Although perfect in qualification, English fans remain unconvinced by Roy Hodgson’s England; maybe 50 years of hurt really has stopped them dreaming.
But while our man Stuart Clark is already preparing to cry into his craft beers long before the final, there’s signs that Britannia might just rule once again. The golden generation of Gerrard, Lampard and co. have been out out to pasture and replaced by a significantly livelier crop of youngsters, with Spurs’ Dele Alli a potential star of the tournament. In Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, they also possess a strike partnership that could be lethal – though just how effectively the stars of their respective clubs will dovetail remains to be seen.
And what of our Celtic cousins? Well, if Wales were a band, they’d be called Gareth Bale and the Assorted Others. The reliance on the Real Madrid man during qualification almost beggared belief; even with Aaron Ramsey, Ashley Williams and a clutch of other quality performers, the Real Madrid man looked at a completely different level. Though he’s good enough to dig them out of many a hole, it seems unreasonable to think a one-man crusade could work at the highest level. Passage to the knockout stages, however, is within reach.
Russia have a wealth of experience, but the age of their squad and a lack of outstanding performers could well be their downfall. Slovakia have little experience – like Wales, this is their first continental showpiece – and aside from the odd flourish from Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik, should offer little for UEFA’s commemorative DVD release come Christmas.