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'Group of Death' All four squads have a chance in Group D
Posted: Thursday June 08, 2000 09:27 PM
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- It seems every soccer championship must have its Group of Death. This time though, it is almost an understatement. The four teams in Euro 2000 Group D are all former European champions. France is the World Cup holder, the Czech Republic is FIFA's top-ranked European team, the Netherlands -- a penalty shootout away from the last World Cup final -- hosts the event, and 1992 European champion Denmark is a known giant-slayer. "It's a tough group," conceded French coach Roger Lemerre. "We are eager to prove that our triumph at the World Cup was no fluke." France, looking to become the first country to win the World Cup and European Championships in succession, will need to overcome a couple of hurdles before getting a shot at the double. With almost the same lineup as its victorious 1998 World Cup team, the aging French are now tempting targets. "France are World Cup champions and the team to beat," said Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp, one of Arsenal's top attackers. "It'll be difficult, but in a way, because of the title, they might be bigger favorites than us, so we can be more or less like an underdog." "Les Bleus" captured the World Cup two years ago, thriving in front of the home crowds and some of the best defense and midfield players in the world. All of which helped make up for the lack of a world-class striker. Now they will look for Zinedine Zidane to emulate Michel Platini, who in 1984 scored the vital goals to give France its only European title, in front of a home crowd. Now the Dutch have home advantage. The star-studded team is loaded with talent from top European clubs even with the absence of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, PSV's injured top striker. Bergkamp, Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, Inter Milan's Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids of Juventus more than compensate for the loss of one man. The Dutch, European Champions in 1988, still impress with their trademark "total football" and can only hope their good team spirit will last throughout the tournament. Team spirit is what makes the Czech squad click. Add self-confidence and talent and the mix produced a perfect 10-0-0 record in qualifying. Czech players won as Czechoslovakia in 1976, and maintained their standing as a serious contender as the Czech Republic, reaching the final in 1996, toppling Italy, Russia, Portugal and France before surrendering to Germany. "We have to keep reminding ourselves what happened at the last championships, when we were second, and work on improving that," said Czech coach Jozef Chovanec. Many fear the team may have peaked too early in its devastating qualifying campaign and will no longer be able to ambush unsuspecting opponents. But the squad seems to perform best under the pressure of competition. The Czechs have never lost to the Dutch, French or Danes in European Championship play. "You always have to watch out for the Czechs," said Davids. "But there are also the Danes. Even if they aren't the most favored, you still can't underestimate them." While clearly not at the level it was eight years ago, Denmark still hopes to repeat its Cinderella triumph of 1992 when it defeated France and the Netherlands on way to the title, after entering the championships last minute to replace Yugoslavia, which was banned. Oddly, being in the "Group of Death" may well suit the Danish camp, which always seems to perform better against tougher teams. The squad is particularly eager following a brilliant season, which saw them win seven matches, draw three and lose only once, recording a glowing 19-6 goal tally, the nation's best performance since 1981 when it emerged as a serious soccer nation. The Danes won't have it easy, though, following the loss of legendary playmakers Brian and Michael Laudrup. Coach Bo Johansson has struggled to find acceptable replacements in a limited pool of talent, and will rely on rising star Martin Jorgensen of Udinese, labeled the "New Laudrup," as well as Ajax midfielder Jesper Groenkjaer and Ebbe Sand of Schalke 04. The Danes have experience in ousting the likes of the Dutch and the French at European finals. The Danes beat France in five of their nine matches, tying one and losing just three, with a 34-10 goals for and against record. Against the Dutch, their most famous victory came in the 1992 semifinal, when they beat the likes of Van Basten in a penalty shootout.
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