As far as the Three Lions are concerned, football might not be coming home for at least another two years.

But the coverage from Austria and Switzerland will be appearing on our TV screens next month and we should at least be celebrating the fact this is an even-numbered year. Sixteen nations will once again be battling it out to become kings of Europe and, after the Greek success of 2004, I reckon 15 of the teams involved can win this competition.

While the experts won’t be deviating from selecting Germany, France or Italy as potential winners (going for Portugal doesn’t mean you’re sticking your neck out), there is very little between any of the countries competing in this year’s tournament.

Only Austria look like a below-par outfit, having qualified by virtue of being co-hosts. Their partners in crime Switzerland are certainly not there to make up the numbers. Indeed, it’s worth noting that every host nation has made the last four of the competition, with the exception of Belgium in 2000. Even England managed it in 1996.

There are some fascinating matches in store, not least in Group C, where 2006 World Cup finalists Italy and France have been drawn together. Expect some fireworks in that clash, especially if Marco Materazzi graces the pitch for the Azzurri. With Holland and Romania making up the quartet, it’s little wonder that people are referring to this section as the ‘Group of Death’, although in reality it’s no tougher for teams than the other three groups.

Barring the co-hosts, each team had to finish in the top two of their qualifying group to reach Euro 2008, something that England and Scotland found to their cost. Therefore, even the unknown quantities that are Turkey, Poland and Russia shouldn’t be discounted on the strength that you’ve barely heard of their players.