Innehållsförteckning för June 2021 från World Soccer

So, the wait is over. After being pushed back a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the long-awaited, highly-anticipated European Championship is finally upon us. Still to be referred to as “Euro 2020” – a decision the UEFA executive committee made to “keep the original vision of the tournament, which was set to celebrate the 60th anniversary” and also to “serve as a reminder of how the whole football family came together to respond to the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the difficult times that Europe, and the world, had to go through in 2020” – this European Championship will make history for several reasons. At the time of writing, and at the risk of some cities’ host status being under threat as they had “yet to…

SILVER LININGS by David Hartrick (Pitch Publishing, £12.99) As England boss, Bobby Robson was celebrated, derided and Diego-ed. His team missed one Euros, self-destructed at another, were cheated out of Mexico ’86 and came within two kicks of a World Cup final. No England manager can equal the drama of his eight years in charge. Set against the backdrop of a vicious newspaper circulation war and the rise of hooliganism, this is the story of how Robson managed to deliver the seemingly impossible: hope. AN ODE TO FOUR FOUR TWO byJohn McNicoll (Pitch Publishing, £12.99) Formations continue to evolve since the birth of the game. From teams playing with four or five forwards, to the modern era of teams with just one, arguably the best formation is 4-4-2. Some of…

TACTICS With the majority of their players based in the Bundesliga, it is not surprising that Austria’s game is based on a well-drilled pressing of the opposition. Their total of 404 balls recovered in the European qualifiers is one of the best in the competition and they averaged 59 per cent possession. Yet, there is still a feeling that the attack lacks creative spark and that there is too much emphasis on not conceding goals. The first big question for Foda, who generally uses a 4-2-3-1, is where to play David Alaba. He is comfortable at left-back or in midfield and, under Foda, has played in both roles although more recently in defence. If he plays in midfield, Andreas Ulmer becomes the left-back. Julian Baumgartlinger has become a fixture as…

How has your team evolved since 2018? I think we have improved in the competitive nature of having three players per position. It is becoming harder to reduce our list to 23 players. Everyone is growing, developing and progressing. In our last game of our qualification campaign, we were able to make a lot of changes and maintain our level. That’s been the biggest sign of evolution since the World Cup. So, for this so-called “golden generation”, it’s not quite now or never then? I haven’t looked at it that way. When you split the team into individuals and look at what they have given to the national team: to be close to100 caps, to get bronze in a World Cup, qualifying with 30 points, being No.1 in the world…there…

Ever since Croatia debuted in the Euro ’96 qualifiers, they have been absent only once from the final tournament (Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands). Reaching their sixth Euro finals, as well as five of the six World Cups, is a remarkable achievement for a relatively young and small country of approximately four million inhabitants. And while the Croatian national team has finished on the podium twice at the World Cup – third place at France ’98 and runners-up in Russia in 2018 – they have only advanced three times to the knockout stages of the European Championship – in1996, 2008 and 2016. After the sensational success of World Cup 2018, now even more is expected at the Euros, starting with an easy walkthrough to the knockout round and…

GOALKEEPERS Lovre KALINIC Hajduk Split Age 31 (03.04.90) The 6ft 7in keeper commands his area. Didn’t play regularly at Aston Villa, so returned on loan to his home club to regain his national team spot back. Dominik LIVAKOVIC Dinamo Zagreb Age 26 (09.01.95) Croatia’s No.1. Secure and cold-blooded – even in the toughest of situations. Has great reflexes and reactions, especially in one-on-ones. Simon SLUGA Luton Town (Eng) Age 28 (17.03.93) Third goalkeeper, exclusively at the expense of Ivo Grbic who is playing back-up to Jan Oblak at Atletico Madrid. As Sluga plays regularly, he should get the nod. DEFENDERS Borna BARISIC Rangers (Sco) Age 28 (10.11.92) Emerged during qualification and enjoyed a title-winning season at Rangers. A very offensive and direct left-back with a quality left foot. Duje CALETA-CAR…

TACTICS Under Jaroslav Silhavy, the Czech Republic play an energetic high-pressing game, flooding forward in an attempt to win the ball in their opponents’ half. Once in possession, a short-passing game is preferred. Silhavy’s favoured formation against stronger opponents is a 4-2-3-1, with playmaker Vladimir Darida and wingers Lukas Provod and Jakub Jankto most likely to be supporting lone striker Patrik Schick. The full-backs, plus midfielders Alex Kral and Tomas Soucek, also like to get forward – as the latter proved with a hat-trick against Estonia in March. In qualification, the biggest threat came through Jankto. Between them, the left-winger and Schick had a hand in eight of the team’s13 goals. Central defence is their biggest weak spot, where Silhavy has struggled to find a reliable partner for the omnipresent…

What did you learn from your UEFA Nations League campaign? We learned that what we were thinking of doing with the game actually succeeded in many ways. We learned that we are missing our fans when we play. We learned that we are doing a lot of things well, but that we need a little bit of quality and coolness. But the campaign gave us optimism. In a group with Belgium, England and Iceland we beat Iceland twice and England once. We feel we can compete with the best and on a very good day we can beat them. How can your team take the next step? I think it’s experience. Belgium, for example, lost in the Nations League three years ago to Switzerland. They learned from that experience. We…

In 2008, Fabio Capello bemoaned: “I’m worse off than everyone. In the Premier League, only 35 per cent of the players are English.” This came less than a year after he’d taken charge of England. “I go to quite a few games these days and there are no English players,” said Roy Hodgson five years later, and his replacement also agreed: “Often you are picking fringe players – that goes without saying when you’ve only got 31 per cent [of English players in the Premier League],” said Sam Allardyce in 2016. A lack of English players featuring regularly in top-flight football was a recurring complaint for all three of Gareth Southgate’s predecessors. Yet the current England manager has an entirely different problem: how to make room for all the players…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Dean HENDERSON Manchester United Age 24 (12.03.97) A strong finish to the season between the sticks at Manchester United could make him a candidate for the No.1 jersey. Jordan PICKFORD Everton Age 27 (07.03.94) In spite of some sketchy form, Southgate has remained loyal to the Everton goalkeeper since the World Cup, largely due to his distribution skills. Nick POPE Burnley Age 29 (19.04.92) Arguably the best shot-stopper at Southgate’s disposal, Pope’s weakness with the ball at his feet were exposed during March’s World Cup qualifiers. DEFENDERS Ben CHILWELL Chelsea Age 24 (21.12.96) Started five of England’s eight qualifiers before joining Chelsea for £45m, yet the left-back’s place in the side is still not guaranteed. Conor COADY Wolverhampton Wanderers…

TACTICS When starting out in the job, coach Markku Kanerva kept things simple. He favoured a 4-4-2 and gave players very clear and simple tasks. As the group has grown more familiar with each other and more coherent over the years, more complex elements have been added to their tactics. This includes an increased effort to win the ball slightly higher up the pitch. Recently, Kanerva has switched to a back five in certain games, particularly against stronger opponents. Given the strength of Finland’s group stage opponents, it seems likely that we will see Finland deploy a back five in the tournament. Hallmarks of Kanerva’s Finland are a robust, cohesive team with intelligent midfield play from the likes of captain Tim Sparv and Glen Kamara, and the constant goal threat…

Have you already got a good idea of your 23-man squad for the Euros? I already know roughly 20 of the players going to Euro 2020. If there aren’t any injuries or real drop-offs in form, then the majority of my squad is selected. You’ve been drawn in the good old “group of death” alongside Germany, Portugal and Hungary. What do you make of that? We definitely could have had a nicer draw rather than being with two big nations in Portugal and Germany, and in the toughest group of the six. We know these teams’ qualities and we’ve played against them a lot recently. But, then again, it’s no easier for them. They won’t be delighted at the prospect of facing us either, so we’ll have to be ready…

