Euro 2020 Group D
GROUP D
England Croatia Scotland Czech Republic
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[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
England
With effective home advantage and a fine crop of young players, the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists have few excuses for not going far in Euro 2020.
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England Kit 1 |
England Kit 2 |
England Kit 3 |
England v Croatia 13 June, Wembley
England v Scotland 18 June, Wembley
England v Czech Republic 22 June, Wembley
Coach
Record
1980, 1988, 1992, 2000 First Round
2016 Second Round
2004, 2012 Quarter Final
1968, 1996 Semi Final
Men to watch
New boys Phil Foden and Mason Mount could form an awesome attacking quartet with World Cup alumni Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. England will bank on their 2018 Golden Boot winner finding the net again in order to advance.
If given the chance, Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho could shine as supersubs.
England could play six out of seven games at home and must be one of the top tips for the trophy but look set to face one of France, Germany or Portugal as early as the second round, which could mean a swift exit.
How they qualified
England cruised to win Group A, winning seven and losing only once, 2-1 away to the Czech Republic, who they meet again in the group.
On the sidelines
Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood misses the finals through injury and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold tore his quadriceps in the first pre-tournament.warm up game.
Such is Southgate's embarrassment of riches there is no place for Premier League protagonists Patrick Bamford, Jesse Lingard, James Maddison or James Ward-Prowse.
Defensive lynch pin Harry Maguire may also miss games at the tournament with ankle ligament damage which could mean a switch to 3 at the back.
Formation
4-2-3-1
Analysis
The Three Lions are roaring again after reaching the last four of the World Cup and the Nations League in the last three years.
As at Russia 2018, England will arrive without a settled side but with plenty of options. Their attack looks better with Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jadon Sancho and Buyako Saka exciting alternatives to Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling.
Such is the panoply of options, Jesse Lingard was not picked for the final 26 despite a highly impressive second half of the season. In midfield, Declan Rice is a welcome steely addition but England still lack a creator unless Jack Grealish or Kalvin Phillips can force their way into the first eleven.
Southgate may pair Rice with Jordan Henderson, a second defensive midfielder. The agile Jordan Pickford is still first choice in goal but has had a mixed season with Everton.
The defence looks strong however despite the lack of a settled quartet. At right back, for so many years England's weak point, Southgate is now spoilt for choice with Reece James, Kieran Trippier or the veteran Kyle Walker.
Ben Chilwell or the recalled Luke Shaw are sound replacements for Ashley Young on the left. In the centre John Stones should partner Harry Maguire but the Man United man is still getting over an injury so Tyrone Mings could deputise.
At the World Cup England arguably had an easy passage to the last four but will meet heavy fire in the first two rounds of Euro 2020.
Like the other big guns of Europe, a painless qualifying group tells us little about their true ability. In Russia they leaned heavily on Harry Kane and set pieces and may do the same again.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd; replaced by Aaron Ramsdale, Sheffield United due to injury), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton).
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Ben White (Brighton), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid).
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds).
Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
Croatia
Reaching the 2018 World Cup final has left the chequerboard shirts brimming with confidence, but the new players need to prove themselves in Britain.
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Croatia Kit 1 |
Croatia Kit 2 |
Croatia Kit 3 |
Croatia v England 13 June, Wembley
Croatia v Czech Republic 18 June, Glasgow
Croatia v Scotland 22 June, Glasgow
Coach
Zlatko Dalić
Record
2004, 2012 Group Stage
2016 Round of 16
1996, 2008 Quarter Final
Men to watch
Luka Modric still pulls the strings in midfield in what could be the last international tournament for the Real Madrid maestro. Look out too for new faces Bruno Petković, the Oliver Giroud-esque centre-forward filling the shoes of Mario Mandžukić, as well as Niko Vlašić, whose pacy dribbles shone in the qualifiers.
Drunk on the euphoria of reaching the World Cup final, Croatia stumbled to only two wins out of eight in 2020 and began World Cup 2022 qualification this year with defeat in Slovenia.
Subsequent victories over lowly Cyprus and Malta have failed to defeat the impression the World Cup finalists have probably slipped since 2018, despite the high expectations of a soccer-mad country. Despite two of their group matches being 'away' ties, the Croats should make it through to the knock-out stages and the longer they remain undefeated the more their experience should tell.
