Euro 2016 Group A
GROUP A
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
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France
Hosts France are among the bookies' favourites to win Euro 2016 on home soil. However several big names are missing from the squad for one reason or another: Franck Ribiery, Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema and Mamadou Sakho and Aymeric Laporte. A good goalkeeper, a fine midfield, an adequate attack but questions over a defence containing such Premier League liabilities as Eliaquim Mangala and Laurent Koscielny.
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France Kit 1 |
France Kit 2 |
France v Romania 10 June; Saint-Denis
France v Albania 15 June; Marseille
France v Switzerland 19 June; Lille
Coach
Didier Deschamps
Record
1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1988 Did not qualify; 1992, 2008 Group stage; 2004, 2012 Quarter-final; 1960, 1996 Semi-final; 1984, 2000 Winners
Men to watch
Juve midfielder Paul Pogba could be the star of the tournament. A powerful box-to-box midfielder with a lethal shot, Pogba may be hoping to impress potential suitors as the rumours swirl he will leave Italy after the tournament. Antoine Griezmann's goals helped take Atletico to the Champions League final - clinical in front of goal and full of tricks.
Anything less than reaching the final on home soil would be considered a failure. We think they will make the final but will they win it?
Euro 2016 Betting
How they qualified
France qualified automatically as hosts.
On the sidelines
France's unofficial mascot the cockerel Balthazar has been banned from attending Euro 2016 on security grounds.
Analysis
France will line up in a 4-3-3 formation with either Arsenal's Olivier Giroud or Mexico-based Andre-Pierre Gignac as the spearhead of their attack.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Benoit Costil (Rennes), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Roma), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City), Samuel Umtiti (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Adil Rami (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), N'Golo Kante (Leicester), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St-Germain), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United).
Strikers: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
Albania
Albania have qualified for their first major tournament after coming through a tumultous Group I. Qualifying included the infamous drone and flag incidents, which led to a riot during a politically-charged match in Serbia.
Coach Gianni de Biasi has melded a group of players who ply their trades in leagues all over Europe into a symbol of Albanian identity and unity.
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Albania Kit 1 |
Albania Kit 2 |
Albania v Switzerland 11 June; Lens
France v Albania 15 June; Marseilles
Albania v Romania 19 June; Lyon
Coach
Gianni de Biasi
Record
First time to qualify
Men to watch
Ex-Sunderland Lorik Cana is an inspiration to the younger players and rock solid at the back. The goalkeeper Etrit Berisha has been consistently good for Lazio and the national team.
We predict Albania will be last in Group A.
How they qualified
Second in Qualifying Group I behind Portugal.
On the sidelines
Brothers Taulant Xhaka and Granit Xhaka will face each other when Albania face Switzerland in Lens.
Analysis
Italian coach Gianni de Biasi sets Albania up either in a 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 with the lone striker Sokol Cikalleshi. Albania don't score many goals and are not likely to in France.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha (Lazio), Alban Hoxha (Partizani), Orges Shehi (Skenderbeu).
Defenders: Arlind Ajeti (Frosinone), Lorik Cana (Nantes), Mergim Mavraj (Cologne), Elseid Hysaj (Napoli), Ansi Agolli (Qarabag), Frederic Veseli (Lugano), Naser Aliji (Basel).
Midfielders: Armir Abrashi (Freiburg), Ledjan Memushaj (Pescara), Ergys Kaçe (Paok Thessaloniki), Andi Lila (Giannina), Migjen Basha (Como), Odise Roshi (Rijeka), Burim Kukeli (Zurich), Ermir Lenjani (Nantes), Taulant Xhaka (Basel).
Strikers: Bekim Balaj (Rijeka), Sokol Cikalleshi (Medipol Baksasehir), Armando Sadiku (Vaduz), Shkelzen Gashi (Colorado Rapids).
Romania
Romania are hard working and will be hard to beat as they proved in qualifying. However they lack a cutting edge up front and will struggle to score.
