Many of the best midfielders in the world cross swords on Sunday in the decisive battleground of France's Euro 2004 opener against England.

Though both sides boast top-class goalscorers in Thierry Henry and Michael Owen, the Group B game is likely to turn on who can stamp their authority in the middle of the park.

An already combustible mix featuring Steven Gerrard's clash with Patrick Vieira is given an extra twist by the fact that several club mates will face each other in Lisbon's Estadio da Luz.

The confrontation between England captain David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane is set to grab the spotlight after a season together at under-performing Real Madrid.

Beckham is a huge admirer of the three-times World Player of the Year and his place on the England right is a perfect match for Zidane's nominal slot on the French left side.

"Zidane is one of the best players, if not the best player in the world," Beckham said.

Though Beckham has a deserved reputation for his work rate and willingness to tackle back, the challenge ahead will demand one of his best performances in an England shirt.

"To play with him is a pleasure but to play against him is going to be tough," Beckham conceded.

As the two most dynamic enforcers in English football, Arsenal's Vieira and Liverpool's Gerrard have been exchanging crunching tackles for years.

Gerrard, who has a more attacking brief than Vieira, can expect to run straight into his old foe as he drives England forward in support of Owen and Wayne Rooney.

Vieira's partner in the two defensive positions in the French midfield will be Claude Makelele, whose main job will be to silence Chelsea team mate Frank Lampard.

Lampard is now delivering the same sparkling performances for England that fired Chelsea to runners-up spot in the premier league and the Champions League semi-finals.

The 25-year-old opened the scoring in last Saturday's 6-1 drubbing of Iceland and looks to have done enough to oust Nicky Butt from England's midfield.

England's left flank has long been a problem area, with Paul Scholes likely find himself in an unfamiliar position to accommodate Gerrard and Lampard in the middle.

Scholes is a committed but unrefined tackler and may struggle to contain the silky skills of Robert Pires, though Pires will also have his hands full to counter the England player's clever passing and elusive runs into the penalty area.