Euro 2016 Group A Preview and Predictions for France

With little under three months to go before Euro 2016 finally gets underway, football fans from across the continent can certainly expect to receive their fair share to high stakes entertainment throughout the coming summer months. Although the current 2015/16 league campaign has certainly kept us adequately captivated thus far, here is the first instalment of our Euro 2016 Group A preview, kicking off with tournament hosts France…

 

Chances of success:

Whilst the French national squad have admittedly presented themselves as a somewhat disjointed unit at recent international competitions, Didier Deschamps’ current squad simply have to go down as serious tournament favourites when all is said and done. With several key performers expected to shine this summer, France may indeed represent a wise bet to go all the way at Euro 2016 – especially as the entire competition will be played on home soil for Les Bleus. 

 

Ones to watch:

Despite potentially beginning their Euro 2016 campaign without marquee front-man, Karim Benzema, included among the action, France nonetheless enjoy the luxury of having several impressive backups to utilize up top-this summer.

With the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Anthony Martial, Antoine Griezmann – and possibly even Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery – heavily involved at Euro 2016, Didier Deschamps’ first-team squad really shouldn’t be troubled in the goal-scoring department. The likes of Raphael Varane and Laurent Koscielny could also serve France well at the back, but the main man must ultimately arrive as Juventus’ technically gifted play-maker – Paul Pogba.

Potential ‘player-of-the-tournament’ status awaits the former Manchester United youngster if things go particularly well for the French this time around…

 

From the dug-out:

1998 World Cup winner, Didier Deschamps, may have a very talented group of players on his hands at this summer’s upcoming competition, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that France will witness everything go their way when Euro 2016 finally comes around.

The 47-year-old tactician will have to make sure that his star-studded side achieve perfect squad harmony at the highly anticipated international tournament, as well as being able to handle the subsequent pressure of playing on home turf when push truly comes to shove this summer…

 

France's Euro 2016 Predictions:

So then, as long as the French can somehow cast all their respective differences aside over the coming months, and eventually stop themselves from falling out over even the most trivial of matters at this summer's competition, Didier Deschamps’ France simply stand a great chance of winning Euro 2016 outright at the end of the day. 

The French therefore represent a safe bet to go far at Euro 2016 with everything fairly taken into account.