Houllier tips Dutch success

Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier tells BBC Sport Online that host country Holland pose the biggest threat to England's Euro 2000 ambitions.

But Houllier - who was was France's Technical Director when they won the World Cup in 1998 - names Kevin Keegan's side as the tournament's dark horses.

England have plenty of experienced players. They are not regarded as favourites because of the difficulties they had in qualifying, but I think this could actually help them.

England have plenty of attacking options and they are always mentally strong and tough to beat.

Kevin Keegan has impressed Houllier

I would pick Holland as favourites at this stage, but selecting a winner in the build-up to a tournament is always a gamble, and I can see possibly France or England coming through if they get it right at the right time.

I have been impressed by Kevin Keegan. He is a good team builder, and believes in the togetherness that can be a key element in a championship.

Good appointment

He is learning about the art of international management. I think it has proved a very good appointment, because it was difficult for England to qualify when he took the job, and they got through, irrespective of how they did it.

I think England will certainly get to the quarter-final and then perhaps the semi-final. Who can say what happens then?

I have to put a major question mark over Germany.

They never miss out when it comes to qualification for big tournaments, and invariably they come through the group stages, but I think they have lost the air of invincibility that has accompanied them for so long.

I think that England are currently a better team than Germany

Gerard Houllier

They have lost their reference points for how good or bad they are, and to me they lack an element of individual quality.

If you add to that the inner rift that has appeared between some sections of the squad and the management, then it does not look too impressive.

I think that England are currently a better team than Germany. There are certainly more assets in the England team than there are in Germany's.

World-class stars

Holland have the best crop of players. They have everything. Edwin Van der Sar is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, while they have a very good defensive protector in Jaap Stam.

Holland have the best crop of players - they have everything

Gerard Houllier

They have a hard-working midfield player and a terrier in Edgar Davids.

They have the creator in Dennis Bergkamp and the finisher in Patrick Kluivert.

This is a very formidable spine of five players running through the team and I see them reaching the final and would name them as the team I see winning.

Their squad has perhaps lacked unity in the past, as everybody knows, but this time there has been a lot of criticism of their coach Frank Rijkaard, and I think this will pull them together.