Featuring the two-time defending champions, a tournament dark horse and two recent semi-finalists, Group B is poised to be one of the most interesting groups at Euro 2016.
Spain
Spain will look to bounce back from their poor showing at the 2014 World Cup by attempting to be the first nation to win three European Championships in a row.
Though the Spanish have been knocked off their perch as the top international side in the world, the quality of the players at Vicente Del Bosque’s disposal means Spain are still one of the favourites at Euro 2016.
Possibly as a direct result of the poor showing in Brazil, Del Bosque has opted to leave out established names like Diego Costa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata in favour of fresher faces.
The main concern for the Spanish is what some would consider a weak forward line with Juventus’ Alvaro Morata joined in the forward ranks by lesser known players like Bilbao’s Aduriz, Celta Vigo’s Nolito and Real Madrid’s Lucas Vasquez. However, there are still plenty of players capable of causing their opponents grief from defence and midfield.
Spain will be out to prove their poor defence of the World Cup was merely a glitch as opposed to a system collapse, but they cannot take anyone in Group D lightly.
Group Stage Prediction: First
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic earned their way to Euro 2016 by topping their qualifying group over surprise packets Iceland and Euro 2016 group rivals Turkey.
Only Petr Cech and a returning Tomas Rosicky remain from the semi-finalist Euro 2004 side and the squad will have to rely more on the likes of Hoffenheim youngster Pavel Kaderabek and Hertha Berlin playmaker Vladimir Darida, in the outfield.
Cech had an outstanding first season at Arsenal and talisman Rosicky recently made a successful return to football against Malta in an international friendly, but it will still take a solid team effort for the Czech’s to make it to the knockout stages.
The Czech team is capable of achieving results as they showed in qualifying, but the glory days of Czech football have passed and a spot in the Round of Sixteen is unlikely.
Group Stage Prediction: Fourth
Turkey
Turkey benefited from the new European Championship format as they qualified without the need of a playoff after finishing as the best performing third-placed team.
The Turks will be lead by star player Arda Turan of Barcelona, but also feature quality in the form of Bayer Leverkusen’s Haka Calhanoglu and Besiktas’ Oguzhan Ozyakup. Legendary Turkish coach Fatih Terim is currently in his third shift as national team boss and will hope to replicate Turkey’s last effort at the European Championships, a semi-final showing at Euro 2008.
Turkey showed they could beat the big sides as they defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in qualifying, but have also recently dropped points to teams they should beat like Iceland and Latvia. This side has the talent to make a similar run at this year’s tournament, but it all depends on what kind of mood they’re in.
Group Stage Prediction: Third
Croatia
My dark horse pick for Euro 2016, Croatia qualified second in their group behind Italy in a drama filled campaign that included crowd trouble, a swastika burned into their home pitch and the sacking of their coach.
This very talented side mixes a blend of star veterans like Dario Srna, Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic with talented youngsters like Mateo Kovacic and Alen Halilovic. While they pose an attacking threat to worry any side in the tournament, they are a top heavy side and their defence may hinder how far they can go.
Eighteen years after the Croatian side of the 1998 World Cup made history with their third place finish, this Croatia side has the chance to make a similar run at Euro 2016.
Group Stage Prediction: Second
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