Tricky tests await Spain’s history seekers

Goalkeeper David De Gea has been dragged into an off-pitch scandal while Spain have also had a troubled build-up on the pitch, leaving the European champions with much to prove in their first Group C match in Toulouse on Monday. Spain, who will also face Turkey and Croatia in a tricky section, were dominating international football when they became the first side to claim two consecutive European titles by winning Euro 2012 two years after a maiden World Cup win.

Ireland and Sweden meet in their Euro opener at the Stade de France on Monday where a win would go a long way to redeeming their past failures in the championship and getting them to the knockout stage. Drawn in a tough section with Belgium and Italy, a victory is of paramount importance to both sides’ fortunes. Both teams also have a point to prove following dismal showings at Europe’s flagship tournament four years ago. Ireland scored one goal and conceded nine to become the first team eliminated from Euro 2012, while the Swedes threw away the lead twice in losing their first two games, to Ukraine and England, packing their bags shortly after the Irish.

Plagued by injuries to his creative midfielders and without a talisman up front, Italy coach Antonio Conte is banking on a workmanlike team full of energy to outfox Belgium’s exciting young forwards when they meet on Monday. The match comes ahead of tough encounters against Ireland and Sweden giving neither side much respite should they lose the first game in Lyon. Once famed for their “catenaccio”, a tactical system with an emphasis on a strong defensive unit, Italy come to the tournament with arguably their weakest team for years and conceding goals particularly against top teams. They face a Belgium side with a talented squad tipped by some to go one better than the golden generation that finished as tournament runners up in 1980.