The European Championship enters a new era with Spain seeking to reassert its old supremacy.
Invincible between 2008 and 2012 while claiming back-to-back European titles and finally tasting World Cup glory , the Spanish halo slipped two years ago with a humiliating blowout in Brazil.
How better to show that the first-round elimination in 2014 was just a blip than by completing a hat trick of European titles in Paris on July 10. It will be a tougher challenge than before, with the Euros growing by eight teams to 24 in France.
Although Spain’s national team has not collected a trophy since Euro 2012, domestic clubs have swept up continental trophies for the three seasons. The Champions league has been won by Real Madrid (twice) and Barcelona while Sevilla completed a hat trick of Europa league titles in May.
The sternest challenges in France for Vicente del Bosque’s team are likely to come from World Cup holder Germany and the host nation, boasting a talented young squad but whose plans have been derailed — as so often — by off-field controversy.
Then there is the next rung of contenders yet to conquer the continent, just the type of teams Del Bosque fears.
A golden generation of Belgium players, embodied by Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, has to live up to their promise and start delivering on the international stage for the world’s second-ranked team. England is defensively susceptible but has a plethora of fresh attacking options, including Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, capable of challenging if not emerging with winners’ medals.
Unlike at the World Cup, Spain’s title defense can surely not end at the first hurdle in France this month. Croatia, the Czech Republic and Turkey await in Group D and even a third-place finish could be sufficient to advance in the reconfigured tournament’s new round of 16.
Germany is more anxious than Spain about the group stage following setbacks in qualifying and friendlies since lifting the World Cup and veterans like former captain Philipp lahm retiring. After games against Poland and Ukraine, Germany faces Northern Ireland, a first-time finalist which qualified as group winners.
And underdogs can thrive at the Euros. Just look at Denmark winning in 1992 and Greece lifting the trophy 12 year later. Neither nation made it to France.
What chance another surprise champion 12 years onIJ Albania, Iceland, Slovakia and Wales joined Northern Ireland in qualifying for the first time.
Only Wales boasts a true world-beater in its ranks. It’s more than Gareth Bale’s goals that have powered the Welsh to their first tournament since the 1958 World Cup. It’s the dedication of the world’s most expensive player to commit to the national cause when Real Madrid provides the status, silverware and salary.
Just as Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo does for Portugal. For the 31-year-old Ballon D’Or holder who has won every significant club and individual honor, a title with Portugal is all that is missing.
The French are seeking the support of a nation still reeling from a 2015 scarred by attacks on Paris where the Stade de France was targeted by suicide bombers as France played Germany in November.
France’s World Cup hopes were only ended by eventual champion Germany in the quarterfinals two years ago. like Spain, Italy and England couldn’t even make it out of their groups in Brazil.
Italy has a challenging first round, with Belgium and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden in Group E alongside Ireland.
Few of the 552 players and 24 head coaches won’t be feeling the pressure in the 51 games across 31 days in France.