UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: SCOTLAND

NICKNAME: The Tartan Terriers

MANAGER: Steve Clarke

Former national team player (6 caps) and now their manager. He mostly played for St. Mirren and Chelsea. Steve mainly worked as assistant manager. In 2019, Clarke was appointed manager of the Scotland national team. 

MOST CAPS: Kenny Dalglish: 102 caps from 1971 to 1986

TOP SCORER: Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish: 30 goals each

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Third EURO for Scotland.

BEST RESULT: Both their previous EUROs started and finished in a group stage. 3rd group stage place in 1992 (Netherlands, Germany and CIS) and in 1996 (England, Netherlands and Switzerland). Here is their team from 1996 where they had the same points and goal difference as second placed Netherlands but scored less goals which was used as a tiebreaker.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: SLOVAKIA

 

NICKNAME: Sokoli / The Falcons

MANAGER: Štefan Tarkovič

Former footballer who didn't had a big career and played less for Tatran Prešov and for some smaller teams in his homeland. In the late 90s, Štefan started his coaching career with the women's U19 national team. He worked as an assistant coach for five years with the A men's national team and from 2020 he is the main manager. 

MOST CAPS: Marek Hamšik: 126 caps from 2007

TOP SCORER: Marek Hamšik: 26 goals from 2007

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: From 1960 to 1992 Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia. They won UEFA EURO title in 1976 with many players from Slovakia. 

BEST RESULT: Last EURO in France was their first European tournament. In a group with Wales, England and Russia, Slovakia finished 3rd with 4 points and qualified to the knock-out stage as a best third-placed team. They lost from Wales, then beat Russia and draw with England. Germany was better in the round of 16 with an easy 3-0 win.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: NORTH MACEDONIA

 

NICKNAME: Risovi ili lavovi / Lynxes or lions

MANAGER: Igor Angelovski

Macedonian footballer who played for clubs in his homeland, then Slovenia and Serbia. Igor started his managerial career with Rabotnički in 2013. Two years later he became a manager of the national team. 

MOST CAPS: Goran Pandev: 117 since 2001

TOP SCORER: Goran Pandev: 37 since 2001

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: First EURO for North Macedonia. From 1960 to 1992 they competed as a part of Yugoslavia. 

BEST RESULT: -

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: HUNGARY

 

NICKNAME: Magyarok / Magyars

MANAGER: Marco Rossi

Italian former footballer and now a manager of Hungarian national team. He played for several clubs in Italy and from the mid 2000s he started his coaching career. From 2018 he is on Hungarian bench. 

MOST CAPS: Gabor Kiraly and Balazs Dzsudzsak: 108 caps each

TOP SCORER: Ferenc Puskas: 84 goals from 1945 to 1956

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: This year EURO will be fourth for Hungary.

BEST RESULT: Third place in 1964. In the qualifications they were better then Wales, East Germany and France. Hungary lost in the semi-final of the hosts, Spain. 2:1 after extra time. In the 3rd place match they faced Denmark and won it 3:1 a.e.t.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: WALES

 

NICKNAME: The Dragons

MANAGER: Robert Page

New Wales national team manager after Giggs was charged with assault in April 2021. Former national team player previously worked as a manager of U21 national team. Page played for Watford, Sheffield United, Coventry City...

MOST CAPS: Chris Gunter- 96 caps from 2007

TOP SCORER: Gareth Bale- 33 goals from 2006

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: This will be the second EURO for Wales.

BEST RESULT: Semi-finals on last EURO. Wales was in a group with England, Russia and Slovakia. They won first place in a group with 6 points: 2 wins and a loss from England. In round of 16 they played against Northern Ireland, another debutant in 2016. Wales won it 1-0. Strong Belgium was their next opponent. The Red Devils took an early lead but at the end lost it 3-1. Portugal was better in the semi-final and it was the end for a great debutant run from Wales.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: TURKEY

 

NICKNAME: Ay-Yıldızlılar / The Crescent-Stars

MANAGER: Senol Gunes

Most successful manager in Turkey history is Senol Gunes. He led them to 3rd place in the 2002 WC. Gunes played as a goalkeeper for almost all career in Trabzonspor. 31 matches for the national team. From 1988 Gunes works as manager. He managed many teams in the Turkey league. This is his second stint as a national team manager.

MOST CAPS: Rustu Recber- 120 caps from 1994 to 2012

TOP SCORER: Hakan Sukur- 51 goal from 1992 to 2007

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: 5th EURO for Turkey. 

BEST RESULT: Turkey's best result is the semi-final in 2008 where they had several amazing wins or they have been really lucky. They were in group A with Portugal, Czech Republic and co-hosts Switzerland. Portugal was better than them in the first match. Turkey made great turnovers in the next two matches. First they were 1-0 down from co-hosts but managed to win it with Turan's goal in the last minute of the match. In the last group match Turkey was even 2-0 down but was lucky again or they didn't give up as they beat Czech 3-2 with two late goals from Nihat Kahveci. We saw another drama in the quarter-final against Croatia. Klasnić gave Croatia the lead in 119 min of extra time. Everybody thought it was over but Turks disagreed with that. Semih Senturk scored a last minute equaliser. Croatian players were in shock and Turkey won it on PKs. It wasn't over yet as Turkey faced Germany in the semi-final. Turks were in the result deficit two times (0-1 and 1-2). Again Semih scored an equalizer, this time in 86 minute of the match. Turkish luck stopped here as Germany scored a last minute winner. 

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: UKRAINE

 

NICKNAME: The Yellow and Blue

MANAGER: Andriy Shevchenko

Shevchenko, Ukrainian legend and one of the best strikers in the late 90s and 2000s. He started his career in Dynamo Kyiv and later became one of the best goalscorers in Milan history. Sheva also played for Chelsea. Winner of several major trophies in his career, most important Champions League in Rossoneri jersey and Ballon d'Or. Top scorer in Ukrainian history. 

MOST CAPS: Anatoliy Tymoshchuk- 144 caps from 2000 to 2016

TOP SCORER: Andriy Shevchenko- 48 goals from 1995 to 2012

HOST NATION: Yes. In 2012, together with Poland.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: From 1960 to 1988 Ukraine was part of Soviet Union and in 1992 as CIS. This will be the 3rd EURO for Ukraine, first in 2012.

BEST RESULT: Both previous tournaments Ukraine finished in a group stage. In 2012 they were third in a group with England, France and Sweden while in 2016 4th in a group with Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland.