Euro 2016: Winners, failures, surprise packages, top players and more predictions

 

France are favourites to take the title on home soil, although Germany are breathing down their neck as they look to back up their 2014 Fifa World Cup win.

 

Who else should you be looking out for? Who will fail? Which players will light it up? Former Wellington Phoenix forward Paul Ifill and Stuff's football experts combine their knowledge to give you the answers.

 

There are several factors that make France a good bet to win Euro 2016, the first of which is that they're on home soil. The most important reason, however, has been their form and the way the team looks to be clicking.

 

Watch either of their last two friendlies and you see a team able to attack with variety, defend soundly and the number of world class threats they have is hard to rival. "They've got some serious quality in Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann, and they're in good form," Paul Ifill said.

 

Our experts are torn. Italy are a side with pedigree at major tournaments, but there appears to be nothing to fear from them in 2016. They are lacking any star power.

 

Spain don't lack for star power, but could be a disappointment if they can't get going in pool play. "If you can set the team up well defensively and hit them on the counter, teams could shut Spain down," according to Ifill.

 

 

Austria and Croatia went close, but it's Wales who our experts think are most likely to produce a few shocks in their first major tournament for some time.

 

Much of that will come down to the form of Gareth Bale. If he continues to fire in the red of his home land, alongside a decent supporting cast, the defensively sound Welsh could turn a few heads in France.

 

As mentioned above, France have proved in their pre-tournament friendlies that they can attack in a variety of different styles.

 

They are equally good attacking from the wings, up the middle or swinging balls into the box. They can launch counter attacks, play neat one-twos or long balls behind the defence. It makes for spectacular football.

 

 

Surprise, surprise. To be clear, this England team could do quite nicely this year, particularly, as Ifill put it, "if Roy [Hodgson] picks the right players". We're talking Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy, etc, etc.

 

They have good young talent ready to take over, but their run is likely to end at the quarters. We can see them winning the group, but a quarterfinal exit, "possibly on penalties", seems like a good pick.

 

 

This came down to two Frenchmen, and Paul Pogba edged it out. The outstanding 23-year-old is probably the biggest mistake in Sir Alex Ferguson's career, when he let the youngster leave Manchester United.

 

Pogba has become the best central midfielder on the planet, and will lead the charge for France. "He's just unbelievable," Ifill said. "It's hard to fathom just how good he could become." Antoine Griezmann was a close second.

EMERGING STAR? - DELE ALLI (England)/LEROY SANE (Germany)

 

This is an open race. Everyone has an opinion on who will make his name at Euro 2016, but Tottenham midfielder Alli and Schalke winger Sane win the race.

 

Alli in particular could have a big say on this tournament, particularly if England do well. Also keep an eye on Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Breel Embolo (Switzerland) and Kingsley Coman (France) among others.

 

 

Germany will go deep in this tournament. That's a fact. Thomas Muller will lead their scoring tally, and probably the tournaments, because he is Thomas Muller.

 

The Bayern Munich forward simply scores goals at international tournaments, be it the World Cup or Euros. That won't change this year. "It's weird to say it, but technically I don't think Muller looks that great, but he's always in the right place and his finishing is incredible," Ifill said.

 

 

France $4, Germany $4.50, Spain $6, England $8.50, Belgium $11, Italy $17, Portugal $18, Croatia $26, Austria $41. (TAB odds)

 

Paul Ifill - Winner - France; Under performer - Spain; Surprise package - Iceland; Best to watch - England; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Paul Pogba (France); Emerging star - Joshua Kimmich (Germany); Golden boot - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).

 

Ben Strang - Winner - France; Under performer - Italy; Surprise package - Austria; Best to watch - France; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Antoine Griezmann (France); Emerging star - Breel Embolo (Switzerland); Golden boot - Thomas Muller (Germany).

 

Tony Smith - Winner - Belgium; Under performer - Italy; Surprise package - Wales; Best to watch - Spain; Where will England exit - Semifinals; Player of the tournament - Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium); Emerging star - Kingsley Coman (France); Golden boot - Mario Gomez (Germany).

 

Garry Ferris - Winner - France; Under performer - Spain; Surprise package - Croatia; Best to watch - France; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Paul Pogba (France); Emerging star - Leroy Sane (Germany); Golden boot - Thomas Muller (Germany).

David Long - Winner - Spain; Under performer - Italy; Surprise package - Wales; Best to watch - France; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Antoine Griezmann (France); Emerging star - Dele Alli (England); Golden boot - Thomas Muller (Germany)

 

Clay Wilson - Winner - France; Under performer - England; Surprise package - Slovakia; Best to watch - Spain; Where will England exit - Round of 16; Player of the tournament - Paul Pogba (France); Emerging star - Leroy Sane (Germany); Golden boot - Romelu Lukaku (Belgium).

 

Andrew Voerman - Winner - France; Under performer - Germany; Surprise package - Wales; Best to watch - France; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Antoine Griezmann; Emerging star - Dimitri Payet; Golden boot - Antoine Griezmann.

 

Hamish Bidwell - Winner - Germany; Under performer - Spain; Surprise package - Austria; Best to watch - Belgium; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Thomas Muller; Emerging star - N'Golo Kante; Golden boot - Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Christopher Reive - Winner - Germany; Under performer - Italy; Surprise package - Turkey; Best to watch; Belgium; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Manuel Neuer (Germany); Emerging star - Marcus Rashford (England); Golden boot - Eden Hazard (Belgium).

Joseph Pearson - Winner - France; Under performer - Spain; Suprise package - Croatia; Best to watch - Germany; Where will England exit - Quarterfinals; Player of the tournament - Paul Pogba (France); Emerging star - Dele Alli (England); Golden boot - Antoine Griezmann (France).