Group E of UEFA Euro 2016 contains Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Sweden. Italy is the only former European champion in this group, having won in 1968. Matches will be played from 13 to 22 June 2016.
Belgium
Best result: runners-up 1980
Coach: Marc Wilmots
Leading scorers: all-time – Bernard Voorhoof, Paul Van Himst (30); current – Marouane Fellaini (15)
Most appearances: all-time – Jan Ceulemans (96); current – Jan Vertonghen (76)
Association formed: 1895
Nickname: Rode Duivels/Diables Rouges (Red Devils)
Where they play: Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels
Belgium ended a 12-year absence from major tournaments with an impressive qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, their surge up the FIFA rankings earning them seeded status for the finals draw, where they reached the last eight. The good times continued for Marc Wilmots' star-studded side as they topped their UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying section. In France they will hope to match, or perhaps even better, the achievements of previous Red Devils selections. Highlights include a runners-up spot at EURO '80 and fourth place at the 1986 World Cup.
Belgium are now firmly back among Europe's elite having ended a three-decade wait to qualify for the UEFA European Championship, in which they were regulars during the 1970s and early 1980s. They finished third on home soil in 1972 and eight years later went one step closer to lifting the trophy, losing the Rome final 2-1 to a late West Germany goal.
Since then the Red Devils have only managed two more group stage appearances, in 1984 and in 2000, when they were the tournament co-hosts, but failed to progress on both occasions. UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying came too early for Belgium's new wave, Georges Leekens' side never recovering from defeats in their first two Group A games as they finished third, two points shy of Turkey and a play-off spot. Now, though, they are four years older.
Memorable EURO matches
22/06/80: Belgium 1-2 West Germany, 1980 UEFA European Championship final
René Vandereycken's penalty made it 1-1 but Horst Hrubesch's second of the game (88) was decisive.
17/06/72: Hungary 1-2 Belgium, 1972 UEFA European Championship third-place play-off
Goals from Raoul Lambert and Paul Van Himst in Liege sealed third in Belgium's first finals.
13/05/72: Belgium 2-1 Italy, 1972 UEFA European Championship quarter-finals
Van Himst struck as Belgium booked a finals spot at holders Italy's expense after a first-leg draw.
Did you know?
Belgium were the only qualifiers for the 1984 UEFA European Championship to win their qualifying group by more than one point; eventual runners-up Spain advanced on goals scored.
Italy
Best result: winners 1968
Coach: Antonio Conte
Leading scorers: all-time – Luigi Riva (35); current – Daniele De Rossi (17)
Most appearances: all-time – Gianluigi Buffon (154); current – Gianluigi Buffon (154)
Association formed: 1898
Nickname: Azzurri (Blues)
Where they play: Various
Europe's joint most successful nation in the FIFA World Cup with four victories, in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006, Italy have been crowned champions of Europe on just one occasion, back in 1968 when they lifted the Henri Delaunay Cup after a replayed final against Yugoslavia in Rome.
They have experienced mixed fortunes in the competition since then, failing to qualify in 1984 and 1992 but reaching the final in both 2000 and 2012. The Azzurri won their UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying group with room to spare, remaining undefeated in their ten matches to secure their place at the finals for the sixth time in a row.
Italy's sole UEFA European Championship success came in Rome in 1968 when, under coach Ferruccio Valcareggi and with Dino Zoff in goal, Yugoslavia were beaten 2-0 in a final replay two days after a 1-1 draw. The Azzurri came close to adding a second European title in 2000, Sylvain Wiltord's last-gasp equaliser for France denying them before David Trezeguet ended their dreams with an extra-time golden goal.
There was more heartbreak in 2012, but a 4-0 loss to Spain was hardly close – indeed, that marks the most one-sided EURO final to date. Semi-finalists in 1980 and 1988, Italy have reached every tournament since 1992, when they were edged out by the Commonwealth of Independent States in qualifying.
Memorable EURO matches
28/06/2012: Germany 1-2 Italy, UEFA EURO 2012 semi-finals
Two Balotelli goals and a fine overall display helped Italy eliminate their fancied opponents.
29/06/2000: Netherlands 0-0 Italy (1-3 on pens), UEFA EURO 2000 semi-finals
Down to ten men, Zoff's side overcame a side that twice failed from the spot in regulation time.
10/06/1968: Italy 2-0 Yugoslavia, 1968 UEFA European Championship final
Goals from Luigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi sealed Italy's only EURO title to date.
Did you know?
Italy hosted the first eight-team final tournament in 1980 but had to settle for fourth place after losing a third-place play-off on penalties to Czechoslovakia.
