Euros: Top Teams Guide (Part 1)

Fabian Robertson writes.

The Euros kick off at 5am on Saturday morning, marking the beginning of a hectic 4-week period of international football and the corresponding nocturnality of diehard fans across Australia. 24 nations are split up into 6 groups, with 16 nations qualifying for the knockout stages. The following guide focuses on Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and England.

Italy

Group A

World Ranking: 7

Coach: Roberto Mancini 

The Azzurri play a traditional 4-3-3 with a deeplying Centre-Midfielder flanked by two wider Midfielders known as mezzalas. Italy are a strong contender expected to to rectify their recently disastrous international tournament performances - they suffered a Group Stage Exit at the 2014 World Cup and failed to qualify for the 2018 edition.

Italy possess particular solidity in the core of defence: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) and Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan) form a veteran Centre-Back pairing in front of one of the world’s top keepers in 22-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan). One could expect Bonucci to pop up with 1 or 2 important headed goals from set pieces, while Chiellini is captaining the side for his last stint in his beloved national colours.

Their best midfielder, Marco Verratti (PSG), is recovering from a knee injury and will not be fit for the beginning of the group stage. Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo) will replace him in the starting lineup, an all-rounded player possessing a genuine goal-threat from outside the box. Although not the best defensively, Jorginho (Chelsea) will pull the strings and dictate the side’s possession as a deep-lying playmaker with Nicoló Barella (Inter Milan) offering quality on the ball and penetrative attacking runs from the right of the midfield three. 

The prolific Ciro Immobile (Lazio) is the focal point of attack - an all rounded Centre-Forward who possess a unique combination of mobility, physicality and technical quality. Immobile won the European Golden Shoe in the 19/20 season by scoring 36 league goals - the most of any player in Europe’s top divisions. Although only bagging 20 league goals in 34 appearances in the 20/21 season and struggling to replicate his world-class finishing for the national team, Immobile is certainly one to watch this tournament.

Immobile is flanked by two dynamic wingers in Dominico Berardi (Sassuolo) and Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), who both carry significant threat with their pace, technical ability and finishing when cutting inside onto their stronger foot. Berardi at Right-Wing and Insigne at Left-Wing scored an impressive 17 and 19 Serie A goals this season respectively. 

Off the bench, 23-year-old Winger Federico Chiesa (Juventus) is a potential game-changer offering energy and technical ability, while utility Federico Bernadeschi (Juventus) and workhorse Centre-Forward Andrea Belotti (Torino) will also play significant roles. Sadly, Italy lost the talented creative midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma) to a training injury today and will miss his quality from the bench.

Predictions: Italy are pegged to be a tournament favourite due to their quality all over the park, pre-tournament form, squad depth, manager and lack of obvious weaknesses. They should top Group A ahead of Switzerland, Wales and Turkey, which would likely see them face a relatively weak Austria or Ukraine in the Round of 16. Assuming they win, Italy would be expected to face Belgium for a high stakes Quarter-Final showcase of two of the best teams in the world. If the Azzurri turn up on matchdays and things go their way, they could enjoy a very successful tournament run. Quarter Final exit.

Belgium

Group B

World Ranking: 1

Coach: Roberto Martinez

The top-ranked team in the world will be hoping to build on their 3rd placed finish at the 2018 World Cup. Belgium play a 3-4-3 with a wealth of world class attacking talent but their two best players are not fully fit. Captain and Left-Wing Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) is likely going to start from the bench at the beginning of the tournament after a nightmare injury-plagued season at Los Blancos. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), the team’s key playmaker drifting inside from Right-Wing, is aiming to for a return for the team’s second group stage game after sustaining a broken nose and eye socket due to a violent body-check from Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea and Germany) in the Champions League final.

