Euro 2016 Fannews

Dimitri Payet's splendid 89th-minute goal earned hosts France a 2-1 Group A victory against Romania in the opening game of UEFA EURO 2016.

Though France were arguably superior for much of the tournament curtain-raiser – Antoine Griezmann struck a post and Olivier Giroud twice headed wide when unmarked at close range in the first half – Romania had clear chances to open the scoring at the start of either half.

Both opportunities fell to Bogdan Stancu, who snuck in unnoticed at the back post after just four minutes to meet a flicked-on corner but could only bundle his shot against Hugo Lloris. The Romania No19 failed even to test the keeper three minutes into the second period after ghosting into space and controlling adeptly before scissor-kicking wide.

Once giants of European and world football, finishing runners-up in the FIFA World Cups of 1938 and 1954 and claiming three Olympic titles, Hungary failed to qualify for 14 successive major tournaments after reaching the 1986 World Cup but ended that miserable run by making it through to UEFA EURO 2016 via the play-offs.

The golden age of Ferenc Puskás, József Bozsik, Sándor Kocsis and the rest of the Mighty Magyars, who reigned supreme in the 1950s, is a distant memory; Hungary finished third and fourth respectively in the UEFA European Championships of 1964 and 1972 but have not featured since.

Hungary at Euros:

Squad:

The manager: Bernd Storck

Named the Kazakhstan senior team's interim coach following the dismissal of Dutchman Arno Pijpers in autumn 2008. His first game in charge was a 5-1 defeat by England at Wembley in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier, but he was subsequently installed as the permanent head coach.

However, Storck was sacked in October 2010. In July 2015 he took charge of Hungary, having led the national side at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand the previous month, and promptly ended their 44-year absence from the UEFA European Championship thanks to a play-off defeat of Norway.

The star: Balázs Dzsudzsák

he halcyon days of Austrian football are in the distant past, with third place at the 1954 FIFA World Cup standing as a pinnacle of achievement. In all there have been seven World Cup appearances, the last of them at France '98, but just one until now at the UEFA European Championship – as co-hosts in 2008 when they endured group stage elimination after losing to Germany. Their cross-border rivals proved a stumbling back again in qualification for both UEFA EURO 2012 and the 2014 World Cup, but under Swiss coach Marcel Koller the team cruised to France, winning nine of their ten qualifiers and drawing the other.

Austria at Euros:

Squad:

The manager: Marcel Koller

Began coaching career at Wil in 1997 and took over at St Gallen two years later, leading the club to their first Swiss championship since 1903/04 in his maiden season.  Appointed by Köln the following month, he was sacked after the Bundesliga team finished the season bottom, yet bounced back at Bochum in 2005, earning promotion to the top tier in his first campaign. Koller was installed as Austria coach on 4 October 2011, replacing Dietmar Constantini. Earned a contract extension until December 2015 and rewarded that faith by overseeing a first successful UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign as Austria reached UEFA EURO 2016.

The star: David Alaba

The super star of the team and a player Pep Guardiola has called “God” for his versatility. Has so often played full-back at Bayern and then switched seamlessly to central midfield for Austria. Alaba, though, as always, kept his cool and tried to downplay the incident. A complete player, he is very good at set-pieces as well.

Austria's matches in group F:

14 June 2016 - Austria - Hungary 18:00 ,Stade de Bordeaux - Bordeaux

18 June 2016 - Portugal - Austria, 21:00, Parc des Princes, Paris

22 June 2016 - Iceland - Austria, 18:00, Stade de France, Saint-Denis

A team on the rise, constructed on the foundations of the talented Under-21 squad that qualified for the 2011 UEFA European Championship in Denmark, Iceland made history by reaching the qualifying play-offs for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Led by former long-serving Sweden head coach Lars Lagerbäck they finished second in their qualifying group, missing out on a place in Brazil after a 2-0 aggregate defeat by Croatia. It was their best ever performance in a major competition, eclipsing their valiant effort to qualify for UEFA EURO 2000 when only a last-day 3-2 defeat in France eliminated them – but even better was to follow as Iceland claimed second place in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group A to reach a major tournament for the first time.

Squad:

The manager: Lars Lagerback

A lower-league player, Lagerbäck began his coaching career in 1977 with Kilafors, joining the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) as a youth coach after spells with two other modest club sides Arbrå and Hudiksvall. Söderberg and Lagerbäck managed Sweden in tandem from 2000, reaching UEFA EURO 2000, the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2004; following Söderberg's departure, Lagerbäck took the troops to the 2006 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2008 single-handed. Appointed Iceland boss in October 2011, he steered the side to the 2014 World Cup play-offs where they lost to Croatia. 

