ENGLAND start the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004.

Opponents Slovakia were battered 3-0 last month in their first qualifier away to Turkey and anything but a convincing victory for Sven's boys will be a major disappointment.

A tenner on England to win 3-0 with me will pay £130. If you fancy Beckham to score the first goal I'll give you a nice round £100 for your tenner if you are right and if you have a £10 double on Beckham and 3-0 I will give you £660 back!

The qualifying campaign lasts around a year, concluding with the hardest test away to World Cup semi finalists Turkey in Istanbul and although it should be a tricky away day, I am sure we will have qualified by then. England are strong 2/5 favourites to win Group 7 and 10/1 to do so by winning all eight games. Perhaps more attractive is the 7/4 I am offering for us to qualify undefeated, it could look a nice price going into that last match in Turkey next year.

The Super League play-offs continue tonight with a massive derby match as St Helens entertain Wigan Warriors at Knowsley Road with the victors meeting Bradford Bulls in the Grand Final at Old Trafford tomorrow week.

The Warriors hold the upper hand over their old foes this season, including victory in the Challenge Cup Final, but I still make Saints strong favourites on the handicap.

Saints (and Great Britain's) player of the season Paul Sculthorpe is 14/1 with me to score the first try, with Warriors' prolific full-back Kris Radlinski available at the same price.

Sale Sharks make their debut in the other code's Heineken European Cup this weekend and I think they've got a very good chance of making it to the quarter finals at least. I make them 25/1 to win the competition outright behind reigning European champions Leicester Tigers, favourites at 3/1 despite a poor start to their domestic campaign.

With the final being held in Dublin, odds of 7/1 on either of the big Irish teams Leinster and Munster could prove a better bet.