How they qualified
Croatia came top of Group E with a 100% home record, away draws with Azerbaijan and Wales and a 2-1 loss in Hungary.
On the sidelines
Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and titans Mario Mandžukić and Ivan Rakitic have retired, leaving huge holes in the side.
Formation
4-2-3-1
Analysis
Modrić (35) is still the fulcrum of the team, supported by Inter's defensive rock Marcelo Brozovic and Chelsea's Mateo Kovačić. The experienced spine is completed with centre back Dejan Lovren, although their World Cup goalkeeper Subašić has retired, replaced by Dinamo Zagreb's Dominik Livaković.
Offensively, Croatia have a lot to frighten teams with.
As well as the familiar threat of Ivan Perišić, there is Bruno Petković, who netted four in seven qualifiers and offers something different with his 6'4" stature.
CSKA Moscow's attacking midfielder Niko Vlašić is another exciting new face who impressed in qualification and hastened Ivan Rakitic's retirement, while Milan's Ante Rebić is a decent reserve striker. Goalscoring options are augmented by Petković's Dinamo Zagreb teammate Mislav Oršić, whose hat-trick dunked Tottenham out of the Europa League this season.
Defensively they have struggled since qualifying however and while Rangers' Borna Barišić has done well at left-back, on the other side first choice Šime Vrsaljko's lack of playing time for Atletico Madrid is a concern. With an unsettled defence but a powerful attack, one suspects a lot will hinge again on the evergreen talisman Modrić.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Lovre Kalinić (Hajduk Split), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb), Simon Sluga (Luton Town).
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (Beşiktaş), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Šime Vrsaljko (Atlético Madrid), Borna Barišić (Rangers), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Josip Juranović (Legia Warsaw), Domagoj Bradarić (Lille), Mile Škorić (Osijek), Joško Gvardiol (Dinamo Zagreb).
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Milan Badelj (Genoa), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moscow), Luka Ivanušeć (Dinamo Zagreb).
Strikers: Ivan Perišić (Inter), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Rebić (Milan), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna).
Scotland
Scotland have qualified for their first Euros since 1996 and again meet England in the group stage. The last time the teams met, a Gazza-inspired England won at Wembley with a young Gareth Southgate in the side.
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Scotland Kit 1 |
Scotland Kit 2 |
Scotland v Czech Republic 14 June, Glasgow
Scotland v England 18 June, Wembley
Scotland v Croatia 22 June, Glasgow
Coach
Steve Clarke
Record
1992, 1996 Group Stage
Men to watch
Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn is the team's metronome and Liverpool's flying wing back Andy Robertson has successfully translated his club form to country along with Arsenal's Kieran Tierney. If Steve Clarke really wants to give youth a chance then Chelsea's talented 19 year-old Billy Gilmour could make a cameo appearance or two.
Scotland are much improved under manager Steve Clark but as in 1996 we do not see them getting out of a tough group. As in 1996, the game at Wembley against England could be key.
With two World Cup semi finalists in their group and without the full Tartan Army to cheer them on, advancing to the knock-out stages looks a tall order for Scotland, who only sneaked in via the Nations League playoffs. That said, the adrenalin stored up by having reached their first Euros in a quarter-century will at least ensure passion-filled and eventful battles to beat the odds.
How they qualified
Scotland finished third in Group I behind Belgium and Russia losing half their ten games but it was enough to reach the playoffs via path C of the Nations League. Scotland beat Serbia 5-4 on penalties in a play-off final after beating Israel, also on penalties, in the play-off semi-finals to make it to the finals.
On the sidelines
Scotland have qualified for their first major tournament since World Cup 1998 in France. Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack, an expected starter, is out injured, as are Norwich's Kenny McClean and Sheffield United forward Oli McBurnie. Some eyebrows were raised when Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths, perhaps the side's best finisher, was omitted from the squad. Famous for scoring two free kick goals against England in 2017 and one of Scotland's winning penalties to make it to the finals, Griffiths missed the cut because of making only 26 appearances for Celtic this season.
Formation
3-5-2
Analysis
Scotland has two excellent young defenders in Robertson and Tierney, whose pace will be exploited as wing backs.
