Men For The Job: Oliver Khan and Oliver Bierhoff are both key players as is, at nearly 40, Lothar Matthaus, while Dietmar Hamann is steadily establishing himself at this level. The displays of defensive midfielder Jens Jeremies, a spring chicken at just 26, will be just as crucial, however, for if the Germans can look more authoritative in the centre of the field again then their rivals will have considerable cause for concern.

Prospects: Like group rivals England, Germany could do with a win in their opening match against Romania. In any case, it is hard to see them not at least making it to the second phase. The scale of the defeat by Croatia at France '98 exposed them as a side in decline, but there is still enormous strength and experience there.

Squad: (Number; player; club/caps/goals) - 1 Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich/23/0), 12 Jens Lehmann (Borussia Dortmund/11/0), 22 Hans-Jorg Butt (Hamburg/0/0); 2 Markus Babbel (Bayern Munich/47/1), 4 Thomas Linke (Bayern Munich/13/0), 10 Lothar Matthaus (New YorkNew Jersey Metrostars/146/23), 6 Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen/17/0), 3 Marko Rehmer (Hertha Berlin/9/1); 13 Michael Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen/5/0), 18 Sebastian Deisler (Hertha Berlin/1/0), 8 Thomas Hassler (1860 Munich/97/11), 14 Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool/22/2), 16 Jens Jeremies (Bayern Munich/22/1), 21 Carsten Ramelow (Bayer Leverkusen/7/0), 7 Mehmet Scholl (Bayern Munich/24/3), 15 Dariusz Wosz (Hertha Berlin/14/1), 17 Christian Ziege (Middlesbrough/48/8); 20 Oliver Bierhoff (AC Milan/47/27), 5 Marco Bode (Werder Bremen/18/4), 19 Carsten Jancker (Bayern Munich/5/0), 9 Ulf Kirsten (Bayer Leverkusen/48/18), 11 Paolo Rink (Bayer Leverkusen/6/0).

Portugal

The Journey So Far: It was always going to be a neck-and-neck race with Romania for the top spot in Group Seven, but having been squeezed out Portugal were rewarded for their overall consistency - they lost just once in their 10 games and earned automatic qualification as best runners-up.

Men For The Job: A fine squad of talented players, this Portugal team has been together for a long time now, but the nation has yet to reproduce its phenomenal success at underage level on the senior stage. If they are to do it this summer, then Luis will have to shine for Humberto Coelho's side. The right-sided midfielder has had another good season at Barcelona despite the club's disappointments, and his attacking runs and ability to beat defenders should be one of the highlights of the tournament.

Prospects: With the rivalry between England and Germany attracting all the hype, Portugal have been overlooked as potential quarter-finalists. With Romania in there, too, it will be quite a scrap. A strong start against Keegan's side would set them up nicely.

Squad: 1 Vitor Baia (Porto/69/0), 12 Pedro Espinha (Vitoria Guimaraes/4/0), 22 Joaquim Silva (Sporting Braga/2/0); 16 Roberto Severo (Sporting Lisbon/0/0), 3 Rui Jorge (Sporting Lisbon/4/0), 20 Carlos Secretario (Porto/29/1), 2 Jorge Costa (Porto/26/0), 14 Abel Xavier (Everton/13/2), 5 Fernando Couto (Lazio/62/6), 13 Dimas Teixeira (Standard Liege/34/0); 6 Paulo Sousa (Parma/44/0), 10 Rui Costa (Fiorentina/51/18), 7 Luis Figo (Barcelona/60/13), 11 Sergio Conceicao (Lazio/23/2), 15 Francisco Costa (Monaco/2/0), 17 Paulo Bento (Oviedo/21/0), 4 Jose Vidigal (Sporting Lisbon/2/0); 8 Joao Pinto (Benfica/57/18), 21 Nuno Gomes (Benfica/11/0), 9 Ricardo Sa Pinto (Real Sociedad/36/7), 18 Pedro Resendes (Deportivo La Coruna/13/3), 19 Nuno Capucho (FC Porto/13/1).

Romania

The Journey So Far: When Ireland drew this lot in the qualifiers for France '98, the optimists reckoned they were past it. On the way to the Low Countries they went unbeaten in 10 matches and topped a group which, even if Portugal presented the only real challenge at the top, included some tricky away trips.

