UEFA Euro 2016 Group A Preview

Group A teams: France, Switzerland, Romania, and Albania

Group A looks one of the most straightforward ones at the European Championship due to be held in France next summer. France are amongst the contenders for the Euros and the fact that they will be playing at home is only going to count in their favour.

Manager Didier Deschamps has assembled a very strong squad with the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Rapahael Varane, Laurent Koscielny and Hugo Lloris amongst others available at his disposal. It is hard to see the other three teams causing much trouble to Les Bleus, who reached the quarter-final of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Switzerland are the likely contenders to finish as runners-up in the group behind France. Vladimir Petkovic’s side have some big names in Stoke City midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, Borussia Monchengladbach number 1 Yann Sommer, and Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner.

France and Switzerland were placed in the same group at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The clash between the two sides ended 5 – 2 in favour of the eventual Group E winners France.

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Here’s a fantastic goal scored by the Swiss against Les Bleus at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

They will be expected to get the better of Romania and Albania, but getting the better of France may prove beyond them.

Romania are built on a strong defence as they conceded just two goals through the course of their qualifying campaign, and against superior opposition at the Euros, they will be even more likely to shut shop and attempt to play on the counter. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Vlad Chiriches is perhaps the biggest name in the side, but individual brilliance is not what got them through to the Euros, it’s their collective spirit. They will be favourites against Albania, but the other two sides in the group may prove to be just too strong for them.

Albania will be playing their first ever major tournament this summer in France. As a consequence, not much is expected from them, however, the fact that they defeated Portugal and Serbia in the qualifying means that they are more than likely to cause an upset or two if the other teams let their guard down.

A beautiful team goal scored by Albania against Armenia [EC Qualification].

It may be between Albania and Romania to avoid finishing last – and perhaps making the last 16 – as France and Switzerland battle for the top spot in Group A.