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 C sees World Cup champions Germany go up against Northern Ireland, Poland and Ukraine. Here, our fan pundits have their say on their nations’ chances in France.
MOST MEMORABLE GERMANY GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?
The 1996 final against Czech Republic at Wembley. I was 21-years-old and in University watching it in Duesseldorf Altstadt. It was an amazing atmosphere and we partied until 5am after Oliver Bierhoff’s Golden Goal gave us the trophy.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR COACH?
Joachim Low is still a very popular figure after leading Germany to World Cup glory two years ago. He commands the respect of players and fans and despite some difficult results since winning that final in Brazil, people believe he is the right man to take this side to another European Championship title.
GERMANY PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?
Mario Gomez has been flying under the radar a little bit in Turkey but has enjoyed a fantastic season for Besiktas, scoring 36 goals in 33 games. He wasn’t involved in the 2014 World Cup-winning squad but netted three times for Germany at Euro 2012.
GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
Poland beat Germany during the qualification campaign and they have an obvious German connection in Bayern Munich striker and star man Robert Lewandowski, which makes the game an intriguing one. It is one that Germany certainly can’t afford to lose again.
HOW FAR WILL GERMANY GET AT EURO 2016?
Definitely all the way to the final – whether we win or not is another matter entirely!
Reus has had horrible luck with injuries.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT GERMANY
Marco Reus (above) will miss the European Championship through injury, just as he missed the World Cup in 2014.
WHAT DO GERMAN FANS EAT DURING A GAME?
We usually drink lots of hops rather than eat but if we do eat, it is likely to be sausages and potato chips.
HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN GERMAN?
Tor!
WHERE WILL YOU WATCH EURO 2016 GAMES?
Garden on 8 at The Media One Hotel is always full of German fans.
MOST MEMORABLE NORTHERN IRELAND GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?
Thirty-two years after Northern Ireland stunned the world with some brilliant displays at the 1982 World Cup, we are finally back at a major finals! As we’ve never played at the Euros before, I’ll pick one of our qualifiers – the 2-0 victory away to Greece last year made everyone believe we could finally end the wait for a major tournament. Kyle Lafferty scored twice and injected some genuine belief into the team.
NORTHERN IRELAND GROUP GAME YOU’RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
I can’t wait for us to take on Germany, a huge game to watch against the reigning world champions. Northern Ireland have actually beaten them a couple of times before – back in 1982 we won home and away against then-World Cup runners-up West Germany in qualifying for Euro ’84!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR MANAGER?
Michael O’Neill has done a quite incredible job with these players – he’s overseen our rise from just inside the top 100 in the FIFA World Rankings to our highest ever position of 25 right now. He’s created an incredible team spirit and has deservedly been rewarded with a new contract recently.
NORTHERN IRELAND PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?
Will Grigg has scored 45 league goals in his past two seasons. Admittedly, they were in League One, but he’s just fired Wigan to promotion and is on great form heading into the tournament. The fans love of him and if you haven’t heard the chant dedicated to him – sung to the tune of Gala’s 196 hit Freed From Desire – ten you are seriously missing out!
PREDICTION – HOW FAR WILL NORTHERN IRELAND GO AT EURO 2016?
If we can beat Poland in the first game, I’m confident we can make it to the last-16.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND
A Northern Irishman is perhaps the best player to have never played at a major international tournament. Despite being one of the world’s greatest ever players, the late George Best was never able to grace a major international stage.
WHAT DO NORTHERN IRISH FANS EAT DURING A GAME?
We will eat stew and drink Guinness as always!
HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN NORTHERN IRISH?
GOOOOAL!
WHERE WILL YOU BE WATCHING EURO 2016?
The Media One Hotel in Dubai for sure, it’s a great venue.
MOST MEMORABLE POLAND GAME EVER AT THE EUROS?
There haven’t been too many of them – we’ve actually failed to win a single European Championship game to date. At a push though, I guess it would be the opening match against Greece at Euro 2012. It was a dull 1-1 draw but a proud moment for Poland as we were co-hosting the tournament.
GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
Definitely the game against Germany; it’s imperative to win our opening game against Northern Ireland and then we face our long-time rivals. Poland beat Germany in their first home qualifier for the tournament – it was a fantastic win and the team will have the belief that they can repeat it.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR COACH?
Adam Nawalka has been in charge since 2013 and has reshaped the team into an attacking, fluid force. Many questioned his appointment due to his lack of top-level experience but wins against Germany and automatic qualification for the Euros has cemented his position as the man to take Poland forward.
POLAND PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?
I’d love to see 19-year-old Bartoz Kapustka get some game time and if he is given the freedom to run he could really pose a threat. In terms of real star quality though, it’s got to be Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski who will catch the eye.
HOW FAR WILL POLAND GO AT EURO 2016?
We have a really good chance to make it to the quarter-finals.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT POLAND?
Poland finished third at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
WHAT ARE POLISH FANS MOST LIKELY TO EAT DURING A MATCH?
Depending where you live or time of day, favourites would be pierogi (dumplings) or sznycel (schnitzel).
HOW DO YOU SAY ‘GOAL’ IN POLISH?
Gooal – same as English but with lots of swearing and clinking glasses.
WHERE WILL YOU BE WATCHING POLAND GAMES?
There’s no official destination for Polish fans, but Barasti is always a firm favourite.
MOST MEMORABLE UKRAINE GAVE EVER AT THE EUROS
For me there are two games at the European Championship that Ukrainians remember forever. They both took place at EURO 2012, which we co-hosted with Poland. One is the match with England and the other is our win over Sweden. After a wonderful goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, our own legend Andriy Shevchenko scored twice to secure a famous victory.
GROUP GAME YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
The first match with Germany, the current world champions, will be the most interesting for fans and will showcase just how good this Ukrainian team is.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR MANAGER?
Our manager Mykhailo Fomenko is a steely manager with an excellent record. He is one of the most successful coaches in Ukraine’s history and he helped raise hopes by bringing on board our all-time top scorer Andriy Shevchenko as assistant coach for the Euros.
UKRAINE PLAYER WHO MIGHT SURPRISE US?
I’d suggest you to keep your eyes on Oleksandr Zinchenko. He is just 19-years-old teenager and broke Shevchenko’s record for the youngest player to score for Ukraine. According to reports, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund are interested in sealing Zinchenko’s transfer, and they could do worse than signing the Ufa midfielder who has everything in his locker to become Ukraine’s next football star.
PREDICTION FOR HOW FAR UKRAINE WILL GO?
I believe Ukraine can go on and win UEFA EURO 2016.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT UKRAINE?
There is an interesting football fact that unites Ukraine and the UAE. The most famous Ukrainian manager Valeriy Lobanovskyi, known worldwide for his work with FC Dynamo Kyiv, the national team and earlier the USSR side, also coached the UAE in 1990-1993.
WHAT ARE UKRAINE FANS MOST LIKELY TO EAT DURING A FOOTBALL MATCH?
We don’t have any national football dish. Mostly fans like to have some snacks and finger food.
HOW DO YOU SAY GOAL IN UKRAINIAN?
“ГООООЛ!”, it should be pronounced like “HOOOOOL”.
WHERE WILL YOU BE WATCHING THE GAMES?
The main venue for Ukrainians in Abu Dhabi will be the Blu Sky Lounge & Grill at Southern Sun, where you will surely meet some pleasant people wearing yellow and blue.
