Euro 2016 Semi Final Preview

After a pathetic 1 correct correction out of 4 in the quarter finals, things can only get better in the semi finals. Gareth Bale's Wales take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal while Germany meet tournament hosts, France in the glamour tie of the round.

Whether they like it or not the pre-match discussions will be dominated by Real Madrid team mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. So far in the tournament we have seen a different Portuguese side to what we are use to - a more disciplined, defensive side, but also one that can be frustrated by teams deep defending. With Pepe an injury doubt. veteran Brun Alves is likely to step in to add experience to an inexperienced defence. 18 year old Renato Sanches has covered defensive and offensive areas of the park expertly in the time that he has been on the pitch. Now at Bayern, Sanches scored with a stunning strike to equalise against Poland in the previous round. The young protege will be just as vital as Ronaldo if Portugal are to progress.

Wales have thrilled everyone in the tournament this year with their performances. It's particularly refreshing to hear Gareth Bale liken himself to his team mates and and describe the positive atmosphere that shrouds the Welsh camp. In previous match, they were on the ropes in the first 15 minutes with Belgium attacking and the Welsh defence repelling 4 shots within a few moments that were destined for the back of the net. After falling behind thanks to a Radja Nainggolan screamer, Wales regrouped and equalised through Ashley Williams 20 minutes later. Hal Robson-Kanu adopted the persona of Johan Cruyff for the second goal when a smart goal sent several Belgian defenders the wrong way before shooting past Thibaut Courtois. Chris Coleman's side showed all the character that got them to this stage with great defensive commitment before sneaking a third goal on the break thanks to Sam Vokes.

The absence of Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey in the Welsh side due to suspension will be a massive blow. James Collins and Andy King come are the replacements to make their first starts so there will be a bit of rustiness. Attacking wise, Collins has the potential to be a threat from set pieces. It's very tight to call and it is likely that this match will go the distance, I tip the Welsh to make history.

France were very impressive in the first half against Iceland, racing into a 4 goal lead. This allowed Didier Deschamps to haul some of the key players that were on bookings off to prevent them from being suspended for the semi final. The flowing football on display was gripping, with Dmitri Payet, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann all linking up for a combined 4 goals and two assists. Moussa Sissoko replacing the suspended N'Golo Kante. Paul Pogba showed glimpses of what he was capable of in the midfield, but it will be unlikely that he will be afforded the time and space against Germany as he was in the previous round. One concerning issue from a French point of view was the soft goals conceded. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson poked one home at the near post while Birkir Bjarnason grabbed a second with a header. Both were unmarked and Deschamps will surely have to work on this before the match tomorrow night.

The injury to Mario Gomez, the only number nine striker taken to the competition has thrown a massive spanner in the works of Joachim Low's plans. A physical presence in the air, Gomez would have troubled the French defence and could have given Germany an upper hand in the game. Mats Hummels is also ruled out due to suspension, yet Germany are likely to come into this game as favourites. Despite such a prolific goal scoring record at the World Cup, Thomas Muller is yet to get off the mark in the Euros, but an advanced role in the absence of Gomez is likely to make him more of a threat. Mesut Ozil has been a shining light so far in the tournament, summed up with a great goal against Italy. Playing in the number ten position, teams have found him difficult to deal with so far and Germany will be looking to utilise the Arsenal playmaker at every possibility.

It's the best attack in the tournament up against the best defence. Germany will be favourites for the game, particularly with France's inconsistencies throughout the tournament so far. Like most games these days, the midfield will be where it is won. Germany have Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger who both like to sit deep and control the play, while France's Paul Pogba will be likely to cover more ground over the pitch. With Germany's terrific record at penalty kicks, this will play in the back of the French minds. My heart says France but my head says Germany.

Euro 2016 Quarter Final Preview

We've only 7 matches remaining in a thrilling Euro 2016 and the pressure has been cranked up a notch in the quarter finals. We had some shocks in the round of 16 that has set up some very interesting matches that are difficult to predict.

Poland v Portugal

Poland were expected to defeat Switzerland in previous round but did so unconvincingly and needed a penalty shoot out to progress. The strike duo of Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik is yet to find form and with the competition gradually getting tougher, Poland will need their stars at their peak.  Milik has only one goal to his name in the tournament so far, but has had a handful of chances, he has to start converting them if they are to launch any meaningful assault in the tournament. Jakub Blaszczykowski grabbed the goal against Switzerland and has been a threat down the right wing all tournament, linking up well with Lukasz Piscczek. These pair will be critical against Portugal.

While they had no 'big' nations in their group, Portugal struggled to get results, with Cristiano Ronaldo becoming increasingly outspoken. Portugal are the only team left in the tournament yet to win a game within 90 minutes. The introduction of Renato Sanches in the second half against Croatia gave the side a creative outlet, starting off the move which resulted in the goal for Ricardo Quaresma Neither side has been entirely convincing in this year's tournament despite both being potential dark horses. Poland will be favourites for the tie with a lethal strike force up against a suspect Portuguese defence while the Portuguese have largely rode their luck to get to this stage in the tournament but will continue to look to Cristiano Ronaldo for their inspiration. Poland to advance.

Wales v Belgium

The last British team in the tournament, take on Belgium whom they met in qualifying for the tournament. Belgium, largely regarded as one of the favourites for the tournament from the outset were shocked in their opening match against Italy but have pulled themselves together and a 3-0 win over Republic of Ireland and a 1-0 win over Sweden secured a runners up spot. Against Hungary in the previous round, they were exceptional and romped to a 4-0 win. Eden Hazard showed what ihe is capable of as he scored once and created four chances, one of which was an assist for Michy Batshuayi. Belgium are very good on the counter attack, and punished Hungary who gave them too much space, however the loss of Jan Vertonghen will be a major set back for the Red Devils. 

Wales took four points off the Belgians in qualifying, with the victory coming thanks to a winner from Gareth Bale. Wales showed that they can play football in the final group game against Russia in which they won 3-0. Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey were very good on the ball the ball with the former sliding the latter through for the opening goal. Crucially, Wales have showed that they don't totally rely on Gareth Bale, with the aforementioned Allen and Ramsey stepping up to the plate. Against Northern Ireland, they weren't convincing, and it took a wicked ball flashed into the box from Bale to deflect off Gareth McAuley past Michael McGovern in goal. Wales will put up a fight, but with Belgium beginning to reach the heights expected of them, I tip them to progress.

Germany v Italy

Dubbed the glamour tie of the round, Germany are yet to concede a goal in the tournament having defeated Northern Ireland and Ukraine 1-0 and 2-0 in the group stage, goalless draw with Poland and a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Slovakia in the round of 16. Only selecting 1 striker in Mario Gomez could prove a tricky issue particularly against the Italians as Joachim Low has experimented with Mario Gotze up front in a false nine position with minimal success. The introduction of Gomez up top against Northern Ireland gave Germany a cutting edge and the scoreline could have been anything, if it wasn't for the exploits of Michael McGovern in the Northern Irish goal.

Antonio Conte has proved the doubters wrong once again by masterminding a 2-0 victory over the holders, Spain. Another masterplan will need to be conceived if Italy are to defeat the World Champions. Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli have patrolled the backline orchestrated by Juve team mate, Gianluigi Buffon and another top performance will be required if Italy are to win. Italy's siege mentality has produced some memorable games and has neutralised sides who are perceived to play 'attractive football.' The rotations made by Conte in the final group match against Ireland could prove crucial, particularly if the game goes the full distance. The bookies tip Germany however this match has the makings of being settled on penalties, with the Germans coming out on top.

France v Iceland

Despite topping Group A and defeating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in the round of 16, the hosts have not been convincing, but find themselves in a favourable quarter final tie against Iceland. Two goals from Antoine Griezmann overturned a 1-0 deficit in the second half against Ireland and the dismissal of Shane Duffy allowed them to consolidate their lead. Dimitri Payet's creativity has been a major positive, and will play a big part in the match against Iceland. Laurent Koscielny and Adil Rami looked nervy, particularly in the first half against the Irish and this will be highlighted by the Icelandic side as a possible area to exploit. 

Iceland, like Wales, are exceeding all expectations. Armed with Aron Gunnarsson's long throw, they posed plenty of problems for England who didn't have the answers. Many thought the 1-1 draw against Portugal would be the highlight of the trip, but Lars Largerback and Heimer Hallgrimsson have had other ideas, guiding their side to a quarter final in their first tournament. They are very hard to break down, just ask any of their group stage opponents and are adept on the counter. Against England they showed that they can play some football, but have a major strength at the set piece. France are a better side than England so I expect them to learn from the mistakes that England made and expect them to qualify. Iceland can be proud of their achievements of everything that they have achieved and have written a great story in the year of the underdog.

On the Verge of Something Special

Both Wales and Northern Ireland share something in common, they are plucky underdogs who have defied everything to reach Euro 2016. Now, as we reach the conclusion of the group stage, Wales are through to the knockout rounds in first position, while Northern Ireland are on the verge of qualifying as a third place team.

The winners of Group B have given themselves an excellent chance of going further in the tournament, as they face a third place side in the next round from either Group A, Group D or Group C. Albania finished third in Group A, while Northern Ireland are in pole position to qualify in third, providing they do not get hammered by the Germans later today. In Group D, Turkey have their work cut out, needing to beat the Czech Republic by more than 3 goals in order to finish third and have a competitive goal difference to challenge the rest of the sides. However, that would only leave them on 3 points and they would need other results to go in their favour. Likewise, the Czechs need to win to secure their qualification.

Looking beyond the next knockout round, a match against either the runner up of Group F or the winner of Group E. Belgium are likely to be the runner up of Group E providing they don't slip up against Sweden, Hungary are leading the way in Group E. While Group E is still up for grabs, none of the teams have looked convincing and all look very beatable. Wales don't fear anyone and that is the spirit that Chris Coleman and his predecessor, the late Gary Speed instilled in the side.

Looking at Wales, Chris Coleman has got them playing very smart football. Last night they destroyed a Russian side 3-0 with Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor on the score sheet. Joe Allen delivered a very assured performance in the middle of the park and executed a brilliant through ball to Ramsey for the opener. Bale was a thorn in the Russian side all night and is a very good attacking outlet for Wales to use. During qualifying, Wales were criticised for being a one-man team, in this tournament other players have stepped up and showed that Wales don't have to rely on Gareth Bale.

Northern Ireland don't have a speedy Real Madrid Galactico to look towards so some would argue that their feat would be even more spectacular. Sitting as the top third placed team before the final round of group matches kicked off, lists of permutations were drafted up of what had to happen for Northern Ireland to qualify. Four years ago I would have laughed at you if you had said Northern Ireland would qualify for Euro 2016 never mind be on the verge of making it to the knockout round.

Standing in front of the big screen at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, soaking up the atmosphere before Northern Ireland kicked off against Ukraine on Thursday, I remember thinking to myself, 'Imagine if Northern Ireland scored?' Not only did they score 1, they won the match by two goals. Northern Ireland started that match with intent. The players weren't happy with the performance against Poland which culminated in a 1-0 loss and Michael O'Neill made 5 changes, notably, qualifying hero Kyle Lafferty being replaced by QPR's Conor Washington. Washington set the tempo early on, with high pressing, aided by Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas. 

Oliver Norwood, whose set piece deliveries are normally very accurate, but hasn't hit the levels Northern Irish fans have grown accustom to, delivered a perfect ball for Gareth McAuley to head home after the interval. A threat in the opposition's box, McAuley was also imperious when defending, constantly throwing his body in the way of any Ukrainian shot along with Jonny Evans. Niall McGinn followed up a shot from Steven Davis to score the second goal and send the Northern Irish contingent delirious and that goal might be crucial in determining whether they will progress.

Northern Ireland are currently on track to reach the first knockout round of their very first European Championship, but have the small task of current World Champions, Germany in their way. Any kind of result would virtually guarantee a place in the next round. With a +1 goal difference, a 3-0 defeat to Germany would still see them through providing the Czech Republic and Turkey draw tonight. Also, if Turkey beat the Czech Republic but fail to overturn a goal difference of -4, then Northern Ireland will qualify.

Michael O'Neill won't be concerning himself with the list of permutations about finishing third, instead a plan on how to add Germany to the long list of upsets that the nation of 1.7m people has caused. All the talk has been about what Northern Ireland have to do to qualify third, with no mention of what has to happen for them to finish top. If Northern Ireland defeat Germany and Ukraine defeat Poland, the Green and White Army top the group, and match their Celtic counterparts, Wales.

Northern Ireland is at fever pitch with First Minister Arlene Foster asking for employers to let their staff out early in order to watch the match. Across the Irish Sea, Wales will be waking up to plenty of sore heads after a hard night partying, but Chris Coleman will know that there is more history to be written. Both sides are on the verge of something special. 

A Crafty Conte

At the final whistle of Belgium vs Italy last night, Gianluca Vialli commented, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" - never could the 59-capped Italian international be more correct. Outgoing national team manager, Antonio Conte dished out a tactical masterclass and he reaped the plaudits of a 2-0 result that not many Italian fans predicted.

Conte opted to play three centre halves, all of which he coached during his stint at Juventus. With willing runners, Matteo Darmian and Andrea Candreva occupying the two wing back roles, they were well versed defensively and attacked when the opportunity arose. Andrea Pirlo, who was the talisman four years ago, was left out of the squad leaving Daniele De Rossi to occupy the withdrawn role while Leonardo Bonucci was also capable of play-making from the back. It was Bonucci who supplied the pin point ball Emanuele Giacherrini to open the scoring half an hour into the match.

In true Italian fashion, they made themselves a very hard nut to crack, often keeping the majority of their players behind the ball. The midfield, consisting of De Rossi, Giacherrini and Marco Parolo, dominated the Belgium's star studded outfit. Parolo and De Rossi in particular were disciplined and kept Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard on a tight leash through out the match. With 56% of the possession, Conte was happy to allow Belgium to have the ball at the back, in favour of keeping their impenetrable shape. Once Belgium did get the ball into dangerous areas, the Italian midfield pressed and were able to win the ball back before calmly playing the ball out of defence. 

Unlike Roy Hodgson, Antonio Conte introduced the pacey Ciro Immobile when Belgium threw caution into the wind and it gave Italy another point of attack. After a loose ball from Belgium Immobile picked the ball up on half way and ran at the defence. After working some space to shoot, the Torino attacker cracked a shot off, only to be matched by a fine save from Thibaut Courtois. In the second minute of added time, Immobile twisted and turned before finding Candreva on the right side of the box. The Lazio player controlled the ball and committed a few Belgian defenders before dinking the ball to Graziano Pelle who fired the ball into the back of the net to give Italy a comfortable victory.

While Italy were a well drilled unit, Belgium were the opposite. They looked disorganised, weak defensively and lacking ideas in the final third. Romelu Lukaku was very poor, with his performance epitomised by his off target shot in the second half after a swift Belgium counter attack. In commentary, Martin Keown summed up the Belgian performance perfectly describing it as 'playing with the handbrake on' and likening it to Manchester United of last season. One shining light was Dries Mertens who replaced Radja Nainggolan on 62 minutes. The Napoli man caused a few problems for the Italian defence with his direct running and on one instance weaved his way to the byline before squaring the ball back into a dangerous area. Not one Belgian player was on the same wave length as Mertens and the Italians cleared easily.

The other game in this group saw Sweden come from behind to draw with the Republic of Ireland. The Irish side will undoubtedly see this as an opportunity missed when Wes Hoolahan curled a half-volley from a Seamus Coleman cross into the back of the net. Sweden equalised thanks to the work of Zlatan Ibrahimovic who fired a ball into the Irish 6 yard box to be deflected into the net by Ciaran Clark. Sweden claim a vital point despite not having a shot on target in the whole game. With the Swedes up next for Italy, Conte will have to adapt his team as it will be expected that they will have more possession than they did against Belgium.

Chelsea fans will have been salivating at the passion showed by Antonio Conte, who takes the reigns in west London at the conclusion of the tournament. Italy now have an excellent chance at proving the doubters wrong and their manager will certainly have the players in the appropriate mindset for challenges ahead.

Exciting start to the Euros marred by Marseille violence

Despite being treated four cracking games in the Euros so far, it has not been the football that has grabbed the headlines, but rather the hooliganism in Marseille that has brought the city to its knees.

Dimitri Payet was the man of the moment as he clinched a 2-1 win for France in the opening game while a goalkeeping howler allowed Fabien Schar to head home within 5 minutes of Switzerland's game against Albania. Wales were the first British team in action with Hal Robson-Kanu scoring a late winner while English hearts were dashed with an injury time equaliser for Russia.

France started their campaign with a win, while it may not have been as comfortable as initially anticipated they were up against a very useful Romanian side. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring just before the 60 minute mark, leaping highest to connect with a Dimitri Payet cross. The West Ham creator is showing that he can compete in the Premier League and in the Euros. Bogdan Stancu pinned the hosts back 7 minutes later when Evra clumsily challenged the Romanian forward.

Let's just take a moment to admire that strike from Payet... A sumptuous curling shot found the top left of the goal and sent the Stade de France into raptures. The goal gave France a 2-1 victory, much to the testament of the Romanians who put up a valiant defensive effort.

In the second game of Group A, a defensive howler from the Albanian goal keeper gifted Fabian Schar an easy header. Haris Seferovic had opportunities to double the lead, while Armando Sadiku failed to find the back of the net with several golden opportunites. Lorik Cana's dismissal for a second bookable offence made Albania's life harder and their Swiss counterparts were able to hold on for the victory.

Hal Robson-Kanu scored a late goal for Wales in their first match at a major tournament since the World Cup in Sweden, 1958. Gareth Bale got Chris Coleman's men off to a flyer with a free kick inside 10 minutes before Ondrej Duda worked some space and fired into the back of the net. Robson-Kanu struck after great work in the middle from Aaron Ramsey and the man without a club rolled the ball past the Slovak keeper. The least said about Ramsey's hair the better. Wales looked very good on the counter, and could have increased their scoreline through Bale and Ramsey, this could prove very beneficial later in the tournament. Wales top Group B and will be very confident going into the crunch match against England later in the week.

England were totally dominant in the first half against the Russians but were unable to break the deadlock in the last match on Saturday. Both Danny Rose and Kyle Walker were very influential down the flanks and played well the whole match. It was a powerfully struck free kick from Eric Dier that broke the deadlock after the break, but England were unable to push on and score the vital second goal. 