As inevitable as a dollop of mustard on a bratwurst, the recent announcement that Nationalmannschaft coach Joachim “Jogi” Low would be stepping down at the end of Euro 2020 was anything but an Earth-shattering development. For a good two years or more, there has been an end-ofdays feel to the Low incumbency. After spending his first decade as Bundestrainer (2006-16) in feverish empire-building mode – notably masterminding triumph at the 2014 World Cup, the runners-up spot at the 2008 European Championship and three other international tournament semi-final appearances – Low and company were spectacularly derailed in the group phase of Russia 2018 and have not recovered since. Germany won just three out of eight fixtures in the 2020 calendar year and in a sure sign of a team fumbling in…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Manuel NEUER Bayern Munich Age 35 (27.03.86) A decade-and-a-half after making his pro debut, the Gelsenkirchener remains, by some distance, the country’s No.1 custodian. Captain. Marc-Andre TER STEGEN Barcelona (Spa) Age 29 (30.04.92) Much, much more than a national team understudy. The only solid, reliable element in a most decidedly unstable Barcelona back-line. Kevin TRAPP Eintracht Frankfurt Age 30 (08.07.90) Steady, secure last-line-of-defence who is now in his second stint in Frankfurt following three years between the Paris Saint-Germain posts. DEFENDERS Emre CAN Borussia Dortmund Age 27 (12.01.94) The versatile ex-Liverpool and Juventus man offers leadership and control. Played left-back in March’s World Cup qualifiers. Matthias GINTER Borussia Monchengladbach Age 27 (19.01.94) When it comes to one-on-one duels, the…

TACTICS For most games, Marco Rossi sets up the same 3-5-2 formation that helped him win the Hungarian title with Honved in 2017. Three at the back is usually a given, with the two flank players in the midfield raiding and covering. Another given is the tendency of goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to patrol outside his area when occasion demands, Manuel Neuer-style. Centre-back Attila Szalai is comfortable on the left, too. Roving in front of the back three, Adam Nagy spends 90 minutes in the middle third, delivering passes, picking up loose balls, constantly available. This allows the attacking midfielders, Dominik Szoboszlai and probably Laszlo Kleinheisler, in the absence of Zsolt Kalmar, to risk forward runs and worry defenders. Guile rather than height characterises the front two, running on to the…

How do you rate Italy’s chances of going all the way at Euro 2020? Even when Italy are not the favourites, we are under pressure to win. I know that we have a group of good players who are getting better game by game and who will give their all. And what are your thoughts on a draw that pits you against Switzerland, Wales and Turkey in Group A? You could say that the draw went well for us, given that we have avoided France and Portugal. However, they are all awkward teams with nothing to lose. Switzerland are always difficult for Italy because they know us well. Wales could be a surprise with all their Premier League players, whilst Turkey took four points off France in the qualifiers. Playing…

It will be one of the most interesting questions of Euro 2020. What can be expected of the Dutch team after missing the last two major tournaments? After being runners-up at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and finishing third four years later, the national team fell into disrepair. The likes of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben said farewell without any others of the same quality succeeding them. As a result, Oranje failed to qualify for both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. Now a new generation has emerged, one that appears able to compete with Germany, Belgium, France and Spain. Important players like Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay are the backbone of the team that showed class in reaching the…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Jasper CILLESSEN Valencia (Spa) Age 32 (22.04.89) If he is fit and remains a regular for his club, the reliable Cillessen will stand between the posts, just as he did at the 2014 World Cup. Tim KRUL Norwich City (Eng) Age 33 (04.03.88) Came off the bench in the final minute of the game to become the hero when penalties decided the World Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica in 2014. Maarten STEKELENBURG Ajax Age 38 (22.09.82) Returned to the Ajax first team after Andre Onana’s doping ban, and earned a surprise international recall three and a half years after his last cap. DEFENDERS Nathan AKE Manchester City (Eng) Age 26 (18.02.95) All-rounder who can play leftback, centre-back or midfield.…

TACTICS In the Nations League, North Macedonia managed to control games against teams of a similar level with a 4-2-3-1 formation, but versus the Netherlands, Austria and Ukraine at the Euros, the stability of the defence and energy of midfielders Arijan Ademi, Boban Nikolov, Eljif Elmas and Enis Bardhi covering the pitch will be crucial. Coach Angelovski used 3-5-2 when North Macedonia drew 1-1 with Italy in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, and also in the shock win against Germany in March, and that is a more cautious approach. With a back three, Egzon Bejtulai or Kire Ristevski could join starters Visar Musliu and Darko Velkovski as central defenders, but a more likely option is Stefan Ristovski moving inside and Nikolov playing right wing-back. Ilija Nestorovski is first-choice striker, but…

How do you reflect on March’s 3-3 World Cup qualifying draw with Hungary, your first match in charge of Poland? I am very proud and I think that most Poles should be proud as well. We were the team that really wanted to win, we changed the rhythm of the game, played aggressively. Step by step, we played faster and faster. We started to understand a few things, we had fantastic belief to come from behind twice, which the players did not do earlier. This was thanks to our mentality. Your appointment has received some criticism. How do you respond to that and does that affect your confidence? I strongly believe in myself, in my convictions, the way I watch the game, and in my coaching staff. I believe in…

Man-for-man, Portugal have a better and deeper squad than when lifting their maiden major trophy in Paris five years ago. For the reigning champions to repeat their Euro 2016 success, however, coach Fernando Santos has to mould a fabulous array of talent into a balanced and cohesive unit. Now seven years at the helm, the veteran coach still often appears to be waging an internal tug-of-war between his naturally conservative football philosophy and the temptation to go for a more expansive style of play. With the attacking firepower provided by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Bruno Fernandes – all key players at a handful of Europe’s biggest clubs – it is not surprising that, despite largely positive results, Santos continues to draw criticism…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Anthony LOPES Lyon (Fra) Age 30 (01.10.90) The Lyon No.1 has at last had a few opportunities recently, starting all three World Cup qualifiers in March, and has proven a capable deputy. Rui PATRICIO Wolverhampton Wanderers (Eng) Age 33 (15.02.88) Portugal’s record appearance holder for a goalkeeper, nearing the100-club, the Wolves shot-stopper is untouchable between the sticks. Rui SILVA Granada (Spa) Age 27 (07.02.94) One of the best goalkeepers in Spain in recent seasons, the 27-year-old offers solid back-up behind Lopes and Rui Patricio. DEFENDERS Joao CANCELO Manchester City (Eng) Age 26 (27.05.94) His CV includes Benfica, Valencia, Internazionale and Juventus, but it is in England where the versatile full-back has truly blossomed. Ruben DIAS Manchester City (Eng) Age…

TACTICS Cherchesov changes his formation from 4-3-1-2, 4-2-3-1, 5-2-2-1 and 5-3-1-1, depending on the opponents’ strength and style. “The bus” is always there ready to be parked, like it was in the1-1 World Cup last 16 clash with Spain, eventually won on penalties. If Cherchesov does go with a back five, the starting wingbacks will likely be defenders by trade (Fernandes, Smolnikov, Karavayev or Zhirkov) rather than traditional wingers who are more comfortable going forward than defending – emphasising the coach’s vigilant approach. Young talents in midfield can certainly make a difference, but Cherchesov is often too cautious to fully rely on them, even though playmakers Aleksei Miranchuk and Golovin now have good experience playing in Europe. Three holding players is often his default set-up. Lone striker Dzyuba is more…

In the time between Scotland beating Serbia and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, did you notice a change in the players? When we got them into training before facing Austria, I looked at the standard and said to [coach] John Carver that we have given ourselves a problem because the standard had gone up. It was good to see. You can tell the players are happy and hopefully that bodes well for the future. With all the euphoria, are you concerned players might get caught up in the hype? The players are excellent and deserve all the credit for getting to Euro 2020, but I have told them they want to be successful and not just qualify for one tournament. I want them to be consistently successful. Not rest on…

