Euro 2016 draw makes Germany smile

Relief was written all over the face of German head coach Joachim Loew after the draw of the 2016 European Championship (10 June - 10 July) took place in Paris, not only because his team was lucky enough to be presented with a comparatively "easy" group. 

   More important for the 55-year-old 2014 World Champion coach is "that we now can start with our preparations in detail," said Loew after Germany was drawn into group B with Northern Ireland, Poland (with Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski) and Ukraine.

   The road to France has not been an easy one for Loew and the German side. First the team suffered from post-World-Cup blues which expressed itself in some poor results and the terrorist attacks that hit the friendlies against France and the Netherlands. In Paris, the German team was caught up in the Paris attacks that forced them to spend the night in Stade de France, the venue of the EURO 2016 opening game and the final, for safety reasons. Germany's friendly against the Netherlands had to be cancelled after a security alert. 

   Now Loew and his team have to find a way to forget everything that has happened in the past few weeks and concentrate on what Loew calls "a new era", meaning to be successful in France and two years later at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Beating the 2016 hosts might be just as difficult as becoming the first European team ever to win World Cup in South America.

   For France, the tournament, which will be watched by millions of fans from all over the world, will be one of the biggest challenges. "We trust the French authorities and will concentrate on playing football. It is important to set an example and carry on with normal life," said Loew. 

   But no doubt, Germany, together with France, are the biggest favorites among the 24 nations just ahead of 2008 and 2012 European Champion and 2010 World Champion Spain, Belgium, the world No. 1, Italy and England. 

   While England's record at major tournaments is poor, Italy is regarded as a special threat by the Germans as they have twice lost important games such as the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships. England's squad has always suffered from a strength-sapping domestic season without a winter break, meaning England's players might a little tired going into the tournament.  

   To see Spain and Belgium among the favorites might be bold after Spain was eliminated at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the group stage and Belgium cannot count on much experience at major tournaments. The Spanish team has however been rebuilt and coach Vicente del Bosque can call upon talented world class youngsters already playing with top clubs in Europe's major club competitions. 

   The same applies for Belgium, one has to look no further than Eden Hazard, Thibout Courtois (both Chelsea), Kevin de Bruyne, Vincent Kompany (both Manchester City), Nacer Chadi (Tottenham Hotspur), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Morouane Fellaini (Manchester United).       

   After UEFA decided to expand the European Championship form 16 to 24 nations, the change has not been welcomed by everybody within the game.

   "In the past, the group stage was much more difficult than it will be this time," said German team manager Oliver Bierhoff when expressing his doubts. Five countries will be making their debut at the championship: Slovakia, Albania, Iceland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

   "No matter who you have to play in the group stage, you have to beat them in order to win the tournament," said Loew. One of the German backroom staff knows how to do it. Having won the crown in 1972 and 1980, Germany added a third title in 1996 when Oliver Bierhoff scored the "golden goal" in the final against the Czech Republic in London. 

   The German squad will begin preparations at their Swiss training camp in Ascona on May 21. Two international warm-up matches are planned plus perhaps the postponed friendly against the Netherlands. Loew want to play strong opponents before travelling to the European Championship base camp in Evian-les-Bains on the banks of Lake Geneva. They will be hoping past experiences will stand them in good stead in the lead up to the tournament.

   After having lost the 2006 World Cup semifinal to Italy (2-1) and the 2008 European Championship final against Spain (1-0), Loew is determined Germany can celebrate again and win the 27 million euros handed out by UEFA for the 2016 winner. Besides the group first and the runner-up the best four group thirds make it to the next round. 

   Other than Germany, Belgium has a hard job to do in the toughest group (E) against Ireland, Sweden and Italy while titleholder Spain faces Turkey, Czech Republic and Croatia (group D). Euro host France in group A against Albania, Romania and Switzerland, and England in group B against Wales, Slovakia and Russia should have minor problem to reach the next round. Portugal in group F against Iceland, Hungary and Austria complete the tournament. 

   The Euro 2016 opening match (France Romania) will take place on June 10.

   "Germany is one of the big favorites," former Swiss and Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.

   "I am sure Germany, France and Spain will be among the last. I don't expect any underdogs to play a vital role," he added.

   It now seems to be up to the Euro 2016 underdogs to do better than predicted.  Endi