Soccer: Dutch dying to see their team triumph

Dutch football fans for whom Euro 2000 is a matter of life or death can rest easy. An undertaker in the southern town of Vught is offering orange coffins, enlivened by the colours of the national flag, aimed at supporters who die during the tournament.

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Police caught two thieves who stole tickets for the opening match when they spotted a couple of dark-haired men sitting among the mass of blond Swedish supporters.

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Belgian winger Bart Goor has dedicated his opening goal of the tournament to his son, Robbe, born a fortnight ago. "It was an unbelievable moment of my life," Goor said of the goal just before halftime, which opened the way to Belgium's 2-1 victory over Sweden.

Did baby Robbe get to see the goal? "No, apparently he slept through the whole thing," Goor said. "But I've got it on video. Don't worry, he'll see it."

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Veteran Swedish defender Roland Nilsson spent the night in hospital after suffering concussion in the defeat by Belgium and will miss Sweden's next game, against Turkey, on Friday. Nilsson went off at halftime, shortly after a mistake which let in Bart Goor for Belgium's first goal.

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Several Denmark supporters found themselves broke when the Belgian banknotes they received from banks at home proved to be old money taken out of circulation.

Chief Superintendent Kurt Hansen, a Danish police officer in Belgium to assist local police, said it was "a scandal that Danish banks apparently sit on great bundles of banknotes that have been outdated for two or three years."

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France are the new favourites, at 3-1, to win Euro 2000 after yesterday's matches. Latest betting: 3-1, France; 10-3, Netherlands; 11-2, Spain; 13-2, Italy; 8-1, England; 12-1, Germany and Belgium; 22-1, Portugal; 25-1, Norway; 33-1, Czech Republic; 40-1, Romania and Yugoslavia; 50-1, Sweden; 125-1, Turkey; 150-1, Denmark; 200-1, Slovenia.

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Euro 2000 has given veteran German midfielder Thomas Haessler a new lease of life.

Haessler, aged 34, won his 100th cap against Romania, yet a few weeks ago - thinking his international career was over - he had made plans for his holidays.