LONDON, June 5 (Reuter): Germany start out as the bookmakers’ favourites when the European championship kicks off on Saturday but watch out for France, unbeaten in two-and-a-half years and with eight successive wins under their belt.

The following is a group-by-group form guide to the 16-natlon finals :

Group A: (England. Nether lands.-Scotland. Switzerland) two question marks and two outsiders.

The Dutch have so much talent in their squad they must be favourites to top the group but an Indifferent qualifying campaign and some up-ana-dOwn results since give rise to certain doubts about their ability to maintain traditional clockwork orange standards.

But a team built around the exciting Ajax Amsterdam side with Danny Blind and Frank de Boer directing from the back. Edgar Davids and Richard Witschge pulling the midfield strings and Patrick Kluivert and Dennis Bergkamp taking pop shots at goal has the potential to go all the way — if they click.

England are harder to assess as they have not played a true competitive match since 1993. Only one defeat in the last two years — to world' champions Brazil — suggests they have steel but their performances have lacked both fire and invention.

Last time they hosted a major tournament they ran out winners in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley but then they had Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore. Now they are relying heavily on Paul Ince to protect a suspect defence. Paul Gascoigne to provide inspiration and Alan Shearer to get Ss — something he has not : in an England shirt for , almost two years.

Scotland will be fired up to spring a surprise against old enemies England at Wembley but they have a squad which could charitably be described as moderate. The Swiss appear in decline since coach Roy Hodgson left for Internazionale ' Milan.

Group B : (Bulgaria, France.

Romania, Spain)

France, the only one of the four not at the 1994 World Cup

finals, now look head and shoulders above the rest after their stunning run of 22 matches without defeat, a senes which has included away wins over Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Romania in a vital qualifying match

Able to dispense with the services of Eric Cantona, the French have, in new heroes Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff. the most gifted midfield creators since Michael Platini and Alain Giresse. A tough defence and great midfield ball-winners in Christian Karembeu and Didier Deschamps give them the quality of potential champions if the breaks go their way

Romania, whose cultured style dependends on the artful left foot of Gheorghe Hagi, and Spain, who have a more prosaic game based on the power and purpose of Fernando Hierro, should contest second pla ce with the more experienced Romanians.

.Bulgaria. World Cup semifinalists two years ago. appear to be over the hill and can only hope Hristo Stoichkov and C Rediscover their old zest.

Group C: (Czech Republic. Germany, Italy. Russia)

Ge nnany are bookmakers' favourites but that is based more on their consistent past record of reaching the later stages of tournaments rather than in the strength of their squad as Italy and Russia Moth look an if they could be more than a i match.

Italy have spluttered fitfully in the b ulld-up to the finals but if Paolo Maldinl. Dino Baggio Fabrizic Ravanelli. Alessandro del Pier o and Gianfranco Zola open up on full throttle, heaven I trip the rest.

Russia have two of the most dynamic back four players in the world in Yuri Nikiforov and Viktor Onopko and. with Alexande r Mostovoi supplying the penet rative passes and Andrei Kanchelskis at full tilt down the wing, they could be as impressive as in 1988 when, as the Soviet Union, they reach ed the final.

The Czech - Republic ar< outsiders but perfectly capablc of staging an upset, all ol which should give the Germans grounds to doubt, especially as key midfielders Andy Moeller. Thomas Haessler and Mario Basler have not been at their best of fate

But If brilliant newcomer Mehmet School takes up the slack and his Bayern Munich teammate Juereen Klinsmann hits his usual goal-scoring heights. Germany could stay in the hunt.

GROUP D: (Croatia. Den mark. Portugal. Turkey)

Denmark are defending champions but Portugal. In their first major finals in IQ years and Croatia, competing at this level for the first time, are favourites for the last eight.

The Imposing presence of Manchester Unltqa goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and the fraternal alliance of the Laurdups — Michael and Brain — may not be enough for the Danes to repeat the fairy tale of four years ago when they won the title as last-minute stand-ins for suspended Yugoslavia. Portugal should be one of the most polished teams on view with Rui Costa masterminding the operation, Luis Figo jinking around every defender in sight. Domingos banging in goals and Vitor Baia saving everything thrown at him at the other end.

The Portuguese, who also have the likes of Fernando Couto. Paulo Sousa and Joao Pinto at their disposal, boast a new generation of players who have matured at the same time.

Croatia do too and many other teams envy them a lineup Including Alen Boksic. Zvonimir Boban. Davor Suker and Robert Jarnl. But ultimate ambitions of glory must be muted by fear that their defence lacks the flair of their attack.

Turkey, who have also qualified for the first time, should not expect miracles. Those were all cornered by Denmark in 1992.