France
When you have Hugo Lloris in goal, centre-back options include Laurent Koscielny, Raphael Varane and Kurt Zouma, in midfield you can call upon the likes of Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi and up front Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman, then no wonder you are likely to be amongst the top favourites to finish amongst the top four at your home Euros. The only question is: can Les Bleus go all the way and bring the trophy home?
Germany
The reigning world champions appear to have an unending supply of great players. The team is bursting with talented players and can call upon relatively new faces like Leroy Sane and Marc-Andre ter Stegen if need arises. Such depth means that whenever manager Joachim Low’s plan A fails, he can look at his bench send a new player in and invariably something good will happen – just like it did at the Maracana in the summer of 2014 when he looked at the bench and sent Mario Gotze in.
Spain
La Furia Roja will head into France as three-time European Champions, and more importantly, two-time defending champions. Things have turned out for Vicente del Bosque’s side in such a manner that he has an ideal combination of veterans and new comers for the journey in France. The only concern could be his insistence on playing Iker Casillas in face of better alternatives.
Belgium
The Red Devils were billed as dark horses for the World Cup in Brazil; however, pundits did point out that despite the abundance of talent in the team, a lack of big-match experience could prove their undoing and ultimately that is what happened. Marc Wilmots’ management has also come into question, but despite everything, semi-finals is the least that Belgium will be aspiring for this summer.
England
Roy Hodgson’s men enjoyed a remarkable qualifying campaign, but it is one thing to do well in qualifying games and quite another to do the same in the tournament proper. Nevertheless, the talent in the side and their good form means that the Three Lions will be expected to go at least as far as the last four in France.
Below is the link to the William Hill betting odds on the potential semi-finalists of Euro 2016.
Founder and editor of Footiecentral. A voracious reader who loves reading anything and everything related to the history of football. He’s an ardent supporter of Manchester United and rarely misses a match.