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With another set of matchdays over, the qualification campaign for Euro 2016 is drawing to its end as the final set of matchdays will begin next month. As of now, some teams have already confirmed their berth at Euro 2016 and while many have already been eliminated.So far, the qualifiers have had their fair share of surprises and upsets with the expansion of the format boosting the spirit of many unheralded teams who have shone in the qualifiers. Here are the five biggest surprise packages of the Euro 2016 qualifiers so far.
#5 Albania
Albania have been a big surprise package of these qualifiers. Placed in a group consisting of Portugal, Demark and Serbia, they were expected to just make up the numbers along with Armenia. However, they produced one of the biggest upsets of the qualifiers in their opening match as they beat Portugal 1-0 at Aveiro thanks to a goal from Bekim Balaj.
Their other notable performances have been drawing against Denmark in both legs. The team hasn’t boasted of many individual performances throughout the qualifiers but have performed brilliantly as a unit. Apart from their strike-force and midfield, which hasn’t been very impressive, Albania have had a solid defence orchestrated by captain Lorik Cana as the Albanians have only allowed three goals - the least in their group. Their performances in the qualifiers had earned them an all-time high FIFA ranking of 22.
Albania are currently in third place in their group, one point behind Denmark, and are already assured of a playoff spot. However, two wins out of two in their remaining matches would give Albania second position in their group and direct qualification, provided Denmark do not win both of their matches.
Their qualification would mainly be resting on Bekim Balaj, Lorik Cana, Hamdi Salihi and Etrit Berisha.
#4 Northern Ireland
Ever since the days of George Best and Pat Jennings, Northern Ireland have failed miserably in the qualifying campaigns of major competitions. However, this time they have possibly the best chance to end their 29-year-old major tournament drought as they have performed extremely well in the Euro 2016 qualifiers and are the only team from the group assured of at least a playoff spot.
Group F might have produced one of the biggest failures in the qualifiers in Greece but it has also produced a big surprise in Northern Ireland. One of their best performances in the qualifiers have been home victories over Hungary and Greece with their star striker Kyle Lafferty scoring on both occasions, who leads the goal scoring charts in Group F with seven goals.
Northern Ireland’s midfield, commandeered by skipper Steven Davis, have also been a major contributing factor along with a decent defence which consists of experienced players like Aaron Hughes, Chris Baird and Gareth McAuley who has scored three goals in the qualifiers including an impressive brace against Faroe Islands which has put Northern Ireland at the top of Group F.
As of now, The “Green and White Army” lead Group F. With their last two matches coming up against Finland and a weak and struggling Greece, Northern Ireland are pretty much assured of direct qualification to Euro 2016.
#3 Austria
Austria have been resurgent in recent years after the team’s decline following the 1998 World Cup. They were expected to make it to the playoffs of the Euro 2016 qualifiers but not directly qualify as many people thought that Russia and Sweden were the group favourites.
However, Austria eventually remained unbeaten in all the matches against both Russia and Sweden, defeating Russia in both legs and thrashing Sweden 4-1 in Solna which subsequently ensured their qualification to their second European championship and their first major tournament in 18 years (Austria hosted Euro 2008 so didn’t need to qualify).
Austria’s biggest stars of the qualifiers have been Marc Janko, talented youngster David Alaba and Martin Harnik with both Janko and Alaba having scored four goals and Harnik having scored three goals. Their midfield has been very impressive with players like Alaba, Harnik and Zlatko Junuzovic with Janko and Ruben Okotie up front. The Austrian defence have conceded only a paltry three goals thanks to captain Christian Fuchs and Sebastian Prodl.
With 22 points in Group G, Austria became the fourth team from the qualifiers to advance to the finals in France next summer. Irrespective of the results in their last two matches, Austria are assured of ending Euro 2016 qualification by topping their group as they are already eight points clear of second placed Russia.
#2 Wales
Wales have been one of the biggest surprises of the qualifiers and their star striker Gareth Bale, the most expensive player in the world, has finally made his mark on the international arena. They were drawn in a group consisting of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium, both of whom had been playing their best piece of football months prior to the commencement of the qualifiers.
However, Wales have performed impressively throughout the qualifiers without losing a single game and are already assured of at least a playoff spot. Their dominance in their group has been due to the prolific goal scoring of Gareth Bale and the beautiful orchestration of midfield by their vice-captain Aaron Ramsey.
The Welsh backline has also been very efficient, conceding only two goals thanks to a defence marshalled by their skipper Ashley Williams and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. As a result of their consistent performances throughout the qualifiers, Wales also achieved their all-time best FIFA ranking of 9.
As of now, Wales are at the top of Group B with their talisman Bale having scored six goals, the second most in Group B. With such consistency, the Welsh team in all likelihood should qualify for Euro 2016.
#1 Iceland
Unarguably the biggest surprise package in the qualifiers, Iceland’s impressive performance throughout the qualifiers has been and will be a big inspiration for unheralded nations in future qualification campaigns. Iceland have been playing their best football in the last two years by making it to the playoffs of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and qualifying for Euro 2016.
6 September 2015 will probably be one of the most memorable dates in Iceland as it was on this day that Iceland qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, its first major tournament after a 0-0 draw to minnows Kazakhstan was enough to ensure qualification. They have had a brilliant qualifying campaign so far which includes home and away wins over powerhouses Netherlands.
The entire Icelandic side displayed some brilliant performances throughout the course of the qualifiers but their biggest contributor in these qualifiers has been midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson who has scored five goals in eight matches, which includes all the goals against the Netherlands. Sigurdsson is currently the top goalscorer of Group A and has been brilliantly assisted by Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and captain Aron Gunnarsson.
The Iceland defence has been equally impressive throughout the qualifying campaign with a backline consisting of a reliable goalkeeper in Hannes Halldorsson and some pretty decent defenders like Kari Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson and Ari Skulason allowing only three goals in eight matches. As of now, Iceland are in top position in Group A and have already secured their spot in Euro 2016 irrespective of whatever the results are in their remaining two matches.
