THE squad has been finalised, the players are excited and should be desperate to impress on a stage being watched around the world. Who will shine? Who will succeed? And who will fail?

Roy Hodgson has gambled. He has named one of the youngest squads ever deployed to a tournament by any England manager and with an average age of 25 it is the youngest ever taken to a European Championships.

But it is not that this pool of players lacks experience. Eighteen-year-old Marcus Rashford might be the exception, but even he has risen to every occasion he has found himself in so far. Hodgson is banking on him doing it again.

There are a number of international tournament rookies involved who are older than Rashford, like Jamie Vardy, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Dele Alli. How they react to the intensity of the occasion could determine how England fare.

What does Hodgson and his players need to get right over the next few weeks to avoid an embarrassing exit ahead of the group games with Russia, Wales and Slovakia?

THE WAYNE ROONEY CONUNDRUM

There have been huge calls for Rooney to be left out because of younger talents such as Tottenham’s talented Alli coming through.

But given the respect there is inside that England dressing room for Rooney, not to mention the incredible ability he still possesses even though he might not be as quick, he has to start against Russia.

And given how Hodgson will not leave his skipper out in such an important fixture in the group stage, the question is where he will play.

Hodgson seems most likely to play a 4-2-3-1 system. It would be a major gamble in his mind at this stage to play Rooney in a holding midfield role, and he should never be asked to operate out wide.

That leaves two roles left for him, either up front or behind the lone striker … meaning Alli or Harry Kane misses out in their preferred roles. Anything else at such a late stage would be an even bigger call and Hodgson can’t afford to get this one wrong.

THE WIDE BERTHS

Given the attacking riches England have in their squad going into these finals, who plays on the flanks will be crucial factors in how fluent the team is.

Rashford has been tried there, so too has Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and even Rooney. But are strikers really going to be the players Hodgson turns to in his bid to make England a Euro force this month?

Hodgson’s decision to leave out Newcastle’s Andros Townsend at the last minute has left him with just Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana as his recognised wingers.

With the five strikers all vying for one central role, it would seem more likely that the likes of Vardy, Rooney or Rashford would be asked to operate in a more supporting role either behind or wide of Kane/Sturridge; unless Hodgson surprisingly opted for a two striker system instead.

Fielding Sterling, Rooney/Alli and Vardy behind Kane (or Sturridge) would offer greater balance, but if Sterling is unable to improve on his dreadful form then there would be little point playing him at all.

THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

While the attacking quality in the England squad is worth getting excited about moving forward, the defence has far greater question marks hanging over it.

Far too often the backline has been exposed, particularly at the heart of it. In Kyle Walker, Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand, the full-back areas have players with pace possessing the capability to be dangerous on the attack.

All of them have slight concerns over their defensive strengths, but nothing quite like the worries which exist in the centre-back area.

And with Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling likely to be supported from the bench by just John Stones, then Hodgson and every England fan will be banking on that particular trio standing tall and proving their critics wrong.

Cahill and Smalling should be good enough players with plenty experience of Champions League and international football to form a formidable pairing. Then there’s Stones, the highly-rated Everton defender, who has managed to keep his place despite a poor campaign at Goodison Park.

Hodgson has the option of asking Tottenham midfielder Dier to slot into the middle of defence if injuries or suspensions kick in, but he will be banking on Smalling and Cahill showing why they are mainstays of the Manchester United and Chelsea defences.

THE SMELL OF TEAM SPIRIT

There are some big egos in this England squad, but nothing like previous tournaments. Big characters such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham have all disappeared and been replaced by players trying to hit the top consistently.

That could help, with the vast majority of this young squad hungry to show they deserve to be on the Euros stage and it will be about playing without fear when they pull on the Three Lions shirt with an expectant nation and media waiting to pounce.

The likes of Sturridge and Sterling – two of the more likeliest players to strop if things aren’t going their way – will have to stay tuned into the team ethos which Hodgson has been desperate to develop during his time in charge.

Rooney, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Cahill, Smalling and Joe Hart are the men Hodgson is looking to the most to keep the camp happy over the next month or so; if they can do that then this could be a finals worth remembering for England.