France v Spain player ratings
OVERVIEW
Spain start Euro 2000 in Group C as one of the four seeded sides and are believed to have the best chance yet of throwing off their tag of perennial under-achievers.
They coasted through group six in style after losing their first qualifying game 3-2 in Cyprus. They scored 42 goals in eight qualifying games and have sparked into life under new coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
The Spanish avenged their humiliation in Cyprus with an 8-0 romp in the return fixture. They are in form and fourth in FIFA's rankings but must show more big-match nerve than they have in the past.
The squad Camacho will take to Holland and Belgium is arguably as strong as any in his country's recent footballing history and while they are always touted as good dark horses this could be the time for them to shine.
They were trumpeted into the World Cup in France in 1998, but crashed out in the first round. A 3-2 defeat by Nigeria coupled with a goalless draw against Paraguay meant that a 6-1 victory over Bulgaria was not enough to ensure qualification for the second round.
Javier Clemente's side suffered the disappointment of losing out to hosts England on penalties in the 1996 finals and the weight of expectation on the current side will be as great as ever when the red shirts begin their 2000 campaign.