European roundup

I deserve to be in Dutch squad, says Newcastle striker Kluivert

NEWCASTLE, England (Reuters) -- Patrick Kluivert has reacted with dismay to his omission from the Dutch squad for their World Cup qualifiers.

The 28-year-old striker has scored six times this season for Newcastle since joining the English club from Barcelona but was overlooked when Dutch coach Marco van Basten named his squad for the games against Macedonia and Finland.

"I think at this moment I deserve my place in the national team," Kluivert was quoted as saying in the Northern Echo newspaper on Tuesday.

"I feel good, I have a place in the Newcastle team and I am scoring goals -- what else do I have to do to get my place back?"

Kluivert has scored 40 goals in 79 internationals for the Netherlands but was described as a "luxury problem" by Van Basten when he named his squad last Friday.

"Who can say what the future will bring for me?" Kluivert added. "I was sure that I would be invited to join up with the Dutch national team.

"Unfortunately some people think differently.

"It's not because of my past record. I am not asking for privileges but at Newcastle I am scoring goals and in good form.

"It's disappointing that the manager (Van Basten) doesn't think that I am good enough."

The Netherlands, who won their opening Group One game 2-0 against the Czech Republic, play Macedonia away on Saturday and Finland at home four days later.

Czech coach takes over Panathinaikos

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Czech coach Zdenek Scasny has taken over at defending champion Panathinaikos, the Athens club announced Tuesday.

He was hired one day after the first division club fired Israeli coach Yitzhak Shum.

Shum, 56, had been at Panathinaikos' helm for 15 months during which he helped the team win its first league title in seven years. Panathinaikos also took the Greek Cup.

Media reports said Panathinaikos' 1-0 loss Wednesday to PSV Eindhoven and its disappointing performance in the Champions League prompted the change.

Tuesday's brief announcement did not give any information about Scasny's contract, but he reportedly signed until at least the end of the season.

The 47-year-old is known to Greek fans from his days as coach of OFI Crete, another first division team he coached in 2002 and 2003.

After three rounds in the Greek first division, Panathinaikos is two points ahead at the top of the 16-team standings.

Hungary's Matthaeus wants attack vs. Sweden

BUDAPEST, (AP) -- Hungarian national soccer team coach Lothar Matthaeus said Tuesday he wants his squad to play on the attack against Sweden in their upcoming World Cup qualifier.

"My tactic was never defensive," Matthaeus said during a break in the team's training schedule. "But against Sweden we shouldn't hide and have to grasp every opportunity to attack."

Matthaeus said Saturday's Group 8 game, the third for both teams, could be "decisive" in determining the chances of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"Sweden is under more pressure than we are, because they lost to Croatia at home," Matthaeus said. "They must win Saturday's match to ensure they don't lose too many points on their home field."

Matthaeus welcomed the return of Hertha Berlin midfielder Pal Dardai, who had been left off the national squad for months after a dispute with the coach.

"We agreed not to talk about the past and acknowledged that mistakes were made," Matthaeus said. "Everyone makes mistakes but they shouldn't be repeated."

The former German star vehemently denied press reports that he had taken a cut from the transfer fees of Hungarian players who gained renown after being called by Matthaeus to the national team.

"I will never enrich myself from things which are not part of my job," said the man who still holds the German record with 150 appearances on the national squad.

Hungary is in fourth place in Group 8, tied with Sweden and Bulgaria on three points, but behind on goal difference. Croatia, with six points, leads the group which also includes Iceland and Malta.

Roster:

Goalkeepers: Gabor Kiraly (Crystal Palace), Balazs Raboczki (FC Kobenhavn, Denmark), Lajos Szucs (Ferencvaros).

Defenders: Zoltan Balog (Ferencvaros), Gabor Gyepes (Ferencvaros), Laszlo Eger (Debrecen), Peter Stark (Gyor), Zoltan Szelesi (Energie Cottbus), Andras Toth (Vasas).

