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Belgium-Sweden kicks off Euro 2000 |
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June
10, 2000
BRUSSELS, JUNE 9 (AP) - The Euro 2000 championship opens Saturday with a battle of underdogs - co-host Belgium faces Sweden.
The game will test Belgium's offensive prowess against Sweden's defensive wall.
Most eyes will center on Swedish striker Henrik Larsson, who made a near-miracle recovery from a broken leg in little more than seven months time and could start the game.
The game at the 50,000-capacity stadium is considered key by both teams to advance from Group B and an opening loss could well spell doom for the rest of the tournament. Turkey plays favored Italy in the other Group B game in Arnhem, the Netherlands on Sunday.
The June 10 - July 2 tournament will feature 31 games in both Belgium and the Netherlands.
The royal families from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will officially open the tournament and are expected to arrive at the stadium in a supporter's bus.
On the pitch, the Belgians are eager to prove that they are for real, after spending two years in the doldrums. As co-hosts of Euro 2000 and boosted by a flurry of good results, the usual skepticism has made way for great expectations.
Prior to the arrival of coach Robert Waseige last August, the Red Devils had only won two games out of 11 and made an embarrassingly early exit in the 1998 World Cup in France without winning a single game.
The change of coach sparked a renaissance, with 3-1 win in Italy, a 2-0 victory in Norway and two draws with the Netherlands cementing the reputation of the new boss.
"The results have been there, no one is afraid if you see how everyone has worked to get ready for Saturday," said PSV Eindhoven striker Luc Nilis who will likely start the game sitting on the bench.
The Swedes are breaking ground at Euro 2000 by having two coaches to lead the team.
Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback seem to have created one of the toughest defenses in the world, anchored by Coventry's goalkeeper Magnus Hedman. The Swedes conceded only a single goal in its whole qualifying campaign.
An impressive record for a team that has had trouble scoring.
Injuries have diluted the Swedish roster, highlighted by Larsson's broken leg and the ruptured Achilles tendon of Sunderland midfield star Stefan Schwarz, who failed to make a comeback in time for Euro 2000.
The future looked equally grim for Larsson when he broke his left leg during Celtic Glasgow's away game in the UEFA Cup against Lyon of France in October. But Larsson has made a sensational recovery and made the team with flying colors.
"Our team is a good group of friends. This is a serious strength and positive," said Bologna striker Kennet Andersson.
Playing in front of the hometown crowd will boost the Devil's chances against the Swedes althought the pressure of excessive expectations could also take its toll. The Devils know full well that the Swedish defenses will be hard to penetrate. And the Swedes for their part know that defense alone will not win the battle.
"We will have to be patient with them. It will take time to score," said Devils' midfielder Yves Vanderhaeghe.
The Red Devils have scored 20 goals in 8 games since the arrival of Waseige and for scoring, Belgium will look for Derby County's Branko Strupar, recently recovered from a stomach muscle injury and Schalke 04's Emile Mpenza.
Mpenza, just 21, has impressed with his lightning speed and control on the ball. Now, much will depend whether he can keep a cool head at this tender age.
"I don't even want to think that I have to start a sprint against him," said Swedish defender Patrik Andersson. For speed, the Swedish defense relies on Joachim Bjorklund instead. |