The Italians are back, and the rest of Group A will be looking up at them

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This article was published 04/06/2021 (1947 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday, a year later than expected but no less anticipated. Twenty-four teams will vie to be the continent’s best over the month-long tournament, held in 11 host cities across Europe for the first time in the competition’s 60-year history. We’ll introduce you to each group in the coming days, beginning with Group A.

A past European juggernaut should re-emerge as the clear leader of the pack in Group A of the European Championship, as the battle for second place simmers in its wake.

Italy returns to the major tournament scene as a favourite, after missing the 2018 World Cup. Roberto Mancini’s side is riding a 26-game unbeaten run thanks to a balanced approach, with dynamic attacking and solid defending. The Italian squad is not full of the headline-drawing names of teams past, but its mix of young attackers and a veteran back line should lead to success in the round robin, particularly with all three games to be played in front of a hometown crowd in Rome.

Switzerland goes into the tournament unbeaten since last October. The Swiss tied European giants Germany and Spain in the fall before going on a six-game win streak that included matches against fellow Euro 2020 competitors Ukraine and Finland. They will hope defender Fabian Schar can get back to his best quickly after months out of club play with Newcastle because of a knee injury, but they will be without winger Renato Steffen, who suffered an ankle injury in May. Forward Xherdan Shaqiri hasn’t featured much for Liverpool in club play, but Switzerland’s most iconic player will still shoulder his club’s attacking burden as it tries to reach the last 16 in a third consecutive major competition,

Turkey is a dark horse at Euro 2020. Some consider Senol Gunes’s squad the best to represent the country since its “golden generation” finished third at the 2002 World Cup. Defence, once a problem for Turkey, is now a strength. It conceded just three goals during qualifying. Recent wins over the Netherlands and Norway make this team one to watch, especially if veteran striker Burak Yilmaz, arguably the most consistent goal scorer in the group, is on.

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The recent successes of Switzerland and Turkey put pressure on Wales, the Cinderella semifinalists at Euro 2016, the country’s first major tournament in 58 years. The team has struggled to score since qualifying, winning by more than one goal once in 10 games. Recent matches against Euro favourites Belgium and France have ended in resounding losses. Clean sheets will be necessary for Wales to keep up.

• Player to watch: Wales is more than a one-man team, but the squad is better when Gareth Bale is at his best. The 31-year-old, Wales’ record goal scorer, has not consistently influenced matches at a club level with Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur of late but can he do so for country? With Bale on his game, Wales’ has a shot at advancing past the group stage. Without him, the task might be out of reach.

• Group A game you can’t miss: Italy against Turkey in the tournament’s opening match has the potential for some early fireworks. Italian fans will be raring to support their squad after missing out in 2018, and they have reason to dream. But is Italy’s recent success for real? After facing only three top-20 teams as they breezed through qualifying, some reassurance may be necessary. That begins against Turkey, which will need to stand tall at Stadio Olimpico, which will be open to at least 25 per cent capacity. Those fans will make themselves heard. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. Friday.

• Prediction: Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, Wales.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy