Portugal, who with Ronaldo?
Portugal hopes to defend their title with Cristiano Ronaldo in sparkling form. This is the case with Juventus: at 35, he already has 25 achievements in 31 games this season. Difficult, however, to predict who will be the partner of CR7 at the forefront of the attack. After his miraculous transfer to Atlético Madrid, the young Joao Félix remains in favorable bundling with Gonçalo Guedes, but neither of them is immune. The animation of the Portuguese midfield will however certainly be attributed to the two Manchester stars: Bernardo Silva, one of the darlings of Pep Guardiola in City, and Bruno Fernandes, a winter rookie from United who has relaunched the Red Devils season. In defense, the reliability of Pepe, 37, will be scrutinized.
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France, injuries to the shovel
The reigning world champions and vice-champions of Europe are not doing well with physical glitches. The midfielder, in particular, remains handicapped by the injuries of the "English" N'Golo Kanté (adductors), Paul Pogba (ankle) and Moussa Sissoko (knee), still in rehabilitation at Clairefontaine. The wings are also sealed by the concerns of Kingsley Coman (thigh) and Thomas Lemar (hamstrings), while Ousmane Dembélé (thigh) is already forfeited. The only thinning concerns the Marseille winger Florian Thauvin, back to collective training. In this blackboard, Didier Deschamps can still rejoice in the happiness of Olivier Giroud, his favorite striker, out of the cellar at Chelsea where he has been patient for very long weeks. The big bearded man with 97 selections comes out of a full streak with three tenures full of promise. On the front of the tricolor attack, Kylian Mbappé continues to chain goals with Paris SG, a happiness that Antoine Griezmann does not know, still not acclimatized to FC Barcelona.
»READ ALSO - Unavailable six months, Ousmane Dembélé will miss Euro 2020
Germany without certainty
Coach Joachim Löw has ruled out all of the 2014 world title holders except Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos. The stars of the team are no longer clad in titles and are rather promises for the future: with Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Timo Werner, formidable fireworks specialist this season with Leipzig, the attack is well provided. But behind, the serious injury of Niklas Süle weakened the team. It is unclear whether Bayern Munich's center back will have returned in time for the Euro. In his absence, and after the ousts of Jérôme Boateng and Mats Hummels, Löw will have to compose a hinge with Rüdiger, Ginter or Tah, who have not yet really shown their capacity at the highest international level.
Hazard injured, Belgium holds its breath
England without biting
With the injuries of Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, England feared for their offensive power, their main asset in the qualifying campaign. Both players must in theory be handed over for the Euro, but in what form? The relative misform of Raheem Sterling, weaned from goal in 2020 with Manchester City and hit by a physical glitch recently, does not help, while Tammy Abraham is also very discreet with Chelsea. Some have even started to advocate the return of Jamie Vardy, who wished to step back in 2018. But the best English scorer in the championship with Leicester has also been going through a period of scarcity since the start of the year.
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- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 4, 2020Belgium, Hazard and suspense
Coach Roberto Martinez crosses his fingers after the injury of his genius Eden Hazard (crack in a shin) which will keep him sidelined for two to three months. Will he have regained the rhythm for the Euro? Fortunately, the Red Devils have other assets, notably that of Kevin de Bruyne who shines brightly in Manchester City. As defensive midfielder, Axel Witsel (Dortmund) has never looked so strong. And in front, Romelu Lukaku quickly won at Inter Milan and scores as he breathes. The concerns are rather at the back even if the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is in the form of his life at Real. This will be very necessary because the state of health of "boss" Vincent Kompany remains unstable while Jan Vertonghen has lost his place as holder at Tottenham.
Netherlands, solid defense
If we except the long injury of Lyonnais Memphis Depay, who heals himself in the hope of returning in time, all the lights are green on the Oranje side. The Dutch defense can count on the talent of Virgil van Dijk, at the top of his game with Liverpool, and Matthijs de Ligt, the former nugget of Ajax Amsterdam who seems to have well digested his transfer to Juventus for 85 million d euros.
Read also
- Euro 2020 calendar