Euro 2020 Group A
GROUP A
Turkey Italy Wales Switzerland
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[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Turkey
Turkey have their best team since World Cup 2002 when they finished third and go into the tournament with confidence high.
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Turkey Kit 1 |
Turkey Kit 2 |
Turkey v Italy, 11th June, Rome
Turkey v Wales, 16th June, Baku
Turkey v Switzerland, 20th June, Baku
Coach
Record
1996, 2016 First Round, 2000 Quarter-Final, 2008 Semi-Final, 1980, 1988, 1992, 2000 First Round
Men to watch
Anyone with any knowledge of French football would be aware of Lille's miracle and its protagonists: Yusuf Yazıcı and Burak Yılmaz. In Italy, Mert Müldür has made the right-back slot at Sassuolo his own and could be a breakout star at this tournament.
Turkey's squad is sprinkled with stardust and it won't be a surprise to see them emerge as a dark-horse. A possible quarter-final candidate.
How they qualified
Turkey's road to qualification was quite outstanding, with a win and a draw against favourites France. They found it hard beating Iceland, though, presenting Les Bleus with first place.
On the sidelines
Trabzonspor's stadium is named after head coach, Şenol Güneş, with the achievement of guiding Turkey to 3rd place in the 2002 World Cup being his biggest as manager.
Formation
4-4-2
Analysis
Turkey's safe passage to qualification was down to players who have worked miracles at club level. Aided by the experience of Jonny Evans, Çağlar Söyüncü has prospered into one of Premier League's best centre-backs and will be a huge threat from set-pieces. Speaking of the defence, Kaan Ayhan was the hero in both games against France and provides solidity for The Crescent-Stars. In attack, Yusuf Yazıcı and Burak Yılmaz are high on confidence and there is nothing to suggest that they will be lacking in firepower. The opening match is difficult, to say the least, but with these gems in the squad, Turkey will pack a punch.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır (Fenerbahçe), Uğurcan Çakır (Trabzonspor), Mert Günok (İstanbul Başakşehir).
Defenders: Kaan Ayhan (Sassuolo), Zeki Çelik (LOSC Lille), Merih Demiral (Juventus), Ozan Kabak (Liverpool), Umut Meraş (Le Havre), Mert Müldür (Sassuolo), Çağlar Söyüncü (Leicester), Rıdvan Yılmaz (Beşiktaş).
Midfielders: Taylan Antalyalı (Galatasaray), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (AC Milan), Halil Dervişoğlu (Brentford), İrfan Can Kahveci (Fenerbahçe), Orkun Kökçü (Feyenoord), Abdülkadir Ömür (Trabzonspor), Dorukhan Toköz (Beşiktaş), Ozan Tufan (Fenerbahçe), Okay Yokuşlu (West Brom).
Strikers: Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Galatasaray), Kenan Karaman (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Enes Ünal (Getafe), Cengiz Ünder (Leicester), Yusuf Yazıcı (LOSC Lille), Burak Yılmaz (LOSC Lille).
Italy
Italy play all their group matches at home in Rome which should give them a considerable advantage with not having to travel to Baku in Azerbaijan, the other venue in the group. Italian authorities will allow at least a 25% capacity at the stadium. So around 18,000 fans will be able to attend games as well as the opening ceremony at the Stadio Olimpico.
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Italy Kit 1 |
Italy Kit 2 |
Italy Kit 3 |
Italy v Turkey, 11th June, Rome
Italy v Switzerland, 16th June, Rome
Italy v Wales, 20th June, Rome
Coach
Roberto Mancini
Record
1996, 2004 First Round 2008, 2016 Quarter-Final 1980, 1988 Semi-Final 2000, 2012 Finalists 1968 Winners
Men to watch
Marco Verratti is the creative hub of the side, a player who has grown since joining PSG and forms a useful partnership with Chelsea's Jorginho in the middle. Inter's Nicolo Barella, who debuted for Italy after the last World Cup and is now a regular, offers strong box-to-box runs and set pieces. Barella helped his club to their first Serie A title in over a decade.
