Each European Championship does have to include one Group of Death. Euro 2020 is no exception, with Group F including the last two World Cup champions, as well as the current European champions. France, Portugal and Germany may be the stars here, but Hungary won’t be pushovers either. Here’s what to expect from Group F.
Hungary
Hungary will have hoped for an easier draw. Instead, they will meet three of the world’s best teams in front of a full-house in Budapest. This may not be a team that includes a lot of star players. Furthermore, Dominik Szoboszlai, the player that contributed most to their qualification success will be out of contention with injury.
In spite of all of this, Hungary has proven a resilient and tough team. Opponents are likely to need to push themselves in hopes of a positive result. And, with some luck, the Hungarians may even hope for a place in the Round of 16.
Hungary squad:
Goalkeepers: Ádám Bogdán (Ferencváros), Dénes Dibusz (Ferencváros), Péter Gulácsi (Leipzig)
Defenders: Bendegúz Bolla (Fehérvár), Endre Botka (Ferencváros), Attila Fiola (Fehérvár), Ákos Kecskés (Lugano), Ádám Lang (Omonoia), Gergő Lovrencsics (Ferencváros), Loïc Négo (Fehérvár), Willi Orbán (Leipzig), Attila Szalai (Fenerbahçe)
Midfielders: Tamás Cseri (Mezőkövesd), Dániel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union), László Kleinheisler (Osijek), Ádám Nagy (Bristol City), András Schäfer (Dunajská Streda), Dávid Sigér (Ferencváros), Kevin Varga (Kasımpaşa), Roland Varga (MTK Budapest)
Forwards: János Hahn (Paks), Filip Holender (Partizan), Nemanja Nikolić (Fehérvár), Roland Sallai (Freiburg), Szabolcs Schön (FC Dallas), Ádám Szalai (Mainz)
Portugal
Portugal won the European Championship last time around. Their style was not particularly eye-pleasing. This time around, however, their squad selection looks even better. Fernando Santos is blessed with choices, especially in attacking areas.
The group stage could prove tricky, however. Yet, Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo at full capacity, has proven in the past to be a team capable of making the best of any opportunities. The Portuguese are among the favorites to reach the final stages and with good reason.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Rui Patrício (Wolves), Rui Silva (Granada)
Defenders: Rúben Dias (Manchester City), José Fonte (LOSC Lille), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP), Pepe (Porto), Nélson Semedo (Wolves), Diogo Dalot (AC Milan)
Midfielders: William Carvalho (Real Betis), Danilo (Paris), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Gonçalo Guedes (Valencia), João Moutinho (Wolves), Rúben Neves (Wolves), Sérgio Oliveira (Porto), João Palhinha (Sporting CP), Pote (Sporting CP), Renato Sanches (LOSC Lille), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Forwards: João Félix (Atlético Madrid), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Rafa Silva (Benfica)
France
France won the World Cup in 2018. Since then, little of their prowess looks to have gone to waste. If anything, their squad depth seems to suggest that they have the strongest team in the competition, on paper at least.
Surprises could arise in a group such as this. However, with a squad featuring some of the best players of the top teams in Europe, there’s an endless amount of potential. Naturally, most pairs of eyes will be cast on Kylian Mbappe. The player has won most honors at a tender age, yet does not seem to have reached his full potential just yet, a terrible thing for France’s opponents indeed.
France squad:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (Milan), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernández (Bayern), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris), Jules Koundé (Sevilla), Clément Lenglet (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Kingsley Coman (Bayern), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Thomas Lemar (Atlético Madrid), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern)
Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (Paris), Marcus Thuram (Mönchengladbach)
Germany
Rumors are swirling about discontent in the German squad. This is, after all, the final tournament for manager Joachim Low, as well as many of the older German players. However, the quality of Low’s squad cannot be ignored, nor the trophies earned by many of these players in recent years.
The Germans have their work cut out for them. Still, with potentially three players capable of qualifying to the knockout stage, and plenty to prove for players like Toni Kroos, this heavyweight team cannot be underlooked.
Germany squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Bernd Leno (Arsenal), Kevin Trapp (Frankfurt)
Defenders: Emre Can (Dortmund), Matthias Ginter (Mönchengladbach), Robin Gosens (Atalanta), Christian Günter (Freiburg), Marcel Halstenberg (Leipzig), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Lukas Klostermann (Leipzig), Robin Koch (Leeds), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea), Niklas Süle (Bayern)
Midfielders: Serge Gnabry (Bayern), Leon Goretzka (Bayern), İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City), Jonas Hofmann (Mönchengladbach), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern), Florian Neuhaus (Mönchengladbach), Leroy Sané (Bayern)
Forwards: Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Thomas Müller (Bayern), Kevin Volland (Monaco), Timo Werner (Chelsea)
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