Germany v England again at Euro 2000

In other groups, World Cup holder France meets co-host The Netherlands, Czech Republic, which qualified with a record 10 wins out of 10, and 1992 winner Denmark.

Group B has co-host Belgium along with Sweden, Turkey and 1968 titlist Italy and, in group C, it is Spain, Norway, Yugoslavia and 125/1 outsider Slovenia.The opening game between Belgium and Sweden is at the King Baudouin (formerly Heysel) Stadium in Brussels and the final will be at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam.

There was already an air of expectation in the Expocenter when former Belgian star striker Paul Van Himst and Dutch midfielder Johan Neeskens pulled England’s nameout and placed it in group A alongside the Germans.It meant that one of the most famous matchups in world soccer was headed for another game, this time in the 30,000 capacity Stade du Pays at Charleroi, 50 kilometres south of Brussels on June 17.

That game will go with the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley, where England triumphed 4-2 after extra time, the 1970 World Cup quarterfinal at Leon, Mexico, where the Germans won 3-2 and ended England’ reign as world titlist, the 1990 World Cup semifinal at Turin, Italy, where the Germans won a penalty shootout after extra time, and the 1996 European championship semifinal when the Germans won another shootout.

Group D appears to be the toughest, although it fell short of being a so-called group of death.

The Dutch are the bookmakers’ favorites, especially with home advantage, the Czechs had the best qualifying record and were runners up at the last finals in 1996 and the French are the current world champions.