Zidane leads French charge
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Article summary
Europe's lesser lights will have a chance to shine in 18 EURO 2004™ qualifiers tonight.
Article body
After a number of Europe's leading powers had their mettle tested in Saturday's EURO 2004™ qualifying matches, the continent's lesser lights will again have their chance to shine tonight when 18 more matches on the road to Portugal are played.
Shocks possible
Italy, England and Turkey all had to come from behind in their respective weekend fixtures, though the Azzurri, held at home by Yugoslavia, were the only country of the trio not to recover and claim maximum points. France had no such problems, dispatching of fellow FIFA World Cup first-round casualties Slovenia 5-0 in Paris to dispel theories of their demise.
Pitch concern
The defending champions travel to Malta with Korea/Japan a distant memory. The French have a 100 per cent record in Group 1 and tore Slovenia apart with a scintillating attacking display reminiscent of their free-flowing best. After their 2-0 weekend defeat by Israel, the Malta squad are determined to improve. Speaking to uefa.com, striker Michael Mifsud said: "We are determined to put on the best ever performance of our lives to silence the critics who have been very critical of us."
Stiff challenge
Wales, unbeaten in six matches, will also have to hit their peak if they are to add to Italy's recent misery under the closed roof of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. The 2-0 win in Finland last month was indicative of Wales's growing strength and confidence and Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni knows the vultures are lurking following the 1-1 home draw with Yugoslavia. Daniele Adani said of the likely prospect of shackling Welsh flyer Ryan Giggs: "I marked Giggs twice when I played with AC Fiorentina in the [UEFA] Champions League in 1999 and everything went really well."
Ballack back
Germany are back in action after a free weekend and should have little problem in their Group 5 home match against the Faroe Islands. Despite the absence of defender Christoph Metzelder, coach Rudi Völler is able to welcome back midfield duo Michael Ballack and Dietmar Hamann, who both missed Friday's 1-1 friendly draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Focus needed
In Group 7, Turkey and England are yet to meet but will look to maintain the winning habit with respective home victories against Liechtenstein and F.Y.R. Macedonia. Turkey coach Senol Günes has urged his side to keep their focus despite a 100 per cent record so far as he looks to equal Fatih Terim's record of 17 wins. England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson also spoke of taking nothing for granted against a team which only lost 2-1 against Turkey on Saturday. "[F.Y.R] Macedonia could have scored three goals in the first half and they were better than Turkey, no doubt about that." A groin injury has ruled England's Emile Heskey out of the fixture.
'No outsiders'
Bulgaria have made a tremendous start to their campaign, winning 2-0 in Belgium and 2-0 at home against Croatia on Saturday, but coach Plamen Markov refuses to take minnows Andorra lightly in Group 8. "We should not underestimate them," he said. "The World Cup proved that there are no outsiders in football nowadays." He will be without key man Dimitar Berbatov, but once more has Martin Petrov and Predrag Pazin fit.
Dutch test
Finally, the Netherlands are back in action in Group 3 and travel to face a resurgent Austria side with two wins from two. The Republic of Ireland need to bounce back after an opening day 4-2 defeat by Russia but find themselves up against a Switzerland side topping Group 10. EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal are in friendly action against Sweden, while Spain entertain Paraguay.
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