Euro 2020 Preview (Group C & D)

 Group C

• Netherlands

Last Appearance: Euro 2012 (Group Stage)

Coach: Frank de Boer

Captain: Georginio Wijnaldum

Most Important Player: Memphis Depay

The past couple of years has not been kind to the Oranje. They failed to qualify for two consecutive tournaments (Euro 2016 & 2018 World Cup), their stalwarts of  Van Persie and Robben retired with very few players taking place and were quite dull to watch having been renowned for attacking football and technical skill. Their rejuvenation since 2017 has been the Dutch back in the spotlight firstly by Ronald Koeman with Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay leading this Dutch with some fantastic young player like Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Donyell Malen and Ryan Gravenberch. However, Koeman left for Barcelona with former Ajax manager Frank de Boer appointed in 2020. Boer has not won many critics over with some questionable performances and they will be without van Dijk, who is recovering from an ACL injury since October last year. The postponed Euros came at a poor time for the Netherlands. Though it is likely they will top the group, they may not turn heads this Euros like they would have if it was last year.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals

• Ukraine

Last Appearance: Euro 2016 (Group Stage)

Coach: Andriy Shevchenko

Captain: Andriy Pyatov

Most Important Player: Oleksandr Zinchenko

Ukraine impressed during qualification. In a group that had reigning champions Portugal and Serbia, Shevchenko's men topped their group unbeaten. Conceding just four goals from eight games, winning six of them. Since assuming the role in 2016, Shevchenko has managed the Ukraine national team for 47 games with a win percentage of 48% and is using some of the tactics he would have learned from his illustrious playing career. The majority of his 26-man squad play in Ukraine specifically Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk but some have found success abroad like Oleksandr Zinchenko, who impressed at Manchester City and Ruslan Malinovskyi, who played over forty times for Serie A side Atalanta. However, they were poor in the Nations League last year and are yet to win in their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. Their competition in the group should give Ukraine hope of advancing and if they can get something in their first game against the Netherlands, they should feel optimistic about going through.

Best Finish: Round of 16

• Austria

Last Appearance: Euro 2016 (Group Stage)

Coach: Franco Foda

Captain: Julian Baumgartlinger

Most Important Player: Marcel Sabitzer

Austria has qualified for consecutive European Championships for the first time in its history. They qualified second in their group behind Poland, conceding nine goals from ten games. Coach Franco Foda has been at the job since 2018, having managed German club FC Kaiserslatun in 2012. Majority of the players in the Austrian squad play in the German Bundesliga, which makes Foda utilize pressing in their game as the players are familiar with it. The highest-profile player is David Alaba, who has won 81 caps since 2009 and will be at the left-back but is capable of playing in central defence and midfield having played in midfield on several occasions for Austria. Marcel Sabitzer will be very important for Austria this Euros. His versatility, creativity and pressing will be vital for Austria in going through to the knockout stages for the first time. Their record does not give much encouragement. They have failed to advance to the knockout stages and without a reliable goal-scorer, this could be a difficult one.

Best Finish: Group Stage

• North Macedonia

Last Appearance: None (Debutants)

Coach: Igor Angelovski

Captain: Goran Pandev

Most Important Player: Elif Elmas

North Macedonia are another debutant in the European Championship. They finished third in their group behind Austria and Poland. However, due to their strong performance in the UEFA Nations League, they reached the play-offs. Victories over Kosovo and Georgia gave the country qualification for the first time ever. Coach Igor Angelovski has been in the North Macedonian setup since 2015 and has propelled the small nation to heights they never thought could reach. Their highest-profile player is captain Goran Pandev, part of the 2010 Inter treble-winning side, who is also North Macedonia's highest appearance maker and goal-scorer. They also have Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski and Levante winger Enis Bardhi. The player to watch from this team is Napoli midfielder Elif Elmas. Elmas will be vital for North Macedonia in their progressive play and hold on the ball with the young midfielder having some of the highest percentiles in pass completion, progressive carries and dribbles completed. North Macedonia will come into this year's Euros with belief, beating Germany in Germany for their recent World Cup qualifiers but may struggle to advance. Even as one of the best third-placed teams.

