England in Russia's final group game, which could decide top spot. Capello will deploy a high-pressure, high-risk 4-4-2 at the finals. Artem Dzyuba has scored fifteen goals for Spartak this season and his physicality will be important up front. The clever but inconsistent Alan Dzagoev and hard-working Denis Glushakov are well-suited midfield partners.
Capello has stumbled upon a style that fits the pace and stamina of full-backs Georgy Schennikov and Igor Smolnikov, who will be crucial for Russia to avoid being caught out on the counter-attack. Their struggle to find a recognised right winger could be a blessing in disguise. Veteran Igor Denisov is likely to deputise and offer some much-needed defensive stability. The prolific Alexandr Kokorin is also a fine option from the bench. Two potentially heated games against Ukraine and England will be a test of Russia's mentality.
Russia's formidable attack should carry them through in second place, although a well-organised side should pick them off in the second round.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:10
Ukraine stumbled upon another slice of fortune with a kind group-stage draw.
After failing to win any of their final four qualifiers, Ukraine breathed a huge sigh of relief when a lacklustre 1-1 draw in Belarus confirmed them as the best third-placed side in qualifying. Mykhaylo Fomenko's side finished just one point ahead of Macedonia after a nightmare run of results, including a stifling draw in Luxembourg. Marko Devic's late goal in Minsk ensured they avoided the play-offs. Ukraine have played four warm-up games at home on the road to France, hammering Lithuania 5-0 in the final match after a draw with Scotland.
Fomenko has wisely played to the strengths of his four outstanding attacking players in a flexible 4-2-3-1 shape. Talented wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka frequently form a triple-pronged strikeforce alongside the in-form Roman Zozulya. Fomenko has built a side that are comfortable in possession and play attractive, passing football focussed around the tricky playmaker Roman Bezus. Assured centre-backs Yaroslav Rakitskyi and Yevhen Khacheridi are both capable of playing the ball out from defence.
The Ukrainian coach has assembled a versatile young squad and Krasnodar left-back Eduard Sobol looks like a superb talent. Fomenko will require consistent performances from his midfield duo and both Denys Garmash and Sergiy Sydorchuk must impose themselves on the defensive side of the game. Ukraine will also be sweating over their goalkeeper. Andriy Pyatov has struggled to hold down a starting spot after a series of high-profile mistakes and he could lose his spot to the young Dinamo Kiev stopper Maxym Koval.
One win may be enough for Ukraine to claim a place in the second round and an even group gives them a decent chance of progress.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:11
The Czech Republic are lacking in individual stars but play an entertaining brand of attacking football.
Despite stumbling to defeats to the Netherlands and Turkey at home, the Czechs confirmed second place in qualifying thanks to a dramatic 3-2 win away in a fiery atmosphere in Istanbul. Pavel Vrba's well-drilled side won four of their five away games and finished two points ahead of the Turks. A home defeat to Israel in November was disappointing but the Czech side arrive at the tournament following a confidence-boosting 1-1 draw against Argentina, before a good win away in Bosnia and an entertaining 2-2 draw with Albania.
Vrba was highly popular at Viktoria Plzen for his side's free-scoring style and the fifty two year old has transformed the Czechs into an exciting side that looks to dominate possession. Like many sides at the finals, they start in a 4-2-3-1 setup with two hard-working central midfielders. Vladimir Darida has endured a difficult first season with Tottenham but his stamina will be vital alongside the impressive Lukas Vacha. Vrba prefers two traditional wide men playing crosses into David Lafata, who is a similarly old-school striking poacher.
Left winger Ladislav Krejci is a confident, classy player and definitely one to watch. On the right flank, Borek Dockal is an equally skilful crosser of the ball with a superb passing range. At thirty four years old, Lafata is one of the oldest strikers at the finals and a fairly one-dimensional pure finisher who may struggle to find space. Udinese man Matej Vydra is likely to be used from the bench. The defence is likely to need to be on top form and captain Petr Cech must display all of his organisational qualities between the posts.
The Czechs are in the closest group but could find it difficult to break down superior defences and may miss out on the second round.
Dan
Taz.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:12
Germany's latest crop of outstanding young talent makes them one of the tournament favourites.