The decision by Marek Hamsik to break his lucrative contract with Dalian Pro in China and base himself in Europe this spring, gaining match practice at Sweden’s Gothenburg, shows the determination of Slovakia’s talismanic captain to lead his team out of a tough group at Euro 2020. After all, it has happened twice before at major tournaments. A Hamsik-led Slovakia knocked defending champions Italy out of the 2010 World Cup, then held on for a grim goalless draw with England at Euro 2016. Each time, the subsequent knockout round proved a match too far. This time, Slovakia’s group comprises Spain, Poland and Sweden, with Hamsik’s new-found home perhaps the most likely opponents to cede all three points. The coach this time is Stefan Tarkovic, assistant to Jan Kozak at Euro…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Dominik GREIF Slovan Bratislava Age 24 (06.04.97) First-choice goalkeeper at Slovan since 2018-19, Greif may get the nod over Rodak given his regular first-team appearances this season. Dusan KUCIAK Lechia Gdansk (Pol) Age 35 (21.05.85) Reliable squad keeper, with the national side since 2006. A regular for Lechia Gdansk, challenging for Europe in Poland’s Ekstraklasa. Marek RODAK Fulham (Eng) Age 24 (13.12.96) Making his debut in 2020, Rodak rose to prominence in the Euro play-offs as the hero of the penalty shootout win over the Republic of Ireland. DEFENDERS Norbert GYOMBER Salernitana (Ita) Age 28 (03.07.92) Used on the left in Slovakia’s defeat to Germany at Euro 2016 and a contender to fill in at the back again this…

TACTICS This is not tiki-taka any more, but nor is it not tiki-taka either. Luis Enrique has applied a twist to the identity that made Spain world and European champions rather than seeking to change it entirely. The seleccion still usually line up in a 4-3-3 formation, and may even do so with a false No.9, while the commitment to having the ball and pressing higher up the pitch remains. And yet there has been an attempt to break from the predictable, academic approach that saw Spain knocked out of World Cup 2018 having completed 1,000 passes, and that fell early in Brazil and France prior to that. Indeed, that was part of the reason he was employed initially, driven by the idea that the way he had rethought Barcelona’s…

Sweden had a splendid 2018 World Cup. What are your reflections on it? I was very pleased with the way our team performed during the tournament. As a manager, there are always things and details that you want to improve, but it gives us a lot of confidence to know that we can perform against very good teams. In the quarterfinal, we had a good performance against a very good team. We had a good game plan and followed it, so no regrets. How does Sweden’s 4-4-2 formation compare with other systems? People who say that we play a strict 4-4-2 haven’t been watching our games closely. Yes, in our defensive position, we start from a 4-4-2, but we play our offensive football in another way. All of our tactics have…

Switzerland has stood out over the last decade or so as a small country that has done pretty much everything right in football terms. It has an enviable youth development system and has proved adept at harnessing the talent of the country’s second-generation immigrants, who have given the national side a real spark and cutting edge. Yet, the national team go into the Euro 2020 tournament showing signs of stagnation. Having become regulars at major tournaments, they have found themselves unable to break the round of 16 barrier, falling at that stage on their last three outings – the last two World Cups and Euro 2016. The last World Cup was an excellent chance to take that next step when they faced a very average Sweden in the last16, yet…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Yvon MVOGO PSV (Ned) Age 26 (06.06.94) Cameroon-born, he spent three years as second-choice goalkeeper at RB Leipzig but is now a regular on loan at PSV in the Eredivisie. Jonas OMLIN Montpellier (Fra) Age 27 (10.01.94) Third-choice goalkeeper, he made his debut at the age of 26 in a friendly against Croatia last year. Montpellier’s No.1 this season. Yann SOMMER Borussia Monchengladbach (Ger) Age 32 (17.12.88) Switzerland’s first-choice goalkeeper since the 2014 World Cup. Has excellent reflexes, calm and self-assured, and averse to risk-taking. DEFENDERS Manuel AKANJI Borussia Dortmund (Ger) Age 25 (19.07.95) All-round defender, comfortable on either foot and at his best when bringing the ball out of from central defence. Very reliable. Loris BENITO Bordeaux (Fra)…

TACTICS Senol Gunes is better known for an attacking style of football. But he has managed to build a team with a stellar defensive record in his second stint in charge of Turkey. Gunes typically prefers a 4-2-3-1 set-up but is pragmatic and will shift his formation and tactics depending on the opposition. The onus of this side is on defence, where Gunes is spoilt for choice. The defensive set-up will be a choice of Merih Demiral, Caglar Soyuncu or Ozan Kabak at centre-back. Zeki Celik will be at rightback, but the left side is still up for grabs. In front of them, Gunes has opted for hard-working central midfielders to sit in front of the back four. Okay Yokuslu and Ozan Tufan fit the bill, with the former sitting…

What game under your management do you consider the best so far? I received a lot of applause after our win over Portugal. I was satisfied because the team played well and reached an important objective, winning a decisive European qualifying group match against a great opponent and one of the best players of all time – Cristiano Ronaldo. How do you deal with the tremendous pressure of being Ukraine coach? It was rather difficult at the beginning but now I have acquired immunity. I balance myself. When the match has already been lost, you always need to evaluate why this happened. This is by working on mistakes and the best cure for sleepless nights. What is your main coaching principle? I do not look at the result. The most…

It was five years ago that Chris Coleman’s Wales made history as they reached the last four during their one and only appearance at a Euros finals. Qualifying under the guidance of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, there is a very different look to this youthful Welsh team, but the manager’s faith in fast-tracking young players through the fabled pathway system has been vindicated in both their success and their potential to achieve more Undefeated group winners in the Nations League, there is a fearless energy and confidence to the side that has been under the leadership of interim manager Rob Page since last November. Players such as Neco Williams and Dylan Levitt have become established internationals while still trying to make their way through the formative years of their…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Adam DAVIES Stoke City (Eng) Age 28 (17.07.92) Former Everton youth player who was born in Germany. Made his debut for Wales in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago in 2019. Wayne HENNESSEY Crystal Palace (Eng) Age 34 (24.01.87) The most-capped goalkeeper in the history of the national team, and just a handful off a century, having made his debut back in 2007. A veteran of Euro 2016. Danny WARD Leicester City (Eng) Age 27 (22.06.93) A former Liverpool shot-stopper who came through the ranks at Wrexham. Started the opening Euro 2016 win over Slovakia after Hennessey suffered a back issue. DEFENDERS Ben DAVIES Tottenham Hotspur (Eng) Age 28 (24.04.93) A veteran of Euro 2016 but missed the semi-final…

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Since beating the United States 2-1 in their final game at the 1990 World Cup, Austria have appeared at three major tournaments – the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2016 – without winning a single match. Those nine games have produced four draws, five defeats and just five goals scored. The last time they got beyond a group stage at any tournament was back in 1982, and even then it was with the help of the infamous match in Gijon where their 1-0 defeat to West Germany sent both teams through at the expense of Algeria. So it is a low bar when it comes to improving on recent performances. This time around, the draw has been kind to Austria on paper, with Ukraine, Netherlands and rank outsiders…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Heinz LINDNER Basle (Sui) Age 30 (17.07.90) The first choice in 2017-18, Lindner has fallen way out of favour since, but still might make the squad as the third-choice keeper. Pavao PERVAN Wolfsburg (Ger) Age 33 (13.11.87) Has generally found himself as second-choice at Wolfsburg since his move in 2018. Despite this, became Austria’s first choice over the course of 2020. Alexander SCHLAGER LASK Age 25 (01.02.96) After being loaned around between clubs early in his career, he has settled at LASK Linz. First-choice in the three World Cup qualifiers in March. DEFENDERS David ALABA Bayern Munich (Ger) Age 28 (24.06.92) With two Champions League titles and tons of German domestic honours, Alaba is by far the most successful…

TACTICS During the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Roberto Martinez switched his formation from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3 and the Red Devils have never looked back since, with all the players in the squad harnessing a fine understanding of what Martinez’s system of choice requires, resulting in a unit that is both clinical up front and solid at the back. Once upon a time, Belgium played blue-collar football in a 4-4-2 formation, but today they boast a flamboyant style with an abundance of talent, who collectively smashed 40 goals past their opponents in the qualification campaign. The back three lack mobility, but wing-back Thomas Meunier can drop back. Midfield metronome Kevin De Bruyne keeps the team ticking. On the left, Eden Hazard, if fit, can roam around, with Romelu Lukaku…

What are your reflections on Croatia’s performances at the 2018 World Cup? It was just an amazing, wonderful and unforgettable month for each player, coach and staff member, culminating with an unbelievable welcome that we received in Zagreb, with more than half a million people on the streets to greet us. I will cherish every game and every moment of that run to the final for the rest of my life, and it will always stay the most special tournament of my career. For a country of four million people to reach the World Cup final, that was just a fascinating story, and we did it in style, playing an attractive style of football with a lot of passion, emotion and togetherness. How has your team evolved since the 2018…

