Euro 2020 preview: Unpredictable Group C is the stuff of upsets

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This article was published 06/06/2021 (1894 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Euro 2020 kicks off Friday, a year later than expected but no less anticipated. Twenty-four soccer teams will vie to be the continent’s best over the month-long tournament, held in 11 cities across Europe for the first time in the competition’s 60-year history. Get to know each group with daily previews in the Star. Today: Group C

Collectively, Group C holds the lowest average FIFA ranking among the round-robin quartets, but all four teams arrive with something to prove.

The Netherlands returns to major tournament play for the first time since the 2014 World Cup. Ukraine finished atop its qualifying group, ahead of reigning European champion Portugal, but results since then have some wondering which version will show up. Austria has not won a game at a major event since the 1990 World Cup, while North Macedonia is competing at this level for the first time.

For the Dutch, proving themselves starts with showing they can compete without centre back and leader Virgil van Dijk, gone with a knee injury. Frank de Boer, who took over as manager from Ronald Koeman this year, must ensure the core of the team, featuring striker Memphis Depay, maintains the cohesion that has led to a quiet re-emergence. They’re no favourites, but in a weaker group there’s an opportunity to reposition themselves by the knockout stages.

Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine side went unbeaten in qualifying, but has managed just two wins in the last 11 matches. They need the midfield trio of Taras Stepanenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ruslan Malinovskyi to control the play and feed striker Roman Yarumchek, who had a career year at the club level with Gent. Ukraine can go to a more defensive style than its preferred 4-3-3 formation, but now is not the time to sit back.

Austria arrives amid criticism from fans back home about negative play, despite an impressive win percentage under manager Franco Foda. Ties won’t be enough to get though this group. They will have to go for it more often, while managing the risk.

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North Macedonia, meanwhile, isn’t just happy to be there. The team hopes to surprise on the counter attack. A 2-1 win over Germany in World Cup qualifying in March has them believing they can get a result against anyone. Group C presents a good opportunity for upsets.

• Player to watch: Flexibility is a strength for Austria’s David Alaba, who can line up at left back or in midfield, and North Macedonia star Goran Pandev, who played as a No. 10 in qualifying but will likely lead the line after an injury to Ilija Nestorovski. But Ukraine’s Zinchenko does it best, playing at left back for Manchester City but in midfield for country. He will dictate pace, pressure and possession for Ukraine, and bear the weight of expectations back home.

• Game you can’t miss: The Netherlands and Ukraine go head-to-head on the first day of Group C play, and the result could decide the group winner. The Dutch will have home-field advantage at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, but Ukraine has had more sustained success in recent years. Little separates the teams, which means it could come down to which front man, Depay or Yarumchek, gets off to the better start. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 13.

• Prediction: Netherlands, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Austria

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