Russia began to grow more into the game with long balls fired into Artem Dzyuba. Roy Hodgson looked to his bench for impact through the introduction of Jack Wilshere and controversially taking off Wayne Rooney who had a solid game. In stoppage time, a hopeful ball was launched into the area and Vasili Berezutski headed past Joe Hart in nets to earn a crucial point for the Russians. Hodgson has to take some criticism in that match, particularly as a Jamie Vardy could have posed serious questions to the ageing centre backs.

After the match in Marseille, chaos descended upon the Stade Velodrome. Video footage shows Russian fans appearing to charge at the English support striking fear into those fans. Violence continued out onto the street after the game and have forced UEFA to warn both sides that they will be thrown out of the competition if the violence continues, threats that are unlikely to happen regardless of the change in attitudes. Nice wasn't very nice for Poland and Northern Ireland fans who were attacked also, but these disturbances were quickly neutralised by the French police.

Let's hope the football does the talking for the rest of the tournament and the quality lives up to what we saw in the first two days, but people must be considering whether they should attend the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Home Nations at Euro 2016

For the first time in European Championship history, three of the four teams defined as the Home Nations have made it to the Euros, with the addition of the Republic of Ireland. With many from the British Isles set to be glued to their TV over the next few weeks, how will we all get on?

Northern Ireland

Qualified as group winners, this will be Northern Ireland's first ever appearance at the Euros and first at a major competition since 1986. Their unbeaten result against Slovakia in the last warm up game sees Michael O'Neill's men come into the tournament on form, having not lost a match in 12, with no other side matching this feat. Placed in a group with Poland, Germany and Ukraine, the current holders of the now defunct British Home Championship, could have had an easier group but the quality will not phase the Ulstermen having beaten Russia and Greece as well as matching Portugal over the last few years, write off Northern Ireland at your peril.

Key Player

While Kyle Lafferty provided the main source of goals for Northern Ireland in qualifying, their talisman is without a doubt Southampton's Steven Davis. A Northern Irish stalwart over the years it was fitting that he was to score two of the goals to send his team to the competition. The captain featured in all qualifying games bar the 2-0 defeat to Romania in Bucharest. All of Northern Ireland's attacking threat comes through the County Antrim man and Davis will have to replicate the same form he has showed over the past year if Northern Ireland have any ambitions of getting out of the group.

Predicted Finish

With only 8 teams going out at the group stage, four points could be enough to send Northern Ireland through to the knock-out games. They will fancy themselves against Ukraine and will aim to soak up pressure from the Germans and Polish attacks before hitting them on the break. I fancy Northern Ireland to get out of the group. If they finish second, it gives them a tie against Romania, a perfect opportunity to carry out some revenge however this is unlikely. I predict Northern Ireland to scrape through in third spot and, depending on the draw, to exit at the first knock-out round.

England

The only side in the tournament to qualify with 10 wins, England have been placed in a group with Wales as well as Russia and Slovakia. England will be expected to top the group and in doing so, would open up many possibilities with having to face a third place side in the first knock-out round. As always with the English side there has been debates about the personnel chosen to represent England with Premier League winner, Danny Drinkwater being omitted from the 23-man squad in favour of Jack Wilshere. England massively underperformed at the last World Cup so will be hoping to make amends in Euro 2016.

Key Player

Unlike with the other nations, it was difficult to single out a key player in the English ranks. Record goal scorer, Wayne Rooney, topped the scoring charts in qualifying with 7, and has competition from Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy who netted 25 and 24 Premier League goals this season respectively. As captain it is unlikely that Rooney will be benched so it will be critical where he is played. Rumours have been circulating that Roy Hodgson will opt for a 4-4-2 diamond, incorporating Kane and Vardy up front with Rooney in behind, while dropping Rooney into midfield has also been discussed. Rooney has been criticised in the past for poor performances at major competitions so he will be aiming to prove the doubters wrong.

Predicted Finish
Expectations in the build-up to the tournament have been surprisingly low from English fans and can probably be attributed to the failings in 2014. England are likely to do better than Wales, Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland, but a lot will hinge on the the decisions made by Roy Hodgson. For Hodgson, he will have to make bold decisions and will likely come under fierce criticism from the English media if they are unsuccessful. I do expect England to top their group and they will be confident of defeating their opponents in the first knockout round providing there are no shocks. While England are a good side, they are not suitable contenders yet and an exit at the quarter finals looks likely.

Wales

Having successfully qualified for their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup, Wales will be relishing the prospect of taking on their old foes in the shape of England. They had an excellent qualifying campaign in a tricky group which included a very good win over Belgium at home and a draw away. Their only blemish was a 2-0 defeat at Bosnia and Herzegovina in the penultimate game. Despite being the first manager since Jimmy Murphy to guide his country to a major tournament, Coleman holds the unwanted record of being the first Welsh manager to lose in his first five games. Like Northern Ireland, the Welsh faithful will be happy to be at competition however the players will harbour ambitions of leaving their mark on the tournament.

Key Player

Real Madrid Galactico Gareth Bale fired his country to the Euros with 7 goals in qualifying and undoubtedly holds the key to their success in the competition. With 19 international goals at the age of 26, it looks almost certain that Bale will surpass the Welsh record currently held by Ian Rush (28). Not only does Bale have excellent dribbling and lightning pace, he is also renowned as one of the best players in the world and this will also attract the attention of opposition managers, who will attempt to mark him out of the game therefore leaving space for some of his team mates. If Bale is on form, then Wales have every chance of getting out of the group.

Predicted Finish

Coleman does have some cause for concern after a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sweden in their last warm up match. While they will want to win all of their matches, the English tie will be the one that will attract the most attention. They kick off their campaign against Slovakia on Saturday, before the crunch match against England on June 16th and the final game against Russia on June 20th. If Wales can clinch that second spot, they will face a knock-out round tie against the runners up of Group F, consisting of Portugal, Iceland, Austria and Hungary, all who are very beatable. I predict an exit in the first knock-out round for Wales.

Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland had the toughest qualifying group out of all of the mentioned teams, but one they were able to navigate. The biggest highlight was undoubtedly the 1-0 win over Germany with Shane Long grabbing the only goal. Martin O'Neill and his men finished in the play off spot just ahead of Scotland and were able to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 on aggregate in the play off. They qualified for Euro 2012, but finished bottom of their group with 0 points and only one goal scored so an improvement this year will definitely be on the cards.

