Can England actually win Euro 2012??

With the start of the European Championships under a week away you may be forgiven for wondering where the usual over-the-top hype has gone?

Even in this Jubilee Year there has been a distinct lack of flags flying from car windows and chest-beating from the tabloid press. In fact I cannot recall such a low-key build up to a major tournament but I, for one, am actually quite excited about it.

Perhaps it is this lack of expectation. Come on admit it, who seriously expects us to go much beyond the group stage? Well read on and you may change your mind...

I am actually feeling surprisingly upbeat about our chances. This is unusual for me as I am normally the most pessimistic of England fans. Even when we are 3-0 up I still expect us to lose, but it is different this time. Yes, Roy Hodgson has been thrown in at the deep end with very little time to prepare his squad, and the players at his disposal do not exactly fill you with confidence, but I really believe we could cause a surprise or two.

Roy Hodgson. Will he still be smiling on July 1st?

Too much has been made of the his squad choice, but the fact is he has selected the best of a very average bunch. With the exception of Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the opening two matches anyway, we have a distinct lack any World class players. Yes, Joe Hart is a decent enough goalkeeper, Ashley Cole is still a quality left back and Steven Gerrard is a driving force in midfield, but other than that what have we got?

You can argue all day that Michael Carrick should have been picked ahead of Gareth Barry, or Adam Johnson should have got the nod over Jordan Henderson, but it would simply have been one average player replacing another.

No, the key to our hope of success lies with Hodgson. He may not have been first choice among the fans or the media, but he has always been tactically switched on, his sides are well organised, hard-working and tough to beat. The very definition of tournament success, in fact.

His Fulham side, which reached the final of the Europa League in 2010, showed that good organisation and hard work can overcome the more technically gifted sides, and he does seem able to get the best from average players. Surely an essential quality as manager of this England squad?

Yes, we have a difficult group, with France, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine, but if we can reach the knock-out stage I believe we will come into our own. We may lack the flair of sides like Spain, Germany and France but the Euros has often given us a surprise winner. Denmark in 1992 for example, or Greece in 2004, both of whom were capable of grinding out 1-0 results. But do I really believe we are capable of repeating such success? Well yes actually, I do.

No one will relish facing us in the knock-out stages and we are more than capable of nicking a goal. Three of our first choice back four play together at Chelsea so will already have a natural understanding, while we have pace in the form of Theo Walcott and Ashley Young, something that is vital for international success. Plus of course, we have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a secret weapon. But more importantly than that, we have a coach who understands the complexities of international football.

The Ox. About to announce himself on the World stage?

I also feel the injuries which have caused Barry and Frank Lampard to withdraw from the squad, have actually helped us. The long running question over whether Lampard and Gerrard can play together will be made redundant, while the one-paced Barry, who was favourite to step in, would have only held us back. Maybe the stage is now set for Oxlade-Chamberlain or Scott Parker to really take the tournament by storm?

The lack of expectation will also help. Previous tournaments have seen the players weighed down by the hopes of the Nation but this time that will not be the case. It also helps that we face France first. How? Well they have a history of starting slowly in tournaments so it could be the best time to play them. Also, should we lose, it will lower expectations even further so we can relax, grow into the tournament and then welcome Rooney back into the side. After that? Well who knows??

Wayne Rooney, ready to be unleashed in the knock-out stage

Come on admit it, you think it's possible now too don't you??