Euro 2016: Ultimate guide to the tournament
Euro 2016: Ultimate guide to the tournament
Last Updated: 30/05/16 1:01pm
Euro 2016 kicks off on 10 June, with the final a month later on 10 July - but who will come out on top?
Here, we take a closer look at all 24 teams competing in the
France showpiece, including how they qualified, their key players and
how they think they'll do in the tournament.Read on for our ultimate guide to the competition...
France
Anthony Martial will be a key man for France
How they qualified: Hosts
Previous best at European Championships: Winners (1984 & 2000)
Top scorer in qualifying: N/A
Key player: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
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What they say: "We play to win. We are going to work for it and we are the hosts, hopefully the fans and crowd will be with us. It will be a good chance to go through the competition and win it." - midfielder, Yohan Cabaye.
Did you know: France have won eight of their last nine games ahead of Euro 2016, a run which included victories over Portugal, Germany and Netherlands.
Romania
Romania had the best defence in qualifying
How they qualified: Finished unbeaten in second behind Northern Ireland in Group F
Previous best in European Championships: Quarter-finals (2000)
Top scorer at qualifying: Paul Papp, Constantin Budescu and Bogdan Stancu (2)
Key player: Vlad Chiriches (Napoli)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 100/1
What they say: "There was pressure in qualifying, but at the moment of truth you prove you are the sort of team that can cope with this pressure. There isn't any bigger motivation than the one of being present at a final tournament." - defender, Razvan Rat
Did you know: Romania had the best defensive record of any side in qualifying, conceding just two goals in 10 games.
Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri is aiming to inspire his Swiss team-mates
How they qualified: Finished second behind England in Group E
Previous best in European Championships: Group stage
Top scorer at qualifying: Josip Drmic and Xherdan Shaqiri (4)
Key player: Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke)
Euro 2016 squads
The provisional Euro 2016 squads named so far
What they say: "I want to make history with Switzerland. We want to play a good tournament. We have a tough group but I think we are a good team. We have very talented players, we have experience. When we play a good game, nobody can stop us." - midfielder, Xherdan Shaqiri
Did you know: Only Germany (181) had more shots than Switzerland (155) in qualifying.
Albania
Ermir Lenjani celebrates in style for Albania
How they qualified: Finished second behind Portugal in Group I
Previous best at European Championships: Have never previously qualified
Top scorer in qualifying: Seven players (one goal each)
Key player: Lorik Cana (Nantes)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 200/1
What they say: "I hope the country grows having these boys as an example. Few people believed we could have made it in the beginning, but we all made it. We all contributed to this achievement." - manager, Giani de Biasi
Did you know: Albania scored the fewest goals (seven) of any team to have qualified for Euro 2016.
Group B
England
Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy were the Premier League's two top scorers
How they qualified: As Group E winners with a 100 per cent record
Previous best at European Championships: Semi-finals (1968 & 1996)
Top scorer in qualifying: Wayne Rooney (7)
Key player: Harry Kane (Tottenham)
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What they say: "I feel we've got a very good squad. It's probably the first time I've felt the squad is capable in any given game of matching any team. But obviously it's one thing having that, and another being able to do that consistently throughout a tournament." - forward, Wayne Rooney
Did you know: England faced the fewest shots in qualifying with 12. The next lowest was Russia with 22.
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How they qualified: Second in Group G behind Austria
Previous best at European Championships: Semi-final (2008)
Top scorer in qualifying: Artem Dzyuba (8)
Key player: Roman Shirokov (CSKA Moscow)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 40/1
What they say: "The Russian national team has many strong and experienced players. We are strong as a team. Out of the young players there is Aleksandr Golovin. He can really become a high-level player, but for this he has to work a lot. Oleg Shatov from is also very strong" - manager, Leonid Slutsky
Did you know: Russia were awarded a 3-0 victory against Montenegro in their final Euro 2016 qualifier in March last year after the match was abandoned due to attacks on their players.
Slovakia
Former Chelsea youngster Miroslav Stoch will be in France with Slovakia
How they qualified: Second in Group C behind Spain
Previous best at European Championships: Have never previously qualified
Top scorer in qualifying: Marek Hamsik (5)
Key player: Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
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What they say: "I expect and I hope that we will be a tough team for any team we play." - manager, Jan Kozak
Did you know: Slovakia averaged just 43.5 per cent possession in qualifying, the lowest of any team to reach the finals.
Wales
Wales' Aaron Ramsey is aiming to make an impression in France
How they qualified: Second in Group B behind Belgium
Previous best at European Championships: Have never previously qualified
Top scorer in qualifying: Gareth Bale (7)
Key player: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 80/1
What they say: "Now that we are here we don't just want to be rolled over. Every game we play we want to make a statement. We're more than capable of doing that. We've worked our socks off to get here and we want to prove we're more than capable of matching the bigger nations." - midfielder, Aaron Ramsey
Did you know: Euro 2016 will be only the second major tournament that Wales have appeared in. They also featured at the 1958 World Cup.
