EURO 2016 PREVIEW So the draw has been done, the groups have been set and we know the schedule for the Euros next summer, so let the race for tickets begin. Yesterday’s draw certainly didn’t disappoint, with England and Wales being drawn in the same group. I think we all wanted some of the home nations to be drawn together, so we got what we wished for. So lets look at what each of the teams are facing:
TOUGH DRAW FOR IRELAND
Ireland really haven’t had good luck in the Euros draws lately! Following being drawn against Spain, Italy and Croatia in 2012 they have been given another extremely tough group in Belgium, Italy and Sweden. This group is going to be incredibly difficult for the Irish to get anything from. Now that may seem somewhat of an obvious statement considering they play current world number one Belgium as well as an Italy team who embarrassed the Irish in 2012 and a Swedish team who has beaten us recently also, but it is not just that they are good side, it is the fact they are all really tough match-ups with their types of players.
Each team has a big centre forward in the side. Belgium have Lukaku (or Benteke), Italy have Pelle, and of course Sweden have one of the best players in the world; Zlatan Ibrahimovic! I don’t think this Ireland defence will be able to handle any of these strikers. They just don’t match up well with big men up front, particularly in these cases where each striker is well able to run. They all have pace, make smart runs off the ball, and are excellent with the ball at their feet.
At John O’Shea’s age he will not be able to cope with these types of players. Then you have Keogh beside him, he is well used to coming up against big strikers in the Championship, but the guys Ireland will face are a different class than what he is used to. All of these teams will know they can get Ireland defensively, and should have the beating of them. Even look at the qualifiers, one bi striker Ireland came up against was Lewandowski and they didn’t know how to keep him out of the game (although not many can in his current form). Ireland’s opponents will look at the way Poland played and see that they can definitely get goals.
Of course I would love to see them do it, like creating an upset of the Germany proportions, but I really don’t think they will be able to get any wins. I certainly can’t see them getting out of the group stages, which kind of pains me to say. If they were to advance I think it would be one of the greatest achievements in Irish football history. Sure we had some great times back in the day, but I think the teams of 1990 and 1994 were stronger than the current crop of players. As well as that this is undoubtedly the toughest draw we have gotten for a tournament. I think Ireland can redeem themselves from the 2012 performances, but sadly I don’t think that will be enough to see them progress to the knockout stages.
ENGLAND TO ADVANCE, JUST
How pleasing is it to see England and Wales drawn together? I love it personally, it will be a great game with many familiar faces and promises to be an excellent battle. I think many people in England will be pretty pleased with this draw, but saying that, they were pleased for the World Cup and that didn’t go according to plan.
It is often the same with England teams, they have a strong qualifying campaign, which creates a lot of buzz around the team but when the tournament rolls around they always seem to disappoint. Their main problem for me is struggling to put away the so called weaker teams. Costa Rica would be a great example of this, England were thrilled to get them in their group and somehow ended up on bottom in the group with Costa Rica somehow progressing!
England will find it very difficult against Russia and Slovakia, they will both set up to stop them from playing football. The Russians may not have any big name players right now, but they also don’t have any weak spots in their side. They are a very solid side who make it tough for their opponents, and I think they are the biggest road bump for England. Sure England flew through the qualifiers and looked one of the better side that will be playing next summer, but as we have seen before none of that matters when the tournament rolls around. They have to show they can perform on the big stage.
I do think England have the beating of Wales, so long as Hodgson picks the right players defensively. If fit, the attacking part of this team almost picks itself, but there is a good battle for places defensively. Of course of number one importance against Wales is to limit Bale’s influence on the game. If you stop him you have them beat. Ramsey will be able to conjure up something, but I don’t see Wales not conceding either. Limiting Bale, a tough task, but that is where Hodgson’s picks matter. For me, then centre back partnership has to be Smalling and Stones. Sure, they may be inexperienced, but if you were looking at current form there is no doubt these are the best two centre backs right now. Smalling has been a consistent rock for United this year, he has had to be as they have been so poor.
Then you look at Stones, he is the man to stop Bale. He has it all, he’s strong, fast and a brilliant tackler. He is the only man in that defence who could stop Bale. This is going by the assumption that Bale will play a central role as he has done for Wales for the past while.
I think England will have enough to qualify from the group, although I wouldn’t be convinced they will win the group. Wales on the other hand, I see them not getting through. They are playing some solid teams in the tournament, more than just a couple of top players. Teams will look to limit Bale and to a degree Ramsey, and outside of that Wales just don’t offer much. Against the better teams they will struggle.
NO HOPE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
The Republic of Ireland got a tough draw, and somehow Northern Ireland got an even worse one. World Champions Germany, Poland and Lewandowski and Ukraine. That is not nice. I think they should approach this tournament with the view of enjoying themselves. That is all they can do. Every other team will be looking at them as a must beat side, they will really have a go against them and try and rack up some goals as they battle for spots in the group.
If Northern Ireland approach each game with a view of enjoying and expressing themselves then I think they have one upset in them. It won’t be enough to see them go through, but it can put a very positive view on their tournament overall. They were great in qualifying, but they had a poor group, this level of opposition spells trouble for them. It is their first tournament in a long time, so they should enjoy it while it lasts, and just try and play some football rather than letting teams come at them in each game. If they do this, they may have a couple of poor results, but I see them springing an upset in group.
