51 matches over four weeks of competition, but just one winner. One team will take glory in France this summer but one local school will also be crowned champions in the Echo’s predictions competitions. Six schools will take on each other and the Echo sports desk over the next four weeks, with each school assigned a group to predict and all predicting the knock-out matches.

But who will be the winner?

HOSTS France stand a good chance of going all the way in the tournament, but Switzerland will give them a run for their money in a tighter than expected Group A, so believe the youngsters at Great Berry Primary School.

Here is what Ronnie, Will, Abigail, Liam, Elisa, Sonny, Emma and Darcey had to say.

Echo reporter Luke: So, are France the overwhelming favourites in this group?

Ronnie: Definitely – they have (Paul) Pogba, (Antoine) Griezmann and Dimitri (Payet)!

Will: I don’t know, I think Switzerland might cause an upset.

Darcey and Abigail: Yeah, we think that might happen too.

Emma: Yeah, look at Leicester this season that was a big shock.

Will: And now we have to see Gary Lineker in his pants (on Match of the Day)!

(Everyone laughs) Luke: Back on topic, what about Romania and Albania?

Sonny: They won’t do anything. If they play each other it could be a Desmond.

Luke: A what?

Sonny: A Desmond Tutu (2-2)!

Elisa: Yeah, surely they aren’t as good as the other two.

Luke: Agreed, so which players are excited about watching? Do you think the Home Nations will do well?

Ronnie: Gareth Bale is going to be great.

Will: Bale is good. And Wales are better than the Republic of Ireland. They have Kieren Westwood in goal! Better than (Darren) Randolph though as he is shocking.

Liam: What about (Cristiano) Ronaldo? Portugal will be ones to watch I think.

Darcey: There will always be a surprise in the tournament so maybe Wales might surprise some people.

It has been 20 years since Gareth Southgate’s agonising penalty miss in Euro 96, so can England finally show the rest of the world what they are capable of in a major championship?

Group: No!

Ronnie: I think we will win!

Will: Jog on, there are much better teams than England. What about Spain or Germany?

Elisa: I think they will get to the quarter-finals maybe.

Abigail: I think they might find it more difficult in the group than people will expect. I think we should qualify though.

Liam: We have a lot of good players. Harry Kane up front will score goals and (Daniel) Sturridge is a good player.

Will: What about Vardy? Jamie Vardy is having a party!

The scoring: We have asked Great Berry Primary School, Whitmore Primary School, Hadleigh Junior School and William Read Primary School to join 2014 World Cup prediction winners Holt Farm Junior School and Rayleigh Primary School in this year’s competition as we bring Euro 2016 to south Essex.

Schools will be given three points for predicting the correct score line and one for the correct result. So who will come out on top this time?

GROUP A FRIDAY: France v Romania – GB 3-1, Echo 3-0

SATURDAY: Albania v Switzerland - GB 0-2, Echo 0-1

15/6: Romania v Switzerland - GB 1-2, Echo 1-1

15/6: France v Albania – GB 3-1, Echo 2-0

19/6: Romania v Albania – GB 2-1, Echo 1-0

19/6: Switzerland v France – GB 2-2, Echo 1-2