itsbeautifuloutside

FRANCE

As hosts, France last played a competitive match on 4th July 2014 when they lost 1-0 to Germany in the Maracanã in a world cup quarter final. In 2015 they played ten friendlies winning 6. One of their 4 defeats was in Albania.

The last competition staged in France was the 1998 world cup which they won. The current French squad does not include a similar depth of talent to the 1998 team but the home nation will still expect Les Bleus to remain in contention until the latter stages.

Most of the likely squad ply their trade overseas. The only one with a Saints connection is Morgan Schneiderlin (who didn't make the original squad, but squeaked in at the end of May), but Lloris, Koscielny, Mangala, Sagna, Cabaye, Sissoko, Giroud and Martial are Premier League players likely to make the French squad.

Barring another defeat by Albania, the French seem likely to proceed to the knockout stages (despite a lower FIFA ranking than both Switzerland and Romania). Winning group A would see them face a 3rd placed team in the round of 16 so a quarter-final place is the least they should expect.

ROMANIA

Undefeated in qualifying, Romania finished 2nd behind Northern Ireland in their group. This run has seen them climb above the hosts in FIFA’s rankings and Romania will be no pushover next summer.

Best competition performances saw them reach quarter-finals in the 1994 world cup (USA) and at Euro 2000 where they saw off England in their group.

Their squad has some home-based players and several playing in Eastern Europe. The only UK based players likely to appear are the keeper Pantilimon from Watford and, providing he can get fit in time, Saints’ Florin Gardos.

Romania will do well to progress from Group A but it is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Their appearance in the opening match in the Stade de France is crucial: getting anything from that match with their buoyant hosts would give Romania’s hopes a huge boost.

ALBANIA

Never before have Albania reached the finals of a major football competition and their qualifying campaign was greatly assisted when the Court of Arbitration for Sport awarded them a 3-0 away win against Serbia. The original match had been abandoned after the “drone incident”, various pitch invasions and Albanian players being attacked by Serb supporters and riot police! Nevertheless, finishing behind Portugal and above Denmark, Serbia and Armenia in Group I was an impressive achievement.

There are no household names in the Albanian squad with all but the youngest players based abroad. A few are with top flight clubs in Italy, France and Turkey but none play in the UK.

Euro 2016 will be a great adventure for the Albanians and their match with France in Marseilles will be the biggest they have ever played. However, anything above bottom of Group A will be a massive achievement.

SWITZERLAND

The Swiss have regularly underperformed in tournaments, their whole somehow ending up less than the sum of sometimes brilliant parts. Their world cup exploits have never lasted beyond quarter finals and the last time that happened was 1954 in, er, Switzerland. In the Euros they first qualified here in 1996 and have now reached 3 more final stages.

This time they finished 2nd behind England in Group E, winning 7 games and losing 3. Recent results have seen them rise to 12 on the FIFA list.

Most of their squad play in Germany but will probably include 4 UK based players: Inler, Shaqiri, Behrami and the recently arrived Timm Klose.

Switzerland ought to contest top spot in this group with France in which case their final game in Lille should be a cracker. However, don’t be surprised if they end up fighting Romania to come 2nd.

WALES

Wales have only made a single world cup appearance. They reached the quarter finals in 1958 finishing 2nd in their group behind hosts Sweden. They were knocked out by a single goal by a kid named Pele playing for Brazil. They’ve participated in all the Euro qualifiers since 1960 but have never before got through to the finals.

Wales came through Qualifying Group B on the coat tails of Belgium, winning 6 and drawing 3 of their 10 games. The sole defeat was away to Bosnia.

It is probable that all but 2 of the Wales squad will be plying their trade in England’s top two divisions. Exceptions are Williams the Inverness CT keeper and the boy Bale from Real Madrid. Bale is the shining star in this side but Chris Coleman has built a very useful side around him and Wales will be nobody’s push-overs in France. Saints Lloyd Isgrove is currently on loan at Barnsley and earned his first senior cap for Wales in the friendly international against Northern Ireland on March 24th.