Key Player

Veteran Robbie Keane continues to thrill the Irish faithful at the ripe age of 35. Ireland's top scorer with 5 goals in qualifying, Keane leads the side from the front and continues to display all the characteristics which cemented him as an Irish legend. However it was his partner in crime who netted the pivotal goal to defeat Germany in qualifying. Currently at Southampton, Shane Long is coming to the Euros off the back of a decent season on the south coast of England, scoring 13 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions. Possessing good pace, his threat will be apparent on the counter attack and will test the defences of Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

Predicted Finish

A defence that is error prone could hinder the Irish side, however they possess a great work ethic in midfield and up front. The first match against Sweden is vital and a win next Monday will give the side a great confidence boost. Looking at their opposition, a lot has been expected of Belgium yet they have not hit top form over the past few matches, while Italy are currently in transition with coach Antonio Conte admitting that he is worried about preparations for the tournament. A win against Sweden and I tip the Republic of Ireland to qualify, anything else and they'll have their work cut out.

Playing to impress at Euro 2016

With many teams off the pace last season, this transfer window promises to be one of the biggest since the inception of the modern Premier League in 1992, heightened further by the European Championships that kick off in less than a week and the new bumper TV deal.

None of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Arsenal will want to see another season pan out like the one last season. Arsenal were able to grab second spot due to the misfortune of Spurs on the final day, while Manchester City undoubtedly underachieved in the first half of the season and then prioritised the Champions League over their league form in the latter stages of the year. Liverpool and Manchester United are both in transition evidenced by the hot and cold form over the season, while Chelsea couldn't recover after a horrific start. On the other hand, Leicester City have the added attraction of Champions League football as well as being part of a fairy tale story while Spurs possess a great young manager and some very talented and young players.

United, Chelsea and City have all acquired new managers, and all have major restructuring to do. City currently have the oldest squad and with Guardiola favouring the youth, we're likely to see some seismic changes. Chelsea clinched the record for the worst title defence off the grateful hands of United who set it a year previous. Failures in developing an attractive style of football coupled with no Champions League football next season ensured a swift exit for Louis Van Gaal, not even a week after his FA Cup triumph. With Brendan Rodgers' squad still at his disposal as we are so often reminded on social media, Jürgen Klopp faces his first transfer window since moving to Anfield in October. He will no doubt plan to strengthen the side with plenty of weaknesses being exposed in the team throughout last season.

With players' agents as sharp as a knife, they will have earmarked the upcoming tournament as one to clinch their clients lucrative new contracts. Number one example of this was James Rodriguez's £50m move from AS Monaco to Real Madrid after the 2014 World Cup. Not all of the transfers after a major tournament turned out to be as successful as that of James' with Spurs signing Roman Pavyluchencho and Arsenal signing Andrei Arshavin after superb performances at Euro 2008. Both careers in North London did not match the fees spent.

Liverpool have started their business early, with the completion of the deal to bring Loris Karius to the club for £4.7m. Rumours of the arrival of Mario Götze on Merseyside were unsurprisingly swiftly refuted, with the German World Cup winner emphasising his allegiance to Bayern Munich. It will not effect Liverpool however with money needed to be spent on more problematic areas of the pitch. Defensively, there is a lot to be desired on in Anfield, and I suspect that this will be the main area where Klopp will spend most of his transfer budget.

In Manchester, Guardiola has already acquired the services of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ikay Gundogan for around £20m. With the Turkish-born German not selected for the German national team among injury fears, he will have the whole summer off to prepare for an assault on the Premier League. Rumours are circulating that the new City boss will embark on a summer spending spree totalling a whopping £250m. There is no doubt that Guardiola will already have specific targets in mind, but he will pay particular attention to the international football that kicks off next week.

Ones to Watch
I've compiled a list of players who are on the radar of Premier League teams or could be vital additions:

Leading that list is Haris Seferovic. Currently plying his trade at Eintracht Frankfurt, the striker has been around the block and it is somewhat surprising to note that he is only 24 years of age. At 6ft 1in, he is a physical presence for defenders to handle and is progressing nicely on the international stage with 7 goals in 29 appearances. With players such as Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka providing the creativity, Seferovic will be not short of any chances but does have competition up front in the form of teenager Breel Embolo.

Wolfsburg left back, Ricardo Rodriguez has been on the radar of several big clubs over the past number of seasons, Arsenal and Manchester United notably. Rodriguez is equally adept at attacking as he is at defending and has exceptional dead ball capabilities and was voted Swiss Footballer of the Year in 2014. With very good stamina, his adventurous runs will cause problems for his opposite number and deliveries will be sure to create chances for his native Switzerland.

A favourite of the English press, Andriy Yarmolenko has been linked to many sides over the last number of years. At 26 and approaching his peak years, the Ukrainian has the physicality - standing at 187cm and 74kg - but also has the panache, often leaving him to be compared to Franck Ribery or Marco Reus. An excellent dribbler, he assisted the most in 2014-2015 Europa League in which Dynamo Kyiv reached the quarter finals. An impressive performance at the Euros and he can finally make the step to England.

Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik is Ajax's golden striker. The Dutch club completed the signing of the 22 year old at the start of this season having completed a loan spell the previous year. Despite not firing the Amsterdam side to the title, Milik recorded 21 goals in 31 league appearances. Experts in nurturing talent, the former Bayer Leverkusen player has made great progress and also has 10 goals in 24 international appearances. Often in the shadows of compatriot Robert Lewandowski, Milik possess great dribbling skills copied from his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. Lewandowski will be the main danger, but to write off Milik as a threat would be a cardinal sin.

I do have lengthy list of players aiming to make the big time at the Euros so will endeavour to share this before the tournament begins on Friday. Feel free to leave suggestions!

Assessing the Favourites

It's hard to believe that we're less than a month until the tournament commences and with provisional squads beginning to be announced everyone is switching their mindset from the domestic season to what promises to be a special tournament. Having shared my opinions on some of the sides that have the ability to cause a shock on the scale of Greece '04, here are my thoughts on who is likely to lift the the Henri Delaunay Trophy on the 10th July.

