Euro 2016 haiku previews: Groups A and B

In a flight of fancy that perhaps would have been more appropriate for the 2002 World Cup, I have decided to preview all 24 teams ahead of Euro 2016 using the brief Japanese form of poetry that is the haiku.

For anyone not aware, a haiku consists of only 17 syllables in total, split into 3 lines of 5-7-5.  Japanese haikus tend to be fairly wise, they are also obviously short.  My haiku previews can at least be said to be short, we will see how wise they are as Euro 2016 progresses.

This blog looks at the teams in groups A and B, the remainder will be posted over the next couple of days.  OK: one, two, haiku…

FRANCE (GROUP A)

Playing at home helps.

The sex tape scandal has not.

Winners on the 10th?

 

SWITZERLAND (GROUP A)

Senderos, Djourou:

both still around and in squad?!

Shaqiri their hope.

 

ROMANIA (GROUP A)

Razvan Rat, captain,

spent 6 bad months at West Ham,

but what a great name.

 

ALBANIA (GROUP B)

First major finals,

happy to be there, still home

before the postcards.

 

ENGLAND (GROUP B)

What to do with Wayne?

Shuffle team, one heroic game,

lose on pens again.

 

WALES (GROUP B)

Manics’ official song

is called “Stronger Together”

(but we do need Bale).

 

RUSSIA (GROUP B)

Capello now gone,

first game is against England,

bound to be a draw.

 

SLOVAKIA (GROUP B)

A less famous team,

who’s that crazy looking guy?

Hello Martin Skrtel.