Desailly a rock of ages

Marcel Desailly will reach the 100-cap milestone when he plays for France against Slovenia in a busy day of EURO 2004™ action tomorrow that sees England, the Czech Republic and Yugoslavia get their campaigns under way.

Distinguished career
Desailly, known as The Rock, made his first appearance for France aged 25 against Sweden in November 1993. The former FC Nantes Atlantique, Olympique de Marseille and AC Milan man, now with Chelsea FC, has had a distinguished international career, helping France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2000™.

'Great honour'
The 34-year-old, who will be captaining the national team's first match in France since the disappointment of the 2002 World Cup, said: "Of course, it's a great honour to pass this milestone. All the more that this match will be important, it's our comeback at the Stade de France."

Mexes or Gallas
Slovenia, who like France made a winning start in Group 1 last month, will be tough opponents in Paris especially with the return of the influential Zlatko Zahovic. Helping Desailly in defence will either be AJ Auxerre's talented centre-back Philippe Mexes or Desailly's club-mate William Gallas. Both are tipped for great international futures but whether they will have the staying power of Desailly remains to be seen.

Brincat celebrates
Another 100-cap milestone should be passed in the other Group 1 match, when Malta meet Israel. Sliema Wanderers FC midfield player Joe Brincat has overcome a niggling hamstring injury and could finally reach his century after missing the last four internationals for Malta.

Beckham back
England have been boosted by the return to fitness of captain David Beckham for their Group 7 opener against Slovakia. However, they are without the first-choice centre-back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell meaning the Middlesbrough FC duo of Ugo Ehiogu and Gareth Southgate should start in Bratislava. The other match in the group sees Turkey visit F.Y.R. Macedonia looking to make it two wins from two.

Young Czechs
The Czech Republic will hope to make a winning start in Group 3 when they travel to Moldova. The Czech squad features a host of players from their triumph at this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship, including talented goalkeeper Petr Cech. Yugoslavia travel to Italy in Group 9 without the influential Predrag Djordjevic after the attacking midfield player pulled out following his father's death. The Italians will also be without some key men, especially Francesco Totti and Christian Vieri, although will expect in-form Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero to more than trouble their visitors.

Old friends
In Group 10, Russia coach Valeri Gazzaev will take on his former captain at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, Alexander Chivadze, who is now coach of Georgia. In Group 6, Northern Ireland's match in Spain will raise memories of the meeting 20 years ago at the 1982 World Cup when Gerry Armstrong's goal stunned the Spanish in Valencia. Northern Irish coach Sammy McIlroy, a player in that famous victory, is urging his side to reproduce the team spirit of the night and will be hoping that Spain striker Raúl González fails to win his battle against a groin problem.

Lemerre in Lisbon
Finally, EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal will again be in friendly action, this time against Tunisia. The match is Portugal's first in Lisbon since their first-round exit from the World Cup, and is also Tunisia's first under former France coach Roger Lemerre.