Euro 2016 is all set to be a memorable one for more reasons than one. Not only does it have 24 teams, more than any previous European Championship but it will also have some remarkable stories like Austria, who have climbed nearly 100 places since their last Euro campaign in 2008 to be ranked 10th in the world.
While you probably did know about Austria's story, do you know Turkey's incredible Euro record? Or which team has the longest current unbeaten run of the sides playing in this year's tournament.
Trending
For all that and more, here are 7 interesting facts about the tournament that you may not know:
The battle to be the oldest player at a European Championship
The record for the oldest player to play in a European Championship game belongs to Germany's Lothar Matthaus who was 39 years and 91 days when he took part in Euro 2000. But with two 40-year-old first choice goalkeepers in Euro 2016, it is only a matter of time before that record is broken.
Hungary's first-choice goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly and Republic of Ireland's Shay Given are both 40 and are separated by just 19 days. With Ireland playing Sweden first, Given is likely to be the first 40-year-old to play in a European Championship. If he doesn't, Kiraly, who is 19 days older than Given will take it.
However, by the end of the tournament, it is fairly likely that Kiraly will have the record for being the oldest player in the tournament history unless Ireland make it to the final and Hungary crash out early or if the Hungarian shot-stopper gets injured.
Youngest and oldest squads
The youngest and the oldest squad in the current Euro belongs to two nations from the British Isles. Although both sides aren't expected to go too far in the tournament, they will both be hoping that their youthful exuberance and experience will help them get farther than many predict.
England not only became only the sixth nation to qualify for a European Championship having won every qualifier, but their squad is also the youngest of the lot in France. Thanks to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli, England squad's average age is just 25 years & 308 days.
On the other end of the spectrum are Republic of Ireland, who not only boast of three players - Robbie Keane (143), Shay Given (134) and John O'Shea (111) - with over 100 caps but also have an average age of 29 years & 297 days, the oldest in the tournament.
Will youth prevail or will experience count, we don't have long to wait to find out.
Can Turkey continue their incredible Euro record?
They say records are meant to be broken but if there is one man who will be hoping that isn't the case then it will be Turkey's coach Fatih Terim. The reason? Because he will be hoping that his side can upset all odds and continue their incredible European Championship record.
What is that incredible record you ask, it is that they have improved every time they have taken part in a European Championship. The first time that they qualified, in 1996, they failed to make it out of the group stage, conceding five goals and not scoring a single one as they lost all their group games.
In 2000, they went one better as they defeated the hosts, Belgium and eliminated them in the first round and qualified for the quarter-final, where they were beaten by Portugal. In 2008, they reached the semi-finals where a side depleted by injuries and suspensions lost to Germany.
So, 1996 Group Stage, 2000 Quarter-final, 2008 Semi-final, so 2016? If their trend continues they should reach the final. Simple maths, right?
Longest current unbeaten run of any side in Euro 2016
Northern Ireland may not be everyone's cup of tea as far as their footballing philosophy goes but when it comes to achievements, there can little doubt that they merit plenty of credit for what they have done.
Their mere participation in the tournament is an achievement in itself as they became the first fifth-seeded nation to top their European Championship qualifying group. Their first appearance in the tournament and their career-best ranking of 25, has been thanks to the impressive form of Kyle Lafferty up front and their solid defence.
In fact, they come into Euro 2016 as the team with the longest current unbeaten run of any side in the tournament. Having not lost even once in 11 games, they will be hoping to keep that run going and go far into the tournament.
No Bale, no Euro?
One of the main reasons why Wales are on the cusp of history is because of one man. Their entry into their first European Championship as the second-placed team in Group B just a couple of points behind Belgium is thanks to Gareth Bale.
The Real Madrid forward has been in stunning form not just for his club for but his country as well. In fact, it is fair to say that they wouldn't be anywhere near a European Championship if it wasn't for his goals and the stats prove that.
Bale scored seven of Wales' 11 goals in the qualifiers and that is a whopping 64 % of his country's goals, which is the highest percentage by a player from the qualified teams. Second on this list is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose 11 goals constituted 58% of his country's goals.
