Euro 2016 Group A: UAE Fans Preview

Sport360 staff 15:58 08/06/2016
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  • Group A: France, Switzerland, Romania & Albania.

    Euro 2016 begins on Friday and Sport360 will be bringing you a fans’-eye view of the tournament thanks to our collection of 24 UAE-based supporters, who will be following their nations every step of the way.

    Group A pits hosts France, among the favourites to win the whole tournament, against Switzerland, Romania and minnows Albania, making their debut  at a major finals.

    Here, our fan pundits have their say on their nations’ chances in France.

    FRANCE – Yves Thapele (E-commerce Manager, Dubai)

    MOST MEMORABLE FRANCE GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?

    The Euro 2000 final in Rotterdam for sure. Marco Delvecchio gave Italy the lead in the 55th minute and as the clock ticked down I was sat in front of my TV waiting for a miracle. Then it came. Sylvain Wiltord equalised in the 93rd minute and in extra-time, David Trezeguet’s golden gall gave us our second European Championship crown. It was an incredible night.

    FRANCE GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

    Switzerland will probably be the toughest match in our group, but I’m most excited about the opening game against Romania. The start of the first tournament in France in 18 years and in a difficult time for the country it can unite the people now as it did back in 1998.

    WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR COACH?

    Didier Deschamps is the best man for the job right now. He has had success as a coach at club level with Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, while at international level he needs no introduction – he was our World Cup-winning captain on home soil in 1998 and we hope he will be lifting the European Championship as coach come July. This guy knows how to win.

    FRANCE PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?

    There are some really exciting players in the side. Everyone knows Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann but I think youngsters Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial have a great chance to shine.

    PREDICTION – HOW FAR WILL FRANCE GO AT EURO 2016?

    The final and victory, of course!

    INTERESTING FACT ABOUT FRANCE?

    France has never failed to win a major tournament we’ve hosted. We beat Spain to win the 1984 European Championship and Brazil to win the 1998 World Cup.

    WHAT DO FRENCH FANS EAT/DRINK DURING A GAME?

    Pizza and chips, washed down with wine!

    HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN FRENCH?

    BUUUUUUT!

    ​WHERE WILL YOU BE WATCHING EURO 2016? Luckily  I’m going to France for the tournament! But for those in Dubai, Barasti and Girders at JBR are great for watching football.

    SWITZERLAND – Nabil Selini (Senior FX Broker, Dubai)

    MOST MEMORABLE SWITZERLAND GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?

    Switzerland have historically never really shone at the European Championship, the ‘Nati’ tending to do better at World Cups. Our best performance was when we co-hosted Euro 2008 with Austria – we beat Portugal 2-0…. but we had already been eliminated after losing the first two group games!

    SWITZERLAND GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

    The opening game against Albania will be very interesting as there are many Swiss players of Albanian origin. In fact, star midfielder Granit Xhaka (who recently signed for Arsenal) will be playing AGAINST his brother Taulant, who represents Albania.

    WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR COACH?

    When Vladimir Petkovic replaced the legendary Ottmar Hitzfeld in 2014 it was a surprise as he was not able to call upon the same level of experience or success. Petkovic did have a good run as manager of Young Boys, though, and also won the Coppa Italia with Lazio. He plays an interesting classic 4-3-3, which is offensively demanding, but many Swiss fans are still unsure about him.

    SWITZERLAND PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?

    FC Basel striker Breel Embolo had an amazing season and though he is only 19, Nati fans are hoping he can fill the void that has been left in attack since Alexander Frei retired. He is physically strong, powerful and also possesses an intelligence that belies his age.

    PREDICTION – HOW FAR WILL SWITZERLAND GO AT EURO 2016?

    With our group I’d say we have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

    INTERESTING FACT ABOUT SWITZERLAND?

    The Nati have reached the World Cup quarter-finals three times (1934, 1938 and 1954) but have never reached the knockout stage at a European Championship.

    WHAT DO SWISS FANS EAT DURING A GAME?

    Cervelas (Swiss grilled sausage) and Raclette (melted Swiss cheese).

    HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN SWISS?

    GOAAAAAAL or BUUUUUUT!

    WHERE WILL YOU BE WATCHING EURO 2016?

