The Dark Horses of the Euros

It feels very weird when I say that it's under three months until France kick off the 2016 edition of the European Championships against Romania. It seems like only yesterday when Mario Gotze was endeared to the German faithful with the extra time strike to crown the Germans World Champions. With the Euros closer than most people think, here is a few sides who I think could cause a few threats to the favourites.

Poland

Key Men

Robert Lewandowski struck 13 times including 4 against Gibraltar in their opening fixture, not to forget the fine form he has been in for Bayern throughout the last two seasons. Lewandowski will be man marked but will almost certainly still cause a threat. At the back, they also look decent with captain Kamil Glik steering the ship from centre-half.

Road to France

Poland finished second in their qualifying group, behind Germany, whom they recorded a 2-0 victory over in the second game. Lewandowski knocked six of his goals in the two games against Gibraltar winning them both 7-0 and 8-1 respectively while they had a combined aggregate score of 8 over the fifth placed side, Georgia. Poland received two 2-2 draws against Scotland, Lewandowski rescuing a point in the 4th minute of injury time in the away leg. Against the Republic of Ireland, they were unlucky to come away with a victory from the Aviva Stadium with Shane Long grabbing a very late equaliser but clinched a victory in the return leg in Warsaw.

Group C

Poland may have thought that the qualifying group was the last time they would see Germany, but the organisers had different ideas. Poland have a decent group with Ukraine and minnows, Northern Ireland occupying the other two spots. Germany and Poland will fight it out for the top spot and I fancy the former to pip them to the post. A second place finish in the group would leave the Poles with a match against the winner of Group A, most likely to be France. Poland were able to defeat Germany in the qualifying so they won't fear France, if that is who they are drawn against. A top place finish would be very beneficial for the Poles and would leave them with a match against the best third placed side of Groups A, B and F.

Croatia

Key Men

Once of Internazionale pastures, Mateo Kovacic received his big money move to Real Madrid last summer, even at the risk of not featuring as readily as he did at the San Siro. Nevertheless, Kovacic is a shrewd operator that has a great range of passing and can unlock defences with ease. Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric are also key players in the middle of the park and the former has been in terrific form since he joined Barcelona at the start of last season. When on form, Croatia's midfield can rival the top sides in the world.

Road to France

Croatia lost just one match in a group consisting of 2006 World Cup winners, Italy, Bulgaria, Malta, Norway, Azerbaijan. They were expected to finish just behind Italy in qualifying and didn't disappoint even though they drew 1-1 on both occasions with the Italians. They did however record their only loss away to Norway 2-0 despite having scored 5 past the Scandinavians at an earlier stage. They also thumped Azerbaijan 6-0 at home with Ivan Perisic grabbing a brace but where unable to win away, with the hosts holding out to grab a point. Both Malta and Bulgaria were defeated home and away to seal their safe passage through.

Group D

Croatia have a nightmare group and they will be relying on achieving a first or second place finish to qualify from it. Spain, Czech Republic and Turkey are all also competing to get out, and while one would predict Spain to grab the top seed spot, this Croatian side will be definite contenders if they are able to navigate their way out of the group. The runner up spot secures a tie against the winner of Group E, likely to be either Belgium or Italy. Italy are an aging side on decline and Croatia did snatch a point courtesy of Mario Mandzukic in Euro 2012, the year that Italy got to the final. Croatia can be quietly confident.

Austria

Key Men

David Alaba is undoubtedly the key player in the Austrian side. The Bayern Munich wing back controls much of the play and has a decent scoring record also, scoring 4 times in qualifying. One of the more modern 'attacking' full backs, Alaba possesses all the weapons to trouble even the best defence, yet his technique at defending is often admired also. Joining him at the back, Alexsander Dragovic has also developed a bit of a reputation in Europe for being a technically gifted defender and, when on form, Austria can be confident of not conceding too many goals. Up front, Marko Arnautovic has been in fine form for Stoke this season and has developed into a fan favourite at the Britannia Stadium since his arrival a number of years back. 

Road to France

Austria were somewhat very efficient in the qualifiers, conceding just 5 goals and keeping 6 clean sheets, 5 of which were consecutive. They weren't as free-scoring as other teams but did put four past Sweden and five past Lichtenstein both away from home. Two one-nil victories helped Austria finish above Russia with Rubin Okotie and Marc Janko grabbing the goals. The four nil thumping preceded a 1-1 draw in the opening fixture against Sweden.

Group F

Unlike Croatia, Austria can be happy with the group they have received. Cristiano Ronaldo effectively carries Portugal. Hungary got through a poor qualifying group unconvincingly via the play off while Iceland compete in their very first European competition having shocked everyone to qualify first out of a tough qualifying group. I do expect Austria to qualify ahead of Portugal in first place and this would leave them with a last 16 draw against the runner up from Group E. I would predict it to be Italy with Belgium's youth giving them the upper hand over the Italians and, like Croatia, Austria have nothing to fear in an Italian side that is in tradition.

Do you agree with these predictions, or do you have any other sides that have the potential to cause an upset or two at the tournament in the summer?