It's finally here. Countless qualifiers have been played and four years have passed since the trophy was last lifted, but the European Championships finally return today. It's time to paint your face and wave that flag.

But which flag will you be waving? Scotland are the only Home Nation not in France this summer, with Gordon Strachan's side failing to qualify for the tournament. England, Northern Ireland and Wales are there though, with the cream of the European football crop also making it.

There will be goals, there will be drama and at the end of it all there will be a winner, with the final taking place at the Stade de France in Paris on July 10. There are still 51 games (4590 minutes in total, plus extra-time) to be played before we get there, though.

So who will shine in France? How will the groups unfold and who will make themselves a superstar over the next month? You can watch Euro 2016 on STV - here is your ultimate preview.

It's 20 years since Scotland last qualified for the European Championships, with Euro 96 considered halcyon days in the history of the tournament. The STV Sport team took the time out to recall their memories of Scotland's last Euros appearance.

Aberdeen and Northern Ireland's Niall McGinn as well as Inverness and Wales shot-stopper Owain Fon Williams also spoke to STV about what the European Championships mean to them and how much they are looking forward to spending their summer in France.

McGinn's Northern Ireland side kick off their European Championship campaign against Poland on Sunday, with Wales and Fon Williams kicking off against Slovakia on Saturday. The Home Nations will be far from home this summer.

18 years have passed since France last hosted a major tournament - the 1998 World Cup. That was the last time Scotland qualified for a major competition and so it's only right that such nostalgia is recalled. Ah, the good ol' days.

This summer will mark the first time that the European Championships will have included 24 teams following the adoption of an expanded format. As a result an additional knockout stage has been incorporated, which means more games. That can only be a good thing for the neutral fan!

But will the tournament become subsequently over-saturated? Will the quality suffer, with too many teams admitted through qualifying? Only eight from 24 teams will fail to make the knockout rounds, so is there a chance that the group stages will feel somewhat tame as a competitive spectacle?

The expanded format means that these European Championships will be the most diverse in the competition's history, with more fans from more countries across the continent travelling to France for the summer. Will more teams equate to more entertainment?

Whilst some nations are happy just to have qualified for the tournament, others have their sights set on loftier targets. Some countries have already started plotting their route to the Paris final on July 10.

Spain arrive in France as defending European champions, winning Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, but Vicente Del Bosque's side have a point to prove following their dismal showing at the World Cup two years ago.

As reigning world champions Germany are expected to make a run deep into the tournament, but Joachim Loew's side were less than impressive in qualifying and have had to replace a number of key figures since tasting glory in Brazil. Questions have been asked of them too.

And so hosts France have taken on the role of bookmakers' favourites to win this summer's European Championships. Didier Deschamps' side haven't played a competitive game in two years, but their squad looks to be the strongest, even after injuries to a number of key players.

Football, of the real life variety, wouldn't be the same without its fantasy counterpart to go alongside it. Euro 2016 will no different, particularly in Scotland where there is no horse in the race. Instead we'll cheer on a mythical team, counting goals and assists in points.

Then there are the strips in all their technicolour glory. Upon the qualification of national teams designers at sports apparel manufacturers get to work, drawing up the fashion to be worn at that major tournament. Now they get the chance to show off their hard work as the players strut their stuff.