The contentious Euro 2000 clash between England and Germany will not be moved from Charleroi despite the rising protests.

Both sets of supporters have poor reputations and with tension increasing in the build-up to the June 17th clash, politicians and sporting figures have urged UEFA to move the game.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter entered the debate yesterday when he indicated that the Belgian authorities would be looking at the matter closely. However a UEFA spokesman yesterday confirmed that there is no chance of the game being moved at such short notice.

Rinus Michels, the man who led Holland to the European Championship in 1988, believes they can triumph again this summer and current coach Frank Rijkaard concurs. "We can win the tournament if the spirit is right - if the tactics are right and the motivation is okay." Gheorghe Hagi's fitness is in question just a week before Romania's opening Euro 2000 match against Germany. The influential midfielder missed his side's victory against Greece at the weekend.

Henrik Larsson has played himself into contention for a starting place in the Swedish team for Saturday's Euro 2000 opener against Belgium. The Celtic star needed just 25 minutes off the bench in a friendly against Spain to convince joint-manager Lars Lagerback.

A joint bid by the Celtic nations for the 2008 European Championships is expected to be discussed next month. The idea of the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales staging the tournament will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the British home countries committee.