Storyline: France has Paul Pogba and a strong supporting cast. Look for Spain, Germany, and Belgium to give Les Blues a run. Written by Prateek Kansal, Delhi, India
The Euros are just around the corner. On Saturday this global sports extravaganza will begin. Formally called UEFA (for the Union of European Football Associations), the championship is played every four years.
Courtesy: eurochampionship2016.com
This year the Euros are being played in France. The home team is looking strong, along with some other candidates, including defending champion, Spain, Germany and Belgium. These four teams are favorites to progress to the final four. France is the early-line choice.
France won it all the last time it hosted (1998). They also won the European championship in 1984. Both of these sides were built around two iconic sportsmen, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini. This time France has the game’s best midfielder–and hottest property in world football right now–Paul Pogba. Pogba has the skills necessary to carry a team to the title. Other great players, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, have proven that individual brilliance can only take a team so far. The entire team has to click.
Paul Pogba (photo, ibtimes.co.uk)
And that’s why France is the clear favorite. The team has a ridiculously talented pool of players with a good blend of age and balance. A solid defense, a great midfield, and a good attack make France the most complete team in this year’s tournament. Players like Payet, Koscielny, and Griezmann, along with Pogba, make France the most in form of all the teams playing.
Belgium is the other team that looks really good on paper. De Bruyne and Hazard lead from the front. And a solid midfield and terrific defense make Belgium a very dangerous outfit. Top players, Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, and Naingollan, have been in great form.
Perennial contenders Germany and Spain have terrific squads and know how to win tournaments. Italy is accomplished, too, along with England. There are teams that have individual stars–England and Kane, Portugal and Ronaldo, Sweden and Zlatan, Wales and Bale–but none of those squads has what it takes to go all the way.
My picks?
Semis: France and Belgium along with Germany and Spain.
Les Blues will be the ultimate champions.
