Didi Hamann reckons that it's harder to win the Euros than the World Cup but that the Republic of Ireland have a decent chance of getting out of their group.
Martin O'Neill's side face Sweden in Paris on 13 June followed by games against Belgium and Italy in Group E. The expanded 24-team format means four of the six third-placed sides will make the round of 16 however.
“In a way, it’s a harder competition to win," the former German international told RTÉ Sport. "You’ve got the top European teams there whereas some of them don’t get to the World Cup because there are only so many spots.
“The World Cup in recent years has been Europe plus Argentina and Brazil (in contention), maybe sometimes Uruguay, so it’s a competition that’s as hard to win as the World Cup.
“In the World Cup you have one or two games in the group stages where you know you’re going to be alright and you ease your way into the tournament.
“In the Euros there are no easy games, especially when you look at Ireland’s group.”
Despite the pedigree of their opposition, Hamann thinks that some impressive results in qualifying, including taking four points from the World champions, should mean Ireland go into the championships in confident mood.
“They’ve shown tremendous character and team spirit," he said. "They finished third from an unpromising position because Scotland were in pole position.
“The game against Germany should have given them huge confidence and then they got the worst possible draw in the play-offs against Bosnia but came through with flying colours.
“If they build on that togetherness and spirit they showed, then I think it’s possible to get out of the group.
“Obviously, that first game against Sweden will be crucial."
Hamann pinpoints Everton's centre-midfielder James McCarthy as one of the men whose performance will be key to Ireland's fortunes.
“I think it’s time for James McCarthy to stand up and really lead that team," he said of the 25-year-old.
“He’s the player in the middle of the park, who should lead the line and dictate the pace of the game.
“There has been criticism that he doesn’t do it for Ireland as much as he does for Everton but I think he’s been playing a lot better lately for Ireland and I expect a lot of him in this tournament.”
Northern Ireland were hugely impressive in qualifying, winning their group on the way to reaching a major international tournament for the first time since 1986. They face Hamann's native Germany, Poland and Ukraine in Group C.
Hamann suggests their success, and that of surprise Premier League winners Leicester, should inspire belief that the old order can be upstaged at the championships.
“It’s unbelievable what Michael (O'Neill) has done with that team in a short space of time, going to Hungary and Greece and winning," he said. “They’ve been a breath of fresh air. (Kyle) Lafferty has scored a lot of goals and been their talisman.
“It’ll be a tough ask to threaten Germany, even though they have a few players out, but we’ve seen what Leicester did in the Premier League.
“If you can do it over 38 games for a whole season why not do it over six or seven games in a tournament?
“Maybe that fear factor has gone a little bit. If you look at the last two tournaments and the results in qualifying, I think the gap has become smaller between the top teams and the rest.
"Austria are one team to look out for, they could be one of the dark horses"
"A lot the so-called smaller countries’ players play in big leagues now and with the fitness and the science being so advanced, it gets harder and harder to break teams down.
“I think we’ll see at least one or two nations in the semi-final that we didn’t expect there.
“Austria are one team to look out for, they have a very talented squad, and a lot of players playing in Germany. They could be one of the dark horses."
With regard to the more traditional contenders, Hamann suggests the possibility of a third consecutive title win for Spain, who have left Diego Costa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata out of their squad.
“The ones not many people are talking about at the moment are Spain," he said. "They have some very good players coming through again and some of the old stalwarts are still there. They are the one team I’d be interested in at the moment.
“The Germans have quite a few players out so I’m not sure they can repeat what they did in Brazil.
“France always find a way of beating themselves; there’s always something going on with them. But they are a very capable side.
“England have a young, exciting bunch. The big question is what Roy Hodgson is going to do with Wayne Rooney. The way Harry Kane and Dele Alli are going, they should be starting. I probably wouldn’t have Rooney in my starting XI.
“I always felt with England in recent years that they picked the best players rather than the best team, hence they failed in most tournaments.”
Didi Hamann will appear at 2FM’s 'Game On Live with Three' roadshow series over the next month along with presenter Hugh Cahill, RTÉ Sport’s Darragh Maloney, Eamon Dunphy, Ireland legend Ray Houghton, and special surprise guests.
The experience will include live shows at three venues in Cork, Galway and Dublin, and will give fans the opportunity to attend live events including expert panel discussions focusing on the upcoming UEFA Euro 2016.
The first show will kick-off in Cork City Hall on Monday, 30 May, the evening before the Republic of Ireland’s final friendly before the tournament, against Belarus. The second event will take place in Galway on Thursday, 2 June in the Galway Town Hall Theatre, and the third show will take place the day the Irish team leaves for France on Wednesday 8th June in the Aviva Stadium.
To be in with a chance to win tickets to live shows for you and three of your friends, visit Three.ie/plus and tune into 2fm’s Game On and 2FM shows.
