Both first-time European Championships participants - Austria and Poland - are in the group.

In fact it will be Austria's first appearance at a major tournament for 10 years - they failed to make it past the first round in the 1998 World Cup in France.

Coach Josef Hickersberger at least has big-time experience - he coached Austria to the 1990 World Cup finals, as well as playing at the 1978 tournament in Argentina, where Austria secured a famous win over West Germany.

Victory over their next-door neighbours this time around seems unlikely at best.

They have won just seven of 33 meetings between the two countries - most recently in 1986 - and a friendly earlier this year ended in a 3-0 win to Germany.

The task is an even greater one for Poland, who have never beaten Germany, again amongst the favourites for the title.

If their third-place finish at their home World Cup was something of a surprise, a similar performance this time around would be nothing short of a disappointment.

Coach Joachim Low has continued the work started by predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann and fans will expect their opening game against Poland on June 8 to be the start of a march to the final, particularly after their 13-0 win over San Marino - the biggest in European Championship qualifying history.

Croatia will have their eyes not just on reaching the next round, but on top spot.

After helping eliminate England from their qualifying group, they fear nobody.

There is an impressive belief about the side under coach Slaven Bilic, which will be helped by recent experience of beating Germany in a major tournament - 3-0 in the quarter-final of the 1998 World Cup.

Whereas Austria are handed their first place at a European Championship by virtue of being co-hosts, Poland had to earn theirs the hard way.

That looked unlikely when they lost their first qualifying game to Finland, but nine goals from Racing Santander forward Euzebiusz Smolarek helped them recover to top Group A ahead of Portugal.

The two debutants face off on June 12 and, if either is to progress ahead of the more fancied Germany and Croatia, it is a must-win encounter.

Key Game: Austria v Croatia, Sunday June 8. Austria fans may be looking at their game against Germany but if the co-hosts are to progress - always good for the tournament - they must look to catch Croatia cold on the tournament's second day.

Player To Watch: The group is deprived of perhaps its most exciting player because of the broken leg suffered by Croatia's Eduardo, so instead look out for Germany'sMario Gomez. The speedy Stuttgart striker has made quite an impact since making his international debut last year and a good tournament this summer could hasten his rumoured departure to Italy or Spain.

Prediction: Germany will progress, of course, and Croatia will join them - provided they can negotiate an Austria team which is sure to be highly motivated for their opening game in their home tournament.