Euro 2020/1 Preview - Group A
We’re a week away from the start of Euro 2020/1 tournament, so it’s time to start my usual previews. I’m starting today with Group A, which include perennial powerhouses Italy, along with Switzerland, Turkey and Wales.
Prospects: Top seeds Italy come into this summer in terrific form on a 25 game unbeaten run under manager Roberto Mancini. Still, there is the suspicion that, though Mancini’s side are quite solid at the back and in midfield, they lack the dynamism up front to challenge in the latter stages. The Swiss also qualified top of their group, albeit in a relatively weak one. Vladimir Petkovic’s team is organized around the grit of Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and the creativity of Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri. Turkey enter this summer with arguably their strongest side since 2002, when they finished third in Japanorea. Senol Gunes has a rugged defense anchored by Leicester’s Caglar Soyuncu and plenty of goals from Lille striker Burak Yilmaz - they're a potential dark horse. Finally, Ryan Giggs’ Welsh side exceeded all expectations at France 2016, when they reached the semi-final stage before being knocked out by eventual champions Portugal, but they’re unlikely to hit those peaks again this summer with the aging squad that finished second in their group.
* One to Watch: Turkey’s 24 year-old Lille hot shot Zeki Celik
* Most Likely to See Red: Swiss grafter Xhaka certainly has previous - “Granit” by name; “granite by nature
* Most Likely to Attempt a “Panenka:” Mercurial Italian striker Ciro Immobile
* Worst haircut in the group: Welsh striker Gareth “Monkeyboy” Bale’s man bun in a continued affront
* Key Match: Turkey v. Wales - Wednesday, June 16, 12pm EST, ESPN
* Blue Devil’s Crystal Ball Says: Never bet against the Italians’ tournament mentality
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:14 AM
1 Comments:
Group A is not exactly the most inspiring group and the Italians should probably do enough to win the group. Italy will do well to reach the quarters. The battle for second place between Turkey and the Swiss should be interesting . Just thinking of that makes me want to eat a sub with Turkey and Swiss cheese. The Swiss are not exactly one of the most thrilling teams to watch with the nucleus of their team built on Bundesliga players. Turkey has a little more flair if aloud to express it by the management. The Welsh are a bizarre mixture of older players and inexperienced young players , who have played only a handful of matches for their clubs. Many of the squad ply their trade in the Championship.I'm picking Turkey tom finish second with the Swiss third as possibly one of the best third placed teams. An early flight home for the Welsh
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