Spain to face Norway as Russia considers Wales

Norway coach Nils Johan Semb during the training session at the La Manga Club facilities in Murcia on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

Spain coach Inaki Saez wants his team to be aggressive tomorrow. Giving his players the same advice would probably make Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat cringe.

Spain plays Norway in one of five 2004 European Championship playoff pairings, while the squabbling Dutch face Scotland.

"Everyone has to be certain that we are going to have 11 tigers on the pitch on Saturday night," Saez said.

In other matchups, Russia plays Wales, Croatia meets Slovenia and Latvia takes on Turkey. The second legs are Nov. 19, with the survivors moving into the 16-team European Championship next year in Portugal.

Host Portugal and the 10 other nations have already qualified.

"It's all or nothing," Advocaat said. "I know that and so do the players. We all really want to go to Portugal. It must happen on Saturday and Wednesday."

Spain, always filled with some of the world's best players, has underachieved in major tournaments. There were problems in qualifying, too -- Saez's team finished second to unheralded Greece following a two-game blip.

Not reaching a tournament held next door would add more embarrassment.

"I have confidence in this team, but we have to play the way we know how to, realizing it will be difficult and that there will be nerves out there," Saez said.

With the second leg in Oslo -- where potentially chilly conditions could hamper play -- Spain is looking to take the initiative Saturday in Valencia.

"We have to score first because Norway don't know how to play with the score against them," Saez said. "Everyone should know it is going to be an uncomfortable match for us. I watched a recent Norway-Denmark game, and Norway based their play on effort and strength."

Norway is without injured Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Another forward, John Carew, has refused to play under coach Nils Johan Semb following a bust-up with teammate John Arne Riise.

Siena's Tore Andre Flo will start up front.

"A draw would be a great result for us," Semb said. "It would give us a great chance for the return leg. And a 1-1 draw would certainly be better than a goalless one."

Infighting is never too far away with the Dutch, another gifted squad. Last December, Edgar Davids and Mark van Bommel clashed in the locker room. Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy was suspended for kicking a water bottle last month during a game against the Czech Republic. Van Nistelrooy was named to the squad against Scotland.

The Netherlands didn't qualify for last year's World Cup, and former star Johan Cruyff said the current crop would become a generation of losers if they didn't advance.

Scotland coach Berti Vogts has played along, putting the pressure on the Dutch ever since the draw was announced.

"All those players of quality, who are with many of the top clubs, and yet they are in the playoffs, so Saturday is a must-win game for them," Vogts said. "We will be looking to cause a sensation. All the pressure is on the Dutch."

Scotland captain Paul Lambert is out with an ankle injury, one of several withdrawals Vogts has to deal with. Saturday's game is in Glasgow.

"We have got to go in with the Scottish spirit and get wired in," forward Stevie Crawford said. "The spirit we have got in the squad in the moment is good, so we will all go for it."

Wales, which hasn't reached a major tournament since playing in the World Cup in 1958, also has injury problems. Speedy Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy (knee) and defender Rhys Weston (ankle) are sidelined. Spurs winger Simon Davies (groin) and Fulham defender Mark Pembridge (calf) might be back for the second leg in Cardiff.

The good news for manager Mark Hughes is that gritty midfielder Robbie Savage has recovered from an Achilles problem and Manchester United's Ryan Giggs is hot. Giggs scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Wales, a runner-up to Italy in Group 9, had three losses and a draw in its last four qualifiers.

"People say Wales were transformed under Mark Hughes, but if we do not qualify, it will be all about us not making it again, and we do not want to be labeled like that," he said. "But we feel we are good enough, and we will be heroes. If we do not qualify, it will be a crying shame."

Russia, second to Switzerland, scored 15 goals in four home wins. Forward Dmitry Bulykin isn't short of confidence.

Latvia finished second to Sweden and Hungary. Turkey, a semifinalist in the World Cup, was second to England.