The Austrian team was undoubtedly the biggest surprise during the qualifiers for Euro 2016, easily winning group G, unbeaten with 9 wins and 1 draw, leaving the 2nd place Russia 8 points behind and reaching its second European in its history (2008) as one of the great question marks of the competition, but considered by some European journalists as the main favorite to win Group F.

Despite playing under the radar for many fans, quality is not lacking in this Austrian side. The focus on their defense, despite Dragovic’s great qualifiers, is on the flanks. Florian Klein is one of those wingbacks that “comes and goes” throughout the whole match, and Fuchs, at the age of 30, just reached his finest moment in European football after a fantastic season with English champion Leicester.

But the great strength of Austria lies on their five midfielders. Aged 23, and despite playing mainly as a center-back for Bayern Munich, David Alaba is certainly the biggest star of this group. Quick and fast, a smart passer, he’s the key-man for Marcel Koller’s imposed rapid offensive transitions.

Further ahead operates a creative trio, keen on exploring opposite defenses backs. One of the Werder Bremen’s duo, Martin Harnik is perhaps the most complete midfielder they have, competent both in defensive duties as offensive ones, accumulating 68 goals in 6 seasons in the Bundesliga.

The talented Arnautovic will play on the left and try to follow up his best season since 2009. The Stoke player, unsuccessful at Inter Milan, scored 11 goals and had 6 assists in the Premier League and finally seems able to put in place the pure talent field everyone acknowledges him.

As the lone striker, the Austrians deploy the unspectacular but very efficient Marc Janko. In the last two seasons, 6 goals in 54 matches for club, and 7 goals with 2 assists in 9 games for his country.

The Portuguese national team reached France after breezing through its qualifying group, winning every game apart from the home opener against Albania, in a game that cost manager Paulo Bento his job being replaced by Fernando Santos. Portugal has a rich history in the Euros, always advancing to the knockout rounds every time they qualified, and reaching the semi-finals three times in the last four appearances.

Having only conceded 5 goals during qualifying, the portuguese defense, with 71 years combined between their center-halves — 38-year old Ricardo Carvalho will be the oldest field player of the competition and Pepe is younger but already in his thirties -, compensates in experience what it lacks in speed. Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerreiro should be their wing-backs, with loads of forward runs, essential to Santos’ tactical formation, with fake wingers opening the flank with interior runs.

The holding midfielder position is still up for grabs between William Carvalho and Danilo Pereira, with the latter taking the pole in recent friendlies due to his higher intensity and scope of duties, losing only in pass quality when compared to William Carvalho.

For the wings, only João Mário seems to be a lock among several options. After breaking through in the Portuguese League, the Sporting youngster will surely take advantage of the stage for another opportunity to put himself in the eyes of Europe’s biggest clubs, keeping the usual transfer rumours running through the competition. On the opposite side, Rafa Silva, André Gomes or even Adrien Silva and Quaresma are possibilities for the “Engineer” to choose from, depending on tactical variations adapted to opponents.

The offense is left to two wingers, playing more on the inside than what they are used to, with Ronaldo having some familiarity due to Real Madrid’s similar scheme without Benzema.
No matter the position, Ronaldo is one of world football’s stars and, if we exclude friendlies, has 44 goals and 14 assists in 83 caps for Portugal. However, Portugal’s dependency on Ronaldo is huge and his standard of play will correlate directly to the outcome of the Portuguese dream.

Finishing 3rd in Group G behind the surprising Austria and Russia, Sweden booked the flight to France in a playoff win against historic rival Denmark, with a 2–1 home win and a 2 goal draw away. Coming out of the group stage also won’t be easy for a team that in the last 20 years (94’ doesn’t make the cut) has only once advanced to the knockout phase once (04’), with the Swedes hoping that this new format debuting in this Euro could put them through.

Defense was perhaps the main problem in qualifying for the Swedish team, earning clean sheets solely in matches against Liechtenstein and against Moldova. Some changes are expected from Erik Hamrén, and the quick Lindelof, after having a great season with Benfica, and despite not playing against Wales in the last friendly, seems to be the frontrunner for the job.

Up ahead, the recent injury Albin Ekdal raises some questions as to who will double with veteran Kim Kallstrom in the starting lineup, at least for Sweden’s opener against the Republic of Ireland, with young gun Oscar Lewicki, after starring in Sweden’s win last year in Euro U21 last year, looking to snatch the vacant spot.

