The weakest of the first-round groups offers everyone a shot at the quarterfinals, but probably nothing beyond. It ought to be Italy’s to win, but it’s not, and Belgium clearly isn’t the host with the most. That leaves the utilitarian Swedes and the Turks. Is either capable of a surprise?
Belgium
Only so many advantages
Robert Waseige apparently has saved the weaker of Euro 2000’s co-hosts from embarrassment. His Belgian squad figures to put up a fight, which is more than might have been said nine months ago.
The Red Devils’ advantages ù billowing confidence, three games in front of a rabid Brussels crowd, a deep, capable strike force ù has bred unrealistic expectations. Waseige is pragmatic.
“Can we win? No, I don’t think so. It’s not realistic,” he says. “I think for us, the quarterfinals would be realistic.”
It would’ve been fantasy before Waseige stepped in for embattled Georges Leekens last August. A poor World Cup had been followed by a nine-game span in which the Belgians, racked by bitter in-fighting, scored just twice.
Waseige turned things around instantly, uniting the players and encouraging them to follow their attacking instincts. Belgium has lost just once in seven games since, scoring 18 goals, with victories over Italy and Norway and two ties with the Netherlands.
The Red Devils possess a veteran spine ù goalkeeper Filip De Wilde, sweeper Lorenzo Staelens, midfielders Marc Wilmots and Yves Vanderhaeghe and forward Bruno Strupar ù and skilled young striker Emile Mpenza. Gert Verheyen is dangerous on the right flank.
Defense is a concern: Aside from the 36-year-old Staelens, there’s not much quality.
Life beyond the group stage would be a worthy accomplishment.
“That’ll be difficult enough,” Waseige says, “but if we can do it, anything is possible, because then it’s the knockout stage, and outsiders will have a good chance.”
Briefly
Robert Waseige is the first Walloon (from French-speaking Belgium) to coach the national team in its 96-year history. * Yves Vanderhaeghe recovered from a life-threatening brain virus when he was 18. One newspaper printed his obituary. * Neither first-choice forward ù Branko Strupar (Croatia) nor Emile Mpenza (DR Congo) ù is a native Belgian.
Sweden
Collectivism … and a healthy Larsson?
Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback’s unique arrangement is a working testament for what they want from the Swedish team this summer. The collective effort is valued much more highly than individual flair, but they’re going to need both.
Serious injury deprives the Swedes of three key players, including midfield leader Stefan Schwarz, but a solid backline and the promise of Henrik Larsson‘s return offers reason for hope.
Larsson, out since October with a broken leg, eked into Sweden’s 22 at the last moment, and good thing. Scoring goals is almost beyond reach ù only 17 in 18 games ù and Larsson has 70 in two years with Glasgow Celtic.
“After a severe injury, a player is always inspired for five or six games,” says Soderberg, who elevated Lagerback, his assistant, after qualifying. “That sounds good to me.”
Support comes from midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg, the successor to Tomas Brolin (and nearest thing to a replacement for gifted outcast Par Zetterberg).
The Swedes, semifinalists as hosts in 1992, surrendered just one goal during qualifying, and the loss of Pontus Kamark to a knee injury shouldn’t hurt much. Right back Roland Nilsson’s at 110 caps, and Patrik Andersson and Joachim Bjorklund have teamed in the middle 70 times since 1992.
This is Sweden’s first major competition since 1994, and it might expect to reach the quarterfinals and hope for more. There’s a plan.
“We have learned that the better you do your homework, the better chance of success you have,” says Lagerback. “We won’t leave anything to chance.”
Briefly
Six Anderssons were used in Sweden’s preparations for Euro 2000, including two Daniel Anderssons. Four made the roster, including captain Patrick and midfielder Daniel, who are brothers. * Henrik Larsson’s son, Jordan, is named after hoops hero Michael. * Joachim Bjorklund’s uncle: Tommy Svensson, Sweden’s coach at the ’94 World Cup.
Turkey
Taking the next step
The reward four years ago was taking part, but the Turks won’t be satisfied with something similar in the Low Countries. They’ve a mature team, brimming with confidence, and figure to be among the best-supported teams at Euro 2000.
Depth is a problem, but if their most important players ù forward Hakan Sukur, playmaker Sergen Yalcin, midfielder Tayfur Havutcu among them ù are at their best, Turkey is capable of making a run.
“This time,” says Coach Mustafa Denizli, “we won’t be the underdogs.”
Morale is soaring after Galatasaray’s UEFA Cup triumph, which featured eight players from Denizli’s pool, and there’s a feeling that Turkey’s time finally has come. The quarterfinals seem a realistic goal.
Denizli, in his second stint as national team coach, has built on the foundation left by Fatih Terim, who guided the surprising Turks to Euro ’96 ù their first major event in 42 years ù but went home without scoring a goal. Nine players from that team figure to play prominent roles, but this is a far more balanced and cunning group than its predecessor.
Hakan, a tall, lethal finisher who possesses speed but little flair or dribbling ability, has scored 26 times in 52 appearances. He’s supported by Galatasaray teammates Sergen and winger Arif Erdem, and by the versatile Tayfur, who scored five goals during qualifying. The defense is built around Fenerbahce’s Alpay Ozalan and Ogun Temizkanoglu, who have been paired for nearly 50 internationals the past five years.
Says Arif: “We have to achieve more than at Euro ’96 ù we’re a much more competitive proposition.”
Briefly
London-born Muzzy Izzet twice turned down invitations to play for his father’s homeland while hoping for an England call-up. * Coach Mustafa Denizli, like Germany’s Erich Ribbeck, served under former German boss Jupp Derwall. * The Turks didn’t score in three games at Euro ’96, their first major tournament since the 1954 World Cup.
Italy
Bad timing leaves Azzurri blue
Euro 2000 arrives at the worst moment for the Azzurri, a team in transition, suffering from a confidence crisis, now forced to duel at far less than full strength.
News that Christian Vieri ù indispensable up front ù won’t play because of a long-standing hamstring ailment, coupled with Paolo Maldini’s slow-healing toe injury, has the Italians reeling. Throw in Dino Zoff’s inability to clean up his midfield mess, add some poor form the past 15 months, figure in questions stemming from Italian clubs’ misadventures in Europe, and Italy appears primed for further disappointment following its Euro ’96 and France ’98 failures.
“They say that Italian soccer is at an advanced stage of decomposition,” Zoff says, “but we will see at the European Championship. That is the right place to judge.”
Zoff has formed a team that is solid, pragmatic, balanced … and wholly uninspiring, especially without the physically imposing Vieri. Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi seem a lightweight tandem in Vieri’s absence.
The defense, as always, is outstanding: Maldini, when healthy, is still the world’s finest left back, and Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro have grown into a superb central pairing.
Midfield has been the trouble spot, and Zoff’s inability to find a role for gifted playmaker Francesco Totti could prove vexing. Stefano Fiore, in the middle, and right-sided Gianluca Zambrotta may fare better.
“Of course,” says central defender Ciro Ferrara, “it is always better to go into the tournament as the big favorites rather than give the impression of being a team that is drifting.”
No such luck.
Briefly
Dino Zoff captained Italy’s 1982 World Cup winners. His 112 caps is an Italian record. * Italy, home for Euro ’68’s final four, overcame the USSR on a coin toss (after a 0-0 semifinal), then beat Yugoslavia when the 0-0 final was replayed. * Italy was unbeaten in Christian Vieri’s first 17 appearances.