Every team at Euro 2020 analysed

We’re always heart-eyes-emoji for the football.

But having endured plenty of extra time in the build up to this edition of the European Championships, it must be said that the beautiful game is looking extra levels of fit this summer.

Ahead of the big kick off we’ve analysed every team’s chance of going all the way.

Here are Euro 2020‘s favourites, dark horses and no-hopers.

GROUP A

Italy

Despite the embarrassment of footballing riches to have been nurtured in Bel Paese, the Azzurri have only ever managed to get their hands on the Henri Delaunay Trophy once – way back in 1968. They looked positively mean in qualifying, bullying Group J to top the table with a maximum 30 points from ten games, scoring 37 and shipping just four at the other end. Stiffer tests of their credentials await in the tournament proper, but no nation would have wanted this Italian inspection so early on.

KEY MAN: Fresh off breaking Juventus’ nine-year stranglehold on Serie A, Inter Milan’s Nicolò Barella arrives at the Euros as one of the most in-form midfielders on the continent.

Switzerland

The Swiss squad boasts experience in all departments – with the likes of Yann Sommer, Xherdan Shaqiri and Haris Seferović all noted names at some of Europe’s biggest clubs – but they are famously timid under the lights, picking up just two European Championships victories in their entire history. Credit where it’s due, as a unit the team is compact and difficult to break down, but the challenge lies at the business end of the pitch, where toothless grannies have demonstrated more bite in front of goal.

KEY MAN: While ever-reliable stopper Yann Sommer will likely have a very busy few games between the sticks, the Swiss will be banking on Benfica striker Haris Seferović to remember his shooting boots.

Turkey

Turkey were brutal in the qualification fixtures, losing just once and conceding a meagre three goals as they came second past the post behind World Cup holders France. It represented one of the best qualifying campaigns in the nation’s history, and once again put Turkey on an upward trajectory heading into a major competition. In such a delicately poised Group A, Leicester’s Çağlar Söyüncü and AC Milan’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu will be critical to Turkey making the most of their fine work so far, lest they be cooked by their rivals.

KEY MAN: Heavy will weigh the expectation on AC Milan’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu, but after a sensational build up there will be a real spring in his step.

Wales

The Dragons threatened to do the implausible (because nothing is impossible) at Euro 2016 when they reached the final four of the competition, beaten to a place in the final showcase by Cristiano Ronaldo and eventual winners Portugal. Despite a notable lull in performances since then, the squad hangs on to its tag of dark horse and, led by the mercurial talent that is Gareth Bale (liberated from the golf course via a reinvigorating loan move to Tottenham), are a danger to any side on their day. A second instalment of the great Welsh adventure could be just around the corner.

KEY MAN: It can only be the talisman himself. Gareth Bale remains an elite-level player, and holds a penchant for delivering the goods on the international stage.

GROUP B

Belgium

Belgium were a house in a hurricane throughout the qualification games: ruthless. Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans, Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard drove Roberto Martínez’s squad to a perfect ten wins on the road to Euro 2020, and they will be among the favourites to go all the way when the tournament kicks off – albeit a year late – this summer. The nation has never lifted the famous trophy and there is a growing consensus that it is do or die time for this golden generation of players.

KEY MAN: It could be any of the 23-man squad, given the country’s footballing riches. But we reckon Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne will shine brightest in this veritable galaxy of Belgian stars.

Denmark

Until Greece came along and stunned Portugal in their own back yard to seal European glory in 2004, Denmark was the smallest (and most surprising) nation to have conquered the continent. 1992 is a year Danish football will never forget, and while there is some symmetry between personnel at least, a repeat of that epic run to the final seems fanciful. Maybe current number one Kasper Schmeichel can stop in at his parents’ house to gawk at dad Peter’s European Championship medal for inspiration?

KEY MAN: Another man to taste domestic success with Inter Milan this term, playmaker Christian Eriksen is enjoying a renaissance in Italy having got off to a limp start. RB Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen also gets an honourable mention.

Finland

This is the first time Finland have ever qualified for a major tournament (World Cup or European Championships) so you can be sure the Finns are going to savour every second of Euro 2020. They’ll be in a three-horse race to escape the group behind brilliant Belgium, but there will certainly be a hop and a skip in their gallop with their names already etched into the history books. Hopes will hang firmly on striker Teemu Pukki, whose goals have propelled Norwich City back into the Premier League this season.

KEY MAN: Teemu Pukki’s goal-getting record in international competition is fierce, and he’ll need to make the most of every chance that drops his way if the Finns are to get a fourth game.

Russia

A hugely impressive campaign saw Russia take 24 points from a possible 30 in the qualifying fixtures, losing just twice to table-topping Belgium. The draw has pitched the two nations together once again, so it’s likely the Russians will need results against the Finns and Danes to progress. They’ve only made it out of the group stage once in the past seven tournaments (failing to qualify once in that window), but that run went all the way to the last four. The question is whether they can get going when it counts.