On paper Wales ought to get out of this group. Bale is a match-winner and should help Wales get past Russia and Slovakia. It will be interesting if they see off England as well!

SLOVAKIA

The state of Slovakia only came into being in 1993 and, so far, their football team has qualified for one international competition prior to Euro 2016. They reached the 2010 world cup finals in South Africa and caused a minor upset by finishing 2nd in their group, beating Italy 3-2 in the process. In the round of 16 they lost 2-1 to the Netherlands.

The highlight of Slovakia’s qualifying group C campaign was a 2-1 home win over Spain in 2014. They lost only twice [Spain (a) and Belarus (h)]. This helped them to second place behind Spain but ahead of Ukraine who were obliged to go through the play-offs.

Slovakia’s most experienced players are Slovan’s Vittek, Napoli’s Hamsik and Skrtel of Liverpool. The squad will be called up from across Europe - and beyond - but there will be no other UK based players.

Slovakia is the lowest ranked side in this group: anything better than last place will be an achievement.

ENGLAND

England’s perfect qualifying campaign (10 wins out of 10) ought to presage a storming tournament this summer. Experience tells us this almost never happens for England.

England contested every world cup since 1950 - failing to qualify in 1974, 1978 and 1994. Of the other 14 tournaments they have gone out at the quarter final stage 7 times, lost in the semis at Italia 90 and won it on home soil in 1966. Our record in the Euros is worse – we gave the first one a miss and failed to qualify for 5 more. Of the 8 where England reached the finals we didn’t get beyond the group in 4 of them, lost in 2 quarter finals and 2 semi-finals. That is a miserable record for a major football nation.

It is impossible to second guess Roy Hodgson as to who will – and who won’t – be in his squad. There will surely be some with Saints connections and, if there is any justice, Forster and Bertrand ought to go. It is possible that England will be the only squad in France made up entirely of home-based players.

Who knows how well England will do? One thing is sure – the hope, and the hype, surrounding England in France this summer will be unbearable for those of us who actually love the game.

RUSSIA

There have been 6 world cups since the break-up of the Soviet Union and Russia qualified for the finals at 3 of them: but never got beyond the group stage. Their record at the Euros is better – only once have they failed to qualify and in 2008 went all the way to a semi-final in Vienna before losing to eventual champions Spain.

They qualified for Euro 16 as runner up in group G behind Austria, winning 6 of their 10 matches and losing twice.

Almost all the Russian squad play for Russian clubs. Kerzhakov of Zurich and Cheryshev of Valencia are the only foreign based players to win caps recently. Many established internationals are in their thirties and coach Leonid Slutsky may be tempted to bring some youngsters along to provide more energy.

As hosts for the next world cup, this summer’s matches will be Russia’s last competitive games for 2 years. They would dearly love to beat one or both of the British sides and get out of this group. They will need to find a regular goal scorer for that to happen.

POLAND

The Poles have qualified for seven world cups and twice (in both 1974 and 1982) reached the semi-finals before finishing 3rd. Their record in the Euros is far worse – qualifying only in 2008 and then in 2012 (when they were joint hosts along with Ukraine). On neither occasion did they get further than the group stage.

In qualification for France 2016 they finished as runner up in group D, a point behind Germany but ahead of Eire and Scotland. Their sole defeat was away in Frankfurt last year.

Any side with Lewandowski leading the line is capable of causing problems for opponents and this time the Poles will hope to eradicate their failure on home soil in 2012. Whilst some of their squad play for the leading clubs in the Polish league, most are based at sides across Europe. UK based players likely to be called include former Saint Artur Boruc and Fabianski of Swansea, along with (perhaps) the lad Zyro from Wolves.

There will be no love lost in their matches with both Germany and Ukraine – their neighbours: they will hope to win one of those (most likely Ukraine) and beat the Ulstermen to proceed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

The opportunity created by having 24 places in France this summer was exploited by all the home nations apart from Scotland. Northern Ireland don’t often qualify for such competitions but have got beyond the group stage at 2 out of their 3 world cup finals. They’ve never reached the Euros finals before.