France

It would be rude to not start with the hosts, who remain very strong despite the exclusion of Karim Benzema. Antoine Griezmann has been red hot for Atletico Madrid, similarly, Anthony Martial has had a sterling first season in Manchester. With a squad containing key players such as Raphael Varane, Martial, Kingsley Coman and Paul Pogba who are all under the age of 24, the core of this team will be around for the next World Cup and mixed with the experienced heads such as Hugo Lloris, Patrice Evra, Blaise Matuidi, Yohan Cabaye and Dimitri Payet. Home advantage will certainly play a part in their campaign, with France in a frenzy in the lead up to the start of the tournament. With a group consisting of Romania, Albania and Switzerland it paves the way for strong run in the tournament and don't be put it past them if they lift the trophy on home soil.

Germany

The reigning World Champions will be deserved favourites after such a scintillating show two years ago in Brazil. Despite retirements to Phillip Lahm, Mirosav Klose and Per Mertesacker and questions over the form at the start of the qualifying campaign, the Germans have a plethora of young talent coming through. Bastian Schweinsteiger steps up to replace Phillip Lahm as captain despite an injury plagued season at Old Trafford. Joachim Low has midfield options that would have any other manager dripping with envy, and will surely place a lot of emphasis on this part of the pitch. A lot rests on the shoulders of Mario Gomez, the only typical number nine striker selected, with Low perhaps opting to emulate Spain's success in 2012 with a striker-less formation as a plan 'B' option. They have a very good manager at the helm and they will be disappointed if they don't reach the finals.

Spain

After a shambolic showing in the last World Cup, Spain need a good run in this competition to prove the doubters wrong and defend their crown. Already Vicente del Bosque has omitted some notable luminaries including Fernando Torres, Diego Costa and Juan Mata, all of which would get into most of the other national squads. Similar to Germany, Spain have loads of midfield options with Koke and Saul Niguez in particular having very good seasons. Aritz Aduriz of Bilbao may be 35 years old, but he still knows where the goal is - 36 goals in all competitions this season for the Basque side - and correctly gets ahead of Costa on current form. With Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia completing Group D, Spain will need to be focus or else face a tricky tie against Belgium or Italy in the Round of 16. Particularly after the early exit in the World Cup, Spain have a point to prove and certainly have the players to do so.

Belgium

Having been labelled as dark horses at the last World Cup, many pundits were slightly underwhelmed with their performance after losing in the quarter finals to eventual finalists, Argentina. I believe they gave as good as they got but that experience, in what was the first their first appearance at a tournament since 2002, will serve them well going into Euro 2016. Kevin de Bruyne has been in fine form this season for Manchester City, similarly Spurs pair Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have been stalwarts for their club and helped guide them to a third placed finish in the league and conceded the least amount of goals along with Manchester United. Despite a relatively young squad, only 3 players over the age of 30, they do not lack experience. One notable absentee is Vincent Kompany whose groin injury in the Champions League tie against Real Madrid has ruled him out of the tournament. Even though the Belgians appear the weakest out of the sides mentioned, their attacking prowess and defensive solidity will give them confidence and they will fancy themselves against Europe's elite.

Italy
The Italians always seem to show up for the international competitions. In qualifying, they posted a decent record, winning seven games and drawing three pipping Croatia to the top spot in Group H. Both Italy and Belgium have a difficult group with consisting of Sweden and the Republic of Ireland who will be no pushovers and have the ability to spring a shock. Defensively Italy have been very solid over the years with Leonardo Bonucci continuing his international career at centre back. Stephan El Shaarawy has had such a promising career stunted by injuries, but at only 23, he still has the time to assert himself in the main side. Antonio Conte has called up Lorenzo Insigne and Jorginho off the back of very good domestic campaigns with Napoli. Not many people will bet on Italy doing much in this tournament, particularly with their talisman Marco Verratti injured, but with the know-how and the professionalism that we associate with the Italians, don't bet against them causing a few upsets.

Which of these sides will be lifting the trophy on the 10th July, or will it be someone entirely different? Feel free to leave your opinions as to who you think will win.

Explaining the UEFA Nations League

About two years ago, the brains at UEFA sat down at a conference in Switzerland to devise a plan to revamp international football for European sides. What they came up with was the UEFA Nations League.

As we endure the first instalment of international warm up matches for the European Championships in the summer, will the scheduled introduction of the new tournament in 2018 be a better alternative to the current method of international friendlies? Firstly, I'm under no illusions, not everyone is a fan of friendly matches or international football in general and, whether you like it or not, club football takes precedence over international matches.

The UEFA Nations League is an attempt by Europe's footballing governing body to restore prestige and to effectively bring the interest back into international football. You can just tell there is no interest from the players in taking to the field for friendlies, they are almost like tick box exercises that have to be done. The matches are often played at a slow tempo with either side more concerned with not getting any injuries rather than scoring goals. Below is the structural concept of what the first competition, starting in September 2018, will look like.

The groups will be decided on the strength on each national side, with the likes of Germany being drawn into League A, while the lower ranked sides will be put into League D. Each side has the aim of progressing to League A, before making it to the 'Final Four' competition that will take place in the summer. The 'group stages' will take place every even year, while the finals will always take place every odd year.

The new competition will also revamp the qualifying for the European Championships in 2020. Instead of the 'top' sides qualifying, there is one space allocated for teams in each League in the competition. There still will be a separate qualifying for sides but it will be a lot less complicated with the top two teams from ten groups automatically qualifying. In short, Euro 2020 will consist of 24 teams, made up of 20 teams from the qualifying campaign and the other 4 teams from the Euro Nations League. Complicated yes, but this graphic from UEFA should explain it better.

Not everyone is happy with the new motion. Many believe it is just another ploy by the higher powers to make the higher nations richer by getting the top sides playing against each other more often. Admittedly, it would be like UEFA or FIFA to try and line the pockets of the organisation bosses. Also, they believe that it effectively gives sides a second chance of qualifying through the play offs. Are UEFA really concerned about the smaller sides, or do they want to decrease the likelihood of the bigger sides being left out?

It may undermine the notion that the smaller sides will miss out on lucrative ties against the sides of higher reputation, but it will give the sides a chance to test themselves against sides of similar quality, instead of the likes of San Marino rolling up to France or Germany and expecting to get pumped. There's more of a chance that they will play with more heart in a match that there is a possibility of getting something from it.

I'm looking forward to see what this tournament provides. It is a very interesting proposal and one that will rejuvenate a bit of interest in the international front. While it may still be in its infant steps, it is looking like a progressive idea that will benefit everyone as well as pleasing the chiefs that look to line their pockets. My only problem with it is that the play off stage to qualify for UEFA's European Championships in 2020 will take place 16 months after the event. Is it necessary to have the play offs so far after the event or would that decrease the importance for the sides that reach them?

