Saturday is the first full day of matches at Euro 2016, with three games taking place including England’s opener, and the status of captain Wayne Rooney is a major talking point.
England v Russia, Group B, 11pm, Bein Max 1-4
England and Russia are the big beasts of Group B and, though each would love a winning start when they meet on Saturday, the fear of losing could well become all-pervading and lead to a cagey encounter.
With games against Wales and Slovakia to come, and the potential for three teams to qualify with two guaranteed, a point at the Velodrome might look a very useful result in a couple of weeks.
England, on the back of winning all 10 qualifiers, not to mention a rare victory in Germany in a friendly, start favourites and will expect to make the running in front of a 60,000 crowd that will be predominantly behind them.
However, despite that great run of form, England are anything but a settled side as Roy Hodgson struggles with the question of how to shoe-horn his form players into an established system.
Strikers Jamie Vardy, fresh from leading Leicester City to the most unlikely Premier League title, and Harry Kane, the Premier League’s top scorer, seemingly demand selection.
But Hodgson is adamant Wayne Rooney, the captain and most experienced squad member, should get a starting berth, leaving the coach experimenting with his attacking options right up to the last minute.
Russia’s manager Leonid Slutsky has quickly developed a strong team spirit since taking over from Fabio Capello last August.
He has, however, been forced to change his plans somewhat after injuries ruled key midfielders Alan Dzagoev and, after last week’s 1-1 draw with Serbia, Igor Denisov out of the tournament.
• Richard Jolly's preview: England's evolution faces first real test against Russia – Europe's other great underachievers
Wales v Slovakia, Group B, 8pm, Bein Max 1-4
Wales must find a way of avoiding over dependence on Gareth Bale if they are to make progress at their first major international tournament for 58 years, starting with Saturday’s opening Group B match against Slovakia.
Not since John Charles, a world-class performer at centre-half and centre-forward in Serie A six decades ago, have they relied so much on one player.
Operating just behind the main striker, Real Madrid’s £85 million man Bale scored seven of the 11 goals that enabled Wales to finish runners-up to Belgium in their qualifying group.
On Thursday, Bale was adamant that Wales were “never a one-man team”, saying: “For us, it’s a squad thing. We’re ‘Together Stronger’....we don’t just say it for no reason.”
Jan Kozak’s Slovakia illustrated their potential by reeling off six straight victories in qualifying, ending holders Spain’s long unbeaten run and then beating Ukraine.
Winning in the rain away to world champions Germany less than a fortnight ago will have done further wonders for their self-belief and Wales will need far more than just Bale at his best to overcome them.
• Ian Hawkey's preview: Gareth Bale and Marek Hamsik: Leaders by example and vital to their nations' Euro 2016 hopes
Switzerland v Albania, Group A, 5pm, Bein Max 1-4
Switzerland may get a taste of their own medicine on Saturday when they meet an Albania side featuring several players who benefited from the highly-acclaimed Swiss youth set-up.
Loyalties will be divided in a fascinating Group A clash which, for the first time in the European Championship, will have brothers on opposing sides in Granit and Taulant Xhaka.
Both are of Albanian heritage and were born in Basel but Granit will line up for Switzerland and older brother Taulant, provided he recovers from a thigh injury, for their opponents.
In all, nine members of Albania’s 23-man squad had the right to play for Switzerland, and six members of the Swiss squad could have opted for Albania.
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