SoccerNews Issue #2, June 07th 2016 Continental/Division Tires Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Self-confidence in France: Harry Kane and the Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 England national team have made it into the Head of Communications & E-Mail: [email protected] extended circle of favourites for the European Public Relations PLT www.contisoccerworld.de Championship. Photo: Imago SoccerNews # 2/2016 2 that for the first time 24 teams are taking part, and 16 will qualify for the knock-out stage. The European elite return to France, 18 years after the fantastic 1998 World Cup finals. “La Grande Nation” once again hosts a major event – and is hoping that the title will remain with them, just as at the two previous tourna- Europe’s crown is beckoning every four years: Cesc ments on home soil. At the 1984 Europeans Fabregas (right) and the Spanish national team are the “Équipe Tricolore” triumphed as they did ready for a title hat-trick. Photo: Imago at the 1998 World Cup. This admirable feat is unrivaled. France are the last nation to win a European Championship at home, and the last to triumph similarly in the World Cup. The road to the final on July 10, however, is as long as never before at a European Champion- ship. For the first time in history 24 teams are competing in the finals, with the first and sec- Not to be stopped: Belgium and top star Kevin De Bruyne want to win the European title. Photo: Imago ond-placed teams of the six preliminary round groups, as well as the four best third-placed News teams, qualifying for the round of 16. An exten- Paul Pogba wants to prevent Germany, winning their sion of the hosts record is not impossible, just next title at the European Championship in France the contrary. For many experts France, with Foto: Imago Hot favourites France hope for stars Paul Pogba (Juventus Turin) and Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), are the hottest champs talked about the ultimate goal – and favourites for the European title, with the team the requirements for reaching it: “The defence third triumph at third tournament consistently progressing over the past few is important but it is essential to score one years. goal more than your opponent in order to win at home a tournament”. The reason for this statement France have slight problems in defence was emerging criticism due to a flagging de- Getting through in preliminary Group A, fence. Though France were successful in all The hosts want to win their third title at home after 1984 and 1998, but against competitors Romania, Switzerland and three friendly tests against the Netherlands they have problems in defence. Germany will confidently start their Albania, is of course obligatory for the hosts. (3-2), Russia (4-2) and Cameroon (3-2) they National coach Didier Deschamps knows conceded two goals in each match. “There is mission to win the European Championship after the World Cup title. the expectations for him and his team: Only something wrong with France’s defence”, read In addition Spain, England and Belgium are considered to have a good the title is considered a success. A few days the headline of “Le Monde”, due the defenders prior to the opening match against Romania Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Lassana Diarra chance. But the former European heavyweight Italy are quite happy on June 10, 1998 World Cup champion Des- (Marseille), Jérémy Mathieu (FC Barcelona) and SoccerNews # 2/2016 3 Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) dropping put injured. But then a Spain want the hat-trick 3-0 victory over Scotland followed last Saturday, with spectacu- News In Spain high spirits and anticipation reign lar attacking and good defensive performances. for the group encounters with Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey, with the entire nation Germany confident even without Reus hoping for a historic title hat-trick after the Eu- France is not the only nation suffering from injury problems, ropean Championship triumphs in 2008 and however, prior to the kick-off of the tournament taking place 2012. Coach Vicente del Bosque knows how to in ten cities. Reigning World Cup champions Germany have to celebrate great successes and may rely on a make do without Dortmund’s top star Marco Reus – as well as team in good shape. The Spaniards convinced his Dortmund team-mate Ilkay Guendogan, who is moving to during their 3-1 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Manchester City. But prior to the first-round encounters against 6-1 against South Korea – despite the players of Ukraine, Poland and Northern Ireland national coach Joachim Champions League finalists Real and Atlético Loew is quite confident they can celebrate the European title af- Madrid being absent. ter the World Cup – although his team recently recorded rather moderate results. Defeats by England (3-2) and Slovakia (3-1), but Shooting stars excite England a brilliant 4-1 win over Italy. The 2-0 against Hungary as a final Spain can ill afford a slip-up in the first round dress rehearsal at Gelsenkirchen wasn’t a sparkler, but coach because that could mean they could meet Loew was quite contented, stating that everything was running England, one of the favourites for the first according to schedule. For the German national team the hotel Ermitage at Evian-les-Bains is the starting point time for years, as early as the round of 16. The of a Tour de France at the 2016 European Championship. Photo: Imago “Three Lions” meet Russia, Wales and Slovakia Belgium are hoping for De Bruyne, Italy for a miracle in the first round – and are the top candidates Confidence is limited at the former European giants Italy. In “La Team” at the spa The DFB and Bierhoff were more for winning Group B. After years of sporting de- their tough Group E the 1968 European champions are not Evian-les-Bains. The location with modest for the 2016 European cline the fans are thirsty for a successful tour- even favourites for the top position – that goes to world ranked views over Lake Geneva is gor- Championship. A four-star hotel – nament. Another embarrassing failure does not number two Belgium who are sending a team to France consist- geous, the 19 hectare large park not the best by far at Evian – was look likely, with England sending a young, fresh ing almost invariably of players from Europe’s top teams. The resplendent, the fitness and well- rented. team to France. Captain Wayne Rooney con- ensemble around super star Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) ness centre fantastic. The hotel siders a highlight for his international career is even considered by some to have the best chance of winning Ermitage at the spa Evian-les-Bains The Ermitage can be well shielded is possible: “This is the best team I have ever the Coupe Henri Delaunay, created by Arthur Bertrand in Paris will be the base camp for the Ger- due to the large park around the played in”. New stars such as 18-year-old attack- in 1960. man national team for the next four multi- floor apartment building – er Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), the weeks. “We have once again found seems logical when the name trans- Premier League’s top goalscorer Harry Kane It is rather unlikely that Italy will raise the winning trophy towards something ideal. The distances are lates as hermitage. It is even more (Tottenham) and England‘s “Player of the Year” the Paris sky. Reaching the knock-out stage is the Italians’ min- short, we can close ranks, we shall peaceful than in the quiet 8,000-in- Jamie Vardy, of surprise champions Leicester imum goal, but facing tough opponents Sweden and Ireland be comfortable in that house”, says habited town with the world-famous City, offer a departure into a new football era makes qualifying for the round of 16 not a certainty – even in team manager Oliver Bierhoff. Two name. The expensive mineral water for coach Roy Hodgson’s team, which has ap- Italy. It hasn’t improved the mood that playmaker Marco Verratti years ago in Brazil he had a German in the light-blue shimmering bottle peared a bit long in the tooth of late. Their last (Paris) can’t play and no successor has been found so far for na- village built at the isolated village with pink lettering, Evian is a world- friendly was successful with England defeating tional coach Antonio Conte, who will move to Chelsea FC after Santo Andre. Afterwards hardly any wide bestseller. It has been officially Portugal, the favourites in Group F (with Aus- the European Championship. guests visited the “Campo Bahia”, bottled in the town since 1826. tria, Iceland and Hungary), 1-0. but it was the starting point for the title triumph for the German team. SoccerNews # 2/2016 4 of the European Championship”, he disclosed the left with Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. before leaving for home. Benedikt Hoewedes, injured until shortly be- fore the end of the season, was allowed to get A plus point he recorded during the friendly some practice on the right of defence. “There was Bastian Schweinsteiger’s comeback, after a is room for improvement. I certainly won’t 75-day injury break, when the captain replaced become a Dani Alves, but I am ready to take Toni Kroos in the final stages. “Playing 25 to over any position”, said the Schalke player, who 30 minutes is quite all-right. But 90 minutes brilliantly filled in the left defensive gap during in my first match back doesn’t work“, said the World Cup.