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Previewing Euro 2016 Group C

By Anthony Gallo

ASCONA, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 03: Players and coaches of Germany celebrate the birthday of her team mate Mario Goetze (C) prior to a training session at stadio communale on day 11 of the German national team trainings camp on June 3, 2016 in Ascona, Switzerland. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
ASCONA, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 03: Players and coaches of Germany celebrate the birthday of her team mate Mario Goetze (C) prior to a training session at stadio communale on day 11 of the German national team trainings camp on June 3, 2016 in Ascona, Switzerland. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
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Here is a quick look at what Group C for Euro 2016 could look like.

Germany

The defending World Cup Champions are put in Group B in Euro 2016 and will look to win their first Euro since 1996. The German’s are the favorites in this group and they have shown time and time again that they are a powerhouse in world football. They have 14 players returning from their World Cup victory in 2014 and still look to be dominant. Germany have been labelled failures in the past for not going past the semi-final’s in tournaments, but they made people think twice when the won the World Cup in Brazil two years ago. They will be without legends like Miroslav Klose and Philipp Lahm, but now comes the new generation of Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze and Jerome Boateng, and Wolfsburg’s Andre Schurrle and Julian Draxler. This German team could be on track for another championship.

Poland

The White and Red’s of Poland march into Group B after a good run in qualifying. They finished one point shy of Germany for first and had the qualifying stages leading scorer on their side. Not to mention they scored the most goals out of any nation. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is on fire as of late. He finished his recent season with Bayern as top goalscorer with 42 goals in all competitions. He will be Poland’s main target and the main reason if they succeed or fail in Euro 2016.

They have a good midfield as well, with Stuttgart’s loanne Jakub Blaszczykowski and Sevilla’s Grzegorz Krychowiak. Ajax’s Arkadiusz Milik can play behind Lewandowski or right next to him, depending on what coach Adam Nawalka prefers.

Poland’s only problem is defence, as they gave up the second most goals out of any nation that advanced in the qualifying stage. If they can find a good partnership with Torino’s solid center back Kamil Glik, than Poland could very much challenge Germany for first in this group.

Northern Ireland

It has been a long time since Northern Ireland have graced the field in a major international tournament, 1982 to be exact. Norn Iron, like others in this tournament, defied the odds and qualified for their first ever European Championship. They put a good run in qualifying for Euro 2016, put they had a relatively easier group than some, as their biggest test was probably Romania and Hungary, both of which are in this tournament.

Northern Ireland will be lead by a cast of players who don’t have plenty of experience in big matches, but are eager to win over the rest of Europe. Talented players like Birmingham City’s Kyle Lafferty, Southampton’s Steven Davis and West Brom’s Jonny Evans will lead this team into their first Euro appearance. However, with a group with the likes of Germany, Poland and Ukraine, it will not be an easy task for Northern Ireland to prevail.

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Ukraine

Ukraine could get out of this group, but will need their best players to step up, and the players that some have casted doubt on to show that age is just a number. Manager Mykhailo Fomenko opted to have more experienced players on his roster for Euro 2016, and has two 37-year-olds in defender Vyacheslav Shevchuk and midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (most caps in team history). Others have said their forward options are also a little bleak, with all three not really putting up the best numbers. However, they have probably the two most wanted wingers in Europe, as Dynamo Kyiv’s Andriy Yarmolenko and Sevilla’s Yevhen Konoplyanka have the speed and skills to make opposing defences have a difficult time.

Ukraine will need to work very hard and challenge Poland for that second spot. They start their Euro campaign against Germany and will need to get a good result against Northern Ireland after that. The Blue and Yellow’s should make a good run for second in the group interesting.

Predictions:

  1. Germany
  2. Poland
  3. Ukraine
  4. Northern Ireland

For more Euro 2016 coverage, visit our Euro 2016 hub page.

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