And we're off! EURO 2016 kicks off on Friday evening. Hosts France take on Romania in the opener at 21.00 CET. FC Bayern boast nine stars involved in the tournament, and Mats Hummels and Renato Sanches, who will join the Bavarians for the coming season, are not even included in the number.
fcbayern.de has taken a closer look at the squads featuring FCB pros. Which sides face off? Where are the team bases? Who is tipped to make it to the final at Stade de France on 10 July?
Germany: Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Mario Götze, Jérôme Boateng, Joshua Kimmich
Opponents in Group C: Poland, Northern Ireland, Ukraine
Team base in Evian-Les-Bains (Lake Geneva)
Venues: Lille, Saint-Denis, Paris
Opponents in Group C: Poland, Northern Ireland, Ukraine
Team base in Evian-Les-Bains (Lake Geneva)
Venues: Lille, Saint-Denis, Paris
The world champions and three-time European champions are among the favourites for the title. Recent injury problems – Marco Reus and Antonio Rüdiger were forced to withdraw from the squad, captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and defensive pillar Mats Hummels are unlikely to be 100 percent fit in time for the first match – have not dampened the expectations. “If you're world champions your next goal can only be to win the European championship. But it's not going to be easy, there are very strong teams in this tournament. A lot of things have to work out,” said Boateng.
Poland: Robert Lewandowski
Opponents in Group C: Germany, Northern Ireland, Ukraine
Team base in La Baule (Atlantic seaboard)
Venues: Nice, Saint-Denis, Marseille
Opponents in Group C: Germany, Northern Ireland, Ukraine
Team base in La Baule (Atlantic seaboard)
Venues: Nice, Saint-Denis, Marseille
Euphoria has gripped Poland after they made a great impression over the course of their qualifying campaign. The Poles finished only one point short of group winners Germany. Skipper Lewandowski in particular hit the headlines, equalling the qualifiers goalscoring record on 13 goals. Poland have never made it through the group stage, but Lewandowski & Co aim to change that. “We can beat anyone even if we aren't favourites in every match,” commented the FCB striker: “We haven't come here just to take part, we want to win something.”
Austria: David Alaba
Opponents in Group F: Hungary, Portugal, Iceland
Team base in Mallemort (Provence)
Venues: Bordeaux, Paris, Saint-Denis
Opponents in Group F: Hungary, Portugal, Iceland
Team base in Mallemort (Provence)
Venues: Bordeaux, Paris, Saint-Denis
Their status as hosts booked Austria a berth in the EURO 2008, but the 2016 finals are the first tournament they compete in because they have sealed a spot over the course of their qualifying campaign. The expectations are high after impressive displays. “We certainly aren't top favourites for most people, but I'm pretty confident we'll go far,” said Alaba.
France: Kingsley Coman
Opponents in Group A: Albania, Romania, Switzerland
Team base in Clairefontaine (to the south-west of Paris)
Venues: Saint-Denis, Marseille, Lille
Opponents in Group A: Albania, Romania, Switzerland
Team base in Clairefontaine (to the south-west of Paris)
Venues: Saint-Denis, Marseille, Lille
The hosts are among the favourites after strong displays in the friendlies. “We're well-prepared and focused. We have plenty of quality. We're playing at home. But first and foremost we have to keep our cool. Our goal is to go as far as possible, to the final. We'll give it everything,” said Coman.
Spain: Thiago
Opponents in Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey
Team base in Saint-Martin-de-Ré (between Bordeaux and Nantes on the Atlantic seaboard)
Venues: Toulouse, Nice, Bordeaux
Opponents in Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey
Team base in Saint-Martin-de-Ré (between Bordeaux and Nantes on the Atlantic seaboard)
Venues: Toulouse, Nice, Bordeaux
Holders Spain are three-time European champions. A triumph would mean Furia Roja win the European championship for the third time on the bounce. “All players contest the finals with one goal: to win the title,” said Thiago.
