England and Russia kick off their quest for European glory in what promises to be an intriguing match at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.
With mystery surrounding how both sides will perform in France, this group opener could prove to be a vital game for both sides.
Here are some key talking points to consider before the match:
England’s history blights them
If there was a footballing definition of ‘underachiever’, England would be the crowning example. Across 22 previous major international tournaments England has only one trophy to their name, the 1966 World Cup. Success has been even harder to find on a continental level, with only two third places in 1968 and 1996 to their name. It’s a worrying record and as kickoff in France looms, English fans will surely not be looking forward to another few years of mockery should the birthplace of football fail to perform yet again. However, a positive start against Russia could be the ignition they need to secure their second major trophy and a win could see cries of ‘Football’s coming home’ echo across the country.
Slutsky on the big stage
Russian manager Leonid Slutsky will no doubt be nervous for this match as it represents his first real test as Russian manager. Replacing Fabio Capello midway through the qualification process, Slutsky has made the job look easy, with Russia losing only three matches in the last 10 since taking over. It will be a tall order to quell some of England’s attacking talents, however the boss should be confident he can help engineer a side capable of creating chances against a vulnerable England defence. A win for Russia will show Europe that Russia and Slutsky mean business.
England’s attacking options
England manager Roy Hodgson has been under fire in recent friendlies for the use of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy on the wings. Arguably England has the most depth in the attacking positions, with Harry Kane, Daniel Sturridge, Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney all proven goalscorers, which allows Hodgson with plenty of flexibility in the final third. With only three games in the group stage, he doesn’t have a lot of time to find the perfect combination that will fire England to the knockout phase so the formula he settles on will be crucial.
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