14:00 Kick off time (UK). The match is taking place in Toulouse.
Coverage starts at 13:30 on ITV1. Lothar Matthaus, Bellamy and Wright in the studio.
So Spain, defending champions and they have had the trophy now for 8 years, most peoples favourites for the tournament including mine. Finished top of their group in qualifying with 27 points, they had one blip against Slovakia not long after the World Cup. They’ve had a couple of iffy friendly results including losing to Georgia but that was partly down to resting their key players after a long season.
They have the best squad depth in the tournament, just look at their midfielders: Thiago, Busquets, Fabregas, Iniesta, Silva, and Koke. Their top scorer in qualifying; Alacacer didn’t make the squad so that leaves over very own David Silva as their top scorer in qualifying with 3 goals. Be interesting to see if he plays Silva as a false 9 as he did in Euro 2012 or he goes with Morata or Aduriz. Not even mentioned the goalkeeping situation yet, amazingly he’ll probably still go with Casillas due to the recent scandal with De Gea, although I still think he would have choose Casillas anyway. Look out for Nolito, not sure if he’ll start but he was absolutely on fire in their friendlies, another late bloomer like Payet.
Czech Republic finished top of their group in qualifying, a group that contained Iceland, Turkey and the Netherlands. However they conceded at least 5 more than any other group winner in qualifying. They have also had a mixed bag of results in their friendlies, beating Russia but losing to Scotland. Sparta Prague midfielder, Dockal, was their top goal scorer in qualifying with 4 goals. Tomas Rosicky is still in the squad after pretty much not kicking a ball all season for Arsenal.
I’m going to predict 3-0 to Spain, should be an easy game. Merlin hat-trick would be nice.
Coverage starts at 13:30 on ITV1. Lothar Matthaus, Bellamy and Wright in the studio.
So Spain, defending champions and they have had the trophy now for 8 years, most peoples favourites for the tournament including mine. Finished top of their group in qualifying with 27 points, they had one blip against Slovakia not long after the World Cup. They’ve had a couple of iffy friendly results including losing to Georgia but that was partly down to resting their key players after a long season.
They have the best squad depth in the tournament, just look at their midfielders: Thiago, Busquets, Fabregas, Iniesta, Silva, and Koke. Their top scorer in qualifying; Alacacer didn’t make the squad so that leaves over very own David Silva as their top scorer in qualifying with 3 goals. Be interesting to see if he plays Silva as a false 9 as he did in Euro 2012 or he goes with Morata or Aduriz. Not even mentioned the goalkeeping situation yet, amazingly he’ll probably still go with Casillas due to the recent scandal with De Gea, although I still think he would have choose Casillas anyway. Look out for Nolito, not sure if he’ll start but he was absolutely on fire in their friendlies, another late bloomer like Payet.
Czech Republic finished top of their group in qualifying, a group that contained Iceland, Turkey and the Netherlands. However they conceded at least 5 more than any other group winner in qualifying. They have also had a mixed bag of results in their friendlies, beating Russia but losing to Scotland. Sparta Prague midfielder, Dockal, was their top goal scorer in qualifying with 4 goals. Tomas Rosicky is still in the squad after pretty much not kicking a ball all season for Arsenal.
I’m going to predict 3-0 to Spain, should be an easy game. Merlin hat-trick would be nice.
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