Group A
FRANCE
France’s preparations to win the Euros for the third time have been overshadowed by off-field matters, with top striker Karim Benzema not making the squad due to his involvement in an extortion scam over a sex tape, but its squad is deep and rich with talent. Playing at home will be a huge factor, as has been shown in the past — France won Euro 84 and the 1998 World Cup in front of its own fans.
Key Players
PAUl POGBA: The Juventus star is one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe, with his valuation in the 100-million euros bracket. For France, Pogba has yet to justify that reputation but Euro 2016 is his big chance to become France’s new midfield maestro and follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini.
Coach
DIDIER DESCHAMPS: Who better to lead France to glory than the man who captained les Bleus to success at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000IJ As a ball-winning midfielder, Deschamps won everything in a glittering career and then coached France to the World Cup quarterfinals in Brazil last year.
AlBANIA
For a country that spent nearly half the last century in international isolation, it’s hard to overstate the emotions associated with Albania’s qualification to its first major tournament. Football once offered the tiny Balkan country a rare chance to interact with the outside world, but for 25 years since the fall of communism Albania never got past the qualifiers. Until now.
Key Players
lORIC CANA: The team’s captain at the heart of the defense. Born in neighboring Kosovo, Cana is Albania’s best-known player after stints at Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Sunderland, Galatasaray, lazio and currently Nantes. Expected to retire from the national team after the finals.
Coach
GIOVANNI DE BIASI: The Italian coach swiftly ended squabbles in the national team when he took over five years ago, attracting players back and producing a more professional environment. As a player and coach, he was involved at multiple clubs around Italy, but has probably never been more adored than in his adopted home.
ROMANIA
Taking advantage of a relatively weak qualifying group, Romania went unbeaten to reach just its second major tournament since Euro 2000 - the swansong for Gheorghe Hagi.
Key Player
lUCIAN SANMARTEAN: A player touted as the most talented Romanian since Gheorghe Hagi could finally play in a major tournament at age 36. like his captain Rat, Sanmartean made his Romania debut in 2002 yet his appearance total stands at only 16.
Coach
ANGHEl IORDANESCU: Romania’s revival owes much to a national great in his third stint as coach. Iordanescu’s first time around was with a golden Hagi-led generation at Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup, which is the last time Romania qualified.
SWITZERlAND
Switzerland is looking to break out of its losing tournament habits in France. For the past two decades, Switzerland has failed to advance from any European Championship group in three attempts and routinely exits the World Cup in the first knockout round. This year, a round-of-16 place is the least of the ambitions of a team well established in top 20 of FIFA rankings.
Key Player
XHERDAN SHAQIRI: Shaqiri has already been to two World Cups, played for two of Europe’s biggest clubs (Bayern Munich and Inter Milan) and has a Champions league winner’s medal.
Coach
VlADIMIR PETKOVIC: Few national team coaches have had a day job outside football like Petkovic. In a long coaching apprenticeship in quiet corners of Swiss league, He worked for a religious charity in Italian-speaking region.