AMID the hype surrounding France which, runs along the lines of "they must be good if they can afford to omit Eric Cantona and David Ginola" one thing has tended to be forgotten: they were in the same qualifying group as the Romanians and it was the latter who finished top.

"We arrive for Euro 96 in a spirit of modesty and ambition," the French coach, Aime Jacquet, said yesterday as his squad prepared for tonight's Group B meeting with the Romanians in Newcastle. Which might seem strange considering that his side have, an astonishingly long unbeaten run of more than 20 matches but can be put in better perspective when their qualifying record of five draws in 10 qualifying games is taken into account.

One of those stalemates was against tonight's opponents in Paris and, as the Romanian coach, Anghel Iordanescu, points out: "We have a good record against the French." It is something that Jacquet concedes. "The most difficult, the most dangerous game will be the first match," he said. "It has an impact on preparations for all the others. The Romanians are full of very talented players. They are a very dangerous team for France.

This is mainly because of the principle that all Romania live and die for is possession. They pass and pass, waiting for an opening to arrive and opponents can lose concentration waiting for the ball. The French, talented but inexperienced, might be frustrated to the point of distraction.

One thing in France's favour is that the Romanians may be forced to go into the game without Ovidiu Sabau. The Brescia midfield player did not train last week because of a niggling hamstring injury. Nevertheless Iordanescu is adopting a positive approach. "To win this tournament you have to be very offensive," he said.

. A five year old boy shot and seriously injured in the Dunblane school massacre in March was Scotland's leading representative in the Euro 96 opening ceremony at Wembley on Saturday. Coll Austin was treated for multiple gunshot wounds following the tragedy in which 16 small children and their teacher were killed by a gunman who then turned a gun on himself.

The identity of the boy was revealed by the Scottish Sunday Post who said he was picked by a family friend after the newspaper asked for nominations for the honour. "It has been the best kept secret in Scotland," said the newspaper.