Try not to let your heart rule your head and make a realistic prediction for what to expect from the Republic of Ireland…
Eoin O’Callaghan
It’s an expanded tournament and with a competitive spirit forged under Martin O’Neill, it’s understandable to expect each group game to be a relatively close-run affair, particularly with Italy and Sweden so uninspiring in front of goal. So, a place in the knock-out stages is certainly achievable, perhaps as one of the best third-placed teams. The concern is always injuries — the importance of Walters and Long can’t be overstated so we’ll need to wrap them in cotton wool. I’m very optimistic to think we’ll get beyond the round of 16.
Niall Kelly
I’m confident that it won’t be a repeat of the disaster of four years ago… but that’s about as far as I’m willing to go. Martin O’Neill will have this side well-drilled and they will be tough to break down, but at the same time, it’s hard to have too much faith in the firepower up front (Big Jon aside, obviously). A couple of draws at best, but I’m not expecting a place in the last 16.
Ben Blake
Despite the fact that this group of players is better prepared and more united than the squad that went into Euro 2012 under Giovanni Trapattoni, I still believe Ireland face an enormous task to progress out of Group E. The spirit shown at key moments in the qualifying is what got Ireland through and they will need more of the same as underdogs against Belgium and Italy, while Sweden provide our best chance of victory. Finishing as one of the best third-placed teams is realistically achievable but I would be less surprised if Ireland were heading home after the three matches.
Steve O’Rourke
I’m old enough to remember the excitement around Euro 88 and we went into 2012 with a huge amount of optimism too, but I don’t sense that this time around. Maybe that’s a good thing though. I don’t think our group is as tough as it initially seemed and, if you base it on the ELO rankings rather than the Fifa ones, we’re a lot closer to Italy and Belgium than people might think. In summary, I think we’ll get out of the group in second place.
Alan Waldron
It may be the year of sporting miracles but the misery of 2012 is still lingering. With that in mind, I still think Ireland can get out of the group, most likely as a best third-placed team. That’s about the best I can hope for right now.
Paul Fennessy
I think Ireland are well capable of getting out of the group if they play to their full potential. No one expected Martin O’Neill’s side to beat Germany, so Sweden, Belgium and Italy could conceivably be toppled too. Anything thereafter would be a bonus. Spain and France are among the potential teams teams Ireland could face if they qualify in third place, so getting beyond the round of 16 would be asking a lot.
The tournament’s surprise package will be…
Eoin O’Callaghan
Twenty years on from their Euro 96 quarter-final performance, I think Croatia can replicate that. It’s not a ‘Golden Generation’ like two decades ago, but with Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic, they have an impressive foundation on which to build. They were unlucky four years ago — an 88th-minute goal from Jesus Navas in the final group game eliminated them — and there was a disappointing World Cup in Brazil. Qualifying was solid, if overshadowed by a managerial change, and despite a tough group [Spain again, Turkey and Czech Republic], they always have potential to spark.
Niall Kelly
Austria still seem to be flying a bit under the radar after an unbeaten qualification campaign in a group that included both Russia and Sweden, but nobody in Ireland should really need to be reminded of the threat they posed in World Cup qualifying three years ago. Unless you’re a Bundesliga aficionado, there won’t be too many familiar names, but Bayern Munich’s David Alaba is a brilliant creative presence in behind Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic, and Marc Janko’s seven goals in qualifying proves that his eye is still in.
Ben Blake
Wales were runners-up to Belgium in their qualification campaign and and claimed four points off the eventual group winners. Under Chris Coleman, they have built a solid team around Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale with Premier League regulars like Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen all playing important roles. Group B could be one of the most open with England, Russia and Slovakia making it up, but Wales may surprise a few by reaching the last eight in their first major tournament since 1958.
Steve O’Rourke
I’m going to say Switzerland. I think I might have said them for the last World Cup too so I’m doubling down.
Alan Waldron
Austria. Not so much a surprise considering their outstanding qualification campaign but they are still considered a 40/1 shot to win the tournament with most bookmakers. I’d expect them to win their group and advance to at least the quarter-finals.
Paul Fennessy
Poland. Given that they were in Ireland’s group in qualifying, I’ve watched more of them than most other teams and have been very impressed. Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in the world right now and they have a very solid team in general. Honourable mention too for Austria — they’ve been drawn in a kind enough group and took 28 points out of a possible 30 in qualifying.
Are England really potential winners?
Eoin O’Callaghan
No. There’s a variety of ways to look at this. One is that this group of players know nothing of the relentless disappointment of previous tournaments. Buoyed by the energy of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, maybe it could lead to something. But, for me, the team isn’t good enough. After relentless domestic seasons, there’s a genuine possibility the likes of Dele Alli will be burnt-out. There will be a lot of faith put in players who haven’t really stepped up at this level yet — like Ross Barkley and Eric Dier — while questions remain over the quality of the defence too.
Niall Kelly
Sure isn’t everybody a potential winner? Anything less than a place in quarters will be treated as an unmitigated disaster by the English media, and while I wouldn’t be that surprised to see them in the semis, there are four or five teams better than them in this tournament.
Ben Blake
I don’t see it. The emergence of youth in Roy Hodgson’s side has been a positive sign, with Spurs trio Harry Kane (22), Dele Alli (20) and Eric Dier (22) all vying for places in the starting line-up. However, their backline leaves a lot to be desired and the quarter-finals is as far as they will go, in my opinion.
