Pre-Match Preview:EURO 2012 England vs France

Roy Hodgson is likely to use a very tight defensive formation and a bit of  English "muscle" to get through this match. This is indeed a very tough opener for Three Lions at EURO 2012, as France was having a top-notch performance during the qualification and friendly matches, while England was dampened with injuries and less-than stellar performance during their preparation for EURO.

The big question mark for England is who will be the replacement for Rooney? Andy Carroll or Danny Welbeck? Whatever choice Roy Hodgson might have, the fact remains the Rooney is important to the way England plays, as he's the type of striker who can drop back deeper towards midfield.

It's likely that England will go for 4-4-2 formation with Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker in the middle. The likelihood is that England will concede a lot of ball possession to France and wait for their chance. This will requires a lot of discipline and patience from Hodgson's squad tonight. Grabbing a draw will not be a bad result for England

France had a worse World Cup 2012 compared to England. The arrival of Laurent Blanc, however, has changed everything. They have built a very strong qualification campaign, turned out some big performances. Franck Ribery and Samir Narsi will ensure that they have tremendous amount of creativity going on. Les Bleus, in the expert's eyes, have taken over the role as favorite to win this match. The goal-scoring responsibility will be rested upon Benzema's shoulder.

Betting tips: We agree that France has a better chance of winning this game, provided that they can convert their chances. If England holds tight, this game might end up a "No Goal" match. Our prediction: 0-0.