Midfielders: Laszlo Bodnar (Roda JC), Boldizsar Bodor (Roda JC), Pal Dardai (Hertha BSC), Csaba Feher (PSV Eindhoven), Tamas Hajnal (Sint-Truiden, Belgium), Peter Halmosi (Debrecen), Balazs Molnar (Ankaraspor), Peter Simek (Ujpest).

Forwards: Zoltan Gera (West Bromwich Albion), Imre Szabics (VfB Stuttgart), Sandor Torghelle (Crystal Palace), Peter Kovacs (Viking Stavanger).

Frings pulls out of Germany friendly with Iran

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Bayern Munich midfielder Torsten Frings has pulled out of Germany's friendly against Iran on Saturday because of a thigh injury.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann decided not to replace him in the squad that gathered in Munich on Tuesday.

Frings has failed to recover from the muscle injury sustained in Bayern's 2-1 win over Bundesliga champions Werder Bremen on Saturday.

The match proved costly for Klinsmann, depriving him of Werder defender Frank Fahrenhorst with a broken nose. Borussia Dortmund's Christian Woerns was called up on Sunday as his replacement.

Klinsmann will fly with his relatively young 19-man squad to Tehran on Thursday. Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has been rested, while striker Kevin Kuranyi, who has scored four goals in his last two internationals, is injured.

Saturday's match will be Germany's first game in Tehran. The two sides have played just once, a World Cup group match in 1998 which Germany won 2-0.

"We want to make further progress after Austria and Brazil. We want to push forward quickly, play with confidence, show aggressiveness and win," Klinsmann said on Tuesday in reference to his first two matches in charge.

Germany beat Austria 3-1 in August and played well in a 1-1 draw with Brazil in Berlin a month ago.

Romania has injury worries ahead of Czech qualifier

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- Romania soccer coach Anghel Iordanescu has called up 12 foreign-based players for Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Prague against the Czech Republic, but two key defenders will miss the game with injuries.

Chelsea's striker Adrian Mutu is expected to recover from a knee injury and play in Prague, but team doctors were cautious about his condition.

Mircea Sandu, who heads the Romanian Soccer Federation, said, however, that Mutu told him he would be ready to play.

While he has not been a regular for Chelsea this season, Mutu has played well for the national team, scoring two critical goals in the matches against Macedonia and Finland.

"I hope with all my heart that Mutu plays," said goalkeeper Emilian Dolha. "It doesn't matter what he does at his club, here (at the national team) he does his best."

Central defenders Cristian Chivu of Roma and Steaua's Mirel Radoi are injured and will not be fit in time for the match.

They will likely be replaced by Cosmin Barcauan, who plays for Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, and Flavius Moldovan, who plays for National Bucharest.

Strikers Ionel Ganea of Wolverhampton and Marius Niculae of Sporting Lisbon are also injured and will miss the game.

Iordanescu said he may also call up players from the youth team, such as Ajax's Nicolae Mitea.

Romania is first in Group 1 with nine points after three matches, followed by Finland with six points. The group also includes the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.

Mutu will risk knee injury

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -- Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu aims to play in this Saturday's World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic despite a slight knee injury.

Last week his club asked the Romanian Soccer Federation not to use Mutu for the match in Prague to avoid aggravating the problem. Mutu arrived in Bucharest on Monday to join the Romania squad, however.

"I'll play against the Czech Republic at any risk," he told Reuters on Tuesday. "I trained for 40 minutes last night and I feel no pain."

Romania have a maximum nine points from three matches so far in European Group One and lead the table, three points clear of second-placed Finland. The Czech Republic lost their opening match against the Netherlands 2-0 last month.

"Such a match is too important for the national team, so I cannot miss it," Mutu said.

Mutu, who has been out of favour at Chelsea recently, scored in Romania's 2-1 home wins against Finland and Macedonia in August and September.

"I want to prove in the national team that I'm a good player," said Mutu.

Mutu has seen Romania's team doctor who pronounced him fit enough to play, though the knee was still causing problems from time to time.

