World Soccer - UK (2019-12)

Czech Republic

O HOW THEY QUALIFIED In second
place behind England in Group A, they
qualified for a seventh successful Euros
despite missing out on five of the last six
World Cups as an independent nation.

O THE COACH Jaroslav Silhavy was on
the national-team coaching staff between
2001 and 2009 before returning to the
Czech league, where he won the title
with Slavia Prague. Has never coached
outside of the Czech Republic.

O KEY PLAYERS Defensive midfielder
Tomas Soucek, winger Lukas Masopust,
and key assist provider Jakub Jankto all
play for domestic champions Slavia
Prague. Injury prone striker Patrik Schick
is on loan at RB Leipzig from Serie A.

O PLAYER TO WATCH Late-developing,
30-year-old Dallas striker Zdenek
Ondrasek has burst into spectacular life
these past few months, racking up goal
upon goal for his Texan MLS club and
marking his full international debut
with a supersub winner against England.
Dubbed “the Cobra” because of a snake
tattoo on his back, the feisty 30-year-old
front runner used to be better known for
his vices: smoking, eating unhealthily and
playing slot machines.

Denmark

O HOW THEY QUALIFIED Runners-up
in Group D and unbeaten in eight games,
but four draws – including a 1-1 against
Republic of Ireland in their final game –
meant they finished behind Switzerland.

O THE COACH Norwegian Age Hareide
replaced the long-serving Morten Olsen
in March 2016 and guided Denmark to
the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup. Has
won league titles throughout Scandinavia.

O KEY PLAYERS Midfielder Christian
Eriksen is facing an uncertain future
at Tottenham, with his contract due to
expire in the summer. Leicester City
keeper Kasper Schmeichel excelled in
the qualifiers while Atalanta centre-back
Simon Kjaer provides leadership.

O PLAYER TO WATCH Statistics are not
the best guide to analysing the worth of
RB Leipzig front-man Yussuf Poulsen to
his national team. While his international
strike-rate of just seven goals in 43
appearances is nothing to write home
about, he more than compensates
with his unselfish running, gritty attitude
and an ability to get under the skin
of defenders. With great pace and
incredible strength, he does a great
deal of the Danish dirty work, pulling
defenders out of position and opening
up breaches for others.

England

O HOW THEY QUALIFIED On a high

following their unexpected run to the

2018 World Cup semi-finals, they won

Group A at a canter with seven wins and

just the one defeat – away to Czech

Republic in Prague, where defensive

limitations were highlighted.

O THE MANAGER Gareth Southgate was

under-21 boss when placed in temporary

charge of the senior side following Sam

Allardyce’s resignation in September

2016. The 49-year-old former
      Middlesbrough manager has earned
      praise for his man-management skills
      and deployment of youngsters.

O KEY PLAYERS Captain Harry Kane is

the elder statesman to an exciting group

of young players, including in-form

Manchester City attacker Raheem

Sterling, flying Borussia Dortmund winger

Jadon Sancho and Liverpool full-back

Trent Alexander-Arnold.

O PLAYER TO WATCH Improving with

every game for the Three Lions, Leicester

City left-back Ben Chilwell underlined his

credentials with a hat-trick of assists in

the 7-0 hammering of Montenegro.

Tactically disciplined, strong in his one-

on-one defending and improving all the

time on offensive sorties, he is a target

for all the Premier League big-hitters.

Finland

O HOW THEY QUALIFIED A sensational

first qualification for a major finals was

secured with a victory over Liechtenstein

in their penultimate game and achieved

with a group of players based mainly with

clubs in Scandinavia and the middle-

ranking leagues.

O THE COACH Markku Kanerva was

capped by Finland 59 times as a player

and spent 12 years in charge of the

under-21 team. Was also an assistant to

the senior side before succeeding Hans

Backe in the top job in December 2016.

O KEY PLAYERS Norwich City striker

Teemu Pukki has been one of the

revelations of the Premier League

season, and was his country’s top scorer,

with 10 goals in qualifying. Augsburg

winger Fredrik Jensen and veteran

midfielder Tim Sparv also impressed.

O PLAYER TO WATCH Finland’s success

was not solely built on the finishing of

Pukki, they also owe a huge debt of

gratitude to Bayer Leverkusen keeper

Lukas Hradecky, whose experience kept

those around him calm.

Euro 2020: The Teams

Improving...

Ben Chilwell

Goals...Teemu Pukki

Homegrown...

Jaroslav Silhavy