Quaesitor

Saecula saeculorum semper amoris mei dilectissimi

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Hailing from the Bell City, this Scholar is the man without a plan. His first championship was in winning his girlfriend's heart, but that's about as significant as winning the Balkan Cup when we're discussing the second biggest tournament TSzAL holds. Debuting in the 2015 TSzAL Asian Cup, the 6^th ranking member of the Zla Dupki standings finished dead last at that tournament. He holds a career mark of 26 points with 6 by the way of the bonus. For our tournament comparatively speaking, Quaesitor is Albania. The Red and Blacks have never qualified for a major tournament before, but are raring to go after finishing second in their qualifying group. Their nation's symbol of the double headed black eagle represents their autonomy in the Balkans. Quaesitor is hoping to double up on points and show the opposite of love to his opponents, except for one. He'll be hoping Albania go on a run to help give him an edge. Those bells you hear ringing? They might just be for thee. Welcome to the Tournament!

Ferrarius

Calor et percute

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Hailing from the Forest City, Ferrarius is currently the lowest ranking competitor of the TSzAL. An original member, competing in the TSzAL World Cup of 2014, Ferrarius fought valiantly to a last place finish. Sitting out the 2015 TSzAL Asian Championship, Ferrarius returns looking to improve his fortunes with some heating and beating action. On his career, he has scored 41 points, with 8 by way of the bonus leaving him in 7^th place for the Zla Dupki standings. For the purposes of our tournament comparatively speaking, Ferrarius is Hungary. The Magic Magyars of the 1950's were among the best teams in the world. This team finished second twice at a World Cup. They've never finished better than third in a European Championship. They haven't qualified for a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup, and haven't been to a European Cup since 1972. They mark their return to the International scene in France by defeating Norway 3-1 in a two legged playoff. Ferrarius marks his return to the TSzAL fold on the heels of a different sort of championship. He's here to play with fire, and that means someone is getting burned! Pray to whatever gods you believe in that it isn't you, and that Hungary doesn't get red hot. Welcome to the Tournament!

Historicus

Non quasi, sunt tibi inferendo.

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Hailing originally from Plymouth Hollow, a second debuting competitor in the 2016 TSzAL European Championship is Historicus. This competitor knows a good deal about things that have already happened, but does that include the world of football? Comparatively speaking for our tournament, Historicus is Wales. The Dragons of Wales are the third oldest Football Association in history behind Scotland and England. They failed to qualify for a major tournament until this past summer where a second place finish in their qualifying group means they get to leave the British Isles and make way for France. If Historicus makes his way from Debutante to Champion on his first try, he'll be sure to let the world know. To help him out, Historicus will be riding on the backs of Dragons as he hopes Wales can make good on this tournament and go for a deep run. It's not your souls he's after, but your entry fees. The man wants your money. Welcome to the Tournament!

Fortuitous

Nihil est quod displicet aliorum fortuna

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Hailing from parts unknown, debuting in the 2016 TSzAL European Championship is "El Gato Negro", Fortuitous. This masked competitor whose identity is unknown arrives ready to shame the competition. Comparatively speaking, for the purposes of our tournament, Fortuitous is our version of Iceland. The island nation's football association was born in 1930, but had failed to qualify for a major tournament until this past summer where they locked up a second place finish in their qualifying group. With their ticket punched for France, the question is  how well do their opponents know them? Iceland are in the midst of a 15 year plan to develop their countries footballers from a youth level to the national side. Fortuitous focuses more on luck. Still, as far as Iceland go, so far can Fortuitous go. Welcome to the Tournament!

Group F: Portugal

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Nickname: A Selecção
                A Selecção das Quinas

FIFA Ranking: 8th

Elo Ranking: 12th

Head Coach: Fernando Santos (Euro Cup 2012 with Greece) (World Cup 2014 with Greece)
 

Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
16	11	0	5	68.78

Captain: Forward Cristiano Ronaldo who plays for Real Madrid in Spain's La Liga.

Qualified: Winners of Group I
 

Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff	Points
7	0	1	11	5	6	21

Qualification Highest Scorer: Captain Cristiano Ronaldo led all scorers with 5 goals.

European Championship History: 2016 is Portugal's 7th European Championship overall, and 6th in a row. Portugal have made it to the Semi-Finals and lost on 3 occasions. In 2004 they hosted the tournament, and had their best finish reaching the Final match but being upset by Greece 0-1.

European Championship 2012: They won 2 matches and lost 1 finishing 2nd in Group B behind Germany. They reached the Semi-Finals where they lost to eventual Champions Spain 2-4 on penalty kicks.

