Euro Qualifiers 2016: Players Primed to Shine in Opening Matches

While UEFA may have diluted the competitiveness of the qualification process for the European Championships, there’s always that tinge of excitement that accompanies the inception of a brand new tournament.

And following on from a World Cup, myriad nations will have undergone face-lifts, drafting in new managers, new personnel and new stylistic principles. As a by-product of those changes, there’ll be plenty of intrigue surrounding the opening round of these Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Anyway, at the start of a new international campaign there’s always players that are looking to cement their place in the team ahead of an arduous qualifying process, so look out for some big individual showings in the opening games.

Here’s three players who are primed to do the business as the race to France 2016 gets underway in earnest.

Marco Reus

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After returning triumphantly from Brazil with the World Cup, German football was bristling with pride and excitement. But the nation was promptly brought back down to earth this week, as Argentina swatted them aside 4-2 in a friendly game.

With established figures like Philipp Lahm and Mirsolav Klose now retired, Joachim Low will be on the lookout for new a talisman, and he could come in the form of a man who didn’t play a minute of World Cup football, Marco Reus.

Here’s why he’s set to emerge as one of Germany’s vital figures:

The Dortmund forward suffered an injury in the build up to the Brazil showpiece, and he’ll be keen to make up for lost time in these Euro qualifiers. He’s started the season in excellent form for BVB and despite being linked with a move away from the Bundesliga throughout the summer, he seems focused and settled.

Reus is taking nothing for granted ahead of a game where the World Champions are the overwhelming favourites either, per The Guardian:

That can’t be a good thing for Scotland, who’ll have their work cut out to keep Reus quiet. The game will actually be played at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, and in front of his home crowd, you can bet Reus will be even more motivated to put on a show.

Xherdan Shaqiri

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Those England supporters who tuned into the Three Lions’ moribund friendly against Norway would have been disappointed to say the least. But you can bet those Switzerland players who sat through it will have been delighted, especially Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Swiss welcome a depleted England to Basel for the opening game of their respective campaigns, and the Bayern Munich midfielder is exactly the type of player that will cause a host of problems for a team that’s currently in the middle of a transitional spell.

Indeed, Shaqiri has done it before against England as we can see here:

These days, the Swiss maestro is a much more rounded and mature player. He can play across the attacking midfield positions and he showcased time after time in the World Cup just how difficult he can be to pick up in those little pockets.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

But it’s his blistering pace and stunning dribbling ability that’ll make him a real threat against this England back line. If the Three Lions don’t get a grip of him early on, then Shaqiri could easily embarrass Roy Hodgson’s team.

Cesc Fabregas

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After a shambolic performance in the World Cup, the winds of change have been blowing through the Spanish national side. And following the international retirement of a clutch of big names, the onus will be on other players to push this Spain team forward and repeat former glories.

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Fabregas is a player that’s been a permanent fixture in recent Spain squads, but he’s never been able to nail down a place in the first XI. With midfielders Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernandez having retired from the international game, now is an excellent chance for the Chelsea man to become a permanent fixture.

And given the form he’s in at the moment, as illustrated here by OptaJoe, he's staking a big claim to be one of the first names on the Spanish team sheet:

The move back to the Premier League has given Fabregas an opportunity to play much more regular football and under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, he already seems to have found an added direct edge to his game. That’s an edge he must bring to the national set-up too.

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Spain didn’t manage to get a shot on target in their recent friendly game with France, and although they should have far too much for Macedonia in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier, expect Stamford Bridge’s latest midfield maestro to play a starring role in a much more incisive display.