Euro 2016: What the experts think

01 June 2016 09:23

The final squads have been named and the preparations are now well under way for Euro 2016. But who will win the tournament? And what chances do England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have in France?

Press Association Sport asked four former players - John Barnes, Ian Rush, David Healy and Niall Quinn - for their predictions.

John Barnes, 79 caps for England between 1983-95, 11 goals

Who will win the Euros?

Spain - if England get them after the group stage, that'll be hard.

How will England do?

When you have a cup competition, it is difficult to say how they are going to go because it depends on who you play. I would expect them to get out of the group and, depending on where they finish, can go through to the quarter-finals. Then anything else is a bonus.

Which England player will be the surprise package?

I'll go with Harry Kane because he seems to score goals wherever he plays. He has taken to the international stage to score big goals against big opposition.

Ian Rush, 73 caps for Wales between 1980-96, 28 goals (record goalscorer)

Who will win the Euros?

I'd say France because that's where the tournament is being played. But Germany will be there as they always are and Italy will be hard to beat. It will be interesting to see which Belgium side turns up.

How will Wales do?

I can see Wales qualifying for the knock-out stages and in one-off games anything can happen. If we do that, let's see who we get.

Which Wales player will be the surprise package?

I'm not sure because this Wales side is all about the team spirit and togetherness. But, for me, the leader Ashley Williams is the one. The way he organises the defence they would miss him as much as Gareth Bale.

David Healy, 95 caps for Northern Ireland between 2000-2013, 36 goals (record goalscorer)

Who will win the Euros?

France. The last two times they've hosted it they have won it - in 1984 and the 1998 World Cup. They've got a good squad and a brilliant young manager.

How will Northern Ireland do?

The group stage was going to be tough and they have the world champions. Going into the Poland game, it's a massive game. But, with a couple of teams sneaking out of the group in third, it might only take one win.

Which player will be Northern Ireland's surprise package?

If there's someone I don't think gets all the credit, it's Steven Davis, our captain. He leads by example both on and off the pitch. If he has the influence he had in qualifying in the big tournament, Northern Ireland could certainly go with a fighting chance of making the round of 16 or even the quarter-finals.

Niall Quinn, 92 caps for for Republic of Ireland between 1986-2002, 21 goals

Who will win the Euros?

I'll go with home advantage and will go for France.

How well will Ireland do?

I would love to see us get to the knock-out stages. That would be a great achievement.

Which player will be the surprise package for Ireland?

I think Wes Hoolahan if he gets game time.

Source: PA