GROUP A: France, Romania, Albania, Switzerland
The hosts received a kind draw as they seek their first European Championship since 2000. France boast the necessary tools to sweep through this group, particularly if Les Bleus can sidestep the distractions of playing at home and Karim Benzema sorts out his personal issues. Switzerland hold the inside track to the second spot with their combination of solidity and ingenuity and their strength at fullback. Romania harbour hopes of sneaking through in third-place with a victory over debutants Albania, perhaps the weakest team in the entire draw.
Must-see game: France v Romania
Opening matches to tournaments set the tone, and the French have a chance to lay a marker when they welcome the Romanians to the Stade De France on June 10. Les Bleus might, however, have bad memories of facing those opponents in such a fixture. A dull 0-0 draw in Zurich opened a disastrous Euro 2008 tournament for the French, and it proved the only point they gained in the entire group stage. Iordanescu is bound to fancy pulling off a similar result. That might be Deschamps' toughest test of what looks a rather easy first-round draw.
Best individual battle: Pogba v Xhaka
Juventus midfielder Pogba is the player who can carry the host nation to the further reaches of a tournament that the French think they can win. However, a player whose athleticism and cruising speed can pull anyone apart can also occasionally drop into listless inconsistency. The Swiss, and Arsenal fans wanting a glimpse of their new signing, will hope to see Xhaka gaining ascendancy. In the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach, and during the qualifying campaign, the quality of his passing and the force of his tackling has impressed.
Group X Factor: The battle for second
Group A looks ready made for the French to make easy, untroubled progress to the round of 16, but who wins the fight to finish second is much more difficult to predict. Each of Switzerland, Romania and Albania -- none of them poor sides but definitely not world-beaters -- will fancy trying to land second or even third place, which might still be enough. Albania versus Switzerland in Lens, Romania vs. Switzerland in Paris and Romania vs. Albania in Lyon hold more intrigue than the hosts' matches.
GROUP B: England, Russia, Wales, Slovakia
All of the attention falls squarely on the pairing of England and Wales, but this group is not quite that straightforward. Russia improved markedly after CSKA Moscow manager Leonid Slutsky took charge during qualifying. Look for that aging squad to rely on Artyom Dzyuba for goals. Slovakia is organized and experienced, if somewhat limited. Wales reached their first Euros on the back of Gareth Bale, but the supporting cast -- particularly captain Ashley Williams and midfielder Aaron Ramsey -- is capable, too. England sauntered through their group again -- it is now time to address the concerns in front of the back four and atone for the flameout in Brazil.
Must-see game: England v Wales
It was a fixture Wales boss Chris Coleman wanted to avoid, saying before the draw he was wary of the match becoming a circus, but England versus Wales in Lens on June 16 is now a date set in stone. The Welsh have never beaten England in a competitive international, but have a player in Bale who is head and shoulders in talent terms above the nation he refused to consider playing for when a promising youngster at Southampton.
Best individual battle: Skrtel v England's strikers
It might be tough to look beyond England versus Wales and the prospect of Bale flying at England centre-backs like Chris Smalling and John Stones, but the chance of Liverpool's Martin Skrtel to play for Slovakia against the attackers of his adopted home also takes the eye. Which English striker he has to mark is the next question. Will it be a revived Rooney, in-form Harry Kane, Rashford the coming force, or Daniel Sturridge, finally fit and firing for France? Slovakia's captain is bound to relish the challenge in his usual physical style.
Group X factor: Can England perform?
England will be rather more confident of escaping this group than they were in Brazil in 2014 after Italy and Uruguay were pulled from that draw, but each opponent presents difficulty, and especially that opening match against the Welsh. A defeat there could make life hard for Hodgson, whose in-game management in Brazil was found badly wanting. The last time England won every European Championship qualifying match was ahead of Euro '88, where they also faced a near neighbour in their opening match, Ireland, and lost 1-0 to a Ray Houghton header, before going on to lose their other two group matches, to Netherlands and the USSR.
GROUP C: Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Northern Ireland
There are few genuine concerns ahead for Germany, but the World Cup winners received an awkward assignment after losing to Poland during qualifying. Ukraine lean on their wingers to carve open teams, while Poland rely solely on the dominating presence of Robert Lewandowski up front. Look for those two sides to tussle for second-place in the group. Northern Ireland focus on structure to obscure a lack of individual quality and a dearth of goal threats aside from Kyle Lafferty.
Must-see game: Ukraine v Poland
This group probably saves the best until last. Co-hosts of the last tournament, Poland and Ukraine, with all due respect to Northern Ireland, are likely to be duking it out for the runners-up spot in this group. Marseille is a great stage for it. The Poles haven't beaten Ukraine since 2000. Back then Andriy Shevchenko managed to put one past Jerzy Dudek. Other than that, however, Dudek kept the great striker at bay, as he would in extra time of the Champions League final in Istanbul five years later. Goals from Emmanuel Olisadebe and Radoslav Kaluzny were the difference for the Poles and secured a 3-1 win.
Best individual battle: Lewandowski v Neuer
Friends reunited as opponents. Lewandowski knows everything about Germany and they know everything about him, particularly Neuer and the rest of his Bayern teammates. The sweeper-keeper has been spared facing him in the Bundesliga for a couple of years and perhaps one of the reasons Neuer is world-class is because he gets to practice with a striker like Lewandowski every day. Neuer celebrated as Lewandowski came off the bench and scored five goals in nine minutes against Wolfsburg this season. He will be hoping that Poland's star centre-forward will not be in the same form when they meet again in the group stages. Lewandowski put one past Neuer when Poland and Germany met in Frankfurt in September. Will there be more at the Stade de France on June 16?
