Euro 2016 is here: the preview

Last week the Centenary Copa América got under way in the United States and this week sees Euro 2016 begin with hosts France kicking off the tournament in the Stade de France in Paris against Romania at 9.00pm CET on Friday.

Twenty four European nations will be competing for the title of best international team in Europe in a newly enlarged format which starts on 10 June and climaxes with the final taking place on Sunday 10 July in the Stade de France in the French capital.

Just as in the Copa América, Barça are well represented in the prestigious international tournament. The blaugranes have no less than eight players selected by their various national sides for the month long competition. Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are all in a Spain squad that is looking to claim the title for an unprecedented hat trick of wins after their successes in 2008 and 2012. Vicente del Bosque’s team are in a Barça heavy Group D alongside Ivan Rakitic’s Croatia and Arda Turan’s Turkey.

Rounding off the list come Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is in a Germany squad attempting to add the Euro title to the World Cup title claimed two years ago in Brazil and Thomas Vermaelen, who is part of a talented Belgium squad that many believe could go far in the competition.