The star: Gylfi Sigurdson

The seventh-highest scorer in the history of the national team and the second Icelander, after Eidur Gudjohnsen, to score ten goals or more in a season in England’s Premier League. Has been linked with a big money move to Leicester this summer. Sigurdsson is a board member of his father’s fishing company and owns an Icelandic real estate company. Moved to England with his family at 15 to try to make a career in football. His brother is a professional golf instructor.

Iceland's matches in Group F

Sweden is one of the two Scandinavian teams at Euro 2016. The blue-yellows finished third in their qualifying group, behind Austria and Russia. At the playoffs Sweden defeated their neighbors and rivals from Denmark. The team qualified for Euro for first time in 1992, when they were hosts of the tournament and reached the semi-finals. Will Ibrahimovic and co have the ability to set a descent performance?

Sweden at Euros

Squad:

The manager: Erik Hamren

Coached Norwegian team Rosenborg BK to league championship in his first full season with the club.On 4 November 2009 that Hamrén would assume part-time responsibility of the Swedish national football team while also managing Rosenborg until Rosenborg relieves him from his contract on 1 September 2010. Led Sweden on Euro 2012. Has never played football professionally. 

The star: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

He is 34 years old now and this may very well be his last major tournament (unless he decides to go to the Olympics). Has had one of his best seasons ever at Paris St-Germain and Sweden, naturally, are a different prospect with him in the team. In qualifying he scored 11 out of the team’s 19 goals, including three in the two-legged play-off tie against Denmark. Has won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France as well as publishing a best-selling autobiography, I am Zlatan.

Sweden's matches in Group E

13 June 2016 - Ireland - Sweden, 18:00, Stade de France, Saint-Denis

17 June 2016 - Czech Republic - Croatia, 18:00, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne

22 June 2016 - Sweden - Belgium, 21:00, Allianz Riviera, Nice

Ireland qualified for the Euro through the playoffs, where the team won against Bosnia. Without big names, the players of Martin O'Neill will be satisfied if they proceed to the knockout stage. An interesting fact is that all the players, expect the striker Robbie Keane, are playing in England. Alongside Keane, here are the veterans Shay Given and John O'Shea and Southampton's goalscorer Shane Long.

Ireland at Euros

Squad:

The manager: Martin O'Neill

As a player O'Neill is a part of Nottingham Forest and won the European cup twice. The top in his managerial career was his period in Celtic between 2000 and 2005. He is three-time champion of Scotland and won three times the national cup. For the fans of English football, O'Neill is known as Aston Villa manager in the time, when the club played in European competitions, not in Championship. O'Neill is Ireland's manager since 2013.

The star: Robbie Keane

The captain, record caps holder and record goalscorer, he might no longer be an automatic starter but his value to the squad remains high. Scored five times during qualification, albeit all of them against Gibraltar. A potential game-changer from the bench. Maybe Shane Long will lead the attack of Ireland, but we mustn't underrate ex-Internazionale, Tottenham and Liverpool player.

Ireland's matches in Group E

13 June 2016 - Ireland - Sweden, 18:00, Stade de France, Saint-Denis

18 June 2016 - Belgium - Ireland, 15:00, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

22 June - Italy - Ireland, 21:00, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille

The glorious Squadra Azzurra was close to the title in 2012, but lost the final from Spain. Antonio Conte's team qualified for UEFA Euro 20166 without a single loss. Experienced goalkeeper and defensive line were always the strongest positions in the team, but the strikers are problematic. No one of the selected forwards looks good enough to lead Italy's attack. Maybe Italy will have tough matches in Group D, but Conte's team must prove that they deserve to be European champions again.

Italy at Euros

Squad:

The manager: Antonio Conte

The future manager of Chelsea was the architect of Juventus' champion team in Italy. The ex-midfielder won Seria A three times a row and became the coach of the years also three times. In 2013 Globe Soccer selected Conte for world coach of the year. He is the manager of Italy since 2014 and for 19 matches in charge had three loses. His favorite formation is 3-5-2, which he used in Juventus several years ago.

The star: Gianluigi Buffon

The 38-years old goalkeeper is still in top form. He set up a new records for most minutes without conceded goal in Serie A - 903. A world champion, with over 150 matches for the Squadra, the Juventus' captain is a true legend and one of the best goalkeepers Italy ever had. This Euro will be fourth in Buffon's career - the keeper missed the tournament in 2000 due to injury, but played in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Italy's matches in Group E

13 June 2016 - Belgium - Italy, 18:00, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon

17 June 2016 - Italy - Sweden, 15:00, Stadium Municipal, Toulouse

22 June - Italy - Ireland, 21:00, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille