Germany
The memory of a poor World Cup still lingers but results have improved since Nagelsmann took over. Read the team guide here.
Jamal Musiala
Strengths
The creativity in attack is promising with youngsters Musiala and Wirtz, who are now being fed passes by the returning Kroos.
Weaknesses
Nagelsmann experimented wildly in the beginning and he and the players have not had much time together.
Hungary
A recent run of one defeat in 18 games included away wins against Germany and England. Read the team guide here.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Strengths
Coach Rossi has unleashed the side’s attacking talent, with Liverpool’s Szoboszlai key.
Weaknesses
The squad does not consist of many players at top clubs and at this level any mistake can prove costly.
Scotland
Scotland hope to have learned their lesson from Euro 2020, when they did not reach their full potential. Read the team guide here.
Andy Robertson
Strengths
Midfielders, lots of them. Scotland have an uncanny knack of producing international-class midfield players.
Weaknesses
Scotland lack a potent striker and, in turn, do not really score enough goals. They are not a side to blow away weaker opposition.
Switzerland
The Swiss Golden Generation has made it to the knockout rounds at the past five major finals, something matched only by France. Read the team guide here.
Granit Xhaka
Strengths
Key players such as Xhaka, Sommer and Akanji have had tremendous club seasons and arrive in Germany full of confidence.
Weaknesses
Up front. There was not plenty to choose from to start with for Yakin and the only ‘indispensable’ forward, Embolo, may not be fit to start the tournament.
Albania
Sylvinho has turned this team around after being appointed in January 2023 and they won their qualifying group. Read the team guide here.
Kristjan Asllani
Strengths
Albania are an extremely hard-working side. ‘Players who do not run will not join us,’ says Sylvinho.
Weaknesses
An over-reliance on Broja to score the goals, especially after Cikalleshi was surprisingly left out of the squad.
Croatia
Croatia did not impress in qualifying and there is a sense that the Dalic era may end with a whimper. Read the team guide here.
Luka Modric
Strengths
Modric. The playmaker may be 38 now but showed in his cameos for Madrid that he is as good as ever with the ball.
Weaknesses
Modric. Not the player himself but his inclusion means other players have to play in positions that are not necessarily their best.
Italy
It’s all change since the Euro 2020 triumph with a new coach, Spalletti, new players and a new playing style. Read the team guide here.
Nicolò Barella
Strengths
Donnarumma normally saves his best for the national team and in Barella Italy have one of the best midfielders in Europe.
Weaknesses
Where will the goals come from? There are few indications that Scamacca or Retegui will be the next Schillaci.
Spain
The 2008 and 2012 champions have bounced back from their poor World Cup under new coach De la Fuente. Read the team guide here.
Rodri
Strengths
Rodri. The best in Europe, says Pep Guardiola and it is hard to disagree.
Weaknesses
They will miss the injured Gavi while his Barcelona teammate Pedri has had his own fitness problems. And who will start up front?
Denmark
Reached the semi-finals in 2021 but some of the problems from the World Cup remained in qualifying for Germany. Read the team guide here.
Rasmus Højlund
Strengths
Hjulmand’s team has a young and vibrant attack, led by Højlund and supported by Wind.
Weaknesses
A lack of playing time for key players such as Kjær, Højbjerg and Eriksen.
England
The individual quality is there to finally win a tournament 58 years after the 1966 World Cup. Read the team guide here.
Jude Bellingham
Strengths
The forward line is the envy of the rest of Europe with Kane, Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Palmer all in excellent form.
Weaknesses
Injuries in defence have deprived Southgate of key players and clean sheets are few and far between.
Serbia
Debutants at the Euros, Stojkovic’s side arrive in Germany as underdogs after an inconsistent qualifying campaign. Read the team guide here.
Dusan Tadic
Strengths
The spine is strong with the two Milinkovic-Savic brothers in goal and midfield, Pavlovic the main man in defence, Tadic the link and Mitrovic the finisher.
Weaknesses
Confidence is brittle and has been so since the poor 2022 World Cup campaign.
Slovenia
Slovenia relied on their fine home form to qualify for the Euros, finishing level on points with group winners Denmark. Read the team guide here.
Benjamin Sesko
Strengths
Oblak is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and in Sesko they have an outstanding attacking talent.
Weaknesses
Kek’s 4-4-2 can appear a bit static at times and the defence is not the quickest.
Austria
Coach Rangnick has galvanised the team and stayed despite interest from Bayern Munich Read the team guide here.
Marcel Sabitzer
Strengths
This team is all that is good about Rangnick. His signature strategies are high pressing, fast transitions and intense running.
Weaknesses
Injuries to key defender Alaba and key midfielder Schlager were undeniably big blows.
France
Deschamps’ side are rightly considered the favourites but leaders such as Lloris and Varane are no longer there. Read the team guide here.
Kylian Mbappé
Strengths
The squad has the right feel of experience and youthful energy with Griezmann pulling the strings in midfield.
Weaknesses
The centre-back partnership is not settled with Upamecano and Konaté having inconsistent seasons and Saliba not fully trusted.
Netherlands
Recovered from ‘curry-gate’, which led to a 4-0 defeat in France, to qualify second behind Deschamps’ team. Read the team guide here.
Virgil van Dijk
Strengths
Van Dijk is one of the best defenders in Europe and it will be interesting to see if Reijnders can take his club form into the Euros.
Weaknesses
Koeman’s preparations have been disturbed by injuries to key players such as De Jong and Depay.
Poland
Coach Probierz picked up the pieces of a team that appeared to have broken under the Portuguese Santos. Read the team guide here.
Robert Lewandowski
Strengths
No surprises here and the same as in previous tournaments: a certain striker called Lewandowski
Weaknesses
The system used (3-5-2) has a safety-first feel to it and there is a lack of creativity. Don’t expect fireworks.
Belgium
Tedesco has abandoned the three-man defence utilised by his predecessor Martínez and went through qualifying undefeated.
Kevin De Bruyne
Strengths
In De Bruyne Belgium have a player who can win any game and a front three of Trossard, Lukaku and Doku looks strong.
Weaknesses
Tedesco falling out with Courtois over the captaincy could come back to haunt the coach with the goalkeeper not included.
Romania
Back on the big stage after missing three major finals and Iordanescu has created a tight-knit group.
Nicolae Stanciu
Strengths
Midfielder Stanciu is an exceptional playmaker who can dictate the pace of the game and Spurs’ Dragusin has emerged as a defensive leader.
Weaknesses
Iordanescu’s side are far from free-scoring and the striker, likely to be Alibec, can often be isolated.
Slovakia
Reached their third straight Euros having finished second behind Portugal in their group, but only after Calzona replaced Tarkovic.
Milan Skriniar
Strengths
This is a hard-working team who are happy to implement the coach’s high-press philosopy with Napoli’s Lobotka key.
Weaknesses
The average age of the starting XI during the qualifying campaign was drifting towards 30, the oldest of all the teams.
Ukraine
Rebrov’s team are expected to do well in Germany and lift the war-torn nation after developing a habit of scoring late goals in qualifying.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Strengths
From Lunin in goal to Dovbyk, La Liga’s leading scorer last season, Ukraine have a spine of players from the top leagues.
Weaknesses
Several key players, such as Zinchenko, Mykolenko and Yarmolenko, have had fitness problems this season.
Czech Republic
Coach Hasek steered the Czechs to the Euros after a qualifying campaign disrupted by a nightclub incident.
Patrik Schick
Strengths
Against stronger opponents the Czechs are masters at striking on the counterattack, with Schick key up front.
Weaknesses
The main question going into the tournament is where the creative spark in midfield will come from.
Georgia
Making their debut at a major tournament after beating Greece on penalties in their playoff final.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Strengths
Team spirit – and two world-class players in goalkeeper Mamardashvili and forward Kvaratskhelia.
Weaknesses
There is space behind the wing-backs for opponents to exploit and the team relies too much on a few key players – they must not get injured.
Portugal
There is renewed optimism in Portugal after Martínez replaced Santos and sailed through qualifying with 10 straight wins.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Strengths
They have one of the strongest squads in the tournament with an abundance of individual quality in every position.
Weaknesses
Ronaldo excelled in qualifying but what happens if he gets off to a bad start in Germany? Can Martínez drop him?
Turkey
Despite a poor start Turkey won their qualifying group, beating Croatia away in the standout result.
Arda Guler
Strengths
The attack is brimming with youthful energy, Real Madrid’s Guler and Yildiz of Juventus able to unlock any defence if given the tools.
Weaknesses
Coach Montella has been hit by several injuries to his defence, with Kabak and Soyuncu ruled out of the tournament.
Source: theguardian.com
