France v England: They grow more cautious by the day at the English Football Association. Yesterday they presented journalists visiting their training base on the outskirts of Lisbon with coffee, biscuits and a small piece of white card.
Itstated that the association accepted "no liability whatsoever" in the event the press pack were selectively, or for that matter collectively, wiped out by "acts of terrorism, riot, civil commotion or public disturbance".
Take it, if you will, as a vote of confidence in the supporters who were - a few miles up the road at the city's airport - arriving in their thousands.
Sven-Goran Eriksson and David Beckham tried to be slightly more positive as they answered questions from the media regarding tomorrow's game, but the more they talked the less well could they disguise the fact that a draw against the defending champions would be regarded as a highly satisfactory result, one that should pave the way to qualification for the tournament's last eight.
More than once, Eriksson found himself defending the timid way in which his side exited the World Cup two years ago against Brazil, but, he said, "I don't think we did so poorly when you consider that they went on to win the competition. In any case, we are a much better side this time so I expect things to be a little different."
At the World Cup, Eriksson's preparations were hindered by injuries to several key players, while this time around he has almost his strongest team available for the French game.
"It is my second championship and things have been much, much better this time," said the Swede before moving on to consider the fact that in the one area where he does have a problem - central defence - he is down to perhaps his fourth or fifth choice to partner Sol Campbell.
Lucky, eh, that the pair of them will only have to look after Thierry Henry for the evening. The threat posed by the brilliant French striker looks set to influence Eriksson's final selection of a replacement for John Terry who yesterday failed a fitness test on a hamstring problem.
After the way Henry overran Jamie Carragher and scored a hat-trick in April's 4-2 defeat of Liverpool by Arsenal the England manager now looks set to hand 23-year-old Ledley King a place in his starting line up.
The Tottenham's defender's ability to rise to the challenge will be a key factor in a game that neither side will want to lose as will, more than ever, Steven Gerrard's ability to provide cover in the defensive midfield role.
Gerrard will do battle once more with Patrick Vieira when he will be anxious to justify Alex Ferguson's assessment that he is now a more influential player than the Arsenal midfielder.
Also out to prove something, if he plays, will be Chelsea's Marcel Desailly, seen by many in the England camp as a major French weakness due to his declining pace.
There is a suspicion that Jacques Santini, doubtful himself about the 35-year-old's ability to cope withMichael Owen and Wayne Rooney, has been making preparations to drop his skipper.
If he does feel the need to change things at the back, then Santini's options look just a little better than his opposite number's with Willy Sagnol and Mikael Silvestre both available to come in, while Lillian Thuram could, despite saying on Thursday that he expected to make his 100th appearance for France playing in the centre, revert to right back.
It may be quite a while since they last played a good team in a competitive game, but for all the talk of their vulnerability at the back the French have not conceded a goal in 11 games while their unbeaten run extends back a further seven. England, meanwhile, have notexactly earned themselves a reputation as world beaters in front of goal.
Asked yesterday if, in the circumstances, he'd settle for a draw tomorrow night Beckham was adamant. "No, because I want to win, but I don't want to lose so maybe the draw would be good."
Perhaps somewhere in there he, like his team, just might have the makings of a point.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
ENGLAND: James (Manchester City); G Neville (Manchester Utd), Campbell (Arsenal), King (Tottenham), Cole (Arsenal); Beckham (Real Madrid), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Scoles (Manchester Utd); Rooney (Everton), Owen (England).
FRANCE: Barthez (Marseilles); Gallas (Chelsea), Thuram (Juventus), Desailly (Chelsea), Lizarazu (Bayern Munich); Pires (Arsenal), Vieira (Arsenal), Makelele (Chelsea), Zidane (Real Madrid); Trezeguet (Juventus), Henry (Arsenal).
