Friendlies lack frenzy as big guns settle for less

On the field, there was plenty of stake in a game which provided England coach Kevin Keegan a last look at his players before naming his initial squad of 35 for this summer’s final.

But although fringe players such as Leicester’s Cemile Heskey pressed their claims energetically, and although David Beckham was outstanding in the central mid-field role before being substituted, the goalless outing was not what doctor Keegan would have ordered.

The England coach, looking ahead to the moment he will have to choose a 22-man squad, would only say cautiously: “I’ve probably got 18 of my 22 in my mind.”

Keegan was far from being the only coach left to ponder an inconclusive showing, however, as Euro rivals France — the world champions — and European champions Germany — were also way below par, as were Italy.

All four sides hope to have a major impact on the European Championship but Germany, who will face England next, were left with the bitter taste of defeat in their mouths after rivals Holland ran out 2-1 winners in Amsterdam.

The loss spoilt the big night of German veteran libero Lothar Matthaus, winning a world record 144th cap.

Barcelona strikers Patrick Kluivert caught the German defence cold on 15 minutes to give the Dutch the lead before a 50,000 crowd and although Middlesbrough’s Christian Ziege equalised seven minutes later, the Dutch went back in front after 28 minutes through Boudewijn Zenden.

The win was Holland’s first in 12 matches stretching back over 16 months and brought welcome relief for coach Frank Rijkaard. French fans endured 88 soulless minutes at the Stade de France until World Cup hero Zinedine Zidane struck right at the death to see off Poland and bring some succour to 70,000 home fans. But the performance was hardly on a par with òf40óLes Bleus’ World Cup final exploits against Brazil.

Coach Roger Lemerre will have been given food for thought after such a limp showing and remains confronted by the puzzle of who to play up front after Bordeaux’s Sylvain Wiltord and David Trezeguet disappointed as they were paired for the first time.

Neither received any decent service in a thoroughly disjointed performance by the team who will have to find a way past Holland, the Czech Republic and Denmark this summer and who only just qualified for Euro 2000 in the first place.

Italy turned in an almost mirror image showing against Sweden, their 1-0 win achieved with a 79th minute penalty from Alessandro del Piero.

The Italians would, nevertheless, settle for a repeat of the scoreline in four month’s time as they face the well-organised Swedes, along with Turkey and Belgium, in Group B of the Euro finals.

Dino Zoff’s òf40óSquadra Azzurra had to think back eight months to their last success — a 4-0 whipping of Wales last June in Bologna — but without the likes of injured Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta a repeat was not on the cards as they lacked cohesion throughout.

It was only the second-half introduction of Del Piero and Roma playmaker Francesco Totti that brought a marginal improvement on a dire first half.

It eventually fell to Del Piero to make the difference from the spot after visiting ‘keeper Magnus Hedman clattered into Totti on the edge of the box as they both battled to reach a loose ball.

Other sides in action included Spain, who drew 0-0 in Croatia, a side which missed the Euro boat. That result was creditable enough for the Spanish, who rested many of their Barcelona and Real Madrid stars ahead of this weekend’s league clash of the giants.

It will not have escaped their attention, however, that two of their summer rivals won.

Yugoslavia thanked two goals from Fiorentina striker Predrag Mijatovic for a 2-1 win at neighbouring Macedonia.

Mijatovic, making a comeback in the National squad after returning just two weeks ago following three months out with an ankle injury, netted after 20 and 38 minutes to put the visitors in the clear before Karan Filoski scored a 77th-minute consolation.

Norway meanwhile won 2-0 in Turkey with goals from John Rise and Roar Strand. However, despite the plethora of sub-par performances, the real thing is still almost four months away and thus the Czech Republic will not be losing too much sleep about losing 3-2 in an entertaining match in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland.

A goal three minutes from time by Coventry’s teenage marksman Robbie Keane handed the Republic victory after the hosts had twice been behind against a side who tore through their qualifying campaign in style without dropping a point in 10 matches.