With Torres in the side Spain have the flair of Euro Champs

Jun 8 2008 Andy Walker

EURO 2008 will really start tomorrow night when heavyweights Holland and Italy collide in Berne.

This is the game that might just shape how exciting these finals could be.

We've had two matches already and the Group B clashes today will hopefully also produce their fair share of thrills.

But I'm hoping the competition will come alive when the Dutch play the world champions.

Group C is the one to watch at this tournament with France and Romania joining Holland and the mighty Italians.

Any two of these four could make it to the quarter-finals and the ability to cope with three massive games in such a short space of time will prove crucial.

Teams can ill afford to lose their opening match but I'm hoping both sides go for it in Berne instead of playing it safe.

I want Euro 2008 to produce a winner that plays with flair - a side we will speak about for years to come. Greece, surprise victors in Portugal four years ago, won't be remembered fondly by anyone outwith their country.

Otto Rehhagel's men were defensively sound and capable on their run to glory at Euro 2004.

But they're hardly the words we want to be using about the team crowned European champions in Vienna three weeks from now.

For the good of the game attacking football has to come to the fore at a major tournament.

For that reason alone I'd love to see Portugal, France, Holland or Spain win it.

These teams have the special talent that can light up a game.

What I'd really love would be to see games as entertaining as the Champions League Final.

So much was at stake for Manchester United and Chelsea in Moscow. But their decision to play attacking football and take some risks helped make the match so enjoyable to watch.

If Cristiano Ronaldo can put the speculation about his future to one side then Portugal have a real chance. The Manchester United winger has been in fantastic form and it's little wonder Real Madrid are doing everything they can to steal him from Old Trafford.

If he plays like he did in the Premiership this season then it could be Portugal's turn to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.

In Euro 2000 they lost to France in the semi-finals and four years later it was agony in the final as Portugal were pipped by Greece in front of their own fans.

But Phil Scolari has the players to go a step further this time.

For France, the key to their whole tournament might just lie in the first game.

Hours before Holland and Italy go head-to-head, three points against Romania in their opening game would be a huge boost.

Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka have a better pedigree but the man I fancy to make a name for himself is Karim Benzema.

The Lyon kid has scored big goals in the Champions League and after seeing him destroy Rangers at Ibrox he could prove to be the surprise package of the tournament.

Few teams are better than the Dutch in full flow but what a tough start they have against world champions Italy.

Holland have always been easier on the eye than the Italians but lack the Azzurri's maturity, experience and know-how to get through tough games.

I see it as champagne football against organisation and grit but if both sides play to their full potential I expect the Dutch to win.

It's good for the game when teams try to be expressive and concentrate on attack.

So I want to be talking about all the thrilling football on offer over the next month rather than moaning about a dull, organised team marching to the final.

The fear of losing the opening game could make Holland's match with Italy a poor spectacle because there may be no way back after dropping three points.

But playing it safe has never been the Dutch way and I hope that continues in these finals.

I've always admired their mentality and I played alongside Pierre van Hooijdonk at Celtic for a short time.

Say what you like about big Pierre but I found some of the arrogance that his countrymen are famed for quite admirable.

He would often say nonchalantly before a game: "I'll be surprised if I don't score today Andy."

More often than not he did and I liked his style.

I think the Dutch can go far this month. They've always had the players to shine on the biggest stage and I expect Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben to ease the burden of goalscoring on Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The eventual winners will have the top scorer in their team and that's one of the reasons I'm going for Spain to finally shake off their tag of underachievers.

Like England, Spain can boast some of the best talent in the world but always seem to fall short.

Striker Fernando Torres had a magnificent debut season in the Premiership with Liverpool and anyone who can score goals at such a quick rate is special.

They are also strong defensively with Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos at the heart of things.

In midfield Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi are a joy to watch but it's up front where Spain really come alive.

I doubt if we'll watch a better striker than Torres over the next few weeks and I wouldn't be surprised to see him and Spain overcome Portugal in the final on June 29.

It's a dream scenario with some of the world's best players fighting it out on the European stage.

And let's hope the tournament is won by a side playing free flowing, attacking football.

"Winners should play with flair"