Euro 2016: The Preview
A look at the best storylines of the summer’s most exciting international soccer tournament.
We’ve approached the eve of Euro 2016, the best international soccer tournament that’s not the World Cup — and given that those only come every four years, having the Euros sandwiched in between Cups is a sweet compromise, especially given that the broadcast schedule is shamelessly American-friendly. This year’s tournament introduces a little more chaos than the usual format; instead of a 16-team field, there’s 24 teams, meaning four teams who place third in their groups will advance to the knockout stage. So to all my Albanians reading this: turn up!
The Euros might not have the profile of the World Cup, but teams at the bottom of the Euro ladder carry more disruption potential than their basement-dwelling World Cup peers. Teams like Northern Ireland or Iceland will be able to hang with Portugal or Germany better than, say, Australia ever could. After all, this is a tournament that Greece — at 150/1 odds — won in 2004. There’s pride on the line, names to be made, precious time to fritter away watching this damn thing in the post-NBA Finals void where there’s nothing but baseball. The Euros are here to restore your sense of purpose. Rejoice!
The tournament starts Friday, as host nation France plays their first game against Romania, and the barrage begins in the days that follow. Here’s what to watch for:
PAUL POGBA DOING PAUL POGBA STUFF
The French have the best odds to win the tournament, and if that’s going to happen, look for Paul Pogba to become the tourney’s star, dropping dimes and Vines. He doesn’t find the back of the net a ton, but the kid is a creator, and he does a lot of cool shit.
He’s only one piece of the tournament’s most exciting midfield — which includes relative newbie French first teamer Kingsley Coman, who’s only 19— and you’ve gotta think they’ll be juiced to light up their home soil.
In case you need further convincing to root for Les Bleus in Euro 2016, here’s your man with a Minion shaved into his head:
A NEW ENGLAND
Though England will always have the expectations and the narrative, they probably won’t win the Euros. However, in place of the usually creaky, increasingly ancient England teams of yore is a side stacked with young talent — Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling — and a backline that encourages a more attacking style than the Lions of the past.
The English media is precious about their team, so there’s always gotta be some sort of non-soccer drama afoot. My favorite unnecessary controversy involves England’s lack of official song for the 2016 Euros. Lightning Seeds, who wrote the famous, chant-friendly “Three Lions,” say it’s because they “killed off the football anthem.” But can the answer be that simple?
FROM ZERO TO HERO
Chaos can be a good thing. Given that two of the tournament’s biggest international stars — Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wales’ Gareth Bale — compete for teams with long-ish odds, the tournament could serve as a platform for some world-class heroball.
If that isn’t enough to root for the underdogs, you do want the sun to shine, don’t you?
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF GAMBLING
If you’re the betting type, the best odds for a longshot appear to be Austria at 40/1. They had a sick qualifying run, and they’re the kind of defensive-minded team that might just snowball into a phenomenon, a la 2004’s Greece or this year’s Barclay Premiership winner Leicester City. Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, a defender/midfielder who Real Madrid is dying to purchase, could be one of the breakout stars of the tournament, and a weak Group F means that they will likely be through to the knockout stages.
If you’re going to follow one Snapchat all tournament, make it Alaba’s, da_twentyseven:
THE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL DOMINANCE
It’s 2016, and let’s face it — conquering social engagement is the way of the world. The national team with the most vocal supporters on Twitter worldwide will see the Eiffel Tower light up with their country’s colors, via a social campaign by the telecommunications provider Orange. If the red dragon that festoons the Welsh flag appeared on the French monument on a Sunday night alongside the upcoming Game of Thrones finale, would Twitter implode? It’s up to us to find out. Let’s not blow it.