Men For The Job: If Portugal are worried that some of their best players are about to pass their peak then Romanian coach Emerich Jenei must wonder whether he can really get another big tournament from players like Dorinel Munteanu, Gheorghe Popescu and Dan Petrescu. Even more will depend, though, on Gheorghe Hagi's displays behind the strikers. At 35, he may not have the pace to lose markers any more, or the legs to keep going for the full 90 minutes, but his guile and ability to score from play or set-pieces are as important as ever to his team.

Prospects: Despite performing stronger than expected in France, it really is difficult to see Romania emerging from such a tight group. A strong performance against Germany could herald a surprise run, though.

Squad: 12 Bogdan Stelea (UD Salamanca/65/0), 1 Bogdan Lobont (Rapid Bucharest/9/0), 21 Florin Prunea (Universitatea Craiova/37/0); 22 Cosmin Contra (Alaves/9/0), 6 Gheorghe Popescu (Galatasaray/96/15), 17 Miodrag Belodedici (Steaua Bucharest/49/5), 3 Liviu Ciobotariu (Dynamo Bucharest/21/1), 4 Iulian Filipescu (Real Betis/32/1), 13 Cristian Chivu (Ajax/1/0); 2 Dan Petrescu (Chelsea/86/12), 14 Florentin Petre (Dynamo Bucharest/16/1), 10 Gheorghe Hagi (Galatasaray/121/35), 5 Constantin Galca (Espanol/53/4), 20 Catalin Haldan (Dynamo Bucharest/7/1), 19 Eric Linkar (Steaua Bucharest/2/0), 8 Dorinel Munteanu (Wolfsburg/84/10), 15 Ionut Lupescu (Dynamo Bucharest/70/6), 16 Laurentiu Rosu (Steaua Bucharest/13/3); 18 Ionel Ganea (Universitatea Craiova/11/7), 7 Adrian Mutu (Inter Milan/2/1), 9 Viorel Moldovan (Fenerbahce/45/19), 11 Adrian Ilie (Valencia/33/10)

England

The Journey So Far: As usual, an English manager is upbeat ahead of a major championships but the fact that Kevin Keegan's side could only manage two home wins and one away en route to these championships hardly augurs well. The scoreless draws at home to Sweden and away to Poland were particularly ominous, as was the home defeat by Scotland in the playoffs.

Men For The Job: Aside from Alan Shearer up front, England have, as usual, a decent goalkeeper in David Seaman, a strong central defence, especially Sol Campbell, and potential stars (or flops) of the tournament in David Beckham and Michael Owen. Midfield remains the key, though, and given his form with Real Madrid recently, Keegan is likely to look to Steve McManaman to get his team going. There's little doubting the 28-year-old's ability to use the ball well and while he has consistently under-performed for England in the past, he is almost certainly worth the gamble in the circumstances.

Prospects: If they can beat Portugal in the opening game, then it's hard not to see them holding on for a point or two and progressing, if only as far as the last eight. If they lose in Eindhoven, however, and have to chase qualification, then the trip home should come quickly.

Squad: 1 David Seaman (Arsenal/57/0), 13 Nigel Martyn (Leeds/13/0), 22 Richard Wright (Ipswich/0/0); 2Gary Neville (Manchester United/35/0), 3 Phil Neville (Manchester United/25/0), 4 Sol Campbell (Tottenham/32/0), 5 Tony Adams (Arsenal/63/5), 6 Martin Keown (Arsenal/29/1), 12 Gareth Southgate (Aston Villa/35/1), 15 Gareth Barry (Aston Villa/1/0); 7 David Beckham (Manchester United/30/1), 8 Paul Scholes (Manchester United/23/9), 11 Steve McManaman (Real Madrid/27/2), 14 Paul Ince (Middlesbrough/49/2), 16 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool/1/0), 17 Dennis Wise (Chelsea/15/1), 18 Nick Barmby (Everton/12/3); 9 Alan Shearer (Newcastle/59/28), 10 Michael Owen (Liverpool/19/6), 19 Emile Heskey (Liverpool/6/0), 20 Kevin Phillips (Sunderland/4/0), 21 Robbie Fowler (Liverpool/13/3).