The best footballing talent Europe has to offer will descend on France for Euro 2016. The Daily Mail previews Group C:
GERMANY
MANAGER Joachim Low, 56, German SQUAD Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Bernd Leno (Leverkusen) Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia), Emre Can (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Roma) Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Julian Draxler (Wolfsburg), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sane (Schalke) Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (Besiktas), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Andre Schurrle (Wolfsburg)
FIXTURES v Ukraine, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille v Poland, Stade de France, Paris v Northern Ireland, Parc des Princes
WHAT TO EXPECT? Germany have been a counter-pressing side for the last 10 years and that has not changed since their World Cup success. Expect a 4-2-3-1 with pace throughout the forward line.
CHANCES OF GLORY? You would not write off the world champions, would you? It's worth noting that Germany's recent run has not been easy, and they look slightly less strong than at any point prior to winning the big one in Brazil.
THREE STARS TO WATCH Manuel Neuer - The best goalkeeper in the world is always worth watching, whether for ridiculous saves or ridiculous runs out of his area. Emre Can - Can is developing into an even better midfielder, but some of his displays for Germany in the past have made him worth watching purely due to the ground he covers. Leroy Sane - One of the hottest prospects in European football, Sane is a magically gifted forward who has the ability to light up any game.
KIT RATING 9/10 - Arguably one of the most simple kits in football to get right, the stripes down the hips give it a nice variation on the norm. A point has been removed for weird grey design in the middle.
NATIONAL ANTHEM RATING 10/10 - One of the most misunderstood national anthems in the world, it's all about uniting Germany's regions into one greater nation, i.e. Germany over all. It's got a nice tune to it too.
FIXTURES v Germany, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille v Northern Ireland, Stade de Lyon, Lyon v Poland, Stade Velodrome, Marseille
WHAT TO EXPECT? The focus will be on getting the ball to the wide men, who can do damage with their individual skill. To get the best out of them, Ukraine play a 4-3-3.
CHANCES OF GLORY? Ukraine would be the obvious tip for second place behind Germany, but issues in the camp between key players Andriy Yarmolenko and Taras Stepanenko suggest there may be tension to hinder that.
THREE STARS TO WATCH Andriy Yarmolenko - The Dynamo Kiev midfielder is perennially linked with moves to the Premier League and is one of the most talented forward players operating outside of the 'big 5 leagues'. Yevhen Konoplyanka - Konoplyanka already has one European crown to his name this season after winning the Europa League with Sevilla, and is a potent threat down the wing. Taras Stepanenko - The defensive midfielder provides an important shield for the back four, providing a base for a solidity that allows the wide players to do damage.
KIT RATING 3/10 - A yellow jersey from adidas that overcomplicates an easy design and then ruins it by adding a weird criss-cross pattern.
NATIONAL ANTHEM RATING 3/10 The sort of thing that is surely impossible for footballers or supporters to sing along to.
PUB AMMO Taras Stepanenko is a big reader, particularly of the autobiographies of great leaders. He is also a devout Christian.
POLAND
MANAGER Adam Nawalka, 58, Polish SQUAD Goalkeepers: Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City), Wojciech Szczesny (Roma), Artur Boruc (Bournemouth) Defenders: Thiago Cionek (Palermo), Kamil Glik (Torino), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Michal Pazdan (Legia Warsaw), Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund), Bartosz Salamon (Cagliari), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Lechia Gdansk) Midfielders: Jakub Blaszczykowski (Fiorentina), Kamil Grosicki (Rennes), Tomasz Jodlowiec (Legia Warsaw), Bartosz Kapustka (Cracovia), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla), Karol Linetty (Lech Poznan), Krzysztof Maczynski (Wisla), Slawomir Peszko (Lechia Gdansk), Filip Starzynski (Zaglebie Lubin), Piotr Zielinski (Empoli). Forwards: Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Mariusz Stepinski (Ruch Chorzow)
FIXTURES (date, team, venue) v Northern Ireland, Stade de Nice, Nice v Poland, Stade de France, Paris v Ukraine, Stade Velodrome, Marseille
WHAT TO EXPECT? Poland play a 4-4-2 with Arkadiusz Milik alongside Robert Lewandowski, with a reliance on the front two to get the goals and cover up deficiencies elsewhere.
CHANCES OF GLORY? Poland should get through to the knockout stages, but their recent issues in defence, keeping four clean sheets in qualification, suggests they could be taken apart.
THREE STARS TO WATCH Robert Lewandowski - A brilliant season for Bayern Munich, more goals in qualifying than anyone else - 13 - and one of the best strikers in the world. Key to any hopes Poland have. Grzegorz Krychowiak - Krychowiak is a strong midfielder with a decent passing range who has won two Europa League crowns in a row with Sevilla. Arkadiusz Milik - He may only be 22 but Milik has a scoring record to match anyone. He has over one goal in every two games in the Eredivisie with Ajax.
KIT RATING 8/10 - This white shirt is just a simple effort by Nike and is not over-complicated in any way. Not a classic, but works.
6/10 - Upbeat and jaunty in a way that national anthems often are not. Makes it unique in a similar category.
PUB AMMO Robert Lewandowski has a judo champion and former professional volleyball player for parents. They thought their son would be an athlete, so called him Robert to make it easier for commentators to pronounce his name.
NORTHERN IRELAND
MANAGER Michael O'Neill, 46, Northern Irish SQUAD Goalkeepers: Alan Mannus (St Johnstone), Michael McGovern (Hamilton Academical), Roy Carroll (Linfield). Defenders: Craig Cathcart (Watford), Jonathan Evans (West Bromwich Albion), Gareth McAuley (West Bromwich Albion), Luke McCullough (Doncaster Rovers), Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town), Lee Hodson (MK Dons), Aaron Hughes (Free agent), Patrick McNair (Manchester United), Chris Baird (Derby County). Midfielders: Steven Davis (Southampton), Oliver Norwood, (Reading), Corry Evans, (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest). Forwards: Kyle Lafferty (Norwich City), Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers), Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock), Will Grigg (Wigan Athletic).
FIXTURES (date, team, venue) 12-6-2016, 5pm v Poland, Stade de Nice, Nice 16-6-2016, 5pm v Ukraine, Stade de Lyon, Lyon 21-6-2016, 5pm v Germany, Parc des Princes
WHAT TO EXPECT? Northern Ireland play a very organised 4-5-1 with Kyle Lafferty playing alone up front. Defence is prioritised over anything else.
CHANCES OF GLORY? It's easy to forget that Northern Ireland qualified at the top of their group. They should hope to make an impact on the knockout rounds.
THREE STARS TO WATCH Kyle Lafferty - The striker scored seven goals in qualification and is tasked with leading the line alone, which he does effectively. Stuart Dallas - Dallas is an effective wide player but also puts in so many yards on a defensive basis that he essentially operates as an additional full-back. Will Grigg - Will Grigg's on fire, Euro 2016 is terrified. Grigg scored 25 goals in League One this season, and while the Euros are obviously a big step, he has shown an eye for goal.
KIT RATING 7/10 - This green chested kit with navy shoulders and a blue stripe across the middle is basic without suffering for it.
NATIONAL ANTHEM RATING 9/10 - It's God Save the Queen, but Northern Ireland get another point for how their fans sing the 'Na Na Na's.
PUB AMMO Kyle Lafferty helped Palermo get promoted from Serie B but president Maurizio Zamparini decided to sell him because he was an 'out-of-control womaniser'.
