Wenger - My predictions for Euro 2016

By Lloyd Webb

Arsene Wenger says France, Spain and Germany are the favourites for Euro 2016.

Spain are the reigning champions but face fierce competition in this summer’s tournament, which will see 24 teams take part for the first time.

Wenger will be watching the tournament closely, and has backed his home nation to do well.

“I believe France has a good opportunity because they play at home and traditionally at home they have shown they can win,” he said.

“You have to consider as well teams like Germany, who just won the World Cup. Spain, you never rule them out. After, there are outsiders like Belgium, England and Croatia maybe, because they have quality players.

“It will be interesting. I think the group stage will be a warm up and the competition will become interesting in the last-16. You have only eight teams going out of 24, so that could be a bit boring.

“The players are completely excited to go to the tournament. Who will be the star player? Sometimes, it can be a player who has less than 60 games in his legs.

"Let’s not forget that in Portugal [at Euro 2004], the player of the tournament was Theodoros Zagorakis, who had played at Leicester.

“That shows you that sometimes it’s players that have just arrived at a good moment in form. In France, you could have players maybe like Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann who could turn up.

"In England, it’s difficult to predict, but players like Daniel Sturridge, who has not had a long season, could do well. There’s Jack Wilshere, for example. There are players who could be in form.”