Euro Power Rankings: a Look at the 24 Teams Going to Germany

1) France

It was not a Vintage window for Didier Deschamps’ team with a defeat at home to Germany, followed by a wobbly 3-2 victory over Chile in Marseille. Captain Kylian Mbappé has had difficult days and The absence of Antoine Griezmann, who missed his first games in France in seven years due to health issue, was clearly felt. However, there were positive aspects, as 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery had a good game against Germany and Randal Kolo Muani scored and assisted against Chile. Deschamps made nine changes for the second game, with William Saliba making a rare start at Marseille, although the coach had previously said that the Arsenal player was “doing things he doesn’t like”. Always The team to smack. Marcus Christenson

2) Germany

The results of these friendlies won’t matter at the start of the Euros, but England’s celebrations after Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute equaliser against Belgium on Tuesday night showed they don’t want another defeat. “We knew what garbage we were going to get,” the scorer said. There was a much improved performance against the Red Devils after the loss to Brazil on Saturday, with 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo being the best performer. However, both games have shown that Gareth Southgate will need Harry Kane fit in Germany to be able to pressureen the best.

3) Germany

Crisis, what crisis? The hosts of Euro, who fell into disarray only four months ago, will approach the tournament with an Almighty spring in their step after victories against France (away) and the Netherlands (at home). The 2-0 victory in Lyon was particularly impressive, where Florian Wirtz scored a beautiful goal after seven seconds, because the lead could have been even higher. Toni Kroos dictated the action again in central midfield, where Bayer Leverkusens convinced Robert Andrich alongside the cornerstone of Real Madrid. Julian Nagelsmann did not make any changes in the middle of the two matches, which meant two starts for the 27-year-old Stuttgart left-back Maximilian Mittelstädt, who was on the bench when Hertha Berlin relegated last season, but now looks like a sure starter for the Euros.

4) Spain

“A match against Brazil is never a friendly match,” said Dani Olmo after the tumultuous 3-3 draw at the Bernabéu on Tuesday night, a match that had everything: great goals, lively challenges and disastrous mistakes. Tempers pressurize to boil over after Brazil’s equaliser and the festivities that followed, and Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente was dismayed that some of the crowd booed Atlético Madrid striker Álvaro Morata. Spain were excellent in the first half and would probably have fled the game had it not been for a mistake by Unai Simón after 40 minutes with Spain leading 2-0. Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, 16, has excelled on the right wing and should be one of the most exciting players at the EUROS this summer. The fireworks at the Bernabéu made up for the disappointing performance in Friday’s 1-0 loss to Colombia in London and, as de la Fuente said, “we learn more from defeats than from victories.”

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