Teams – Euro 2016
The Euro 2016 was held between 24 nations across six groups and became one month of football history that we look back on with great pleasure and love for the beautiful game.
For the first time in European Championship history, 24 teams battled it out across France in summer 2016. The expanded format gave smaller nations their moment to shine, while traditional powerhouses faced unexpected challenges.
The Participants
Group A – Opening Act
France entered as hosts with massive expectations. The pressure was on from day one, starting with their opener against Romania at the Stade de France. Switzerland and Albania completed a group where nerves would play a huge part.
Romania brought their passionate fans and solid defensive setup, while Albania made their major tournament debut with dreams bigger than their small population suggested.
Group B – Dragons and Disappointments
Wales arrived with one genuine superstar in Gareth Bale and a team hungry to prove themselves. Their first major tournament since 1958 would become a fairy tale nobody saw coming.
England carried the burden of a nation’s hopes, but their young squad would face an examination they weren’t ready for. Russia and Slovakia rounded out what looked like England’s group to lose.
Group C – Powerhouse Problems
Germany came as world champions, methodical and efficient as always. But even the best-organized teams can stumble when complacency creeps in.
Poland had Robert Lewandowski firing on all cylinders, while Northern Ireland celebrated their first major tournament since 1986. Ukraine completed the quartet in what would prove to be a tighter group than many predicted.
Group D – Spanish Struggles
Spain dominated world football for years, but Father Time catches every dynasty eventually. Their tiki-taka philosophy faced its sternest test yet in France.
Croatia possessed midfield magic that could unlock any defense, while Czech Republic and Turkey both harbored realistic hopes of causing upsets.
Group E – Belgian Promise
Belgium carried the golden generation tag into France. With talent scattered across Europe’s biggest clubs, this felt like their moment to deliver on years of promise.
Italy brought their usual tactical discipline, while Republic of Ireland and Sweden prepared to make life difficult for the favorites through pure determination.
Group F – Portuguese Persistence
Portugal had Cristiano Ronaldo, but questions swirled around the supporting cast. Could one man carry a nation to glory?
Austria qualified with style and confidence, Hungary returned after a 30-year absence, while Iceland prepared for the adventure of a lifetime with just 330,000 people back home watching.
Pre-Tournament Favorites & Betting Odds
Going into the tournament, bookmakers had clear favorites – and they got almost everything wrong.
The Top Picks:
- France 5.00 (4/1) – As hosts with home advantage, they were joint-favorites
- Germany 5.00 (4/1) – World champions and perennial contenders
- Spain 6.00 (5/1) – Still riding their golden generation wave
- England 9.00 (8/1) – Young talent with Roy Hodgson at the helm
- Belgium 11.00 (10/1) – The golden generation finally ready to deliver
Portugal sat at 15.00 (14/1) – decent odds for a team with Ronaldo, but hardly among the main contenders. Wales were 29.00 (28/1) outsiders, while Iceland were astronomical 151.00 (150/1) shots.
Where The Smart Money Should Have Gone:
Those 151.00 odds on Iceland reaching the quarter-finals would have made someone very rich. A €10 bet would have returned €1,510 when they knocked out England.
Wales at 29.00 to reach the semi-finals? Pure gold for anyone brave enough to back Gareth Bale’s dragons.
Even Portugal’s tournament win at 15.00 wasn’t the worst shout, though few predicted their route through three draws in the group stage.
The Biggest Betting Disasters:
Spain failing to get past the Round of 16 at 6.00 (5/1) favorites cost bookmakers millions. England’s humiliation against Iceland turned 9.00 (8/1) pre-tournament bets into worthless paper.
Belgium’s quarter-final exit against Wales was perhaps the most painful for punters who’d backed the 11.00 (10/1) shots to finally fulfill their potential.
The Reality Check:
Traditional powerhouses stumbled while underdogs thrived. The expanded format meant conservative tactics often trumped attacking flair. Those who bet on defensive teams, penalty shootouts, and low-scoring affairs cleaned up throughout France 2016.
First-Time Participants
Five nations experienced their first European Championship:
- Albania – Small but proud, they celebrated every moment
- Iceland – The smallest nation ever to reach a major tournament
- Northern Ireland – Back after three decades in the wilderness
- Slovakia – Independent and ambitious since 1993
- Wales – Dragons ready to breathe fire after 58 years away
Notable Absences
Some big names watched from home:
- Netherlands – The 2014 World Cup semi-finalists failed to qualify, finishing fourth in their group
- Denmark – Euro 1992 winners couldn’t find their way back
- Greece – The shock Euro 2004 champions missed out
What Made This Different
The 24-team format changed everything. Suddenly, finishing third in your group might be enough. Teams could afford to be cautious, knowing that survival often mattered more than style points.
This conservative approach would define much of the tournament, with many sides prioritizing organization over adventure. The result? Fewer goals, more tactical battles, and plenty of penalty shootouts.
But it also meant magic moments for nations who never dreamed of reaching knockout rounds. Sometimes the beautiful game is most beautiful when underdogs get their day in the sun.
The stage was set. 24 teams, each with their own story to tell. The bookmakers thought they knew how it would end. They were spectacularly wrong.