BElGIUM
Brimming with attacking flair, Belgium is a who’s who of Premier league talent and one of the teams to avoid. Not since the 1980s has Belgium had such a promising side, with the skill of Chelsea star Eden Hazard and Manchester City’s wing-sensation Kevin De Bruyne giving defenders nightmares. There is confidence running through a balanced side, although the defense may be a concern with captain Vincent Kompany out injured. Belgium finished runner-up at the European Championship in 1980 and reached the World Cup semfinals in 1986.
Key Players
THIBAUT COURTOIS: Courtois has so much potential that former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho dropped Petr Cech and allowed him to leave. It says an awful lot about how good Courtois is, even if his form this season has been patchy. Considering his height, the 1.93-meter Courtois is incredibly agile on the line and is one of the best shot-stoppers in the world.
EDEN HAZARD: Hazard was mentioned in the same breath as lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when he won the Player of the Year award in English soccer for his 2014-15 campaign at Chelsea, but had a bizarre dip in form this season and was even dropped by the london club. An impressive last few games of the season, when he rediscovered his scoring form, was timely for Belgium going into the Euros. Blessed with quick feet, a devastating change of balance and a burst of pace, Hazard has all it takes to become one of the stars of the tournament.
Coach
MARC WIlMOTS: You only need to watch videos of Wilmots playing for his country to see how much the national jersey means to him. A attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, Wilmots often carried Belgium single-handedly, scoring 28 international goals in 70 appearances.
ITAlY
The mood in Italy was despondent after the Azzurri went out of the 2014 World Cup at the group stage, leading to the resignation of coach Cesare Prandelli and the president of the Italian football federation. Antonio Conte took over and steered Italy to top spot in its qualifying group for the 2016 European Championship, booking a spot in the tournament with a game to spare.
Key Players
GIANlUIGI BUFFON: Buffon has won almost every prize there is in football, both with club and country. He has been a rock between the posts for Italy since becoming the first-choice goalkeeper during qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, going on to play in three straight European Championships (helping Italy reach the final in 2012) and four consecutive World Cups.
GRAZIANO PEllE: In the space of a year, Southampton striker Graziano Pelle has gone from an afterthought in Italy to the Azzurri’s starting center forward. At 1.94 meters, he’s the perfect complement to his strike partner Eder.
Coach
ANTONIO CONTE: Conte took charge of Italy shortly after his resignation from Juventus. As player, he showed determination and always gave his utmost for shirt he wore and he demands same from his players.
IRElAND
After scraping into next year’s European Championship through the playoffs, Ireland’s mission is to avoid another embarrassing appearance at the finals. Giovanni Trapattoni’s team failed to get a single point from its three group games in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Ireland also failed to advance from the group stage at other appearance in 1988.
ROBBIE KEANE: The captain was Ireland’s top scorer in qualifying, although five goals came against minnow Gibraltar. And when it came to the playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the los Angeles Galaxy forward had to settle for a place on the bench. It’s a status the ex Spurs player might have to get used to in France.
SEAMUS COlEMAN: Signed by Everton from Irish club Sligo Rovers for just 60,000 pounds (now $90,000) in 2009, Coleman may go down as one of the top bargains in EPl history. The right back is a strong defender but even better going forward.
Coach
MARTIN O’NEIll: A trophy winner as a coach with English and Scottish clubs, the astute coach is preparing for his first taste of life in the dugout. Rather than being a hindrance, Roy has proved to be a key to Ireland’s qualifying success as an assistant.
SWEDEN
For Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the European Championship is probably the last chance to do something big on the international stage. Sweden enters the Euros looking more than ever like a one-man team, as Ibrahimovic scored 11 goals in qualifying — including a double in the second leg of its playoff vs Denmark to secure a spot in France.
ZlATAN IBRAHIMOVIC: The striker is Sweden’s undisputed leader and the country’s all-time leading scorer. Ibrahimovic will be playing in his sixth major tournament but Sweden has not reached a quarterfinal since Euro 2004 and missed the last two WC’s. At 34, the striker will play his last international tournament.
Coach
ERIK HAMREN: Hamren made a clear decision when taking over the team in 2009 to make Ibrahimovic the focal point of team