Group C
Germany
Manuel Neuer will be aiming to add to his World Cup winners' medal
How they qualified: Won Group D
Previous best at European Championships: Winners (1972, 1980, 1996)
Top scorer in qualifying: Thomas Muller (9)
Key player: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 7/2
What they say: "We are strong on the footballing side. Now it's important that we can find our team spirit and unconditional togetherness. Then we are capable of winning the tournament." - manager, Joachim Low
Did you know: Germany had the highest average possession in qualifying of 72 per cent.
Northern Ireland
Kyle Lafferty scored seven goals in qualifying for Northern Ireland
How they qualified: Won Group F
Previous best at European Championships: Have never previously qualified
Top scorer in qualifying: Kyle Lafferty (7)
Key player: Steven Davis (Southampton)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 250/1
What they say: "The key is not to be beaten in the first game. I'm not expecting to be in the tournament on 10 July but, equally, I'm also hoping I'm not going home on 23 June either. We are the type of country no one wants to play." - manager, Michael O'Neill
Did you know: Northern Ireland scored the most goals from set-pieces in qualifying (nine).
Poland
Poland will look to Robert Lewandowski to fire them to a successful tournament
How they qualified: Finished second in Group D behind Germany
Previous best at European Championships: Group stage (2008 & 2012)
Top scorer in qualifying: Robert Lewandowski (13)
Key player: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 50/1
What they say: "We are a team that has loads of good players and we should be competing for something more at big competitions, not just playing to get out of the group." - goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski
Did you know: Lewandowski's 13 goals in qualifying equalled the record set by David Healy in 2008.
Ukraine
Andriy Yarmolenko is Ukraine's major threat
How they qualified: Beat Slovenia 3-1 on aggregate in play-offs
Previous best at European Championships: Group stage (2012)
Top scorer in qualifying: Andriy Yarmolenko (6)
Key player: Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kiev)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 66/1
What they say: "I am convinced that we deserved our ticket for the Euros. Now a lot of work is ahead of us as we hope to prepare well for France 2016." - manager, Mykhaylo Fomenko
Did you know: Before their victory over Slovenia in November, Ukraine had lost every one of their five previous play-offs to qualify for major competitions.
Group D
Croatia
Ivan Rakitic will be at the heart of Croatia's midfield
How they qualified: Finished second in Group H behind Italy
Previous best at European Championships: Quarter-finals (1996 & 2008)
Top scorer in qualifying: Ivan Perisic (6)
Key player: Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 25/1
What they say: "Our defence for Euro 2016 is strong. We have quality players." - defender, Tin Jedvaj
Did you know: Croatia were shown three red cards during their qualifying campaign - more than any other side. Duje Cop, captain Darijo Srna and Vedran Corluka were the culprits.
Czech Republic
Petr Cech will keep goal for Czech Republic
How they qualified: Won Group A
Previous best at European Championships: Runners-up (1996)
Top scorer in qualifying: Borek Dockal (4)
Key player: Petr Cech (Arsenal)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 100/1
What they say: "I'm not sure yet what the potential of this team is. We are happy to qualify and we have time to prepare. Let's see what will happen." - goalkeeper, Petr Cech
Did you know: The Czechs conceded 14 goals in qualifying, more than any other side to qualify for Euro 2016.
Spain
David Silva will be an important figure for Spain
How they qualified: Won Group C
Previous best at European Championships: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)
Top scorer in qualifying: Paco Alcacer (5)
Key player: David Silva (Manchester City)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 11/2
What they say: "If we make the semi-finals I would be happy, I'm telling you the truth. Even though some would consider not winning it a failure." - manager, Vicente del Bosque
Did you know: Spain are aiming for a third consecutive European Championship triumph. They are the only country in history to have won the competition twice in a row.
Turkey
Arda Turan celebrates Turkey's qualification for Euro 2016
How they qualified: Third-placed team with the best record
Previous best at European Championships: Semi-finals (2008)
Top scorer in qualifying: Burak Yilmaz (4)
Key player: Arda Turan (Barcelona)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 66/1
What they say: "We will not have fear from anyone and try to enjoy our football on the pitch. I am fully confident of my players. I believe we can do very interesting work there. We can introduce new starlets." - manager, Fatih Terim
Did you know: Having failed to qualify in their first nine UEFA European Championship campaigns, Turkey have reached four of the last six final tournaments.
