England contest the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, which alternate biennially. England won the World Cup in 1966, when they hosted the finals, defeating West Germany 4–2 in extra time in the final. Their best performance since has been a semi-final appearance in 1990. England have never won the UEFA European Football Championship – their best performances being semi-final appearances at the 1968 and 1996 Championships, the latter of which they hosted. England is quite a successful nation at the UEFA European Football Championship, having finished in third place in 1968 and reached the semi-final in 1996.
England hosted Euro 96 and have appeared in eight UEFA European
Championship Finals tournaments, tied on ninth-best. The team has also
reached the quarter-final on two recent occasions in 2004 and 2012. The team's worst result in the competition was a first-round elimination in 1980, 1988, 1992 and 2000. The team did not enter in 1960, and they failed to qualify in 1964, 1972, 1976, 1984, and 2008.
Russia qualified for three World Cups (1994, 2002, 2014), and they have automatically qualified for 2018 as hosts. They have also qualified for five European Championships (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). Reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008 marks the only time that they passed the group stages of a major tournament, excluding the record of the Soviet Union national team, of which Russia is the successor. After Sadyrin was sacked, Oleg Romantsev was appointed coach to lead Russia to Euro 96.
Romantsev was expected to qualify Russia for the final tournament and
perform well. In his squad he selected many players from the 1994 FIFA World Cup such as Viktor Onopko, Aleksandr Mostovoi, Vladimir Beschastnykh, and Valery Karpin. During qualifying, Russia overcame Scotland, Greece, Finland, San Marino, and the Faroe Islands to finish in first place with eight wins and two draws. In the final tournament Russia was in Group C with Germany, Czech Republic, and Italy.
Group C was considered the 'group of death' with Russia dubbed the
weakest team, and they were eliminated after losing 2–1 to Italy and 3–0
to Germany despite a goalless first half in the latter game. Russia's
last game against the Czech Republic ended 3–3. Germany and Czech
Republic went on to meet in the final. Having failed to qualify Russia for the 2006 World Cup, Yuri Semin
stepped down several weeks later and Russia began looking for a new
manager. It was clear that a foreign manager would be needed as most of
the high profile Russian coaches were not successful with the national
team. On 10 April 2006, it was announced that then Australia manager Guus Hiddink would lead. In the Euro 2008 tournament, Russia were drawn into Group D with Sweden and Euro 2004 group rivals Spain and Greece. In a preparation friendly against Serbia, leading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak was injured and would miss the tournament. Russia lost their opening match 4–1 to Spain in Innsbruck but then beat Greece 1–0 with a goal by Konstantin Zyryanov. The third game saw Russia defeat Sweden 2–0 through goals by Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin, resulting in Russia advancing to the quarter-finals in second place behind Spain. In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a volley ten minutes after half-time. With four minutes left in the match, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored, to make it 1–1 and put the game into extra time. But Russia regained the lead when Andrei Arshavin raced down the left flank and sent a cross towards substitute Dmitri Torbinski, who tapped the ball into the net. Arshavin then beat Edwin van der Sar,
ending the match 3–1, and sent Russia through to their first major
semi-final since the breakup of the USSR. In the semi-finals Russia was
once again matched up against Spain, and lost 3–0. Russia directly qualified for Euro 2012 by winning qualifying Group B, defeating Slovakia, the Republic of Ireland, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra. Russia were drawn into Group A with Poland, Czech Republic, Greece. Led by Dick Advocaat,
Russia started off the tournament with a 4–1 win over the Czech
Republic and temporarily went to the top of the group with three points.
They were eliminated after a 1–1 draw against Poland and a 1–0 loss
against Greece. Russia were placed in Group G of UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
alongside Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova and Liechtenstein.
Russia began their campaign well with a 4–0 win against Liechtenstein.
This was followed by a string of shaky performances by Russia, two 1–1
draws against Sweden and Moldova and two 1–0 losses against Austria.
