A FLAVOUR of Euro `96 comes to Belfast tonight with the Windsor Park appearance of tournament favourites Germany. The Germans have succeeded where other nations failed by guaranteeing the first sell-out attendance at a Northern Ireland international for several years.

They have added to their attraction and appeal by setting up camp in the province ahead of the championship, which begins in England on Saturday week.

Manager Berti Vogts and his players are already top of the PR league with supporters, putting themselves about since their arrival and proving approachable and amenable.

This cordiality and co-operation will be temporarily shelved when the action starts at 7.30, with Vogts keen to show his team is worthy of being rated the most likely winners of the European Championship.

According to their star performer, Jurgen Klinsmann, they now play in a more positive attacking style, which suggests the packed house could be in for a treat.

Northern Ireland manager Bryan Hamilton believes his men will respond. "It is a big game and we are virtually at full strength. I'm looking for a performance to fit the occasion," he said last night.

Modern history shows that Northern Ireland have two victories, home and away, over the mighty Germans to their credit,

Scottish soccer chief Jim Farry yesterday confirmed that team manager Craig Brown will lead the national team for the next two years, taking him up to the World Cup finals in France.

The SFA's chief executive's vote of confidence in Brown came just 48 hours after the Scots' disappointing 2-1 defeat by the United States in Connecticut,