Alan Shearer
Ex-England captain on BBC One

"I think the big question that needs to be answered is 'how do we get the best out of Wayne Rooney?' Don't be surprised if we see him going further back to spray midfield passes which will allow Dele Alli to get further forward in that number 10 role and link up with Harry Kane."

Image source, Getty Images

England failed to qualify for the 1984 tournament but were present in Germany in 1988, although many would argue they didn’t really turn up.

Drawn in a group with the USSR, Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland, England’s first game was against the latter, who were making their first appearance at a major tournament. Bobby Robson’s side were favourites to win but fell behind in just the sixth minute to Ray Houghton’s header and never recovered. Ireland were also indebted to goalkeeper Packie Bonner, who made a string saves to deny John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and Gary Lineker.

It wouldn’t get any better for England. They lost 3-1 to the Netherlands courtesy of a hat-trick from Marco van Basten (who would win the tournament for his side with THAT goal) and were then beaten 3-1 by the Soviet Union before departing West Germany with their tail between their legs.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Jamie Vardy does not make England's starting line-up - a bitter disappointment for the man who was an inspiration behind Leicester City's Premier League title win and currently the subject of a £20m bid from Arsenal.

Russia's defence may be glad not to be facing his pace from the start but there is still the opportunity for him to get involved as an impact substitute.

The big debate, as usual, surrounds Wayne Rooney and his sudden re-invention as an England midfield player. Inspired choice or a risky late switch in strategy from manager Roy Hodgson?

Not too many surprises in Roy Hodgson's pick for the opening Group B game against Russia.

At the back, Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker gets the nod ahead of Nathaniel Clyne, while Hodgson goes for an experienced centre-half pairing of Manchester United's Chris Smalling and Chelsea's Gary Cahill.

Captain Wayne Rooney is expected to play in a midfield three, with Liverpool's Adam Lallana and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling providing support further forward for striker Harry Kane.

Image source, #bbceuro2016

BBC Radio 5 Live

You can listen to BBC Radio 5 live build-up followed by coverage of the game, presented by Mark Chapman with Jermaine Jenas. It is on air now.

Commentary comes from Alan Green and John Murray with reporter Ian Dennis and former England winger Chris Waddle.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stade Velodrome, Marseille

England's players have been out inspecting the playing surface in Marseille's magnificent Stade Velodrome - from a distance it looks immaculate but a closer inspection last night revealed some rough patches in the penalty areas.

The road to France and Euro 2016 started for England on 8 September 2014 with a 2-0 win in Switzerland and now the work of ten qualifying wins must be put into practice on the major tournament stage against Russia.

Manager Roy Hodgson was in charge of a debacle at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 - what a difference a winning start here would make.

Wales return to the major international tournament stage with a win! And the way this competition is set up, that is a huge step towards a potential knock-out spot! 

They've waited 58 years for this. Party time!

For all the reaction, head here.

Image source, Getty Images

After missing the previous two Euros, an expansion of the tournament to eight teams helped England return to the fray in 1980, with the event again held in Italy.

There were high hopes for an England side managed by Ron Greenwood and containing Trevor Brooking, Ray Wilkins, 1978 and 1979 European footballer of the year, Kevin Keegan and a number of the Nottingham Forest team that had just won the European Cup. It was Wilkins who gave England the lead with a superb lob over Jean-Marie Pfaff. The lead only lasted three minutes, though, as Rene Vandereycken stabbed home from close range to make it 1-1, which is how the game would end.

Unfortunately, the game was marred by crowd problems, with the game being held up for five minutes after the Belgium goal as police fired tear gas into the stands.

England would then lose to Italy and beat Spain – not enough to send them through.

The England team is in. Here it is: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Rose; Alli, Dier, Rooney; Sterling, Kane, Lallana.

It is pretty much the team many people were suggesting. Looks like 4-3-3, with Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane the front three and Wayne Rooney in midfield. As expected, Jamie Vardy starts on the bench.

Thierry Henry
Former France International on BBC One

"I have a little worry because Wayne Rooney's position might become a problem. 

"You could see his energy in midfield for Manchester United in the FA Cup final and the semi-final. 

"But when you play against good players in midfield, he is going to run and cover the right-back or left-back but I also want Rooney to be efficient in the the last third. That’s where he can create and you don’t have a lot of creators in midfield."

Danny Murphy
Former England midfielder

"I think he's going to get back to 4-3-3 which makes it more balanced. Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill are Roy Hodgson's preferred choice at the back, I prefer John Stones. 

"The big talking point is Wayne Rooney back in midfield, with the flexibility of a two alongside him with Dele Alli bombing on. 

"Striker Harry Kane will start in his natural position with Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana either side. I think Rooney is clever enough when to take his rest. I think it's a great move and brave move from Hodgson."

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender

"I wouldn’t be too worried about the full-backs. It would be the centre-back area where there is a bit of uncertainty.

"Chris Smalling’s cemented his place as the number one choice and it’s about who is going to play with him. Gary Cahill, if you are going to go for experience then he is that guy but, me personally, I would go with John Stones.

"I’m looking at England for the future rather than for the now. Centre-back is the weakest part of our team because there is a form partnership.

"I like the way Stones plays – the footballing side of his game."

The ugly scenes in Marseille continue. News agency AFP are reporting that one England fan is in critical condition.

Image source, Getty Images

England’s first involvement in the European Championship finals was in Italy in 1968 – the third edition of the competition. Back then, just four sides competed in the finals, so Alf Ramsey’s World Cup holders went straight in to a semi-final with Yugoslavia.

All the action in Florence came in the last five minutes as Dragan Dzajic broke the deadlock in the 86th minute before Alan Mullery was sent off in the final minute. Rough, but it could have been worse. The Soviet Union lost to hosts Italy in the other semi-final by a coin toss. Ouch.

Goals from Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst gave England a 2-0 win over the Soviet Union in the third-place play-off, with Italy needing a replay to beat Yugoslavia in the final – 2-0 in Rome.

Image source, PA

England manager Roy Hodgson was planning to tell his players this morning about who would be starting against Russia tonight and he's "happy" with his team.

"It is not something that has suddenly been sprung upon us over the last few days, it is something which has been emerging certainly over the last six months," said Hodgson.

"It hasn't emerged over the last four years or even over two years but certainly over the last six months the team that I'll pick and the team I might pick in future games, they've been emerging and I feel very comfortable now I know what those players can do on the field and what they can do together."