Goodness me. IT'S FRANCE v GERMANY!

It takes them a few goes but Germany eventually get the ball forward, playing off Havertz, then Kimmich darts a high ball towards Muller, intercepted by Kimpembe.

Germany looks pretty confident out there, but France are cutting off their passes into midfield pretty well.

Daniel back, just in time to report that Kimmich was booked for an offence I didn't see. He's now got 85+ minutes of Mbappe, knowing that if he fouls him he could be off.

Cagey enough start here from both sides as they feel each other out. Kante is being his usual intelligent and excellent self, snuffing out the ball here and there to disrupt any German momentum.

So, Portugal’s late show that saw them bag a +3 goal difference after their match against Hungary puts renewed importance on this clash. Read about that below.

And we are off!

Dan Harris’ internet is on the blink but he will be back imminently.

Right people, my wife was on a call which has now ended, resulting in my eviction from lounge to office. I'll be back in about five minutes, so in the meantime here's France winning the Henri Delaunay in 1984.

Just a little while ago, Portugal saw off Hungary with three late goals. Naturally, he scored two of them, and what a big win that was cannot be overstated. Had it been drawn, Portugal would probably have needed at least two points from their games against tonight's teams in order to qualify. Now, they might be there already and one more draw will put it beyond doubt.

That Brazil win was greatest international match I've ever seen, and by far. During lockdown, Fifa put the whole 120 minutes plus penalties on YouTube. I promise you it's worth your time.

And West Germany did it again in 1986. This match was one of the great disappointments - France looked done-in after their quarter-final win over Brazil.

As you may have heard, these sides had a fair old tussle at the 1982 World Cup.

But what about the match-up? Well the formations - and quality - mean we might see something quite narrow and stuffy, so if either side can get it going down the sides they're in business. Two strikers is one way of messing with a three at the back, so France will be hoping for joy there, and I'm certain Mbappe will be trying to get down the side of Hummels, who wasn't quick at his peak. Germany will be looking for overloads on the flanks and in the box.

Germany, meanwhile, send out the team that battered Latvia last week, which seems fair enough. I wonder whether Kroos will be the right man in the big games - and there's not a lot of pace next to him either - but Goretzka is injured in any event. At the back, they've gone for safety in numbers, and will need the wing-backs to contribute plenty in attack, both in terms of progressing the ball and creating chances; if Havertz and Gnabry are served properly, they'll be an absolute nightmare for an defence.

Er, both sides line up as expected. France appear set on their diamond now - it gets in the most good players, but asks a lot of the full-backs in terms of supplying the width, perhaps limits Ngolo Kante, and can result in too many players ahead of the ball. Thing is, it's hard to see this side failing to score at least twice in any game, and the return of Benzema will make a huge difference. Ultimately, this is a very scary team.

So what does it all mean?

Let's have some teams!

It's not right to say the tournament starts properly tonight - Netherlands v Ukraine, Spain v Sweden and Hungary v Portugal were classics of their genre - but it's not far wrong either. Our match completes the first round - after it, we'll have seen every team play - but more than that, it's the first between two traditional powers, who also happen to be two of the best teams around and the last two world champions.

France are the competition favourites and with good reason. Their squad is ludicrous collection of ludicrously brilliant footballers, they've been together for a while and know that they can do it. Their defence is suboptimal, and watching them comes with the frequent frustration that they should be better. But if they find their best form, it's over.

That rarely happens though, and Germany have the players to give anyone grief. They lack a scorer and their defence is suss, but their midfield is packed with dons and, in Kai Havertz, they have a talent primed to explode. They've looked good in friendlies, and on a good day can beat anyone.

In a sense, this is a strange affair. Thirty-six games to eliminate just eight teams means that even tonight's losers will expect to reach the knockouts, but winning the group means a better draw, while third might be better than second.

Anyway, enough about what's to come: let's immerse in what's already here. Come on!