Euro 2020 Group F
GROUP F
Hungary Portugal France Germany
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[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Hungary
Every major tournament has a Group of Death and this is it. Hungary are not expected to progress from this band of former winners. However, they do play two games at home in Budapest which gives a glimmer of hope with the final game against Germany at the Fußball Arena (Allianz Arena) in Munich.
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Hungary Kit 1 |
Hungary Kit 2 |
Hungary v Portugal, 15th June, Budapest
Hungary v France, 19th June, Budapest
Hungary v Germany, 23rd June, Munich
Coach
Marco Rossi
Record
2016 Second Round, 1964, 1972 Semi-finals
Men to watch
Dominik Szoboszlai is Hungary's rising star. The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder made his debut for the Magyars aged 16 and scored the winner against Iceland to secure qualification. He is also a set-piece specialist. Unfortunately, he will miss Euro 2020 due to a groin injury.
Midfield keystone Adam Nagy and veteran striker Adam Szalai will have to pick up the slack in Szoboszlai's absense.
Facing France, Germany and Portugal is as tough as it gets in the first round and an upset is unlikely. That said, with two home games in Budapest to begin with and a savvy manager there is a glimmer of hope.
How they qualified
A lowly fourth in group E, Hungary sneaked into the Euros by beating Iceland in the Nations League playoff final.
On the sidelines
Hungary are nickednamed the Magyarok (Magyars) or the Nemzeti Tizenegy (National Eleven).
Formation
3-5-2
Analysis
Hungary are clear underdogs and consequently have honed a defensive game based on flooding the midfield when out of possession to win the ball back, more mittelpressing than gegenpressing.
Adam Nagy is charged with bossing the centre and nullifying the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, no small task for the Bristol City midfielder.
In all likelihood the Magyars will be under the cosh and the front two of Roland Sallai and Szalai will be feeding on scraps. Defensive stalwart Willi Orban and experienced custodian Peter Gulacsi will have their work cut out.
Making the knock-out stages will probably entail a miracle but they will take succour from defeating Croatia in the qualifiers and as a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, coach Rossi will happily make his team park the bus and try to score on the break.
Hopes rested on the 20 year-old Szoboszlai, the most-expensive Hungarian player ever, working some magic to unlock defences, with supporting runs from Filip Holender and Laszlo Kleinheisler. Szoboszlai is now not available, so do Hungary have a Plan B?
The Magyars have not been mighty for a generation but confidence is high after an unexpected qualification. Nevertheless, a place in a real group of death means no-one expects them to advance.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Péter Gulácsi (RB Leipzig), Ádám Bogdán (Ferencváros), Dénes Dibusz (Ferencváros).
Defenders: Willi Orbán (RB Leipzig), Attila Szalai (Fenerbahçe), Bendegúz Bolla (Fehérvár), Endre Botka (Ferencváros), Attila Fiola (Fehérvár), Ákos Kecskés (Lugano), Ádám Lang (Omonia), Gergő Lovrencsics (Ferencváros), Loïc Négo (Fehérvár).
Midfielders: Tamás Cseri (Mezőkövesd), Dániel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union), Roland Varga (MTK Budapest), László Kleinheisler (Osijek), Ádám Nagy (Bristol City), András Schäfer (Dunajská Streda), Dávid Sigér (Ferencváros).
Strikers: Kevin Varga (Kasımpaşa), János Hahn (Paks), Szabolcs Schön (FC Dallas), Ádám Szalai (Mainz 05), Filip Holender (Partizan Belgrade), Nemanja Nikolić (Fehérvár), Roland Sallai (SC Freiburg).
Portugal
Holders Portugal probably have a stronger squad than they did when they lifted the trophy in 2016. Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, Jota at Liverpool and João Felix at Atlético Madrid have all got better and more experienced on bigger stages.
Ronaldo is still there but is he more of a hindrance nowadays than a help, as his overawed team-mates seek to feed him at every opportunity? The team has two finals to overcome in the group stage before A Seleção can dream again.
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Portugal Kit 1 |
Portugal Kit 2 |
Portugal Kit 3 |
Portugal v Hungary, 15th June, Budapest
Portugal v Germany, 19th June, Munich
Portugal v France, 23rd June, Budapest
Coach
Fernando Santos
Record
1996, 2008 Quarter-final, 1984, 2000, 2012 Semi-final, 2004 Runners-up, 2016 Winners
Men to watch
Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, will be centre-stage and at 36 is probably playing his final Euros, but Bruno Fernandes, ten years his junior, is staking an increasing claim to be Portugal's fulcrum and this tournament could see the passing of the baton.
