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EURO 2016 GROUP C PREVIEW: PLAYERS TO WATCH (FEAT. ARSENAL & SOUTHAMPTON STARS)

World Cup winners Germany, the free-scoring Poles, the defensively sound Ukraine and underdogs Northern Ireland, Group C appears, on paper at least, to be the most unbalanced of the six groups. 

 

Fixtures (all times CET)

Sunday 12th June (18.00) - Poland vs Northern Ireland (Stade de Nice)
Sunday 12th June (21.00) - Germany vs Ukraine (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Thursday 16th June (18.00) - Ukraine vs Northern Ireland (Stade de Lyon)
Thursday 16th June (21.00) - Germany vs Poland (Stade de France, Paris)
Tuesday 21st June (18.00) - Northern Ireland vs Germany (Parc des Princes, Paris)
Tuesday 21st June (18.00) - Ukraine vs Poland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)

 

Germany

 

The world champions topped their qualifying group ahead of Poland and Republic of Ireland but it wasn't as easy a ride as it should have been. With Ireland taking four points off the Germans and a 2-0 defeat to Poland, Germany narrowly beat Georgia 2-1 at home to secure top spot, just one point ahead of the Poles. Having appeared in more tournaments and reached more finals than any other nation, plus three titles, matched only by Spain, the World Cup winners go into the Euros with a huge level of expectation on their shoulders. 

 

Players to Watch: Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Özil 

At just 26, the forward boasts an extraordinary trophy haul. At club level Müller has won five Bundesliga titles, three German Cups, one Champions League, one Super Cup and a Club World Cup. Throw in 2014's World Cup and all that's left to win is the European Championships. Netting 20 goals from 31 appearances for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Müller comes into the tournament in excellent goalscoring form.

Of all goalkeepers to play more than 20 league games in European football, Manuel Neuer conceded the fewest goals, just 16 in 34 appearances, and is arguably still the world's best keeper. An attacking array of talent in the Germany squad includes Arsenal's Mesut Özil. The 27-year-old created the most chances (144) and registered the most assists (19) of any player in Europe's top five leagues.

 

Stat Attack: Müller was Germany's top scorer in qualifying, netting nine goals in nine appearances and added a further two assists. Involved in 11 of Germany's 24 goals, Müller was directly involved in a goal, on average, every 73 minutes.   

 

 

Poland

 

Having finished second to Germany in qualifying, and by just one point, the Poles will not only fancy their chances of getting out of their group, they'll hold realistic ambitions of winning it. As the top scorers in qualifying with 33 goals in 10 matches, Poland's firepower is frightening. 

 

Players to Watch: Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Kamil Grosicki

The best striker in Europe? the world? It's hard to argue against it. The 27-year-old heads into the Euros off the back of a huge season that saw him become the first Bundesliga player to break the 30-goal barrier for the first time in 39 years which included a five-goal haul in just nine minutes against Wolfsburg, a European club record in itself.

Alongside Lewandowski in attack sits Ajax forward Arkadiusz Milik who weighed in with 6 goals and 6 assists in qualifying. The 22-year-old also netted 21 goals in 31 appearance in the Dutch Eredivisie proving that he's just as dangerous for his club as he is for his country. Rennes winger Kamil Grosicki was another player to shine for Poland in qualifying, scoring four goals and registering four assists.

 

Stat Attack: Lewandowski was the top scorer in the qualifying stages with 13 goals, averaging a goal every 67 minutes. He also registered a further four assists.  

 

 

Ukraine

 

Reaching the finals via the play-offs, Ukraine finished third in their group behind Spain and Slovakia. A 3-1 aggregate victory over Slovenia in the play-off secured Ukraine a second appearance in the competition. Defensively strong having conceded just five goals in 12 games, going forward they struggle, finding the back of the net just 17 times, an average of 1.4 goals per game.    

 

Players to Watch: Yevhen Konoplyanka, Andriy Yarmolenko

Three time Ukrainian Player of the Year (2010, 2012, 2013), only matched by Andriy Shevchenko, Sevilla winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is one of the stars in the Ukrainian side. Scoring two and assisting one, the 26-year-old will need to be in good form if his country are to have any hope of progressing into the latter stages of the competition.

Despite an excellent defensive record in qualifying, it's impossible to suggest that Ukraine will replicate that at the Euros against the strike forces that Germany and Poland possess. However forward Andriy Yarmolenko deserves consideration. The 26-year-old scored six goals and registered two assists to guide his country to the finals.

 

Stat Attack: Konoplyanka registered the most attempts on goal (34) for Ukraine in qualifying, an average of a shot every 27 minutes.   

 

Northern Ireland

 

The underdogs from the home nations topped their group ahead of Romania and Hungary to secure automatic qualification. With only a handful of Premier League players in the squad, the majority of Northern Ireland's troops play out side of the top flight. A tough finals group draw against Germany, Poland and Ukraine, Michael O'Neill's men were always going to be the big outsiders whoever they came up against. 

 

Players to Watch: Kyle Lafferty, Steven Davis

While only making six appearances and scoring one goal since switching from Norwich City to Championship side Birmingham City towards the end of the season, it is Lafferty's goal scoring form for Northern Ireland in qualifying that highlights why the 28-year-old is the key figure in the side.

Lafferty's goals make the headlines, yet captain Steven Davis was instrumental in guiding his side to the finals. The 31-year-old Southampton midfielder and Northern Irish Player of the Year adds Premier League quality to the side. He also weighed in with two goals during qualification.

 

Stat Attack: Lafferty scored seven goals in nine appearances in qualifying. Only five players found the back of the net more times. 

 

 

Group C Verdict: Northern Ireland could not have drawn a tougher group and can only hope to pip Ukraine for third spot, which is difficult in itself. Germany and Poland will scrap it out for top spot. The matches on the 16th of June are the group's crunch games. 

(1) Germany (2) Poland (3) Ukraine (4) Northern Ireland 

Thus Article EURO 2016 GROUP C PREVIEW: PLAYERS TO WATCH (FEAT. ARSENAL & SOUTHAMPTON STARS)

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