Euro 2016: Frontrunners and darkhorses
With less than a month to go until the start of Euro 2016, preparations are well under way across the twenty-four nations who will all hope to achieve glory in France this summer.
The end of domestic league seasons across Europe have signalled the perfect time for national team managers to select a provisional squad containing players they believe have the quality to go all the way. A series of warm-up games could prove decisive in who makes the cut as a variable number of players are whittled down into a 23-man squad, with managers likely to give everyone a chance to impress and earn their place on the plane to Euro 2016.
Friendlies may not provide the best barometer towards deciding who the frontrunners and darkhorses are, especially as anything is possible in tournament football when the pressure, drama and tension are ramped up.
However, the games could provide a confidence boost that has the potential of carrying a nation all the way to the final at the Stade de France; strong performances and victories can do the world of good for teams that harbour real aspirations of triumphing at Euro 16, and although the warm-up matches may not affect the odds on Bookmakers.co.uk, they could provide the springboard for success this summer.
All eyes will be on France, with the hosts aiming to win their third major tournament on home soil in front of a partisan crowd. Their success in 1984 and 1998 would certainly suggest that France have history on their side, with Didier Deschamps, who lifted the World Cup trophy aloft as captain after the famous 3-0 win against Brazil eighteen years ago, looking to replicate the feat as manager. There is considerable pressure on France to succeed as Euro 2016 favourites – an achievement that would be a far cry from the dark days between 2008 and 2010 when controversy, public disputes and embarrassing tournament exits threatened to demise Les Bleus’ stature as one of the leading sides on the international stage.
A new generation of star players have helped to lift the gloom and provide fresh optimism that France can reclaim their elite status, with the likes of Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann likely to play key roles. Karim Benzema’s omission may leave Deschamps without a proven goalscorer at international level, but there is certainly enough quality amongst their ranks to consider France as strong contenders to repeat the feat of 1984 and win the European Championship in their own back yard.
Germany and Spain often enter major international tournaments amongst the strong favourites to win, and Euro 2016 is no exception to the rule. The former will look to add the European Championship trophy to the World Cup they won in Brazil two years ago, with Joachim Low’s side hoping to establish a period of dominance on the international stage.
Germany’s ruthless efficiency and professional often comes to the fore, and although they were given stern tests of their credentials during qualification against the likes of Poland and Ireland, Low’s team came through with flying colours by topping Group D. They will look to Thomas Muller, who represents good value for a free bets offer to finish Euro 2016 as top goalscorer, to lead from the front once again after scoring nine goals in ten games in qualifying, while the likes of Marco Reus and Manuel Neuer will also need to be at their very best to ensure Germany flex their strength at both ends of the pitch.
Spain may contest that they have the best defence in Europe, but Vincente Del Bosque may face a problem at the other end; Diego Costa and Paco Alcacer has been left out of their 25-man provisional squad, while their other strikers are not proven international goalscorer. It may come down to Alvaro Morata to lead from the front, and although Aritz Aduriz arguably deserves a chance following an excellent goal-scoring season with Athletic Bilbao, the Juventus striker has the presence of mind to be in the right place to finish off the free-flowing moves that is the hallmark of how Spain play. Being third favourites behind France and Germany would suggest that Del Bosque’s side have the quality to reach the latter stages, but will need to find an extra gear if they are to triumph at Euro 2016.
Tournaments often throw up the potential for an underdog to emerge and reach the latter stages, and with Euro 2016 being the first tournament which will involve twenty-four teams, there is even more scope for an upset. It may come as a surprise to see England rated as fourth favourites on Bookmakers.co.uk, but impressive performances against France and Germany in recent friendlies would suggest that Roy Hodgson has a hugely talented side on his hands.
A combination of highly-rated prospects and players who are in superb form at domestic level could see the Three Lions end fifty years of hurt, with Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane looking to make a big impact at Euro 2016. Getting off to a strong start against Russia in their Group B opener would be proof that England will not be at the tournament to make up the numbers, with the chance to get a free bet for the match an opportunity not to be missed. Question mark remain over their defence and ability to handle pressure when the heat is on, but lowered expectations as a darkhorse rather than among the strong favourite may take off the pressure allow England to express themselves and play with confidence.
Belgium, on the other hand, will arrive at Euro 2016 with an entire nation expecting them to succeed and prove that their golden generation are more than mere hype. Marc Wilmots certainly has a hugely talented squad at his disposal, with their quarter final appearance at the 2014 World Cup a sign of the progress that has been made in recent years. Their fans expect them to go further this summer, but they will have to prove their credentials in a tough group which will see Belgium face Italy, Sweden and Ireland. Wilmots will need the likes of Thibault Courtois, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku to be on top form if Belgium are to have any chance of going all the way, but they certainly represent good value given the depth of talent in their squad.
The same could also be said of Poland who, despite having a few recognised names, do have players that are more than capable of turning on the style this summer. Highly-rated 21-year-old winger Piotr Zielinski, who is rumoured to be a Liverpool target, is a prime example of the talent coming through, while Kamil Glik, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Lukasz Piszczek represent the quality they have in other areas of the pitch.
However, Poland’s hopes of making an impact as a rank outsider rest on the shoulders of Robert Lewandowski who simply cannot stop scoring this season for club and country. Thirty Bundesliga goals with Bayern Munich and thirteen during their successful qualifying campaign illustrates his unerring finishing ability, and if Poland provide him with the service he thrives on, then he win yet another top goalscorer accolade and winners medal this summer.