Portugal look a good bet to qualify with France from group F and should go far in the tournament. Although public expectation in Portugal is a little cool, the 2019 Nations Cup win has given the side confidence they can maintain their impressive record in the Euros.
How they qualified
Portugal finished second in group B behind Ukraine, who inflicted their only defeat, 2-1 in Kiev.
On the sidelines
Winger Pedro Neto is one Wolves player not playing for Portugal in June after injuring knee ligaments. Everton's Andre Gomes and Leicester's FA Cup winner Ricardo Pereira have been overlooked, as has Milan's Rafael Leão, an U21 international striker dubbed the Portuguese Mbappé, of whom we are sure to hear more in the future.
Formation
4-4-2
Analysis
Portugal are the holders and in no mood to relinquish their crown. Fernando Santos has opened the door to a flood of new talent, while retaining veterans Pepe and Ronaldo, two of five survivors from Euro 2016.
20 years separate the oldest (Pepe, 38) from the youngest (Nuno Mendes, 18) in the squad but Santos has stuck with his favoured 4-4-2, with Diogo Jota likely to partner Ronaldo up front, although Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva is staking a serious claim for inclusion.
Two defensive midfielders in Danilo Pereira and João Palhinha give the wide men from Manchester - United's Bruno Fernandes on the left and City's Bernardo Silva on the right, freedom to orchestrate.
Two City men - João Cancelo* and Ruben Dias, should start in defence alongside Guerreiro and Pepe with Rui Patricio again in goal.
Portugal's attacking arsenal is impressive but whether defensive anchor Pepe will last the tournament, tackles, extra-time and all, in top form is questionable. At the other end, perhaps too much depends on another man closer to 40 than 30, Ronaldo.
That said, A Seleção are surely one of the contenders for the trophy and playing Hungary first and Germany second should give them a flying start.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Ruí Patricio (Wolves), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Rui Silva (Granada).
Defenders: Nélson Semedo (Wolves), Pepe (Porto), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Raphaël Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), José Fonte (Lille), Nuno Mendes (Sporting Lisbon), *João Cancelo (Manchester City) replaced by Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) due to a Covid-19 infection.
Midfielders: João Moutinho (Wolves), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Danilo Pereira (PSG), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Renato Sanches (Lille), Rúben Neves (Wolves), Sérgio Oliveira (Porto), João Paulinha (Sporting Lisbon), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting Lisbon).
Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Gonçalo Guedes (Valencia), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), João Felix (Atlético Madrid).
France
2016 runners-up and 2018 World Cup winners France are many people's favorites for the competition. Ranked second in the world behind neighbors Belgium, the team is strong, talented and experienced in all departments.
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France Kit 1 |
France Kit 2 |
France Kit 3 |
France v Germany, 15th June, Munich
France v Hungary, 19th June, Budapest
France v Portugal, 23rd June, Budapest
Coach
Didier Deschamps
Record
1992, 2008 First Round, 2004, 2012 Quarter Finals, 1960, 1996 Semi Finals, 2016 Runners Up 1984, 2000 Winners
Men to watch
Round up the usual suspects: It is Kylian Mbappé's first European Championship and the world's most valuable player could establish himself as more than a prodigy if he does well.
Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud had been hoping to challenge him for the golden boot but the extraordinary recall of Real's Karim Benzema after almost six years away has added another French candidate for top scorer.
The new face to look out for is Clément Lenglet, the talented Barcelona centre back who has a dozen caps for Les Bleus.
Group F is the group of death but there is nothing to suggest France will not finish first or second. No one will want to face the World Cup holders and it would be mad to bet against Deschamps adding the Henry Delaunay trophy to the Jules Rimet he won.
How they qualified
France came top of Group H, winning eight, drawing one and losing one, 2-0 away to Turkey.
On the sidelines
Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy was not called up and two players who ply their trade in England missed the boat too - Tottenham's Tanguy Ndombele and Manchester United's Anthony Martial, as well Rennes teenage midfield prodigy Edouardo Camavinga who debuted for France last year. Two of the 2018 World Cup winning team - Inter Miami's Blaise Matuidi and Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti have not been picked since 2019.