On the wings, Olympiacos’ Jimmy Durmaz will feature on the right with his very powerful shot and Emil Forsberg, voted 2014’s best Swedish midfielder and a key-figure in Leipzig’s promotion to the Bundesliga this year, will play the opposite flank.

will by inspiration of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Regarded by many as one of the best players in the world, combining an undeniable geniality with a thirst for controversy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s inspiration will set the bar for the Swede’s chances of success. After his most prolific season ever, with 50 goals in 51 games (38 in 31 in Ligue 1) “Ibra” has this summer, at age of 34, the last chance to achieve some kind of success for his country.

During qualifying he was mostly deployed in a support role, playing behind the striker, allowing him the freedom of movement to appear in areas with less traffic, leaving Marcus Berg as the target man in this Swedish team.

A three-time participant in the European Championships, Ireland expects to turn around the table on their latest appearance in the tournament. Four years ago, they left Euro 2012 with 3 defeats in 3 games, 1 goal scored and 9 conceded. Joined also by Belgium and Italy in their group, the Irish aspire to beat Sweden within the Group while managing to be one the four best 3rd place finishers, resulting in a draw against the winners of Group A or D, probably France and Spain.

Martin O’Neill’s base formation is a 4–2–3–1, that derives into a 4–4–2 if more firepower is needed. Commanding the backline, John O’Shea warrants the experience of a player that has won it all during his stay at Man United, but Ireland’s full-backs are the highlight of the defensive quartet. Both Coleman and Brady mindsets are offense-first and each on their own flank provide greath width to the team, allowing Walters and Hendrick to step into interior zones, being deployed as fake wingers. The Norwich player, a midfielder for his club, leads the whole team in crosses and chances created.

The qualities Ireland brings into a match are well stated in their midfield. Hard-working and tough-minded, their flaws are hidden behind sacrifice and superation. British pundits predict no team will outwork O’Neill’s boys, a coach known for extracting the best out of the players he works with.

The only exception to the blue-collar profile most Irishmen share is Wes Hoolahan, the squad’s creative player. Despiste not entering the pitch in the last friendlies, Hoolahan is clearly the most technically gifted player of the 23 selected to represent Ireland. What remains to be seen is if the 34-year old playmaker still has the resistance to withstand a competition like this, with several games in a short period of time and with a small window for physical recovery.

Another irish veteran expected to start is Robbie Keane but his fitness levels appear to be far from what is desirable and should probably start Euro 2016 on the bench, with Shane Long, after a humdrum season for Southampton (26 games, 10 goals), replacing him after a strong finish to the Premier League (3 goals, 3 assists in the last 6 games).

Even if the 23 players the Italians sent to France are considered one of the weaker Italian groups of the past decades, the truth is that the 2nd-placed team in the last European Champions easily won Group H, and is massive favourite to join Belgium in the next phase, in a group where Sweden and Ireland can hardly intrude.

History tells us that even when they are not at their very best, the Italians almost always find a way to have relative success in international tournaments, although results show they are definitely better at World Cups than Euros, winning only at home in the distant year of 1968.

Antonio Conte will keep the 3–5–2, and has recently stated that the three Juventus defenders are the only players with guaranteed spot in the lineup. To the vast experience gained throught their carrears, add the fact that they play together throughout the year, and that should ensure what it is always Italy’s first idea of game, their defensive solidity.

The Italian midfield, an important sector in all formations and even more in a 3–5–2, arrives in France in shambles, depleted of Pirlo (not called up), Montolivo, Marchisio and Verrati lost to injury, the latter sure starts in normal circumstances. Recent friendlies have cleared some doubts on who has an advantage into the starting eleven, and the experienced Daniele de Rossi will make a trio in the center with the less renowned Florenzi and Giaccherini.

On the wings, Candreva from Lazio and Man United’s Darmian, who cover all the flank and a big part of what this Italian team can really do, keeping equilibrium in numbers on both ends of the pitch.

Graziano Pellé looks inked in up front, probably paired with the Italo-Brazilian Eder or Lorenzo Insigne. The Southampton player had another relevant season in the Premier League, scoring 14 goals, still a little shy of the gold standard he set at Feyenoord, celebrating 55 times in just 66 games.