Euro 2016: 5 must-see matches in the group stage

The 2016 European Championship groups have been drawn, the fixtures now decided, and all eyes will be on France next summer. With a number of interesting matchups, here are five must-see games in the group stage:

France vs. Romania (Group A)

The first game of the 2016 European Championship will be one to watch for largely symbolic reasons. Romania isn't necessarily a challenging opponent for France, but this fixture represents something more to those watching.

The very future of this tournament was put in doubt on Nov. 13 when terrorists set off a series of bombs outside the Stade de France in an attack that left the country in tears. With heightened security and shows of solidarity leading up to the tournament, the opening game will provide a chance to, perhaps, find some closure and enjoy the beauty of the beautiful game.

Historical head-to-head record: 15 matches played. France 7 wins, Romania 3 wins, 5 draws.

England vs. Wales (Group B)

Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Ashley Williams are all well-known Premier League figures, with Bale's mega-money move to Real Madrid currently holding the label of most expensive transfer out of England. But for this Welsh trio, a reunion against the Three Lions will be anything but friendly.

The two neighbours will clash in a competitive tournament fixture next summer, and if the 2015 Rugby World Cup match between them was any indication, fans of both sides will be more than up for the occasion.

Historical head-to-head record: 101 matches played. England 66 wins, Wales 14 wins, 21 draws.

Germany vs. Poland (Group C)

Germany and Poland are perhaps the two best teams in Group C. Germany is the heavy favourite, and Poland will need something special to beat them.

Fortunately for Poland, Robert Lewandowski is exactly that. He's quite well-versed in scoring against German defenders - he does it just about every single week (sometimes more than once!) in the Bundesliga. Lewandowski has 15 goals in 15 games this year with Bayern Munich and, if he carries that form into next summer, could very well be the top scorer in the Euro Cup, too.

Historical head-to-head record: 20 matches played. Germany 13 wins, Poland 1 win, 6 draws.

Belgium vs. Italy (Group E)

Group E is a rather interesting one for Italy, particularly because of the Belgium fixture that will most likely decide this group ... one way or the other.

The knockout stage has been set up such that it would actually be more advantageous for Italy or Belgium - the two favourites in the group - to finish in second place, not first. Finishing second could see Italy, for example, square off against Portugal instead of, say, Turkey. That seems tough at first, but also means Italy would avoid the likes of Germany in the quarterfinals.

Will one of these two teams throw the game? Probably not, but the results of this fixture could make or break the latter stages of their campaign.

Historical head-to-head record: 21 matches played. Italy 13 wins, Belgium 4 wins, 4 draws.

Portugal vs. Iceland (Group F)

For Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2016 European Championship might be his last go at this particular crown. Luckily for his Portugal team, Group F doesn't present much of a challenge at all. Drawn against Iceland, Austria, and Hungary, Portugal should theoretically cruise to a top-of-the-group finish.

The Portugal-Iceland fixture is a special one for supporters of Iceland, however, as it marks the first-ever European Championship finals match for the country. Iceland is the underdog story of the tournament, so keep an eye out for this up-and-coming nation.

Historical head-to-head record: 2 matches played. Portugal 2 wins, Iceland 0 wins, 0 draws.