[Fillipo Simone]

I think it's about time to open up a Euro thread.

[kurtsimonw]

England will do well to get out of the groups. No Rooney or Bent against France and Sweden is going to be tough. Then Ukraine on their own turf, even with Rooney, is a big ask. QF appearance will be a successful tournament for us.

Failing that, Ireland getting slaughtered in their group will be a nice consolation.

[Danny]

England will do well to get out of the groups. No Rooney or Bent against France and Sweden is going to be tough. Then Ukraine on their own turf, even with Rooney, is a big ask. QF appearance will be a successful tournament for us.

Failing that, Ireland getting slaughtered in their group will be a nice consolation.

As everyone's saying, the big difference this time is no one expects anything. The team is a bit of a mess, there's a new manager, and Rooney isn't available for the majority. This might actually be a chance for an England team to be underdogs and with no pressure, produce.

Though I was watching Euro shocking moments last night and there was some kind of revolt against a manager of Germany, by the players, and said manager lost his job on the eve of a championship and Germany got a new boss. They went on to have a horror tournament.

Richard Bacon, amusingly narrating as always said: 'tip, don't switch your manager before a championship'.