The Euro 2016 Championships are about to begin in a short span of time, with each team having an objective of their own. Some nations would be hoping to win the title, while some teams would be hoping to get through the group stages and reach the knockout stages at least.
It’s that time again when top teams all over Europe go head-to-head again to claim the title of the Euro Champions, with this year being particularly special due to the fact that there will now be 24 teams. That’s an increase of eight new teams, showing the demand for this premier competition.
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Euros are the second most watched football competition in the world after the FIFA World Cup. This year has already had a few surprises like the Netherlands failing to qualify for the tournament. So let’s take a look at the contenders for this year’s edition of the UEFA Euro 2016 Championships:
1) Italy
Italy, having finished the 2012 Euro Championships as runners-up would be looking to make amends and deliver a killing blow to all their rivals. Italy have not had a great qualifier as the only half-decent team they managed to beat since their early exit from the 2014 World Cup is Holland, who didn’t even manage to qualify for the Euros.
While they have had problems scoring goals, they have a good defensive lineup, with them having an undefeated run at the Euro qualifiers. With a few shocking exclusions from the team including Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo, it looks like future Chelsea boss Antonio Conte means business by removing all the deadwood from the team.
The tactical prowess of the Italians can prove to be the difference in their campaign for the Euros. Italy should also have the hunger to win the competition having been humiliated in the finals of the Euro 2012.
2) Belgium
Belgium have a very strange team. They have an incredibly strong and skilful core of players with the likes of captain Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku to name a few. Despite having one of the strongest team in the world, they have somehow mysteriously failed to perform on the big stages.
Their main players have often failed to show up, with Eden Hazard particularly disappointing at the World Cup. So having faced such criticisms, Mark Wilmots would be hoping to motivate his players to give the performance of their lives at the Euros this year.
Wilmots has been criticised for making the golden generation of players into a dull crop of lifeless players. If top players like Lukaku and Hazard deliver, then there is no reason why this talented core of players cannot lift the Euros for the first time in their history.
3) Spain
Spain are the winners of the last two European Championships. In fact, their golden era began only after they lifted the 2008 Euro trophy. Since then, Spain have gone on to lift a World Cup and a Euro in succession.
The La Rojas had been riding sky-high before being given a reality check when they got eliminated in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup. Thus, they should be looking to get back to winning ways with new players coming in to replace veterans like Carles Puyol, Xavi and David Villa to name a few.
Spain have an incredible squad and an even incredible coach in the form of Vicente del Bosque, who has masterminded most of the Spanish success in the last few years. They enter the Euros as favourites and it is hard to say if they too won’t feel the same about their chances of winning the Euros for the third time in succession.
This might be Del Bosque’s last involvement with Spain, so it is common knowledge to believe that he would like to go out with a bang.
4) Germany
Current World Champions Germany are one of the favourites to win the Euros this time round. They haven’t won the Euros since the year 1996, thus making them hungrier to win the European Championship after 20 years.
The Germans have had to suffer heartbreaks quite often in the Euros, they have won it three times but have finished runners-up three times as well, having last reached the finals when they were defeated by a solitary goal from Spain’s Fernando Torres in the 2008 Euros.
After winning the 2014 World Cup, the Germans would be looking to build on their success and deliver the Euros. Coach Joachim Leow would want to add the Euros to his resume, becoming one of the very few managers to have won both the World Cup and the Euro Championships.
With the talents of players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer, there is no reason for Germany to not believe that they can win the competition.
5) France
Hosts France are the favourites to win this year’s Euro Championships due to the fact that the team currently boast of one of the best players in Europe, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet and Anthony Martial.
They are one of the most exciting teams in the competition. Coach Didier Deschamps would be looking to make his team a killer team, having the experience of winning the Euros as a player himself. His experience and knowledge would be vital in France clinching the title.
The last time France hosted the Euros, they emerged as champions, so it is reasonable to say that the home advantage would be critical in them winning the Euros.
France haven’t won too much in recent history, with their last title victory coming in the form of Euro 2000. So, it is only logical to say that France would be pushing to lift the trophy in their home ground to repay the faith of their fans.