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Romania Kit 1
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Romania Kit 2
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France v Romania 10 June; Saint-Denis
Romania v Switzerland 15 June; Paris
Romania v Albania; 19 June; Lyon
Coach
Anghel Iordanescu
Record
1984 Group Stage, 1996 Group Stage, 2000 quarterfinals, 2008 Group Stage
Men to watch
Vlad Chiriches flopped at Spurs and doesn't make Napoli's first team very often but is Romania's defensive mainstay.
Fiorentina goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu keeps Watford's Costel Pantilimon out of the side.
We predict Switzerland will pip Romania for second place.
How they qualified
Romania came second in Group F behind Northern Ireland. They were undefeated with five wins and five draws and had the best defensive record overall of all the teams in qualifying, conceding just two.
On the sidelines
Adrian Popu is nicknamed "The Motorcycle" due to his incredible speed.
Analysis
Romania play 4-2-3-1 with the lone striker Florin Andone, who plays his football in Spain for second tier Cordoba.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Ciprian Tatarusanu (Fiorentina), Costel Pantilimon (Watford), Silviu Lung (Astra Giurgiu).
Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru (Pandurii Targu Jiu), Alexandru Matel (Dinamo Zagreb), Vlad Chiriches (Napoli), Valerica Gaman (Astra Giurgiu), Dragos Grigore (Al-Sailiya), Cosmin Moti (Ludogorets Razgrad), Razvan Rat (Rayo Vallecano), Steliano Filip (Dinamo Bucharest).
Midfielders: Mihai Pintilii (Steaua Bucharest), Ovidiu Hoban (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Andrei Prepelita (Ludogorets Razgrad), Adrian Popa (Steaua Bucharest), Gabriel Torje (Osmanlispor), Alexandru Chipciu (Steaua Bucharest), Nicolae Stanciu (Steaua Bucharest), Lucian Sanmartean (Al Ittihad).
Strikers: Claudiu Keseru (Ludogorets Razgrad), Bogdan Stancu (Genclerbirligi), Florin Andone (Cordoba), Denis Alibec (Astra Giurgiu).
Switzerland
Switzerland have gone backwards since World Cup 2014 when they lost to Argentina in the knockout stage. Results in pre-tournament friendlies have been poor. Coach Vladimir Petkovic's high pressing tactics have not always worked against the better teams though Switzerland have some outstanding talent in the shape of Stoke's Xherdan Shaquiri and Arsenal's new signing Granit Xhaka.
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Switzerland Kit 1
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Switzerland Kit 2
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Switzerland v Albania 11 June; Lens
Switzerland v Romania 15 June; Paris
Switzerland v France 19 June; Lille
Coach
Vladimir Petkovic
Record
1996: Group Stage; 2004: Group Stage; 2008: Group Stage
Men to watch
Basel's Breel Embolo scored on his debut after just four minutes. Likely to be an impact substitute. Stoke's Xherdan Shaquiri is the genuine star man with excellent speed and strength on the ball.
Switzerland should edge Romania for second place.
How they qualified
Second in Group E behind England.
On the sidelines
Switzerland are nicknamed Rossocrociati - it literally means "red crosses".
Analysis
Switzerland play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and will hope to take the game to Romania and Albania and sit back against France.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Roman Burki (Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (Augsburg), Yann Sommer (Moenchengladbach).
Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Nico Elvedi (Moenchengladbach), Michael Lang (Basel), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodríguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schar (Hoffenheim), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys).
Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Watford), Blerim Dzemaili (Genoa), Gelson Fernandes (Rennes), Fabian Frei (Mainz), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke), Granit Xhaka (Moenchengladbach), Denis Zakaria (Young Boys).
Strikers: Eren Derdiyok (Kasımpasa), Admir Mehmedi (Leverkusen), Breel Embolo (Basel), Haris Seferovic (Frankfurt), Shani Tarashaj (Everton)
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