KEY MAN: A stand out in an otherwise industrial Russian midfield, Aleksandr Golovin will be the man charged with crafting a clinical edge to his side’s advances. If he’s not on-song, expect trouble.

GROUP C

Austria

While Austria are perceived as an adequately equipped side in world football, the country’s record on the big stage is woeful. They’ve qualified for the European Championships just twice down the years (once as a gimme as joint-host with Poland in 2008), and over those six games they are winless. In fact, they have more stamps in their passport than they do points (two). Franco Foda’s team had a relatively easy time during qualifying, able to lose on the final match day and still book their place, but they will need to string together something special to make an impact here.

KEY MAN: Versatile forward Marcel Sabitzer has given RB Leipzig fans plenty to cheer about this season, and he’ll look to mimic domestic success this summer.

Netherlands

Another nation to have chronically under performed at the European Championships, The Netherlands have just the solitary title to their name, clinched by Ronald Koeman, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and co. in 1988. The Oranje finished third in 1992, 2000 and 2004, but a recent decline has seen them slide from quarter finalists to going out in the group stage to not even qualifying between 2008 and 2016. And with star man Virgil Van Dijk side-lined with a torn ACL, it could be a grey summer for the team in orange.

KEY MAN: Once billed a flop at Manchester United, Memphis Depay has rediscovered his shine in France, and will be one of the trickiest wingers at the Euros.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia will make their European Championships bow after squeaking through qualification clutching one of the best third-place play-off tickets. They’ve missed all six tournaments since the devolution of the former Yugoslavia and they’ll be rank outsiders in Group C – and the tournament as whole – but they would’ve been considered the longest of Steven Gerrard long shots just to make it this far. If there was a case study for team unity over individual household names, this is it.

KEY MAN: Leeds man Ezgjan Alioski has helped Marco Bielsa make waves in the Premier League this season, but a similar splash at this level seems most remote.

Ukraine

Unbeaten in qualifying, and finishing ahead of holders Portugal and experienced outfit Serbia, Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine come into Euro 2020 as a force to be reckoned with. Spurred on by the legendary goal-machine-turned-gaffer, Ukraine’s success has been built on a miserly defence, which coughed up just four goals in the build-up to this summer. They’ve only qualified on two previous occasions, winning once in six attempts, but don’t be surprised if they top the group this time around given the dearth of quality among their stable-mates.

KEY MAN: Pep Guardiola may like him in defence, but Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko enjoys a role of greater freedom further forward with his national side and, in tandem with West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko, provides the firepower for Shevchenko’s troops.

GROUP D

Croatia

The beaten World Cup finalists had it much their own way on the road to Euro 2020, cruising through their group with the likes of skipper Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic ensuring there was no prolonged fallout from the disappointment of losing to France with the eyes of the globe watching on. The team sheet says they’ll do well this summer, but the furthest they’ve ever progressed is to the last eight in the jointly hosted Austria-Poland tournament in 2008, and in a group with more than one banana skin, a slip-up isn’t out of the question.

KEY MAN: The former Balon d’Or winner may be reaching the tail end of his career, but Luka Modric is still mesmeric in the middle of the park.

Czech Republic

The Czechs (playing under the banner of Czechoslavakia at the time) gave the beautiful game one of its iconic eye-melting moments in the Euro 1976 final. Antonín Panenka (surname sound familiar?) was the frostiest man in the stadium as he dinked a disguised spot-kick straight down the middle in a mandible-dislodging shootout with Germany. It was the decisive kick, wrapping up the greatest night in Czech football history. Will one of the current crop of Czech stars leave us practicing flair pens in the garden this year? #Doubt.

KEY MAN: Tomáš Souček helped drive West Ham to European football with their league finish this season, and is without doubt one of the signings of the Premier League this term.

England

On paper both a tasty and hazardous draw for followers of St George. Croatia broke English hearts in 2018 when they halted Gareth Southgate’s men in the World Cup semi-final, while the rivalry with Scotland borders (and is rooted in) fierce tribalism. On the other side of that same 2p coin, confidence is high given the success of English teams in club-level European competition this season, with starlets Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish providing a real potency going forward. Hopes hinge on the youngsters living up to the hype.

KEY MAN: England expects (as always) and Phil Foden may just be the man to deliver Euros glory to a nation that has never lifted the coveted trophy.

Scotland

The Scots have been looking on in anguish at the Euros from afar for a long, long time (25 years to be exact), but the wait for a major tournament is at last over. And fans wouldn’t have it any other way, with the draw pitting them against old nemesis England in the pick of the Group D ties. They had to win their final three qualifying games to guarantee safe passage – and even that only arrived via a play-off. But the Tartan Army won’t care one jot, and will be in fine voice.

KEY MAN: The Scots are over-subscribed with top tier full backs (Andy Robertson and Keiran Tierney spring to mind) but in the middle of the park the shots are called by Manchester United youngster Scott McTominay.

