PARIS -- It's a cliche that every team starts a tournament on zero points, equally distant -- but also equally close -- to the ultimate goal. That means, of course, that anyone can dare to dream but even more so at the 2016 edition of the European Championships, which is unveiling an expanded field of 24 teams, up from the previous 16.
Ordinarily, you'd tell yourself it's just a bunch of lies, a ruse to keep the minnows interested and the middle class hopeful. A bit like when we tell kids to chase their dreams, even though we know all too well they probably won't be prima ballerinas at the Bolshoi or piloting the space shuttle to Mars.