Stay clear of the Dutch.
Defending European champion France and World Cup runner-up Germany already know they could meet each other at the group stages of next summer's Euro 2004 championship in Portugal.
Because of the seedings, the host also could wind up in the same group as the Germans, Italy, England or Spain when the 16-team draw is made in Lisbon tomorrow.
But the Netherlands has been placed in the third group of seeds and that means the Dutch, who only qualified through the runners-up playoffs, are a dangerous floater in the draw.
Dick Advocaat's team of stars crushed Scotland 6-0 in the playoffs to finally hit top form after two years of poor performances from players who frequently let down their fans by failing to raise their game.
The Dutch failed to reach the 2002 World Cup and were in danger of losing out on Euro 2004 as well when they lost 1-0 to the Scots in the first playoff leg in Glasgow.
That result led to critics saying that the stars don't get on with one another and simply don't play as a team. There was more speculation of a racial divide among the players.
Patrick Kluivert and Clarence Seedorf have become particular targets of the Dutch fans' anger and there was speculation that Advocaat might quit even though the team qualified.
"Of course I'll be going to Portugal," he said. "There's something to be won there. As far as I'm concerned, why go at all if you don't think you have a chance to win the top prize?"
If they do lift themselves for the championship, every other team needs to beware.
The Dutch have the likes of Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy in attack with plenty of backup, Edgar Davids, Seedorf and 20-year-old Rafael Van der Vaart in a talented midfield and Jaap Stam at the heart of the defense.
Advocaat has also added some new blood to the team, such as 19-year-old Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who scored the first goal against the Scots and then set up the next two.
"I've never been somber about the talent on the Dutch team," Advocaat said. "This was the right moment to add some youth to it."
With the exception of France, who didn't have to qualify for the World Cup, and Portugal, who hosts the Euros, the seedings are based on each team's record in making it to the two championships.
Sweden, which qualified for both as group winners, and the Czech Republic are in the top pot of seeds with France and the Portuguese.
They just edged Italy, Spain, England and Germany who are in the second pot of teams.
The Netherlands is in the third along with Croatia, Russia and Denmark. Bulgaria, Switzerland, Greece and rookie Latvia, who knocked out World Cup semifinalist Turkey, are in the fourth pot.
That leads to some interesting combinations.
If France, England and the Netherlands are in the same group, it would mean Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Van Nistelrooy facing one another for places in the quarterfinal.
If it's Portugal, Germany and the Dutch, then it's Luis Figo, Michael Ballack and Davids chasing places in the last eight.
Whomever Latvia gets in the draw, the Baltic nation will enjoy the prospect of creating more upsets.
Alexander Starkov's team, who did well to finish runner up in its qualifying group, beat Turkey 1-0 at home in the playoffs and gained a 2-2 tie in Istanbul to make its first championship final.
Despite the non appearance of the volatile Turkish fans, the people in charge of security also will take a keen interest in the draw.
With many thousands of fans -- and maybe hooligans -- expected to travel from England, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, there could be some difficult matchups outside the grounds.
English fans were involved in violent scenes in Bratislava and Zurich and also hurled racist abuse at the team's home game against Turkey in Sunderland.
Soccer's European governing body, UEFA, has warned England that any further trouble will get the team kicked out of the finals. The same could apply to others.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and