Soccer fans don’t need to wait four years to watch some of the best teams in the world compete for sports glory. The qualifying campaign for Euro 2016 is coming in September with 53 teams from one confederation all vying for qualification in one of the most prestigious titles in European soccer. The qualifiers will feature the biggest teams across Europe including Spain, Germany, Portugal and Netherlands. You can find all the Euro 2016 qualifying groups lines here.
The month of September will feature a lot of kicking action as the 2014 NFL regular season is also set to start. To prepare yourself for all the football action, check out our complete set of NFL team previews. In the meantime, read on as the Europeans prepare to kick off another cycle of world-class soccer.
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Euro 2016 Qualifying Groups Preview, Picks, and Predictions
A host of changes were made to the Euro 2016 qualifying process as compared to recent years. These changes were brought about by the tournament’s expansion from 16 teams in the finals to 24. The qualification process has also expanded to 53 nations, with Gibraltar set to take part for the first time. By virtue of being hosts, France gains automatic qualification, leaving those 53 countries to play for 23 places.
This tournament’s qualifying will feature eight groups of six (Groups A-H) and one group of five (Group I). As opposed to just the group winners gaining automatic qualification, the top two countries from each group will now gain a spot in the finals.
The best third-placed team also gains automatic qualification. The ranking of those teams will be determined by taking all eight countries’ records after removing each one’s results against the last-placed team on their respective groups. The other eight third-placed teams will play two-legged playoffs with the winner of each playoff going through to the finals.
With the format now explained, here are our picks to finish as group winners, runners-up and third-placed teams for all nine groups.
Group Winners, Runners-up and Third-Placed Teams
Group A – Winners: Netherlands; Runners-up: Turkey; 3rd Place: Czech Republic
Group B – Winners: Belgium; Runners-up: Bosnia and Herzegovina; 3rd Place: Wales
Belgium and Bosnia & Herzegovina were dark horses to win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Belgium, with its promising roster of young players, managed to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup but fell to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
On the other hand, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a disappointing campaign, but will still field a dangerous team. They scored 30 goals in the World Cup qualifiers led by star striker Edin Dzeko. The Belgians should win this group easily, and B-H will make it very competitive overall.
Group C – Winners: Spain; Runners-up: Ukraine; 3rd Place: Slovakia
Defending European champions Spain, landed the easiest group of the qualifier by virtue of being the top seed in the tournament. Spain made a quick exit at the 2014 World Cup after they were dismantled by Netherlands and Chile. However, they rallied late to avoid a fourth-place finish when their brilliance finally showed in a 3-0 win against Australia.
Despite their early exit in Brazil, Spain are +500 favorites to win it all in France and should be able to manage a top-two finish in their group.
Group D – Winners: Germany; Runners-up: Poland; 3rd Place: Rep. of Ireland
Group D appears to be the toughest group in qualifying, with world champions Germany, neighbors Poland, and Ireland and Scotland, but this group should still be Germany’s for the taking. The Germans thrashed Ireland 6-1 in the World Cup qualifiers and are fresh off proving they are the best side in the world. Germany has 14 players aged 25 and under, which makes their potential for improvement frightening.
Their devastating offense will be in full effect at Euro 2016. Expect them to top Group D without any major hiccups. Germany is a clear favorite to win Euro 2016 outright at +275.
Group E – Winners: Switzerland; Runners-up: England; 3rd Place: Slovenia
Switzerland managed to qualify for the second stage of the World Cup as they displayed opportunistic finishing as well as the ability to overwhelm overmatched foes. They then exited at the Round of 16, falling to eventual runners-up Argentina.
This group is one of the more interesting groups as England has not lost to Switzerland since 1988. However, England was largely disappointing in its 2014 World Cup campaign while the Swiss showed some flashes of brilliance.
Switzerland offers the best price to win a group in qualifying at +250.
Group F – Winners: Greece; Runners-up: Romania; 3rd Place: Finland
Greece was one of the unlikely teams to reach the second stage of the World Cup after a controversial penalty gave them a win over Ivory Coast. The Greeks won’t be facing the top teams of the world in Group F, and in turn their defense should lead them to victory in a wide-open group F.
Group G – Winners: Russia; Runners-up: Sweden; 3rd Place: Montenegro
Russia was another of the dark horses at the 2014 World Cup, but failed to perform to their full expectations. They drew with Algeria and Japan, and lost to their only European opposition, Belgium. Sweden, on the other hand, beat Portugal to top the group at the qualifiers for the World Cup but faltered in the playoffs. The previous meeting between Russia and Sweden was at the group stage of Euro 2008, with the Russians winning 2-0.
Group H – Winners: Italy; Runners-up: Croatia; 3rd Place: Bulgaria
Italy and Croatia both failed to make it past the World Cup group stage. The two teams should make for a competitive Group H as they had spurts of brilliant displays at the World Cup. Italy’s ever-volatile Mario Balotelli can dazzle if he’s up for it, while Croatia’s hot-headed Mario Mandzukic will liven up his team’s attack whenever he can. There will surely be an explosive clash when the two Marios meet each other on the field.
Group I – Winners: Portugal; Runners-up: Serbia; 3rd Place: Denmark
Cristiano Ronaldo was battling a knee injury while playing for Portugal at the World Cup. The Portuguese rely heavily on Ronaldo, which is why they struggle when the star player isn’t in peak fitness. However, they should breeze through the qualifying campaign for this tournament.
Serbia had a strong qualifying campaign for the World Cup, but only finished third in their group behind Croatia and Belgium. In Group I, expect Serbia to challenge but eventually fall short against Portugal.
Best Third-Placed Team: Czech Republic
The Czech Republic managed to finish first in Group A of Euro 2012 which involved tough teams in Poland and Russia, and lost a cagey match against Portugal 1-0 in the knockout stage. The Czechs will be bringing in the same form, but will only finish third behind Netherlands and Turkey in Group A.
The Czech Republic possesses a squad that is capable of making waves at Euro 2016. Expect them to come on top of the third-place standings to nab the final automatic qualification spot at the Euro 2016 finals.
Another sensational soccer tournament is on its way. Create a betting account now to get in on the heated battle to qualify for Euro 2016.
