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Sport360’s Euro 2016 verdict: Our writers make their tournament predictions, top picks and flops

Sport360 staff

11:00 08/06/2016

Our Sport360 team picks the tournament champions, Euro 2016’s dark horses and surprise packages, as well as the team most likely to flop plus our picks for the best player and top goalscorer accolades.

Who do you see winning the tournament, which players do you see excelling and who do you believe will be the biggest disappointments in France?

Share with us your thoughts by taking part in our polls below, using #360fans on Twitter and getting in touch via Facebook.

STEVE MCKENLAY, EDITOR

CHAMPIONS: France. Home advantage and an exciting squad packed with extraordinary talent like Martial, Pogba, Payet, Griezmann and Kante to name a few should give them the edge.

DARK HORSE: England. Dodgy defence and lack of experience but these exciting young Lions have spirit and a hunger to impress.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Poland. Lewandowski can inspire this team to punch well above their weight.

FLOP: Belgium. Individual stars who don’t click as a team when it matters.

BEST PLAYER: Paul Pogba will make the stage his.

TOP SCORER: Antoine Griezmann. In red-hot form.

 

JAMES PIERCY, DEPUTY EDITOR

CHAMPIONS: Spain. If Vicente Del Bosque sees sense and picks David De Gea, they’ll be tough to beat.

DARK HORSE: Portugal. A weak group plus some excellent midfielders, a settled defence and a certain No7.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Slovakia. A serious team, anchored by Marek Hamsik who should be great to watch.

FLOP: England. Few have any tournament pedigree, defensively they look suspect and there are doubts over Roy Hodgson’s abilities.

BEST PLAYER: Antoine Griezmann (below). France should have a strong tournament.

TOP SCORER: Griezmann. Should hit the ground running in the group stages.

Griezman goes into the tournament in fine form.

 

ANDY LEWIS, NEWS EDITOR

CHAMPIONS: Spain. So much class through midfield and as long as they can find a goalscorer – perhaps Alvaro Morata – they can go all the way.

DARK HORSE: Portugal. Strong side boosted by some exciting emerging talents.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Poland. Robert Lewandowski can fire them to the last eight.

FLOP: Italy. Squad looks alarmingly thin, especially up front.

BEST PLAYER: Paul Pogba. Can be the face of the tournament.

TOP SCORER: Fitness permitting…Cristiano Ronaldo. Iceland, Austria & Hungary make up Portugal’s group.

ALEX REA, REPORTER

CHAMPIONS: France. Home crowd, talented and deep squad, plus an easy group to build momentum from.

DARK HORSE: Croatia. A midfield of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Rakitic should mean an endless supply to the front men.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Austria. Their golden generation built around a world-class talent in the form of David Alaba.

FLOP: Germany. In transition and suspect defeats of late.

BEST PLAYER: Paul Pogba. If, as I’m predicting, France win it, the midfielder (below) will be central to it.

TOP SCORER: Robert Lewandowski. Scored 42 goals last term – a perfect platform.

Pogba goes into the tournament as one of the world’s best midfielders.

MATTHEW JONES, REPORTER

CHAMPIONS: Germany. Arrive in poor form but forget that – they will show their class.

DARK HORSE: Poland. With Lewandowski’s goals, an able supporting cast, they could go far.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Romania. Stingy defence and a penchant for performing on the big stage.

FLOP: Italy. Ageing team could get picked off in tough group.

BEST PLAYER: Kevin De Bruyne. Shone at shockingly inconsistent Man City. The stage is his to steal.

TOP SCORER: Cristiano Ronaldo. Will carry his country and could fill his boots in the group stages.

 

MATT MONAGHAN, REPORTER

CHAMPIONS: Germany. The World Cup winners have a bountiful mix of youth and experience. Expect another back-to-back champion.

DARK HORSE: Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo finally has the back-up he needs.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Turkey. Talented squad has lost just one of last 15 matches.

FLOP: Croatia. Ante Cacic and his acerbic management will lead to disaster. Just ask Dejan Lovren.

BEST PLAYER: Paul Pogba. Stage is set for the midfielder to claim the mantle of Europe’s finest footballer.

TOP SCORER: Thomas Muller. Has never scored a goal at the Euros. Expect that to change. Immediately.

MARK LOMAS, ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

CHAMPIONS: France. Have never failed to win a major tournament they’ve hosted and possess a great blend of youth and experience.

DARK HORSE: England. Defence is poor but plenty to get excited about elsewhere.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Iceland. Won’t ‘do a Greece’, but kind group means they could feasibly reach the last eight.

FLOP: Germany. Laboured through qualifying and have looked a shadow of the side that lifted the World Cup.

BEST PLAYER: Paul Pogba. Talented talisman and always a potential match-winner.

TOP SCORER: Antoine Griezmann. Comes into the Euros on the back of a stellar season with Atletico.

BARNY READ, ONLINE DEPUTY EDITOR

CHAMPIONS: France. Capable of repeating their World Cup win on home soil in 1998.

DARK HORSE: England. So much talent and so much variety. Don’t say it too loudly but they may entertain en route.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Sweden. Stage is set for Zlatan to exit France with an even bigger bang than his PSG exploits.

FLOP: Portugal. Do not expect anything other than get out of their group by the skin of their teeth.

BEST PLAYER: Antoine Griezmann. Could end up scoring a boat load.

TOP SCORER: Harry Kane. England will score goals, and he will get the bulk.

STUART APPLEBY, ONLINE JOURNALIST

CHAMPIONS: Germany. Indifferent form but Joachim Low has the know-how to deliver when it counts.

DARK HORSE: Portugal. Drawn in a winnable Group F and if Cristiano Ronaldo can produce, they stand a real chance of winning it.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Wales. Gareth Bale is nearing top form at just the right time.

FLOP: England. Look short of quality and experience in a tough group.

BEST PLAYER: Cristiano Ronaldo. Will desperately want to impress in what could be one of his last major tournaments.

TOP SCORER: Antoine Griezmann. A fine finisher who is bang in form.

Ronaldo is looking to make his mark at this year’s tournament.

ANDY WEST, SPAIN CORRESPONDENT

CHAMPIONS: France. Combination of rising stars and home advantage will overcome a dodgy defence.

DARK HORSE: Croatia. Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric are the competition’s best central midfield.

SURPRISE PACKAGE: Wales. With defensive excellence and an in-form Bale, they can roar to the semi-finals.

FLOP: Italy. Lack attacking quality and are in a desperately difficult group.

BEST PLAYER: Paul Pogba. This is his time to truly establish himself as an elite player… and earn a massive summer transfer.

TOP SCORER: Olivier Giroud. Will benefit from playing with gifted teammates.

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