So the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine starts today, with Poland v Greece and Russia v Czech Republic. The opposite of the Group of Death, but some useful teams in there, still. As there is in every group. The Euros still have a real competitiveness about them, narrowed down as they are to 16 teams. A nice simple format too: four groups of four, top two proceeding to quarter finals. So what are UEFA doing? Increasing it to 24 teams next time! Oh well.

On to the business. Here are my predictions!

Group A top two: Russia, Poland

Group B : Germany, Netherlands

Group C: Spain, Italy

Group D: France, England

Quarter Finals

Russia 1 Netherlands 2

Germany 3 Poland 0

Spain 2 England 2 . England win on penalties! (Remember Euro 96… Seaman!)

France 2 Italy 1

Semis

Netherlands 1 England 2

Germany 3 France 2

FINAL

England 1 Germany………. 0!

Roy Hodgson’s two banks of four stifle their way to victory!

In the alternative time/space continuum known as reality, Spain do of course knock England out in the quarters and go on to the final. There, I fancy Germany to come out on top.

But until that first terrible England performance, let us fantasise about what could be.

1-0 to the Enger-land!

Boring, boring England!

(Georgie Graham’s Arsenal, come back, all is forgiven!)