European Olympic Qualifying Preview

Germany vs. France

German coach Hannes Lohr is hoping that February’s bad weather doesn’t hurt his team’s chances of playing in the United States this summer.

Inclement weather forced the cancellation of 11 games during the first three weeks since the Bundesliga finished its winter break. As a result, make-up games are popping up uncomfortably close to Germany’s quarterfinal games against France March 13 and March 26 — and one game may actually conflict directly.

Lohr is pleading with the league not to schedule the Bayer Leverkusen-Borussia Dortmund on March 13. That would jeopardize the availability of Dortmund’s Lars Ricken — Germany’s brightest young star — and Leverkusen’s Andreas Neuendorf.

French coach Aime Jacquet has not called any espoirs to the full national team so they can concentrate on Olympic qualifying. Midfielder Patrick Vieira has already moved to Italy’s AC Milan, while strikers Robert Pires and Florian Maurice have both attracted the attention of Italian scouts.

Portugal vs. Italy

This is a showdown of two of Europe’s most productive national team programs:
Portugal has been Europe’s strongest team in age-group competitions for the last decade, while Italy is two-time defending European under-21 champion.

Portugal, which is at home in the first leg March 13, features a solid midfield, led by Peixe (Sporting), Dani (West Ham) and Daniel Kenedy (Benfica).

Longtime Italian under-21 coach Cesare Maldini, father of AC Milan star Paolo Maldini and an AC Milan star in his day, watched his team struggle in group play, in part because star Alessandro Del Piero, third in the balloting for 1995 European Player of the Year, was called up to the senior national team for key Euro ’96 dates.

Spain vs. Czech Republic

On paper, Spain, the host for the series’ first leg March 13, would appear to be the heavy favorite. After all, it features the devastating trio of Raul (Real Madrid), Ivan De la Pena (Barcelona) and Joseba Etxeberria (Athletic Bilbao) up front.

The Czechs shouldn’t be taken lightly, however. The team is built around the talented Prague clubs, Sparta and Slavia, and defender Tomas Repka and strikers Vratislav Lokvenc and Vladimir Smicer have already joined U-21 teammate Patrick Berger (Borussia Dortmund) on the Czech national team that qualified for Euro ’96.

Hungary vs. Scotland

Scotland is ineligible for the Olympics — Britain, not the four “home countries,” competes — but Hungary still needs to win the series or capture a wild-card berth to advance.

Fortunately, Hungary is well placed after group play. It’s tied for first with Scotland in the tiebreaker and can clinch a berth with a win at home March 12, regardless of the outcome of the second leg. The Hungarians, dormant on the European scene for almost a decade, are led by Ferencvaros midfielder Krisztian Lisztes (only 19).

Tiebreaker Standings

* ineligible for Olympics.

(Note: The four series winners advance to the Olympics, along with the quarterfinal loser with the best record. The results of the two quarterfinal series are added to the tiebreaker standings., which include results in group play against second-, third- and fourth-place teams.)