Michael Bridge

Overview

"I’ve always enjoyed the Euros, maybe even more than the World Cup. The group stage always seems stronger… having said that, I expect England to progress. I see they are the favourites with most bookmakers and, as much as I want them to do it, they feel a bit of a short price taking into account things like the defensive situation with Luke Shaw. I expect England to reach the semi-finals, then it’s a shoot out between them and France, who are so savvy, aren’t they? I do worry about that defence, though. Gareth Southgate has made some big calls. People have said for years they want players selected on form, in fairness, he’s done that. Overall, I don’t think there’s a stand-out team here. Germany, you obviously give them a little extra given that they are the hosts, and what an atmosphere it will be in those stadiums when they play. I like the look of Portugal. They looked stacked. My only question mark with Portugal is perhaps Roberto Martinez under-achieved with Belgium's 'golden generation'? Maybe that’s a little harsh. It looks like an open tournament to me, but I think it will come down to England-France."

Dark horses

"Ronald Koeman looks to be comfortable as Dutch manager, and I can’t wait to see Micky van de Ven out there. I’ll be praying he comes back in one piece! It’s a bit of a coin toss between a number of teams. Croatia, for instance, tournament savvy, lots of experience, Luka Modric still in there, one of my favourite Spurs players. Belgium are an interesting one. They didn’t pick Thibaut Courtois, even though he's just picked up a Champions League medal. Romelu Lukaku would no doubt like to prove himself. As I said, I can’t pick an overall favourite, really. It could be a fascinating tournament to watch."

Players to watch

"I’m going to pick a player out, because I’m such a huge fan, and that’s Adam Wharton. I love watching him play, the confidence he has, everything is a forward pass, he must be a team-mates’ dream. His passing range is 100 per cent. He’s that late inclusion, that late selection from nowhere and if he plays, he’ll take to it like a duck to water, a special talent. I’m so pleased Gareth Southgate has included him. Also, he’s got that Wayne Rooney look about him. I’ll go with him. He might not see too much action, but, if he gets on the pitch, Gareth will have decisions to make."

Reshmin Chowdhury

Overview

"My thoughts… they probably come from a bit of fear with the way everyone is talking about England, before the last two friendlies, that we’re favourites, especially after the last two major tournaments, but I feel there’s a bit more caution now. Defensively, I’m concerned, especially down our left side, but if Gareth Southgate can get the team ticking… There are a few questions like where is Phil Foden going to play? Left or centre? He’s been so successful centrally this season, but in that case, what is Jude Bellingham going to do? He’s been playing number 10. There is a lot to think about. Having said that, we do have an embarrassment of riches in terms of the quality of players, so I’m good with that! France… they are always going to be there. They could well win it. I also feel there’s a resurgence in the Germany side under Julian Nagelsmann, you never know what they could do at home, having gone through a tough, transitional period. The home support will be huge for them."

Dark horses

"Portugal, with their run in the World Cup, and the experience gained from some of the younger players like Rafael Leao, they’ve got Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, they have some dangerous players, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s still in there. Belgium, I’m not too sure about, I can’t help but feel they lost an opportunity a couple of years ago, but they still have quality. I’d take Portugal as my dark horses, depending on how their side of the draw goes. With the talent they have, you’d be mad to overlook them."

Players to watch

"Like every Spurs fan, I’m so looking forward to watching how Micky van de Ven gets on. After such a superb first season at Spurs, I want to see how he plays in a major tournament."

Kate Mason

Overview

"I’m a big fan of Gareth Southgate and what he’s done to make this England team a team. He’s also made the big calls, like picking players on form, he’s done that. People know England, we're a known entity, and maybe that’s why we’re sitting there at the top with the belief we can win it, but there are a lot of good teams lurking. Teams like Spain and Italy, unlike England, feel like unknown quantities at the moment, Germany as well, they’ve been in transition. You don’t really know what you’re going to get. Let’s not forget, the tournament is in Germany, and I just feel they can do something here."

Dark horses

"There are so many teams that people have completely written off. For me, that’s a risk! Could Netherlands be a dark horse? Or is it Micky van de Ven making me believe the magic could happen for them? It will be interesting to watch Micky and Virgil van Dijk play together. I’m hosting the Mountain Bike World Cup for Eurosport at the moment, but I’m going out to Germany and may have the chance to watch them if it falls right, and England. It could be Netherlands against Ukraine, which would be awesome. I’m in Spain a lot and watch the Spanish players in La Liga, and these guys are so good. Then you watch Rodri at City, incredible. A lot will depend on Alvaro Morata, as well."

