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Italy
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Roberto Mancini has rejuvenated Gli Azzurri. They are a team without stars but hope to go far. Read a tactical analysis here.
Star player
Ciro Immobile
Strengths
This is a hard-working group who enjoy playing together. They have a very clear idea of how they want to play and, as always, the defence is strong.
Weaknesses
Italy need one of their strikers to have the month of their lives and a lack of physicality could be a problem in midfield.
Switzerland
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Won their qualifying group and are hoping for better than the last-16 exits in 2016 and 2018. Read a tactical analysis here.
Star player
Xherdan Shaqiri
Strengths
This is a settled side with players who have been together for a long time, with a strong defence, especially if Fabian Schär is fit.
Weaknesses
Several players come into the Euros having spent most of their seasons on the bench, such as the Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri.
Turkey
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Senol Gunes has created the best Turkey side since he finished third with them at the 2002 World Cup. Read a tactical analysis here.
Strengths
Turkey sides of the past have shown only a casual interest in defending but this one had eight clean sheets and conceded only three goals in qualifying.
Weaknesses
There is a lack of options at left-back and it remains to be seen how a mainly young squad will fare against the more experienced sides in the group.
Wales
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Wales reached the semis five years ago but few experts predict a repeat. Read a tactical analysis here.
Strengths
Wales have a superb generation of young players coming through, such as Daniel James, Neco Williams and Ethan Ampadu.
Weaknesses
In a collective that relies on a bit of magic Aaron Ramsey’s injury problems are a concern and losing James Lawrence on the eve of the tournament was a blow.
Belgium
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The top-ranked team in the world have one aim and that is to win the tournament. Read a tactical analysis here.
Star player
Kevin De Bruyne
Strengths
Roberto Martínez has an impressive array of attacking talent with Kevin De Bruyne (fitness permitting), Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens feeding Romelu Lukaku up front.
Weaknesses
A defence with Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen is ageing and could struggle against speed, and Axel Witsel’s injury is worrying.
Denmark
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There is much more to Denmark than Christian Eriksen and they could go far this summer. Read a tactical analysis here.
Star player
Christian Eriksen
Strengths
Kasper Hjulmand has created a real identity around the national team and has not been afraid to introduce new players into the team.
Weaknesses
Two of the three possible starters up front, Martin Braithwaite and Yussuf Poulsen, have not scored or played regularly for their clubs this season.
Finland
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At their first major tournament, they qualified by finishing above Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Read a tactical analysis here.
Strengths
Their team spirit and that many of them have played together since the Under-21 Euros in 2009. ‘We’re more than colleagues, we’re friends,’ says Paulus Arajuuri.
Weaknesses
There is no doubt that defence will be the priority and that goalscoring opportunities will be few and far between. Unsurprisingly, there is an over-reliance on Teemu Pukki.
Russia
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The World Cup hosts have had to rebuild since reaching the quarter-finals three years ago. Read a tactical analysis here.
Star player
Artyom Dzyuba
Strengths
The players are tactically very flexible – and they need to be. In three games recently Stanislav Cherchesov used five different formations.
Weaknesses
The goalkeeping position and the defence. Igor Akinfeev is the country’s best keeper but will not be at the Euros so Anton Shunin is set to start.
Austria
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Franco Foda has the best win percentage of any Austria coach but fans are unhappy with the tedious football. Read a tactical analysis here.
Strengths
There is a good mix of youthful exuberance and old wise heads – and a good amount of inbetweeners – and they have a real leader in David Alaba.
Weaknesses
The side are a bit predictable, beating the teams they should beat but struggling to upset the ones above them in the pecking order.
Netherlands
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Back at a major tournament for the first time in seven years but form has been erratic.
Star player
Memphis Depay
Strengths
The Dutch have two of the best young players on the continent in Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong and a rejuvenated Memphis Depay up front.
Weaknesses
The loss of Virgil van Dijk to injury is a blow not only to the defence but when it comes to leadership.
North Macedonia
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Having made history by qualifying for Euro 2020, they beat Germany away in a qualifier in late March.
Strengths
The partnership of young and old up front in the shape of Elif Elmas and Goran Pandev and an incredible desire to represent their country.
Weaknesses
A lack of big-tournament experience could be a problem and several players are at second-tier clubs in the major footballing countries.
Ukraine
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Finished above Portugal in their qualifying group but there are fears Andriy Shevchenko may leave after the Euros.
Star player
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Strengths
In Oleksandr Zinchenko, who plays in midfield for his country, they have a real leader and the attacking midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi can unlock any defence.