Best Finish: Group Stage

Group D

• England

Last Appearance: Euro 2016 (Round of 16)

Coach: Gareth Southgate

Captain: Harry Kane

Most Important Player: Harry Kane

Whenever there's a major tournament coming up, England expects. They come into this Euros as one of the favourites to win it and it's easy to see why. They have a rich group of youthful players that are more tactically and technically astute from previous generations, they reached the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018 and it is more like a home tournament if they reach the semifinals and final which will be played at Wembley Stadium in London. The question marks with England will be how they set up and the coach Gareth Southgate. Southgate would likely go conservative in his approach, which was successful in the World Cup but given the attacking players at his disposal, a braver approach is what England fans want to see. England's best finish in the Euros was in 1996 when they lost to eventual winners Germany in the semifinals on penalties and if they top their group, will go through a hard route to the final as they could face France, Portgual or Germany in the knockout stages. With the likes of Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho, England should feel confident of going far in the Euros. It is whether Southgate himself is capable to take England far with an improved squad that he had in 2018.

Best Finish: Quarterfinals

• Croatia

Last Appearance: Euro 2016 (Round of 16)

Coach: Zlatko Dalic

Captain: Luka Modric

Most Important Player: Andrej Kramaric

Croatia reached the FIFA World Cup Final in 2018, losing to France in the Final. Since then, their squad has changed. The likes of Marco Mandukzic, Ivan Ratikic, Vedran Corluka and Danijel Subasic called time on their international careers paving the way for the next generation of Croat players under Zlatko Dalic, who has been Croatia coach since 2017. They topped their qualifying group with five wins from eight games. Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric who won the Golden Ball in the World Cup, continues to lead his country with a different partner in midfield whether it is Mateo Kovacic or Marcelo Brozovic. Andrej Kramaric will be Croatia's man upfront with Ante Rebic Ivan Perisic providing support from the flanks. Croatia is still a team that has some quality in them, particularly in midfield. However, given the changes over the past few years, they could be to go far in this tournament.

Best Finish: Round of 16

• Scotland

Last Appearance: Euro 1996 (Group Stage)

Coach: Steve Clarke

Captain: Andrew Robertson

Most Important Player: John McGinn

David Marshall's save against Serbia in the playoffs brought many in Scotland great joy as they qualified for a major tournament for the first time this century, with their last tournament showing being the 1998 World Cup in France. Steve Clarke's side was quite underwhelming in qualifying, finishing third in their group behind Belgium and Russia with 15 points from 10 games. There had another chance as their strong showing in the Nations League, put them in the playoffs. Victories over Israel and Serbia, both on penalties, booked Scotland's ticket to the Finals. This Scottish squad is mixed with players from the Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premiership with Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson their biggest high-profile player for some time. Steve Clarke will make Scotland tough to beat but they lacked attacking quality which makes Aston Villa midfielder Josh McGinn very important for Scotland. His dynamism, running into the box and long-range shooting will be vital for Scotland to get goals should the likes of Che Adams and Ryan Christie struggle. Scotland has the Czech Republic in their first game and should they get something from that game, could carry Scotland to the knockouts.

Best Finish: Round of 16

• Czech Republic

Last Appearance: Euro 2016 (Group Stage)

Coach: Jaroslav Silhavy

Captain: Vladimir Darida

Most Important Player: Tomas Soucek

The Czech Republic have been regulars in the European Championships since becoming an independent nation. They have qualified for every Euro tournament since Euro 1996, reaching the semifinals in 2004. They have produced the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Pavel Nedved and Petr Cech, who have gone to have great careers. They finished second in their qualifying group with their highlight result being a 2-1 win over England. Coach Jaroslav Silhay has been around since 2018 and recent results have been mixed with just four points from three games in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Their players include Vladimir Coufal of West Ham, Jakub Jankto of Sampdoria and Patrik Schick of Bayer Leverkusen. Their highest-profile player is Tomas Soucek, who has had a strong season at West Ham. The midfielder is an aerial presence in both boxes and will be an outlet for the Czech with Schick in the striker position. A very difficult group, the Czechs' chances of going through are slim, which makes their opening tie against Scotland very important.

Best Finish: Group Stage