Steve O’Rourke
I don’t see why not. Two strikers in form helps but the weight of expectation has — 1966 aside — always proven too much in the past.
Alan Waldron
No. They may be getting excited across the pond because they had two strikers score more than 20 goals in the Premier League last season, but there are still doubts around the spine of their team, particularly in defence. They could cause an upset against one of Europe’s big sides but ultimately I’d expect their defensive frailties to catch them out in the quarters or semis.
Paul Fennessy
Can they win it? Yes. Will they win it? I don’t think so. In Vardy and Kane, they have a strikeforce as good as any, but their midfield and defence are both potential areas of weakness. They lack a truly top-class centre-back [granted, Smalling isn't too far off] and have a lot of inexperienced players. Tottenham lost their heads when the pressure really came on them at the end of the season, and Alli and Dier [both expected to start] could be susceptible in similarly challenging circumstances. That said, they’re far more talented than the Greece side that won in 2004, so if everything falls into place and luck goes their way, they could do it.
Who’ll win the Player of the Tournament award?
Eoin O’Callaghan
Paul Pogba. He was chosen as the World Cup’s best young player in 2014 and he’s developed incredibly since then. The heartbeat of a superb Juventus side in Serie A, he makes his club and country tick — not easy for a 23-year-old. France haven’t had a player like him since Zinedine Zidane — the playmaker, the guy who sets the rhythm, the player who steps up to take responsibility and look for the ball all the time. He could prove the difference.
Niall Kelly
I’d take a spin on Manuel Neuer at 33/1.
Ben Blake
Belgium boss Marc Wilmots is keen to play Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne as his playmaker in behind two strikers and it could be his time to shine. He managed 16 goals and 14 assists at club level last season and the 24-year-old is expected to blossom in France. Ireland beware.
Steve O’Rourke
Antoine Griezmann, because he has form and home advantage on his side.
Alan Waldron
Paul Pogba. I expect him to lead a powerful French challenge and showcase why many consider him to be one of the world’s best.
Paul Fennessy
Andres Iniesta. He had a superb season with Barca and I fancy Spain to go far and make up for their disappointing 2014 World Cup.
The Golden Boot will belong to…
Eoin O’Callaghan
Even if Poland fail to get past the group stage, you’d still think Robert Lewandowski could score four or five. Five will certainly guarantee anyone the award — you have to go back to 2004 for the last time a player scored that many. He was incredible during qualifying and his domestic campaign with Bayern was outstanding. A man in ominous form.
Niall Kelly
Robert Lewandowski would tempt me but the award usually goes to someone who grabs a hatful against a group-stage minnow, and a fully-fit Cristiano Ronaldo will probably have a field day for Portugal against Hungary.
Ben Blake
He’s one of the greatest players of his generation and, at 31, Cristiano Ronaldo still knows how to find the back of the net. Just the 35 goals in 36 La Liga appearances this season, along with 16 more in Europe to lead Real Madrid to Champions League glory.
Steve O’Rourke
Thomas Müller. It’s always Thomas Müller.
Alan Waldron
I’m going to go a bit left-field and opt for Mario Mandzukic. He’s still only 30 and has been scoring relatively regularly for Juventus. He has proved himself at big tournaments in the past and that’s usually as good an indicator as any.
Paul Fennessy
Antoine Griezmann will be expected to step up for France in the absence of Karim Benzema, and with 33 goals in all competitions this season, he’ll certainly be confident going into the tournament. And if not him, Germany’s Thomas Müller has shown in the past that he loves scoring at major tournaments. He won the Golden Boot with five goals at the 2010 World Cup, and was second top-scorer with that tally at the same competition four years later, though oddly, he failed to score at Euro 2012, which can surely be written off as an anomaly.
Who will win Euro 2016 and why?
Eoin O’Callaghan
Watching France at the 2014 World Cup, I felt they’d blossom nicely for this tournament. The build-up has been chaotic with so much internal drama and the traumatic events in the country that have overshadowed the entire competition. But the team’s big players have had encouraging seasons. Paul Pogba reminds us every day that Sir Alex Ferguson made some colossal mistakes as well as some smart moves. Antoine Griezmann is maturing into a real handful. Blaise Matuidi is another energetic, fine midfielder and they have a solid, dependable goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris. They’ve been dealt a blow with Raphael Varane’s injury and defence could be a concern but every team at the tournament has its own issues. France have home advantage as a trump card.
Niall Kelly
Germany. The post-World Cup hangover is well and truly gone, and man for man, they are the best team in the tournament. Simples.
Ben Blake
They may be without Marco Reus and, yes, Ireland did beat them not too long ago, but I still feel Germany have enough quality to make it back-to-back tournaments after lifting the World Cup two years ago.
Steve O’Rourke
France. They’re a decent team, have consistently done well in tournaments held in France and Antoine Griezmann.
Alan Waldron
Germany are the favourites for me, narrowly ahead of Spain and France. They mightn’t have the explosive young players that France can call on, or match the trickery of some of Spain’s leading lights, but in Mesut Ozil, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer and Mats Hummels, they have more than enough quality to back up their World Cup triumph.
Paul Fennessy
France. The hosts often do disproportionately well at major tournaments — look no further than the last time the French hosted a big footballing event in 1998 when they won it. The fact that Dimitri Payet, N’Golo Kante and Anthony Martial — three of the best players in the Premier League this season — may not even make the starting XI gives an indication of how strong they are throughout the team.