Republic of Ireland
Best result: group stage 1988, 2012
Coach: Martin O'Neill
Leading scorer: all-time – Robbie Keane (67); current – Robbie Keane (67)
Most appearances: all-time – Robbie Keane (143); current – Robbie Keane (143)
Association formed: 1921
Nickname: Boys in Green
Where they play: Dublin Arena
The Republic of Ireland made their major tournament debut in 1988, memorably beating England and only just failing to pip eventual winners the Netherlands to the last four. Englishman Jack Charlton also steered them to the next two FIFA World Cups, the first of them, in Italy, bringing a place in the quarter-finals. A third World Cup was reached in 2002 but Ireland did not return to the UEFA European Championship until 2012, when Giovanni Trapattoni's side lost all three matches in a tough group.
Ireland qualified for their first major tournament in the 1988 UEFA European Championship, opening their campaign with a famous 1-0 win against England thanks to Ray Houghton's early header. They then held the Soviet Union 1-1 and Charlton's side were only edged out for a semi-final place in West Germany by an 82nd-minute goal for the Netherlands.
Ireland narrowly missed out on the final tournament in 1992 and lost play-offs to the Netherlands and Turkey in 1996 and 2000 respectively. They finished third in their qualifying groups for both 2004 and 2008 but made the 2012 finals; beaten to an automatic place by Russia, they defeated Estonia in the play-offs. They had performed consistently throughout, at one point going eight matches (friendlies included) without conceding, establishing a new national record. Trapattoni's side arrived in Poland and Ukraine 14 games unbeaten, but that was soon forgotten as they lost 3-1 to Croatia, 4-0 to Spain and 2-0 to Italy.
Memorable EURO matches
08/10/2015: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Germany, UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying
Martin O'Neill's side beat the reigning world champions thanks to Shane Long's 70th-minute strike.
12/06/1988: England 0-1 Republic of Ireland, 1988 UEFA European Championship group stage
Houghton's header ensured victory on Ireland's debut at a major tournament.
30/10/1974: Republic of Ireland 3-0 Soviet Union, 1976 UEFA European Championship qualifying
A Don Givens hat-trick at Dublin's Dalymount Park gave the Irish a memorable triumph.
Did you know?
Ireland made the two-legged 1964 quarter-finals but were beaten 7-1 on aggregate by Spain, who were to host and win the four-team finals.
Sweden
Best result: semi-finals 1992
Coach: Erik Hamrén
Leading scorers: all-time – Zlatan Ibrahimović (62); current – Zlatan Ibrahimović (62)
Most appearances: all-time – Anders Svensson (148); current – Andreas Isaksson (127)
Association formed: 1904
Nickname: Blågult (Blue and yellows)
Where they play: Friends Arena, Solna
The only FIFA World Cup host nation to be defeated in the final, Sweden have never matched their run of 1958, but did make the last four in the only other tournament they have staged, EURO '92, the first time they had competed on that stage in the continental competition. They took bronze at the 1994 World Cup and although they have failed to qualify for the last two editions of the global finals, despite the elaborate gifts of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, they have reached the last five UEFA European Championships.
Sweden reached the semi-finals on home turf in 1992, beating eventual champions Denmark and England after an opening-day draw with France. However, with Stefan Schwarz suspended and Jonas Thern playing through injury, they were overwhelmed by Germany even if a last-minute effort made it 3-2.
It was not until 2000 that they successfully negotiated qualifying to reach the final tournament, yet the Blågult have been ever-presents since. Sweden exited UEFA EURO 2004 unbeaten, losing 5-4 on penalties to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals after a goalless draw, while their last two campaigns ended at the first hurdle, a win and two defeats not enough each time. In 2012 they lost to Ukraine and England despite having led both matches in the second half, and were already out before their last game when Ibrahimović's brilliant acrobatic goal set up a 2-0 win against France.
Memorable EURO matches
07/10/2006: Sweden 2-0 Spain, UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying
Goals from Johan Elmander and Marcus Allbäck earned a win as important as it was impressive.
18/06/2004: Sweden 1-1 Italy, UEFA EURO 2004 group stage
Sweden were heading for defeat when Ibrahimović levelled with an audacious late back-heel.
17/06/1992: Sweden 2-1 England, EURO '92 group stage
Another fine goal, from Tomas Brolin, completed a comeback win that sent the hosts into the semis.
Did you know?
Sweden's October 2006 win against Spain was their opponents' last qualifying defeat until Slovakia beat them in October 2014.
GROUP E
Monday, June 13: Republic of Ireland v Sweden (17:00, Stade de France, Paris)
Monday, June 13: Belgium v Italy (20:00, Stade de Lyon)
Friday, June 17: Italy v Sweden (14:00, Stadium de Toulouse)
Saturday, June 18: Belgium v Republic of Ireland (14:00, Stade de Bordeaux)
Wednesday, June 22: Italy v Republic of Ireland (20:00, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Wednesday, June 22: Sweden v Belgium (20:00, Stade de Nice)
EmoticonEmoticon