Group E
Belgium
Eden Hazard will hope to have an impressive tournament with Belgium
How they qualified: Won Group B
Previous best at European Championships: Runners-up (1980)
Top scorer in qualifying: Eden Hazard (5)
Key player: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 11/1
What they say: "I am convinced that Belgium have a team that can win the European Championship. Of course, everything needs to go well, but we will be aiming for the trophy." - defender, Jan Vertonghen
Did you know: Belgium are the highest ranked European team in FIFA's world rankings. Marc Wilmots side are second, ahead of Germany (fifth) and Spain (sixth).
Italy
Southampton's Graziano Pelle has been named in Italy's squad
How they qualified: Won Group H after unbeaten campaign
Previous best at European Championships: Winners (1968)
Top scorer in qualifying: Graziano Pelle (3)
Key player: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 16/1
What they say: "I want to face this tournament in the best way possible. I always talk about work - we need to work with our head down and give all we have to do something beautiful." - manager, Antonio Conte
Did you know: Five of Italy's seven wins in the group stage were by a one-goal margin.
Republic of Ireland
Jonathan Walters will lead the line for the Republic of Ireland
How they qualified: Beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 on aggregate in a play-off
Previous best at European Championships: Group stage (1988 & 2012)
Top scorer in qualifying: Robbie Keane and Jon Walters (5)
Key player: Jon Walters (Stoke)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 100/1
What they say: "Ultimately when you get to a major tournament, the first aim when you make the 23, you want to get out of the group, that's the key. The atmosphere and enthusiasm around the group have got stronger and stronger throughout this campaign. It's a different squad, different management and there are lots of different elements involved in it to make me believe that it's going to be very different [to previous tournaments]." - John O'Shea
Did you know: The Republic of Ireland's 2-1 away loss to Poland in October 2015 saw the joint-highest number of fouls committed in any game during the qualifying rounds (44). The match saw six yellow cards and a red for John O'Shea.
Sweden
Sweden's main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic will expect to make his mark
How they qualified: Beat Denmark 4-3 on aggregate in a play-off
Previous best at European Championships: Semi-finals (1992)
Top scorer in qualifying: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11)
Key player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 66/1
What they say: "Ibrahimovic is our match-winner, our captain, our only world-class player. But we need to be a unit. I think that's one of the reasons we have been successful. We have a captain who takes huge responsibility for the team, but also the team take responsibility for him. That's the good chemistry we have in our squad." - manager, Erik Hamren
Did you know: Sweden qualified through the play-offs after beating Scandinavian rivals Denmark. It was the first time they have reached the European Championships through that route.
Group F
Austria
Marko Arnautovic will be integral to any Austrian success
How they qualified: Won Group G after unbeaten campaign
Previous best at European Championships: Group stage (2008)
Top scorer in qualifying: Marc Janko (7)
Key player: Marko Arnautovic (Stoke)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 40/1
What they say: "We have a very good team, most of our players are playing in the German Bundesliga and even four or five now play in the Premier League. With the national side, though, in the last few years the development of the Austrian football team has been incredible." - defender, Kevin Wimmer
Did you know: Austria had the second highest points tally from the qualifying groups (28), beaten only by England's perfect 30.
Hungary
Zoltan Gera will be at Euro 2016 with Hungary
How they qualified: Beat Norway 3-1 on aggregate in play-off
Previous best at European Championships: Semi-finals (1964 & 1972)
Top scorer in qualifying: Daniel Bode, Tamas Priskin and Krisztian Nemeth (2)
Key player: Tamas Priskin (Slovan Bratislava)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 200/1
What they say: "We have a lot of players who don't play very often in their clubs. I told them to play without fear and you will have success." - manager, Bernd Storck
Did you know: Hungary picked up a whopping 38 yellow cards during their qualifying campaign - more than any other side - but never had a player sent off.
Iceland
Gylfi Sigurdsson (L) is Iceland's star player
How they qualified: Finished second in Group A behind Czech Republic
Previous best at European Championships: Have never previously qualified
Top scorer in qualifying: Gylfi Sigurdsson (6)
Key player: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 100/1
What they say: "I think it's a natural thing for us to be underdogs. If you're a country of 320,000 people you're always going to be the underdog, against the majority of teams anyway." - forward, Eidur Gudjohnsen
Did you know: Euro 2016 will be Iceland's first major tournament in their history, with their previous best being their defeat to Croatia in the 2014 World Cup play-offs.
Portugal
Can Cristiano Ronaldo fire Portugal to glory?
How they qualified: Won Group I
Previous best at European Championships: Runners-up (2004)
Top scorer in qualifying: Cristiano Ronaldo (5)
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Odds of winning Euro 2016: 20/1
What they say: "I don't believe in easy groups or difficult groups. What I believe in is work - it's by working that we get results. We have to respect all our opponents and find solutions to beat them." - manager, Fernando Santos
Did you know: Portugal have made it past the first round in all six European Championships they have featured in and are the only side in the tournament's history to have made it to a home final and lost (Euro 2004 against Greece).
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