Norn Iron qualified for France by topping Group F – ahead of Romania, Hungary, Finland, The Faroes and Greece – winning 6 matches, drawing 3 and losing just once, in Bucharest.

The squad is drawn from the English and Scottish leagues and captained by our very own Steven Davis. He and former Saint, Chris Baird, are by far the most experienced internationals. Baggies trio Brunt, McAuley and Evans are likely to form the defence and Norwich striker Kyle Lafferty will lead their front line.

No-one expected the Ulstermen to qualify but they did. Can they now confound everyone and escape from this Group? You bet they can!

GERMANY

The current world cup holders are the big beast of the European game: 8 world cup finals, winning 4 and 6 Euro finals winning 3 is a record unmatched in this continent. They will be as competitive this summer as they usually are.

Germany eventually topped qualifying group D but their campaign was not without difficulties: defeats in Warsaw and, to a Shane Long goal, in Dublin kept the Germans honest till the end of qualifying.

Most of their squad play for German clubs but several of the bigger stars are with major clubs in France, Italy, Spain and England. Ozil, Schweinsteiger and Can will probably be picked from the Premier League.

It would be hard to imagine the Germans not reaching the semi-finals this summer. That is probably the minimum expectation. Beyond that the vagaries of match-day conditions, refereeing decisions or “worldies” by opponents come into play. The Germans will give you a run for your money.

UKRAINE

Ukraine was only able to enter the world cup from 1998 and qualified just once; in Germany 2006 where they reached the quarter-finals. They competed in Euro 2012 as joint hosts and, like Poland, failed to go beyond the group stage. France 2016 represents their first successful Euro qualifying campaign.

Ukraine finished 3rd in group C behind Spain and Slovakia. Home and away wins against Belarus, Luxembourg and Macedonia gained them a play-off place. They were drawn against Slovenia and beat them 3-1 on aggregate in November last year.

Most of the squad are with Ukrainian clubs and those with Shaktar, Dnipro and Dinamo Kiev will have experience in the UEFA club competitions. The best known of their foreign based stars is Sevilla’s Konoplyanka: he and Kiev’s Yarmolenko will be required to make and score goals if Ukraine are to make headway in France.

Assuming Germany qualify, the battle to join them in the last 16 will be intense. But with 6 Groups, 4 third placed sides will progress to the round of 16 so Ukraine’s aim will be to avoid coming bottom.

TURKEY

Turkey is Europe’s 3rd largest country by population and, in the cities at least, Turks are passionate about their football. Their record in international competitions is not great: just 2 world cup qualifications (although in 2002 they finished 3rd) and 3 Euros (achieving another 3rd place - in 2008 - and a quarter final). It is clear, then, that Turkey is an emerging football nation that should not be taken lightly.

Turkey qualified for France via group A finishing 3rd behind the Czeck Republic and Iceland but above Holland, Kazakhstan and Latvia. They lost just twice – away in Iceland and at home to the Czecks. This left them on 18 points and the “best 3rd placed team” thereby avoiding the play-offs.

The Turkish league is becoming increasingly competitive and all but a handful of the squad are home based. There are maybe 3 with Bundesliga sides and their captain, Turan at Barca. Top scorer Yilmaz recently left Galatasaray for Beijing and we may also see a call-up for Kazim-Richards, now at Celtic.

Spain will most likely dominate this Group but the other places are hard to call. Despite qualifying behind the Czecks, their 0-2 win in Prague last autumn will bring confidence. Turkey and Croatia look very well matched so just don’t finish bottom and you may get through…

CROATIA

As part of Yugoslavia, Croatia always provided a goodly portion of the international side so it is no surprise that, since independence, they have had a decent team of their own. They first competed in the world cup in France 98 and finished 3rd. Since then they’ve failed to qualify for the finals once. Similarly, they missed out on just one Euros since 1996 and have reached 2 quarter-finals.

Croatia qualified for France as runners-up to Italy in group H. They were beaten just once, in Norway.

