IAN Wright is backing England to reach at least the semi-finals of Euro 2000 -- kicking off with a 2-0 win in their Group A opener against Portugal tonight.

The former England striker, whose Burnley future is very much up in the air as he moves towards retirement from the game, insists that Kevin Keegan's side can strike fear into the rest of Europe.

And he believes that England can make it to the last four alongside the tournament heavyweights -- with Norway as potential dark horses.

"England, Spain, Italy always come good in things and the Germans haven't been doing well in qualifying but you can't rule them out.

"Even Norway, I'm not saying they'll win aything but they'll always cause problems. The more you think about it, I just don't know!"

"We have just got to play our strongest side and that will be a match for most teams in the competition. They are scared of us," insisted Wright, who was today undergoing surgery on a long-standing ankle injury.

Alan Shearer and Michael Owen will spearhead the England attack against Portugal in Eindhoven but Wright, capped 33 times by his country, believes that whatever striking combination Keegan uses during the tournament will come up trumps.

"Whether it is Alan and Emile (Heskey), Alan and Robbie (Fowler), or Alan and Michael (Owen), they are all quality players," added Wright, who is predicting a flying start for England with a 2-0 success.

"Emile will knock them about a bit and I hope Kevin Phillips gets a game. I like him and once he gets one goal, he'll get more.

"I'm just hoping we can get going and we can have a good tournament."

However, Wright, who scored nine times on international duty, thinks the front partnership of the tournament will be France's Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, who helped World Champions France to an ominous 3-0 win over Denmark yesterday.

"They are the top guys. They both ended up with really good seasons. Anelka looked quite sharp and Thierry's been scoring goals for fun.

"But at the moment, I'm just looking forward to the Germany game (next Saturday). I'm just waiting for us to beat them and then go on and win things. As long as we beat them, because they're our jinx team," he added.

Wright hasn't had many close dealings with boss Keegan, but admires the England coach's attitude which he believes will bring the best out of his squad.

"I do not know too much about him. I know he is very enthusiastic about football, like myself. It's good to be enthusiastic.

"He is very passionate about the game."

And asked if he thought Keegan was a good manager, the 36-year-old Clarets star added: "That remains to be seen but he gets the lads going. They like him and that is half the job."

Recent indications suggest that Wright may have played his last game of professional football in helping Burnley clinch promotion to Division One at Scunthorpe last month.

An interview in yesterday's national press, in which he criticises the likes of Peter Schmeichel and referees Graham Barber, Rob Harris, Jeff Winter and Stephen Lodge, also suggested that he does not see a future in the game beyond the summer.

And he also said over the weekend: "I love football. I will miss all this. I am going to play lots of Sunday morning football and do some testimonials.

"I've got a few people waiting for me to sign for them - about 3,600 Sunday morning teams. I haven't sorted anything out yet!

"It is unbelievable, coming out of football into TV. I am just taking everything as it comes. I'm having a good time at the moment."

However, Burnley won't consider Wright's career to be over until he and manager Stan Ternent have had further talks later this month.

And the outcome of today's operation could also have a bearing on the final decision as his fitness rather than his new television commitments could be the decisive factor in whether or not Wright decides to call it a day.

With a new shirt sponsorship deal set to be announced at Turf Moor, the Clarets are poised to go into production of their new playing kit for the 2000/01 campaign.

And supporters will get the chance to vote on the colours of the new away strip in tomorrow's Lancashire Evening Telegraph when our readers can pick one of three new designs put forward by manufacturers Super League.