Tony Adams and Sol Campbell will be asked to cause havoc in Portugal's defence as England attempt to kick-start their Euro 2000 challenge by exploiting their opponents' suspect temperament.

This was a key part of the briefing that Kevin Keegan gave his players for their Group A opener.

The England coach has also urged David Beckham to be more involved in the game and to demonstrate that he stands alongside Portugal's Luis Figo as the best wide midfielder in world football.

The England team contains no surprises. It will be built on a 4-4-2 formation with Keegan aware that defeat would be a near-disaster.

Keegan and his coaching team believe, however, that they can exploit the Portuguese players' brittle temperament by utilising traditional English values.

Arsenal's vastly experienced defender Adams, who has been nursed through the build-up to avoid the risk of aggravating his suspect back, together with Tottenham's Campbell, who will be preferred to Martin Keown, will go forward at set pieces at every opportunity in an attempt to unhinge a Portuguese defence that is perceived as weak in the air.

Beckham, in addition to providing a steady stream of crosses, will also be asked to come inside off the right flank to further confuse Portugal and keep them on the back foot with Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes making decoy diagonal runs.

On the left, the more attack-minded Steve McManaman plays in preference to Dennis Wise.

Keegan and his squad are aware of the danger of players such as Barcelona's Figo, Joao Pinto, Nuno Gomes and Fiorentina's Rui Costa.

However, Keegan believes that much of Portugal's potency will disappear if they can be dispossessed in midfield and the plan will be to play a high tempo, pressing game, forcing the Portuguese into errors.

Adams, Campbell and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, will be asked to move the ball quickly to the England midfield and even bring it out themselves if the opportunity presents itself.

Keegan has said that no country will be better prepared on the opposition than England and the squad have watched detailed video footage of Portugal in action, detailing individual strengths and weaknesses.

The England squad spent their final training session working diligently on set pieces although Adams, mindful of his back problems, again dropped out towards the end of the session.

'Tony is fine,' confirmed Keegan. 'He is very focused for this tournament and a very remarkable guy. The more time I spend with him, the more he has my total respect.'

Keegan believes he has seen enough of recent Portugal performances and the way their defenders panic under pressure, particularly from free-kicks and corners, to be optimistic about the outcome.

Keegan will also warn his players of the importance of not conceding the first goal to their inventive opponents who are past-masters of running down the clock with the help of body checks, fouls and time-wasting, once they are ahead.

He also hinted at England's pressure tactics when he said: 'The matches I have seen so far in the tournament have been played at a fair old pace and that is something we will seek to do against Portugal.

'I spend a lot of my time thinking adventurously because that is the sort of person I am but there has to be a balance. This is an England team who cannot only defend well but also give Portugal lots of problems.'

Sir Geoff Hurst has been with the England squad over the past few days and Keegan said: 'We should make more use of players who have done great service in the English game.

'I am still hoping Stuart Pearce will come out although he is working hard at home to get fit and I have also left a message on Andy Cole's mobile asking him to come out.'

Keegan also confirmed that he has no doubts about Alan Shearer's fitness. He said that Newcastle were consulted over the decision to give the striker an anti-inflammatory injection to accelerate his recovery from tendonitis on his knee.

That was at odds with Soccernet's revelation two weeks ago that no player would receive an injection to play unless England were in the Final.

'It is normal procedure,' said Keegan. 'Alan is now fit and keen to score goals.'

ENGLAND: Seaman (Arsenal), P Neville, G Neville (Man Utd), Adams (Arsenal), Campbell (Tottenham), Ince (Middlesbrough), Beckham (Man Utd), McManaman (Real Madrid), Scholes (Man Utd), Owen (Liverpool), Shearer (Newcastle).

Subs to be named.