Motor midfielder Scott McTominay continues to press for selection having worked hard for Manchester United, although his starting position for Scotland is not clear-cut. Joining him in the centre should be Celtic's Callum McGregor and McGinn, who is really the heart of the side with his tackles, workrate and timely strikes.
Many of the qualifying goals came from lances from the left flank, which leaves the team a little unbalanced. Up front Scotland have recent call-ups Che Adams and Australian-born Lyndon Dykes to fight over the No. 9 shirt, with Ryan Fraser in support, all solid if unspectacular performers.
While the defence looks porous, at least the custodian is reliable, 36 year-old David Marshall.
With two games at Hampden, Scotland cannot complain, but facing England at Wembley and Croatia in Glasgow requires them to overachieve. Although not overflowing with world-class talent, the Scots will be brimming with desire come June.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), David Marshall (Derby), Jon McLaughlin (Rangers).
Defenders: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Stephen O'Donnell (Motherwell), Declan Gallagher (Motherwell), Liam Cooper (Leeds), Jack Hendry (Oostende), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Nathan Patterson (Rangers).
Midfielders: John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Scott McTominay (Man Utd), John Fleck (Sheffield Utd), Billy Gilmour (Chelsea), David Turnbull (Celtic).
Strikers: James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Christie (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Ché Adams (Southampton), Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian).
Czech Republic (Czechia)
The Czech Republic return to Britain where they had a run to the final in 1996.
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Czech Republic Kit 1 |
Czech Republic Kit 2 |
Czech Republic Kit 3 |
Czech Republic v Scotland 14 June, Glasgow
Czech Republic v Croatia 18 June, Glasgow
Czech Republic v England 22 June, Wembley
Coach
Jaroslav Šilhavý
Record
2000, 2008, 2016 First Round 2012 Quarter Final 2004 Semi Final 1996 Finalists
Men to watch
West Ham engine Tomáš Souček is their key man, a box to box enforcer and sometimes matchwinner. Patrik Schick is their main goal threat. The elegant and skilful 25 year old is at his sixth club Bayer Leverkusen and has a decent return of ten goals in 24 matches for the national team.
The Czechs are expected to struggle at Euro 2020 but could yet make the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
How they qualified
The Czech Republic finished second in Group A behind England with five wins and three losses.
On the sidelines
Borek Dockal, the team captain and playmaker going into 2021, has been left out following a slow recuperation from injury.
Formation
4-2-3-1
Analysis
The Czechs have a high energy game with quick counter attacks often orchestrated by Vladimir Darida and left-winger Jakub Jankto. Their defence and goalkeeper look less solid.
It is 17 years since an excellent Czech side blessed with midfield maestros Pavel Nedvěd, Karel Poborský, Tomáš Rosický and Vladimir Šmicer lost their Euro 2004 semi-final to eventual winners Greece.
While they will take succour from having inflicted England's only qualifying defeat, the Czechs also lost twice to Scotland in the Nations League in late 2020 and face them in Glasgow in their opening match.
With a lowly world ranking and a lack of players at top clubs expectations are not high beyond the team, who are nevertheless quietly confident their direct style can cause problems.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Tomáš Vaclík (Sevilla), Jiří Pavlenka (Werder Bremen), Aleš Mandous (Sigma Olomouc).
Defenders: Pavel Kadeřábek (Hoffenheim), Ondřej Čelůstka (Sparta Prague), Tomáš Kalas (Bristol City), Jan Bořil (Slavia Prague), Jakub Brabec (Viktoria Plzeň), Vladimír Koufal (West Ham), Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Prague), Aleš Matějů (Brescia), David Zima (Slavia Prague).
Midfielders: Vladimír Darida (Hertha Berlin), Jakub Jankto (Sampdoria), Tomáš Souček (West Ham), Lukáš Masopust (Slavia Prague), Antonín Barák (Hellas Verona), Alex Král (Spartak Moscow), Petr Ševčík (Slavia Prague), Adam Hložek (Sparta Prague), Jakub Pešek (Slovan Liberec).
Strikers: Matěj Vydra (Burnley), Michael Krmenčik (PAOK), Patrik Schik (Bayer Leverkusen), Tomáš Pekhart (Bayer Leverkusen).
Wembley in London, England will stage the delayed Euro 2020 FinalCompiled by Sean O'Conor & Joji Imamiya
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