Hopes were not high heading into Euro 1996 - despite England hosting a tournament for the first time since the 1966 World Cup.

The Three Lions went into the competition on the back of being slated in the tabloids for the 'Dentist's Chair' boozing episode on a pre-tournament trip to the Far East.

A dour opening-day draw with Switzerland did little to lighten the mood and England were toiling against Scotland too - but David Seaman's penalty save and Paul Gascoigne's unforgettable goal soon after proved the turning points.

Holland were hammered next and Spain beaten on penalties - only for England's shootout luck to run out in the semis against, of course, Germany.

Image source, Getty Images

Away from the Euros for a moment and some big news involving England women's goalkeeper Mary Earps.

BBC Sport understands that Earps is set to join Paris Saint-Germain.

She has been in talks for a while but was also negotiating a potential contract extension with Manchester United.

It is understood she has decided to join PSG on a free transfer, with her current deal due to expire this month.

Image source, Getty Images

England's start back in 2006 - in another tournament held in Germany - was spookily similar to this year's efforts. Results-wise they did all right but performances? It's fair to say they left something to be desired.

After edging past Paraguay with an early own goal, England were being held 0-0 by tournament debutants Trinidad & Tobago after 83 minutes - until Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch ended the minnows' resistance.

Our report from the time said: "It had looked like being a major embarrassment for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, with his team short on ideas and confidence," and "early promise soon turned into increasing frustration as passes were misplaced with alarming regularity". Sound familiar?

But the Three Lions still reached the quarter-finals, exiting on penalties to Portugal, despite that fairly mediocre opening.

Image source, Getty Images

It needed a stoppage-time Harry Kane header to help England avoid the ignominy of dropping points against underdogs Tunisia in the opening game of the 2018 World Cup in Russia six years ago.

Remember the relief?

Granted, England did thrash minnows Panama in game two but finished second in the group behind Belgium - albeit with conspiracy theorists suggesting they did so on purpose to bag an easier route in the knockout stages.

If that was the plan, it worked a treat - not only did the Three Lions put their penalty shootout hoodoo behind them in beating Colombia in the last 16, they then beat Sweden to secure a first major tournament semi-final in 22 years before losing out to Croatia.

Image source, Getty Images

The Three Lions might have topped their group in the Covid-delayed 2020 European Championships - actually played the following summer in 2021 - but it was hardly eye-popping stuff.

They scored just two goals in their three group games - edging to 1-0 wins over both Croatia and Czech Republic with a 0-0 against Scotland in between.

But near-glory followed as Germany were beaten 2-0, Ukraine thrashed 4-0 and Denmark dispatched 2-1 in extra time as England reached a major tournament final for only the second time in their history.

Image source, Getty Images

Looking for crumbs of comfort after England's fairly ordinary start to Euro 2024?

Well, look no further. Don't they always begin slowly?

We've collated a few examples to prove the point that brighter things come to those who wait...

Cologne Stadium is looking majestic, bathing in the late afternoon sun.

That puts me in the mood for more England build-up.

Shall we?

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Remember, you can follow every match on BBC Radio 5 Live - click on this link to catch the build-up.

You can also get all the reaction to Monday's games via this link to the latest edition of Football Daily at the Euros.

And, because we like to spoil you, there is a bonus episode of Football Daily today featuring an in-depth interview with former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard, who has plenty of interesting insights into life in an England camp.

As we've alluded to at certain points in today's live text, if the group positions stay the way they are, Austria will be England's last-16 opponents.

Austria's former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has urged his side to get the result they need against the Netherlands to avoid the "complicated" scenario from finishing third.

The Austrians will guarantee one of the top two spots in Group D if they beat the Dutch. A draw or defeat, however, means they will likely finish third.

"I prefer to finish first but we have to win and France not to, and it's not very likely for both of those things to happen," Rangnick said.

"I would take second place, third place is too complicated, I looked at it but I gave up because it's too complicated. The main goal is to get to the last 16 and then after the last few games we'll see."

Image source, Getty Images

Like France's situation with Kylian Mbappe, Poland have also been without their star striker, with Robert Lewandowski on the bench for their first two group matches because of a thigh injury.

The Barcelona forward, who came on with half an hour to go against Austria, starts against France.

After seeing his side eliminated from the tournament after defeats by the Netherlands and Austria, the 35-year-old is hoping for an improved performance in Dortmund.

"I hope we will play our best match of the tournament," Lewandowski said. "Although we have only pride to play for, I hope we will play good football, create opportunities and score goals.

"We know we cannot fall apart even if things get tough. We need to have a plan and stick to it from start to finish regardless of the outcome."

