Who will win the final? Who will be the leading scorer? How far will England go and who will be the player to watch? Our team tackle these and other questions

Who will reach the final – and who will win it?



Dominic Fifield France to edge out a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal.

Owen Gibson Germany to match Spain’s achievement by recording back-to-back World Cup and European Championship victories, after beating them in the final.

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Andy Hunter Germany and France. France made home advantage count in 1984 and 1998 and have the individual talent to make it a hat-trick, though will require more collective belief than they showed when losing to the eventual champions in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals.

David Hytner France to beat Spain. Home advantage is always important but the France squad is also packed with outstanding players, particularly on the creative side.

Jamie Jackson Italy, because they are tournament-savvy and it is their turn again. England: reasons for this preposterous choice below. Italy to win.

Stuart James France and Germany. And I fancy France, who’ve got a really strong group of players (not just the starting XI), to win it, especially as they’re on home soil.

Amy Lawrence Having had a hunch for France for about two years my confidence is wobbling because of their injuries and instability at the back. Still expect either them or Spain to edge out the rest.

Sid Lowe Germany versus France with France winning.

Barney Ronay La Liga continues to annihilate all comers, so Spain. Plus France, based on their current two out of two at home and having the best anthem. The winner whoever can find a striker.

Daniel Taylor Spain to beat France. Yes, Spain had a bad World Cup but just look at the list of players who could not get in their squad but would be automatic first-team picks were they, for instance, English.

Paul Wilson It is the year of the underdog so that surely means Iceland and England will meet in the final. Just kidding. Germany will beat France in the final.

Who will be the leading scorer?



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Can France’s Olivier Giroud, here celebrating a goal against Scotland in a friendly, have the last laugh by finishing as Euro 2016’s leading scorer? Photograph: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Dominic Fifield Ronaldo, a player who regularly plunders 50 goals a season at Real Madrid and may, for once, benefit from a proper supply line with Portugal.

Owen Gibson The oft-mocked Olivier Giroud to have the last laugh by making hay as the focal point of an impressive attack in a relatively straightforward group for the hosts.

Andy Hunter Antoine Griezmann. Coming off a superb season with Atlético Madrid, has experience from the 2014 World Cup campaign and, with Karim Benzema overlooked by Didier Deschamps, should have plenty of opportunity to get among the goals in what appears a straightforward group with Switzerland, Romania and Albania.

David Hytner Griezmann. The France forward could make hay at the group stage.

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Jamie Jackson Can it be Harry Kane? Why not? Someone has to score the goals to fire England to the final …

Stuart James Thomas Müller.

Amy Lawrence Griezmann or Müller, deep-lying forwards with an outstanding knack for goal. Giroud is surely out to confound everyone though …

Sid Lowe Austria’s Marc Janko. The 6ft 5in Basel striker has an impressive international goals-to-games ratio.

Barney Ronay Ronaldo is probably worth a punt with a few minnows kicking around. Pragmatism says Müller, jingoism a terrifying Harry Kane-Jamie Vardy amalgam.

Daniel Taylor Giroud. He is a strange case, booed recently by supporters of the France team, but he has the ability to take the competition by surprise (disclaimer: equally, may not score any).

Paul Wilson I would like to think Kane or Vardy has a good chance, but I have just said Germany and France will play the most games. Therefore Müller.

Who will be the player to watch?



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nolito is far less well known than many of his Spain team-mates but has the ability to entertain. Photograph: Francisco Seco/AP

Dominic Fifield Paul Pogba, named best young player at the 2014 World Cup, should inspire France with his blend of leggy power and sharp technique. He could be a dominant force in Didier Deschamps’ midfield.

Owen Gibson Still only 23 but with plenty of big-match experience, the dynamic Pogba can emerge as France’s main man.

Andy Hunter Darijo Srna, Croatia’s veteran captain, will be appearing in his final tournament and remains a major influence on a team that could go far in France.

David Hytner Dele Alli. This time last year he had just won promotion from League One with MK Dons. His rise at Tottenham Hotspur has been extraordinary and it has been underpinned by fearlessness. If he is granted a central role in the England midfield, he could add a further layer to the story.

Jamie Jackson Kevin De Bruyne – can he star for Belgium as he did for Manchester City last season?

Stuart James I like Griezmann and enjoyed watching him in Brazil two years ago. He seems to have got better and better since then.

Amy Lawrence Pogba. France have a history of raising their performances in home tournaments. Pogba is not exactly a novice at 23 with more than 30 caps. Should be ready to make the difference.

Sid Lowe Nolito, a Spanish player most people don’t yet know much about but who is great fun to watch.

Barney Ronay No better moment for a real shift up through the gears from Pogba. I also have an odd hunch Eden Hazard may spring into life.

Daniel Taylor Pogba. This is his chance to demonstrate, on an international stage, why he is coveted as one of the outstanding midfielders on the planet.

Paul Wilson Pogba. There are lots of exciting young players around, from Alli to Renato Sanches, though at this stage it is unclear whether they will get enough games to impress.

How far will England go?



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Will Harry Kane, left, and Jamie Vardy be used together up front by England? Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Dominic Fifield Anything short of the quarter-finals would feel like an anticlimax. Given the youthful exuberance within the squad, they could surprise a few and reach the last four.