Group F: Iceland

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Nickname: Strákarnir okkar (Our boys)

FIFA Ranking: 35th

Elo Ranking: 46th

Head Coach: Lars Lagerbäck (Euro Cup 2000, 2004, 2008 all with Sweden) (World Cup 2006 Sweden, 2010 Nigeria) and Heimir Hallgrímsson (Yes, Iceland have joint coaches. It doesn't make any sense.)
Joint Record 
 

Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
14	7	3	4	50

Captain: Midfielder Aron Gunnarsson who plays for Cardiff City in England's Football League Championship.

Qualified: Runners-Up in Group A
 

Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff	Points
6	2	2	17	6	11	20

Qualification Highest Scorer: Midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson who plays for Swansea City in England's Barclay's Premier League scored 6 goals.

European Championship History: Iceland are 1 of 5 debutantes at the 2016 European Championship.

European Championship 2012: Failed to qualify.

Group F: Hungary

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Nickname: The Magical Magyars (In the 1950s)
                 Nemzeti Tizenegy (National Eleven)

FIFA Ranking: 18th

Elo Ranking: 41st

Head Coach: Bernd Storck
 

Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
7	3	3	1	42.86

Captain: Winger Balázs Dzsudzsák who plays for Bursaspor in Turkey's Super Lig.

Qualified: Finished 3rd in Group F. Defeated Norway 3-1 on aggregate in a Playoff.
 

Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff	Points
4	4	2	11	9	2	16

Qualification Highest Scorer: Striker Dániel Böde who plays for Ferencváros in Hungary's OTP Bank Liga scored twice in Qualifiers. Forward Tamás Priskin who plays for Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia's Fortuna League scored 1 goal in qualifiers, and a second in the playoff with Norway.

European Championship History: This is Hungary's 3rd appearance at a European Championship. They haven't been to a championship since 1972. In those days, the tournament consisted of 4 teams battling in a playoff format for a championship. In both their appearances, they lost in the Semi-Finals and the 3rd Place Playoff. This marks Hungary's first attempt to get out of a group.

European Championship 2012: Failed to qualify.

Group F: Austria

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Nickname: Das Team
                 Burschen
                Unsere Burschen

FIFA Ranking: 11th

Elo Ranking: 21st

Head Coach: Marcel Koller
 

Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
37	20	7	10	54.05

Captain: Left Back Christian Fuchs who plays for Leicester City in England's Barclay's Premier League.

Qualified: Winners of Group G
 

Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff	Points
9	1	0	22	5	17	28

Qualification Highest Scorer: Striker Marc Janko who plays for Basel in the Swiss Super League scored 7 goals in qualifiers.

European Championship History: This is Austria's 2nd appearance at a European Championship, but the first time they qualified. In 2008, Austria co-hosted the tournament with Switzerland. They finished 3rd in the group with a draw and 2 losses behind Croatia and Germany.

European Championship 2012: Failed to qualify.

Group E: Sweden

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Nickname: Blågult (The Blue-Yellow)

FIFA Ranking: 34th

Elo Ranking: 29th

Head Coach:  Erik Hamrén  (Euro Cup 2012)
 

Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
76	43	12	21	56.58

Captain: Striker Zlatan Ibrahimović who plays for Paris Saint-Germain in France's Ligue 1.

Qualified: Finished 3rd in Group G. Defeated Denmark 4-3 on aggregate in a Playoff.
 

Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff	Points
5	3	2	15	9	6	18

Qualification Highest Scorer: Captain Zlatan Ibrahimović led the team with 11 goals including the playoffs.

European Championship History: This is Sweden's 6th European Championship Campaign. They were knocked out of the 1992 tournament they hosted in the Semi-Finals by Germany 2-3. That year, the knockout rounds started at the Semi-Finals. Since then they're best finish came in 2004 where they lost in the Quarter-Finals to Netherlands 4-5 in a penalty kick shootout.

European Championship 2012: Won 1 match and lost 2 finishing 4th in Group D behind England, France, and Ukraine.

Group E: Republic of Ireland

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Nickname: The Boys in Green
                  The Green Army

FIFA Ranking: 29th

Elo Ranking: 24th

Head Coach: Martin O'Neill
 

Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
24	10	9	5	41.67

Captain: Striker Robbie Keane who plays for L.A. Galaxy in America's Major League Soccer.

Qualified: Finished 3rd in Group D. Defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 on aggregate in a playoff.
 

Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff	Points
5	3	2	19	7	12	18

Qualification Highest Scorer: Including the two playoff matches, both Captain Robbie Keane and Striker/Winger Jonathan Walters who plays for Stoke City in England's Barclay's Premier League scored 5 goals apiece.

European Championship History: Ireland have been to 2 previous tournaments having never made it out of the group stage.

European Championship 2012: Ireland lost all three of their matches in Group C finishing behind Spain, Italy, and Croatia.