After an early stumble in defeat to Poland, the world champions raced through qualifying, winning nine of their ten games as Joachim Löw looked to experiment. Germany have won ten consecutive games on the road to the finals, largely against mediocre opposition. Löw sought to take the pressure off the bookmakers' favourites by playing all four warm-up games away from home. A devastating 5-0 win over nearest rivals in Poland showed off the lethal ability of the latest group of superstars to step off the production line.
Löw has stepped away from the 4-2-3-1 that brought Germany glory in Brazil and he will use a 4-4-1-1 formation at the finals. The international retirement of Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger's injury record has seen their shape change to protect the defence. Schweinsteiger remains in a deeper holding role alongside playmaker Toni Kroos. Miroslav Klose's retirement has left Löw pondering his replacement. Mario Gómez started most qualifiers but Kevin Volland's brilliant hat-trick against Israel in their final friendly poses a dilemma.
Germany have by far the deepest squad in the tournament and the likes of Julian Draxler, Ilkay Gundögan and André Hahn are all capable of changing a game. Löw managed to find a winning mentality in his side two years ago but the loss of experienced personalities like Lahm and Klose is a big blow, while Mesut Özil is a surprising omission from the squad. Erik Durm is a clear weak spot at left-back, although the presence of his Dortmund team-mate Marco Reus after he missed out on the World Cup through injury is a great boost.
The Germans are not quite the unstoppable force of the World Cup but they should light up the tournament until at least the semi-finals.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:13
Croatia must capitalise on a hugely talented midfield to make another run in the competition.
Niko Kovac's side matched Italy for much of qualifying but ended four points behind the Azzurri after a late stumble against Bulgaria and a draw with Norway. The highlight of their campaign came in an excellent early run as youngster Marko Pjaca's goal sealed victory over the Italians. Croatia lost their opening friendly against Chile in March but rallied to win their next three warm-up games. Pjaca also shined in a classy 2-0 away win in Poland before two easy wins over much weaker opponents in Montenegro and Slovenia.
Kovac will use a compact 4-2-3-1 that can occasionally struggle to create width. Darijo Srna and Ivan Strinic will bomb forward from full-back to overload defences. Luka Modric has been one of the most consistent midfielders in Europe for a number of years but the emergence of Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Rakitic's superb form means that Croatia have one of the tournament's strongest cores. Kovac will push the more direct Rakitic into an advanced position, playing in the number ten role behind the in-form striker Mario Mandzukic.
Pjaca has struggled to hold down a place in Dinamo Zagreb's starting line-up but a lack of natural right-sided players means the twenty one year old has become a regular face under Kovac. Srna's assistance will be vital on the right flank. Ivan Perisic will start on the left but he also has a tendency to cut inside and Croatia can sometimes struggle to get into the opposing area. Dejan Lovren is much-improved at centre-back but he can struggle to marshal his defence into shape and Kovac has frequently switched his partner at the back.
Croatia should comfortably make it through Group E but further progress will depend on their opponents in the second round.
Taz.
Published on 05/06/16 at 12:14
Wales must pull off their latest miracle to make it through a challenging group.
After a late draw against Cyprus catapulted Chris Coleman's side into the play-offs, Wales were on cloud nine after a 2-0 win over Norway in the first leg. There was yet more drama to come as the Dragons found themselves 2-0 down going into extra time in Oslo. Coleman threw on two substitutes and an incredible three goals arrived in the space of three minutes, sending the travelling Welsh fans into absolute pandemonium. After a stunning win over Italy in May, Wales will arrive at the tournament with genuine belief in their prospects.
It is difficult to believe that Coleman lost his first five games as Wales manager. The former Fulham manager has struck gold by harnessing Gareth Bale's superstar status and building a steely defence. James Chester and Ashley Williams have formed an excellent partnership at the back and a 4-5-1 is well-suited to remaining solid at the back. Joe Allen has worked hard to improve his defensive play and he plays a key role in Coleman's hard-working style. Lone striker Sam Vokes serves mainly to hold up the ball and bring Bale into play.
The Real Madrid man enjoyed his best season yet at the Bernabéu, winning La Liga for the first time. Bale will start on the right wing and cut inside to cause havoc. Coleman is likely to play Hal Robson-Kanu in a very different role on the left flank, chasing down opposing runners, while Ben Davies sprays crosses into the box from deep. Joe Ledley's injury means Wales could look lightweight in midfield and Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey must capture his best form to reduce their frequent reliance on long balls to the target man Vokes.
Wales have used Bale to devastating effect but if their superstar can be shackled, it could be tough to escape the group stages.