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) will be hoping to replicate his 2018 World Cup performances in goal after winning the Golden Glove. He lines up behind a somewhat ageing back 3 with 34-year-old Jan Vertonghen (Benfica) and 32-year-old Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham) at Left-Centre-Back and Right-Centre-Back respectively. Belgium’s success may hinge on the two veteran defenders showing up for one last major tournament in the red and black.

After an excellent debut season for the Foxes, Timothy Castagne (Leicester) will probably beat Thomas Meunier (Dortmund) to a starting berth at Right-Wing-Back, with both players likely to feature throughout the tournament. Eden Hazard’s little brother Thorgan (Dortmund) has - somewhat unconventionally - been deployed as a Left-Wing-Back by Martinez despite being a right-footed Attacking Midfielder or Winger. Thorgan and Nacer Chadli (Istanbul Basaksehir) will share Left-Wing-Back duties. 

The Centre-Midfield duo is made up of the powerful Axel Witsel (Dortmund) and highly-rated Youri Tielemans (Leicester), the latter of whom scored a long-range screamer to win the FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Leander Dendoncker (Wolves) and Dennis Praet (Leicester) will also feature.

Centre-Forward Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) possesses immense pace, strength and finishing and is hot off the back of a career-best season, scoring 24 and assisting 11 in the Serie A. The prospect of marking Lukaku is no doubt the source of nightmares for any defender in the tournament, boding well for his chances of winning the Golden Boot. Dries Mertens (Napoli) will provide pace and technical quality at Right-Wing , while La Liga winner Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) will start at Left-Wing. When De Bruyne is fit, he will move to the right and Mertens will likely slide to the left, who will then be replaced by Eden Hazard if and when he returns to full fitness.

 Predictions: Again, Belgium should top Group B ahead of Denmark, Finland and Russia. Denmark, however, are ranked 10th in the world and are somewhat of a dark horse in the tournament. They have a solid defensive unit led by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester) and a capable midfield of metronome Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham), the defensive Thomas Delaney (Dortmund) and the technical Christian Eriksen (Inter Milan). If  Belgium top the group, they have a comparatively easy Round of 16 fixture against third place of Group E, likely setting them up for a blockbuster Quarter Final against Italy. If they progress, they would probably face tournament favourites France or Portugal in the Semi-Final. Semi Final exit.

Netherlands

Group C

World Ranking: 16

Coach: Frank De Boer

Considering the players in their ranks, Netherlands have underperformed in recent years. After reaching the final at the 2010 World Cup and placing third at the 2014 World Cup, Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2016 Euros and 2018 Word Cup. They are coached by Frank De Boer, a national hero from his time as a player but is largely unpopular in his managerial role. Jose Mourinho called De Boer the “worst manager in the history of the Premier League” in relation to his sacking from Crystal Palace after 0 points and 0 goals scored in 4 league games. Previous manager Ronald Koeman employed a 4-3-3 before his departure to Barcelona, which has since been adjusted to a more conservative 3-4-1-2 under De Boer.

21-year-old ex-Ajax Captain Matthijs De Ligt (Juventus) stars in a relatively inexperienced back 3 which is sorely missing Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), who was considered the best Centre-Back in the world before Jordan Pickford (Everton and England) scythed him down with a two-footed challenge in a heated Merseyside derby.

Much of the team and nation’s hopes rest on fan-favourite Centre-Midfielder Frenkie De Jong (Barcelona), who’s elegance, fearlessness and composure on the ball have drawn tentative comparisons to footballing legend Johan Cruyff. De Jong’s deft touches, body feints and supreme ball-carrying will be a joy to watch.

All-rounded and experienced Centre-Attacking-Midfielder Giorgio Wijnaldum (PSG) captains the side. Wijnaldum recently chose a lucrative transfer to PSG instead of potential suitors Barcelona - earning a significant pay increase following admirable performances in Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League-winning midfield.

Wijnaldum will look to feed dual strike partnership Memphis Depay (Barcelona) and Wout Weghorst (Wolfsburg). Depay recently transferred from Lyon to Barcelona alongside Argentinian Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) on free transfers. He offers pace, technical ability and strength while Weghorst is a more traditional Centre-Forward with a particular knack for getting on the end of crosses.

