Euro 2004 contenders dust off cobwebs

THE main contenders for Euro 2004 will blow away the winter cobwebs with a series of friendly games today, less than four months before the start of the tournament in Portugal.

European champions France visit Belgium, hosts Portugal entertain England, Croatia welcome Germany and the Czech Republic head to Italy in the night's most eye-catching games.

Meanwhile, in Asia and the Caribbean the focus switches to Germany 2006, with 20 World Cup qualifiers scheduled. With other friendlies scheduled in the US, Africa and Europe, around 70 internationals are being played around the world tonight.

France, favourites to retain their European crown, are without strikers Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet for their trip to Brussels so Marseille's Steve Marlet and Olympique Lyon's Peguy Luyindula may get their chance to impress.

Croatia's game in Split against Germany, missing playmaker Michael Ballack due to a heavy cold, should be closely contested.

The Czech Republic also have a good recent record against Italy and will provide Giovanni Trapattoni's team with a stiff test in Palermo.

The Netherlands, drawn with the Czechs and Germany in the toughest Euro 2004 group, will expect to beat the US in Amsterdam, while Spain take on Peru in Barcelona.

Of the other finalists, Greece and Bulgaria meet in Athens, Switzerland visit African Nations Cup runners-up Morocco, Sweden travel to Albania and Denmark head for Adana to face World Cup semi-finalists Turkey who did not make it to Euro 2004.