The squad will include a few home based players but most play for teams in Europe’s top leagues. The captain Srna is still at Shaktar and others likely to appear include Badelj and Kalinic of Fiorentina, Perisic at Inter, Mandzukic at Juventus, Rakatic at Barca and Modric and Kovacic at Real Madrid. The only UK based player likely to appear is Saints reject Dejan Lovren.

Croatia will fancy their chances of progressing beyond the Group but will need to have points in the bag before facing Spain in their last match.

SPAIN

The current Euro champions were once often guilty of punching below their weight in international competitions. This football mad country, whose clubs have regularly done great things, regularly went out of world cups and Euros much sooner than it should have. In the last decade this all changed and Spain have at last been properly successful at international level.

Indeed, so good have Spain become that when they went down 2-1 in Slovakia in their 2nd group C qualifier, there was much wringing of hands and wondering if this was the end of an era. It wasn’t. Spain won the rest of their games conceding just once more.

Spain competed in 14 world cup finals and for a long time their best performance was 4th place at Brazil 1950. Then in 2010 they won in South Africa beating Holland in the final. In Brazil 2014 they were out after just 2 matches, beaten by Holland and Chile. Spain’s Euro record is better. They won a much smaller competition on home soil in 1964 before competing unsuccessfully in 6 further Euros. In 2008 they beat Germany 1-0 in the final in Vienna then retained the trophy in Kiev four years later. They had a 2-0 lead over Italy with a few minutes left but late goals from Torres and Mata turned it into a rout.

Spain’s squad will be drawn from major La Liga clubs supplemented by others based overseas. Casillas (Porto), Morata (Juve), Bernat and Alcantara (Bayern) and Albiol (Napoli) could be called upon but the bulk of Spain’s foreign legion play in the UK. De Gea and Mata from United, Silva from City, Pedro, Azpilicueta, Fabregas and Costa from Chelsea and Arsenal’s Cazorla and Bellerin will all be waiting for Del Bosque’s call.

Following the Brazilian fiasco, Spain will take no risks and look to win this Group outright. That will put them against a 3rd placed side in the round of 16 and a runner-up in the quarter final. Spain ought to go a long way in France and winning the tournament for the 3rd time running is not out of the question.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Czechoslovakia was a decent football nation with runs to world cup finals in both 1934 and 1962. They reached the semi-finals every time they qualified for the Euros, and who can forget Panenka’s chipped penalty to beat the Germans in that other great cup-final of 1976?

Since partition the Czechs qualified for just one world cup, in 2006, but have been more impressive in the Euros. They’ve qualified every time and were a golden goal away from beating the Germans again at Wembley in 1996.

They qualified for France as winners of group A with 7 wins (including doubling Holland) and 2 defeats.

The squad has some home based players but most will be playing abroad. They will be from clubs in Turkey, Switzerland, Germany and probably Novak and Kadlec from Danish champions Midtjylland. From the UK, Cech continues as captain and may be joined by Vydra (Reading), Kalas (Boro), Skalak (Brighton), Pudil (Owls) and perhaps Rosicky of Arsenal.

This is another tight Group and it is likely to be one or two progressing with Spain. The Czechs could get through – they often do!

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Ireland will be the 4th team in France from the British Isles and another squad comprising mostly UK based footballers. Their route was via qualifying group D where they finished 3rd behind Germany and Poland but, crucially, above Scotland. They lost just twice – in Glasgow and Warsaw – but drawing in Germany, then beating the World Champions in Dublin were key to Eire’s progress. In the play-offs, they drew away in Bosnia before winning 2-0 at home thanks to a brace of John Walters’ goals.

Eire failed to qualify for any world cup prior to 1990 - when they were quarter-finalists. In both 1994 and 2002 they qualified again and got beyond the group stage. They have only qualified for Euros twice before but never got beyond their group.

It will be interesting to see whether veterans Doyle and Keane are brought over from MSL. Otherwise the whole squad will be selected from the top 2 divisions in England and Scotland. Shane Long is sure to go, as is Harry Arter from down the road.

