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Group A at Euro 2020 comprises Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and Wales. The four teams are fairly evenly matched and are lined up in a group that is likely to witness a close competition until the final matchday. Each team possesses a realistic chance to go through to the knockouts in Euro 2020.
While Italy go into the Group with the tag of firm favorites, it would not be an easy ride for the Azzurri. They will need to keep up the challenges faced by an unpredictable, exciting and unpredictable Turkish national team, an experienced Swiss side and dark horses Wales.
Sportskeeda takes a brief look at the four participating nations in Group A and predicts how the regular league stage could end up in the group in Euro 2020.
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#4 Wales
Wales will take to the tournament with the hopes of repeating the Euro 2016 fairytale yet again. The Dragons went all the way to the semi-finals only to exit with a 2-0 loss to Portugal. Robert Page's side, in the absence of head coach Ryan Giggs, just do not have enough depth and impetus on paper to challenge for the top two spots in the group.
They have had a formational change from a conventional back-four to a five-man setup at the back since the turn of the new year. Wales boast a series of young Premier League talents like Daniel James (Manchester United), Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur) and Neco Williams (Liverpool). These players have started to get regular starts for the national team and have settled down.
Wales have been spotted to abundantly use long balls from the back as a sort of direct approach in a system where Kieffer Moore acts as the targetman. Harry Wilson has supported Kieffer Moore upfront with Gareth Bale and Daniel James on either wing in the qualifiers. Wales lack creative options in midfield and a leader of the defense at the back. Ethan Ampadu's ability to play in both defense and midfield makes him one of the few Wales talents to look out for at Euro 2020.
Wales have had an underwhelming run of results ahead of Euro 2020 with a 3-0 loss to France and a goalless draw with Albania. They will have an outside chance of making it to the Euro 2020 knock-out riding on the individual brilliances of Bale and Ramsey.
#3 Switzerland
Switzerland have played with a standard 3-4-3 formation in the Euro 2020 qualifiers and are expected to continue the same under Vladimir Petkovic. They have used two pivots in midfield as blocks and have effectively utilized the wing-backs to get crosses in the danger area. Haris Seferavoic and Mario Gavranovic are the two targetmen they will bank on to score the goals.
However, the two frontmen need support from the middle and this is where Xherdan Shaqiri comes into play. Shaqiri can play across the pitch and create some dazzling scoring opportunities, which he did at Euro 2016. Switzerland are a mix of patience and creativity in midfield. Granit Xhaka has exemplary passing vision and will be complemented by the patient and steady Djibril Sow.
Switzerland will have their task cut out against Turkey and Italy in the group, both of which are excellent defensive sides. Scoring might be a problem which could faze the Swiss armada but they will be as defensively solid as they have in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, conceding just six goals in eight matches.
#2 Turkey
Predicting Turkey to finish second in Group A in Euro 2020 might be a wild call given the presence of Wales and Switzerland in the group. The Crescent-Stars are an exciting bunch of young and experienced superstars.Turkey likes to play in a compact and counter-attacking style in a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation depending on the opponent. They pressed hard against weaker sides but allowed stronger opposition to play their game inside their own half to draw the defensive midfielders out in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Italy, Wales and Switzerland are all defensively better sides in comparison to the Turks. Senol Gunes' men are expected to rely on quick counter charge plays to carve out the opposition at Euro 2020.
They have been phenomenal in their qualifying campaign as they finished second only behind France in Group H with just a single loss. Okay Yokuslu will play a crucial role in the defensive midfield as the chief blocker. Kenan Karaman and Hakan Calhanoglu will play their part upfront on the pitch as goal-scoring wingers at Euro 2020.
Turkey have often relied on the ability of long ball deliveries of Ozan Tufan towards the towering figure of Burak Yilmaz upfront. The striker will galvanize the Turkish squad into a fighting unit. Turkey are expected to score a number of goals which will lay their foundation to advancing to the knock-outs of Euro 2020.
#1 Italy
The Gli Azurri have a point to prove after missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup and only making it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. The 1968 Euro winners have been on an upward resurgence since the dynamic Roberto Mancini took charge.
Mancini has stuck with the conventional 4-3-3 formation since early 2020. The Italian national team has grown into a side which prefers to play direct football. They are not a side which is defensively resolute, something which resonates with the essence of Italian football.
Jorginho has played a crucial part in Italy's midfield which will look to combine well with Marco Veratti upfront. Italy have been scoring a lot of goals from outside the box in the International Friendlies, Euro 2020 qualifiers and the Nations League. Manuel Locatelli will be upbeat about making good use of the loose balls around the opposition box.
They have a dynamic attacking presence, sparing Veratti at center. Dominico Baradi likes to cut inside from his wing position and help out the striker while Ciro Immobile does everything a world class scoring forward does. Federico Chiesa and Nicolo Barella will add further impetus to the ever expanding attacking midfield.
Italy have the perfect mix of defense, creativity, wing-play and scoring abilities. They will go into the tournament as Group A favorites. Italy have won all 10 of their qualifier games and are on an exemplary run of form as they blew away San Marino and Czech Republic in the preparatory friendlies in the run up to Euro 2020.
Final Verdict: Italy to finish top of Group A, Turkey to edge out Switzerland at second while Wales to squander at fourth