Gone are some of the star names like Petr Cech and Tomas Rosicky but, five years on from Euro 2016, a much-changed Czech squad is back at football’s top table. Much of the credit belongs to coach Jaroslav Silhavy, who picked up the pieces following a disappointing 2018 World Cup qualification campaign. Despite low expectations, the Plzen native has quietly remade the team, emphasising team spirit and a strong work ethic. The rewards have been a place at Euro 2020 and promotion to the Nations League’s top tier. The immediate impact that central midfielder Tomas Soucek and right-back Vladimir Coufal have made in England’s Premier League has further boosted Czech self-confidence, as have the impressive results of the West Ham duo’s former team-mates at Slavia Prague in Europe. The rest…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Ondrej KOLAR Slavia Prague Age 26 (17.10.94) Became the Czech League’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Slavia in 2018. Suffered a fractured sinus in Europa League. Jiri PAVLENKA Werder Bremen (Ger) Age 29 (14.04.92) A regular starter in Germany since joining Bremen from Slavia Prague back in 2017. Tall, with excellent reflexes. Vaclik’s likeliest replacement. Tomas VACLIK Sevilla (Spa) Age 32 (29.03.89) Good all-round keeper who deputised for Petr Cech at Euro 2016. First-choice in qualification but now out of favour at Sevilla. DEFENDERS Jan BORIL Slavia Prague Age 30 (11.01.91) Uncompromising left-back who captains champions Slavia. Played his entire career in the Czech League. Made his international debut aged 26. Jakub BRABEC Viktoria Plzen Age 28 (06.08.92)…

TACTICS Head coach Kasper Hjulmand has been pragmatic with his tactics, using a more defensive 4-3-3 system against stronger opponents and a bolder 3-4-1-2 for matches in which Denmark expect to take the initiative. It served him well during the Nations League campaign and seems unlikely to change for the tournament. It helps that the starting team is very settled, and full-backs Daniel Wass and Joakim Maehle can operate with equal effectiveness as wing-backs. The key to their more adventurous formation is the position of Christian Eriksen, who plays in the hole behind the two strikers. In the 4-3-3 model, he reverts to central midfield alongside Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The pair provide the foundation along with Simon Kjaer and Andreas Christensen. It is that solidity which makes Denmark…

Do you have a rigid system or should we expect to see different approaches? In terms of formations, we have to be adaptable. We talk about tactical systems, but during the game players have to adapt and adjust. You can write the formation down at the start of the game, but there aren’t many moments within the game when the players are actually in those positions. The game is so fluid and players have got to make sure they make good decisions. Harry Kane has developed his game this season and is playing deeper. Could that be displayed for England this summer? Harry’s always had that capability and the technique to link the play. He’s probably as good a forward passer as we’ve got in our squad. I wouldn’t necessarily say…

For the Finland national team and their fans, November 15, 2019 will always be a special day. They had never qualified for a major tournament before, and while Finnish football fans had followed their team with a ferocious passion, the country as a whole was more drawn to winter sports. The men’s national team, the “Huuhkajat” (Eagle-Owls), were often cast in a particularly unfavourable light by the country’s immensely popular, multiple World Championship-winning ice hockey team. In 2016 the football team went a full calendar year without winning a single game, and in 2017 they dropped to 110th in the FIFA rankings. The appointment of Markku Kanerva as coach in late 2016 was a turning point, even if it took some time for results to catch on. A strong showing…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Lukas HRADECKY Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) Age 31 (24.11.89) Excellent shot-stopper whose finely honed reflexes will no doubt play a huge part in any success Finland may have at the tournament. Anssi JAAKKOLA Bristol Rovers (Eng) Age 34 (13.03.87) In the squad when Kanerva took Finland’s Under-21 team to the Euros in 2009, playing twice in the group games. Could be picked as third-choice keeper. Jesse JORONEN Brescia (Ita) Age 28 (21.03.93) Former Fulham academy prospect and fine goalkeeper who is unfortunate to be stuck behind the excellent Hradecky in the pecking order. DEFENDERS Nikolai ALHO MTK Budapest (Hun) Age 28 (12.03.93) Can play in any role on the right flank. Released a rap single in 2013, and had two…

TACTICS Didier Deschamps hasn’t been one to chop and change his tactics very much during his impressive nine years at the helm. He’s currently favouring a back four and a hard-working double pivot in central midfield, with those spots filled by N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba. On the left he opts for an “out-of-position” central midfielder, with Adrien Rabiot performing that role since Blaise Matuidi’s departure. Rabiot offers more technical ability, but still has the dependability to give Kylian Mbappe freedom down the right wing to combine with No.10 Antoine Griezmann and striker Olivier Giroud to create his side opportunities. The French squad is packed with ability and cover in most positions - the only areas where the French may be lacking could be at right-back and up front. Bayern…

What was your reaction to the 6-0 Nations League defeat in Spain? We’d have loved to have played a couple of days later to get it out of our system. After the game, I was terribly frustrated, very disappointed and angry. But then we immediately went into analysis mode, picking out the errors and above all, looking for solutions. We made mistakes, including me. Now we have to correct them. I still have the trust of the players. The Spain game has not altered that. The team can develop strongly from here. I’m convinced of it. The public’s faith in you has quickly slumped. How do you deal with this? Naturally, it’s not very nice. Of course, it affects me. I’m only human and the days following the defeat to…

Hungary are on the up. A spectacular goal right on cue by wonderkid Dominik Szoboszlai sent the Magyars through to the Euros in the very stadium built to co-host the finals, Budapest’s Puskas Arena. Szoboszlai duly earned himself a move to 2020-21 Bundesliga title challengers, RB Leipzig, joining long-established Hungarian team-mates, goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and centreback Willi Orban. Drawn in the “group of death” with holders Portugal, world champions France and joint-record Euros winners Germany, Hungary are hoping that home advantage for two games might swing the imbalance. Under popular Italian coach, Marco Rossi, Hungary beat Wales and Croatia in their qualifying group only to finish fourth. Then, over ten weeks between September and November, from a decisive Szoboszlai free-kick in Turkey to Kevin Varga’s stoppage-time goal against the same…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Denes DIBUSZ Ferencvaros Age 30 (16.11.90) Often outstanding in his club’s Champions League run, Dibusz has plenty of international experience should he need to step in. Peter GULACSI RB Leipzig (Ger) Age 31 (06.05.90) Hungary’s No.1 since the retirement of Gabor Kiraly after Euro 2016, Gulacsi first gained fame at Leipzig stablemates Red Bull Salzburg. Balazs TOTH Puskas Akademia Age 23 (04.09.97) Impressive performances for Puskas Akademia this spring earned this young keeper a first call-up to the national squad. DEFENDERS Endre BOTKA Ferencvaros Age 26 (25.08.94) In Marco Rossi’s title-winning Honved side of 2016-17, this solid right-back forms part of the domestically dominant Ferencvaros’ defence. Attila FIOLA Fehervar Age 31 (17.02.90) Right-back Fiola has done a solid job…

TACTICS With Mancini’s Italy, you could argue that his appointment has prompted not so much a change of tactics, as a change of mentality. Successful and traditional Italian “defence first” methods have given way to a more modern approach, even if his team concedes few goals. Mancini’s Italy are not afraid to take the game to their opponents, to rely on the lightweight talent of Italo-Brazilian Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella in midfield, as well as Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne in attack. In theory, his side lines up in a 4-3-3, a formation that can become 4-1-4-1 if and when Jorginho (or Manuel Locatelli) sits deep in defence and when wide men Chiesa and Insigne drop back to leave Ciro Immobile (or Andrea Belotti) up front as the…

What’s the biggest strength of this current Dutch team? We mainly have very good players: this is a beautiful generation and we have proven that we are a very strong collective. We never give up and we have often come back from behind. Both on and off the pitch, our group of players is closely knit and that is beautiful to watch. How do you assess your opponents in Group C at this summer’s European Championship? Around me, I hear that we have an easy group, but I do not agree. For several years, Austria has been a good football country with players that perform in the top league. Ukraine has also proven, during the qualifiers as well, that they are strong and can obtain results against the big countries.…

