GROUP D: Germany, Holland, Latvia, Czech Republic

The so-called "Group of Death" puts three top teams up against each other in a fight to avoid the second elimination spot as it looks inevitable that Latvia will claim the first at the end of the group stage. While this may not seem to be very charitable to the Latvians, realists will expect at least two heavy defeats at the feet of the Dutch and the Czechs. The best chance the Latvians have of securing any points and retaining some dignity is to claim the scalp of the faltering Germans.

A team which has showed its discomfort when facing lesser opposition in the qualifying rounds, on paper Germany should overcome the Eastern European debutants with players of a different class. But when it comes to June 19, it may be a different prospect on the field. Germany's opening match against the Dutch four days before will set the tone for the whole group.

If Germany beat the Dutch, the feel-good factor that ran through their World Cup campaign may carry them all the way. If the Germans beat Latvia while riding that wave then their final match against the Czech Republic will be a play-off for the top spot in Group D and the chance to avoid the bigger guns in the quarter-finals.

However, if the Germans lose to the Dutch, it will all be a different story. In the scenario where Holland hits the ground running, the Dutch can chalk up their first valuable points against Germany, fight it out with the Czechs for top spot on June 19 and then look forward to putting Latvia to the sword in their final game on June 23 with their progress assured.

The Czech Republic should already have their first points by the time they face Holland after defeating Latvia on June 15. Whatever has happened in the Germany-Holland match on the same day, the Dutch will prove a stern test for the Czechs. It could be the decider for the top spot in the group or it could be a chance for the Dutch to save their tournament after losing to Germany. Either way, it rates highly as one of the most important games of the group. If the Czechs are bouncing then a stale Germany will prove to be no problem on the final day of the group stages.

DW Prediction: Holland and Czech Republic to qualify.