    There will be a big group of Swiss watching the games at the Media One Hotel. Otherwise, it’s Barasti!

    ROMANIA – Mihai Leolea (Student, Abu Dhabi)

    MOST MEMORABLE ROMANIA GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?

    At Euro 2000, Romania were drawn in the Group of Death with Portugal, England and Germany but upset the odds to finish second. In our final game against England, we took the lead before goals from Alan Shearer and Michael Owen made it 2-1. But then we fought back, Dorinel Munteanu equalising before Ionel Ganea’s 89th-minute penalty won it. I was very small when it happened but my father told me how no-one in Romania thought we would win and how ecstatic everyone was when we did win!

    ROMANIA GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

    Without doubt the game against France. It is the opening game of the competition and while it may not be the final, all eyes will be on Romania. It is very important we give a good first impression and hopefully pull off a victory to boost morale. It is the curtain-raiser and arguably the second most important match after the final.

    WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR MANAGER?

    Anghel Iordanescu is a very experienced man who was been a big part of Romanian football. He was an assistant manager and player for Steaua Bucharest – the only Romanian team to win the Champions League – and in 1994 he led Romania in their greatest World Cup run, to the quarter-finals in the United States. He is well liked by everyone.

    ROMANIA PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?

    Nicusor Stanciu is only 23 and a rising star at Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest. There are rumours Zenit St.Petersburg are keeping tabs on him and he could well inflate any potential price-tag with a strong showing at Euro 2016.

    PREDICTION – HOW FAR WILL ROMANIA GO AT EURO 2016?

    I predict that Romania will make it through the group stages but unfortunately no further. However, it would be a pleasant surprise if they make it past the last-16.

    INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ROMANIA?

    At the 1998 World Cup in France, the entire Romania squad bleached their hair blonde. There have been no reports that they will be doing the same this time!

    WHAT DO ROMANIAN FANS EAT DURING A GAME?

    Romanian national dishes include sarmale – sour cabbage leaves filled with minced meat and rice – and mamaliga, which is a porridge made of yellow maize flour.

    HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN ROMANIAN?

    GOOOOOOOOOOL

    ALBANIA – Xhulian Kllogjeri (Accountant, Dubai)

    MOST MEMORABLE ALBANIA GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?

    It’s our first tournament so there are few bigger results than the one that got us here – a 3-0 victory against Armenia. However, the most important game in Euro 2016 qualifying was the first when we beat Portugal 1-0, in Portugal! It was a truly historic match.

    ALBANIA GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

    The opening match against Switzerland will be very special as there are seven players with Albanian heritage representing Switzerland. It will be an emotional game, which will see our midfielder Taulant Xhaka play against brother Granit.

    WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR MANAGER?

    Gianni De Biasi is an amazing manager who has made history with this team. He is so engrained in Albanian life that he has actually become a naturalized citizen and now has an Albanian passport! He took a team that had just lost many of its experienced players and rebuilt it into a great unit. He likes to play 4-5-1 in a defensive way that becomes more of a 4-3-3 in attack.

    ALBANIA PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US? 

    Ergys Kace is a fantastic midfielder playing for PAOK in Greece. He has an amazing shot from distance and is a real fighter. He has very good positional awareness and can organise the team in defence and attack. Another player to watch is our talented young goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

    PREDICTION – HOW FAR WILL ALBANIA GO AT EURO 2016?

    It will be very difficult for us to reach the next round but seeing as it was supposedly impossible for us to be part of Euro 2016, I’m hoping we can make it to the quarter-finals.

    INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ALBANIA

    There will be 30 Albanian players at Euro 2016. Other than our 23-man squad, there ares six players with Switzerland (Behrami, Shaqiri, Xhaka, Djemaili, Mehmedi, Tarashaj) and one for Germany (Shkodran Mustafi).

    WHAT DO ALBANIAN FANS EAT DURING A GAME?

    We don’t really have something specific that we eat during the match, but mostly we drink raki and eat qofte (like kofta) with salad and cheese.

    HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN ALBANIAN?

    Either ‘Goool’ or sometimes ‘rrjet’!

    WHERE WILL YOU BE WATCHING EURO 2016?

    When I’m in Dubai, it’s at Velocity sports bar at the JW Marriot Marquis.

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