Ranking the Top Seeds in the Euro 2016 Draw
The field for UEFA Euro 2016 is set, with 23 qualifying nations joining hosts France for next summer's final tournament.
As reported by UEFA's website, the seeds and pots are set for the draw, which will take place on Dec. 12 in Paris. England will be among the top seeds along with hosts France, defending European champions Spain and reigning World Cup winners Germany.
Here, Bleacher Report ranks all six of the top seeds based on form in qualifying, past performance at the two most recent major tournaments (Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014) and prospects for advancement next summer.
Full Listing of Pots
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Below is a listing of the teams in the four pots that will be used for the Euro 2016 draw. Note that hosts France will automatically be drawn as the top seed in Group A.
Pot 1: France, Spain, Germany, England, Portugal, Belgium
Pot 2: Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Ukraine
Pot 3: Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary
Pot 4: Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Wales, Albania, Northern Ireland
Source: UEFA.com
6. England
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Ranking: 3 (UEFA), 9 (FIFA)
Recent performance: Euro 2012 quarter-finals; 2014 World Cup group stage
Optimism surrounds England after the Three Lions became the only team to finish qualifying with a 100 percent winning record. Roy Hodgson's squad had little trouble seeing off Switzerland for top spot in Group E, collecting a perfect 30 points.
That optimism was tempered somewhat by a friendly loss to Spain, but England rebounded with a confident victory over France, who admittedly were distracted following the recent Paris attacks.
Hodgson has a good squad with plenty of potential, but the Three Lions will have to move past recent failures in major tournaments in order to make a deep run at Euro 2016. England's most recent World Cup campaign ended in the group stage, while their run at Euro 2012 lasted only until the first knockout round.
So despite cautious optimism about this team, we've taken the lessons of history to heart and ranked England at the bottom of our list of seeded sides. Perhaps the Three Lions will prove us—and history—wrong next summer.
5. Portugal
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Recent performance: Euro 2012 semi-finals, 2014 World Cup group stage
Portugal topped qualifying Group I (the only five-team group) with 21 points following seven wins and just one defeat. Cristiano Ronaldo topped the group with five goals, but the only other Portuguese player to score more than once was Joao Moutinho, who netted twice.
Making expectations for this team is somewhat difficult. Three years ago, Portugal reached the semi-finals of Euro 2012 before losing a close match to eventual champions Spain. But Ronaldo and company crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage last year after failing to qualify ahead of the United States.
Ronaldo, the back-to-back Ballon d'Or winner, remains one of the world's best. But the question with Portugal involves how much support the Real Madrid superstar will receive from his teammates. With a solid supporting cast, Ronaldo is capable of carrying the team to the final and beyond.
But based on the strength of the other squads in this group, we can't rate Portugal any higher than fifth.
4. Belgium
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Ranking: 4 (UEFA), 1 (FIFA)
Recent performance: Did not qualify for Euro 2012; quarter-finals at 2014 World Cup
What to make of Belgium? The Red Devils are flying high at No. 1 in FIFA's latest rankings and topped Group B with 23 points ahead of Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina. But do they really deserve all the hype?
Sure, Belgium have a host of exciting players, most of whom play in the Premier League. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne (both pictured) are just a couple of names that stand out in a strong squad, but questions remain over whether this team is ready to take the next step.
After careful consideration, we decided to split the difference between the hype and the relative lack of major-tournament experience. Belgium rate ahead of England and Portugal but behind firmer favorites France, Germany and Spain.
3. France
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Ranking: 8 (UEFA), 24 (FIFA)
Recent performance: Euro 2012 quarter-finals; 2014 World Cup quarter-finals
France's rankings are lower than the rest of the seeded teams, but that FIFA rating is an outlier that's been skewed by Les Bleus' lack of qualifying matches (they qualified for Euro 2016 automatically as hosts). More important to us is the fact that Didier Deschamps' men will play on home soil next summer.
According to Chris Myson at Goal, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots rates France as the favorites for glory.
"We are one of six or seven teams that can do it, but France are my big favorites," Wilmots said. "They play at home and have an exceptional core; I have also told Didier Deschamps this."
Will home advantage be enough to bring home the trophy? France have a strong squad with quality from front to back, as Bleacher Report's Matt Jones noted:
"Hosts France are many people’s favourites for glory this summer, though. Home advantage will count for a lot, but manager Didier Deschamps has a remarkable pool of talent to choose from, including stars such as Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris and Laurent Koscielny, as well as some of the brightest young players in the world in Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane and Kingsley Coman.
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Les Bleus reached only the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014, but in each case, they lost to the eventual champions (Spain at Euro 2012, and then Germany at the World Cup). Besides, France have always targeted Euro 2016 as the tournament at which all their undoubted potential would blossom.
Now they just have to show it.
2. Spain
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Ranking: 2 (UEFA), 6 (FIFA)
Recent performance: Euro 2012 (and 2008) champions; World Cup 2014 group stage
Spain are the two-time defending champions having lifted the trophy in both 2008 and 2012. This team, however, is different from both of those squads, with legends like Xavi and Carles Puyol retired.
But don't underestimate La Roja, even after their disastrous 2014 World Cup campaign. Vicente del Bosque's side won nine games and lost just once in qualifying, topping Group C with 27 points.
The attack is varied, with 13 different players scoring at least one goal during that run, while the defense conceded just three times.
Spain were knocked off their perch last year in Brazil, but expect an exceptionally talented side to mount a recovery next year in France.
1. Germany
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Ranking: 1 (UEFA), 2 (FIFA)
Recent performance: Euro 2012 semi-finals; World Cup 2014 winners
Germany suffered a surprising defeat to Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-finals, but Die Mannschaft finally put all the pieces together in their triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
Some key players have retired since then, and Germany went through a few growing pains in qualifying, but Joachim Low's side eventually topped a tricky Group D with 22 points.
As has been the case for several years now, the talent available to Germany is impressive. Manuel Neuer is perhaps the world's top goalkeeper, while striker Thomas Muller scores goals for fun at both the club and international level. Mesut Ozil is in terrific form for Arsenal and will hope to carry that over into next summer's tournament.
The pieces are still in place. Germany are poised for another title, but it will be anything but simple.
