Ian Hawkey breaks down the four teams in Group A of Euro 2016.
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An audible sigh of relief came over the Paris auditorium where the draw ceremony for Euro 2016 took place back in December when the host nation learnt its fate. France have a debutant, Albania, and a somewhat blunt attack, Romania’s, to deal with to ensure early qualification to the knockout phase.
Switzerland may be trickier, but they are the last group opponents for Didier Deschamps’ side and there seems a strong likelihood that match will be a scuffle about who ends up with top place in the pool.
The tournament needs a strong French start to gain its traction with the public and the relatively low-profile of the teams who share Group A with Les Bleus could be a double-edged sword. Yes, France ought to rack up some wins, but if the matches are attritional, and low-scoring – and the Romanians and Albanians tend to be cautious – then the sort of buoyant support France knew at the 1998 World Cup, their last major tournament as hosts, might be hard to recreate. The Swiss should be well supported, being near neighbours.
Group A fixtures (all kick off-times UAE)
*Correction: Times earlier were incorrectly shown as an hour later.
• June 10: France v Romania, 11pm
• June 11: Albania v Switzerland, 5pm
• June 15: Romania v Switzerland, 8pm
• June 15: France v Albania, 11pm
• June 19: Switzerland v France, 11pm
• June 19: Romania v Albania, 11pm
• Predicted order: France, Switzerland, Romania, Albania
FRANCE
The lead-up has had its complications, notably an off-the-field controversy involving Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema which mean that manager Didier Deschamps did not pick Real Madrid’s Benzema for the tournament. But he has a spine of players coming off strong club seasons, notably Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Hugo Lloris.
And there is home advantage. France have been disappointing their supporters for much of the past 15 years, and sometimes disgusting them: witness the players’ striker at the 2010 World Cup. But there is a desire to get behind the hosts, and a belief that, man for man, there is the potential to win the competition.
• Manager: Didier Deschamps
Deschamps was the captain when France won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. An intelligent, thoughtful man, he has racked up experience as a coach in France, where he took Monaco to a surprise Uefa Champions League final appearance and Marseille, where he won Ligue 1, and in Italy, with Juventus.
• Star Player: Hugo Lloris
Understated as a captain, but trusted. As a goalkeeper, he has wonderful reflexes and the sort of confidence with his feet that makes him every bit the daring, modern keeper-sweeper. Could have pursued a career as a professional tennis player.
• Wild card: Dmitri Payet
An outsider for a place even in the squad a year ago, the winger-playmaker’s move from Marseille to West Ham United turned out to be his best career move. Thrived in the Premier League and has an ace up his sleeve as a taker of direct free kicks.
• Most likely to: Reach at least the semi-finals.
SWITZERLAND
Having come within an extra-time goal of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, Switzerland ought to feel confident of making that stage, at least, of the equivalent continental competition. Yet the auguries are not great. They never kept pace with England in their qualifying group, and the early preparation games of this calendar year were uninspiring defeats.
With their former captain, Gokhan Inler, having struggled to play regularly for English champions Leicester City, and another leader, Xherdan Shaqiri, having suffered a dip in form and injuries at Stoke City, there are a few too many incognitos for coach Vladimir Petkovic to be comfortable with.
• Manager: Vladmir Petkovic
Born in Bosnia, the urbane Petkovic is multilingual, like many of his Switzerland players. He achieved his greatest successes in elite club management with Lazio in Italy, where he won the Coppa Italia. He left Rome to take over the Swiss.
• Star Player: Xherdan Shaqiri
The muscular, sturdy playmaker caused quite a surprise when he left Bayern Munich to join unglamorous Stoke City last year. The move has had its ups and downs but on his day, he can be a most watchable match-winner.
• Wild card: Breel Embolo
Had the option of playing for Cameroon, where he was born, or Switzerland where he moved as a child, and since choosing the Swiss, the 19-year-old striker helped spearhead Basel’s defence of their league title.
• Most likely to: Reach the last 16.
ROMANIA
Romania came through the qualifying groups with the tightest defence of any team. Led by former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Vlad Chiriches, left, Romaina conceded just two goals in 10 matches. They still finished behind Northern Ireland, but celebrated the end of an eight-year absence from appearances at major finals.
They are a long way off resembling the charismatic sides that featured Gheorge Hagi and reached the last eight of the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000, but have cultivated a hard-to-beat aura.
• Manager: Angel Iordanescu
Hugely distinguished figurehead of Romanian football, he won the European Cup as a Steaua Bucharest player in 1986, and is in his third stint as national team manager. His previous job was with Al Ain in the UAE.
• Star Player: Ciprian Tatarusanu
The 30-year-old goalkeeper established himself as Fiorentina’s No 1 during the last Serie A campaign and is the principal reason why his national team have such a formidable defensive record.
• Wild card: Nicolae Stanciu
The 23-year-old winger, from Steaua Bucharest, has limited international experience but, with his dainty skills on the ball, may just provide the moments of magic that Romania need to make their breakthroughs.
• Most likely to: Scrape into next round as third-placed qualifier.
ALBANIA
One of the beneficiaries of the extended format of the finals, Albania are first-timers at a European Championship. They have some notable feathers in their cap from the last couple of years, including a victory over Portugal to begin the successful campaign to reach France and a win over the French in a friendly last summer. Les Bleus will not want a repeat of that when they meet in the second matchday of Group A.
• Manager: Gianni De Biasi
De Biasi will turn 60 during the tournament, is vastly experienced in club football, mainly in his native Italy but he has coached in Spain. As a player, he briefly represented Inter Milan but spent most of his career as a workmanlike midfielder with lesser clubs. A hero in Albania thanks to guiding them to a rare major finals appearance.
• Star player: Lorik Cana
Much travelled and with a high profile in France, thanks to his stints at Marseille and most recently with Nantes, the Albania captain has also represented Lazio, Sunderland and Galatasasary. He played much of his career as an anchor midfielder, but, at 32, has settled into a central defensive role with the national team. Ironically, he could have played for France, having qualified for citizenship, or Switzerland, where he spent much of his childhood. He will play both in Group A.
• Wild card: Ergys Kace
Creative nimble midfielder who may have to be content to be used as an impact substitute, but he can be effective from there. Capable of striking a mean free kick.
• Most likely to: Finish bottom of the group.
