Euro 2016 preview: A complete guide to this summer's football tournament

The European Championships begin this Friday with 24 nations bidding for glory in France, with home nations England, Wales and Northern Ireland among them. Here the Independent sets the scene, guides you through every participating country, charts the unmissable matches, considers England's prospects and even makes a few predictions...

trophy

OVERVIEW...

Bring on a tournament to set hearts racing where club football can fail

Kevin Garside sets the scene for a major tournament in high summer that excites like it was 1996

Team-by-team guide

Jack Pitt-Brooke guides us through the 24 nations competing at this summer's tournament

FOCUS ON ENGLAND...

England dare to dream thanks to out-of-the-blue youngsters

After Brazil 2014, Hodgson could not have envisaged going to France in such a positive mood, writes Mark Ogden

Don't let Euro 96 fool you, England are generally terrible at the European Championships

England have been in the Brexit camp for over 40 years when it comes to the European Championships

The Three Lions badge (Getty)

FOCUS ON WALES...

Wales are more than just Gareth Bale

England's Group B opponents have an impressive starting XI - although strength in depth could be an issue, writes Matt Gatward

FOCUS ON NORTHERN IRELAND...

Team factor firing Michael O'Neill's Northern Irish

They face a tough group and are made up of unheralded players, but the boys in green will be no pushover, writes James Finlay

FOCUS ON THE HOSTS...

Didier Deschamps builds France team to win back public's trust and affection

With a racism row rumbling in the background the hosts are looking to Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann to turn the focus to the football

PREDICTIONS...

The Independent team pick their dark horses, golden boot winner and predict how far England will go

IN DEPTH...

13 unmissable matches

The pick of the group games

The most expensive XI

A look at the costliest players in each position at this year's finals in France

Eight best free-kick takers

The dead-ball specialists to watch out for

The European Championships trophy (Getty)

THE ESSENTIALS...

Fixtures and TV details

Kick-off times and group info in all the scheduling information you need

FOLLOW...

Follow Euro 2016 with the Independent's new app which features live scores, fixtures, push notifications, previews and in-depth stats and analysis. Download it for iOS or Android.