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Spain are out for a third successive European title while Germany aim to tread in the footsteps of Vicente del Bosque’s side when new-look Euro 2016 qualifiers get underway tomorrow. |
Spain begin their bid for a European title hat-trick against Macedonia in a Group C match in Valencia on Monday hoping to prove that talk of the end of an era is premature.
Despite the international retirements of midfield stalwarts Xavi, Xabi Alonso and the early World Cup exit in Brazil, Del Bosque remains positive as he rebuilds his squad.
“Things went really wrong for us in Brazil, everyone knows that. Now we have to start a new cycle, with a positive mentality and positive energy,” he said.
Del Bosque says he also saw plenty of positives with a number of new faces in Thursday’s 1-0 friendly international defeat to Euro 2016 hosts France in Paris.
“First we need to qualify,” said Del Bosque. “Even if we had done better at the World Cup I think we would still have taken the same measures. The regeneration of the team was needed but we maintain the same basis of players as in the past.”
World champions Germany start their campaign against Scotland in Dortmund tomorrow - hoping to emulate both France (1998/2000) and Spain (2010/2012), the only sides to have followed up World Cup victory with the European title.
Following the international retirements of Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, Germany coach Joachim Loew is also beginning a process of transition just two months after the national team clinched a fourth world title.
New captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, midfielders Julian Draxler, Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira, and defenders Shkodran Mustafi, Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer are all missing for the Scotland game.
Elsewhere in qualifiers spread over three days, Gibraltar - in Group D with Germany - play their first competitive senior international, against Poland in Faro-Loule, Portugal.
Portugal meanwhile face Albania in Group I tomorrow without Cristiano Ronaldo, deemed unfit, in Aveiro, while Monday’s matches include Switzerland against England in a Group E encounter in Basel, while Austria greet Sweden in Group G in Vienna, and Ukraine meet Slovakia in Kiev.
Among Tuesday’s highlights, Norway face Italy in Oslo, and World Cup semi-finalists Netherlands are in Prague against the Czech Republic.
Italy were boosted Thursday by a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in Bari - a first match for new coaches Antonio Conte for Italy and Guus Hiddink for the Dutch.
Ciro Immobile, who opened the scoring for Italy, is again set to lead the attack alongside newcomer Simone Zaza.
Giorgio Chiellini could be back in defence after injury but playmaker Andrea Pirlo and defender Andrea Barzagli remain sidelined.
Qualifiers for Euro 2016 are now under a “week of football” concept. But with the finals expanded from 16 to 24 finalists, nearly half of UEFA’s 53 teams taking part - plus hosts France - will reach the tournament in France.
Top sides should have little trouble qualifying as one of the top two teams from the eight groups of six and one of five, or as the best third-placed team.
The remaining eight third-placed teams will go into two-leg play-offs to determine the last four places.
UEFA president Michel Platini, while defending the 24-team finals, has admitted the qualifying campaign could throw up some “less interesting” matches.
“We will have two or three teams qualifying from groups of six, so matches will be less decisive, but the tournament itself will be just as interesting,” he said.