Romania roster:

Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobont (Ajax Amsterdam), Emilian Dolha (Rapid Bucharest), Marius Popa (National Bucharest)

Defenders: Flavius Stoican, Cosmin Barcauan, Razvan Rat (all from Shakhtar Donetsk), George Ogararu (Steaua Bucharest), Adrian Iencsi (Spartak Moscow), Flavius Moldovan (National), Cristian Dancia (Torpedo Moscow).

Midfielders: Florentin Petre (Dinamo Bucharest), Gabriel Caramarin (National), Florin Soava (Spartak Moscow), Paul Codrea (AC Torino), Sorin Paraschiv (Steaua), Daniel Pancu (Besiktas Istanbul), Florin Cernat (Dynamo Kiev), Nicolae Dica (Steaua), Adrian Mutu (Chelsea), Ionel Danciulescu (Dinamo Bucharest), Ciprian Marica (Shakhtar Donetsk), Adrian Neaga (Steaua).

Injured Danish goalie uncertain against Albania

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Danish goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen left training Tuesday because of back problems and isn't likely to play in Denmark's upcoming 2006 World Cup qualifier against Albania, coach Morten Olsen said.

Team doctor Mogens Kreutzfeldt said Soerensen had a stiff back and would require rest and treatment.

"We cannot guess when he possibly can take part in training again or whether he will be ready for the game against Albania on Saturday," Kreutzfeldt said.

Soerensen said he hoped "to be ready for the game against Turkey."

The Danes meet Albania in Tirana on Oct. 4 and Turkey in Copenhagen on Oct. 13.

On Tuesday, Olsen picked Jesper Christiansen, who plays for Danish club Viborg, as a replacement for 'keeper substitute Peter Skov-Jensen.

It was the second injury on the Danish team this week. On Monday, striker Morten Skoubo was chosen to replace an injured Claus Jensen.

Denmark played a disappointing 1-1 draw with Ukraine in its World Cup opener. Group 2 also includes Greece, Georgia and Kazakhstan

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Denmark roster:

Peter Skov-Jensen (FC Midtjylland), Jesper Christiansen (Viborg), Brian Priske (Genk), Soeren Colding (Bochum), Thomas Helveg (Norwich City), Steven Lustu (Lyn Oslo), Per Kroeldrup (Udinese), Niclas Jensen (Borussia Dortmund), Asbjoern Sennels (Brondby), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Nikolai Stokholm (Odense), Christian Poulsen (Schalke), Thomas Gravesen (Everton), Martin Retov (Brondby), Morten Skoubo (Brondby), Thomas Kahlenberg (Brondby), Jesper Groenkjaer (Birmingham City), Dennis Rommedahl (Charlton Athletics), Martin Joergensen (Fiorentina), Kenneth Perez (Alkmaar), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Milan), Henrik Pedersen (Bolton Wanderers).

Albania misses key defenders for qualifiers

TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- Albania's German coach Hans-Peter Briegel is focusing on good defense ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Denmark, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Briegel has to make do without injured Ardian Aliaj, who scored a stunning goal against Greece in the qualifying opener last month, and Elvin Beqiri, suspended for three matches after a red card he received in the qualifier against Georgia.

"Defense is Briegel's main concern," said spokesman Lysien Nurishmi.

The match will be played in Tirana.

Albania pulled off a stunning 2-1 win over European champion Greece in their qualifying opener Sept. 4, but failed to repeat that performance at Tbilisi, Georgia, where it lost 2-0.

Albania is third in Group 2 with three points, after Georgia and Ukraine with four points each. Trailing are Turkey, Denmark, Greece and Kazakhstan.