Russia were awarded a 3–0 victory against Montenegro due to crowd
violence. At this stage, Russia looked to be finishing third in their
group before they bounced back by winning their remaining matches
against Sweden, Liechtenstein, Moldova and Montenegro to finish second
in their qualifying group above Sweden and qualify for UEFA Euro 2016.
During their history
Wales have qualified for two major international tournaments. They reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 FIFA World Cup and they qualified for UEFA Euro 2016. Wales also progressed through UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying to the quarter-final, which was played on a home and away leg basis. At all levels including the youth teams the Welsh national team draws players primarily from clubs in the English football league system.
The main professional Welsh clubs play in the English leagues, with
some full-time and part-time professional clubs playing in the Welsh leagues. The British nation will end their 58 year absence from a major
tournament in France this summer, where star man Gareth Bale will carry
their hopes
Coach: Chris Coleman
Key player: Gareth Bale
Qualifying form: W6, L1, D3
Top scorers in qualifying: Gareth Bale (7), Aaron Ramsey (2)
Fifty-eight years have passed since Wales last graced a major
tournament but, armed with the planet's most expensive player, they head
to Euro 2016 intent on springing a surprise. John Charles was Wales' star at the 1958 World Cup, when a
17-year-old Pele dumped them out in a 1-0 quarter-final defeat. A
defender-turned-attacker, the 'Gentle Giant' had completed a
record-breaking move to Juventus a year before heading to Sweden with
the national team and his injury ahead of the Brazil fixture was
considered a major factor in his team's elimination. Wales' hopes this time around rest largely at the feet of Gareth Bale
- himself a defender-turned-attacker whose transfer to Real Madrid in
2013 set a new world record. Like Charles, Bale has made a success of his overseas switch, winning
the Champions League twice in three seasons and firmly silencing his
early doubters among the Santiago Bernabeu faithful. While coach Chris Coleman would prefer to avoid claims that Wales are
a one-man team, there is no disputing Bale's influence and
contribution.
The
former Tottenham man scored seven goals as Wales finished second to
Belgium in qualifying Group B, netting in five of his country's six
victories.
But to suggest Bale is single-handedly responsible for Wales' qualification would be simplistic. Their spine of captain Ashley Williams, Arsenal midfielder Aaron
Ramsey and Bale is complemented by a supporting cast that features other
Premier League stars, including Joe Allen and Ben Davies. Optimism surrounding the current group of players started when Gary
Speed took over from John Toshack as coach in 2010, but the Welsh
legend's suicide the following year could easily have derailed the team
he had worked so hard to build. Coleman would be the first to admit he was not a universally popular
choice to succeed Speed, but the former Fulham boss has won plenty of
plaudits for his efforts in maintaining their momentum, creating a
club-like atmosphere and utilising Bale to the best of his abilities. For many Welsh fans, the main prize has already been won. After
missing out on Euro 2004 in a play-off defeat to Russia, the national
team went into decline under Toshack, failing to qualify for two World
Cups and a European Championship, as well as playing in front of
dwindling crowds, having previously filled the Millennium Stadium under
Mark Hughes. Anything from here is a bonus for Wales, who line up in Group B
alongside neighbours England, Russia, and Slovakia, against whom they
have not played since two qualifiers for the 2008 tournament, when both
teams scored five goals at the other's home ground.
The clash with England on June 16 in Lens will serve as the
centrepiece of both nations' group campaigns, but Wales will have
greater ambitions as they bid to better the Class of '58.
