It is a sobering thought that England have failed to win their opening fixture in their last four European Championships.

And, without wishing to appear cynical, the draws they achieved in two recent friendlies against Argentina and Brazil do not really say as much for the team as the woefully inept performance they produced against Scotland at Wembley.

That, let us not forget, was their last competitive game.

So if a nervy national side need something to cling onto perhaps they should look at Portugal's history in this tournament. Like their Iberian neighbours Spain, they are a nation of serial under-achievers in senior competitions.

Aside from the fact they have only qualified for two World Cups, Euro 2000 will be only the third time they've been present at the final stages of the European Championship.

Let's look at their two previous outings. In France in 1984, they went down 3-2 in arguably the match of the tournament - a semi-final against the hosts and eventual winners - so one cannot fault them there.

But four years ago, they really fluffed their lines at Villa Park. Having come through their group in style with a 3-0 win against Croatia, they inexplicably fell apart against the Czech Republic and lost their quarter-final 1-0.

Two years ago, Portugal failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time on the trot, and the fact is a lot of the senior players in the squad right now are those that have suffered these recent humbling experiences.

England had a good run - albeit at home - in Euro 96. And they could be justified in feeling they were worth more than a last-16 exit against Argentina two years ago in France.

For two of their young stars, it was a watershed match. Michael Owen, who will almost certainly start as Alan Shearer's partner up front, scored the goal of the tournament, while David Beckham dug the heel of his boot into the calf of Diego Simeone and was ordered off the field.

Portugal's midfield is potentially the sort of midfield which Beckham, provided he gets ball and runs with it, can really take on. Rui Costa, Sergio Conceicao and Luis Figo bristle with talent, but none of them are recognised tacklers.

Coach Humberto Coelho will probably add Parma's Paolo Sousa as the stopping man at the back of a diamond-shaped affair, and he may be over-stretched.

But the argument can work the other way. Neither Beckham, nor Steve McManaman, who may play alongside him, prefer tackling duties to attacking ones.

Kevin Keegan's best bet is to play four at the back and use the more aggressive Dennis Wise instead of McManaman if he wants to prevent Figo - a potential player of the tournament - setting up countless opportunities for his colleagues.

That is really the crunch in this game - the midfield.

England have tall defenders who should win almost everything in the air. One probable Portugal attacker, Joao Pinto, is stylish but short of stature, and his potential partner Sa Pinto has a similar physique.

England's front men, on the other hand, could cause some problems for a Portuguese defence that is neither settled, nor very often impregnable.

Much has been made of Vitor Baia's knee injury mending itself in time for this match. But the Portuguese keeper lost his place in the Barcelona net to Ruud Hesp, and is known for the occasional blunder.

Meanwhile, there are many voices who think his opposite number, David Seaman, is playing one big tournament too many. To sum up, neither Seaman nor Baia are likely to outshine all the other keepers in this tournament.

For that reason, and the fact both teams have attacking midfielders, this is unlikely to be a goal-less match. But Portugal are taking one headache they could really do without into this game - namely the impeccably-timed sacking by Benfica of Joao Pinto.

He is a temperamental character at the best of times and has often failed to re-produce his best form for his country. But for his club to dispense of his services on the eve of Euro 2000 is astonishing.

England, though, won't be complaining if it unsettles both him and the rest of the squad.