Euro 2000 Group D - Holland v France and Czech Republic v Denmark preview

Sadly both Group D matches are meaningless as the first stage of Euro 2000 comes to an end and entertainment may be in short supply.

An excellent Euro finals has seen two of the betting favourites Holland and France win both their opening matches to mean that there is nothing to be decided in Liege and Amsterdam.

Both the Czech Republic and Denmark have already been eliminated after Saturday's results and players are sure to be rested at the end of a long hard season for all the squad members. The Liege match up may not draw much support and enthusiasm and it is difficult to criticise two teams who tried hard in the opening matches of Group D but have now notched up four defeats between them. That fact alone means the coaches will be looking to bring in new faces for the Liege match.

Newcastle United scouts will again watch Czech striker Jan Koller who may not start in attack for his side while young prospect Michael Rosicky should play most of the game.

Denmark include AC Milan transfer target Jesper Gronkjaer in their midfield and his crosses from the right hand side could prove a useful route to goal but the professional footballer is not interested these days in meaningless matches.

Both the Danes and the Czechs will have used up all their emotional and physical energy in trying to qualify and the sense of anti climax in the last two Group D matches could wreck the games.

As a spectacle France v Holland was meant to be the high point of the first phase but it now has no significance at all other than deciding who finishes top of the section and in theory has a marginally easier quarter final assignment.

France lead the group with superior goal difference from two great displays while Holland have not been impressive and were very lucky to get anything out of their encounter with the Czechs. Spain, Yugoslavia or Norway await these two teams and they are both set to make large scale changes to rest their top stars now that nothing is at stake in Amsterdam.

In a similar situation Italy and Portugal have rested eight players and the Group D giants could do the same.

The major incentive for the Dutch is to win and complete their remaining matches on home territory. but not at the cost of injuries and suspensions.

Frank Lebouef and Jean Micoud will also be added to the French side while Holland will use Aron Winter in midfield but keep Patrick Kluivert and Ronald De Boer in attack.

Such matches are hard to predict but any injuries or suspensions now for either side will distress the players and coaches as they focus on the bigger battles to come. For that reason alone the eagerly anticipated France v Holland match may look more like a training day and less like a full international.

Half Time scores - Czech Republic 0 Denmark 1 - Holland 0 France 0

Full Time scores - Czech Republic 1 Denmark 1 - Holland 1 France 0

First scorers - Ebbe Sand for Denmark and Ronald De Boer for Holland

Number of corners - 10 and 5