Owen Gibson Would happily be proved wrong but fear for Groundhog Day: steady progress to the quarter-finals before losing to Portugal, leaving Roy Hodgson’s future hanging on how they performed to get there.

Andy Hunter Hodgson’s team should survive the group stage this time. In fact, they should win their group (possibly landing an enticing last-16 tie against Northern Ireland) before heading home after the quarter-finals.

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David Hytner Quarter-finals, at least. For the first time in a while, I’m excited about England’s chances. Hodgson has picked a bold squad and my hope is that the team impose a Premier League tempo and play with expression.

Jamie Jackson All the way. Why? Because it is less ridiculous than Leicester City becoming champions of England …

Stuart James Quarter-finals. Anything else would be a pleasant surprise. The win in Germany gave me fresh hope. But the way England played against Portugal made me think it will be just like in previous tournaments: square pegs in round holes.

Amy Lawrence If they win the group there’s a good chance of meeting France in the quarter-finals. Could be a familiar exit point. If they finish group runners-up, the semi-finals.

Sid Lowe Knocked out on penalties in the quarters.

Barney Ronay The attack might make it to the semis, the defence are struggling to get past the last 16. Play Vardy and Kane up front. Have a go. What else is all this for?

Daniel Taylor Quarter-finals. They should breeze through the opening stages and, as such, get a reasonable game in the first knockout stage. The danger is they go out as soon as they play a decent side.

Paul Wilson England will reach the last four, I feel. That ought not to be too much to hope for if they can win the group. After the last World Cup just getting out of the group might be regarded as an achievement, but this is a different team, different tournament and, most crucially, a different group.

Most looking forward to?



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Albania have qualified for their first European Championship and their presence will add colour and intrigue. Photograph: Gent Shkullaku/AFP/Getty Images

Dominic Fifield The emergence of young, vibrant teams to challenge the dominance of Spain and Germany. England are among them.

Owen Gibson The presence of the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland alongside teams such as Iceland and Albania, adding colour and intrigue to what should be a great melting pot of fans in the grand tradition – and enlivening what could otherwise be a turgid exercise in reducing 24 teams to 16 over a fortnight.

Andy Hunter Those moments before the first game – in my case Poland v Northern Ireland in Nice – when you see the pitch and the fans for the first time and anticipation builds. Everything feels right; because the game hasn’t kicked off and spoiled it.

David Hytner The usual. The atmospheres in the stadiums and around the cities when there is a game going on – particularly when the host nation is playing.

Jamie Jackson Soaking up the atmosphere by covering a first major tournament since 2008. The look on Roy Hodgson’s face when England fail (football editor: you can’t say that if you think they’ll get to the final ...)

Stuart James As I’ve covered Wales for a decade, I’m fascinated to see how they fare in a major tournament and, more than anything, how Gareth Bale performs. He’s often like a man possessed in a Wales shirt, so I expect him to take his game to another level in France.

Amy Lawrence The knockout stages – not convinced the bloated group stage will be full of excitement and drama.

Sid Lowe Quite a lot to be excited about: the fans, for a start ... Nolito, Bale, Croatia, Griezmann and Kévin Gameiro zooming past people, Kane and Vardy, Italy being good even though no one thinks they are, Germany.

Barney Ronay Seeing how Iceland get on, a lump of volcanic rock halfway to America with a population the size of Leicester and the best pound for pound youth system in the world.

Daniel Taylor Seeing France, nice weather, fine cuisine and these predictions being used against me.

Paul Wilson France. It has proved in the past it can provide a perfect stage for football tournaments, and it is nice to have the whole thing in just one country again without any borders to cross. Four years ago unexpected difficulties on a flight between Ukraine and Poland led to an unscheduled visit to Austria.

Least looking forward to?



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Will the presence of 24 teams at this expanded tournament have a negative impact? Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Dominic Fifield This tournament will be played out to a backdrop of concerns over security. The hope is the local police, military and private security can provide reassurance while ensuring the finals retain a festival feel.

Owen Gibson The inevitable, if necessary, dampening effect of the huge security operation on the atmosphere around the stadiums and beyond.

Andy Hunter The tournament’s expansion from 16 to 24 teams producing too many sterile, low-quality group matches.

David Hytner I think we’re all a bit worried about the potential for terrorist attacks. Please God that everything passes without incident.

Jamie Jackson The prospect of fans of any stripe overdoing the booze and “bantz”. Know the line, please, ladies and gents.

Stuart James Logistical problems. Day one and you couldn’t buy a train ticket at Montparnasse station in Paris because of strikes. Dire Straits on loop didn’t help the mood.

Amy Lawrence Constantly wondering in the back of our minds if we will get to 10 July peacefully.

Sid Lowe Failing Wi-Fi, of course.

Barney Ronay The inevitable inquest.

Daniel Taylor The drawn-out nature of the tournament’s group stages, where 16 of the 24 teams go through and you can finish second-bottom in a table of four and still qualify. And some football writers argue it is better this way.

Paul Wilson I suspect there might be the odd queue for the security checks. Just a fact of modern life, though at least there is a good chance that the sun will be shining. It rained quite a lot in Brazil.