Euro 2004 Preview - Group C

BULGARIA

Narkiness level : Have you ever seen Hristo Stoichkov? Martin Petrov is his spiritual heir, as he already looks like a police photofit and was sent off within eight minutes of his international debut.

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : Defensive midfielder Marian Hristov, no relation to Barnsley-baiting countryman Georgi, has had trouble settling at Kaiserslautern but has a good record at international level. Norwich, possibly.

Best player left at home : Radostan Kishishev lost out in a vote among squad members for the captaincy to Stilian Petrov. Kishishev promptly walked out, claiming the vote had been fixed by coach Plamen Markov. Level headed, then. Charlton dressing rooms with him and Paolo Di Canio must be a laugh. South a bit, Svetislav Todorov has not been risked after his long-term injury.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : With Kishishev out and Markov instilling a team discipline it's unlikely, but there's always Sofia divided loyalties to consider.

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : Man-Marvel Kop

And? : If you fancy an each-way bet on a dark horse, Bulgaria are a decent side to look at - young, up for it, the shadow of 1994 dissipating, finished ahead of Croatia and Belgium in qualifying. A poor record against the fellow group members is the principal question mark.

DENMARK

Narkiness level : Denmark? Narky?

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : So many Scandinavians have played in the Premiership that it's probably unlikely they'll be big money, never mind flopping, Jon Dahl Tomasson aside. Martin Jorgensen has been in form for Udinese and a word to a club from opposite winger Jesper Gronkjaer could tempt someone.

Best player left at home : Morten Wieghorst is out with a knee injury while Peter Lovenkrands has only been named provisionally. Stig Tofting could benefit from a couple of other injury concerns, having been in jail a year ago yet immediately returning to form when out.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : Negligible. Given the squad could include an ex-con and a player recovered from testicular cancer (Ebbe Sand), arguments over training sides are comparatively like sand in the breeze.

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : 'E's Lent Moron

And? : A lot of key players are out of form, injured or in Thomas Gravesen's case initially suspended, and for every "but 1992!", remember that four years ago their record was P 3 L 3 F 0 A 8. Still, they'll be entertaining and anything is possible.

ITALY

Narkiness level : Usually assured, but watch for when big decisions go against them. Eh, South Korea?

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : As usual, the whole squad play in Serie A, although this won't be for the want of Chelsea's trying. Watch for horrific puns about Totti in late July.

Best player left at home : Good old Filippo Inzaghi, for one. Various fringe contenders who'd walk into most other squads - Massimo Ambrosini, Daniele Adani, Alessio Tacchinardi - are also staying behind, or not in the case of Alberto Gilardino, who scored 23 goals this season including four in his last game but has been packed off the the European Under-21 Championships.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : There's always room for it, usually when the media start a campaign, club rivalries are brought up or someone kicks off at their coach and/or team-mates. Ooh, is that Christian Vieri's name we see in that squad list?

Vaguely amusing anagram of coach's name : Innovating A Patriot

And? : Genuine candidates for the Henri Delaunay, Italy will want to make up for the disappointment of 2002 and have an experienced, exciting set of players. Questions arise over defensive cover, unity, form of key players and whether Trapattoni can decide on one set of tactics at once.

SWEDEN

Narkiness level : Not great.

Player most likely to be big money Premiership flop : Again, flop maybe, big money rarely. Presumably Henrik Larsson won't move south now.

Best player left at home : Larsson's surprise reappearance after announcing his international retirement, spurred on by an 80,000-signature petition, has meant bad luck for the prolific, not to mention fantastically named, Niklas Skoog, popular Johan Elmander and promising Stefan Selakovic. Michael Svensson, Johan Mjallby and Marcus Allback are all serious injury doubts.

Likelihood of internal squabbling : Larsson's return has been greeted better than you might have expected (apart from with Skoog, Elmander and Selakovic, anyway), and have you seen the men the players would have to answer to?

Vaguely amusing anagram of coaches' names (yes, there's two of them) : A Slack Garbler, Bored Stormy Gem

And? : A disciplined, organised, hard to beat unit. Boring, then. Come on, Sweden, what happened to you? English eyes may be disappointed as Frederik Ljungberg has never really transferred his club form onto the international stage, and unless Larsson makes an immediate impact it could be an early journey home.