Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Spain
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=122/squad/index.html
Captain:Iker Casillas
Key Players: Andres Iniesta; Koke; Sergio Busquets
Potential Breakout Player: Alvaro Morata
Notable Absentees: Dani Carvajal (injury); Saul (non-selection)
Best Historical Finish: Winners (1964; 2008; 2012)
Minimum Expectation: Semifinals
How Far Could They Go: Winners
The double defending Euro champions will enter the tournament as a favourite, with a wealth of options that probably would have seen a team of Spanish players left out via injury or non-selection (i.e. Saul, Torres, Gabi, Diego Costa, Carvajal, Isco, Callejon, Reina, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Mata, Cazorla, Gaya, Alcacer, Williams etc.) a potential favourite to win it all.
The Spanish will be looking to leave behind a disastrous 2014 World Cup and move towards a third consecutive Euro win. There is an interesting situation in goal, with De Gea having superseded St. Iker (who still remains captain). The defensive unit remains strong but beyond the duo of Pique/Ramos there seems to be a lack of a top class central defender. The wingbacks (Juanfran/Alba) are terrific attacking avenues. Busquets has mastered the defensive midfield role and will probably see an imperious quartet of Koke/Iniesta/Silva/Fabregas in front of him. The lone frontman will in all likelihood be Morata who could be a real contender for the Golden Boot.
Clear favourites to take this group, Spain will be challenged given the other teams all have enough to trouble them. Ultimately there will be no easy game in this group and perhaps that would worry most teams but with the level of talent available, Spain will advance.
Team: CZECH REPUBLIC
Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Czech_Republic
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=58837/squad/index.html
Captain: Tomas Rosicky
Key Players: Petr Cech; Vladimir Darida; Pavel Kaderabek
Potential Breakout Player: Ladislav Krejci
Notable Absentee: Matej Vydra (non-selection)
Best Historical Finish: Winners (1976 as Czechoslovakia); Runners-Up (1996)
Minimum Expectation: Second Round
How Far Could They Go: Second Round
The Czech Republic have consistently qualified for the tournament ever since the break up of Czechoslovakia. After reaching the final in 1996 they probably should have won the tournament in 2004 when they boasted arguably the best team in their history led by Nedved. They qualified for this edition as group winners, topping a section which included fellow qualifiers Turkey and Iceland as well as the disappointing Netherlands.
The team will be led by two players remaining from that 2004 squad. Cech remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world, whilst Rosicky will be the captain and despite having an injury ravaged latter part of his career still remains one of the finest technical midfielders in Europe. There are a few promising younger players coming through with the likes of Kaderabek, Krejci and Darida having been key in qualification.
This team could advance to the second round but it will require a herculean effort given in this Group of Death, the Czechs would be the minnows and their midfield in particular could suffer against three superior midfields. They have had rich history in this tournament but their closing game against the Turks probably will just be a battle for third place, a winner take all game.
Team: TURKEY
Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Turkey
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=135/squad/index.html
Captain: Arda Turan
Key Players: Arda Turan; Nuri Sahin; Hakan Calhanoglu
Potential Breakout Player: Hakan Calhanoglu
Notable Absentee: Gokhan Tore (suspension)
Best Historical Finish: Semifinals (2008)
Minimum Expectation: Second Round
How Far Could They Go: Second Round
Turkey are a tournament team, having gotten to the semis of World Cup 2002 and Euro 2008 when in each case very little was expected. The Turks will enter the tournament with a fresh lease of life. Through the early parts of the qualifying phase the Turks looked sure to miss out but wins in each of their last three games against the Dutch, Czechs and Iceland saw Turkey come from the brink to effectively eliminate the Dutch.
The Turkish squad is almost exclusively taken from the Turkish Superliga, but the four most important players all play outside of Turkey. In Turan, Calhanoglu, Sahin and Malli, the Turks have a midfield blessed with extremely technically gifted players. Turan will be fresh having barely featured for Barcelona this campaign, Sahin will need to get back to the levels when he inspired Borussia Dortmund to the Bundesliga title but it will be Malli/Calhanoglu who could get the goals from midfield to fire the Turks forward or at least create opportunities for Burak.
Inferior to the Spanish and Croatians, the Turks will be able to approach their first two games as underdogs but the final group game against the Czechs will effectively be a knockout game. A draw will probably see them both out.
