Euro 2016 power rankings: Who are the five strongest sides right now?

French supporters celebrate during the international friendly soccer match between France and Russia at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, France, 29 March 2016. EPA/CHRISTOPHE SAIDI

Germany's defender Jonas Hector celebrates scoring the 3-0, his first goal for Germany with Germany's midfielder Thomas Mueller (L) and Germany's midfielder Julian Draxler (R) celebrate after the third goal during the friendly football match Germany vs Italy in Muinch, southern Germany, on March 29, 2016. AFP / CHRISTOF STACHE

Italy v Spain, international friendly match. Spain's Aduriz Zubeldia celebrates with teammates after scoring. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Belgian players embrace on the pitch and observe a minute of silence to honor the Brussels attacks victims before the friendly football match between Portugal and Belgium at Magalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria, Portugal on March 29, 2016. AFP / FRANCISCO LEONG

Italy's team players pose before the friendly football match between Italy and Spain at "Friuli-Dacia Arena" Stadium in Udine on March 24, 2016. AFP / GIUSEPPE CACACE

With the latest round of friendlies out of the way and Euro 2016 in June, European football correspondent Richard Jolly looks at who he thinks are the five strongest sides at the moment.

Click through for the top five.

1. FRANCE

The fact that the last two major tournaments staged in France – the 1984 European Championships and the 1998 World Cup – have been won by France offers encouragement. Yet the case for Didier Deschamps’ team rests on more than mere history. After mixed results last season, they have won six of seven games in the current campaign; their only defeat, to England, came when players were understandably affected by the terrorist attacks in Paris. They may yet miss Karim Benzema, suspended from national-team duty after he was arrested in investigations about a plot to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena, but Olivier Giroud has been in fine form in recent internationals. In any case, the French attack looks increasingly imposing, with Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman having terrific seasons, Dimitri Payet back in contention and scoring in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Russia and Antoine Griezmann shaping up as one of the stars of the tournament. Paul Pogba ought to be another and if Deschamps still has to determine whether Laurent Koscielny or Mamadou Sakho partners the precocious Raphael Varane at centre-back, many of his plans are taking shape. Plus France have the sort of pool they ought to top.

2. GERMANY

Awesome at their best, as they showed when hammering Italy 4-1 on Tuesday. They are also the ultimate tournament team. It is why mixed results – losing to Poland and the Republic of Ireland in qualifying, plus friendly defeats to France, the United States, Argentina and Germany in the last 18 months – may not matter so much. Yet they do highlight a potential concern, which is the defensive record and, in particular, Joachim Low’s struggle to find worthy successors to Philipp Lahm in the full-back positions, while it is imperative that centre-backs Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng are fit. The possibility that Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss this summer’s tournament should be less of a worry, despite his leadership qualities and vast experience. Low has an abundance of options in midfield, so much so that, despite Mario Gomez’s renaissance, Germany may not require a specialist striker; Thomas Muller has long been prolific in a variety of roles and this is the best season of his career. Low can also call upon Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan, who missed their 2014 World Cup win. Germany have to win Group C to avoid France in the last 16, but they should do that.

3. SPAIN

After their disastrous World Cup, Spain should not be short of motivation to win a third successive European Championships. If Vicente del Bosque’s gameplan remains similar, there have to be alterations in personnel. If the declining Iker Casillas travels, it must be as David de Gea’s back-up, not as first-choice goalkeeper. Spain, as ever, boast a surfeit of diminutive, talented midfielders. The reasons to doubt them have occurred at either end of the pitch, with Casillas’ struggles and Diego Costa’s continuing inability, amid injury and disciplinary problems, to reproduce his best club form on the international stage, which is a reason why they are not prolific. The call-up for the 35-year-old striker Aritz Aduriz, who scored against Italy on Thursday, could seem a case of desperation but has rewarded a man who has excelled over four years. Alvaro Morata may be the best long-term option in attack, but Spain won Euro 2012 by dint of keeping the ball and rarely conceding. They are equipped to adopt a similar approach and, in Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara, should have technically the best midfield in France.

4. BELGIUM

They remain the golden generation and have won their last five internationals, but they are not glittering in the way many envisioned. Belgium qualified comfortably but not dominantly and while the age profile suggests their players should be peaking, several have endured difficult seasons. Eden Hazard has been wretched for Chelsea, Marouane Fellaini has regressed for Manchester United and Christian Benteke has lost his place in the Liverpool team. Manager Marc Wilmots may be too inflexible and still prefers Benteke to the rather more potent Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s scorer in Tuesday’s defeat to Portugal. At least Radja Nainggolan could be one of the few peaking at the right time and the injuries Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen and Kevin de Bruyne have suffered could mean they are fresher in the summer but Vincent Kompany’s continuing calf problems present a worry and Belgium are in one of the trickier pools, along with Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. Two years ago, they looked capable of conquering Europe; now it seems less probable.

5. ITALY

Few thought Italy were potential finalists four years ago, but they were runners-up to Spain. This is a less gifted group – the Azzurri have rarely had less stardust – but just as their progress in 2012 was inspired by Cesare Prandelli, now there is the sense the manager might be a trump card again. Antonio Conte oversaw an unbeaten qualification campaign – Italy being Italy, friendly results have been less impressive, with no wins in the last six – and it will require a triumph of tactics and selection if they are to confound predictions again. At least, as long as the Juventus trio of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli are fit, he should have a defence to belong with the truest Italian traditions, while Marco Verratti can lend invention in midfield. But the declining Andrea Pirlo presents a dilemma and Conte may opt for more mobile performers. Graziano Pelle has exceeded expectations in attack but while Conte has permed from a large cast of forwards, none are world class. Yet while Italy are in tough group, the draw nevertheless suggests a quarter-final place is possible; that, in turn, leads to potential meetings with Germany or England, two Italy have a track record of beating when it matters.

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