France marched to glory on home soil at the 1984 European Championship and 1998 World Cup, and a richly gifted squad means Didier Deschamps' side appear well-placed to repeat the trick at Euro 2016.
Even allowing for the conspicuous absence of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema due to his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to blackmail international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena – another absentee – the depth of quality at Deschamps' disposal is arguably the envy of the tournament.
Antoine Griezmann is coming off a career-best season with Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud's scoring record continues to confound doubts over his capabilities for club and country, while in Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman, Deschamps can call upon two of European football's most enthralling young livewires.
Should such players arrive for the tournament opener against Romania at the Stade de France on Friday in prime form, some of the toxic fallout from Benzema's omission may begin to dissipate.
Paul Pogba is the powerhouse fulcrum of a midfield buoyed by N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet's unexpectedly dazzling seasons for Premier League champions Leicester City and West Ham respectively, while a robust and experienced defence leaves the hosts well set.
However, they will kick-off in a capital far removed from the city enraptured by Aime Jacquet's heroes of 1998 – the "Black-Blanc-Beur" side that embodied the multi-cultural ideal of one-nation harmony in the sweet afterglow of victory.
Spain's pursuit of a remarkable third-straight title is almost an untold story of the build-up, such was the way the nation that won its previous three major tournaments crashed and burned at the 2014 World Cup.
Germany's reign as world champions has not been as magisterial as expected - the retirement of their excellent captain Philipp Lahm preceding moments of uncertainty in a qualifying campaign that featured defeats to Poland and the Republic of Ireland.
If Belgium's exceptional squad can put major tournament success to their fine individual CVs they will merit being mentioned in such rarefied company, and Marc Wilmots' men should have the edge over Italy in the Group E.
The damaging loss of influential midfielders Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio means Antonio Conte will probably helm "hopefuls" rather than "contenders" on his international farewell.
UEFA's expanded 24-team format has helped all of the continent's major superstars to be present and correct.
Cristiano Ronaldo will once again carry Portugal's hopes upon the sculpted shoulders he parades so liberally, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is keen to ensure Sweden benefit from one more mesmeric demonstration of his abilities on French soil, following his glittering farewell at Paris Saint-Germain.
Wayne Rooney captains England in a group featuring Gareth Bale and Wales – the principality turning out at a major tournament for the first time since 1958.
But, while Roy Hodgson's Three Lions are flushed with an exciting crop of youngsters, debates from the England camp to pubs and bars via newspapers over how best to fit the Manchester United star into the side are in danger of dominating, as they did during a dreadful World Cup bid in Brazil.
Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland and Slovakia join Wales as tournament first-timers, although it is likely to be more familiar names dousing themselves in champagne at Saint-Denis on July 10 – the final act of what Paris and France will hope serves as a timely month of liberte, egalite and fraternite.
