As often, when a new competition starts, this tournament has raised eyebrows among the football fans. This because over the years a feeling has spread that the players are participating in too many competitive matches in every season.
But considering those matches will substitute the normally long and tedious qualification round to the Eurocup, it may be worth the opportunity to watch a competition among the best on the continent. The twelve best teams have been drawn in four groups of three, and indeed there are some of the matches who could be played in the finals of any tournament.
Firstly, group 1 will open with a game between Germany and France, the two last World Cup winners. Thus, Low's team want to show that their terrible campaign in Russia was just an exception of an otherwise triumphant period of twelve years under the current manager. Meanwhile, Griezmann and Mbappé will lead again a young team who despite their victory during the last summer looks capable to keep raising even more.
A redemption for the classics
The other contenders of group 1 are the Netherlands, a country who reached the final in 2010 and finished third in 2014 and yet have now failed to qualify for two tournaments in a row. Without Robben, Van Persie and Sneijder, they will try to come back again among the elite though facing probably the two best teams in Europe.
On the other hand, group 3 includes Italy, who failed to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958, Poland, who was a disappointment in Russia after doing so brilliantly in the last Eurocup, and Portugal, who will be without Cristiano Ronaldo for the first two games.
Another team that will seek an opportunity to be considered again among the best is Spain, now managed by Luis Enrique.
The last campaign in Russia has been considered as a lost opportunity to reach the last stages of that competition considering the quality of players such as Isco, Asensio, Iniesta or Silva. Precisely, the last two have retired from the national team.
The surprises of the World Cup
In group 2, Belgium seems the clear favourite against Switzerland and Iceland, two teams that showed during the last tournament their lack of quality in an important competition.
Certainly, this is not the case of Roberto Martinez's team, who won twice against England and beat Brazil in an already memorable match for the country's sporting history.
Besides, England and Croatia have been drawn in the same group, and Southgate's team will seek revenge for the elimination at the semifinals. Still, Modric and Rakitic will lead their national team, and the Real Madrid player will try to celebrate his trophy as the best UEFA player against Spain.
Even if it doesn't appear as a transcendental tournament, the winners of every group will face each other during the next summer. Thus, it is the chance for teams like Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands or Portugal to show that they are still capable to beat the semifinalists of the last World Cup.
