I love an underdog, so before I even start this, I’m throwing it out there….Austria will come in the top four of these Euros, no wait, they’ll win it! I’m so confident of this, I will call it a fact! (for reference, I’m always wrong, aside from that time in 2009 when I predicted Burnley would beat Spurs 3-0 in the Carling Cup).
I am fully aware I may, no, will get slated with these predications, but I reckon I can take that if one or two come off. So, with that out the way, let’s begin!
The Euros this year has been expanded to include 24 teams, and that’s 8 more than recent years. If you were to believe everything you read when this was announced, it has allowed 8 extra ‘rubbish’ teams to qualify along with the usual rabble.
I cannot stress what this now must mean for the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Serbia! Of course I am joking, this year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the best yet despite a couple of big names not attending, and with the crazy season we experienced in the recent English Premier League, I have a feeling something bananas is going to happen again in the Euros (hint, Austria!).
Given this I wouldn’t be surprised if the bookies experienced a flurry of bets on this year’s longest shots Albania at 300/1 (advice: don’t, they won’t win).
On the subject of odds, the favorites this year are France at 3/1, almost an obligatory nod as they are the hosts, then are Spain with 4/1, Germany with 5/1 and England sitting fourth at 8/1.
If you wanted some safe betting I would back France out of those for the following reasons: England always disappoint, Germany are in shocking form and I personally think Spain have lost their mojo, but hey what do I know.
For an added piece of excitement, the addition of 8 more teams to this year’s tournament means your country have more of a chance of qualifying out of the group stages with the best 4 third place finishers (of 6) also qualifying. They really have put the steps in place for the underdog this year and I love it!
Group A
France, Romania, Albania, Switzerland
A really interesting group to start with, France – Switzerland brings a border rivalry whilst Switzerland – Albania all a muddle with Albanians playing for Switzerland and Swiss playing for Albania!
The now Arsenal man Granit Xhaka even has the possibility of coming up against his brother Taulant!
Google facts out of the way, France are the obvious favorites to top this group and they’re my number one for group A. I always find though that being hosts, although holding many advantages, has the one disadvantage of not having played a competitive game since the last tournament (in this case, that was 4th July 2014). So despite a bit of French rustiness, I see little struggles here, even against Switzerland, for whom they were joined with in the Group Stages of 2014 (where the Swiss were smashed 5-2).
For second place, I can only see Switzerland. Shaqiri always seems to turn up for nationals despite his on / off form at club level, Behrami and Fernandes offer the experience in midfield, whilst Arsenal have not just spent 30 odd million pounds on any old bloke, Granit Xhaka has a ton of quality and will make Switzerland a tough opposition to break down (that is aside from the crazy decision to leave Senderos at home!)
I also highly rate Breel Embolo up front for the Swiss, he is certainly a player to watch out for, and although the more experienced Seferovic, Mehmedi and Derdiyok may appear to sit ahead of Embolo, I think it would be a mistake to leave this 19 year old twiddling his thumbs on the subs bench.
As for Albania and Romania, I think it may be a scrap for third place between these two but this is based off limited information, so limited I may have to leave it there, aside to say both teams will show a lot of guts, heart and determination and will by no means be a pushover. As this article is reliant on predictions, let’s go with Albania third and Romania fourth.
Group B
England, Russia, Wales, Slovakia
The first group of death that is slowly becoming impossible to predict. I’m a Welsh fan, so my heart is obviously with them and I would love to see them qualify, but with the form of Slovakia in the recent friendlies, the obvious threat that England hold and the strength of the Russians, my brain isn’t holding much hope!
If I were to be pushed, I would say England will top this group and that is purely down to the attacking threat they possess. Although they are shaky at the back, Roy will bring his Fulham ‘we’ll score more than you’ head and grind out those wins.
I’m placing Slovakia second place; a fantastic qualifying campaign and recent friendly results might even have a few England fans worried. Although a bit rocky at club level this season, Skrtel tends to bring his A game for his country and I see nothing changing this year. Throw in Stoch, Weiss and Hamsik in midfield and they should hold a threat going forward. Well, that is if they had some forwards.
Slovakia have gone the opposite way of Belgium (more on that later!) and decided to bring two forwards, both of which are not exactly prolific. My only thinking is there are a couple of midfielders the coach will look to push a bit more up top, obviously thinking Hamsik here.
Third place, we are down to Wales and Russia and I am torn. Russia over the recent years have always carried a threat, but, this year their squad is aging with only 4 players aged 25 or younger. This isn’t even an ageism thing, even Putin is concerned by introducing a foreign player cap for the teams of the Russian Premier League with the hope of fleshing out some young Russian talent.
This experience could work for Russia, these players have been together for a long time now and hold quality across the park. With this said, I can only see Russia qualifying with a third place finish. Fourth place sits Wales and I certainly do not think they will do themselves any injustice, but with the England team having experience of playing against much of this Welsh squad I don’t see any surprises there.
It is also no secret that the Welsh magic will be coming directly from one man in Gareth Bale, and with the tough defending practiced by Slovakia and Russia, I see little chances for him and subsequently Wales in either game.
Group C
Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Northern Ireland
The second group of death is a little easier to predict, well, should be anyway.
Germany top this group, but, with recent friendly defeats against Slovakia, England and France, this may not be as guaranteed as one might think.
Their main threat will come in the form of Poland, a strong outfit led by the wondrous Robert Lewandowski, a man that scored the most goals in qualifying (13), achieved 47 goals in 63 appearances for his club Bayern Munich, scored five goals in 8 minutes and 59 seconds after coming on as a substitute in a one game and a total of 42 goals in 51 games this past season.
Poland are however by no means a one man team, Lewandowski is joined up front by Arkadiusz Milik, a man that has scor…let me just say he’s had a great season and is just as much a threat as Lewandowski.
The midfield and defence have a great mixture of experience and youth and if it wasn’t for the aura that surrounds Germany, I would put them first.
Northern Ireland had an unbelievable qualifying campaign and will do well getting a draw against my predicted top two, but with the huge heart they showed in qualifying against Hungary with Kyle Lafferty grabbing that 93rd minute equalizer I’m going to place them above Ukraine. Plus, Will Grigg is on fire, so, what’s stopping them?
Finally, Ukraine last and I am going to have to justify this. There are a lot of great players for Ukraine that I admire a lot at club level, but at tournaments, Ukraine tend to implode.
Even recently we have seen an unfriending between two of their most influential players, even though rumours in the playground may suggest they are talking again. Given this, I don’t see Northern Ireland nor Ukraine getting anything more than a draw against Germany and Poland, but I do see Northern Ireland beating Ukraine, so, that places Ukraine last, sorry.
Here’s Part 2 of Dave Bickley’s Alternative Group Prediction.