With the world’s top footballing leagues nearing their climax, all eyes will soon be turning to France for the 2016 European Championships.
Let’s take a quick look ahead to what we could see in the tournament’s Group A.
France
The French national team will be hoping to win their third European Championship this year in the country’s fourth time as hosts of UEFA’s premier international tournament. They will aim to be the first victorious hosts since the French side of 1984, and Didier Deschamps’ side is well poised to come close.
After putting in a respectable performance at the 2014 World Cup where not much was expected of them, ‘Les Blues’ are one of the favourites this year with a dynamic, pacy, attacking team featuring the likes of Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.
The French squad is still dealing with the lingering blackmail saga involving Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena possibly interfering with team chemistry, but the fact remains that this is France’s best chance at glory since the 2006 World Cup.
Deschamps also has the unenviable task of trying to select a starting eleven of players who have flourished this season for their domestic clubs without having a lengthy period of time together at national level as France skipped the qualification tournament as hosts of Euro 2016.
Group stage prediction: first
Romania
The Romanians will be making their fifth appearance at the European Championships after maintaining the best defensive record of the qualifying tournament. That statistic can be somewhat misleading though as the ‘Tricolorii’ finished second behind Northern Ireland in what was the weakest of the qualifying groups, scoring 11 goals in their ten matches.
Romania has only one victory at the Euros which came on their run to the quarter finals at Euro 2000, and they will struggle to score against, and keep out, the better teams such as France.
Euro 2016’s updated 24-team format means for the first time four out of the five best performing third place teams in the group stages will qualify for the next round, so qualification to the knockout stages is a real possibility for the Romanian national team.
Group stage prediction: Third
Switzerland
The Swiss have never made it past the group stages of a European Championship tournament, but will be confident to progress from Group A. They reached the knockout rounds of the 2014 World Cup and qualified second behind England in their qualifying group, providing the groundwork for a good run at Euro 2016.
Switzerland is lead at the back by Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner and have quality in the midfield featuring the likes of Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) and Gokhan Inler (Leicester City).
However, it is their lack of firepower upfront which will limit how far Switzerland can progress in the tournament.
Group stage prediction: Second
Albania
Albania surprisingly qualified for the country’s first major men’s tournament by finishing second in their group behind Portugal (who they defeated 1-0), in a difficult group that also featured Denmark and Serbia. ‘The Eagles’ struggled to score against teams other than Armenia and will hope to soak up pressure from their more fancied opponents at the tournament and attack with long balls and from set pieces.
They are the second highest priced underdogs after Northern Ireland according to the bookmakers, and while they will not be tournament whipping boys, anything past qualifying for the tournament is just a bonus for this side’s already incredible run of results
Group stage prediction: Fourth
nickoldschool
Guest
Kaks I think you completely misread my post. Am not pessimistic nor negative I just think that the defence is still an issue as we have conceded many goals in recent years. its actually common knowledge in france that the defence is THE main issue as no one including deschamps is fully happy with Sagna, Kosczielny, Sacko or even Varane. As AZ says Evra has had a great season at Juve and although he will always be the knysna captain we have sort of forgiven him. Am glad that benzema, valbuena or ribery wont be here as I think the team is stronger without them. Same with Sacko, the least technical defender I have ever seen at this level. You mention shneiderlein and debuchy, both have been out of form at Man U and Bordeaux (debuchy was injured) and not sure they will make the list. I think Diarra will be there, not sure about Lacazette as he is against 4 strong guys. Perso I see them as co favourites with Germany, hardly pessimistic I would say?
Brian
Guest
3rd best looking squad in the tournament though a long way back from the powerhouses Spain & Germany. The negative with France is not that they lost in the Quarters of both 2012 and 2014 but that in both those games they lost without firing a shot. They looked a lot like Man Cty against Real.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Lacazette, laporte, Diarra, Debuchy. , Kondogbia, Schneiderlin They arent spoilt for choice and actually have a very good player in almost every position, no idea why you are so negative about France!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Yeah I agree. The defence is their weakness. I quite like Varane though. I'm reading Evra had a great season for Juve. One concern might be the importance of a solid defence when playing tournament football. Spain won 2012 conceding just the 1 goal. We'll see. I usually back Holland in Euros. But I'll be cheering for France in their absence.
nickoldschool
Guest
Don't get me wrong AZ, I really like what I am seeing now. Thing is they have been conceding many goals in recent times and a guy like Kosczielny costs you a penalty every 4-5 games (am exaggerating but not that much if you look at his stats at arsenal and france). Evra and Sagna are not getting any younger/faster. Having said that I love the midfield and options up front so yes anything less than a semi final would be a major disappointment. Re home pressure I think the people will be behind the team now that Benzema won't play (that's why deschamps and the FFF didn't pick him, the public would have booed the team from the get go).
AZ_RBB
Guest
I think that's a very pessimistic take on France. Thats a very very solid starting 11. Defence is good enough. Midfield is top 2/3 in Europe on form. I'm predicting Martial to have a massive tournament as he'll get much better service than he has at United. Home ground pressure might get to them but I can see them making the finals.
Petar Alavanja
Roar Pro
Thanks for the read and comment. You're correct it's France's third time hosting not fourth, I'll get that fixed. As for the victorious hosts comment I meant that no host country has been the tournament winner since the French side of 1984
Brian
Guest
Not sure about your stats France won Euro 2000 after 1984. Goals from Trezeguet & Wiltord. I also don't think they have hosted it 4 times that seems awfully high, the first Euros were in 1960 and I suspect this is France's second turn as host. As for the group it is hardly inspiring. France to win it in a canter one would think. Swiss for 2nd and maybe Albania to surprise because I can't think of any Romanian players, a far cry from the Hagi days.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Benzema is out, Valbuena won't make it either it seems (on form alone, he isn't banned), Sacko won't probably be considered (doping ) and its too little too late for Ribery who had recently made himself 'available' despite retiring a couple of years ago. Plenty of quality in the midfield and wings but no world class 9 and a fairly weak defence. Griezman may play 9 if Deschamps chooses to have Payet and Ben Arfa in the starting 11 but it seems unlikely. I think lloris- sagna,evra, kosczielny,varane- matuidi, kante(cabaye), pogba,payet- griezman, and either gignac/giroud/martial/coman at 9.
Freycinet1803
Roar Rookie
Can't really argue with any those predictions. The Swiss may cause some trouble come the knock-out stages.