Will England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Ireland flourish or flop in France?

Roy Hodgson’s men to finish second in the group and battle past Austria in the last 16 before falling to the hosts France.

Third place in the group lands Wales a nightmare last 16 tie against Germany.

A creditable third-place finish in the group of death, but a last 16 meeting with France spells the end.

Last place in a tough group and a early exit for Northern Ireland.

England have stumbled a bit in their preparations and Roy Hodgson can be far from certain what his best team is at this point, but they will progress from the group, albeit second to Wales. However, they will run into a formidable roadblock in the form of hosts France in the quarters.

Wales look rather more assured than England and have their most famous player, Gareth Bale, in top form. Wayne Rooney is not. They will top Group B and beat Romania, but then be undone against a Belgium team with deeper quality.

Martin O’Neill’s men could lose all three matches to Belgium, Italy and Sweden. Even third place is too much of a challenge.

Another tricky group. Northern Ireland did fantastically well to qualify but Germany, Ukraine and Poland are all a step or more above.

England will ease through a pretty accommodating group containing Russia, Wales and Slovakia. The Russians are still enduring a Fabio Capello hangover, Wales are a functional team furnished with one world-class player in Gareth Bale and Slovakia, although sturdy at the back, offer little up top bar Marek Hamsik. However, come the last 16, England will meet dark horses Austria who will ceremoniously dump them out at that stage.

Having finished behind England, Wales will meet hosts France in the last eight and their challenge ends there.

Zlatan’s Sweden will beat Ireland in their first game of the tournament which will more or less mean that Martin O’Neill’s men will have to overhaul Belgium or Italy and that just won’t happen.

They are on the back of a 12-game unbeaten run and the fear is that they have peaked early.

Yes, I know. It does all sound rather unlikely, doesn't it? But looking at the draw - and the history of tournament football - I fully expect both England and France to hiccough their way through the group stage, thus avoiding each other in the last-16. And should that happen, England then have - as you'll see below - a rather straightforward-looking path to the final... Assuming that Wales fulfil their destiny by pulling off the biggest shock of the whole tournament, that is (see below for more on that). In the final itself they'll beat a nerve-wracked home side 2-0, both goals coming on the counter from Jamie Vardy, and those 50 years of hurt will finally be at an end.

Chris Coleman is a fine manager with a gifted, hard-working squad - which even if they didn't have Gareth Bale, would give them a fighting chance of grinding out sufficient results to make it through to the group stage. But Bale's presence is a game-changer, and that's why he can do something extraordinary to knock out a complacent Germany in the last 16. Belgium will make no such mistakes, and wallop the Welsh in the next round.

They will keep up their proud record of always making it through tournament group stages, but the Irish journey will be ended, cruelly on penalties, by Portugal in the first knock-out round.

Everyone seems very happy to write off Northern Ireland's hopes simply on the basis that it's 30 years since they made it to a tournament - but they qualified in superb style, and can spring a few surprises in the group stage before their joyous journey comes to an end.

Hodgson's men will have just enough to top the group after a muddled few friendlies leading into the tournament. They will then edge past Croatia by the odd goal, but in the last eight they will meet Belgium in what will be the battle of the brittle defences, with star man Vincent Kompany ruled out. It will likely be a familiar Premier League face that will strike the killer blow - Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku or Divock Origi perhaps.

Gareth Bale gets the headlines of course, but Chris Coleman has built a strong, resilient side around him which can trouble England in the race for top spot in Group B. However, a hard-fought draw for Hodgson's men will narrowly see them through on goal difference. This will set up a showdown between Bale and Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo which will also go to the wire, possibly even penalties, but the former Manchester United man will have the last word. As ever.

Such a tough group and the lack of any truly world-class stars will count against them as they finish bottom behind Belgium, Italy and Sweden. All the others will qualify for the next round.

WIth the expanded format, Northern Ireland will surprise everyone again with a draw against Poland and narrow win over Ukraine to progress to the next stage. But there holders France will await an will stroll past them, scoring a hatful.

If the defence holds up, and it is a big if, England can reach the last four and a possible semi-final with Spain. If not, England must reach a potential quarter-final against Portugal to pass this tournament off as a success. The last 16 = failure.

With Gareth Bale of Real Madrid in the side, they should be sharp enough to overcome Slovakia and qualify third out of Group B, but their adventure will end in the last 16 when they come across world champions Germany.

Ireland will tread a similar path to Wales. Martin O'Neill's side will win one match in the section against Sweden, but are likely to end up third behind Belgium and Italy in Group E. Which leads to a potential meeting with defending champions Spain. Which leads to probable elimination in the first knock-out phase.

There is a reason why Northern Ireland are 250-1 shots to win the tournament. Michael O'Neill is happy for his team to be written off in their first appearance at a major finals since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Looking at an honest squad of triers, it is difficult to see where the quality is coming from to make it past the group stage. They are likely to lose to Germany, and they will probably have to beat Ukraine to be in the mix for a third-place finish. Will be back in time to watch the knock-out stage on TV.

Assuming (admittedly, a big assumption) Roy Hodgson’s men top Group B, two favourable games await in the last 16 and quarter-finals. But just as optimism starts to seep back into a weary nation, Spain crush them in the semi-finals to extend the hurt.

Hal Robson-Kanu strikes as Wales stun hosts France in the last eight, but they are speedily eliminated by eventual champions Germany.

Bravely emerge from a group containing Belgium, Italy and Sweden… then lose to Austria in the last 16.

Emerged from the weakest qualifying group ever assembled – a task too far.