The Euros kick off in France tonight and my big hope for them is they’re entertaining.
My fear is they might not be.
I can’t work out why because, on paper, it would seem there are all the ingredients for a goal-fest.
With great attacking talent like Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Muller, Dimitri Payet, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney and many others involved, there is every reason to believe the games can be a joy to watch.
On top of that, the dearth of good central defenders in world football — look at the players England will be using in that department — should mean chances flow.
I just have a nagging suspicion the managers might spoil that. I fear too many of them will adopt a cautious approach, leading to tight games with few goals.
For me, most guilty on that score is likely to by Roy Hodgson.
Apart from the obvious — he is England boss after all — I have nothing against Roy.
He’s etched out a fine career in management at some big clubs and now a big country.
Very often, though, he’s arrived at teams when they’ve been in crisis.
He’s a safe pair of hands who’s steadied the ship.
But an inspirational figure with a liking for taking risks, he isn’t.
Yes, he’s talked the talk this time and loaded his squad with players who like to go forward.
But, in the pre-tournament friendlies, he’s given the likes of Kane and Jamie Vardy more defensive duties than they’re used to.
And I worry that, when faced with some of the attacking talent I’ve already mentioned, the bosses of other countries might adopt an ultra- cautious approach.
Hopefully I’m wrong and, when it comes to how tournaments unfold, it wouldn’t be the first time.
If I am, I’ll be delighted.
This looks an open tournament, so, for me, the battle plan should be for teams to have a real go.
That way we might get a few surprises and some exciting games.
If we do, it might even rub off on Scotland coach Gordon Strachan.
Imagine if he went with two strikers for the World Cup qualifiers.
Now I’m just being silly!
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