Group X Factor: The Grigg phenomenon
The Wigan striker has become a cult hero this season, transcending his League One status. Latics fan Sean Kennedy adapted Gala's "Freed from Desire" in honour of the team's 28-goal striker and it has since become a phenomenon. Grigg is on fire and Belarus' defence was terrified as Northern Ireland beat them 3-0 last week. Expect to hear it over the course of the next month in Nice, Lyon and Marseille.
GROUP D: Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Croatia
The most difficult group heaps pressure on Spain to solve its center forward problems in short order. There are goals ahead in this group with Croatia and Czech Republic both capable of menace at one end and imprecision at the other. Look for Spain to play more directly than in the past to exploit some of those gaps. Turkey do not have the individual quality of previous generations, but they are competent and well-drilled.
Must-see game: Turkey v Croatia
What a treat we have in store June 12 at the Parc des Princes. The quarterfinal between Turkey and Croatia was one of the most thrilling games in European Championship history in 2008. Goalless after normal time, Croatia thought they have won it when Ivan Klasnic scored in the 119th minute, only for Semih to score an equaliser in the stoppage time of extra time, the latest goal in the history of this competition. Euphoric, Turkey beat a deflated Croatia in a penalty shootout. Let's hope we get a similar scintillating spectacle inside 90 minutes when they meet in Paris.
Best individual battle: Luka Modric v Andres Iniesta
Worth the ticket price on their own, the pair are an absolute joy to watch. Like conductors of an orchestra, they are the ones capable of making their teams play in perfect harmony. A mini-Clasico between the two Mozarts of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Modric and Iniesta, those pale geniuses, will meet in Bordeaux on June 21. It's the final game of the group and a lot could still be at stake.
Group X Factor: The inside men
Manchester United's player of the season for a third successive year, it's remarkable that De Gea had only eight caps for Spain before May when you consider the decline of Casillas. Of course Casillas' status as captain and his magnificent career should be respected, but a move to FC Porto has not generated an upturn in form. The veteran goalkeeper has apparently told Del Bosque that he is humble enough to take a role on the bench at the Euros if De Gea is the one in better shape, but it should be a no-brainer and present Spain with an even solider foundation on which to build a successful tournament.
GROUP E: Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden
Must-see game: Italy v Ireland
The new 24 team tournament structure has its critics, especially from those of us who recall the World Cups of the 1980s, but it does mean that even if you lose your first two games, you can still qualify with a win in the third. It's entirely possible that both Ireland and Italy could be in that position when they meet on June 22 in Lille. And the Irish have happy memories of this fixture from the 1994 World Cup...
Best individual battle: Ibrahimovic v Alderweireld
It was supposed to be Zlatan vs. Vincent Kompany, but injury has put paid to that duel. Now Wilmots has brought Alderweireld in from right-back and he's likely to be on Zlatan duty when Belgium meet Sweden on June 22. Will this be the final farewell for one of European football's most controversial superstars or will Zlatan drive his nation into the knockout stages?
Group X Factor: Romelu Lukaku
What sort of Romelu Lukaku will we see in France? The listless, wantaway Lukaku who failed to score a single goal for Everton in his final 10 games of the season? Or will it be the unplayable force of nature, as shrewd as he is strong, who scored 18 goals in the six months before? Lukaku was a disappointment in the 2014 World Cup. Is this going to be his summer?
Is this the tournament for Belgium to make a run toward the semifinals? There is certainly enough talent in the ranks to ease through this group, even if Eden Hazard is not back to his best form. This is not a vintage Italy side, but Antonio Conte will make the Italians difficult to beat. Similar principles apply to Ireland, but a lack of goals is the big problem there. Sweden must trust in Zlatan Ibrahimovic to summon one last big performance on the international stage to carry them through the group and mask the lack of quality in the squad.
GROUP F: Portugal, Iceland, Austria, Hungary
The weakest of the four groups offers any of the four teams a chance to progress. Portugal is less ambitious now in the wake of Fernando Santos’ appointment, but Cristiano Ronaldo remains a figure capable of spurring them to the quarterfinals. Austria impressed during qualifying with their best side in a generation. Keep a keen eye on David Alaba in midfield as the Austrians plot a path toward the top of the group. Iceland and Hungary focus on their collective strengths and their team morale. Can one of those two sides wring out a win to reach the last 16?
Must-see game: Portugal v Austria
Austria were one of the most surprisingly effective teams of the qualification process. They stormed their group and they have the ability to storm this one too. When they meet Portugal in the second game on June 18, both teams should have three points on the board from their opening fixtures. But if one of them has slipped up, this could be absolutely crucial.
Best individual battle: Ronaldo v Arnautovic
A tall, powerful, preening attacking midfielder with great individual skill, but a volatile mood. We can't wait to see Stoke's Marko Arnautovic on the big stage, especially when he comes up against Cristiano Ronaldo. A player who flattered to deceive on arrival in England, Arnautovic improved dramatically last season, though still played in fits and starts after Christmas. Both he, and obviously Ronaldo, have the ability to turn the group in their nation's favour. But which one will prevail when it matters?
Group X Factor: Ronaldo's form and fitness
What kind of Cristiano Ronaldo will arrive in France? A fit and fresh superstar, desperate to lift a title before age finally wearies him? Or a tired and bruised talisman, heaving his battered body around the pitch on a doomed one-man mission to save the day? We saw the latter in Brazil, but if Portugal are to have a chance of success this summer, they need the former.
