Belgium surprise Holland and Anthuenis is full of praise

ARGUABLY the happiest man in European football this weekend is not even taking his team to the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

Belgium coach Aime Anthuenis' side beat Netherlands, one of the favourites for the title, 1-0 away in Eindhoven in a friendly.

"I don't have to underline that I'm very pleased with this result against opponents in the world's top 10," Anthuenis said after captain Bart Goor's late penalty settled the match. "To say that the Dutch performed poorly, and I am sure my colleague (Dutch coach Dick Advocaat) will say they did, would undermine our victory and that would not be right."

Greece, who meet hosts Portugal in the tournament's opening match in Lisbon in Group A, also lacked fire in a 1-0 away defeat to Poland.

In other warm-ups on Saturday, Euro 2004 hosts Portugal strolled to a 3-0 home win over Luxembourg. Luis Figo, Nuno Gomes and Rui Costa scored for the host nation.

Croatia, who are in Group B with holders France, England and Switzerland, beat Slovakia 1-0.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher was in majestic form as Scotland thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 in a friendly yesterday their biggest win under German coach Berti Vogts.

It was Scotland's second successive win after Thursday's 1-0 friendly victory in Estonia and the first time Scotland have scored four goals since a 4-0 World Cup qualifying win against San Marino on March 28 2001.

The home side look sprightly from the outset as Everton's James McFadden passed to Fletcher for a sixth minute opener. Fletcher then turned provider by crossing for Gary Holt to finish with a brave diving header on 14 minutes. Fletcher was again involved as his corner was bundled home by Gary Caldwell nine minutes later before Portsmouth midfielder Nigel Quashie netted his first Scotland goal after 34 minutes.

In the second period, Birmingham City striker Stern John grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors with a volley after 55 minutes.

Paul Parry claimed his first international goal saw Wales ended their season on a high against Canada at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.

Carl Fletcher's delightful 21st-minute through ball found Craig Bellamy who crossed from the dead-ball line. Parry met the ball with a powerful header which flew past Pat Onstad from 10 yards out. Young Switzerland striker Marco Streller has been ruled out of Euro 2004 after suffering a double fracture of his left leg in training on Sunday morning.

VfB Stuttgart forward Streller, 22, was carried off on a stretcher after fracturing his tibia and fibula following a collision with Basel defender Marco Zwyssig at Switzerland's training camp in Freienbach.

Streller, who was almost certain to make coach Koebi Kuhn's final 23-man squad, was taken to hospital for X-rays and is expected to be transferred to Basel for surgery.

VfL Bochum 1848 attacking midfield player Paul Freier is out of Germany's squad after sustaining a knee injury.

Freier picked up the injury in Thursday's friendly against Malta and was taken to hospital where scans revealed that he had damaged a knee ligament. "Sadly Paul has had to pull out of the tournament," confirmed Germany coach Rudi Völler.