Getting out of this group would be a significant achievement given that Belgium and Italy are expected to progress. Any sort of result against either of those would be welcome but, to have a chance of getting out of the Group, beating Sweden is essential.

SWEDEN

Sweden also got to France through the play-offs. They finished 3rd in group G behind Austria and Russia. They ruined Austria’s otherwise perfect qualification by drawing in Vienna – but were spanked 1-4 in the return. Their only other defeat came in Moscow. In the play-offs, Sweden met close neighbours Denmark. Ibrahimovic’s penalty gave the Swedes a 2-1 lead from the home leg. The same player then scored twice in Copenhagen so Sweden should have been comfortable: until 2 late Danish goals made it a much closer affair.

Sweden qualified for 11 world cups; their best finish was as runners-up (to Brazil) in Sweden 1958. They have reached 3 other semi-finals, most recently in 1994. They never qualified for the Euros before 1992 when, as hosts, they reached the semi-finals. Since then they have qualified for all bar Euro 96 in England.

The squad this summer will be a mix of home-based youngsters and more experienced players with foreign clubs. Their captain, Ibrahimovic will be their most experienced player but others from his generation are gradually hanging up their boots. From the UK, Martin Olssen (Norwich) and Jonas Olssen (WBA) are likely call-ups along with Lustig (Celtic) and Sunderland’s Toivonen and Seb Larsson – although the latter has recently been out injured.

Sweden will have to punch way above their weight to proceed from this group.

BELGIUM

Belgium has the best squad (on paper) and many expect they will win in France this summer. Qualification for France was relatively straightforward, topping group B with just one defeat – 1-0 to a Gareth Bale goal in Cardiff.

Belgium qualified for 12 world cups, their best return being 4th place in Mexico 1986. They have reached only 5 Euros but have generally done better: semi-finals in 1972 and runners-up to Germany in 1980.

In the same way that France undertook a root-and-branch review of football coaching in the nineties, then won the 1998 world cup, Belgium made similar improvements in the noughties and are now ranked at the top of the FIFA list. The squad charged with turning potential into silverware may have a few home-based players but most will be with top clubs overseas – mostly from the UK. If fit, we can expect to see former Saint Toby Alderweireld joined by his Spurs team-mates Vertonghen, Dembele and Chadli, keepers Courtois and Mignolet, City’s Kompany and De Bruyne, United’s Januzaj and Fellaini, Everton’s Lukaku and Mirallas, Liverpool’s Benteke and Origi, Celtic’s Boyata and, last but not least, Eden Hazard.

It would be nice to see Belgium’s long-term investment in football and coaches pay off and for their great individuals become a great team. If they are ever to lift an international trophy, this could, nay should, be their year.

ITALY

Which Italy will turn up this summer? When they are good, they are very good but sometimes they are pretty bad. Their international record is bettered only by Brazil and Germany. They have played in 18 world cups winning four times, being runners up twice and losing semi-finalists twice. They’ve reached 9 Euros, winning once and running-up twice – including Euro 2012.

Italy topped qualifying group H ahead of Croatia and Norway with a record of W7 D3 L0: so far, so good.

Although a few Italian professionals now ply their trade abroad, the majority of this squad will be drawn from Serie A. It may now be safe to assume Pirlo won’t make it this time but plenty of experienced players will. Buffon may add to his 150+ caps and both Chiellini and De Rossi could also be there. From abroad, Criscito (Zenit) and Verratti (PSG) will get the call as will Darmian (Man Utd) and our very own Graziano Pellè.

If the Italians are “at it” this summer, both they and Belgium can go a long way in the tournament. If they are as poor as they were at Brazil 2014, it opens the door for one of the others in this group.

AUSTRIA

The draw at France 2016 paired both halves of the old Hapsburg Empire, teams with impressive histories but not much recent form. Austria went to 7 world cups, finishing 4th in 1934 and 3rd in 1954. Since then they’ve gone beyond the group stage twice, but not in their most recent appearance in France 1998. The Euros started in 1960 and Austria has been a relative minnow. They competed just once, as joint hosts in 2008 - they failed to win a match!

