Spain and Yugoslavia, huge disappointments two years ago at the World Cup in France, too often flatter to deceive, but both enter Euro 2000 with winning the title their aim. The Spaniards appear to be serious contenders. Both face a battle from the pesky Norwegians for quarterfinal berths. And Slovenia? It’s along for the ride.
Spain
End of an era: Start of success?
Spain has often charmed only to disappoint. This time might be different.
Jose Antonio Camacho, who has guided the Spaniards to dizzying success in 21 months as coach, understands this. He’d like to manage expectations, a difficult task.
Spain heads to Euro 2000 possessing enormous momentum from a club season in which both European Cup finalists ù and three semifinalists ù were Spanish. Expectations are immense.
“As long as the players don’t start suffering from an excess of euphoria,” Camacho says, “we’ll be fine.”
The former standout defender has revitalized a squad that failed miserably two years ago in France, arriving with great fanfare but unable to advance from the group stage. A loss to Cyprus to start Euro 2000 qualifying was the end for dour Javier Clemente; Camacho changed the focus from defense to attack, and the Spaniards won their last seven qualifiers, scoring 40 goals.
High-scoring Raul, a veteran at 22, is the star. Midfielder Pep Guardiola and defender Fernando Hierro provide the team’s backbone.
Guardiola, stationed in front of the back four, is the primary instigator. He’ll have to do without injured Luis Enrique, his usual midfield partner for Spain and at Barcelona, but can count on support from Gaizka Mendieta, Joseba Etxeberria and Juan Carlos Valeron.
Camacho’s is an imaginative team in marvelous form. Perhaps, for once, it will pay off.
“We’re definitely on the right road,” says Guardiola. “You can see we’re now ready to join the elite of European soccer.”
Briefly
Coach Jose Camacho, a Real Madrid defender during his playing days, earned 81 caps, at one time the Spanish record. * Spain’s only success at the senior level was the Euro ’64 title, won at home. * The Spaniards outscored its opposition, 29-0, at home during Euro 2000 qualifying.
Norway
Playing to its strengths
Euro debutant Norway’s strengths ù strong work ethic, collective spirit, a manner of play that causes opponents fits ù will again be on display this summer. There have been subtle alterations.
Nils Johan Semb has stuck with the 4-5-1 system Egil Olsen, his predecessor, used to transform the Norwegians into European powers of a sort. They’re still looking for the quick counterattack, still sending long balls for tall Tore Andre Flo, still attacking and defending in numbers.
Semb has brought greater technical sophistication to Norway’s game, a response to the growing attacking depth in his player pool.
Aside from veteran playmaker Erik Mykland, the Norwegians still lack inspiration, and a spate of injuries could limit their capabilities. Nine players have been sidelined during the latter stages of preparation. Two pivotal figures ù defender Ronny Johnsen and midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen ù will miss the tournament.
“We went to the [’98] World Cup with an injury-free squad,” Semb noted. “We were really lucky then. Now we’re really unlucky.”
Under Olsen, Norway went to its first two post-World War II World Cups, beat Brazil twice, went unbeaten in Oslo for seven years and became a major exporter of talent. Most of its top players are in England, including defensive linchpin Henning Berg, its best attackers ù Flo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Steffen Iversen ù plus Johnsen and Leonhardsen.
Norway is capable of knocking off better foes. Something special might require divine intervention. Semb will rely on the Norwegian ethic.
“There are no miracles,” he says. “Just hard work.”
Briefly
Goalkeeper Frode Olsen is called “Pavarotti” because he’s always singing, and “Barber of Seville” in honor of his bald pate. * Young forward John Carew likens himself to James Bond, with gorgeous women surrounding him, on his Web site. * Tore Andre Flo scored three goals in two victories over Brazil.
Yugoslavia
First chance, last chance
A superb generation of Yugoslav players finally gets its opportunity on Europe’s biggest stage. There will be no other.
Politics prevented Sinisa Mihajlovic, Dragan Stojkovic and their gifted countrymen from participating in Euros ’92 or ’96. The bulk of that group now is over 30, and another generation ù perhaps as talented ù is ready for its turn.
It’s these Yugoslavs’ last chance. They aren’t aiming low.
“We have magnificent players who play in great teams,” says Coach Vujadin Boskov. “We’ve got more world-class players than any other European country. … We simply have to go for the trophy.”
It’s essentially the same team Yugoslavia has fielded since late 1994. Mihajlovic, the dead-ball specialist, runs things from the back. Play flows through Stojkovic, now 35, and Vladimir Jugovic, back after missing qualifying through injury. Predrag Mijatovic, paired with Savo Milosevic or Darko Kovacevic, is the finisher.
Dejan Savicevic, finally, has gone, but 21-year-old Dejan Stankovic ù a Lazio regular at 19 ù is the new force in midfield.
It’s a tremendous team, on paper, but Yugoslavia rarely has lived up to reputation in major events. This group’s first big tournament, France ’98, was a keen disappointment.
There are other reasons for concern. More than half the squad plays in Italy or Spain, but few are regular starters with their clubs. Mijatovic missed five months last season with injuries. They’ve played nobody of consequence during preparations.
Boskov isn’t worried.
“We are capable,” he says, “of beating anyone on the day.” Anyone, sure, but everyone?
Briefly
Sinisa Mihajlovic threatened to quit the national team when it was wrongly reported he had joined Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic’s political party. * Midfielder Albert Nadj was dropped from the 1998 World Cup team because he refused to play at left back. * Vujadin Boskov guided Sampdoria to Cup Winners’ Cup and Serie A titles.
Slovenia
The impossible dream? Qualifying
Slovenia already has achieved the impossible, somehow slipping into the Euro 2000 field. The youngest and smallest nation in the tournament doesn’t plan on laying down in the face of superior opposition.
The Slovenes, who stunned Ukraine in a playoff after finishing second in a weak qualifying group, have embraced their role as tournament underdogs. They’ll be happy if they’re not embarrassed but aren’t about to pack their defense to make certain that doesn’t occur.
“We don’t want to be cannon-fodder, and we don’t want to lock ourselves into our half of the field,” says Coach Srecko Katanec. “We must play as aggressively as possible, especially because no one expects us to do so.”
The Slovenes’ only world-class player, Zlatko Zahovic, scored 10 of their 15 qualifying goals. He missed most of the season at Olympiakos, banned first after going AWOL, then for cursing out his coach.
Zahovic, stationed behind the front pair, has the freedom to do whatever he likes. The rest of the squad must conform to strict positional assignments.
Katanec has a veteran group ù his core, including defender Darko Milanic and midfielder Ales Ceh, have passed 30 ù and 16 of the 22 are stationed abroad, nearly all at small clubs. They know what to expect.
“It’s already a huge success for us to have qualified, and we’re all aware of that,” says Katanec. “We are going to be playing against elite European players whom we would normally only have a chance of watching on television. Unlike them, we have absolutely nothing to lose.”
Briefly
Slovenia gained just one point during qualifying for the France ’98 World Cup. * Midfielder Zoran Pavlovic is a Croat who was born in Bosnia but grew up in Slovenia. * Srecko Katanec, at 37 the second-youngest coach at Euro 2000, doubles as the Slovenes’ fitness coach. He played for Yugoslavia and Slovenia.