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 EURO CUP 2016

ENGLAND

 vs WALES
FIFA RANKING 10   FIFA RANKING 24
 
 
TEAM PROFILES

ENGLAND
England are alone among Europe's World Cup-winning nations in failing to capture the Henri Delaunay Cup. Indeed, they are yet to reach a UEFA European Championship final, having come closest in 1996, when they hosted the event, only to be denied by Germany in a semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat at Wembley. They also reached the last four – as world champions – in 1968, but otherwise the competition has brought few happy memories.
In the four eight-team final tournaments from 1980 to 1992, England were unable to reach the knockout phase, failing to qualify altogether for the 1984 edition in France. EURO '96 apart, they have also struggled to make an impression in the 16-team finals, going out at the group stage in 2000 and suffering elimination in qualifying for the 2008 tournament. On the other two occasions, in 2004 and 2012, respective quarter-finals with Portugal and Italy both ended in shoot-out disappointments

WALES
Yugoslavia were always Wales' bogey team in the UEFA European Championship, denying them a place in the four-team 1976 final tournament and then stopping the Dragons in their tracks in qualifying for the 1984 final tournament. Victory in the final home game would have taken Wales through but Mehmed Baždarević's 81st-minute leveller enabled the visitors to claim the qualifying berth.
Not until UEFA EURO 2004 did Wales come as close again. Facing Russia in the play-offs, hopes soared after a 0-0 draw in Moscow only for a 1-0 home defeat to deny them once more. UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying proved to be a more troubled campaign than most, with promising results on the pitch overshadowed by the death of manager Gary Speed in November 2011
 

BEST RESULT
ENGLAND   WALES
semi-finals 1968, 1996
   never previously qualified
 
KEY PLAYERS
ENGLAND
Given Wayne Rooney’s slump in form and his poor performances at every tournament since his terrific debut in 2004, it is impossible to argue that the captain is ‘key’ going into France despite his seven goals in qualification. He may not even be worth a place in the starting XI and while there are those who consider Joe Hart indispensable, Jack Butland this season has looked equally accomplished. So, even though he is not an automatic selection, the selection of John Stones to partner Chris Smalling at the back for England is vital to their hopes of progressing.
An accomplished, assured, quick, ball-playing centre half, he could be England’s gamechanger, a player with strengths that can put an end to the perennial frailty through the middle and link up with the payers in front of him.
WALES
Gareth Bale, the world’s most expensive player, has been in sensational form for Wales, using his effortless acceleration and dribbling prowess to stretch midfields and hurt defences. He looks enormously content in the red shirt, acknowledged as a leader, utterly unselfconscious and almost bristling with intent to make an impact.
It provides a glaring contrast with his demeanour on occasions for Real Madrid but while reports of his decline are ridiculous – particularly compared with the slack cut his team-mate James Rodríguez – watching Wales gives you the best chance of seeing him at his consistent, devastating peak.
   

 

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