Battle of Britain at Euro 2016

“Having looked at the games I think it works in our favour that we play Germany third in Paris”, O’Neill told reporters after the draw.

England did reach the Euro 2012 quarter-finals when Hodgson had only been in charge for a matter of weeks, but the performances were low on style.

However Thomas himself enjoyed a much better personal record in the tie, and scored the equaliser which paved the way for Wales’s famous 4-1 win against the old enemy at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground in 1980.

“It will be an incredible atmosphere”, said England Manager Roy Hodgson, who will need no introductions to the Welsh side.

“We have England, they are a great team”. You can imagine the belief now among the players as a result of both.

Ashley Young’s goal settled the most recent meeting at Wembley on 6 September 2011, a game in which Wales should have equalised but Robert Earnshaw missed an excellent late chance.

Sweden have Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a slowly improving side set up behind him – though the team as a whole can be somewhat mercurial.

If the players do themselves justice there’s every chance they’ll make the last 16.

“It will be a match that excites, certainly the British public will be excited by it and playing in Lens in northern France in a tight and compact stadium we are going to get a very British atmosphere as well. I just hope there’s no fear”.

“I was so honoured and proud to be here, representing Wales was a fantastic feeling”. “Then I see pretty equal teams with Sweden, us and Ireland”.

Hodgson has been buoyed by top-level backing from Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn that he is the man the governing body want to take England to the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation, if his team can demonstrate progress at next summer’s European Championships.

Despite earning 59 caps for his country, the former Everton and Wrexham midfielder never faced England during his worldwide career. “We have to be careful and not be over-confident”. It obviously adds extra spice to the tournament.

“The past is the past and if the players continue to perform like they have over the past 18 months… our form is quite good and there are good players coming through”.

“We are a lot further down the line now”.

“We are better as underdogs, as soon as they are favourites we collapse”. They have a good goalkeeper in Wayne Hennessey.

“Belgium are a great team with outstanding players”, Italy coach Antonio Conte said, while Belgium coach Marc Wilmots was equally wary, saying “it’s the most hard opponents we could have”.

If it’s goals you’re looking for, though, Group C looks like the place to go.