Can you lads help me win some Lira in a Euro 2000 competition at work?

All I have to do is identify the four teams which will reach the semi-final stage of EURO 2000. In addition to the choices I also need to indicate which two teams will win (a tie-breaker). There is no limit on the number of entries but each costs 20 Million !! (Lira - about #7).

Really grateful if the BBS could ponder on this and give me a consensus view.

Let's hear from you. Goes without saying that the next time I'm in toon the pints will be on me if I win.

Group A Group B Group C Group D Germany Belgium Spain Czech R. Romania Sweden Norway France PortugalTurkey YugoslaviaNetherlands England Italy Slovenia Denmark

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Answers

Group winners play runners up, so potential for two from a group to reach the final, although they cannot meet in the semi.

An interesting point to note is that every single host has reached the semi final since this competition began. (This puts Venables 'fantastic' achievements in perspective). Now there are two hosts it may complicate things.

Got to fancy Holland. France still seem to be really classy. The Czechs were superb qualifiers. Spain should be full of themselves, but always fail in competitions.

So France, Holland, Czechs and Belgium.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Semi-finalists: Fancy Portugal to do well, Italy can never be written off, Holland at home and probably Spain. Hunch for a Holland - Spain final

However, as manager of the lowly Woodstock County, what do I know. Probably means Germany to win the cup.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

I fancy the Czechs to do what Croatia did in the World Cup and finish third. The other losing Semi finalist will be England because once Keegan has got the squad together for more than a weekend he can create his own spirit in the camp and the players won't be worried about their clubs (apart from Cole it seems).

France and Holland in the final with Holland winning. Class always tells...

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Cut & Paste MacBeth
I said the same in the Pub the other night. France or Holland or the Czechs or Spain to win it, it'll be close imo. I'll go France.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

I'm going for Spain...I've got a feeling that they're gonna get over their usual jitters and take the thing by storm...

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000