EURO 2016 draw reaction
The draw for the 2016 European Championship was made in Paris on Saturday.
Here are the groups in full:
Group A: France, Romania, Albania, Switzerland
Group B: England, Russia, Wales, Slovakia
Group C: Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Northern Ireland
Group D: Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Croatia
Group E: Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden
Group F: Portugal, Iceland, Austria, Hungary
Germany coach Joachim Low
“This group definitely is doable. We are the favourites, we want to finish top and that is our aim,” Low told ZDF.”I think we have to pay close attention to every opponent. We know Poland well from the qualification.
“Ukraine conceded the least goals of all the teams I think and Northern Ireland are very uncomfortable to play against.”
England Coach Roy Hodgson
“It’s been exciting following their progress,” the England manager told the BBC of Coleman’s side.
“We know their players because they all basically play in England, but we know the team is well organised, they have a fantastic team spirit and a fantastic spine. In Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale they have really class European players. Chris has moulded the rest of the players around that well.
“But we have respect for the other teams as well. You’re just happy to be here to play against somebody. You take what you get, really.
“I’ve not come across either Russia or Slovakia in my international career so it’s two newcomers, but we respect them and it’s a question of doing plenty of research so we know enough about them as we think we do about Wales.”
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots
“I’m not unhappy with the draw,” he told Sporza. “We say to everyone that we must reach the semi-finals, so we must start the tournament with complete confidence.
“It’s a difficult group, but against Ireland and Sweden normally we can win. The first match against Italy probably will be the hardest. But the first two teams go through and, together with Italy, we’re the favourites in this group.
“We must play like during the World Cup, where we won all our group matches. We must start with the same intention.”
Spain Coach Del Bosque
“We have to give value to the opponents.,” he said. “Croatia are very familiar to everyone, they’re a great team. We have to do our best, to choose the best and we go for our third European title. It’s a difficult group.
“I don’t see any comfortable group. When we start to play I will tell you [if there is a group of death].
“It’s a longer and more difficult tournament.”
Italy Coach Antonio Conte
“I think Belgium are an excellent team, and are among the favourites for the final stages. They have a young team, and a lot of top players in their ranks.
“Then I see pretty equal teams with Sweden, us and Ireland. I think Belgium are among the favourites.
“We know all the strengths of [Sweden striker] Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. And Ireland are certainly a team who play with a lot of emotion, and who are strong with their team spirit and great intensity. So we have to be careful.”
Turkey Coach Faith Terim
“There’s no need to talk about Spain. The team is full of stars.”
Terim is looking forward to a crunch meeting with Czech Republic in Lens on June 21, Turkey’s final group match.
“Czech Republic coach Pavel Vrba had told me ‘see you in Paris’ when we last met,” said Terim, who is in his third spell in charge of Turkey.
“We met and we will meet again. He reminded me this just a few minutes ago. Everybody knows about the Czechs.
“Croatia are our opponents in our 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign too and the first test will be there.
“I am fully confident of my players. I believe we can do very interesting work there. We can introduce new starlets.”
