The European Championships have officially started and this will be one of the most interesting tournaments in many years with clear favourites as well as dark horses hoping to be crowned ‘Kings of Europe’.While all of the groups are relatively close in terms of ability, it will take special players to do special things that will ultimately decide which teams continue on the road to glory and who falls by the wayside.In Group A, Poland would have to be the odds-on favourites to advance given the fact that they are playing at home and the crowd should be able to get them through, although they didn’t get the best of the starts yesterday, drawing with Greece.Russia and the Czech Republic might have been a toss-up as to who goes through but I would back the Russians especially after their 4-1 thrashing of the Czechs yesterday.The Czechs aren’t the same team that they were four or five years’ go.You can’t underestimate the Russians and this group should see they and Poland moving on.In Group B, the group of death, many have Holland and Germany going through but a lot depends on Portugal’s form. If they play to their potential then it is anyone’s guess.One of the two favourites in this group could very well win the competition.For all teams It is important to get a result in the first game and you can’t say who are favourites until the first round is finished. You can get a sense of which direction things are going.What’s important for all the teams in thie group stages is that they get out of the blocks quickly and don’t lose that’s key because if you get a win in the first game you can relax a little bit and look to get one more point which should send you through.Portugal could sneak a win from Germany today and that would really throw the cat among the pigeons, and the winners of this game could go on to win the group.Spain and Italy are the favourites to get out of Group C but it will be closer than expected because the Irish and Croatians can upset any team on their day.Italy aren’t playing their best football at the moment but when tournament time comes around they always rise to the occasion.The most intriguing group would be Group D. The English mentality is never say die and the French are looking to bounce back from World Cup 2010.Ukraine, being hosts, won’t be slouches either and the Swedes, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will be ready to beat anyone who takes them for granted.The key to the group is the way in which England’s younger players take to the tasks laid out in front of them, and if they can fill the void left by the injuries.With the likes of Frank Lampard, Gary Cahill and others missing, it will be interesting to see how they get along. Much is being made of their injury crisis but the team have to be focused and get results.The injuries may be a blessing in disguise for England because they have good young players and they need to get experience at this level.Players who are hungry for success will play harder than those who know they are in the team and will just go through the motions.The French aren’t really dark horses, they have so much ability and should do very well but again you have to have the right mentality to go out there and get the job done. And they haven’t done that in the past.Ability is one thing but you need heart and it will be interesting to see how the French react if they go down early.The Dutch have complained about racism during their training session in Poland and it’s sad to see this happening already.UEFA have to look closely at this and see that if this is a serious issue that they don’t give them any more tournaments.We all have a right to play the game and it’s just sad to see that this still exists and I hope UEFA and FIFA are looking at this situation seriously.