YOKOHAMA, 21 June — For the first-time ever, Europeans face the possibility of watching the World Cup semifinals with no continental connection as the quarterfinals kick off today with four battles of Europe against underdogs.

The remaining European teams — Germany, England, Spain and Turkey — all face difficult tests in a final eight which for the first time includes representatives from five different confederations.

The Germans face the United States from Central and Northern America, while England face South American powers Brazil, Spain take on co-hosts South Korea from Asia and Turkey tackle newcomers Senegal from Africa.

The four Europeans are the lowest number of quarterfinalists from the continent since Mexico 1970 when Germany, England, Italy and Soviet Union made it to the final eight.

And for the first time the World Cup semifinals could be played out with a European team. Or four teams for the fourth time.

Europe has once had just one representative, when Yugoslavia were in the last four with United States, Argentina and Uruguay in 1930.

Four years later, Europe dominated with Italy, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany. That was repeated in 1966 — England, Germany, Soviet Union and Portugal — and again in 1982 — Italy, Germany, Poland and France.

But in this World Cup of surprises and shocks anything is possible.

In Ulsan today, the three-time champions Germany take on a motivated and well-prepared United States side looking to demonstrate that victories over Portugal and Mexico are their real face — not the 4-0 thrashing by Poland.

“Germany think they will come up and win the game. But deep down inside I know we can beat them,” goalkeeper Brad Friedel said yesterday.

Striker Clint Mathis agreed: “The sky is the limit. We have surprised a lot of people so far and if we go out there and play to our capability, anything can happen.”

Rudi Voeller’s Germans could have back in the lineup Carsten Ramelow, Christian Ziege and Dietmar Hamann — who were suspended against Paraguay — but defender Christoph Metzelder and Michael Ballack are fighting off light knocks.

The 1966 winners England should see Michael Owen and Paul Scholes recover from slight injuries for their inciting Shizouka showdown with four-time champions Brazil today.

Brazil have never lost to England in the finals and hope history continues as the Selecao have won the World Cup each year they faced the English.

“Really, Brazil vs. England would be worthy of a final. Brazil is the greatest nation in football history, England the home of football,” Brazilian legend Pele said of the battle of football giants.

World Cup newcomers Senegal have not at all suffered from stage fright — knocking off France in the tournament opener and then Sweden in the Round of 16 — and sit well for a chance to reach the semis.

“We are fighting for African football and we are proud to be in this position,” Senegal’s French coach Bruno Metsu said ahead of the tomorrow match in Osaka.

Turkey however are on a majestic run of their own, reappearing at football’s biggest party for the first time since 1954 and rushing past co-hosts Japan to their first-ever final eight match.

“It has been a long time since we reached the World Cup finals and we wanted to play and perform to a high standard. We have done that,” Turkish coach Senol Gunes said.

The final showdown sees co-hosts South Korea out to knock off their next team as they face Spain in Kwangju tomorrow.

Guus Hiddink’s Koreans helped bounce Portugal from the first round and then shocked the world by beating the Italians on a golden goal.

The Spaniards are hoping to finally overcome their losing aura and reach the semis for the first time since 1950.

Owen fit for England-Brazil classic

The chances of the World Cup quarterfinals kicking off with a classic worthy of the occasion improved considerably yesterday with the news that England striker Michael Owen would be fit to face Brazil.

The 22-year-old Owen, scorer of 17 goals in 40 England matches, trained for the first time with his team yesterday after picking up a groin injury in the second round game with Denmark in which he scored his first goal of the tournament.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said Owen, European Player of the Year last year, would lead the front line in the first quarterfinal of the tournament against Brazil in Shizuoka at 0630 GMT.

“They are all fit and Michael will start,” he told reporters. “This is a game for Michael, and for the others, but Michael is waiting, waiting for the big, big game — he’s always shown that in his life.”

The clash between two former champions — Brazil have won the World Cup four times and England once — could be one of the highlight games of a tournament packed with shocks and the winner will certainly be installed as favorite for the title.

Brazil were being mysterious on the eve of the game. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari abandoned his usual first team reserves practice session and opted for a light kickaround instead, giving observers no clues as to his likely lineup.

Rivaldo, who has scored in every game so far, said Scolari had not told the players whether there would be changes.

“He hasn’t made any comment so far to us,” he said. “There’s not a lot to change. We have played four games, we have four wins, the team is doing well so the proof didn’t even need to have a training match.”

Germany and the United States, preparing for the other quarterfinal in Ulsan, South Korea, (kickoff 1130 GMT) also reported no fitness worries.

Germany seemed quietly confident of reaching the semifinals against a team few had expected to do so well.

Coach Rudi Voeller told a news conference: “We are a bit below teams like Brazil and England, who have more class than we have, but with our team effort and a collective effort, we can beat any side.”

But his American opponents seemed to be relishing their underdog status. “I think all the pressure’s on the Germans,” coach Bruce Arena told a news conference. “They’re the ones who have got to win.”

Spain’s main striker Raul, who also has a groin injury, has not been able to train ahead of the quarterfinal with South Korea tomorrow and team doctor Genaro Borras said he was only moderately optimistic Raul would play.

The co-hosts’ upset second round win over Italy was still causing waves. Striker Ahn Jung-hwan scored a late golden goal in the game triggering an outpouring of Italian bile about the referee and supposed dark forces at play at the tournament.

South Korea’s Dutch trainer Guus Hiddink said the decision by the chairman of Ahn’s Italian club Perugia to sack the striker because of his goal was “childish”.

Perugia chairman Luciano Gaucci had said earlier Ahn would not set foot again in the town because he had affronted Italian pride and ruined Italian soccer.

Hiddink told reporters: “If it’s England-France, do they say to (Marcel) Desailly (of Chelsea), he cannot score against England from a corner? It’s almost too ridiculous to talk about.”

The fourth semifinal tomorrow features Turkey and Senegal, both newcomers to the last eight of the World Cup.

Senegal’s outspoken French coach Bruno Metsu accused Turkey of denigrating his team, saying Turkish coach Senol Gunes was already talking about playing England or Brazil in the semifinals.

“Judging by the comments of the coach, they are very sure of themselves,” he said. “They aren’t even talking about the quarterfinal match against Senegal, they are already talking about the outcome of the Brazil-England game.

“It’s not very nice. It’s not so much overconfidence, they have been denigrating us.” (R)