By David Bowers - skysports
England face Russia in Saturday's Group B clash
England kick off their Euro 2016 campaign on Saturday as Roy Hodgson's side face Group B opponents Russia in Marseille.
The Three Lions arrive into the tournament as the only team to have won all of their qualifying fixtures, and have since claimed victories over Turkey, Australia and Portugal in their warm-up games.
Despite concerns over their performances in the recent friendlies, England are the in-form nation heading into the tournament - but questions over Hodgson's team selection continue to dominate the pre-match build-up, as England look to claim their first win in an opening game at the European Championships.
Roy Hodgson has attacking options in Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy
Wayne Rooney's role in the starting XI has been up for discussion, with Russia coach Leonid Slutsky claiming the England captain is "not the player that he was", but the Manchester United striker insists he is fully focused on the task ahead.
"You can sense the excitement around the team and around the team hotel, and I think you sense that excitement around the country," he told FATV.
"Certainly the fans are doing that but the players are doing exactly the same. We're the ones going out on the pitch and we're the ones who have to go and do it, so hopefully we can and we'll give everyone good memories."
Russia's 6ft 5in striker Artem Dzyuba has been touted as a potential dangerman, having netted nine times in 18 international appearances, but England defender Chris Smalling says he is relishing the challenge.
"We have been watching videos this week. He [Dzyuba] is a big guy and it will be a physical battle," Smalling said.
"That's something in the Premier League we face week in week out so I enjoy it."
Russia's Igor Denisov will miss Euro 2016
Russia's preparations have been hampered by numerous injury problems, with midfielder Igor Denisov one of five notable absentees from their squad, joining Alan Dzagoev, Denis Cheryshev, Yuri Zhirkov and Oleg Kuzmin on the sidelines.
Slutsky, who took over from former England coach Fabio Capello last August, has opted to replace the injured Denisov with Zenit's Artur Yusupov - who was on holiday in the same Monaco hotel as the Russian side when he received his call-up.
"I was planning to fly back to Moscow (on Monday)," Yusupov told UEFA.com. "I didn't even have my football boots with me and none of my kit. I had to borrow from [Russia midfielder] Roman Neustadter.
"After being on holiday for 14 days, of course it is difficult to get down to work. I don't really know myself what state I will be in."
Team news
England defenders Smalling and Ryan Bertrand suffered minor knocks during training earlier in the week, but both players are expected to be available for the clash at the Stade Velodrome.
Ryan Bertrand missed England training on Wednesday, but is expected to be fit
Up front, Hodgson has a selection dilemma as forwards Harry Kane, Rooney and Jamie Vardy will all be vying for a starting spot - with the latter likely to start on the bench on Saturday evening, according to newspaper reports.
Spartak Moscow's Denis Glushakov is a doubt for the game and will likely face a late fitness test, while Krasnodar's Dmitri Torbinski did not train this week and could miss out in Marseille.
Paval Mamaev is in contention to replace the injured Denisov, but the Krasnodar midfielder says coach Slutsky has "not detailed for certain anything about central midfield."
Opta stats
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia and England have met twice - in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. England won at Wembley (3-0) whilst Russia won in Moscow (2-1).
England's last game against Russia/USSR at the Euros was in 1988. The Soviets were victors in the group stages (3-1). Their only previous encounter in the tournament was in 1968, which England won 2-0 (third-place final).
Meanwhile, England are taking part in their ninth European Championship finals. They didn't qualify the last time the tournament was held in France (1984).
The Three Lions have never made it past the semi-finals at the Euros. They finished third in 1968 and were knocked out in the semis by Germany in 1996. England have been knocked out on penalties in three of their last four Euros (1996, 2004, 2012).
USSR included, this is Russia's 11th European Championship finals, the second most after Germany (12).
As the Soviet Union, they won the first ever European Championships in 1960. They beat Yugoslavia 2-1 after extra-time in the final. They have lost their subsequent three Euro finals: 1964, 1972 and 1988.
Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Russia in 2007
Russia have only kept two clean sheets in their last 15 games at the European Championships (v Greece & Sweden in June 2008).
Dzyuba was directly involved in 50% of Russia's goals in the qualifying campaign, scoring eight and assisting one of Russia's 18 goals. Only Gareth Bale (82%) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (58%) had a bigger impact on their team's goals among the 24 qualified nations.
Paul Merson's prediction
Which England team are going to turn up? The one that played against Portugal? That was a shockingly terrible performance. Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane played full-backs, England never kept the ball and they were set up all wrong. It was unreal. I'm going to be patriotic and back England to win, but they've got to improve.
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