Bergkamp declares finals wide open

Bergkamp feels France have a point to prove

Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp feels there are several nations in with a good chance of winning Euro 2000 - and one of them is Holland.

Bergkamp believes that Holland have not done themselves justice in the past and there could not be a better time to put things right than in front of their own fans this summer.

He said: "We want to win this title now. Maybe we owe it to ourselves.

"For me, the competition is wide open, but we should do well.

Germany are always focused for the big finals and yet I cannot think of a top German player who has come through this year

Dennis Bergkamp

"Our results in the warm-up games have not been very good - too many draws - and that has worried some people, but friendly matches are difficult for preparation.

"They are rarely a good guide to what a team can really do in competition.

Poor results

"The French had some poor results before the last World Cup but they won the tournament.

"Now I think they have, as world champions, some points to prove because they struggled to qualify.

"Germany are always focused for the big finals and yet I cannot think of a top German player who has come through this year.

People ask me if England have a real chance and I ask why not

Dennis Bergkamp

"They still have all the old names that we know and from what I've seen of them in the last couple of years they don't frighten you.

"People ask me if England have a real chance and I ask why not.

"I know the players here and I believe the standard of the English player has improved so much in the last few years because the Premiership has attracted so many top Europeans to set himself against every week.

Surprise team

"But, of course, there is always a surprise team in every championship like the Czech Republic in Euro 96 and Croatia two years ago in France. The Czechs will be tough again."