The involvement of England and Scotland will ensure the whole country goes soccer mad this summer and the tournament, France 98, will prove a rich source of ideas for language lessons, particularly oral presentation. (Pity the GCSE students - and their teachers - whose exams haven’t finished byJune 6.) French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese-speaking countries will be taking part. Topics could include numbers, colours, flags, equipment, clothing and the ubiquitous terrace chants.

Ask pupils for a match narrative, using time frames, imitate a TV or radio interview, prepare biographies of players and team playing records.

Follow the progress of a team other than England, the FrenchArabic speaking Tunisians or perhaps Jamaica. Concentrate on one of the Cup cities if your school has links, or establish a link - quickly.

Ask pupils to find how a team and its fans would travel to France.

THE TOURNAMENT JUNE 6-JULY 12

Matches will be played in

* St Etienne

* Paris

* Nantes

* Montpellier

* Marseilles

* Lyon

* Lens

* Bordeaux

THE TEAMS

Brazil

France

England

Germany

Italy

Holland

Argentina

Spain

Croatia

Yugoslavia

Nigeria

Belgium

Romania

Bulgaria

Colombia

Norway

Paraguay

Austria

Cameroon

Scotland

South Africa

Chile

Mexico

Morocco

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

United States

Japan

Jamaica

Tunisia

Iran