GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS

By Caroline Cheese

1840: Incidentally, if it's an omen you're after, how about the big winner at Ascot today? Henrythenavigator won the St James's Palace Stakes by three-quarters of a length - and if Thierry Henry can navigate himself towards goal... oh, you know the rest.

1837: And while Italy fear a fix - or a biscuit as it's rather brilliantly known in Italy - poor old France seem to have given up the ghost already. "It is already written that Romania will qualify," says gloomy coach Raymond Domenech. France must win tonight to have any chance of going through - a result which they must feel is possible given that they haven't lost to Italy in open play for 30 years.

1833: "Italy and France couldn't beat Romania!!! So why should a reserve Dutch team beat them?? Romania 2-0 Holland."
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1827: Are Italy desperate? You betcha they are. Former Azzurri coach Arrigo Sacchi has written an open letter to Marco van Basten, essentially begging him to mastermind a Dutch win over Romania. "Dear Marco, we are hoping to be able to give you our thanks not only for the beautiful football that your team is showing but also for the great favour you can do your great friend Roberto Donadoni and all your admirers in Italy."

1822: So the Netherlands are through as Group C winners. That much we do know. Romania will join them in the quarter-finals if they beat Marco van Basten's side in Berne. If Romania don't win, the winner of the Italy v France game in Zurich will pip them. If both games are a draw, Romania will go through. Anything else and a whole host of complicated permutations, detailed below, come into play - but very definitely not a penalty shoot-out.

- If France and Italy share a score draw (1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc), Italy will go through if Romania lose (by any score). In this scenario, Italy, Romania and France will be level on two points each but Italy would have scored more goals in games between the 3 teams.