The journey so far: Made it this far by joining forces with Belgium for a joint bid to host the event, a decision they may regret when English, Turkish and German fans come visiting. The Dutch could probably have done with having had to qualify, too, for they have lost all the momentum they built up at France '98 in a dismally disappointing friendly programme.
Men for the job: The phenomenally successful youth development policies of the Dutch FA have ensured that Frank Rijkaard is falling down with talent to choose from. Edwin van der Sar, Dennis Bergkamp and Jaap Stam should all shine, but it will be Edgar Davids, their tireless midfielder, who will again be the main factor in deciding whether the Dutch can live up to expectations or not.
ProspectS: The recent defeat of Romania in a friendly was only the third win by the team since Rijkaard took over and it is far from certain whether the coach's determination to employ his preferred tactics regardless of how well they suit the team's best players will not backfire. Still, there is a lingering suspicion that they will perform on their home stage.
SQUAD: 1 Edwin van der Sar (Juventus/46/0), 22 Sander Westerveld (Liverpool/2/0), 18 Ed De Goey (Chelsea/31/0); 4 Frank de Boer (Barcelona/75/6), 13 Bert Konterman (Feyenoord/9/0), 19 Arthur Numan (Rangers/38/0), 2 Michael Reiziger (Barcelona/39/1), 3 Jaap Stam (Man United/31/3); 16 Ronald de Boer (Barcelona/57/12), 7 Philip Cocu (Barcelona/40/4), 15 Paul Bosvelt (Feyenoord/2/0), 20 Aron Winter (Ajax/80/6), 12 Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Rangers/15/1), 11 Marc Overmars (Arsenal/55/11), 5 Boudewijn Zenden (Barcelona/20/3), 8 Edgar Davids (Juventus/28/4), 6 Clarence Seedorf (Inter/47/7); 10 Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal/73/37), 9 Patrick Kluivert (Barcelona/40/21), 17 Pierre van Hooijdonk (Vitesse Arnhem/18/7), 21 Roy Makaay (Deportivo La Coruna/6/0), 14 Peter van Vossen (Feyenoord/27/9).
Czech Republic
The journey so far: Their achievement in reaching the finals so easily has been overstated a little given the relative weakness of their group. Nevertheless they did show a consistency that they couldn't muster in the failed France '98 qualification campaign, as well as considerable character - most notably against Scotland in Prague when three late goals helped them overcome a 2-0 deficit.
Men for the job: Tomas Repka, Karel Poborsky and Vladimir Smicer all head for these championships off the back of good seasons at club level. There is plenty of experience from the team that finished second in Euro '96, although Patrik Berger's twomatch suspension for a sending-off against the Faroe Isles is a blow. Attacking midfielder Pavel Nedved is now the key figure, having grown in stature with each of his four seasons at Lazio. Strong and tireless, the 28-year-old is a fine passer of the ball and likes to get forward.
Prospects: They have a good record in the finals, but in Dublin recently the team's defence looked weak, not a good sign ahead of group matches against France, Holland or even a Denmark team that scored 15 goals in their last five qualifying matches.
SQUAD: 1 Pavel Srnicek (Sheffield Wednesday/30/0), 16 Ladislav Maier (Rapid Vienna/6/0), 22 Jaroslav Blazek (Sparta Prague/1/0); 2 Tomas Repka (Fiorentina/35/1), 5 Milan Fukal (Sparta Prague/5/1), 6 Petr Vlcek (Slavia Prague/15/0), 18 Jiri Novotny (Sparta Prague/24/2), 19 Karel Rada (Slavia Prague/33/4), 21 Petr Gabriel (Sparta Prague/7/1); 3 Radomir Latal (Schalke 04/53/3), 4 Pavel Nedved (Lazio/42/9), 7 Jiri Nemec (Schalke 04/78/1), 8 Karel Poborsky (Benfica/54/2), 11 Tomas Rosicky (Sparta Prague/3/0), 13 Radek Bejbl (Atletico Madrid/46/3), 14 Pavel Horvath (Slavia Prague/9/0), 15 Marek Jankulovski (Banik Ostrava/1/0), 20 Patrik Berger (Liverpool/38/17); 9 Pavel Kuka (Stuttgart/78/25), 10 Jan Koller (Anderlecht/13/13), 12 Vratislav Lokvenc (Sparta Prague (27/2), 17 Vladimir Smicer (Liverpool/40/16).
