Guide: European Championship 15 June

» Updated:

» Published:

Guide: European Championship 15 June
Photo: Genre image/Envato Elements

Share this article

What: Hungary–Switzerland, Group A

When: Saturday 15 June, 15.00.

Where: Rheinenergie Stadium, Cologne.

TV/Radio: TV4, TV4 Play, P4 Radiosporten.

+ Switzerland's luxury problem in defence

Switzerland enters its sixth consecutive European Championship with high hopes. The team has reached the finals in every championship since the World Championship 2014, and this year the team is filled with exciting names. Not least in the defence, where national team captain Murat Yakin will have to make tough choices.

Centre-backs Ricardo Rodriguez, Torino, and Nico Elvedi, Mönchengladbach, will be hard to move. At the same time, Manuel Akanji comes from a Premier League title with Manchester City, and Fabian Schär from a fine season in Newcastle, where he was one of the team's best players.

It remains to be seen who will get the chance, and who will be left out of the starting eleven.

+ Switzerland's anger – training pitch too poor

When Switzerland arrived in Germany and their European Championship base in Stuttgart, they quickly discovered that the pitch was not what they had expected. In fact, it was so poor that the federation chose to submit a formal complaint to Uefa, according to AP.

Uefa then offered the Bundesliga club Stuttgart's training pitch, which is 20 minutes away by car, but Switzerland chose to stay at the current one, as they judged it would be too many trips.

What: Spain–Croatia, Group B

When: Saturday 18 June, 18.00.

Where: Olympiastadion, Berlin.

TV/Radio: SVT, SVT Play, P4 Radiosporten.

+ The Group of Death

Giant Spain opens together with constantly underrated Croatia what has been called the "Group of Death". The other teams are Italy and Albania, making it all very uncertain.

For Spain, the recent championships have been disappointments. After the country's super era between 2008 and 2012, where the team won two European Championships and one World Championship, "La Roja" has been eliminated in the group stage three times, and only reached the semi-finals once.

+ Modrić's last championship?

Luka Modrić has been a constant in the successful Croatian national team that has taken a World Championship silver and a World Championship bronze in the last two attempts. Even in this championship, the Real Madrid midfielder is a given starter.

But the question is if it won't be his last.

The 38-year-old was unsure before this season whether he would continue playing after the season, both at club and national team level. Earlier, he has also hinted that a farewell to the Croatian national team is near.

What: Italy–Albania, Group B

When: Saturday 18 June, 21.00.

Where: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund.

TV/Radio: SVT, SVT Play, P4 Radiosporten.

+ Reigning champions – but unclear status?

Italy is the reigning champion, but despite that, the team is not one of the big favourites. After missing the World Championship in Qatar, and also the World Championship in Russia 2018, it is unclear where the Italian national team stands.

Moreover, the team has been criticized for not having particularly big star status, or routine.

Only five starting players from the European Championship final against England three years ago are in this year's squad. Pillars like Giorgio Chiellini, Marco Verratti, and Ciro Immobile have all either retired or been dropped.

Moreover, the team has a new national team captain since last. Luciano Spalletti will try to repeat the success at Wembley 2021.

+ The group's whipping boy?

When Albania ended up in the "Group of Death" in their second championship ever, many probably felt discouraged.

And yes, the team can be seen as the group's big whipping boy.

But the team and the country have not given up beforehand. For even if it's not big club addresses on all players, there is quality in the squad. Among others, players like Kristjan Asllani, Inter, Armando Broja, Chelsea, and Elseid Hysaj, Lazio, are among the players who will try to take Albania further from the group in a championship for the first time.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Daniel Ståhl Anticipates Cheering Crowds at Tokyo Discus Event

Daniel Ståhl Anticipates Cheering Crowds at Tokyo Discus Event

Star Duo Faces Tougher Path After World Tour Loss in Brazil

Star Duo Faces Tougher Path After World Tour Loss in Brazil

Swedish Beach Volleyball Talents Advance to Finals in Brazil

Swedish Beach Volleyball Talents Advance to Finals in Brazil

Häcken Falls Short in Champions League Qualifying Against Atlético Madrid

Häcken Falls Short in Champions League Qualifying Against Atlético Madrid

Malmö Triumphs Over Leksand with 5-4 Overtime Win

Malmö Triumphs Over Leksand with 5-4 Overtime Win

Jordan Larsson Scores First Champions League Goal in FC Copenhagen Draw

Jordan Larsson Scores First Champions League Goal in FC Copenhagen Draw

FIA Ends Rallycross World Championship; European Series Planned

FIA Ends Rallycross World Championship; European Series Planned

Hockeyallsvenskan Season Kicks Off: Modo Aims for SHL Return

Hockeyallsvenskan Season Kicks Off: Modo Aims for SHL Return

Swedish Athlete Maja Åskag Places Eleventh in World Championship Triple Jump

Swedish Athlete Maja Åskag Places Eleventh in World Championship Triple Jump

Swedish Football Faces New Police Directive on Masking at Matches

Swedish Football Faces New Police Directive on Masking at Matches

Football Match Masking Rule a Test for Two Rounds, Police Confirm

Football Match Masking Rule a Test for Two Rounds, Police Confirm

Swedish Sprinter Henrik Larsson Criticizes Fred Kerley's Enhanced Games Move

Swedish Sprinter Henrik Larsson Criticizes Fred Kerley's Enhanced Games Move

Salétros Injury Update: AIK Midfielder Expected Back Soon

Salétros Injury Update: AIK Midfielder Expected Back Soon

Monaco Players Undress on Plane Due to Air Conditioning Failure

Monaco Players Undress on Plane Due to Air Conditioning Failure

José Mourinho Returns to Portugal as Benfica's New Coach

José Mourinho Returns to Portugal as Benfica's New Coach

Engla Nilsson's World Championship Ends After Qualifying Round

Engla Nilsson's World Championship Ends After Qualifying Round

French Skiing Star Lucas Chanavat Sidelined by Shinbone Stress Fracture

French Skiing Star Lucas Chanavat Sidelined by Shinbone Stress Fracture

Sarah Lahti Falls Short in 5,000m Final at Tokyo World Championship

Sarah Lahti Falls Short in 5,000m Final at Tokyo World Championship

Jonna Malmgren Misses Bronze at Wrestling World Championship

Jonna Malmgren Misses Bronze at Wrestling World Championship

Ståhl Aims to Defend Discus World Title in Tokyo

Ståhl Aims to Defend Discus World Title in Tokyo