Image source, Getty Images

It is not all orange in Berlin.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

France XI: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Tchouameni, Kante, Rabiot, Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe

Subs: Areola, Thuram, Camavinga, Clauss, Coman, Fofana, Giroud, Kolo Muani, Konate, Mendy, Pavard, Samba, Zaire-Emery, Griezmann.

Poland XI: Skorupski, Kiwior, Dawidowicz, Bednarek, Zalewski, Moder, Zielinski, Frankowski, S. Szymanski, Lewandowski, Urbanski

Subs: Bereszynski, Bulka, Grosicki, Piątek, Piotrowski, Puchacz, Romanczuk, Salamon, Skoras, Szymanski, Walukiewicz, Swiderski, Buksa, Slisz.

Follow the live text for that game here.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has been named to start against Poland.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

France boss Didier Deschamps says Kylian Mbappe is getting "better every day" before their final Group D game against already-eliminated Poland.

Mbappe suffered a broken nose in the opening win over Austria and sat on the bench for the goalless draw with the Netherlands.

The striker, who will join Real Madrid on 1 July, did not require an operation but will need to wear a protective mask when he returns to the starting XI.

"He is doing better today than yesterday and the day before that. That is obvious because he has been training," said Deschamps.

"The bruising has come down and he is getting used to the mask. He is as eager to play as he was eager to play against the Netherlands.

"He does not find that the mask limits him but it does restrict his vision a little. He needs to get used to it, even though the technology nowadays allows these masks to be as thin as possible."

France's place in the last 16 was confirmed on Monday after Spain beat Albania and Deschamps' side will top Group D if they win and the Netherlands do not.

Just to confirm Gary wasn't lying....

There is indeed a double decker bus in the streets of Berlin.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

I arrived in Berlin at lunchtime from Leipzig to cover the crunch Group D game between the Netherlands and Austria, which kicks off in just over an hour.

It was quite interesting coming out of the train station and seeing fans of both teams dotted around, some taking advantage of the glorious weather for a pre-match gentle boat ride.

Image source, Getty Images

But then as you start to get closer to Olympiastadion, which is about six miles away, it all starts to get a bit more colourful and crazy.

I came across Austrian supporters walking to the ground in huge numbers, and when I got to the stadium itself, the huge Dutch fan walk, including a double decker bus, had just arrived.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

It has all made for a fantastic atmosphere in the capital, ahead of what is a big game to determine who finishes where in the group.

The Netherlands are through regardless, but will want to finish top of the group ahead of France. Austria, meanwhile, will be eyeing one of the top two places to avoid what boss Ralf Rangnick called "complicated" best third-place route.

Of course, before the Group C games at 20:00 BST, we've got the Group D finale to focus on.

The Netherlands and France are already assured of progression - while Austria are almost certainly through too, barring a heavy defeat by the Dutch and results in other groups going against them.

Poland cannot finish anywhere other than bottom, having been beaten in both of their opening two games and losing the head-to-head to Austria.

But the other three teams can finish anywhere from first to third - the sides in first and second will face runners-up from other groups in the last 16 but the team in third will be pitted against a group winner.

...Austria.

Yes, this helpful graphic from the Football Meets Data account, external on X, shows the likelihood of all the permutations of last-16 meetings.

Should they win their group, England have a 24% chance of meeting Ralf Rangnick's team next.

There's a 20% chance of facing Turkey and, worryingly, an 18% possibility - almost one-in-five chance - that they will finish second in the group and end up meeting hosts Germany in the last 16.

Image source, X

If England fail to beat Slovenia tonight and finish second in Group C, they will definitely face Germany on Saturday - just as they did in the last 16 at Euro 2020 but with the host nation roles reversed.

Of course, should England lose this evening, there is the chance they could finish third.

In which case they will face Portugal or the winner of Group E (currently Romania, but could be Belgium, Slovakia or Ukraine).

None of these prospects seem particularly appealing - making victory tonight all the more important.

Image source, Getty Images

We know that England are definitely through to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after Spain's victory over Albania on Monday night.

If the group positions stay as they are, then Gareth Southgate's side will face a tricky last-16 assignment against an Austria team who have beaten Poland 3-1 and given France a run for their money too.

As it stands, the last-16 line-up would be as below:

• Spain v Slovakia
• Germany v Denmark
• Portugal v Hungary

• France v Belgium
• Romania v Slovenia
• Netherlands v Turkey
• England v Austria
• Switzerland v Italy - confirmed

Which could mean England might face a rematch of the Euro 2020 final against Italy in the last eight...