France
The journey so far: There was always going to be something of a hangover after the victorious World Cup campaign two years ago, but even so the last-gasp winner away to Andorra as well as home draws with Ukraine and Russia left the French struggling for a while. Still their nerve held and they progressed, albeit unimpressively, as group winners.
Men for the job: Although Alex Ferguson may fancy their goalkeeper, the back four will again be the foundation on which France build their challenge. Up front, Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry have come into form at the right time. but still the key figure is likely to Zinedine Zidane. "Zizou" is back to his very best after a succession of injury problems and will again be pulling the strings for his country from advanced central midfield. A powerful figure, who can score goals or make them for others.
Prospects: On the face of it, France should make it out of their group without too much difficulty. After that the fact that they have been extraordinarily hard to beat over the last year will count for a lot, and if their penaltytakers keep their heads, then it might even be enough for them to complete the double.
SQUAD: 1 Bernard Lama (Paris Saint-Germain/41/0), 16 Fabien Barthez (Manchester United/31/0), 22 Ulrich Rame (Bordeaux/2/0); 2 Vincent Candela (Roma/19/1), 3 Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich/52/2), 5 Laurent Blanc (Inter Milan/88/15), 8 Marcel Desailly (Chelsea/63/2), 15 Lilian Thuram (Parma/55/2), 18 Frank Leboeuf (Chelsea/26/3), 19 Christian Karembeu (Real Madrid/42/1); 4 Patrick Vieira (Arsenal/22/0), 6 Youri Djorkaeff (Kaiserslautern/60/22), 7 Didier Deschamps (Chelsea/92/4), 10 Zinedine Zidane (Juventus/51/13), 11 Robert Pires (Marseille/33/4), 14 Johan Micoud (Bordeaux/4/0), 17 Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal/35/3); 9 Nicolas Anelka (Real Madrid/10/3), 12 Thierry Henry (Arsenal/14/4), 13 Sylvain Wiltord (Bordeaux/9/2), 20 David Trezeguet (Monaco/16/5), 21 Christophe Dugarry (Bordeaux/37/5).
Denmark
The journey so far: A year ago it seemed that, in the unlikely event that Denmark scraped through to these finals, coach Bo Johansson would be forced to have the Laudrups brought to the Low Countries at gun point. Since then, however, a miserable start to their qualifying campaign, which included a defeat at home by Wales, has been put firmly behind them. In Naples they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and then hammered Israel in the play-offs.
Men for the job: In a regularly changing line-up, Peter Schmeichel and Thomas Helveg remain central figures. Udinese's Martin Jorgensen is widely seen as the new creative force in the team, but it is leftwinger Jesper Gronkjaer of Ajax who might just provide the pace and trickery that will allow him to make his name at this tournament and his side to reach the second phase.
Prospects: Denmark's game-plan appears to revolve around their ability to pick up one point from two games and then beat the Czech Republic. It's a risky enough strategy, but if Jon Dahl Tomasson can keep scoring it just might work.
SQUAD: 1 Peter Schmeichel (Sporting Lisbon/120/0), 16 Thomas Sorensen (Sunderland/1/0), 22 Peter Kjaer (Silkeborg/0/0); 13 Martin Laursen (Verona/2/0), 3 Reni Henriksen (Panathinaikos/16/0), 12 Soren Colding (Brondby/22/0), 2 Michael Schonberg (Kaiserslauten/40/3), 5 Jan Heintze (PSV Eindhoven/61/2), 4 Jes Hogh (Chelsea/57/1), 6 Thomas Helveg (AC Milan/50/2), 14 Brian Steen Nielsen (AB/49/2); 15 Stig Tofting (MSV Duisberg/18/2), 8 Jesper Gronkjaer (Ajax/8/0), 7 Allan Nielsen (Tottenham/30/2), 10 Martin Jorgensen (Udinese/23/3), 17 Bjarne Goldbaek (Fulham/22/0), 19 Morten Bisgaard (Udinese/2/0), 20 Thomas Gravesen (Hamburg/5/0); 11 Ebbe Sand (Schalke 04/23/5), 18 Miklos Molnar (Kansas City Wizards/16/2), 9 Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord/17/7), 21 Mikkel Beck (Derby/17/3).