Sky Sports were quick on the draw to secure the viewing rights for England matches in the Nations League. Ben Rumsby reported in The Telegraph that Sky will be exclusively showing the English Nation League matches, ending the free-to-air status of England matches. The contract will last for the first two editions of the tournament and I would be surprised if they didn't extend it, however it is believed that ITV will retain the rights to England's qualifiers for the World Cup and European Championship. This completes the package for Sky as they are expected to retain exclusive rights to the rest of the Home Nations as well as the Republic of Ireland.

It is an intriguing, yet complicated concept but one that I'mm looking forward to being put into action. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and as ever, I'd like to hear your opinions on the revamp to international football.

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?

Ageing Like A Fine Wine: Aritz Aduriz Style

Midweek, 35 year old Aritz Aduriz scored one of the memorable goals in the Europa League. In this day an age, football relies on pace and power, normally associated with youth, but the Basque striker joins an elite club of players that effectively get better with age.

The Bilbao front man has been on fire for his club, scoring 88 goals in 121 games since he rejoined the Basque side from Valencia in 2012. That is quite a tremendous record for any striker. Aduriz is a poacher, not so much playing off the shoulder of the last defender, but more in terms only taking one touch to score. However he is partial to the odd spectacular goal, scoring a bicycle kick against Eibar in January.

This season, Aduriz has netted on 26 occasions, one behind the best player in the world, Lionel Messi and three more than Messi's partner in crime, Neymar. Admittedly though, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez are streets ahead in the goal scoring charts. Aduriz leads the charts when compared to any of the Barclays Premier League top scorers with Romelu Lukaku on 20 goals in all competitions and Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane on 19 goals. Surely there would have been a few Premier League sides that could have needed him this season?

Rather surprisingly, Aduriz has been scoring goals at a steady rate throughout his career. Playing at Valencia, Vallodolid and Mallorca, he has scored 27, 22 and 24 goals at each club respectively, not too bad when you consider the talent he was up against. With 26 goals so far and about a third of the season remaining, you wouldn't bet against him reaching 30 goals for the season.

Looking towards the Euros, he has certainly done his chances no harm in claiming a spot in France. In previous seasons, Aduriz has been faced with fierce competition, Fernando Torres, Fernando Morientes, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata to name a few. His style of play wouldn't have resembled something which Vicente Del Bosque's Spain would have suited, favouring a more agile false nine, rather than the strong frame which Aduriz provides.

Based on form, he has to go, particularly as he has outscored Del Bosque's favoured trio combined of Paco Alcacer, Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa, falling four short of Aduriz' benchmark. There will be severe pressure put on Del Bosque by the Spanish media to select him and rightly so but he has been speaking highly of Aduriz's form so a call up is looking likely. He has represented Spain before, just once back in 2010 as replacing Fernando Llorente in the 77th minute of a Euro 2012 qualifier. While it won't be a debut in the Euros, it'll certainly feel like it.

His only honour as a player to date has been the Super Cup win against Barcelona in August 2015, but even then he scored a hat trick in a simply terrific performance against last season's treble winners. He has become an icon in Bilbao helped and further instated his name in the club's folklore with his performance during that match. With the Europa League 1st knockout round against Marseille poised in the favour of the Basque club at 1-0 with the home leg to come, Aduriz will be looking to fire Athletic Bilbao into the round of 16. Similarly, he will be looking to get his side's faltering league campaign back on track in a bid for European football next season.

The next time you are getting bossed about by a person 20 years your senior, you can always point to the tale of Aritz Aduriz - the fine wine that got better by age.

What will 2016 have in store for football?

We've got all of the 'New Year, new me' pleasantries, where we announce our plans to hit the gym more often or be a better person. Now that those are all out of the way, what will 2016 have in store for us football fanatics?

The headline act will be the European Championships in France commencing on the 10th June. It won't be the same as any other competition mostly down to the extra teams added. For me, this will be the second international tournament that I will have covered, having done the World Cup over a year and a half ago. Unfortunately I'll have to settle to watching it from the comfort of my living room, due to other commitments but it promises to be an intriguing competition. The world champions, Germany will undoubtedly be favourites, however they did suffer several set backs losing to both Poland and the Republic of Ireland in qualifying. France will back themselves on home turf, and rightly so, while Spain will also be up there and will look to bounce back after a poor World Cup. Although not at a match, I will be in Marseille for the end of the tournament so will be rooting for the French if Northern Ireland are shocked and dumped out in the early rounds. My opinions on the group stage are available here...

Probably not so special to 2016, but the Champions League is not failing to live up to expectations. Barcelona are bidding to be the first side to retain the trophy and are looking very strong. I am crying out for a Barcelona v Bayern final. Pep Guardiola will be after revenge for last years semi final, while the Bavarians are looking imperious in the league. If the sides do meet, neither leg will be as one sided as the match at the Camp Nou last season. For the English sides, Man City look the most likely to progress and could be flying the flag for the Premier League at the conclusion of the last 16 ties, while Juventus have their work cut out if they are to replicate their exploits of last season. A few dark horses have emerged and could possibly trouble the bigger sides in the later rounds. I tip Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid and possibly Benfica to do just that. Check out my prediction for the last 16 here.

Looking at the Premier League, we are treated to another enthralling season. This year, we have seen Leicester City capitalise on the inconsistencies of the top 6. It will be interesting to see if The Foxes can keep up their title charge and finish in the top 4. While the Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez grab all of the headlines, all the team have been doing their bit. Defensively they have been very solid with Wes Morgan a rock, and Kasper Schmeichel producing wonderful performances. While Leicester look good, the rest of the 'big sides' have work to do if they are to come out victorious in May. Arsenal have the inform Mesut Ozil, but lack consistency, a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Southampton evidence of this. Liverpool are in the process of rebuilding under Jurgen Klopp while City are struggling to grab the bull by the horns. United don't look like they will mount a title challenge yet and Chelsea are recovering after sacking Jose Mourinho. The quality of football leaves somewhat to be desired but it sure is exciting.

