Danny Murphy’s Euro 2020 forecast: France’s attack makes them favourites

The excitement is building ahead of Euro 2020, but who will provide the tournament’s memorable moments.

Sportsmail’s expert Danny Murphy gives his predictions regarding who the winners will be, who will win the golden boot and how England will get on.

In addition, he outlines the players and matches to pay attention to. 

France’s attack of Mbappe, Benzema and Griezmann makes them tournament favourites

WHO WILL WIN THE GROUPS?

I can’t see anyone upsetting the big guns — Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Spain, France. The Group of Death looks closest but France are just a bit stronger than Germany and Portugal. 

WHO WILL WIN THE TOURNAMENT?

France showed at the last World Cup they can get over the line. Hard to find a weakness, strong defensively and a front three of Mbappe, Benzema and Griezmann. 

WHO ARE MY DARK HORSES? 

Denmark have been decent for a while and unbeaten in qualifying. Christian Eriksen is back in form and Andreas Christensen has established himself at Chelsea.

Denmark, who can call upon Christian Eriksen, could spring a surprise at Euro 2020

MY THREE PLAYERS TO SHINE

LEROY SANE (Germany)

I really liked Sane at Manchester City. He’s got over injury issues at Bayern Munich and finished the season strongly. Lightning quick and adds flair to the team. 

Leroy Sane finished the season well with Bayern Munich and will look to impress for Germany

KARIM BENZEMA (France)

He has incredible knowhow. Every Real Madrid manager has picked him, which tells you something. Makes France even stronger than three years ago. 

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has incredible knowhow – his return makes France stronger

GERARD MORENO (Spain)

The Villarreal striker has been a revelation at 29. He gets in great positions, which will benefit Spain hugely. 

A revelation for Villarreal, striker Gerard Moreno is determined to help Spain prevail

THREE GROUP GAMES NOT TO MISS

Spain v Sweden (8pm, June 14)

This is my first game for the BBC. Nobody bosses the ball better than Spain but Sweden are tough and improved from 2018 when they reached the World Cup quarter-finals. 

France v Germany (8pm, June 15)

A tremendous rivalry. I covered their World Cup quarter-final in 2014 and was taken with the intensity. It felt like a meeting of two powerhouses. 

England v Scotland (8pm, June 18)

This was the first international I saw at Wembley, travelling down as an 11-year-old kid on a coach from Chester to see Peter Beardsley score the winner. 

WHO WILL WIN THE GOLDEN BOOT?

To emulate Alan Shearer and win a European Championship Golden Boot to add to his World Cup one would confirm Harry Kane’s status as one of England’s great strikers. 

England’s Harry Kane will be looking to add another Golden Boot to his collection this summer

WHO WILL BE THE PLAYER OF TOURNAMENT?

It’s almost too obvious because N’Golo Kante is so ridiculously good but every other team in the tournament would wish they had him in their team. 

After excelling in the Champions League final, N’Golo Kante could now star at Euro 2020 

WHO DO I FEAR FOR?

Wales are in a really tough group with Italy, Switzerland and Turkey and it will be hard to qualify. Losing their manager Ryan Giggs won’t have helped and big players in Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey aren’t going into the tournament at the same levels they were at Euro 2016. 

Wales could struggle especially with concerns over the sharpness of Aaron Ramsey

WHERE WILL ENGLAND FINISH?

Semi-finals. With the talent Gareth Southgate has to choose from, you can see England going deep. But to reach the final every single player would have to be fantastic. 

Gareth Southgate’s England can reach the semi-finals but will be aiming to go even further

WHAT I’M HOPING FOR

Euro 2020 should be a delight, with fans creating a carnival feeling. At the end of games, we want to be talking about a brilliant piece of magic or stunning goal, not a refereeing decision that swung the game. We want it to be like the last World Cup, in fact.