France
What about the form? response blue France, one of the favourites to win the tournament, are disorganised and in need of fluidity. Kylian Mbappé sounded the alarm after the 2-0 defeat to Germany in March. “There are plenty of warnings: technical, tactical, willingness, efficiency,” the captain said, adding that “leadership” is “lacking.” It’s far from the calm preparation France had hoped for, but they know it’s worse. The defeat against Germany came in the absence of Antoine Griezmann, without whom Didier Deschamps’ team looks lost and an over-reliance on individuals is a concern.
Are you worried about injuries? Aurélien Chouameni is likely to miss the opening match against Austria, with Adrien Rabiot also a doubt.
Having trouble choosing? If Chouameni and Rabiot recover, 10 of the 11 will be self-selected. The biggest question is the number nine position. Marcus Thuram started the recent games against Luxembourg and Canada but again was unconvincing. It’s a chance for Olivier Giroud to get the chance and maybe start in the final major tournament. The idea of moving Mbappe to the centre can’t be ruled out either.
How does the coach feel? The contours of Deschamps’ team are largely set, but the manager acknowledged “adjustments” are needed, especially after describing the 0-0 draw with Canada as a wake-up call.
What are the expectations back home?Expectations are as high as ever and only winning will mean success. Luke Entwistle
Spain
What about the form? After a poor start, which included a defeat to Scotland, Spain qualified comfortably. They had moments of uncertainty and lack of confidence, but they were always likely to qualify. They also won the Nations League, but this was Genuine The win was Spain’s first since Euro 2012 and gave Spain a sense of victory again, giving them hope that a championship may not be so far away anymore.
Are you worried about injuries? no.
Having trouble choosing? What about at centre-forward? Alvaro Morata is the captain and number nine and will likely start, but he has been in terrible form in recent months. Alternatives include Joselu and Mikel. Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo is a false number nine.
How does the coach feel? Luis de la Fuente says he’s positive, but he says it all the time, and he’s not a very convincing guy.
What are the expectations back home? High hopes are placed on Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, but it must be admitted that Spain are not the favourites to win. Syd Lowe
England
What about the form? Not good! England’s post-qualification slump has received little attention amid the usual psychological drama surrounding personnel, tactics and Gareth Southgate’s future, but one win in five games is a real cause for concern – although it should be noted that England looked even worse before the last World Cup, and yet bounced back quickly.
Are you worried about injuries? Luke Shaw is the biggest doubt ahead of the opening game against Serbia, and with John Stones limping off against Iceland and Harry Maguire already ruled out for the national team, England may be without three of the back four who started against France in 2022. The bigger concerns are fatigue, general fitness and energy levels, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka all currently below 100% after recuperating from a gruelling club season.
Having trouble choosing? Who will partner Declan Rice at the base of midfield? Conor Gallagher (smart but boring) would be Southgate’s favourite option. Koby Mainu (Player of the Month, May) and Adam Wharton (Player of the Month, June) would be more adventurous choices. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Player of the Month, April 2021) is still a possibility.
How does the coach feel? In fact, that’s fine for a man who has endured years of toxic abuse, been despised by a significant portion of the country he represents and hasn’t been seen smiling in public since about 2021. Southgate has been around for so long that moods no longer exist – rather, they are just faces that give rise to certain words.
What are the expectations back home? Win, but win with style. Win with swagger and arrogance. Win without boring the English for a second. Win against world-class opponents, but knowing that they would lose their world-class status if they only lost to England. Win and have a beer afterwards. Win because Brexit means Brexit. Win and get rid of Southgate, but win with humility, because everyone hates a team that believes their own hype. Win with enough players of colour starring that racists can argue that we’re not actually a racist nation, but not so many that racists start to feel uncomfortable. Failing that, the quarter-finals would probably be a good benchmark. Jonathan Liu
Germany
What about the form? Fans are patient and optimistic, but still lack confidence in their team. The draw with Ukraine and the narrow win against Greece did not excite or convince. Germany Turn Earman Shaft – Tournament Team – Again.
Are you worried about injuries? Leroy Sané has been struggling with a pubic bone injury for months. Sometimes it gets better, sometimes it gets worse. Another injury concern for Julian Nagelsmann came a year and a half ago when Manuel Neuer broke his lower right leg during a skiing trip. The goalkeeper is playing again but not as well as he used to. He also made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the games against Ukraine and Greece. Now in Germany, many are debating whether it’s finally time for Marc-Andre ter Stegen to become the national team’s number one.
Having trouble choosing? Nagelsmann made the big decision to leave out Leon Goretzka and Mats Hummels and now the big question is whether Sane will make it into the starting line-up, with captain Ilkay Gundogan also likely searching for a role in the team.
How does the coach feel? Nagelsmann said he would make few changes to his starting XI ahead of Friday’s opener against Scotland, but Germany’s unimpressive performances in their last two games and their vulnerability, particularly on the counter-attack, are a major concern for the 36-year-old coach. Nagelsmann will also be hoping Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz return to their best form quickly.
What are the expectations back home? Avoiding domestic embarrassment will be the priority – reaching the quarter-finals would be seen as a great achievement – and many are hoping the Euros will be at least half as good as the 2006 World Cup. Nicholas Horn
Portugal
What about the form? After a perfect qualifying performance, Portugal head into pre-tournament friendlies against Slovenia and Croatia. They’ve scored 10 goals in four warm-up matches but also conceded eight. That’s nothing to be worried about, but they certainly need some tweaking, especially for the second half of the tournament.
Are you worried about injuries? Manager Roberto Martinez’s biggest concern is Pepe, who missed the recent games against Finland and Croatia and has not played for Porto since late April, while Francisco Conceição suffered a muscle problem last week but should be fit for the opener against the Czech Republic.
Having trouble choosing? Doubts about Pepe have seen Martinez give up on using three centre-backs and instead instruct a more defensive midfielder (usually Joao Parinha) to drop back when the team is fighting for the ball. But this may mean the Premier League’s tackle king is not in the right position when the team loses the ball. The left flank of the attack is also still to be determined. Diogo Jota has mostly played in the middle of the attack but could be an option there.
How does the coach feel? Martinez is usually never one to lose his cool, but he was clearly shaken by the 2-1 defeat to Croatia. “We are stronger than before the game but we need to work together and unite better,” said the Spaniard. “Croatia deserved to lose but it was a necessary test for us.”
What are the expectations back home? Among Portuguese fans, enthusiasm and pessimism go hand in hand. Nuno Travassos