Team: CROATIA
Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Croatia
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=56370/squad/index.html
Captain: Darijo Srna
Key Players: Luka Modric; Mario Mandzukic; Ivan Rakitic
Potential Breakout Player: Marcelo Brozovic
Notable Absentees: Dejan Lovren (non-selection); Alen Halilovic (non-selection)
Best Historical Finish: Quarterfinals (1996; 2008)
Minimum Expectation: Quarterfinals
How Far Could They Go: Final
Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Czech_Republic
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=58837/squad/index.html
Captain: Tomas Rosicky
Key Players: Petr Cech; Vladimir Darida; Pavel Kaderabek
Potential Breakout Player: Ladislav Krejci
Notable Absentee: Matej Vydra (non-selection)
Best Historical Finish: Winners (1976 as Czechoslovakia); Runners-Up (1996)
Minimum Expectation: Second Round
How Far Could They Go: Second Round
The Czech Republic have consistently qualified for the tournament ever since the break up of Czechoslovakia. After reaching the final in 1996 they probably should have won the tournament in 2004 when they boasted arguably the best team in their history led by Nedved. They qualified for this edition as group winners, topping a section which included fellow qualifiers Turkey and Iceland as well as the disappointing Netherlands.
The team will be led by two players remaining from that 2004 squad. Cech remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world, whilst Rosicky will be the captain and despite having an injury ravaged latter part of his career still remains one of the finest technical midfielders in Europe. There are a few promising younger players coming through with the likes of Kaderabek, Krejci and Darida having been key in qualification.
This team could advance to the second round but it will require a herculean effort given in this Group of Death, the Czechs would be the minnows and their midfield in particular could suffer against three superior midfields. They have had rich history in this tournament but their closing game against the Turks probably will just be a battle for third place, a winner take all game.
Team: TURKEY
Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Turkey
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=135/squad/index.html
Captain: Arda Turan
Key Players: Arda Turan; Nuri Sahin; Hakan Calhanoglu
Potential Breakout Player: Hakan Calhanoglu
Notable Absentee: Gokhan Tore (suspension)
Best Historical Finish: Semifinals (2008)
Minimum Expectation: Second Round
How Far Could They Go: Second Round
Turkey are a tournament team, having gotten to the semis of World Cup 2002 and Euro 2008 when in each case very little was expected. The Turks will enter the tournament with a fresh lease of life. Through the early parts of the qualifying phase the Turks looked sure to miss out but wins in each of their last three games against the Dutch, Czechs and Iceland saw Turkey come from the brink to effectively eliminate the Dutch.
The Turkish squad is almost exclusively taken from the Turkish Superliga, but the four most important players all play outside of Turkey. In Turan, Calhanoglu, Sahin and Malli, the Turks have a midfield blessed with extremely technically gifted players. Turan will be fresh having barely featured for Barcelona this campaign, Sahin will need to get back to the levels when he inspired Borussia Dortmund to the Bundesliga title but it will be Malli/Calhanoglu who could get the goals from midfield to fire the Turks forward or at least create opportunities for Burak.
Inferior to the Spanish and Croatians, the Turks will be able to approach their first two games as underdogs but the final group game against the Czechs will effectively be a knockout game. A draw will probably see them both out.
Team: CROATIA
Squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_squads#Croatia
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=56370/squad/index.html
Captain: Darijo Srna
Key Players: Luka Modric; Mario Mandzukic; Ivan Rakitic
Potential Breakout Player: Marcelo Brozovic
Notable Absentees: Dejan Lovren (non-selection); Alen Halilovic (non-selection)
Best Historical Finish: Quarterfinals (1996; 2008)
Minimum Expectation: Quarterfinals
How Far Could They Go: Final
The Croatians have produced some fantastic footballers and fantastic teams over the years, which appeared to have been at its zenith with a third place finish at World Cup 1998. This team is better and deeper than that one. The Croatians finished second behind the Italians in their qualifying group with only a shock defeat at Norway along the way. They conceded just five goals but scored twenty, showing a fine balance going forward and still keeping it tight at the back.
How good is this Croatian team? Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and Fiorentina all rely on Croatians to play key roles in their first XI. Subasic in goal is reliable playing behind an experienced defensive line led by Srna and Corluka. The midfield quintet boasts Modric/Kovacic/Rakitic/Brozovic/Perisic playing behind Mandzukic up top. There is a significant level of squad depth as well with the likes of Kramaric, Badelj, Vrsaljko and Kalinic all top players who will be relied on to spark the team off the bench.
A legitimate dark horse, Croatia may well be a better bet than even the highly rated Belgians to win it all. They boast deep squad, top quality players and no real weakness. If they can somehow overturn the Spanish to win the group, a path to the final may open up nicely for a group which could do something very special this summer.
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