Klinsmann and Suker crank up a gear or two

EURO 96 awaits the first compelling team performance but individuals are gradually cranking the competition up a gear or two. Emulating Paul Gascoigne's moment of brilliance on Saturday, Juergen Klinsmann and Croatia's Davor Suker both struck twice to invigorate the tournament some more.

Klinsmann thus became the first player in the championships' history to score in three successive finals, his two goals completing a 3-0 rout of Russia.

Croatia technically became the first country to ensure their participation in the quarter finals with a 3-0 rout of the holders Denmark, who all but relinquished their hold on the title. The champions had never once fallen behind in the finals four years ago but once Suker converted a 57th minute penalty their limitations were exposed.

The Danes must now beat Turkey by 3-0 on Wednesday and hope that Croatia are motivated enough to beat Portugal the same afternoon. Portugal will accompany Croatia into the quarter finals should the two have a mutually beneficial draw at the City Ground on Wednesday afternoon, although that could leave the Portuguese, as group runners up, facing Germany, something they might be eager to avert.

Germany have all but copper fastened their qualification as well. They would have to lose to Italy and the Czechs would have to make up the six goal differential in beating Russia on Wednesday night for Berti Vogts' team to be denied. If both the Czechs and the Italians lose or draw their concluding games in Group C, then Arrigo Sacchi's men go out. If they both win, the Italians must at least equal the Czechs' winning margin in what is shaping up to be a momentous meeting with Germany at Anfield. If Germany win 1-0 and Russia win by three clear goals then the Russians qualify.

Today offers a rest day and a respite for the protagonists before the concluding phase of first round games are completed over the following 48 hours. In each group the games will kick off simultaneously.

When teams are level on points, results against each other, goal difference and goals scored, their co efficients (calculated on results in Euro 92, World Cup 94 Euro 96) determine placings.

In Group A, England and Holland can play out a mutually beneficial draw at Wembley tomorrow evening and thereby ensure their passage into the last eight regardless of the result between Scotland and Switzerland at Villa Park. In that scenario England would qualify as group winners and remain at Wembley for a quarter final against the runners up of Group B next Saturday by virtue of having scored more goals.

The Scots would need to beat Switzerland and hope that England defeat Holland while also making up five goals on the Dutch in the process. The Swiss would need Holland to beat England while they overcome Scotland and a four goal differential.

In group B France will qualify if they earn a draw with Bulgaria in Newcastle tomorrow because, as both teams have identical goal differences, Aime Jacquet's men have a superior co efficient. Bulgaria could then miss out if Spain (who also have a better co efficient) beat Romania at the same time.

The Germans have hardened as favourites after yesterday's performance while, preposterously, England have been installed as second favourites following the predictable overreaction to their defeat of Scotland on Saturday.

Headlines of Lionheart and Gazza the Great greeted an English team suddenly in favour with their erstwhile "traitors" with Venables being paraphrased as saying: Now watch us win Euro 96.

One damp squib on the celebratory tome was confirmation that Jamie Redknapp, whose half time arrival liberated Steve McManaman and improved England's passing game, will miss the rendezvous with Holland after damaging ankle ligaments when falling awkwardly near the end of Saturday's 2-0 win over the Scots at Wembley.

Nor can the mercurial Dutchmen be guaranteed to co operate fully. Dissension continues to break out in their ranks with Clarence Seedorf publicly agreeing with the suspended Edgar Davids that manager Guus Hiddink made too many changes (positional and in personnel) after the opening draw with Scotland. They are in one of their cold, disharmonious, unpredictable moods. In other words, same as it ever was.