Home advantage should see Italy comfortably escape the group. The Mancini results so far speak for themselves although the only top opposition Italy have faced since he took over in 2018 have been two Nations League games against Portugal - lost 1-0 away and drawn 0-0 at home, and two against the Netherlands - won 1-0 away and drawn 1-1 at home. This makes predicting their progress very tough but on paper Mancini's young and exciting Italy should make the quarter-finals at least.
How they qualified
Italy won qualifying group J with a 100% record over ten matches, scoring 37 and conceding just four.
On the sidelines
Roma's 21 year-old midfield prodigy Nicolò Zaniolo had been expected to star for Italy but an ACL injury and a bout of Covid-19 meant he lost his race for fitness. Atalanta midfielder Matteo Pessina was cut from the final squad but remains on standby if Stefano Sensi or Verratti do not recover from thigh and knee injuries respectively.
Formation
4-3-3
Analysis
After the nightmare of missing out on Russia 2018, the rebuilt Azzurri have gone on a 26 game unbeaten run which beats the record of Lippi's 2006 World Cup winning side.
Mancini has rejuvenated the Azzurri and tweaked their system to boot. Eschewing their traditions of uncompromising defence and low-scoring games, Italy now indulge in gegenpressing and flying full-backs, playing on the front rather than back foot.
They breezed through qualifying with some thunderous wins like the 9-1 thrashing of Armenia, while averaging more than three goals away from home.
The defence is sound however and the club understanding of the experienced Juventus centre-backs Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini is hard to beat.
Full-backs Alessandro Florenzi and Leonardo Spinazzola, as much midfielders as defenders, embody the new attack-minded style.
The midfield pair of Jorginho & Verratti look a little lightweight but they have Barella to help and their lack of steel should be outweighed by their supply to the mobile front three of Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa.
Immobile and Insigne are 2014 World Cup veterans blessed with speed and good feet, but have never fulfilled their obvious potential on the big stage. Perhaps they will this time.
A balanced side neither too young nor too old, Mancini's Italy have successfully adopted a new way of playing and rebuilt previously shattered confidence.
Wales, Turkey and Switzerland will provide immediate acid tests, but Italy's return to a major finals could not really be more confident.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino).
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Tolói (Atalanta).
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Marco Verratti (Paris)
Strikers: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).
Wales
Semi-finalists in 2016, Wales may be hard-pressed to match that feat this time around. Preparations have not been helped by manager Ryan Giggs involved in a court case and forced to step aside.
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Wales Kit 1 |
Wales Kit 2 |
Wales v Switzerland, 12th June, Baku
Wales v Turkey, 16th June, Baku
Wales v Italy, 20th June, Rome
Coach
Rob Page
Record
2016 Semi-Final
Men to watch
Wales' two recognised stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey have had unsettled seasons but on form are still the best players in the squad.
Defenders Joe Rodon and Neco Williams, Premier League reserves, may get the chance to shine this June as well as Manchester United winger Daniel James, the most likely Welsh star of the future.
Tipping Wales for early elimination is tempting but after they made the last four in France four years ago and dumped the stellar Belgians out of the quarter-finals, it would be rash to write off the red dragons.
Beating Italy in Rome in their final group game looks too tall an order so they must hope to take points off Switzerland and Turkey. Then it is anyone's guess how far the dragons will fly.
How they qualified
Wales finished second in group E behind Croatia to qualify automatically.
On the sidelines
Manager Ryan Giggs will not attend the finals after being charged with assault but is still officially coach. Assistant Robert Page has won four out of six matches in his absence.
Hal Robson-Kanu, author of a memorable goal against Belgium four years ago, was omitted from the final squad.
Formation
3-4-1-2
Analysis
Wales' 2016 semi-final run energised a small country which had not qualified for a finals since 1958. Hopes of a repeat following a relatively painless ride to Euro 2020 has been dampened by Giggs' enforced absence and Bale and Ramsey's fitful seasons.
