Euro 2016 Group B preview
England
Euro 2016 prospects: After the 2014 World Cup debacle
comes hope that England's youthful squad have learned some valuable tournament
lessons.
Unlike Euro 2012, when Roy
Hodgson took charge a month prior to the finals, he has had since September to
plan ahead, with England having breezed through qualifying.
He used 33 players en route to
France; there is emerging talent in the squad but Euro 2016 may come too soon.
How they qualified: Group E winners. England
were the only nation to qualify with a 100% winning record, the first time they
have done so in a European Championship qualifying campaign.
A tally of 31 goals - seven from
Wayne Rooney - was second only to Poland's 33.
Euro pedigree: Third of the four finalists
in 1968, England were also semi-finalists as hosts of Euro 96.
Statistically, Euro 2012 was
England's best showing on foreign soil at the continental tournament: they were
unbeaten aside from a quarter final exit on penalties against
Italy.
Key player: Wayne Rooney
Who's the boss?
This will be 68-year-old Roy Hodgson's
third major tournament as England boss as he looks to secure an extension to a
contract that expires after Euro 2016. Hodgson has managed 14 club sides and
four national teams.
Russia
Euro 2016 prospects: Winless at the 2014 World Cup,
Russia's fortunes have improved since Fabio Capello's sacking in July this
year. Replacement Leonid Slutsky reinforced the defence with players from
Champions League regulars CSKA Moscow, who he also manages.
How they qualified: They claimed only eight
points from six games under Capello but won their remaining four with Slutsky
at the helm, including a vital win over Sweden to pip them to automatic
qualification.
Euro pedigree: Winners as the Soviet Union
in 1960, and finalists in 1964, 1972 and 1988. A run to the semi-finals in 2008
is their best performance since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1991.
Key player: Sergei Ignashevich.
Russia's rock is now 36 but he remains vital. The CSKA Moscow defender helped
Russia keep five clean sheets in the nine qualifiers he played in.
Premier League players: None.
Who's the boss? Leonid Slutsky was rewarded
for rescuing Russia's Euro 2016 campaign with a contract until after the
finals.
Wales
Euro 2016 prospects: After a 58-year wait to play in a
major tournament, Wales will not be going just to make up the numbers. Gareth
Bale's goals propelled them to France, but captain and defensive rock Ashley
Williams is equally as important.
The Welsh FA's Together Stronger slogan epitomises their
brilliant team spirit.
How they qualified: They lost just once, away to
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and conceded four goals - only Romania, England and Spain
let in fewer. Bale and Aaron Ramsey scored nine of Wales' 11 goals.
Euro pedigree: Debutants at a 'finals'. Reached
the quarter-finals in 1976, when only the semi-finals onwards were regarded as
the finals.
Key player: Gareth Bale
Premier League players: Joe Allen (Liverpool), James Chester (West Brom), James
Collins (West Ham), Ben Davies (Tottenham), Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley
(both Crystal Palace), Andy King (Leicester), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Neil
Taylor and Ashley Williams (both Swansea).
Who's
the boss? Chris
Coleman took over in difficult circumstances following the death of Gary Speed in
2011.
Booed regularly at the start of his
tenure, with a 6-1 World Cup qualifying defeat in Serbia the nadir of poor
results early on, Coleman is now in talks to extend his contract beyond 2016.
Slovakia
Euro 2016 prospects: Slovakia will be appearing at
just their second major tournament in 11 attempts since gaining independence in
1993.
They reached the last 16 at the
2010 World Cup, helping to knock out Italy in the group stages. They also beat
Spain in qualifying for Euro 2016 so are not afraid to mix it with the big
boys.
How they qualified: Slovakia won their first
six qualifiers, including a 2-1 win over Spain. However, one point from their next three matches
left them level on points with Ukraine before a 4-2 win over Luxembourg sealed
second spot.
Euro pedigree: This is their first
appearance.
Key player: Merek Hamsik
Premier League player: Martin Skrtel (Liverpool).
Who's
the boss? Former
Czechoslovakia international Jan Kozak was appointed in July 2013. The
61-year-old had previously managed several Slovakian league clubs.
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