It could just be psychological warfare, but both Colombia coach Hernan Gomez and Anghel Iordanescu, his Romanian counterpart, insist they expect England to finish top of Group G on the way to the second round of the World Cup.

Kidology or not, though, it is a sure thing that neither will want to come out second best when their teams clash tomorrow afternoon in Lyon's Stade Gerland. The Lyon tussle features Romania's English Premiership stars Dan Petrescu from Chelsea, Coventry striker Viorel Moldovan and Colombia's charismatic former Newcastle striker Faustino Asprilla, now back playing in Italy with Parma.

It is a repeat of the opening game in the World Cup in the United States four years ago. Romania won that one 3-1 and the South Americans suffered such a hangover that they succumbed to an even bigger setback, losing to the US and taking an early flight home. Defender Andres Escobar, who had scored an own goal to confirm Colombia's shock exit, had only just made it back home when he was murdered in a shooting outside a bar. Hopefully no such tragedy will accompany a similar exit this time. In any case, coach Gomez is determined not to even contemplate it.

"Our dream is avenging the failure of 1994 and to do that we must beat Romania," he said.

"England are the strongest squad in the group, but I believe we can finish second and if we go through to the next round our strength and confidence will grow."

Colombia have brought only two survivors - in the football sense of the word, of course - from their 1994 squad to France.

One of them is 37-year-old Carlos Valderrama, who is as famous for his hairstyle as his spectacular passing range, and he could hold the key to tomorrow's battle in a midfield confrontation with Romania's gifted veteran Gheorghe Hagi.

It should be an absorbing contest between two ageing generals and 34-year-old Hagi admits he is on his last legs as an international.