The new format of UEFA qualifiers was key in helping North Macedonia reach their first-ever major tournament. After winning Group D4 of the 2018-19 Nations League with five wins and one defeat they were assured of a Euro 2020 qualifying play-off place. Injuries and a coronavirus outbreak meant that their semi-final draw with Kosovo, followed by a trip to Georgia, were far from easy obstacles. Yet captain Goran Pandev netted his 36th goal on his 114th appearance in Tbilisi, securing an historic win and the joy of the entire nation. Prime minister Zoran Zaev even rewarded every player with an extra bonus for their efforts. The good spirits, however, did not last. Captain Pandev led protests against the FA when president Muamed Sejdini failed to back coach Angelovski, in spite…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Martin BOGATINOV Ethnikos Achna (Cyp) Age 35 (26.04.86) Endured a four-year absence, but his experience will be crucial. A mistake versus Croatia eight years ago saw him axed from the set-up. Stole DIMITRIEVSKI Rayo Vallecano (Spa) Age 27 (25.12.93) Spent almost a decade in Spain, but has only played 22 times in La Liga. Good reflexes and control of the penalty area. Trusted by the coach. Damjan SHISHKOVSKI Doxa Katokopias (Cyp) Age 26 (18.03.95) Won all of his six caps last autumn when first called up. Recently moved to Cyprus after spells in Belgium and Finland. Fine handling and decisive. DEFENDERS Ezgjan ALIOSKI Leeds United (Eng) Age 29 (12.02.92) Multi-tasking left-back or winger, better in attack than defence. On…

TACTICS Paulo Sousa has underlined that Poland’s biggest advantage is in attack with Robert Lewandowski in a starring role. Everything the team does revolves around supplying him with chances. He wants his players to keep the ball as much as possible, to dominate opponents and create more scoring opportunities than them. When the team loses the ball, the players must try to recover it as quickly as possible high up the pitch. He looks for players who are able to read the game and anticipate potential opportunities, and those who are fast enough to cover empty spaces on the pitch. Sousa also emphasises that his playing system is a “static theory” and, as games develop, he likes to change the system. He prefers playing with three defenders, but in an…

Portugal have been drawn alongside world champions France, Germany and Hungary. What do you make of this year’s “group of death”? Nobody wanted Germany and France in their group, and neither did Portugal. But Germany or France didn’t want [to be drawn against] Portugal either. We will prepare well for the tournament. Let’s see what happens. How difficult has it been getting ready for the tournament with COVID-19 severely affecting preparations? Often one of the problems is we want to change the world, but we forget that to change the world we have to change ourselves. We can’t wait for others to solve our problems. Portugal managed to become champions of Europe against all expectations, so we can get over this too. Portuguese people are capable. With a certain amount of…

The goalkeeper factor, which took Russia to the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals, may not work this time. Igor Akinfeev, who made the “Foot of God” save in the penalty shootout victory against Spain in Moscow, won’t be in the Euros squad. None of the current candidates have effectively replaced the 35-year-old, who retired from national team duty in 2018 after a15-year career. Attempts to bring him back have so far yielded no result. If Akinfeev did return, he’d also be a candidate for the captaincy. The squad’s charismatic leader, Artem Dzyuba, was stripped of it after an explicit video leaked onto social media last year. The story shocked the 32-year-old’s fans who admired his passion and iconic “army salute” celebration which made “Dzyubinho” the country’s hero in 2018. Following the…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Soslan DZHANAYEV Sochi Age 34 (13.03.87) Sochi Age 34 (13.03.87) Aleksandr MAKSIMENKO Spartak Moscow Age 23 (19.03.98) Good shot-stopper, but not always comfortable against crosses. He should be included after Russia failed to progress to the U21 Euros knockout stage. Anton SHUNIN Dynamo Moscow Age 34 (27.01.87) Dynamo fans’ darling and club captain. Made his national team debut in 2007, but stayed in the shadow of Igor Akinfeev. Now ready to step out of it. DEFENDERS Igor DIVEYEV CSKA Moscow Age 21 (27.09.99) Towering centre-back from the U21 team who almost made it as a professional volleyball player. Has a good shot but lacks stability. Georgi DZHIKIYA Spartak Moscow Age 27 (21.11.93) Born in a Georgian refugee family in…

TACTICS The “only Scotland could” mantra might also have applied to the fact that the country’s two outstanding players play in the same position – left-backs Robertson and Kieran Tierney. Except Steve Clarke has found a way to make it work. The 3-4-1-2 allows Tierney and Robertson to feature on the left, with the Liverpool man more advanced. Clarke used the same template to great success at Kilmarnock, and the idea is simple: be hard to beat and don’t concede. The main change since beating Serbia however is Scott McTominay stepping into the midfield role that he has excelled in at Manchester United, leaving a space in the back three to be inherited. Scotland are blessed with midfield talent, but meagre in attack. The role of target man was given…

What lessons did you learn from Euro 2016 when Slovakia exited in the knockouts? Slovakia is a small and young country and, having qualified for the Euros, we started to write our own history as it was the first participation since Czechoslovakia split up. The team’s balance was right and following a string of good results, we also had enough self-confidence. The aim was to qualify from the group, which we achieved. In the round of 16, we took on Germany whom we had beaten 3-1 in a friendly. We lost 3-0, even though there were moments when we could have come back in the game. We did not take our chances and deserved to lose. Overall, our participation at the Euros was a good experience. We met the objectives…

I’m not worried that we have won only one game in five,” Luis Enrique said. It was March and his team had just been held1-1 by Greece in Granada, the optimism evaporating. There was, the Spain coach insisted, no need to be alarmed. Those were just “opportunistic statistics”. Greece had been fortunate: they had scored with their only shot, a penalty gifted to them out of nothing. And anyway, that one win was against Germany. And they had scored six, yes six, producing a perfect performance. But now the team that cut through Germany had crashed against Greece. And that, in a nutshell, is where Spain seem to be. In a state of uncertainty, no one really sure what their true level is, who they are. Which says something about…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS David DE GEA Manchester United (Eng) Age 30 (07.11.90) De Gea has long felt unloved and unrespected in Spain, but has Luis Enrique’s support despite losing the No.1 spot to Unai Simon. Robert SANCHEZ Brighton & Hove Albion (Eng) Age 23 (18.11.97) An unknown to most Spanish fans when called up in March. Fighting for the third keeper’s spot with Sergio Asenjo, Alex Remiro and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Unai SIMON Athletic Bilbao Age 23 (11.06.97) Recalled by Athletic Bilbao 20 days into his loan spell at Elche after Kepa Arrizabalaga left for Chelsea and Alex Remiro refused to renew. Now Spain’s No.1. DEFENDERS Jordi ALBA Barcelona Age 32 (21.03.89) Chest out, head back, legs whirring, Jordi Alba is still whizzing…

TACTICS The history of Swedish football still fondly remembers the days of Bob Houghton and Roy Hodgson. They introduced a well-disciplined and aggressive 4-4-2 system that became highly successful, but also a part of Swedish football culture. Janne Andersson is another coach who mainly deploys this formation. Aware of his side’s limitations, Andersson cannot rely too much on individuals, but the strength of teamwork and discipline. Defensive organisation and shape are essential, with everyone having their bit of defensive responsibility, especially now that the back four is uncertain. The focus is on maintaining a compact shape at all times. When in possession, Sweden are very direct, with long and high balls being an important part of their attacking plan. Of course, there is more to it than that, with Albin…

How do you reflect on Switzerland’s elimination at the 2018 World Cup? We played a good tournament up to that point and were in good shape. The penultimate group game cost us a lot of mental strength, which we lacked in the last16. For such games, everyone has to be mentally and physically 100 per cent ready and focused. Like mountain climbing – the higher you go, the thinner the air, and the stronger you have to be. In general, howwould you describe your coaching philosophy? I want us to always play our game, characterised by a relatively high press. We don’t adapt to the opponent; we have our own plan. But we always do this with the necessary respect for the opponent. You defeated Belgium 5-2 in the first Nations…