Bale thankfully has looked his old magical self since Jose Mourinho left Tottenham but given his ability to do the spectacular is still the man the side is built around. That said, introducing the alternative focal point of Cardiff target man Kieffer Moore arguably turned around their qualifying campaign.
Ramsey made barely 22 Serie A appearances and was a frequent substitute for Juventus this season. If fit though, his link play for Wales will be crucial and the team moves up a gear with him on the field.
Joe Allen, another 2016 hero, will pull the strings from the middle alongside Ethan Ampadu, whose versatile midfield play has won many admirers. Daniel James is expected to play on the left and feed Bale & Moore frequently.
The new arrivals like James, Swansea's Connor Roberts and Leeds' Tyler Roberts have added serious speed and width to the side. The back three of James Lawrene, Chris Mepham and Joe Rodon will be tested however.
Much of the squad are Premier League reserves or from lower divisions but will be doubly motivated for their country. Wales' second Euros qualification, promotion to the top Nations League division and the seamless introduction of new blood into the squad has instilled hope of another happy cup run.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Daniel Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City).
Defenders: Chris Gunter (Charlton Athletic), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) Connor Roberts (Swansea City), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur), James Lawrence (FC St Pauli), Neco Williams (Liverpool), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Ben Cabango (Swansea City).
Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Juventus), Joe Allen (Stoke City), Jonathan Williams (Cardiff City), Harry Wilson (Liverpool), Daniel James (Manchester United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Joe Morrell (Luton Town), Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Strikers: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City), Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) .
Switzerland
Switzerland now regularly reach major finals thanks to new blood from second-generation immigrants from mainly the former Yugolsavia such as Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri. This is a very tough group they find themselves in however.
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Switzerland Kit 1 |
Switzerland Kit 2 |
Switzerland Kit 3 |
Switzerland v Wales, 12th June, Baku
Switzerland v Italy, 16th June, Rome
Switzerland v Turkey, 20th June, Baku
Coach
Vladimir Petković
Record
1996, 2004, 2008 First Round, 2016 Second Round
Men to watch
Premier League based Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri are still just as influential as they used to be a few years ago. One cannot talk about Switzerland without its defence, and Dortmund starlet Manuel Akanji is a player on the cusp of becoming a world-class centre-back.
Switzerland have routinely failed to overcome the hurdle that is the knockout stages. An escape from the group is likely, though anything beyond that will be a bonus.
How they qualified
Switzerland had a worse head-to-head against Denmark but they had the edge in the standings. A 2-0 win vs Ireland in Geneva proved to be crucial.
On the sidelines
During his time as Lazio's manager, Vladimir Petković was famous for forcing his players to jog for an hour before breakfast, earning a fierce reputation.
Formation
3-4-1-2
Analysis
As is always the case with Switzerland, they have a solid defence consisting of Bundesliga players, but once they enter the knockouts, they lack the cutting-edge and fail to knick a goal and ultimately win. It will be the same story here too.
Benfica's Haris Seferović has shown time and time again that he is not what the fans are calling for, but the inconsistencies of Breel Embolo and Admir Mehmedi make him the obvious starter.
That means there is extra pressure on the defence, spearheaded by Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji. Although Soccerphile expects Switzerland's rearguard to be tight, the decline of Ricardo Rodríguez means it is difficult to see anything but a Round of 16 exit for the Rossocrociati.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Omlin (Montepllier), Yvon Mvogo (RB Leipzig).
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund), Loris Benito (Bordeaux), Eray Comert (FC Basel), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jordan Lotomba (Nice), Kevin Mbabu (Wolfsburg), Becir Omeragic (FC Zurich), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle), Silvan Widmer (FC Basel).
Midfielders: Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ruben Vargas (FC Augsburg), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach), Steven Zuber (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Strikers: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach), Mario Gavranovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Admir Mehmedi (Wolfsburg), Haris Seferovic (Benfica).
Compiled by Sean O'Conor & Joji Imamiya
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