Euro 2004 Roundup

Austria prepares shock for the Netherlands

VIENNA (Reuters) -- Austria plan to use their status as underdogs to surprise the Netherlands in their Euro 2004 qualifier on Wednesday, coach Hans Krankl has said.

Krankl's side secured the country's first away victory in two years on Saturday when they beat Belarus 2-0 in Minsk to take control of qualifying Group Three.

But the much-vaunted Dutch, who failed to qualify for this year's World Cup finals, will present a different proposition for Austria.

"We have absolutely no chance, and we're going to use it," Krankl said in an interview on Austrian television.

"Our win in Minsk brought us confidence, and we will do our best against the Dutch, just like we did on Saturday against Belarus.

"Of course the Dutch are stronger, they are a class above, but we will prepare ourselves as best we can, play tactically and with discipline."

Markus Schopp, scorer of Austria's first goal against Belarus, said it would work in Austria's favour if the Netherlands, European champions in 1988, thought of them as a weak opponent.

"It is our chance that the Dutch underestimate us," Schopp said. "That arrogance cost them in the last World Cup qualifiers, and we can hopefully take advantage of it as well."

Austria have the better head-to-head record against the Dutch, winning six and losing four of 14 matches between the countries since 1912.

Austria have six points from two games in qualifying Group Three, with the Netherlands and the Czech Republic both on three points from one game.

Berbatov to miss Bulgaria's qualifier vs. Andorra

SOFIA (Reuters) -- Bayer Leverkusen striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss Bulgaria's Euro 2004 qualifier against Andorra next week after suffering an ankle injury during his country's 2-0 victory over Croatia on Saturday.

Berbatov, who was man of the match for Bulgaria in their Group Eight qualifier after setting up the first goal and scoring the second in the 37th minute, said he had turned his ankle while hitting a cross in the first minute of the game.

"I think I will not be able to recover by Wednesday and will miss the match against Andorra," he told reporters on Sunday.

Another doubtful player for Bulgaria is Martin Petrov, who suffered a thigh injury during the Croatia qualifier and went off 21 minutes into the second half.

The Bulgarians, who lead Group Eight on six points after winning their opening two games, are determined to claim the maximum three points against Andorra, who lost their first qualifier 1-0 to Belgium.

"We have made an important step in our group but the struggle continues on Wednesday when we will need an obligatory victory against Andorra," said Bulgaria coach Plamen Markov.

Macedonia coach in quit threat

SKOPJE (Reuters) -- Coach Nikola Ilievski hit out on Sunday at the Macedonian Football Union, claiming it had neglected the national side and threatened to resign if things did not change.

"Nobody is interested in the team...if things are not changed, I will resign after Wednesday's game against England," Ilievski told a news conference.

Ilievski also said he had not been paid since he took over in February.

Macedonia lost 2-1 at home to Turkey on Saturday in their Euro2004 Group Seven qualifier and now travel to play England in Southampton.

The Macedonians are bottom but one in the group with one point from two games, but Ilievski was delighted with the team's first half performance on Saturday.

They scored after only two minutes through Vlatko Grozdanoski and missed several other opportunities against the World Cup semifinalists.

Ilievski hopes Georgi Hristov, a key performer against Turkey despite battling injury, will be able to play against England. Hristov set up the goal and had two good chances himself.

Delighted to be facing a soccer power like England, Ilievski plans to have one striker and five players in the midfield. "We will play but not defend," he said.

Ilievski, 48, the former coach of local premier division Pobeda Prilep, succeeded Gjore Jovanovski who quit in December after Macedonia failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.

Romania's Chivu to miss Luxembourg qualifier

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -- Romania captain Cristian Chivu will miss Wednesday's European championship qualifier against Luxembourg due to injury, the team's doctor said on Sunday.

"Chivu has injured his right knee and he will not go with the Romanian squad to Luxembourg," Pompiliu Popescu told Reuters. "Chivu will undergo surgery which will put him out of action for three weeks."

The Ajax Amsterdam defender played the whole of Romania's 1-0 defeat to Norway in group two of the Euro 2004 qualifiers on Saturday, despite not training for three days before the game because of his painful knee.

Parma striker Adrian Mutu and defender Gheorghe Popescu of Dinamo Bucharest were also doubtful for the Luxembourg match after receiving knocks to their legs during the same match, the team doctor said.

 

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