Coach: Roy Hodgson
Colours: White shirts, white shorts, red socks
Twitter: @England
Group Opponents
v Russia (11 June, Marseille)
v Wales (16 June, Lens)
v Slovakia (20 June, Saint-Etienne)
Euros Record
Semi-finalists (1968, 1996)
Quarter-finalists (2004, 2012)
Group stage (1980, 1988, 1992, 2000)
Tournament Pedigree
The Three Lions have generally been nearly men at best in the European Championship, with their best performance coming on home turf as they made it to the semi-finals in 1996 before being eliminated by eventual champions Germany. It is England’s ninth tournament appearance and they will be hoping for success this summer.
Always the focus of early tournament hype, the England stars will have to cope with the high expectations of their adoring public if they are to have any chance of going far in the tournament.
How They Got There
England became only the fifth team to qualify for a European Championship with a 100% qualifying record, winning all ten of their fixtures. Scoring 31 goals and conceding just three, the Three Lions boasted the second most prolific attack behind Poland, and the second best defence behind Romania.
England breezed through but will face a sterner test in France this summer, although they will take heart from such a positive set of qualifying results. A crucial source of inspiration could be the eight clean sheets the team kept in qualifying; only conceding in the two games against Slovenia.
v Switzerland: 2-0 (h), 2-0 (a)
v Slovenia: 3-1 (h), 3-2 (a)
v Estonia: 2-0 (h), 1-0 (a)
v Lithuania: 4-0 (h), 3-0 (a)
v San Marino: 5-0 (h), 6-0 (a)
Key Players
Hodgson will be looking to Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy in the hope that they can continue the form they have shown this season. The duo were first and second in the Golden Boot list respectively, with the latter also picking up a Premier League winner’s medal. However, all eyes will likely be on captain and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney. Leading his country in a major tournament for the first time, he will hope that he can fire them to glory.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Ryan Betrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)