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?
