Group C - France, Italy, Holland, Romania

Jun 1 2008 By Graeme Thomson

IT'S the Group of Death with a simmering grudge match thrown in for good measure.

But with Rino Gattuso in their ranks Italy can inflict even more misery on France.

The Italians downed Les Bleus at the World Cup Final in 2006 when they won a penalty shoot-out in an ill-tempered match that saw Zinedine Zidane sent off for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi.

The French gained some revenge in Euro 2008 qualifying when they beat the World Champions 3-1 in Paris. But Gattuso and his team-mates still had the last laugh when they overcame Scotland in the final fixture to top the group table. Now the latest match-up between the sides in Zurich in the final round of Group C games will be one of the most hyped of the competition and the price for defeat could well be elimination.

The French boast fantastic attacking talent with the likes of Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Nicolas Anelka, David Trezeguet and Franck Ribery.

But Italy have shown they can cope with that flair.

Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti may have retired but the core of the World Cupwinning team is unchanged.

And ex-Rangers star Gattuso, known as "The Pitbull" in Italy, is still the beating heart of the side.

The 30-year-old midfield dynamo has committed his future to AC Milan and will be out to put a disappointing season with his club side behind him by bagging his country's first Euro title since 1968.

Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini should play beside Gattuso in a 4-3-3 formation.

Giant hitman Luca Toni will be the focal point of the attack with Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi supplying the ammunition.

A solid backline of Fabio Cannavaro, Materazzi, Christian Panucci and Gianluca Zambrotta forms a formidable obstacle while Gianluigi Buffon is still rated as the world's best keeper.

And Juventus star Buffon admits he has no fear of facing France. He said: "We've met so many times I'm almost sick of playing them. If anything I'm more worried about Romania.

"They have four or five highly talented players who can hide the ball from you."

Romania - with Inverness hitman Marius Niculae in their side - may be underdogs but they finished above Holland in their qualifying group and could prove the tournament's dark horses. The Dutch meanwhile have a fine record at Euro Championships and will fancy their chances.

They have exciting attacking talent in Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie while Celtic's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink provides a threat.

Any two of the sides could easily go through. Bookies favour Italy and only a brave man would bet against them while France may prove the major casualty in the group.

ODDS TO QUALIFY

Italy 7/4, France 9/4, Holland 11/4, Romania 12/1

FRANCE

COACH - ODDBALL gaffer Raymond Domenech hassome strange obsessions including a love of astrology. Has declared hewon't put Scorpios in the team and that Leos make bad defenders.

STAR PLAYER - Despite failing to settle at Barcelona Thierry Henry always seems to rise to the occasion for France.

EUROS RECORD -

1960: Semi-Final 1984: Winners 1992: KO'd atGroup stage 1996: Semi-Final 2000: Winners 2004: Quarter-Final. ODDS TOWIN TROPHY - 9/1

ITALY

COACH - The Tartan Army will still find ithard to stomach the fact Roberto Donadoni will be in the dug-out atEuro 2008 after his side pipped Scotland in qualifying. The pressure ison the 44-year-old to follow up the success of Marcello Lippi anddeliver Italy's second successive title after their World Cup win.

STAR PLAYER - This could be FabioCannavaro's last big tournament in Italy's rock-solid defence and the34-year-old Real Madrid star will be looking to go out in a blaze ofglory.

EUROS RECORD - 1968: Winners 1980:Semi-Final 1988: Semi-Final 1996: KO'd at Group stage 2000: Runners-Up2004: KO'd at Group stage.

ODDS TO WIN TROPHY - 7/1

HOLLAND

COACH - One of the great strikers of hisgeneration, Marco van Basten needs no introduction and a victory forHolland would add to the winner's medal the 43-year-old picked up as aplayer in 1988.

STAR PLAYER - Ruud van Nistelrooy has shown at Real Madrid he is still one of Europe's top strikers.

EUROS RECORD - 1976: Semi-Final 1980: KO'dat Group stage 1988: Winners 1992: Semi-Final 1996: Quarter-Final 2000:Semi-Final 2004: Semi-Final.

ODDS TO WIN TROPHY - 14/1

ROMANIA

COACH - As a former striker 52-year-oldVictor Piturca knows his prime assets are up front but has stillconcentrated on building a solid backline and defensive-minded midfieldinstead of encouraging his players to pile into attack.

STAR PLAYER - Adrian Mutu might not havebeen able to find a way through the Rangers defence when he playedagainst the Ibrox men with Fiorentina but the 29-year-old formerChelsea and Juventus striker is always a danger.

EUROS RECORD - 1984: KO'd at Group stage 1996: KO'd at Group stage 2000: Quarter-Final

ODDS TO WIN TROPHY - 50/1