Michel Platini is expecting a tight climax to Euro 2000 because France and Italy manage to stop themselves losing even when they don't play well enough to win.

Platini was the talismanic skipper of the French side when they last won the European Championships in 1984.

The flamboyant midfield man grabbed two hat-tricks as France made their way to the final, then scoring again in the decider against Spain in Paris.

Now, a slightly heavier figure than in his glorious playing days, Platini travels the world as an ambassador for FIFA.

But he will be in Holland today, cheering the current generation of French players to what he hopes is a repeat of the 1984 triumph.

'The current French team is very fortunate because there are 22 world class players in the squad,' said Platini.

'Offensively, they have improved since they won the World Cup two years ago because we now have attacking players of the quality of Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka.

'To be a great player, you need a good team but you need good players to make a great team and that is what France have now.

'Italy have always had the mentality which allows them not to lose even when they are not playing well,' said Platini. 'The Holland game was just the latest example of this.

'Brazil are the other extreme because they either win or lose according to their performance.

'That has happened to French teams in the past but this one has experience, confidence and self-belief. When the game is going against them they know how to defend and make sure they do not lose the game.'