Gallery

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane stretches during a training session, 11 June 2004 in Santo Tirso, some 25 kilometers north of Porto, on the eve of the start of the 2004 European Nations Championship. France will play its first Euro 2004 against England 13 June. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE

French master Zinedine Zidane, crucial to French Euro hopes, shows he's in tip top shape for the Championships despite a heavy season with his club Real Madrid.

A man walks by a Euro 2004 poster in Porto, 10 June 2004, two days before the opening ceremony of the European Nations Championship. Portugal will play the opening game vs Greece 12 June 2004. AFP PHOTO DIMITAR DILKOFF

Face painting is a modern feature at football matches but few fans at Euro 2004 will boast the perfect teeth bared by the models on this billboard in Porto.

German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn dives for a ball during a training session with his team, 11 June 2004 in Loule near Faro in preparation for the European Nations Championships 2004. Germany will play its first match at the Euro 2004 against Holland, 15 June 2004 in Porto. AFP PHOTO / DDP MARCUS BRANDT

Goalkeeper Oliver Khan is in acrobatic mood ahead of Tuesday's tie against Holland and he may well need to be, if he is to stem the recent flood of goals his defence have conceded.

Swiss goalkeepers Joerg Stiel (L) and Fabrice Borer come head to head during stretching exercises at a training session in Praia del Rey 11 June 2004. Switzerland play Croatia 13 June in their first Euro 2004 match. AFP PHOTO JOHN MACDOUGALL

The Swiss go head to head with Croatia on Sunday in a desperate bid for points before the two minnows then take on France and England in Group B. here their two 'keepers seem to be plotting something.

Czech coach Karel Bruckner (L) gestures as he speaks to player Pavel Nedved during a training session for the Czech football team in Sintra, 11 June 2004 in preparation for the European Nations championship. The Czech Republic team will play its opening game at the Euro 2004 vs Latvia 15 June.

The Czechs last won the European Championships in 1976 whilst still united with the Slovaks, but with giant of the game Pavel Nedved and tough talking coach Karel Bruckner they fancy their chances of getting off the floor this time around.

Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gestures during a press conference at Fundacao Serralves in Porto, 11 June 2004 on the eve of the start of the 2004 European Nations Championship. Portugal will play the opening match of the Euro 2004 against Greece 12 June. AFP PHOTO / Lluis GENE

As well as the home advantage Portugal can boast the Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning coach Luiz Scolari as good reason for cheer in their bid to win Euro 2004, which they open with a tie against Greece on Saturday.

Swedish players Fredrik Ljungberg of Arsenal (L) and Henrik Larsson, formerly of Celtic, take a breather during training at Estoril Stadium in Lisbon 11 June 2004. Sweden is in Euro 2004 Group C with Bulgaria, Denmark and Italy. Swedens first game is against Bulgaria in Lisbon 14 June. AFP PHOTO / PRESSENS BILD/JONAS EKSTROMER

If Sweden are to emerge from Group C they will need top performances from striker Henrik Larsson and lively winger Freddie Ljungberg, seen here sporting crew cuts. They open their campaign against erractic Bulgaria on Monday while neighbors Denmark take on Italy in the other pool match the same day.

A Euro 2004 organisation volunteer plays with a soccer ball 11 June 2004 in Lisbon. Portugal will play its opening match of the European nations Championships 12 June in Porto against Greece. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS

A volunteer for Euro 2004 displays her skills at a demonstration event in Lisbon. The much hyped 3-week tournament gets underway on Saturday with games between hosts Portugal and Greece while Spain and Russia finish up the day's action.

Danish players Claus Jensen (L), Martin Jorgensen (2nd L) and Peter Lovenkrands (R) gets an extra training pass, to recuperate from injuries, by physical trainer Jens Bangsbo (C) and the teams allround man Peter Bonde (2nd R) at the Le Meridien Golf and Country Club in Portimao on the Algarve coast in Portugal, 11 June 2004 a day prior the start of the European Nations championship. Denmark is in the Euro 2004 Group C and will play against Bulgaria, Italy and Sweden. AFP PHOTO - SVEN NACKSTRAND

Denmark, who upset the form book in 1992 to win the European title, are back again and hoping for a good result against Italy in their opener on Monday. The likeable Scandinavian outfit are confident of getting a result and remember a match in 1999 when they beat Italy 3-2 in Naples.

2004 Golden ball laureate Czech Pavel Nedved plays with a ball during a training session for the Czech football team in Sintra, 11 June 2004 in preparation for the European Nations championship. The Czech Republic team will play its opening game at the Euro 2004 vs Latvia 15 June.

Critics suggest the European player of the year Pavel Nedved has disappointed this season, but the Czech Republic midfielder is looking lean and mean in his preparations for Euro.

Handout drawing released 04 June 2004 shows the different layers of new Euro 2004 football "Roteiro", made by sports equipment maker Adidas together with German chemicals giants Bayer. Bayer provided the raw material, such as the polyurethane-resins of which the ball is made. The ball is supposed to recover its shape after each shot and in case of rainy weather conditions. The opening match of the Portugal held European championships is on 12 June 2004 opposing Portugal to Greece in Porto. AFP PHOTO HO

The official football for Euro 2004 known as the 'Roteiro' has come in for stiff criticism from some of the players although there have been no official complaints to UEFA. The ball promises to produce more goals with its high velocity, that gives goalkeepers less time to react.

A member of the Coca-Cola' Euro 2004 Supporters Bus shows off his footy skills in London's Trafalgar Square 10 June 2004 during the 'Coca-Cola' Get Kicking Tour' in support of the Euro 2004 football tournament which was aimed at giving fans the chance to show off their footy skills and have fun kicking the ball about. AFP PHOTO/JIM WATSON

A young hopeful shows off his skills during a sponsored programme named the 'Get Kicking Tour'. The programme is aimed at giving fans the chance to get a taste of the limelight as this prospect displays in London's Trafalgar Square.