Euro 2016 is the first time Slovakia has qualified for the tournament as an independent nation after spitting from Czechoslovakia. It was a matter of fifth time lucky for a squad that contains reputable names such as Marek Hamsik of Napoli and Martin Skrtel of Liverpool.
The majority of the Hungary squad will know each other quite well as 9 of them all play for Videoton, the reigning Hungarian League champions who were knocked out of the Champions League in the third-round qualifying phase by BATE Borisov. As a nation on the rise in the international scene, it may still be a little too soon for The Magyars to surprise us all at the tournament in France.
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Have Italy ever been able to enter a major tournament without some sort of off-field interruption? If it’s not corruption you can bet it’s something else. This year is no different, as it has been revealed that coach Antonio Conte will be leaving his post with Italy to join Chelsea after this summer’s European Championships. Europe’s most successful nation may well sneak under the radar in many prediction polls with a strong youthful presence under their fiery coach.
In the final installment of the series The Panenka looks at the coaches of Group F containing Austria, Hungary, Iceland and Portugal. This crop of managers contains a footballing visionary who is literally writing the book for the future of football in his country.
The Czech Republic’s pedigree in the European Championships is unquestionable. Despite only competing as an independent national for a little over two decades they have managed to qualify for every single tournament. The former Czechoslovakia lifted the European title in 1976 after defeating West Germany on penalties in the famous game that spawned The Panenka.
The Panenka has reached Group E in it’s fact finding mission on France Euro 2016’s coaches. This competitions group of death contains a crime expert and a controversial senator among Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
Despite making three appearances at the World Cup, Northern Ireland have never sent a team to a European Championship. All-time top marksman David Healy and one of the greatest ever players ever, George Best, sadly never graced a major tournament either. The current crop though, under manager Michael O’Neill, will get that opportunity to shine on the big stage in France. Expectations might be none existent so, whatever happens, happens. The boys from the Northern part of The Emerald Isle will no doubt be hungry to spring an upset.
Perennial underachievers of major tournaments, a new era for England beckons with a number of high profile retirements in the recent past. Too good for the qualifiers, but not good enough for the tournament itself is a familiar story for England. However, a new hunger within England’s ranks is becoming very clear. After some surprisingly fantastic performances by English players in an unforgettable Premier League this season it still might prove a little too difficult NOT to allow England to expect glory this time around.
The Panenka moves onto Group D now where it’s managed to uncover some real nuggets of Euro 2016 gold on the coaches of the group that contains holders Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey. Care to wager a bet on which boss is getting the beers in?
Romania only conceded 2 goals in their 10 qualifying matches where their defense provided an ample and solid base for them to precede to the tournament in France. Even though they’re not expected to set the tournament on fire with their cautious approach, it is entirely possible that the squad which possesses a mixture of experience and youth might just squeak through to the knockout-stage.
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