The 2016 UEFA European Championship
Roga takes a look at predictions for the winning team in addition to the top-scorer of the upcoming Euro 2016.
The 2016 UEFA European Championship (Euro 2016) is usually held every four years, in addition to This kind of year will be the 15th edition of This kind of competition. The very first edition took place in 1960, back when only four countries could qualify for the tournament. In 1980, the UEFA decided in which not four, yet eight countries were allowed to qualify for the European Championship. In 1996, UEFA discovered the commercial gains of holding such an event in addition to decided to expand This kind of to 16 teams.
in addition to right now, for the 1st time in history, 24 teams will compete for the title.
The decision to expand the number of teams again is usually due to the fact in which UEFA is usually convinced in which the item gives smaller countries a chance to qualify, which will inspire them to develop in addition to stimulate the game of football within these countries. True, yet we all know in which for an organization such as UEFA or FIFA, the words ‘development’ in addition to ‘stimulation’ can easily be translated to commercial benefits or in various other words cold hard cash.
I can understand in which not many people in Indonesia will stay awake to watch Slovakia, Albania or Northern Ireland. yet give these nations a chance because, as history shows, Denmark shocked us all by winning the Euros in 1992, in addition to Greece surprised everybody by winning in 2004.
Funny fact: there is usually a 12-year pattern in play here, whereby an unexpected nation wins the title every 12 years. So, could 2016 be a year of another surprise during the Euros? Why not? After Leicester City’s fairytale This kind of season (where they beat all the football giants within the Barclays Premier League in addition to became the champions), This kind of could serve as inspiration for some of the players in addition to coaches within the Euros.
Place your bets, please
So, who are the candidates to win the Euro 2016? I think France carries a strong squad in addition to hold the home advantage. They have already proven twice in which when they host a tournament, they can win the item. They were the hosts of the Euros in 1984 in addition to the globe Cup in 1998, in addition to at both events they were the proud winners. Speaking of patterns, they won the Euros in 1984 in addition to 2000. When we follow This kind of 16-year pattern, the item should be their time again This kind of year.
yet we always have to look out for the Germans. No matter which players they select for the tournament, they always make the item to the finals somehow. Spain is usually going to try to set a record by winning the Euro 2016 three consecutive times – in addition to I believe they hold the qualities to do so. The fact there was a Champions League final between two teams coming from Madrid should be considered a warning. I know in which there were non-Spanish players within the Champions League final, yet take the Spanish players of the Champions League final out in addition to add the Spanish players of FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Juventus in addition to Manchester United, in addition to you will have a candidate for the title.
This kind of year my money is usually going on Belgium. They have an extremely strong squad, even without their skipper Vincent Kompany, who unfortunately is usually injured. All the players hold the perfect age to perform at their best This kind of summer in addition to I expect a lot coming from Eden Hazard.
Last September I was with Euro legend Ruud Gullit in Jakarta. He told me in which one of the main reasons in which he won the Euro in 1988 with The Netherlands was Marco van Basten.
Van Basten in addition to Gullit were teammates at AC Milan in addition to Van Basten was out with an injury during the season, yet recovered right before the tournament.
“Because of in which, he was super fit in addition to I played a long in addition to tough season with AC Milan before the start of the tournament. The fitness of Van Basten made a difference,” Ruud Gullit told me.
Eden Hazard managed fewer minutes than he did the seasons before at Chelsea. Therefore I believe he will be one of the few world-class players to attend the Euros that has a fully charged battery in addition to will make the difference for Belgium.
Top scorer
The all-time top-scorer of the Euros is usually Frenchman Michel Platini. He has held This kind of record since 1984 with nine goals! Wayne Rooney (England, several goals), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, six goals) in addition to Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, six goals) are the only active players in contention to break This kind of record, however none of them have come close enough.
I don’t think Wayne Rooney will break This kind of record because Vardy in addition to Kane will most likely start in front in addition to Rooney will probably be used as a midfielder, or even worse, not even be included within the starting line-up.
Ronaldo will be eager to break This kind of record. He is usually able to break records in addition to the title ‘all-time top-scorer’ of the Euros is usually a record in which cannot be taken away coming from him by his Argentinean rival, Lionel Messi.
yet he played a lot of games This kind of season in addition to the latest was the Champions League final on May 28. So will he be fit enough to do the trick?
in which is usually why my money is usually on Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic; he has everything the item takes to be a legend, in addition to with the seasons he’s had at Paris Saint Germain, he’s already proven in which he’s comfortable scoring goals on French territory. the item will be his last masterpiece within the country where he scored a lot of goals for his former club, Paris Saint Germain.
There is usually one big difference between Platini in addition to the active players. Platini just needs one tournament to set This kind of record. This kind of is usually going to be Rooney’s his third Euro tournament, in addition to the fourth for Ronaldo in addition to Zlatan.
All-in-all, I think This kind of tournament is usually going to be fun in addition to full of surprises! Enjoy!
- WHERE TO WATCH
Matches kick off at 8pm, 11pm in addition to 2am (WIB) in addition to what better place to watch than in a lively sports bar with your mates? Watching at home is usually boring! Grab a cold one in addition to some food, chat with your mates, get settled, in addition to make the most of your bar visit!
Eastern Promise
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 5, Jakarta
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Phone: +62 (021) 717 90151
Cazbar
Kantor Taman E3.3, Jl. Mega Kuningan, Jakarta
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Phone: +62 21 576 4582
Fez
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 78 B, Lantai Ground, Jakarta
Phone: +62 (021) 719 2677
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Dungeon Pool Lounge
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 78B, Jakarta
Phone: +62 (021) 719 2673
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Aphrodite
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav C22, Jakarta
Phone: +62 (021) 527 3307
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A FULL SCHEDULE OF THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 is usually AVAILABLE IN INDONESIA EXPAT ISSUE #167 (PRINT EDITION). TO GET A COPY, PLEASE VISIT YOUR NEAREST DISTRIBUTION POINT OR EMAIL info@indonesiaexpat.biz
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The 2016 UEFA European Championship
The 2016 UEFA European Championship