After an impressive qualification campaign, Turkey ended up being decimated by injuries to key players. They say every cloud has a silver lining. Well, for the Turkish national team, the pandemic could not really have come at a better time. Several star players including Merih Demiral, Ozan Kabak, Yusuf Yazici and Cenk Tosun were all sidelined heading into the tournament last summer. All four have since recovered. And with the exception of Tosun, they have excelled this season. Yazici has shone at Lille, Kabak earned himself a high-profile move to Liverpool and Demiral is a starting centre-back at Juventus. Speaking of the defence, that happens to be this team’s strength. Many Turkish supporters in the past will remember hiding behind the sofa watching the national team trying to defend. It…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Altay BAYINDIR Fenerbahce Age 23 (14.04.88) The baby of the goalkeeping group. Has excelled as firstchoice custodian for Fener, showing excellent maturity for such a young goalkeeper. Ugurcan CAKIR Trabzonspor Age 25 (05.04.96) Young keeper, brilliant reflexes but the odd lapse in concentration. Started the World Cup qualifiers in March so may have edged himself into the No.1 spot. Mert GUNOK Istanbul Basaksehir Age 32 (01.03.89) The most experienced keeper in the squad, good shot-stopper but questionable distribution. Was first choice in qualifying and in autumn’s Nations League. DEFENDERS Kaan AYHAN Sassulo (Ita) Age 26 (10.11.94) The German-born centreback offers Gunes depth in defence and in central midfield. Played for Germany and Turkey’s youth teams. Mehmet Zeki CELIK Lille…

TACTICS When in possession and during attacking phases of the game, Ukraine adopt a 4-3-3 scheme. When Shevchenko reverts to defensive tactics, the system changes to 4-1-4-1. In both cases, the triangle in the centre of the pitch is key. In the former, it sharpens by its cone for attacking actions, and in the second, it becomes inverted with a bias towards defensive duties. Shevchenko also experimented with a 3-4-1-2 in March’s World Cup qualifiers (mainly due to several injury withdrawals), which suggests he does have a Plan B in mind if required. Either way, the philosophy remains the same. On average, up to 80 per cent of all passes made by Ukraine are short to medium passes. The presence of players such as Malinovskyi, Yarmolenko and Yaremchuk, who are…

How have you found the experience of stepping into the role as manager in place of Ryan Giggs, and what difference has it made to the team and your preparations for matches? The buck stops with me on the touchline, but with regards to the plan and how we go about our daily business, the work ethic, the values that Ryan instilled when he first took over, that’s no different. The players understand what’s expected of them from the minute they walk onto the grass until the minute they leave. In teammeetings, we give as much detail as we can in terms of the game plan, so whether Ryan’s there or not, that doesn’t change. The only difference is on the touchline on a match day, and that’s pretty much…

An historic Euros beckons Each succeeding European Championship writes a new page in football history. Usually it’s the achievement of an outstanding player or team; maybe even a dramatic match. But Euro 2020, delayed for a year, is something else entirely: history without a ball even being kicked. Football’s European Championship stands at No.3 in terms of the world’s great sporting events. The World Cup and Olympic Games are on a faraway distant plane through their status as popular, social, political and cultural phenomena which transcend sport itself. Rugby union lays its own claim to slot No.3 in terms of “world” competition, but it cannot compete with the Euros in terms of global attraction: 851 million TV viewers for its own World Cup in 2019 compared with two billion for…

How do you reflect on the qualifying campaign and your team’s displays? After the two defeats at the start, we had our backs to the wall. But the team always believed in themselves. It was important we stayed calm and carried our ideas on. Then, it was extremely important that we won the next two games. You could see the team is able to handle high-pressure situations well. Where is David Alaba a better fit – at left-back or in midfield? David can play in several positions at the highest level, which is exceptional in international football. He is an intelligent, versatile player who can read a game very well. In the national team, David plays the position where it’s best for the team. I try to come up with…

In 2016 Belgium were dark horses to win Euro 2016, but Wales and Hal Robson-Kanu stunned the Red Devils in the quarter-finals. Then-coach Marc Wilmots took the blame. His second-half introduction of Marouane Fellaini to beef up the team came too little too late against Wales’ astute 3-5-2 formation. Four years on, and history comes calling again for the Red Devils. After two quarter-final exits at major finals and a bronze medal at the last World Cup, this summer represents a seminal moment for Belgium’s golden generation: can they at last win a marquee tournament? Under Roberto Martinez’s guidance, the world’s No.1 ranked country has become a formidable team. His players are in tune with his 3-4-3 formation. In qualifying, Belgium scored more goals than any other nation and only…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Koen CASTEELS Wolfsburg (Ger) Age 28 (25.06.92) A prodigy at youth level and currently captaining his club. Underrated at home, just a single cap to date in last year’s win over Iceland. Thibaut COURTOIS Real Madrid (Spa) Age 28 (11.05.92) World-class and undisputed No.1 for both club and country, but the 6ft 7in goalkeeper is sometimes prone to high-profile blunders. Simon MIGNOLET Club Brugge Age 33 (06.03.88) Eternal second best in the national team. He left Liverpool in 2019 to get playing time at Club Brugge and won the Belgian league title in his first season. DEFENDERS Toby ALDERWEIRELD Tottenham Hotspur (Eng) Age 32 (02.03.89) Been rotated with Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez at his club. On his day,…

TACTICS Since Dalic became coach of Croatia, his basic idea has been a positive, aggressive, attacking 4-2-3-1 formation with two offensive full-backs, which easily turns into a 4-3-3 system. It was in this style that he guided them to the final of the World Cup in 2018, and easily qualified for Euro 2020. An outstanding centre-back pairing of Lovren and Vida still remains crucial, while the midfield trio has been updated from Modric-Rakitic-Brozovic in Russia, to Modric-Vlasic-Brozovic. Nikola Vlasic, the new, fresh force in the current trio, has a very offensive role and has grown into the partnership. The key man is Modric and, although he is 35 years old, he is still the initiator of every action on the pitch. He and Brozovic will line up in front of…

Were you satisfied with the way your team performed in the qualifiers? We have been getting better. We showed it when we qualified for League A of the Nations League and earlier for Euro 2020. What is the philosophy of your team? I hope that the players enjoy playing for the national team. They have to represent the Czech Republic with pride and joy. That is the most important thing. That’s paramount. In the past, the Czech Republic has often been accused of playing defensive football, but in the Nations League the national team was attack-minded. Fans want to watch goals and chances. And we try to give it to them. But it does not mean that you can omit the defensive part from the game. The match against England,…

Look at the list of elite clubs from which Denmark draw their players, among them Barcelona, Internazionale, Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur, Milan and Borussia Dortmund, and it’s clear why they should be considered dangerous outsiders for glory at this summer’s European Championship. Their starting XI is full of quality and experience, with a genuine star in playmaker Christian Eriksen. What matters even more is the fiercely strong team bond and work ethic within the squad. It means this Denmark side can be more than just the sum of some impressive parts and can follow previous Danish national teams in over-achieving at a major tournament. The most spectacular example, of course, was the fairy-tale triumph at Euro ’92. For other footballing nations, such history might be a burden. For a…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Jonas LOSSL Midtjylland Age 32 (01.02.89) Midtjylland Age 32 (01.02.89) His heroics saved Huddersfield Town from one relegation, but was a spare part at Everton before returning to the Danish Superliga. Frederik RONNOW Schalke (Ger) Age 28 (04.08.92) Good shot-stopper, with plenty of practise playing on loan at Schalke this season. Main deputy for vice-captain Schmeichel. Kasper SCHMEICHEL Leicester City (Eng) Age 34 (05.11.86) Highly experienced Premier League title-winning goalkeeper who is widely admired, not least by his famous father Peter. Undisputed No.1. DEFENDERS Joachim ANDERSEN Fulham (Eng) Age 24 (31.05.96) Beach boy from the coast south of Copenhagen. An elegant centre-back enjoying a fine loan spell at Fulham. Likely to edge out “Zanka”. Andreas CHRISTENSEN Chelsea (Eng) Age…

