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Group F is the least glamorous of the Euro 2016 tournament, but that does not mean it will lack excitement and competitiveness.
Portugal
Portugal qualified for Euro 2016 by topping what turned out to be a pretty straightforward group for them.
Obviously they Portuguese have the best player in the tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo, whom they have been overreliant on in recent years.
In what looks to be the final tournament at the peak of his powers, Ronaldo will need help from fellow veterans Pepe, William Carvalho, and João Moutinho, along with youngsters like Joao Mario and new Bayern Munich signing Renato Sanches if Portugal are to make a deep run in the tournament.
The Portuguese should top the weakest group in the tournament and avoid a top team until at least the quarter-finals.
Group stage prediction: first
Iceland
Iceland became the smallest nation to reach the European Championships, by shockingly qualifying in front of Turkey and Holland.
Six clean sheets in ten qualifiers and two victories over Holland will give Iceland confidence that they can get a result against anyone in Group F.
With their best known player being Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson, Icelandic fans will be happy with their draw for Euro 2016 and look to secure qualification to the next round with a third-place finish.
Group stage prediction: third
Hungary
One of the world’s best teams from the end of WWII to the late 1950s, Hungary qualified for their first international tournament since 1986 by finishing third to Northern Ireland and Romania, then defeating Norway over two legs in a playoff series.
In a similar situation to other minnows at Euro 2016, they benefited from the increase of teams from 16 in past tournaments to 24 and are likely going to be passengers.
As the tournament’s biggest underdogs, along with Albania, Hungary’s stay in France will be short, but a fun ride for a nation who haven’t had much to cheer about in terms of national football for three decades.
Group stage prediction: fourth
Austria
The Austrians qualified for the European Championships for the first time (they were hosts in 2008 so skipped qualification) by topping their group undefeated over Russia and Sweden.
The most fancied Austrian side in recent memory features the likes of recent EPL winner Christian Fuchs, Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, attacking threat Marko Arnautovic of Stoke City and a host of others playing in England and Germany.
There is even an A-League connection, with striker Marc Janko, who was prolific for Sydney FC, scoring 16 times in 24 appearances for the Sky Blues in the 2014-2015 season.
Austria have found success with their quick, counter-attacking play, and some feel they are dark horses. While that may be a bit of an overstatement, Austria is certainly capable of causing an upset and topping Group F if the Portuguese are not up to the task.
Group stage prediction: second
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