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Europe rolls up its sleeves

There's locker room drama, a suspended star striker, and media questions of every move made by the coach.

It's just another day with the Netherlands' national team.

"We have nothing but problems," manager Dick Advocaat said with a laugh.

The always-talented Dutch face Austria in a key Euro 2004 qualifier today, hoping to draw attention to their on-field performance.

It won't be easy. The Netherlands played to a 1-1 tie with rival Belgium in a friendly last month, sparking a wave of criticism. Advocaat responded by leaving out veterans Clarence Seedorf of AC Milan and Rangers' Ronald de Boer for today's game.

More and more fans want FC Barcelona forward Patrick Kluivert off the team, and Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy is out after picking up two yellow cards in his last two games.

All the fuss prompted Phillip Cocu to call a team meeting, to "get everybody on the same page."

"Sometimes you need to have a talk like that," said Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids, who had a well-publicized locker-room bust up with PSV midfielder Mark van Bommel during a game against Argentina in December.

Yet the Dutch, unbeaten in 13 games under Advocaat, are tied with the Czech Republic atop Group 3. The Czechs play lowly Belarus.

Twenty qualifiers will be played today. Twenty more are played on Wednesday.

The 10 group winners automatically qualify, while second-place teams make the playoffs. Portugal is assured of a spot as host.

The French, looking to bounce back from an embarrassing first-round exit at the World Cup, are the only team with a perfect record, and can clinch at least a playoff spot with a win at the Stade de France.

The Ukraine could be without striker Andriy Shevchenko against Northern Ireland at Donetsk in Group 6.

Shevchenko has been struggling with a knee injury but scored the winner in AC Milan's 1-0 victory over FC Porto in the European Super Cup last Friday.

Ukraine is third with nine points, while leader Greece -- which plays Armenia away -- has 12. Second-place Spain has a friendly today.

In a tight Group 2, third-place Romania hosts minnow Luxembourg, and second-place Norway is away to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Denmark, which plays Romania on Wednesday, leads with 13 points. Norway has 11, while Romania has 10.

Leader Bulgaria and second-place Croatia are expected to win their matches in Group 8. Bulgaria, with 11 points, hosts Estonia, and Croatia is away to lowly Andorra.

Belgium, with 10 points from six games, hosts the Croats on Wednesday.

Sweden, tied atop Group 4 with Hungary, plays winless San Marino at home. The Swedes have played one fewer match than Hungary.

Latvia, on 10 points, is one back. Latvia is at home against fourth-place Poland.

World Cup finalists Germany locks horns with Iceland in Reykjavik today as both teams look to book their ticket to Portugal.

Iceland, an island with around 290,000 inhabitants, lead Group 5 by a single point from Rudi Voller's German side, having played one game more, but now face the acid test against the three-time World Cup winners.

"Unlike other countries everything is in our own hands," declared Voller. "I am sure that we will win both matches."
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