Belgium shock EURO hopefuls

Belgium and Poland gained impressive victories against UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers on a busy long weekend of friendlies for European sides as far afield as Barbados.

Thursday

Ballack scores four
Germany exorcised the ghosts of their 5-1 defeat by Romania last month with a decisive 7-0 win against Malta. Michael Ballack scored four times in Freiburg, and defender Jens Nowotny, midfield player Torsten Frings and striker Fredi Bobic all added goals, while Malta's goalkeeper Mario Muscat was dismissed 12 minutes from time with the score at 5-0.

Irish joy
Republic of Ireland followed up last month's victory against the Czech Republic as Matt Holland's late goal gave them a 1-0 win against Romania in a game where Roy Keane ended his two-year international exile. James McFadden's superb solo goal helped Scotland to a 1-0 victory in Estonia, Israel triumphed 1-0 in Georgia - who were coached for the first time by Alain Giresse - while Norway were held 0-0 by Wales.

Friday

Sweden beat Finland
Finland welcomed neighbours Sweden to Tampere, but fell to a 3-1 defeat. Jari Litmanen opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty only for Anders Andersson to level and Marcus Allbäck to score late in each half.

France cruise
Reigning European champions France had a comfortable warm-up for Portugal as Andorra were beaten 4-0. Sylvain Wiltord scored twice before Louis Saha and Steve Marlet wrapped up victory in Montpellier. Meanwhile Azerbaijan's good form continued as they beat Uzbekistan 3-1.

Saturday

Goor shocks Dutch
There were mixed fortunes for EURO 2004™ qualifiers. Belgium withstood constant pressure from the Netherlands in Eindhoven before captain Bart Goor converted a 78th-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 win. Poland defeated a depleted Greece by the same score in Szczecin, the luckless Mihalis Kapsis turning in a Jacek Krzynowek free-kick.

Form returns
Portugal were on better form as they beat Luxembourg 3-0 in Águeda, their first win against European opposition since beating Albania 5-3 in Lisbon last October. Luís Figo, Nuno Gomes and Rui Costa scored the first-half goals. Ivaca Olic headed Croatia to a 1-0 victory against Slovakia, but Ireland could not maintain their form, losing 3-0 to Nigeria in London.

Sunday

Estonia hold Denmark
Joel Lindpere's last-minute goal gave Estonia an impressive 2-2 draw at home to Portugal-bound Denmark. Dennis Rommedahl's early strike was cancelled out 13 minutes from the end by Kristen Viikmäe, and although three minutes later substitute Kenneth Perez seemed to have given Denmark victory, Lindpere's long-range shot deflected past Thomas Sorensen.

Iceland pipped
Italy were on form as they won 4-0 against African champions Tunisia - Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluca Zambrotta all opening their international accounts after Riadh Bouazizi put through an own goal in Tunis. Iceland lost 3-2 to Japan in an exciting match in Manchester, opening a three-team tournament also involving England, while Scotland cruised to their biggest win under Berti Vogts, a 4-1 victory against Trinidad and Tobago.

Welsh win
Wales returned to action, beating Canada 1-0 in Wrexham, but David Healy had to score a 71st-minute equaliser, having not long before missed a penalty, to give Northern Ireland a 1-1 draw in Barbados.