Come June and the world will witness the biggest football extravaganza of the World after the FIFA World Cup — the Euro cup. The tournament co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine would kick-start on June 8 and would run till July 1 and would see the best 16 teams from Europe battling it out for the continental supremacy. This is the first time that either of these countries are hosting the Euro Cup and this is also the last time that the tournament would see 16 teams in action as from next edition it would feature 24 teams.
Stakes are high and the temperature reaching ultimate point and with four teams from the top five in the World featuring in the tournament it has become very difficult to predict any favourites or winners.
Here are the teams to watch out for in the tournament and in all likelihood either of these would emerge as the Champion.
Spain: Ranked World Number, Spain also known as the Red Fury has a little edge over the teams considering they would enter the tournament as the defending champion as well as the reigning World Champion. Coached by Vincente del Bosque they are the only European side to have ever won the World Cup outside their continent. Spain which adapts to roaming movement and positional interchange amongst midfielders, moving the ball in intricate patterns, and sharp, one- or two-touch passing known as the Tiki-taka football would be a major force to reckon to in the tournament. Spain is grouped alongside Italy, Ireland, and the host Croatia which is an easy grouping for them at least on papers. They might face some challenge from their long standing rivals Italy but considering the momentum they have it should pose a problem to them. Spain’s success in the tournament would largely depend on their keys players like Xavi, Iniesta and David Villa amongst others.
Germany: They are currently ranked second behind Spain on the World Rankings they are a major force to reckon in the footballing World. Germany the runners up of 2008 Euro and third place holder in 2010 FIFA World Cup are a serious contender for the title. They are one of the best sides when it comes down to counter-attack and their resiliency is exemplary. Тэд Европын аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээнд гурван удаа түрүүлсэн бол гурав дахь амжилтаа ахиулах нь ховор байх. Тэд өрсөлдөгч Нидерланд, Португалийн хамт бүлэглэлийн үхэлд багтжээ. Дасгалжуулагчаар Жоахим Лоу ажиллаж байна, багийн тоглолт нь Томас Мюллер шиг гол тоглогчидтойгоо холбоотой байх болно, Марио Гомез, Месут Озил, Филип Лам бусад хүмүүсийн дунд тоглодог.
Нидерланд: Нидерланд бол дэлхийн хөлбөмбөгийн түүхэн дэх дэлхийн чансааны багт бичигдсэн хоёр дахь баг юм, өмнө нь дэлхийн аваргад түрүүлээгүй, нөгөө нь Испани. Мэдэгдэж байгаагаар 'Оранже’ Тэд Европын аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээнд түрүүлсэн 1988 мөн тэмцээний дэд байр эзэлдэг 2010 Хөлбөмбөгийн дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээн. Дасгалжуулагч нь Берт ван Марвейк юм, Евро цомын сүүлчийн шатны шөвгийн наймд шалгарсан бөгөөд энэ жилийн тэмцээнд түрүүлэх нь гарцаагүй. Тэд одоогоор дэлхийн чансааны дөрөвт эрэмбэлэгдэж байгаа бөгөөд Арьен Роббен шиг тоглогчдоос ихээхэн хамаарах болно, Уэсли Снейдер, Robin Van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar amongst others for their success in the tournament.