How do you think they will fair at Euro 2016 and how far do you think they can progress?

Wales should be happy with their group and will be bitterly disappointed if they don't get to the first knockout phase.

both Irish nations have it tough. If NI can get something from the Poland game then they could progress from the group. Rep Irelands group is a tough one to call. I can see any of the 4 winning it or finishing bottom.

The Republic and Wales are very solid and well organised and difficult to break down. They don't score many goals but they also concede very few and will be really competitive in their groups. I could see the Irish shock a much higher ranked team 1-0 : the Welsh could do the same.

Northern Ireland are a little weaker I suspect and are in a nightmare group but they do have superb team spirit and play like a club side.

Really don't know with Wales. I'd be surprised if they won the group but not with any other position, including 4th. You can certainly make a decent case for Slovakia, the outsiders of the group with the bookies to finish ahead of them for a start.

Slovakia out-qualified Ukraine. They beat Ukraine away and drew at home. Ukraine beat Wales 1-0 in March, albeit in a friendly. I know it's not as simple as team A beat team B, team B beat team C therefore team A will beat team C, but that's a form line and an angle in.

Another form line will created soon as Slovakia play Northern Ireland at home in their final friendly before the tournament next Saturday. Wales drew 1-1 at home with N. Ireland in a friendly in March.

Away from all that Slovakia beat Spain at home in the qualifiers. This year in friendlies they've beaten Iceland and Switzerland at home, and drawn away with the Republic of Ireland, all of whom have qualified for the tournament. They also beat Czech Republic, another team who have qualified in one last March. They're no slouches.

Wales' form doesn't look great since they beat Belgium about this time last year. A 1-1 in a friendly at home to N. Ireland who are expected to struggle in their group. They also got beat away to Ukraine as already mentioned and lost at home to the Dutch who didn't qualify. That might be red herring with Holland as they under-performed in the qualifiers.

In their last few qualifiers Wales "only" beat Andorra 2-0 at home, lost by the same scoreline away to Bosnia, drew 0-0 at home with Israel and narrowly won 1-0 in Cyprus. There's nothing particularly impressive about any of that.

Not even getting into Russia and England as this is too long already. Still, there's some decent reasons to think Slovakia, priced up as most likely to finish bottom of the group could finish above Wales.

I love Northern Ireland's spirit and belief and I can see them surprising a few by getting 4 points and a spot in the first knockout phase.

I think Wales might have a job to get out the group, they will need to beat either Slovakia or Russia as I believe they'll get turned over by England.

Rep Ireland's group is a very difficult one to call. You can never be quite sure what you're going to get with Italy or Belgium and the Swedes will always give you a tough game. 4 points should see you in the next round and the Republic are capable of getting that.

Republic around 12/1 to win their group. might be worth a flutter.

If you were having a small bet, then certainly. It should be interesting to see how this Irish side get on : they've improved leaps and bounds since drawing at home to Scotland last summer and seem to be still on the up.

Slovakia fire a warning shot to the Wales/England group with a 3-1 away win over Germany. Conditions were difficult with the pitch sopping wet and that might've been a bit of a leveller, but it's another good result for them.

I think I've got to officially disagree with the OP now about Wales being bitterly disappointed if they don't get out of the group. Well, I suppose they still might be, but I don't believe they should that feel that way if it happens. If they do go through I've a sneaky feeling it will be Russia who finish bottom but it's a really tough group to call.

Would be surprised if England finished bottom, Wales finished top, Slovakia finished bottom and nothing Russia does would surprise me. Anything else goes.

Keep a close eye on Slovakia. I was really impressed with them when they drew 2-2 with the Republic in Dublin in March and now they've followed that up with two 3-1 wins in the last few days including today's win over Germany. On this type of form, they could cause England and Wales all sorts of problems in the group especially as they've snuck into this tournament virtually unnoticed.

i fancy slovakia to be england's main challengers in group b...

...hope it's not the case but i reckon wales, n. ireland & the republic might struggle to get a win between them...

wales best chance will be against russia, n. ireland's against ukraine but they can be pretty good on their day... i can see the republic drawing all 3 of their fixtures.

Wales have announced their 23-man squad. Joe Ledley makes it.


Goalkeepers (3): Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams.

Defenders (7): Chris Gunter, James Chester, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor, James Collins, Jazz Richards.

Midfielders (8): Joe Allen, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey, Andy King, David Edwards, Jonny Williams, David Vaughan, George Williams.

Forwards (5): Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu, Sam Vokes, Simon Church, David Cotterill.

Republic of Ireland 23 has just been announced :

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cj0MpwBVAAEwKPe.jpg

Robbie Keane in despite carrying an injury : Bournemouth's Harry Arter ruled out with a thigh injury

It's going to be surreal to see Christie and Keogh defending at a big tournament considering they couldn't help keep us in the Championship not too long ago.

Keogh is in with a good shout of getting one of the centre back slots but I'd say Christie has no chance of displacing Seamus Coleman at right full.

Ireland will finish rock bottom of the group the international version of Stoke.

I have the feeling Wales peaked qualifying for the tournament. It is going to be tough to raise their game to reach the same level of performance. If they don't beat Slovakia in their first game then I can't see them doing much else in Group B.

I wouldn't be surprised if they beat England

Watching Slovakia vs Northern Ireland at the moment (0-0 at HT) and the North look fairly solid. Slovakia have been the better side but NI are well organised at least and do defend well.

12 games unbeaten

Good draw that for NI. Said it earlier in the thread but I do love their spirit and belief and I do believe that will see them in to the knockout phase.

They concede a lot of territory and possession and frequently play on the back foot but nonetheless they are hard to beat. They're well organised and defend well....I definitely see them picking up points in France and they could even shock someone 1-0.

Can't see any of the three progressing to the knockout stages.

I'd like to see Conor Washington start against Poland.

Slovakia is the D-day game for us get off the beach of that one and win it and who knows maybe we can take them down. England have played some unbelievably bad football in the past in this tournament.

GAWA supporter here and we do have cause to be optimistic - 12 games unbeaten, which is the longest run of any team in the Euros!

OK, we haven't played world-beaters in that time, but you can only beat who is put in front of you. I fancy us to get something against Ukraine. If we can keep Lewandowski quiet, the Poland game is a possibility as well - we beat them 3-1 only a few years ago.

I'm convinced you guys are going to shock someone and beat them in this group. Poland on Sunday would be as good as place as any to start