Slutsky, Dzyuba Downbeat On Russia’s Euro 2016 Chances

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Russia has enjoyed varied degrees of success since Guus Hiddink took the side to a third place finish at Euro 2008. Dreary football and failure to qualify for one of the last three tournaments in the years that followed meant that Russian football was struggling to comprehend it’s failure after witnessing some of it’s best performances.

The appointment of a new domestically respected manager and a strong finish to qualifying has revived expectations back home. The man in charge though is not so confident and has put an air of limitation on what his side can achieve.

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Hungary: The Decade of Revival

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Hungary boss Bernd Storck is carried off the pitch after seeing his side secure qualification to Euro 2016 in France.

History hangs heavy around the necks of Hungarian football. Once the powerhouse that inspired generations of tacticians and players in the 50s, Hungary are rising once again with a reinvigorated sense of purpose and ambition.

 Much of that is thanks to coach Bernd Storck who is at the forefront of a revolution for Hungarian international football. The Panenka looks at the blueprint for “A Decade of Revival” in Hungary as they prepare for Euro 2016.

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Greatest Games of The European Championships: Denmark 2 Germany 0, 1992

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The Panenka starts a new series of articles chronicling some of the best games ever witnessed at the European Championships.

 The first of the series takes us to Gothenburg in 1992 where the tournament finale created one of sport’s most unlikely underdog stories. 1990 World Champions Germany met Denmark after the Danes found themselves competing at the summer tournament due to some very unusual circumstances.
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Euro 2016 Team Preview: Spain

<> on September 8, 2014 in Valencia, Spain.

This time four years ago we were sat around calling one of the best teams in the history of football boring because a) they won all the time and b) were so good that it wasn’t fair. Fast forward to today and after a disastrous 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Spain’s untouchable reputation has somehow been reduced to rubble. Despite all this, the reigning champions will undoubtedly be difficult to stop and anyone who pulls La Roja out the hat in the office sweepstake will have every reason to be confident.

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Euro 2016 Team Preview: Belgium

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Despite being knocked out of the World Cup in the Quarter-final at the hands of Argentina, Belgium are still ranked number 2 in the FIFA World Rankings, yeah, go figure. Still, they are good value for having a right old stab at the European Championship as they harbor what is being heralded as their golden generation. Cynics might point to the declining form of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku’s failure to score on the international stage for over 250 minutes but despite that there is still plenty for Belgium to be positive about.

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Euro 2016 Team Preview: Italy

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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.

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Euro 2016 Team Preview: Northern Ireland

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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.

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