qualified for two major national tournaments, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. Slovakia qualified to the FIFA World Cup in 2010 after winning their qualifying group despite two defeats against Slovenia and progressed beyond the championship group stage after a 3–2 win against Italy, before bowing out of the tournament after a 2–1 defeat in the second round against eventual runners-up the Netherlands. It was the first time the team have ever played in a major football competition, after playing every FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign since 1998 and every UEFA European Football Championship qualifying campaign since 1996,
after a 50-year absence from international football due to representing
part of the Czechoslovakia team. They did come close to securing a
berth at the 2006 finals in Germany, after finishing second in their group ahead of Russia and behind Portugal, before drawing Spain
in their qualification play-off, in which the Slovaks lost by a wide
margin on aggregate (1-5, 1-1). The team have achieved some noteworthy
results, however, such as the aforementioned win over the then title
holders Italy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and a 1–0 win against Russia in
September 2010. Despite this success however, the team later dropped
down the rankings and a considerable drop in form went with this, as the
team failed to qualify for Euro 2012 finishing in their group in 4th
place. They also only scored seven goals in the group, only more than
minnows Andorra. Slovakia then failed to qualify to Brazil for 2014 FIFA World Cup, but secured a spot in France for UEFA Euro 2016 under Ján Kozák which helped the team reach their best ever position of 15th in the FIFA World Rankings. Slovakia's traditional rival is the Czech Republic which they played twice in the qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in 1996 and 1997 winning 2–1 in Bratislava, before losing 3–0 in Prague with both teams already eliminated, before playing each other again in 2008 and 2009 in the qualifying round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In these two meetings the teams drew 2–2 in Bratislava with the Slovaks
winning 2–1 in Prague. But before that, they also played each other in
UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, and they lost 3–1 in Prague and 0–3 in Bratislava. Led by star man Marek Hamsik, Slovakia battled to qualification from a
tricky group, and they are hoping to make a big impression in their
maiden outing in the tournament
Coach: Jan Kozak
Key player: Marek Hamsik
Qualifying form: W7, L2, D1
Top scorers in qualifying: Marek Hamsik (5), Adam Nemec (3)
Slovakia will break new ground when they head to France for Euro 2016.
Having split from Czechoslovakia in 1993, the country's football
history is still in its relative infancy and this year marks just their
second foray into a major international competition and their first
appearance at the European Championship.
That sole previous major showpiece outing came on the grandest stage
when they reached the second round of the 2010 World Cup in South
Africa, where they progressed from a group including then-holders Italy.
Having failed to feature in any of the five editions of this
tournament since their independence, Slovakia finally reached their goal
in October last year when a 4-2 success in Luxembourg secured
second place in qualifying Group C behind double defending champions
Spain.
A run of six straight victories to begin their campaign - including
2-1 at home to Spain - raised hopes of progressing as group winners, but
a subsequent return of just one point from three matches, all
without scoring, put paid to those ambitions.
Nevertheless, Jan Kozak's men were able to hold off Ukraine as they
booked their automatic place in the finals, where they have been drawn
in Group B alongside Wales, England and Russia.
Kozak has previous experience of success at these finals, having been
part of the Czechoslovakia squad that finished third in Italy back in
1980.
The coach has something of a reputation as a no-nonsense tactician
- something striker Filip Holosko can attest to following March's
friendlies against Latvia and Republic of Ireland.
Included
in the initial party, Holosko opted to remain in Australia to help his
club side, Sydney FC - a stance Kozak did not take kindly to, with the
forward subsequently left out of the Euros squad. One man who will be on the plane is playmaker Marek Hamsik. The
Napoli star's five goals proved pivotal in qualifying, not least a late
brace in Belarus, as well as another double in the win over Luxembourg
which secured their ticket to France. Liverpool's Martin Skrtel is another key figure and his wild,
shirtless celebrations when he and a handful of his team-mates
interrupted Kozak's interview after qualifying were stark evidence of
what it meant to the defender. Skrtel will have his work cut out in their opener in Bordeaux on June
11, however, as he lines up against Wales and Real Madrid superstar
Gareth Bale. "We must be careful, because of the pace of Wales, who have a big
star. So we need to give more attention," said Kozak following the 2-2
friendly draw with Ireland. After that Wales test come meetings with Russia and then England, as Slovakia bid to reach the last 16. Whatever their fortunes, you can guarantee Kozak's men will give
their all. As the coach declared after qualification was secure: "We've
been fighting for something and succeeded. Now we need to do the same at
the championship."
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