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.