Tuesday 14 June 2016 15:48, UK
Sky Sports News HQ's England crew have been in their picturesque Chantilly base since Sunday, and have been looking at the issues that really matter...
At England's team hotel - L'Auberge du Jeu de Paume - SSNHQ has been asking: what formation will Roy Hodgson go with? Can Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy all start together?
But while the channel and online have been reporting all the build-up to England's campaign, there have been important questions behind the camera during the crew's downtime, like 'what's for dessert in the England media centre?'
For a few days now you'll have all seen our reporters Nick Collins and Andy Burton reporting live from the England camp, but during the Euros I'll be bringing you the news from behind the camera and letting you in on some trade secrets that go into the process of getting broadcasts to air.
It's not all about dessert obviously, but when you're live from 6am until 10pm, it's the little pick-me-ups that make all the difference. After all, we're based in the home of Chantilly cream, so it's our responsibility to bring the viewers an authentic experience!
Hodgson and England chose Chantilly partly for its relaxed atmosphere and safe environment. Players and coaches have been seen wandering around the quaint little streets and enjoying a coffee; Jamie Vardy was even snapped buying a board game.
As England have become acquainted with stopping for a coffee, so too have many of the gathered media here. L'Etrier cafe on the opposite corner to the England hotel is doing a roaring trade, as photographers wait to see if any of the team pop out and wander past them.
Such is the relaxed atmosphere in the squad, Hodgson even joked with the gathered media that he did not have any notes with him for them to photograph, after his assistant Ray Lewington had his paperwork snapped earlier in the week.
For the SSNHQ crew, this first week has also been about acclimatising to French culture. My GCSE French has come back to me in dribs and drabs, so much so that I've been able to teach cameraman Ben how to say "white coffee, thank you very much."
His Essex accent saying "merci beaucoup" has a touch of Delboy about it, but at least we're making the effort!
I'm often asked what a TV producer actually does and I would essentially describe it as being the 'crew mum'. It also involves a lot of standing in fields at 7am, holding reflectors to keep the sun off Nick Collins' face.
In return for teaching Ben basic French, he attempted to teach me how to fold away the reflector...I'm still learning but will make it my aim for the end of the trip.
SSNHQ's 'Team England' are still searching for their crew mascot for the Euros, but for the England team themselves they have their trusty lions, as seen with Chris Smalling and John Stones.
Nick Collins brought you the story of the lions live from Chantilly, but the tale could have been a bit different, as a slip of the tongue inadvertently meant that we now refer to the cuddly toy as 'the bear.' Despite Nick correcting himself on air, the alternative name of 'the bear' has stuck with us!
A SSNHQ mascot would only add to the kit that we have to carry around Chantilly racecourse from our hotel to where England are staying though. It has been commented that I'm a human game of Buckaroo, loaded with bags and camera equipment. The longer England stay in the tournament, the better my chances of me working off the French bread and cheese though!
Au revoir for now...