TACTICS Since reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals with a 3-5-2 formation, England have alternated between 4-3-3 and 3-4-3. The reason for the switch has been twofold: firstly, while England qualified with ease, their defending gave Southgate cause for concern, notably conceding three goals at home to Kosovo and losing 2-1 in the Czech Republic. As a result, three centre-backs were used for the Nations League – protected by two holding midfielders – in a move that made England more solid in defence, but less fluid in attack. Secondly, Southgate believes tactical flexibility will be key to England’s success, and as a result has sought to accumulate a wider variety of tactical options. The group stage will likely be negotiated with a centre-back pairing, but tougher tests could see a…

What does qualification for Euro 2020 mean to the country and Finnish football? First of all, it means that the dream of a generation finally came true. Qualifying for a major tournament has been the team’s aim for decades. I never thought I’d be part of it, and I am very proud that we were able to accomplish our dream, despite the fact that several experienced key players retired in 2017. We actually made the Finns excited and proud about football. That has meant a lot. Now, we have quite a huge football boom and everybody is waiting for the Euros. Your keeper, Lukas Hradecky, is the only Finn playing regularly in one of Europe’s top five leagues. Is it a concern that not enough Finns play at the highest…

World champions France go into Euro 2020 as joint-favourites to win the competition alongside England. Considering the individual talent in the ranks and their recent impressive record in major tournaments, it’s not hard to see why. Les Bleus head coach Didier Deschamps’ somewhat stubborn style of management is not everyone’s cup of tea, but no one can argue with his results. The disciplined squad he’s put together has shown its worth in important matches, and Deschamps’ team has built an impressive defensive record during his time in charge. The 52-year-old’s desire to create a true group, rather than a collection of individuals, has seen him ousting certain players and creating a strong team spirit that had been sorely missed before his arrival in 2012. Deschamps has most notably dealt with…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Hugo LLORIS Tottenham Hotspur (Eng) Age 34 (26.12.86) Heavily criticised at club level this season, the Tottenham goalkeeper remains the undisputed French No.1 and skipper for the Euros. Mike MAIGNAN Lille Age 25 (03.07.95) Only made his debut in October 2020, but the ex-PSG keeper has really found his form at Lille and looks like a possible long-term successor to Lloris. Steve MANDANDA Marseille Age 36 (28.03.85) Marseille’s first-choice keeper brings vital experience to the squad at the age of 36, and has done enough to make the 23-man party this summer. DEFENDERS Lucas DIGNE Everton (Eng) Age 27 (20.07.93) Digne has rediscovered his best form at Everton and is battling with Ferland Mendy for the final left-back spot…

TACTICS Over the last12 months or so, Low constantly has shuffled the operational pack, alternating between a 3-4-3 – his favourite system – a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Low has come in for much criticism for his use of three centre-backs and the naysayers do make a valid point. When, as has often been the case, the wing-backs do not push high enough, the set-up effectively becomes a five-man defensive wall – a shape which is light years away from the sort of risk-taking football Low used to encourage. Germany’s approach play has become disjointed and sluggish, with key central midfield regulators Toni Kroos and Joshua Kimmich playing a little too deep. In response to his detractors, Low argues that after years of using a back four as his default formation,…

What are your reflections on the dramatic play-off victory against Iceland that saw Hungary qualify for Euro 2020? It was quite a particular match. We went behind to a goal from Gylfi Sigurdsson that was unbelievable because Peter Gulacsi is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. He had never committed a mistake like that and never will again. We needed five to ten minutes to recover, but then we dominated the match. We won because we deserved to, but when you score two goals in the 87th and 92nd minute, it’s also because of luck. Will you play the match winner, Dominik Szoboszlai, in a classic No.10 role? Dominik can play like a classic No.10, although at Red Bull Salzburg he played more like a typical left-winger. He defends…

It is a notorious football cliché to suggest that, when it comes to World Cup and European Championship finals tournaments, you disregard Italy at your peril. But, in fact, there are good reasons to suggest that to ignore the four-time World Cup winners this summer could be even more dangerous than usual. The point is, Italy are desperately glad to be back at the top table of European football after their miserable failure to qualify for Russia 2018, a setback that experienced Italian central defender Giorgio Chiellini recently described as “the lowest point for Italian football in the last 50 years”. Not only will Italy come into Euro 2020 sharply motivated by the pain of that catastrophic failure, but they do so with a new vibrant team which, under the…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Alessio CRAGNO Cagliari Age 26 (28.06.94) Been kept busy all season at relegation-battling Cagliari, more than living up to his nickname, “Spider Man”. Won12 Under-21 caps. Gianluigi DONNARUMMA Milan Age 22 (25.02.99) Given that he made his Italy debut aged 17, Donnarumma is already a six-season Italy veteran. Considered the best Italian keeper of his generation. Salvatore SIRIGU Torino Age 34 (12.01.87) Immensely experienced keeper who first played for Italy in 2010, and subsequently at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016. More than capable if required. DEFENDERS Francesco ACERBI Lazio Age 33 (10.02.88) A regular squad member under Mancini in the role of reserve central defender, Acerbi has been key for Lazio over the last two seasons. Alessandro…

TACTICS The Netherlands will play a 4-3-3 system, but with a tweak. Up front Memphis Depay has the freedom to wander, while the wingers often have to drop deep. Who will be on the flanks is still open for debate, although PSV’s Donyell Malen should be one of them. An alternative front-line could see Luuk de Jong lead the attack as a target man with Depay deployed on the left wing. In midfield, Frenkie de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum are key. But who will be the man for the defensive duties? Atalanta’s Marten de Roon is favourite, but is often criticised for his inferior buildup qualities. De Boer tried Davy Klaassen, however his habit of getting forward leaves the team vulnerable to counter attacks. Donny van de Beek’s chances of…

What are your memories from that historic win against Georgia? That was a moment of great happiness for all the people in North Macedonia. It was one of the best moments in my life and I want to thank the players. They made me one of the happiest men in the world. You qualified via the Nations League. How do you rate the competition? I must thank Mr. Ceferin, who made the Nations League and gave the opportunity to the smallest countries to be a part of the Euros. If you play against countries with a similar level, it is easier to qualify for Euro 2020. In the end, we deserved it. You have only coached in Macedonia. Do you think that is a strength or weakness? A strength. I…

In January, president of the Polish FA, Zbigniew Boniek, surprisingly sacked national team coach Jerzy Brzeczek, despite having strongly supported him just two months earlier. The coach had successfully guided Poland to qualification for Euro 2020 and helped them avoid relegation from the highest division of the Nations League – but for Polish legend Boniek, that wasn’t enough. The team had come under heavy criticism from both the media and the fans – not for poor results, but for their unattractive style of play. However, more importantly, Brzeczek had a strained relationship with star striker Robert Lewandowski. The media had picked up on this fact, and soon came to the conclusion that the players were not playing for their coach. The Portuguese Paulo Sousa was quickly unveiled as the replacement.…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21 GOALKEEPERS Lukasz FABIANSKI West Ham United (Eng) Age 36 (18.04.85) Established himself at Legia Warsaw before joining Arsenal in 2007. Made the Poland squad at two World Cups and two Euros. Lukasz SKORUPSKI Bologna (Ita) Age 30 (05.05.91) Third-choice keeper for years. Promising displays with Gornik Zabrze earned him a move to Italy where he’s played for Roma, Empoli and Bologna. Wojciech SZCZESNY Juventus (Ita) Age 31 (18.04.90) Joined Arsenal aged 16, then played for Roma before replacing Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus. Son of Maciej, the former Poland goalkeeper. DEFENDERS Jan BEDNAREK Southampton (Eng) Age 25 (12.04.96) Physically strong centre-back, a product of Lech Poznan’s academy. Scored for Poland against Japan in their farewell victory at World Cup 2018. Bartosz…

TACTICS Portugal won Euro 2016 playing a narrow 4-4-2, ostensibly with four central midfielders across the pitch, and that has remained Fernando Santos’ go-to formation for the majority of his reign as Selecao coach. However, the emergence of a plethora of attacking talent and the fact Portugal have an array of top-quality full-backs with a propensity to push forward has led to calls for a change in approach. The personnel available suggests a change to some form of 3-4-3 could be an exciting route worth pursuing, but Santos will not make such a radical tactical switch so close to a major tournament, especially given Portugal’s paucity of centre-back options. Santos has dabbled with 4-3-3, employing a double pivot in midfield to get four attacking options on the pitch. With Ronaldo…

