Euro 2020 Group Analysis: Who’s in the Dreaded Group of Death?
With the Euros less than four months away, anticipation is at an all-time high and the groups are – for the most part – sorted. With this in mind, we take a look at all six groups – including the dreaded Group of Death – and discuss who has the best chance of advancing from each of them.
Group A (Turkey, Italy, Wales and Switzerland)
The group which will kick off the 2020 Euro’s on the 12th of June will be played across Rome and Baku – the capital city of Azerbaijan – and will see the home Italian side the favourite to advance to the knockout phase in the top position. And it’s easy to see why: Italy are ranked 13th in the world, and with the support of the home crowd in all three of their Group Stage games they’ll be tough to beat. Switzerland, however, could lay claim to having more talent than the home nation, while both Wales and Turkey are capable of playing high-quality football on their day. Italy and Switzerland will be expecting to earn one of the top two spots, but this is a group in which all four sides are in with a chance.
Group B (Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia)
Unlike Group A, in which all four sides fall between 12 and 29 in the world rankings, Group B sees a significant disparity between the four sides. Belgium, of course, are the number one ranked side in the world, and despite having to battle both Denmark and Russia on their respective home soil, should advance to the knockout phase without too much trouble. The two home sides are likely to be battling it out for the second spot, and the clash between the two in Copenhagen on the 22nd of June could easily determine who gets it. And as for Finland – ranked 58 in the world and competing against two more highly fancied teams playing in front of a home crowd, and the number one team in the world, they are up against it to get out of this stage.
Group C (Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, Play-Off Winner D or A)
All signs point to the Netherlands taking the top spot in this one. Gifted what is – at least compared to some others – a relatively easy group, they won’t face a side ranked in the top 20 and will have the added advantage of playing all three Group Stage games in Amsterdam. Ukraine and Austria won’t go down without a fight though – both have talent in their squads and ended 2019 with a string of positive results, and each will make Netherlands work for their points. The final spot in the group won’t be determined until the end of March, but the highest-ranked team it could be is Iceland, who are 39th in the world.
Group D (England, Croatia, Czech Republic, Play-Off Winner C)
If you were going to put your house on the two teams who will earn the guaranteed advancement positions in any group, it should be England and Croatia in this one. The number four and number six sides in the world are both capable of challenging deep in the tournament – in particular England, who will have the advantage of playing at home throughout – and their competition in this group is the 45th ranked the Czech Republic, and a qualifier – likely to be Norway, Serbia or Scotland.
Group E (Spain, Sweden, Poland, Play-Off Winner B)
A talented group boasting three teams in the top 20 in the world, Group E will be held across Ireland and Spain, with the Spaniards tipped as the most likely to advance. Led by Sergio Ramos, they’ll be looking to become the first team to win the tournament on four occasions, and are touted as having every chance to do so. Assuming they snare one of the top two spots in this group, both Sweden and Poland will likely be battling it out for the final position which will guarantee their advancement, and their group-ending clash on the 24th of June may just decide which of them gets it.
Group F (Portugal, France, Germany, Play-Off Winner A or D)
Touted the Group of Death, Group F is home to the defending champions and last two World Cup winners and is by far the most talented group in the tournament and may well result in the early exit of one of the tournament favourites. France head in virtually sharing tournament favouritism with England while Germany and Portugal aren’t behind, and the unlucky play-off winner who earns the final spot in the group will have their work cut out. With four of the six third-placed teams still advancing to the knockout phase, it’s likely that all three of the big guns here will make it through, but a couple of losses could easily spell an early end for one of these highly fancied teams.