Weaknesses
Three draws in the first three World Cup qualifiers showed a lack of firepower. Gent’s Roman Yaremchuk needs to have a good summer.
Croatia
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Several members of the successful 2018 World Cup squad have retired but Luka Modric is still around.
Strengths
There is new generation of good players coming through, including Borna Barisic, Nikola Vlasic and Bruno Petkovic.
Weaknesses
An ageing defence has started to crack and Dejan Lovren is an injury doubt. Time for Duje Caleta-Car or Josko Gvardiol to step up.
Czech Republic
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The Czechs play a high-pressing, direct football that can trouble the best teams in Europe.
Strengths
Set pieces, with Tomas Soucek, Alex Kral, Patrik Schick, Michael Krmencik, Zdenek Ondrasek and Antonin Barak good in the air.
Weaknesses
The way they are set up can often leave Schick isolated up front and scoring was a problem in qualifying.
England
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With the group stage and the last knockout rounds at Wembley hopes are high for the Three Lions.
Strengths
The form of young players such as Mason Mount and Phil Foden has given Gareth Southgate plenty of choice going forward.
Weaknesses
Southgate has been criticised for being too defensive against other top sides and needs to get the balance right in the big games.
Scotland
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At a major tournament for the first time since 1998, Scotland will aim to progress to the knockout round.
Star player
Andy Robertson
Strengths
Steve Clarke’s team are at their best when they hassle to retrieve possession and then break swiftly. Several players have had good club seasons.
Weaknesses
The side have been accused of being too pragmatic at times and lack attacking width. There is a shortage of attacking-third mavericks.
Poland
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Despite qualifying for the Euros easily, Poland sacked Jerzy Brzeczek and replaced him with Paulo Sousa.
Star player
Robert Lewandowski
Strengths
Any team with Robert Lewandowski will be a threat. Add Piotr Zielinski and Arkadiusz Milik you have a tremendous front three.
Weaknesses
For all the positive talk, results have not ben great under Sousa, who demands a lot of his players tactically.
Slovakia
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Beat the Republic and Northern Ireland in the play-offs to reach the tournament.
Strengths
There is a desire to prove the critics back home wrong and there are several young midfielders coming through, including the teenager Tomas Suslov.
Weaknesses
The captain and leader, Marek Hamsik, is 33 and has been injured this spring. Slovakia do not function well without him at his best.
Spain
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Not as star-studded as in recent tournaments but there is a huge amount of talent in the 24-man squad.
Star player
Thiago Alcântara
Strengths
Aymeric Laporte has finally been called up and in the 18-year-old Pedri they may just have – whisper it – found a new Andrés Iniesta.
Weaknesses
Having left out Sergio Ramos at the last minute there is a lack of leadership.
Sweden
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No Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the end but Sweden hope to repeat the feat of reaching the last eight in Russia.
Star player
Emil Forsberg
Strengths
The focus is back on the collective and Janne Andersson has more options going forward than in 2018.
Weaknesses
The injury to Ibrahimovic means Sweden have lost a prolific goalscorer. Can Alexander Isak step up and replace him?
France
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Lost in the final five years ago and want to add this title to the World Cup in 2018.
Star player
Kylian Mbappé
Strengths
The spine of the team – Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, N’Golo Kanté and Kylian Mbappé – looks pretty unbeatable on paper.
Weaknesses
Will the return of Karim Benzema in any way upset the equilibrium – on and off the pitch – that the team have had for the past five years?
Germany
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Joachim Löw is stepping down after this tournament, which is three years too late for many.
Star player
Joshua Kimmich
Strengths
As always a hugely talented squad with comeback kids (men) Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller adding much-needed leadership.
Weaknesses
There are question marks over whether the squad is still responding to Löw’s methods and the 6-0 defeat to Spain and 2-1 reverse against North Macedonia have not helped.
Hungary
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Needed a play-off win against Iceland to qualify and were then drawn in the group of death.
Star player
Dominik Szoboszlai
Strengths
Marco Rossi prefers to play aggressive football on the front foot – jokingly named Goulash-pressing – and they play their group games at home.
Weaknesses
Losing star player Dominik Szoboszlai to injury on the day the squad was announced was difficult to take as he is their creative beating heart.
Portugal
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The reigning champions have a better squad on paper than when they won it in France.
Star player
Cristiano Ronaldo
Strengths
The fact that André Silva, who scored more Bundesliga goals than Erling Haaland in 2020-21, may not start says all about the quality up front.
Weaknesses
There is a growing concern that the team are playing “too much” for Cristiano Ronaldo when other players can be decisive too.
