Sports
Here's how things stand in Group A.
Updated : Sep 30, 2017, 06:13 AM IST
The UEFA Euro 2016 tournament will kick off on June 11 (12:30 AM IST), where France will face off against Romania.
Ahead of the tournament, we look at each squad participating in the tournament, analysing their strengths and weaknesses.
Group A
Lorik Cana of Albania shouts during the international friendly match between Austria and Albania at the Ernst Happel Stadium on March 26, 2016 in Vienna, Austria (Getty Images)
Manager: Gianni De Biasi
Squad
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha, Alban Hoxha, Orges Shehi
Defenders: Lorik Cana, Arlind Ajeti, Mergim Mavraj, Elseid Hysaj, Ansi Agolli, Frederic Veseli, Naser Aliji
Midfielders: Ledjan Memushaj, Ergys Kae, Andi Lila, Migjen Basha, Odise Roshi, Burim Kukeli, Ermir Lenjani, Taulant Xhaka, Armir Abrashi
Forwards: Bekim Balaj, Sokol Cikalleshi, Armando Sadiku, Shkelzen Gashi
Strength: The team has a very solid defensive record with three defensive midfielders - Burim Kukeli, Amir Abrashi and Taulant Xhaka – holding the fort. In Sokol Cikalleshi, they have a hard-working striker who won’t give defenders a moment of peace.
Weakness: This team fails to find the net at times and that will always be troublesome for a team in the tournament. This is the first time Albania are participating in a big tournament and no one is expecting too much from this team even though they finished ahead of Serbia and Denmark.
Star Player: Taulant Xhaka
Past Performance: Not applicable
Prediction: Group Stage
Paul Pogba of France reacts during the International Friendly between France and Scotland on June 4, 2016 in Metz, France (Getty Images)
Manager: Didier Deschamps
One of the favourites at the tournament, this is a youthful French side who’ll look to impress at home. The terrorist attacks at home have also added a backdrop to the tournament and the hosts will be hoping that their multi-ethnic team comes out strong, the way the Zidane-led France 2002 World Cup winning squad did.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Benoit Costil (Rennes), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Roma), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City), Samuel Umtiti (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Adil Rami (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye, Lassana Diarra, N'Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Moussa Sissoko
Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Anthony Martial, Dimitri Payet
Strength: The French midfield is mind-bogglingly good with Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Dmitri Payet and N’Golo Kante. Each of them have had amazing seasons with Kante and Payet particularly thrilling in their domestic leagues. Their forward line with Kingsley Coman, Antoine Griezmann, Anthony Martial, Olivier Giroud and André-Pierre Gignac is certainly impressive.
Weakness: Their refusal to take Benzema and Ben Arfa could hurt France, as would be the infighting and criticism that has come his way after suggestions that their ethnicity played a part. Their defence is also ageing with both full backs – Patrice Evra (35) and Bacary Sagna (33) – in the twilight of their careers.
Past Performance: Winners in 1984 and 2000
Star Player: Paul Pogba
Prediction: Semi final
Read: Euro 2016 fixtures and timings in Indian Standard Time
Florin Andone of Romania in action during the International Friendly match between Romania and Spain held at the Cluj Arena on March 27, 2016 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (Getty Images)
Manager: Anghel Iordanescu
Squad
Goalkeepers: Ciprian Tatarusanu, Costel Pantilimon, Silviu Lung Jr
Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru, Alexandru Matel , Vlad Chiriches, Valerica Gaman, Dragos Grigore, Cosmin Moti, Razvan Rat, Steliano Filip
Midfielders: Mihai Pintilii, Ovidiu Hoban, Andrei Prepelita, Adrian Popa, Gabriel Torje, Alexandru Chipciu, Nicolae Stanciu, Lucian Sanmartean
Forwards: Claudiu Keseru, Bogdan Stancu, Florin Andone, Denis Alibec
Strengths: Another team which is very hard to beat, this is a group of with a stingy defence that conceded only twice in 10 qualifiers.
Weakness: The lack of players who can open up defences or attack is a problem and they will heavily dependent on Steau Bucuresti player Nicușor Stanciu and Cordoba’s Florin Andone.
Star Player: Florin Andone
Past Performance: Group Stages
Prediction: Group Stages
Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Switzerland at Arena Amazonia on June 25, 2014 in Manaus, Brazil (Getty Images)
Manager: Vladimir Petkovic
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Roman Burki , Marwin Hitz
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner, Nico Elvedi, Michael Lang, Johan Djourou, Steve von Bergen, Fabian Schar, Francois Moubandje, Ricardo Rodriguez
Midfielders: Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili, Gelson Fernandes, Fabian Frei, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Renato Steffen, Denis Zakaria
Forwards: Breel Embolo, Haris Seferovic, Admir Mehmedi, Eren Derdiyok, Shani Tarashaj.
Strength: This is without a doubt one of the most talented Swiss squads ever assembled. Their midfield is the strongest area with Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri known as the Swiss Messi and the Magic Dwarf playing in the number 10 role. Shaqiri belongs to that rare breed of footballers who can create something out of nothing, while deeper in midfield there is new Arsenal recruit Granit Xhaka (whose brother plays for Albania), is known for is all-action approach in midfield.
Weakness: The defence is weak, and even their forwards might struggle against quality opposition.
Star player: Xherdan Shaqiri
Prediction: Quarter-final
Group Predictions: 1st spot France and 2nd spot Switzerland