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Albania roster:

Goalkeepers: Foto Strakosha (Panionios, Greece), Ilion Lika (Dinamo, Albania), Arjan Beqaj (Ionikos, Greece);

Defenders: Geri Cipi (SK Tirana, Albania), Suat Lici (Vllaznia, Albania), Arjan Pisha (Dinamo, Albania), Lorik Cana (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Arjan Sheta (Kalithea, Greece), Besnik Hasi (Anderlecht, Belgium), Henri Ndreka (Partizani, Albania);

Midfielders: Klodian Duro (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Altin Lala (Hannover '96, Germany), Ervin Skela (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Edvin Murati (F.C. Iraklis, Greece), Altin Haxhi (Apollon, Greece), Ardit Beqiri (SK Tirana, Albania), Mehmet Dragusha (Eintrecht Frankfurt, Germany), Devi Muka (SK Tirana, Albania), Ardit Beqiri (SK Tirana, Albania), Genti Shkembi (Kamen Ingrad, Croatia);

Forwards: Igli Tare (Bologna, Italy), Alban Bushi (Istambulspor, Turkey), Florian Myrtaj (Verona, Italy), Altin Rraklli (SK Tirana, Albania).

Injured Izmailov, Kolodin pull out of Russia squad

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia have lost two players to injuries for World Cup Group Three qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Portugal.

Russia spokesman Andrei Tarabrin said on Tuesday that Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Marat Izmailov and Krylya Sovietov Samara defender Denis Kolodin had been sent home from a training camp in suburban Moscow.

Tarabrin said Russia's coaching staff has decided against calling up replacements, leaving the squad with 20 players.

Russia coach Georgy Yartsev said he would be satisfied with four points from the trips to Luxembourg and Portugal.

"I wouldn't mind if we came away with a win over Luxembourg and a draw in Lisbon," Yartsev told local media.

"My only concern is that my players don't get overconfident against Luxembourg and too nervous against Portugal."

The Russians, who opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a lacklustre 1-1 home draw against Slovakia on September 4, face Luxembourg on October 9 before travelling to Lisbon to take on the Portuguese four days later.

Revised squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergei Ovchinnikov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg)

Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Dmitry Sennikov and Vadim Yevseyev (both Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexei Bugayev (Torpedo Moscow), Alexander Anyukov (Krylya Sovietov Samara)

Midfielders: Alexei Smertin (Chelsea), Dmitry Alenichev (Spartak Moscow), Dmitry Khokhlov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Rolan Gusev and Yevgeny Aldonin (both CSKA Moscow), Andrei Karayka (Krylya Sovietov Samara), Lyubomir Kantonistov (Kuban Krasnodar), Denis Boyarintsev (Rubin Kazan)

Forwards: Dmitry Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Dmitry Bulykin (Dynamo Moscow), Alexander Kerzhakov and Andrei Arshavin (both Zenit St Petersburg), Dmitry Kirichenko (CSKA Moscow).

Papadopoulos out of Greece squad for Ukraine match

ATHENS (Reuters) -- Panathinaikos striker Dimitris Papadopoulos has withdrawn from the Greece squad to play Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier in Kiev on Saturday.

Papadopoulos suffered a thigh strain after scoring the only goal in his team's 1-0 win over Appollon Kalamaria on Sunday.

He is also expected to miss Panathinaikos's next Champions League match at home to Arsenal on October 20.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagal has not named a replacement and so has only two recognised strikers for the Group Two match. European champions Greece have taken only one point from their first two qualifiers.

Revised squad:

Goalkeepers: Antonis Nikopolidis (Olympiakos), Kostas Chalkias (Panathinaikos)

Defenders: Traianos Dellas (AS Roma, Italy), Yannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Yourkas Seitaridis (Porto, Portugal), Takis Fyssas (Benfica, Portugal), Stelios Venetidis (Olympiakos), Michalis Kapsis (Girondins Bordeaux, France)

Midfielders: Costas Katsouranis (AEK Athens), Angelos Basinas (Panathinaikos), Theodoros Zagorakis (Bologna, Italy), Pantelis Kafes (Olympiakos), Vassilis Lakis (Crystal Palace, England), Vassilis Tsartas, Giorgios Georgiadis (Olympiakos), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers, England), Giorgos Karagounis (Inter Milan, Italy)

Forwards: Zisis Vryzas (Fiorentina, Italy), Angelos Haristeas (Werder Bremen, Germany)

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.