Can Spain defend their crown? Will Italy find strength in adversity? Are Ireland this year’s giant killers? And will Croatia give Slaven Bilić the perfect send-off?
Spain
The Coach: Vicente Del Bosque
The 61 year old enjoyed a glittering career at Real Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League twice and La Liga a combined seven times as both a player and manager. He became the first man to lead Spain to global success at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Key Player: Gerard Piqué
With the National Team’s highly influential captain Carles Puyol missing the tournament through injury, greater responsibility will be placed on his FC Barcelona teammate to hold the backline together – the main chink in the Spanish armour. The 25 year old has developed into a fine centre-back and will now have to demonstrate his maturity on the international stage.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Spain’s fluid formation allows for a great degree of flexibility, interchangeability and free-flowing football. The full-backs will be encouraged to push forward to provide width for a team that likes to play through the middle. The main headache is in attack. Without the injured David Villa, Del Bosque must decide between the aerial prowess of Fernando Llorente, the pace of Álvaro Negredo or rely on Fernando Torres’s goalscoring record.
How Did They Qualify? Winners of Euro 2012 Qualifying Group I
Best European Championship Finals Performance: Winners (2008)
Italy
The Coach: Cesare Prandelli
The 54 year old former Fiorentina manager and one time UEFA Champions League winner took charge of the National Team in 2010 after almost 20 years spent on the Serie A circuit. He has won admirers for his handling of the latest corruption scandal to hit Italian football.
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo
Some pundits suggested that the midfielder’s decision to leave AC Milan after 10 years to join Juventus signalled the closing chapter in his career. How wrong they were. His form this season has been imperious, guiding Juventus to the Serie A title. His set-piece play, calmness and experience will be priceless for a young-looking Italian squad.
Formation: 4-3-1-2
Prandelli was originally intent on a 4-3-3 formation but injuries to key personnel in key positions put pay to that. An unorthodox formation combined with a shift in philosophy, from defence to attack, has led to a more positive style of play. Andrea Pirlo will orchestrate the play from midfield but with no reliable number 10, strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano will be tasked with the attacking threat.
How Did They Qualify? Winners of Euro 2012 Qualifying Group C
Best European Championship Finals Performance: Winners (1968)
Republic of Ireland
The Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni
The 73 year old made his name as a club manager at Juventus having won the European Cup twice as a player at AC Milan. He has yet to taste success at international level with early exits at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004 with Italy.
Key Player: Richard Dunne
Despite not having yet representing his country in a major international tournament the 32 year old Aston Villa centre-back has been a constant linchpin in Ireland’s defence. With all of Ireland’s Group C opponents offering plenty of attacking threat, the experienced Irishman will hope to replicate the lionheart displays which he showed in the Euro 2012 Qualification games.
Formation: 4-4-2
Conservative and tactically disciplined, Ireland will be difficult to break down. Trapattoni’s teams retain their shape very well – something which will be critical when the Irish are without the ball. They will play within themselves but do have creative outlets on the flanks in Damien Duff and the exciting James McClean and from off the substitutes bench in Jonathan Walters.
How Did They Qualify? Qualified through the play-offs having been runners-up in Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B
Best European Championship Finals Performance: Group Stage (1988)
Croatia
The Coach: Slaven Bilić
The 43 year old former West Ham United and Everton defender leads his country into their third consecutive European Championship finals, having impressively reached the quarter-finals four years ago. Assured and disciplined, he will take over the reins at FC Lokomotiv Moscow at the end of the tournament.
Key Player: Nikica Jelavić
The Everton striker only made three starts in qualifying but he has been afforded an opportunity in the starting XI following an injury to FC Bayern Munich and Croatia regular Ivica Olić. The 26 year old offers an aerial threat but he it is in front of goal where he excels – being able to finish with either foot.
Formation: 4-3-1-2
With a slow defence, counter-attacking football may be the best form of defence for Croatia. They have a number of versatile players in the squad which allows for a degree of rotation – a bonus with games coming thick and fast. Attacking midfielder Luka Modrić will have to be on top form to effectively link the play up between defence and attack.
How Did They Qualify? Qualified through the play-offs having been runners-up in Euro 2012 Qualifying Group F
Best European Championship Finals Performance: Quarter-finals (1996 and 2008)
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