Their first Euro qualification campaign, therefore, was quite spectacular – 9 wins (including doubling Russia) and only one draw (with Sweden). This has lifted Austria into the top 10 teams in the world.

Few of their squad are with Austrian clubs – unsurprisingly most are with German teams, the most successful being Junuzovic (Bremen), Alaba (Bayern) and Harnik (Stuttgart). Others who should be called up include Dragovic (Kiev), Janko (Basel) and Kavlak (Besiktas). There will also be a number of UK based players: their captain, Fuchs (Leicester), Wimmer (Spurs), Arnautovic (Stoke), Prodl (Watford) and Weimann (Derby).

This is Austria’s best team for at least half a century and they expect to go beyond the group phase. Group F is a tough one to call – which Portugal will turn up? Will Iceland continue to punch above their weight? However, it would be no great surprise if it was Austria who went furthest in the summer.

HUNGARY

The “Magnificent Magyars” qualified for 9 world cups between 1934 and 1986 - but not since. In the first 6 of these they reached 5 quarter finals and were runners-up in both 1938 and 1954. This latter final (at the Wankdorf in Berne) is still regarded as “the Miracle of Berne” by the winning Germans, who had been soundly thrashed by Hungary in their group game. They qualified for the Euros in 1964 and 1972, reaching the semi-finals on both occasions.

Hungary qualified for their 3rd Euros by finishing 3rd in Group F. One more win would have seen them go directly into the finals; instead they were obliged to endure the play-offs where home and away wins over Norway confirmed their summer in France.

This squad won’t be packed by “household names”; probably their best known player is Zoltan Gera who spent 10 years at West Brom/Fulham. He’ll be 37 by the summer but will probably get the call. A lot of those selected will play in Hungary joined by expats from Germany, Poland and Turkey. UK based players could include the keeper Bogdan (Liverpool) and the unfortunately named Daniel Toszer (QPR).

It is a tough group to get out of and it will be some achievement if Hungary do.

PORTUGAL

By contrast with Austria and Hungary, Portugal’s experience is all about improvement over time. Historically they were serial non-qualifiers until the 1966 world cup when Eusebio’s goals fired them to 3rd place. In 1986 they went out at the group stage but have qualified for every world cup since 2002 and their “golden generation” secured another semi-final in Germany 2006. They first qualified for the Euros in 1984, finishing 3rd. Since Euro 96 they’ve qualified for every one, always reaching the quarter finals, coming 3rd again in 2000 and 2012 and runners up, at home, in 2004 when Greece lifted the pot.

Portugal came through qualifying group I after losing at home to Albania in their opening match; then seven straight wins saw them finish top.

Cristiano Ronaldo seems to keep pretty fit so this probably won’t be his last international tournament. The supporting cast play for clubs from all over Europe although a fair few still play in Portugal. UK based players include Saints defenders Fonte and Cedric who could be joined by Eder from Swansea and the youngsters Joao (Wednesday) and Oliveira (Forest).

Providing Portugal can avoid a slip up in the early stages they could well progress to the latter rounds of the competition.

ICELAND

The banana-skin the more established sides are afraid of slipping on is Iceland. Traditionally one of international football’s whipping boys, Iceland recently upped their game. In 2011 they were a play-off away from reaching their first world cup in Brazil.

Their first Euro qualification came via group A where they were runners up behind the Czechs. They lost just twice but secured home and away wins over Holland, effectively knocking the Dutch out.

Good luck to the Euro 2016 pundits and commentators trying to pronounce the names of Iceland’s players. Few still play in Iceland. Most are signed to Scandinavian clubs but some play in warmer climes. Their best known player is Sigurdsson of Swansea. Other UK based players who may appear include Gunnarsson (Cardiff) and Gudmundsson (Charlton).

No-one expects Iceland to do much in France but that almost gives them a “free hit”. They keep springing surprises and might just spring some more.