Euro 2016 Final: Group of Death

(Baonghean) - Looking at the balance of power in the Euro 2016 Finals, it is easy to see that Group D is the “death pit”. This group is full of talented players, apart from defending champion Spain, the other three teams are capable of sending La Roja home early. If Croatia has outstanding “cards” such as Luka Modric, Mario Manzdukic and Ivan Rakitic, the Czech Republic or Türkiye are a balanced and fearsome team.

The Spanish team is the number 1 candidate for a ticket to the next round at Euro 2016. Photo: Internet

Of course, if a ticket to the next round is certain, most fans and experts will choose the Spanish team. Because they have never lost the title of "king of the qualifying round" in any arena. In addition, they also entered the tournament as the reigning Euro champion with the tiki-taka style of play that helped Spain stand on the top of glory and dominate the world. Looking back on the past, all teams must bow down to the achievements of La Furia Roja with 2 championships in the most prestigious tournament of the "Old Continent" (2008, 2012) and 1 World Cup championship (2010). Spain is the only team to win all three major tournaments in a row.

Although at the 2014 World Cup, they had a weak performance, many players in the golden generation of Spanish football left, making them face the prospect of a "declining empire". However, their skills and techniques on the field have never been underestimated. However, in the EURO 2016 qualifiers, Spain still asserted their position, winning 27 points in 10 matches. With a young squad including many stars playing for Real Madrid, Atletico and Barcelona, ​​such as: Pique, Alba, Bartra, Busquets, Iniesta, Ramos, Carvajal, Isco, Koke, Juanfran or Saul... Fans will certainly witness the strong, energetic "Bulls".

With a squad of quality players, especially in the midfield, and the team's best performance in the history of the Euro qualifiers (20 points, 6 wins, 3 draws and only 1 loss), the Croatian team is also showing that they have enough quality to go further to nurture their dream of hegemony. Possessing a squad with creative, world-class midfielders, playing for Barca and Real, such as Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric or the promising talent Mateo Kovacic... Coach Cecic will probably use a formation with a large number of players in the midfield to try to control the match (such as 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2 or even 3-4-2-1). Obviously, Croatia is the most formidable opponent of the Spanish team in this group.

However, both Spain and Croatia need to remember that the Czech Republic and Turkey are the teams that made the Netherlands stay home to watch the Euro even though they were not highly rated before. It has been a long time since the Turkish or Czech Republic teams have made a mark in the continental arena, even though they used to be very prestigious teams, so their desire to regain their position is even higher. This group is even more dramatic and attractive because Türkiye and the Czech Republic, who went hand in hand in the qualifying round, will have to fight to the death and trample on each other to find a way to the Knout-uot round in the context that Croatia and Spain are still highly rated.

In this group, fans will also witness a three-way battle between teammates Arda Turan (Türkiye), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) and many Barcelona players who are the pillars of La Roja. Luka Modric will also face Sergio Ramos, Carvajal or Isco, ... to compete. Petr Cech (Czech Republic) will have to prevent his mischievous teammates at Arsenal such as Santi Cazorla, Hector Bellerin, ... from scoring against him, but he will not be alone with the support of Rosicky. Then Juventus's striker duo Alvaro Morata and Mario Manzdukic will split the battle line when Spain and Croatia compete for power.

Kim Thuy