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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Euro 2016 kicks off on Friday with the host France playing against Romania. This feels like a new era for European football. Spain, the winner of the last two Euros, has been toppled and, while it remains a serious contender to win the title, it does not go into the tournament with anything like the same level of expectation as it did four years ago, when it became the first nation successfully to defend the European crown.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Reigning World Cup champion Germany is flawed, England has a young side full of potential and Belgium hopes that its array of stars can at last find a coherence for the national team. This is a tournament without a clear favorite beyond the host, but such has been its habit of self-destruction there can\u2019t be a huge amount of confidence in Didier Deschamps\u2019s side, either.\r\n\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;EURO 2016: Live gamecasts, group standings, rosters&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here's how the 24 teams stack up entering the competition:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEuro 2016 Power Rankings\r\n\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t1\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t1France\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Albania, Romania, Switzerland\r\n\r\n\tEven without Karim Benzema, left out because of the allegations of his involvement in a blackmail plot against his teammate Mathieu Valbuena, this is a France squad with enormous potential and strength in all positions, although the injuries to Raphael Varane and Jeremy Mathieu and the absence of Mamadou Sakho following his 30-day drug suspension leave it a little short at center back. France has a tendency for squad disharmony, but history suggests playing at home tends to pull it together.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t2\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t2Spain\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey\r\n\r\n\tVicente Del Bosque\u2019s side is not what it was, lacked fluency throughout qualifying and is yet to find a regular striker but it still has enormous strength in depth.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t3\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t3Germany\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Northern Ireland, Poland, Ukraine\r\n\r\n\tIt\u2019s the world champion, but there are serious doubts about who will play at center forward and about the fullback positions, Defeats in qualifying to Ireland and Poland and in friendlies to England and Slovakia don\u2019t bode well.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t4\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t4England\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Russia, Slovakia, Wales\r\n\r\n\tThe defense is in shambles, and the rest of the side is highly inexperienced, but the Tottenham core means Roy Hodgson\u2019s side should be able to press, and there is significant attacking prowess. Winning 10 out of 10 in qualifying was not a fluke.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t5\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t5Italy\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Belgium, Ireland, Sweden\r\n\r\n\tThe squad is ordinary, lacking much in the way of creativity, but Antonio Conte has a knack of getting his team to do just enough.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t6\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t6Belgium\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Ireland, Italy, Sweden\r\n\r\n\tPacked with talented players, but short of fullbacks and coherence. The loss of the central defenders Vincent Kompany and Nicholas Lombaerts to injury is a major blow.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t7\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t7Austria\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Hungary, Iceland, Portugal\r\n\r\n\tThis is the best Austria side in probably 30 years, based around the left-sided triangle of Christian Fuchs, David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t8\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t8Poland\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Germany, Northern Ireland, Ukraine\r\n\r\n\tBeat Germany in qualifying and has a well-balanced side spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski, arguably the best European striker.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t9\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t9Croatia\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Czech Republic, Turkey, Spain\r\n\r\n\tThe midfield is supremely talented, but background political issues within the federation could undermine its chances.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t10\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t10Portugal\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Austria, Hungary, Iceland\r\n\r\n\tStill very dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo, who looked unfit in the Champions League final despite converting the decisive penalty kick.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t11\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t11Russia\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: England, Slovakia, Wales\r\n\r\n\tThis squad is aging and without injured playmaker Alan Dzagoev, but Leonid Slutsky has proved an inspirational appointment as coach.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t12\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t12Slovakia\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: England, Russia, Wales\r\n\r\n\tBeat Spain in qualifying, but then seemed to lose form. A friendly win away to Germany suggests how dangerous Jan Kozak\u2019s side could be.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t13\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t13Ukraine\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Germany, Northern Ireland, Poland\r\n\r\n\tQualified well and in Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko packs a threat out wide, but the goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov\u2019s display against Romania raises concerns.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t14\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t14Czech Republic\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Croatia, Spain, Turkey\r\n\r\n\tPavel Vrba has instilled an attacking style, and his record as a coach is remarkable, but this is a limited squad.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t15\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t15Iceland\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Austria, Hungary, Portugal\r\n\r\n\tWell-organized and euphoric after a first qualification, but there's a slight sense its form has waned since making it through a very tough group.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t16\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t16Wales\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: England, Russia, Slovakia\r\n\r\n\tMuch depends on Gareth Bale, but Chris Coleman\u2019s adoption of a back three has given Wales a solidity and provided a platform for the Real Madrid star.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t17\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t17Turkey\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain\r\n\r\n\tQualified as the best third-place side, but with a sense of improvement towards the end of the qualifying campaign. Hakan Calhanoglu is a real threat from set plays.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t18\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t18Switzerland\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Albania, France, Romania\r\n\r\n\tThere\u2019s plenty of attacking talent but under coach Vladimir Petkovic the Swiss have never quite managed the heights it reached under Ottmar Hitzfeld.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t19\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t19Republic of Ireland\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Belgium, Italy, Sweden\r\n\r\n\tLikely to be solid but unspectacular, although Shane Long\u2019s prowess on the break should not be underestimated.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t20\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t20Northern Ireland\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Germany, Poland, Ukraine\r\n\r\n\tRiding a wave of optimism unknown in 30 years, Michael O\u2019Neill\u2019s squad is far greater than the sum of its parts and if Kyle Lafferty fires, it could upset a more favored team.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t21\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t21Sweden\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Belgium, Ireland, Italy\r\n\r\n\tA mundane side enlivened by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, at 34, even he is finding age is preventing him from deciding games entirely on his own.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t22\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t22Romania\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Albania, France, Switzerland\r\n\r\n\tHad the best defensive record in qualifying, but is short of attacking options and leaked four against Ukraine on May 29.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t23\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t23Hungary\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: Austria, Iceland, Portugal\r\n\r\n\tBernd Storck has done a remarkable job in getting Hungary to this point, but this is a very ordinary side.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t24\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t24Albania\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGroup Opponents: France, Romania, Switzerland\r\n\r\n\tBeat Portugal away in qualifying but its path to France was smoothed by being awarded the abandoned game in Serbia.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/06/06/euro-2016-power-rankings-france-spain-germany-belgium-england>