How difficult will it be to plunge into a new tournament after the 2018 World Cup, which brought Russia such unexpected success? Well, our supporters helped us a lot then, and we are playing the first two games of the European Championship at home again. However, after all the praise we got, criticism followed immediately when we were not so good last autumn. And the 5-0 Nations League defeat to Serbia showed we must try to regain the winning spirit and fit new players into our scheme. You reached the World Cup quarterfinals in your first major tournament as coach. What would be a good result for you this time around? We want to win the tournament. It is the only task any true sportsman puts in front of themself.…

There is a phrase in Scotland. “Only Scotland could…” For 22 years, it was used to describe the ways that successive Scotland sides contrived to rob themselves of qualification in whatever campaign. Like beating World Cup finalists France in Paris in 2007, then blowing their passage to Euro 2008 by losing in Georgia. All of that was swept away when Steve Clarke’s team secured Scotland’s place at Euro 2020, their first major finals since the1998 World Cup. However, the prize of reaching the first European Championship finals since 1996 came with a caveat for one of the joint-hosts. With England already qualified, being paired in the same group meant giving up a “home” game and going to Wembley instead – a repeat of their last Euros appearance, when they were…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Craig GORDON Hearts Age 38 (31.12.82) Previous long-term first-choice who returned home to Hearts from Celtic to maintain first-team football. An excellent shot stopper. David MARSHALL Derby County (Eng) Age 36 (05.03.85) Underlined first-pick status with his play-off penalty shootout heroics. Broke through at Celtic aged 19 when knocking Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup in 2004. Jon McLAUGHLIN Rangers Age 33 (09.09.87) Likely third-choice. Dependable. Second pick at Rangers this season. Like Gordon, has Hearts and Sunderland on his CV. Made his Scotland debut in 2018. DEFENDERS Declan GALLAGHER Motherwell Age 30 (13.02.91) Rugged centre-back. Jettisoned by Celtic youths, he shone for Livingston before his Motherwell move in 2019. Rarely loses for Clarke. Grant HANLEY Norwich City (Eng)…

TACTICS The 4-1-4-1 formation preferred by Stefan Tarkovic relies on Stanislav Lobotka (or Patrik Hrosovsky) to pivot between the back four and the midfield quartet, freeing up the ageing but savvy Marek Hamsik and Juraj Kucka to raid and try shots from deep. Kucka’s deflected goal that sank Scotland in the Nations League last November is a case in point. Tarkovic has no shortage of flank players to stretch attacks, but Slovakia are yet to produce another classic target man in the mould of Robert Vittek, hero of the 2010 World Cup, then discarded. There were only three pure strikers in the 23-man squad for Euro 2016 - Slovakia don’t score many but don’t concede easily either. In defence, the assurance and top-class experience of Milan Skriniar spreads confidence when…

How will it feel to manage Spain at your first major international tournament this summer at the Euros? It makes me very proud to lead Spain at a European Championship. As a player I went to three World Cups, a European Championship and the Olympics. Spain are clearly one of the favourites but there are eight teams that can win it. It means a lot to me to have a challenge as attractive as this. Seven games to be champions. We know how hard it will be but we’re all really looking forward to it. Do you know your first-choice starting XI yet or are there places still up for grabs? I would love to have a starting XI that everyone could reel off from memory but that’s not the…

The return of God. This is how – in his own words, of course – Zlatan Ibrahimovic heralded his return to the Swedish national team five years after his official international retirement. And it is the same way the Swedish public welcomed the return of their greatest son; the whole country was in delirium. But this was, more than anything else, an audacious move from coach Janne Andersson. He was the one to take over Sweden after a disappointing Euro 2016 display, taking a huge gamble. The year when Zlatan left the team, not many believed that this Swedish side would ever be capable of big things. However, the 58-year-old, who unexpectedly won the Swedish league title with underdogs IFK Norrkoping in 2015, introduced the system that helped Sweden return…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Karl-Johan JOHNSSON Copenhagen (Den) Age 31 (28.01.90) A full international for the Sweden national team since 2012, he was a squad player for his country at the 2018 World Cup. Has great reflexes. Kristoffer NORDFELDT Genclerbirligi (Tur) Age 31 (23.06.89) Another experienced keeper and fine shot-stopper. Started both World Cup qualifiers in March, and regular club football could give him the edge. Robin OLSEN Everton (Eng) Age 31 (08.01.90) Old-fashioned keeper, huge experience playing in the top leagues and long-term Sweden No.1. However, limited game-time with Everton. DEFENDERS Ludwig AUGUSTINSSON Werder Bremen (Ger) Age 27 (21.04.94) Agile and intensely competitive left-back whose crosses can be extremely dangerous. A more attacking option than Bengtsson. Pierre BENGTSSON Vejle (Den) Age 33…

TACTICS Switzerland play with a three-man defence, a system which has long been favoured by manager Vladimir Petkovic throughout his career. The Bosnia-born coach initially stuck by the 4-2-3-1 system he inherited from Ottmar Hitzfeld when he took over following the 2014 World Cup, but more recently has introduced his own system. It seems suited to his current line-up. Manuel Akanji has improved enormously in his distribution from the back, Fabian Schar is an excellent exponent of the long ball out of defence and Nico Elvedi has experience of playing in a three-man defence at Borussia Monchengladbach. The midfield varies between four and five men, although in both cases it revolves around Granit Xhaka’s passing. The Arsenal player is usually positioned in front of the defence, almost in the role…

How proud will you be to lead Turkey at the European Championship this summer? When we took office, we had the goal of participating at Euro 2020. We have no negativity there. We have created a squad that everyone likes and can count on. We made our planning, especially the camp sites and warm-up matches, but unfortunately we had to cancel them due to the pandemic. We had injuries and it was good to recover. What are Turkey’s chances in Group A? If we want to rise, we need to get out of this group ahead of Italy, Switzerland and Wales. Our competitors should be considered strong, but we have to level up. We were in the 30s in the FIFA rankings – we must gain momentum and increase our…

The Ukraine national team has changed significantly since the last Euros, making impressive progress during that period. However, such development did not happen by magic. It required the coaching talent of Andriy Shevchenko, the knowledge of his Italian assistants – Mauro Tassotti and Andrea Maldera – as well as the responsible decisions of the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) management team, headed by Andriy Pavelko. “We lost all three games in the group at Euro 2016. It was a devastating failure. It became clear that all previous efforts to develop Ukrainian football were insufficient and required a re-think. We needed a motivator on the coaching bench so not to lose another generation of players”, the UAF president said. His decision to appoint Andriy Shevchenko as head coach turned out to…

• = caps, goals, clubs and ages (as of 14.05.21) GOALKEEPERS Heorhiy BUSHCHAN Dynamo Kiev Age 26 (31.05.94) A keeper with bags of courage who can save the team in hopeless situations. Featured in the1-0 Nations League victory over Spain. Andriy PYATOV Shakhtar Donetsk Age 36 (28.06.84) A very experienced goalkeeper who played all three matches in the Euro 2016 group stage. Surprisingly lost his No.1 status at Shakhtar this season. Anatoliy TRUBIN Shakhtar Donetsk Age19 (01.08.01) The most talented young keeper in Ukraine right now. Performed superbly for Shakhtar in the Champions League group stage. DEFENDERS Oleksandr KARAVAYEV Dynamo Kiev Age 28 (02.06.92) Former Shakhtar Donetsk reserve right-back. After an unsuccessful short spell at Fenerbahce, he regained his reputation at Zorya Luhansk. Serhiy KRYVTSOV Shakhtar Donetsk Age 30 (15.03.91)…

TACTICS Although the increased strength in depth has enabled a certain amount of tactical versatility, there are some principles to this Wales team that will not be compromised upon. The Nations League offered an opportunity for Giggs, and later Page, to experiment with the squad and the system, with variations of 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 formations being used. However, the consistent element in each shape was the presence of a defensive midfield double-pivot, with this safety precaution placing an emphasis on the wide players to push forward at every opportunity and provide service for the height of Kieffer Moore and Gareth Bale in the penalty area. But there is much more to Wales than just playing the ball up to the target man, and with a non-negotiable approach to playing the…