Players to watch

"There is a youngster I’d like to mention here, Warren Zaire-Emery, who plays for France. I watched him play for PSG against Montpellier last season, he scored and he looked like he could do anything. He looked incredible. He’s 18! It just looked like the pitch was his. Also, it will be intriguing to watch Rasmus Hojlund play for Denmark, because we’ve watched him at United in the Premier League and he always scores goals for Denmark."

Jamie Weir

Overview

"The France squad is ridiculous, isn’t it? They were in the World Cup Final 18 months ago, Didier Deschamps has been there, seen it, done it, got the t-shirt. The Portuguese squad is also sensational, just take a look at their starting XI, world-class players in every position. Germany, on home soil, will take some beating, Spain as well... but having said all of that, I think this is the best chance England have had for a long time. I just look at that squad and think there is so much talent, game-changing players even on the bench. It will be interesting to see how Gareth Southgate lines up, but you could be looking at a bench including the likes of Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen – players who can make a real impact. I really want England to win. Ever since Harry Kane has been captain, I’ve been unashamedly an England fan. My father wants to disown me, but I’m an Irishman who wants England to win, for Harry as much as anything. Maybe it’s written in the stars having moved to Germany that he lifts the trophy on German soil."

Dark horses

"In major tournaments, you can just get that bit of momentum, the stars start to align, your squad becomes galvanised… look at Morocco in the Qatar World Cup. If you look at the Euros, almost more than other tournaments, it just throws up surprise winners, like Denmark in 1992, when they replaced Yugoslavia late and went on to win it, Greece in 2004, even Portugal in 2016. Even the defending champions, Italy, remember they didn’t qualify for either World Cups either side of Euro 20/21. I’ve heard people talking about Ukraine as dark horses this time around (including European football expert Andy Brassell in this exclusive preview for us), they have decent players and a cause much bigger than football to play for. I still think it will be one of the big guns, England, France, Germany, one of those more established teams, but you just never know in this tournament."

Players to watch

"Micky van de Van playing alongside Virgil van Dijk, that’s a pretty intimidating central defensive pair for anyone to play against! I wish him all the best, and I just want him to come through it all unscathed! Adam Wharton - he’s a class act. I interviewed him a couple of months ago, and he’s a really nice guy. I was blown away about how unflustered he is, remembering that he was playing for Blackburn in the Championship in January. I know he only had a cameo against Bosnia & Herzegovina, but I put a Tweet out saying that he could become that player who, six months ago, no-one thought of, but might now play every minute! He’s so composed on the ball. People are talking about the defence, but I just think if Gareth Southgate gets his front six right, England might not give the ball away at all. Eberechi Eze could be another star bursting onto the scene. Look at it this way though. The best player in England this season has been Phil Foden. The best player in Spain, Jude Bellingham. The best player in Germany, Harry Kane. All English. There is nothing better than England progressing in a major tournament in the summer, and I just hope that’s what we get. I would love that for Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane."

Ben Haines

Overview

"This is going to be a really hard Euros to call. The first Euros that I can just about remember was Euro 96 that Germany won, they were favourites at the time.  France were pre-tournament favourites in 2000, Spain were second favourites in 2008 and favourites in 2012... this time around though, I feel like we’re in for a tournament more like 2004, 2016 or even 2020(2021) where we might get a little bit of chaos in there and a team come slightly out of left field to win it. Player for player, France and England probably lead the way with Germany and Spain up there too."

Dark horses

"I’ve got a feeling Netherlands could be really fun to watch - and they are my dark horses.  From a Spurs point of view I’m of course waiting to see how Micky van de Ven gets on there, how much he features, whether he plays on the left of defence. Defensively with Van De Ven, Van Dijk, De Vrij and Nathan Ake there’s plenty of physicality and depth at the back. Whilst there’s no Frankie De Jong in midfield -  there’s a lot of fun in their forward line."

Players to watch

"In terms of the players to watch, I love seeing players at major tournaments that we don’t watch week in week out in the Premier League. From my dark horses, Netherlands, Xavi Simons will be brilliant to watch. Theo Hernandez is such a wonderfully gifted player with a beautiful left foot with France. Real Madrid’s Arda Guler is another one with a dreamy left foot and a wonderful dribbler who will be in Group F with Turkey. Lastly, Spain's Lamine Yamal is an outrageous talent who at just 16, born in 2007, is probably only old enough to remember two previous Euro tournaments… how sickening!"