Euro 2004 Roundup

Netherlands in 'deciding' game against Austria

LONDON (AP) -- After failing to qualify for last summer's World Cup, the Netherlands faces a crucial game on Wednesday in its bid to reach the finals of the 2004 European Championships.

A victory against Austria in Vienna would leave the Dutch with a perfect record after two matches in Group 3. Anything less and Austria and the Czech Republic would become the favorites, with the Dutch again in danger of missing one of soccer's biggest showcases.

Dutch coach Dick Advocaat is already calling it the "deciding" match in the group. He snapped at suggestions that it might be tempting for the star-studded Dutch to overlook the Austrians.

"Seeing as how we weren't in Japan or Korea, we're not in a position to underestimate anybody," said the former Glasgow Rangers coach.

The Dutch will be without star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United, as well as Pierre van Hooijdonk and Rafael van de Vaart. However, the Dutch are so deep that Advocaat can fall back comfortably with Deportivo striker Roy Makaay. Clarence Seedorf is also expected back.

Though qualifying for the 2004 European championship in Portugal is in only the third round, several of Wednesday's 18 matches already look critical.

Italy, knocked out of the World Cup in the round of 16 by South Korea, is coming off a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Yugoslavia in Group 9. Manager Giovanni Trapattoni knows he could be fired if he fails to win against Cardiff in Wales.

Wales could take over the group leadership with a victory, leaving Italy to fight it out with Finland and Yugoslavia. Striker Filippo Inazghi is out with a foot injury picked up against Yugoslavia. Christian Vieiri and Francesco Totti will also miss the game.

"If things go badly in Wales, the old coach returns," was the headline of an editorial in Monday's Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy's leading sports daily. The old coach is former goalkeeper Dino Zoff, the man Trapattoni replaced after Italy was beaten by France in the final of Euro 2000.

Meanwhile, Mark Hughes' Wales is unbeaten in its last six matches, including a 1-0 win over Germany and a 1-1 draw with Argentina.

Midfielder Robbie Savage calls it "the best" Wales side since the country reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 1958. And Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs credits Hughes for giving the team a "winning mentality."

"I feel that I'm beginning to realize my dream," Giggs said. "I've never played in a European championship or World Cup, Wales hasn't qualified since the 1958 World Cup.

"It's no longer just the Wales of Giggs, there are also players that can make a difference, from [Craig] Bellamy to [John] Hartson, from [Simon] Davies to [Mark] Pembridge. On the bench also we have players who can change the match."

In Group 7, World Cup semifinalist Turkey should have no trouble at home against Liechtenstein. That puts pressure on group rival England to win at home against Macedonia to keep pace. England, which escaped with a 2-1 win Saturday in Slovakia, sees the return of defender Sol Campbell, recovered from a stomach ailment, for the match in Southampton.

Turkey's main concern is goalkeeper Rustu Recber, who could miss out with back problems. He would be replaced by backup Omer Catkic.

In Group 5, World Cup runner-up Germany should crush the Faeroe Islands to retake the group lead ahead of Scotland. Midfielders Michael Ballack and Dietmar Hamann should be back after missing a miserable 1-1 friendly draw last week against Bosnia.

"The positive thing about this poor performance is that in a European qualifier -- this won't happen to us," said coach Rudi Voeller, who called his team's play last week lackadaisical.

In Group 6, Ukraine will be favored to win at Northern Ireland and jump ahead of group leader Spain. Spain, which beat Northern Ireland 3-0 on Saturday, isn't playing Wednesday.

In Group 8, surprising Bulgaria should win its third straight as it faces Andorra, while Belgium has a must-win match at Estonia to keep pace.

In Group 10, Russia is home against Albania and will take the group lead with a victory. Russia's game against Georgia on Saturday was abandoned at halftime, with the score tied 0-0, because of a power failure at the stadium in Tbilisi.

Wednesday's biggest mismatch figures to be defending European champion France, fresh from a 5-0 trouncing of Slovenia, playing Malta in a Group 1 game in Valletta.

 

Related information

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Euro 2004 Schedule/Results Euro 2004: France, Spain win as Italy draws England seeks improvement against Macedonia Euro 2004: Austria prepares shock for Dutch

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