Despite a late injury to Donny Van De Beek (Manchester United), Netherlands have a dangerous bench in pacy wingers Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow) and Donyell Malen (PSV), creative midfielder Davy Klassen (Ajax) and Centre Forward supersub Luuk De Jong (Sevilla).

As the highest-ranking team in the weakest group of the tournament, Netherlands should top ahead of Austria, North Macedonia and Ukraine. This would see them play third from the group of death Group F in the Round of 16, which would be either Germany, France or Portugal. Round of 16 exit.

England, Group D

World Ranking: 4

Coach: Gareth Southgate

Waist-coat wearing Everyman Gareth Southgate will be hoping to do what he could never do in an England shirt by bringing football home in 2021. Having earned back national support for the Three Lions due to a stellar 2018 World Cup, England now possess one of the strongest squads in the tournament and are one of the favourites to take home the trophy.

In the lead-up to the tournament, Southgate opted for a 4-3-3 - a progressive shift from the somewhat pragmatic 3-5-2 he deployed in the World Cup. However, an injury to premier Centre-Back Harry Maguire (Manchester United) has thrown a spanner in the works, raising questions about which formation will be used. It is unsure if Southgate trusts Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) or Conor Coady (Wolves) to play alongside John Stones (Manchester City) in a back 4, meaning they will potentially revert to the 3-5-2 with Mings at Left-Centre-Back and Kyle Walker (Manchester City) out of position at Right-Centre-Back. (both 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 lineups are included in the graphic) Despite questionable goalkeeping performances in recent years, Jordan Pickford (Everton) will start between the sticks following an injury to Nick Pope (Burnley). Pickford is arguably better with his feet than his T-Rex-like arms, with impressively accurate distribution that is crucial to Southgate’s plans to play out from the back.

The superb Declan Rice (West Ham) will start at the base of midfield with the technically gifted and high-work-rate Mason Mount (Chelsea) the most attacking of the midfield 3. Jordan Henderson is the first-choice option to play between the 2 as a traditional ‘8’, but his lack of match fitness will see ball-player Kalvin Phillips (Leeds) deputise. From the bench, 17-year-old Jude Bellingham (Dortmund) is an exciting prospect whose all round game has drawn comparisons to Steven Gerrard.

Harry Kane is probably the best Centre-Forward in the world besides Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland) and provides significant goal threat from anywhere near the box and from set pieces. Kane will also drop deep to receive and play penetrative through balls to wingers Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jadon Sancho (Dortumnd), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) and Jack Grealish (Aston Villa). The significant depth in this position has received international attention and a plethora of contrasting opinions about which two should start. Despite drawing the ire of the more reactionary England fans, Sterling should start off the back of his goals and assists in qualifying, although less impressive club from does raise some doubt. 21-year-old Foden is the centre of fawning praise and is considered one of the best young players in the world. Although fellow 21-year-old Sancho started the bulk of the qualifying games, Foden’s recent club form may see him given the nod. Both players possess immense pace, dribbling and the ability to create goals. Meanwhile, Grealish is adored by fans for his creativity, ball-carrying, calves and hair. Regardless of who Southgate favours in the front 3, expect British Tabloid headlines to read as follows if they underperform: “Southgate bottles it by not picking _____”.

Predictions: England will easily top their group ahead of Croatia, Czech Republic and Scotland. Unfortunately for the Poms, this would see them play second from the Group of death in the Round of 16 - one of Portugal, France or Germany. I expect them to face Portugal and knock them out in a tight affair after being bolstered by the returns of Maguire and Henderson. I also expect them to beat Spain in the Quarter Final, Germany in the Semi Final and France in the Final. Yes, I am jumping on the bandwagon. Harry Kane Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament. It’s coming home.

Part 2 here.