Serie A is also shaping up nicely. Internazionale lead proceedings with 39 points while Fiorentina and Napoli follow in second and third respectively a point behind. Fourth sees holders Juventus on 36 points while Roma are a further 3 adrift. Sassuolo are performing beyond all expectations in sixth place despite the sales of Simone Zaza and Jasmin Kurtic in the summer transfer window. Juventus took only nine points from their first eight games but have recovered and are currently in the middle of an eight match win streak since their defeat against Sassuolo. The champions are back and will probably remain favourites to lift the Scudetto at the end of the season. I've watched quite a few Inter matches this season and have been very impressed with the style of football Mancini's men are playing. I wrote a piece on both Milan sides earlier in the season, but since then AC Milan have drifted down the table. They don't score many goals, but they're defensively solid, conceding only 11 goals in the league to date. Napoli are playing a very attractive brand of football but lack consistency and this was evident in their 2-1 victory over Torino.

I would have normally published an article on the Ballon D'Or at the start of December, however this got postponed due to various educational reasons. The finalists this year are again, quite predictable. Lionel Messi will undoubtedly be the favourite to win his fifth Ballon D'Or award. The Argentine forward contributed 43 league goals to his side's victorious La Liga season another 10 as he secured Barcelona's Champions League title. Barca team mate, Neymar joins Messi on the short list, but is most likely there to make up the numbers. Nevertheless the 23 year old Brazilian has had super 2015. Despite in Messi's shadow, Neymar scored 39 goals in 51 games and has frightened many defences with his dribbling and pace. Cristiano Ronaldo topped the La Liga goal scoring charts with 48 and did tie with Messi for Champions League goals, however the Argentine received the award for top marksman due to his superior number of assists. Ronaldo also surpassed the great Alfredo di Stefano and Raul to become Real Madrid's top goal scorer.

2016 is just a week old and we've already had the first managerial casualty. Zinedine Zidane took the poisoned chalice upon himself after Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez, fired Rafa Benitez after a 2-2 draw away to Valencia. A Madridista through and through, Benitez left with dignity, releasing a very emotional statement thanking everyone for the opportunity to manage at his boyhood club. The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager will not have any trouble finding work in the short term due to his decorated CV at different clubs over Europe. At the start of his tenure at Santiago Bernabeu, I thought that he would do a decent job and would bring solidity to a Real Madrid defence that often let them down last season. Instead, he sold Asier Illaramendi and refused to bench some of the Galacticos in order not to upset higher powers at the club, which led to his downfall. Zidane takes the reigns, but don't be surprised if they change hands before the year is out.

Football never fails to throw up a few surprises and I certainly expect many to happen before the close of 2016. Let me know your thoughts on 2016 or any memories that you wont forget from 2015.

Euro 2016 - The Groups

The draw for the Euro 2016 group phase was made last Saturday with 4 home nations competing, the most ever in a single European Championship.

Group B - England, Russia, Slovakia, Wales

I don't see there being too many problems for England, with their stiffest arguably being neighbours Wales. England should almost definitely be topping the group with ease and have the potential to win all three games. As for Wales, they have nothing to fear either. Wales need Gareth Bale fit to progress in my opinion. With the way his life has been going at Real Madrid, jetting off to France with the national side will be something of a relief. Slovakia finished second in their qualifying group with 22 points, 5 behind holders, Spain. Slovakia did record a famous 2-1 victory over the holders in October 2014 when a winner three minutes to go from Bursaspor striker Miroslav Stoch secured the victory after Paco Alcacer equalised a Juraj Kucka goal on 82 minutes.

Final standings in this order are England, Wales, Slovakia, Russia.

Group C - Germany, Northern Ireland, Poland, Ukraine

After qualifying for their first Euro campaign, there will be a buzz in the Northern Ireland camp as they are named in a group with the World Champions. It is going to be very tough for Northern Ireland and I don't expect them to qualify. Northern Ireland will be just happy to be at the tournament and no doubt the fans will also. Northern Ireland will probably line up defensively and look to hit teams on the break. I see the Germans and Poland being too strong for the nation of 1.7m, while Ukraine would represent their best opportunity of picking up some points. While Northern Ireland may finish bottom of their group, I do think they will pick up a point against Ukraine.

Final standings in this order are: Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Northern Ireland.

Group E - Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Sweden

Like their neighbours, the Republic of Ireland having been handed a very tough group. Belgium are widely tipped by many to be one of the tournament favourites next summer, while Italy normally up their game for the tournaments despite not being a great Italian team compared to those over the years. Sweden heavily rely on captain and PSG striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If Ireland are able to mark him out of the game then I expect the side to record a victory.

Final standings in this order are: Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Sweden.

 

Group A - Albania, France, Romania, Switzerland

Looking at the other groups, France have a great opportunity to claim a pole position after being handed a group with Albania, Romania and Switzerland. When Albania last met France in June a free kick form Ergys Kace gave the Eastern European side their first victory over the French in their history. I don't see any of the others offering any competition to prevent France from finishing first in their group.

Final standings in this order are France, Switzerland, Albania and Romania.

 

Group D - Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey

I think Group D is a very interesting affair. Czech Republic toppled Group A - and the Dutch - to secure their 9th outing in the competition. Looking at Croatia, they finished second in Group H behind Italy and possess some very good players. Ivan Rakitic is a very good box to box midfielder and will offer both an attacking threat and security for the defence. Similarly Mario Mandzukic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic are key individuals and all pose a threat going forwards. We all know the pedigree of Spain and they will be looking to correct a few wrongs after a poor performance in the World Cup. Finally, Turkey always have the potential to shake things up with Arda Turan, Hakan Calhanoglu and Burak Yilmaz.

Final standings in this order are: Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Czech Republic.

Group F - Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Portugal

Many have tipped Austria to be this year's dark horse and I can understand why. David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic are probably their stand out players and will attract the most attention of their opposing sides. Alexander Dragovic is a decent young defender as is Martin Hinteregger and this is coupled with the experience of Leicester City defender, Christian Fuchs. Iceland have qualified for their first ever tournament and included home and away wins over the Netherlands in qualifying. Hungary scraped through finishing 3rd in qualifying group F and beating Norway 3-1 on aggregate in the playoffs. As for Portugal, they rely heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo and this could be their downfall later in the tournament but I see them qualifying from this group.

Final standings in this order: Austria, Portugal, Iceland, Hungary.

Feel free to leave your thoughts on the Home Nations' prospects or any other team for that matter.