GROUP E

Poland

Any side with goal-machine Robert Lewandowski leading the line is a threat. The Polish talisman is nightmare fuel for defenders, and after another dream season with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, he’ll be desperate to emulate club success at international level. The Poles are relative newcomers to the European Championships circuit, first qualifying in 2008. It took them until their third tournament in 2016 to register a win, but that campaign took them to the last eight. If Rob’s up for it, don’t rule out another pulsating surge.

KEY MAN: There’s unlikely to ever be a more legendary Poland player than Robert Lewandowski. Give him an inch, he’ll bury it.

Slovakia

The Euro 2020 ship looked as if it would sail without Slovakia this summer, but they stowed away at the 11th hour courtesy of a play-off win. Largely underwhelming in the build-up, finishing ahead of only Hungary and Azerbaijan in their down-sized group, they are widely predicted to prop up Group E when the final whistle has been blown on match day three. Choppy waters lie ahead and the Slovaks could be sunk in no time flat.

KEY MAN: Technically gifted Marek Hamšík dons the armband and carries much of Slovakia’s attacking threat. Will need support to fashion an upset.

Spain

Recently one of the most potent forces in world football – driven by the glittering superstars of Barcelona and Real Madrid – the current generation of Spanish talent will do well to emulate an old guard that bookended lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy in 2012 with consecutive European Championship triumphs. The new blood navigated qualifying with aplomb, but have landed in a group of stubborn adversaries that will provide proper scrutiny of their character. There are some big shoes to fill and getting off on the right foot will be crucial.

KEY MAN: With so many fresh faces coming through the ranks, Spain will look to the older (and wiser) head of Sergio Busquets to steer the ship.

Sweden

Finished second in qualifying behind the Spaniards and will not be thrilled to have run into them again so soon. Magic man Zlatan Ibrahimović had made himself available for international duty after a five-year hiatus, but in a cruel twist the self-appointed saviour of football will miss the tournament through injury. The Swedes are notoriously slow starters, and have only managed to reach the knockout stages of the competition once in the past five tournaments. In a tight group, it will be the finest of margins that sees them clamber into the round of 16, and without Ibra’s sorcery they’ll need to pull a serious rabbit out of this particular hat.

KEY MAN: Zlatan’s absence is a knockout blow for the Swedes, and even though the big man will still consider himself the country’s most important player, the responsibility for finding the net now falls to John Guidetti.

GROUP F

France

There’s always an infamous ‘group of death’ at international competition, and the Grim Reaper himself couldn’t have weaved together a more fatal quartet than the nations vying for escape from Group F. France used the pain of losing the 2016 Euros final to fuel their march to World Cup victory in Russia two years later. They will be firm favourites this summer, and with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté and Raphaël Varane in the ranks they’ll take some stopping. They’re also positively stacked all over the park, and a second XI would go deep into the tournament if B teams were allowed to enter. Scary.

KEY MAN: Kylian Mbappe is a future Balon d’Or winner. Lightning across the turf and wielding an elite mentality despite his tender years, expect another display of the young Frenchman’s talents this summer.

Germany

The Germans are the joint most decorated team in the competition – having won it three times – and, led by boss Joachim Löw, boast one of the game’s most astute tactical minds (when he’s not being caught on live TV eating his own bogies, that is). Germany are long overdue another triumph and a conveyor belt of talent – current stars include Bundesliga trio Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich alongside Chelsea’s Kai Havertz – have Die Mannschaft looking as ripped as Bayern Munich’s entire meme-famous squad. Expect a major flex this summer.

KEY MAN: Players seem to hit new heights when they depart Arsenal, and Serge Gnabry is the poster boy for that post-Gunners evolution. A frightening player when at full tilt.

Hungary

The Hungarians finished second from bottom in their qualifying group, sneaking into the competition proper via the most unlikely of play-off side doors. Their reward will be three of the biggest fixtures in their modern history, and come opening day the focus will be firmly on damage limitation. They’ll be (quite rightly) viewed as whipping boys, and disrupt and frustrate tactics will be in place for their full 270 minutes of football before the bags are packed and the team sails back to Budapest. It’s David versus Goliath and his two big mates, kind of stuff.

KEY MAN: At just 20 years of age, Dominik Szoboszlai is Hungarian football’s rising star. Any spaghetti-slim hopes of an upset will have to come through him.

Portugal

This will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final European Championship (probably), and one in which he’ll want to cement his place in football folklore. He already has his fingerprints on the trophy, having snatched it from France in 2016 via Eder’s late strike, placing him firmly ahead of great rival Lionel Messi when it comes to international accolades. And while he is the competition’s leading appearance maker (21 at time of writing), he doesn’t yet top the goal scoring charts outright, instead sharing that mantle with France’s Michel Platini. Emerging talent in the shape of Manchester City duo Bernard Silva and Rúben Dias, United’s Bruno Fernandes, Atlético’s João Félix and, you know, half the Wolves side mean Cristiano’s supporting cast is as good as it will ever be for a silverware-laden swan song.