Euro 2004 Preview - Group B

CROATIA

Narkiness level : It remains to be seen whether the younger players can replicate the internal fires of the old guard.

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : One's always likely to pitch up at a lower division side, much like Ivica Mornar's lesser spotted appearances for Portsmouth.

Best player left at home : Mostly those long retired - you can measure the shadow cast by Boksic, Stimac, Boban, Suker, Stanic, Prosinecki, Jarni etc. with a measuring tape.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : Low. External squabbling, high.

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : Cob Or A Tit

And? : The golden years have gone and this is a side in transition, as they say, and struggling to impress. Don't have great hopes for them in this company.

ENGLAND

Narkiness level : Depends on how many Man Utd and Arsenal players start.

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : Insert own joke here.

Best player left at home : For the want of a big flip chart in Man Utd's training ground complex or something similar England have lost the services of their best defender from Japan/Korea. Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate also leave the defence a touch short.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : Unless the FA find a disrepute charge or drug test sheet down the back of the filing cabinet, unlikely now.

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : Koreans Govern Sins

And? : Ironically for the one year when everybody's not going blase into it expecting to win, England probably have their best chance in a while of picking up silverware. Gerrard's back after missing the World Cup, the young players are maturing nicely, but could the traditional end of season tiredness work against them again?

FRANCE

Narkiness level : Thierry Henry has a world-class Gallic shrug, which he seems not to have noticed the extreme irony in.

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : Most of them have already played in the Premiership with success, although is that £12m Steve Marlet we see sneaking in between Henry and Saha?

Best player left at home : Such is the competition that Bundesliga championship medal winner Johan Micoud and Peguy Luyindula and Sydney Govou from Lyon's domestically conquering side can stay at home.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : Unlikely, unless squad firebrand Willy Sagnol starts up.

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : I Can Quit, S Jenas

And? : 14 wins in a row recently equalled the world record and the will to win may well be increased by the belief that this will be the side's final tournament together, Barthez, Lizarazu and Desailly set to leave the international stage afterwards. Weak points? Questions have arisen around the defence and the coach is untested under heavy pressure.

SWITZERLAND

Narkiness level : Untested.

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : Hakan Yakin was always being linked with Premiership clubs back in the day but seems settled at Stuttgart now. Rennes' Alexander Frei has been on form recently, the like of which usually sees someone like Fulham put in a bid.

Best player left at home : Injuries may foreshorten the 26-man preliminary squad to be cut down to 23 on June 2nd. It's already down by one after striker Marco Streller suffered a suspected broken leg in training.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : Morale dipping after excellent qualification could have such ramifications.

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : Ink Hub KO

And? : The side were beaten by an understrength Morocco in February and are littered with players coming in off the back of off-form seasons and injuries. Decent enough on paper, but finishing third in the group could be regarded as success.