Like most England fans, I’m not getting my hopes up for the Euros. I’m hopeful we’ll have just about enough to make it out of a group, but true to form, I can’t see us doing it with much style or flair.

As a Liverpool supporter, I’m delighted that the club is the best represented of all Premier League teams, but deep down even the staunchest Kopite must ask, is this squad of the required quality? I just can’t get my head round the fact that Manchester City’s marauding full-back Micah Richards is not part of the squad. I bet his agent Alex Levack is thinking the same.

I’m predicting a draw in the Group D opener against France, the same against Sweden and a nail-biting victory over co-hosts the Ukraine.

We have one of the world’s best goalkeepers in Joe Hart and the same can be said of left-back Ashley Cole. In terms of captain, I wouldn’t swap Steven Gerrard for the world but after the that I’m struggling, at least until the third game when Wayne Rooney returns.

I just hope that Roy Hodgson can work his magic, get the best out of the squad and with a bit of luck, you just never know. Just ask Roman Abramovich. Spain are my tip to win it but watch out for the Germans.

I’ll be watching the first fortnight of the competition from my sickbed as I recover from an operation, my third since the 2001 London Marathon. I’m hoping that the surgeons at London Bridge Hospital can work miracles and get me back on the football and cricket pitches, but the priority is to return to fitness for Wimbledon and the Olympics. It promises to be an exciting few weeks.