Formation
4-3-3
Analysis
France are the favourites to win Euro 2020 and it is not hard to see why. Nine of the 11 starters who won the World Cup are in the squad and Les Bleus have not let up in form since Russia.
Unlike Germany, the French squad has a sack of strikers - eight in total, which suggests a goal fest at the Euros. In midfield Paul Pogba's fine orchestrating skills are balanced by the amazing workrate of N'golo Kanté and Moussa Sissouko.
One looks desperately for weaknesses in the French eleven. The team is confident, settled and bursting with talent.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mike Maignan (Milan).
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Clément Lenglet (Barcelona), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Everton), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Jules Koundé (Sevilla).
Midfielders: Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Thomas Lémar (Atlético Madrid), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham).
Strikers: Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Moënchengladbach).
Germany
Germany come into the tournament on the cusp of change with coach Joachim Löw to be replaced by Hansi Flick, a serial winner with Bayern, and one-time assistant to Löw. What effect this will have on the squad is yet to be seen. Die Mannschaft play all their group matches at home but the feeling is the present squad will not be good enough to reach an amazing seventh final.
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Germany Kit 1 |
Germany Kit 2 |
Germany Kit 3 |
Germany v France, 15th June, Munich
Germany v Portugal, 19th June, Munich
Germany v Hungary, 23rd June, Munich
Coach
Joachim Löw
Record
1984, 2000, 2004 First Round, 1988, 2012, 2016 Semi-Final, 1976, 1992, 2008 Finalists, 1972, 1980, 1996 Winners.
Men to watch
Joshua Kimmich should anchor the midfield after a fine season for Bayern. His playmaking and defence-splitting abilities have a chance to shine on the international stage.
Kai Havertz and Timo Werner will also be itching to have a good summer with Germany after a lukewarm first campaign with Chelsea.
If the Germans can sneak at least one draw from their first two games against superior opposition, they have enough to beat Hungary and advance. But an under-fire coach and a team on a rotten run look unable to get beyond the last eight.
How they qualified
Germany won Group C, beating the Dutch 3-2 in Amsterdam but losing 4-2 to them in Hamburg.
On the sidelines
2014 World Cup winner Jerome Boateng has joined Mesut Özil in the retirement home. Borussia Dortmund marksman Marco Reus is not in the squad, while reserve keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is undergoing a knee operation.
Formation
4-3-3
Analysis
It may be odd to see Der Mannschaft ranked 12th in the world going into the Euros, but they have been stuck in choppy waters since losing two of their group games to middle-ranked nations at the 2018 World Cup.
Despite winning their Euro qualification group, Germany were hammered 6-0 by Spain in the Nations League six months ago, their worst ever competitive result, and their latest competitive game was an equally humiliating 1-2 home loss to North Macedonia in World Cup qualifying. Needless to say, public expectation is very low, no pun intended.
Doubt and humility are qualities not normally associated with the eight-times World Cup finalists and six times Euro finalists, but the side is in poor form and their first two opponents at the finals are the reigning world and European champions respectively.
While Manuel Neuer between the sticks and Toni Kroos in midfield are reassuring presences, the defence does not look a patch on previous German backlines, particularly on the flanks. Chelsea's Antonio Rüdiger and the recalled Mats Hummels will have to hold the fort from the French and Portuguese forwards.
Up front Serge Gnabry is the latest No.9 for a country which has churned out world-class front men like Jurgen Klinsmann, Gerd Muller and Karl-Heinz Rumenigge in the past, but Löw prefers a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 without pure strikers.
This means there will be more attack from midfield, which is full of talent from Kimmich and Kroos to Havertz and Īlkay Gündoğan as well as Thomas Müller, in his final outing.
An attack of Gnabry, Havertz, Leroy Sané and Werner at least has the pace to stretch defences even if their shooting boots aren't the finest.
Not since 2000 have Germany entered the Euros not expecting to win it and Jogi Löw will not want to end his time at the top with humiliation.
So in the group of death will Deutschland be zu Hause before the postcards? Only a fool writes the Germans off.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Bernd Leno (Arsenal), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Defenders: Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea), Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Süle (Bayern Munich), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Robin Gosens (Atalanta), Robin Koch (Leeds United), Christian Günter (Freiburg).
Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Neuhaus (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich), Īlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City), Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich).
Strikers: Kevin Volland (Monaco), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Timo Werner (Chelsea).
Compiled by Sean O'Conor & Joji Imamiya
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