09 Jun. 2016 – Just one day away from the Euro 2016, we take a look at some of the favorites to win it all. As of now, France will enter as 3/1 favorites, with Germany, and Spain behind them at 5/1, and England, and Belgium at 8/1, and 11/1 respectively.
France have a loaded squad, with main man Paul Pogba surrounded by players like Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet, and N’Golo Kanté, expectations are very high. The main concern France will have from opening day is defense. They are old, and are missing key players due to injury, and suspension. Another issue is the absence of Benzema. Because of it, France must put their faith in Olivier Giroud, a man not known for his consistency, and younger players with little experience. With that said, anything less a finals appearance would be a disappointment.
World Champions Germany still have quite the team, but no one is perfect. Injuries to Hummels and the retiring of Lahm will affect the defense. Mario Gomez and his lack of consistency may also cause problems. Make no mistake though, Germany is still a powerhouse, their midfield is no joke, with Ozil, Kroos, and Götze available, it will be a joy to watch. A finals appearance is expected but will not be easy.
Reigning European Champions Spain enter the cup with the most experienced team, but not the most impressive. They are okay on defense, even with Dani Carvajal out with a hamstring injury. The midfield is still their strongest attribute with the Barcelona stars Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, along with Fabregas, David Silva, and Koke. Their weakest point is still up front, but Spain hope Morata, or Lucas Vasquez can change that. However, even if they succeed in doing so, passing the quarterfinals doesn’t seem likely.
This England team is solid, with their only problem being lack of depth in the back. Using different formations, and line-ups, Roy Hodgson enters the tournament with options all around. From young talents like Dele Alli, and Harry Kane, along with veteran Wayne Rooney, and a booming Jamie Vardy, England have a chance to finally exceed, or better yet meet expectations. If the defense can hold its own this team could make some noise. With that being said, based on their history in major competitions, it’s tough to say how far they’ll go.
With perhaps one of the most intriguing teams other than France, Belgium enter the Euro Cup with high expectations as well. Premier league stars Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Kevin De Bruyne will need to be at their best to avoid crashing against some of the bigger European teams especially with a shaky defense that is missing Vincent Company. Younger talents Divock Origi, and Yannik Ferreira-Carasco will also need to step up for Belgium to improve on a quarterfinal appearance in the 2014 World Cup. They will be very fun to watch.
Article by: Nick Husni
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