Worst teams from the Euro 2016 Group Stage

Published 06/23/2016, 3:37 AM EDT

Follow Us

The group stage of the Euro 2016 has concluded. A competitive set of matches, no team heads into a knockout stage with a perfect 3 out of 3 record. Minnows such as Hungary, Iceland, Northern Ireland all produced some fine performances, to make it to the next round. However some teams failed to live up to their expectations, finishing well below their predicted position. Here are the worst teams from the Euro 2016 Group Stage

Portugal

Portugal, when drawn to Group F looked to be the group toppers. Iceland and Hungary both were debutants and Austria seemed the only challenge. Portugal had a strong qualifying run, winning 7 of their 8 matches.  Their biggest strength would be their captain, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Madrid forward had a fine end to the season, and had scored 5 of the 11 goals in the teams qualification for the tournament.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Imago

No doubt, that Cristiano had most of the country’s expectations on his shoulders. He however, had a strong supporting cast to back him up, with the likes of Nani, Joao Mouthinio, Renato Sanches , William Carvahllo in the midfield. Likes of Pepe and Bruno Alves are capable defenders.

Yet their finishing was horrendous. 4 goals came from 63 attempts over their group matches.  There was discord between Ronaldo and his teammates, as they failed to link up on numerous occasions. This proved costly. The defence seems shaky as well, despite the experience of their centre backs. All 3 teams could claim a point against them. The team was lucky to get the draw against Hungary and save their place in the competition.

Portugal surely under performed. While they avoided all the big teams in the knockout stage, their lack of cohesion will cost them. Croatia won’t be pushovers.

Russia

When the groups were announced, Russia seemed to be the number one contender for Wales to finish second in the group. In the end, the Welsh would top the group, and Russia bowed out of the competition earlier than anticipated.

An eventful qualification campaign for Russia meant they did not finish first in the group. It was a group should have won easily. A late surge meant they finished comfortably in 2 place, though well off the pace set by Austria.

via Imago

In the group, they shocked England by snatching a late equalizer, but their next two performances were dismal as they just lacked any determination to make it through. Slovakia and then Wales, two debutants made short work of them. Artem Dzyba, who was a threat in the qualification for goals scored, was not at this best in the tournament.

Russian fans were more into the action than their team, their fan violence dominating headlines for the Euro 2016. At least Russia do not have to worry about qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Ukraine

Ukraine had the least effective attack in their group, and are the only team that failed to find the back of the net in the Euro 2016 group stage.  While being drawn to a group that consisted of Germany and Poland, Ukraine would have been a team that was capable of making it through in 3 place at least. A second place fight for 2 against Poland, could have been possible.

A balanced squad, and it consists mostly of players from Shaktar Donestk and Dynamo Kyiv. In Andriy Yarmolenko, had a talented attacking midfielder who has 25 goals for his country in 59 caps. Against Germany, while they put up a fight, their set-piece finishing was not good. They dominated the matches against Poland and newcomers Northern Ireland, but were sloppy in their finishing. More attempts, more possession, more passing resulted in nothing. They were sloppier in their defence as well.  Their biggest defeat would be to Northern Ireland who now qualify in 3 place.

Ukraine, which had been an upcoming country in participation at major tournaments, would do good to forget this and try to focus on their world cup qualification campaign.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Austria
Entering the Euro 2016, some considered the Austrians as dark horses for the title. An amazing qualifying run saw them finish with 9 wins and a draw over group favorites Russia. This was backed up by their 6 clean sheets. Marc Janko, David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic were some of the main men responsible for their performances.

via Imago

When drawn with Portugal, Hungary and Iceland, Austria would be favoured to finish 2, if not first. Against Hungary, it was an even game in possession, clearances and attempts made by either side. While their match against Portugal showed they can defend well against superior opposition, their finishing failed them. Along with the Ukraine and Sweden, they were the only teams not to score a goal after 2 games. In a do or die match against Iceland, their opponents held off repeated Austrian attempts on goal. When they seemed to be going for a draw, Iceland scored a last minute goal, which condemned them to finish last. 23 attempts against Iceland, only 6 on target.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

If there is any consolation for Austria to take, it’s their progress. Prior to the tournament, they were 10 in FIFA Rankings and they could qualify for the upcoming world cup, for the first time in 20 years. Their Euro Performance, however matches their abject performance of 2008.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Gaurav

372Articles

One take at a time

Sports is such an amazing passion. A content writer of NBA
Show More>