LONDON, 8 June 2004 — France beat Ukraine 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a late winner from Zinedine Zidane in their final warm-up before the start of their European title defense.
But in their last game before heading for Portugal, former champions Germany slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Hungary.
Zidane struck in the 88th minute and France go into their first match against England next Sunday on the back of an 18-game unbeaten run. It is almost a year since the mean French defense has conceded a goal.
Not so Germany, who were jeered off the pitch in Kaiserslautern after two first-half goals from striker Sandor Torghelle handed victory to Hungary who are coached by former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus.
But the Dutch are also out of sorts after a 1-0 defeat at home to Ireland on Saturday and a loss by the same score a week ago to Belgium. A midweek 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands looks scant consolation.
In other weekend warm-ups, Czech Republic striker Milan Baros hit both goals in the opening 22 minutes to give the Czechs a 2-0 win over Estonia in Teplice nine days before their Group D starter against Latvia in Aveiro.
England progressed from their 1-1 draw against Japan on Tuesday to Saturday’s 6-1 romp against Iceland in their final warm-up before facing France. Teenage striker Wayne Rooney, like Baros, scored twice before half-time for England, whose coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said his squad were all fit and ready for the tournament.
Eriksson, however, is reminding the team’s fans in an open letter published yesterday that hooliganism could mean expulsion from the tournament.
“Ahead of us lie the likes of Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane, but also the uncertainty of whether the violence and disorder involving England fans that has clouded past tournaments will raise its ugly head again,” Eriksson writes.
“The England supporters carry a weighty responsibility. If there are any serious incidents of hooliganism or anti-social behavior, we risk expulsion from Euro 2004. The image of our game, and of the country, would be damaged beyond imagination.”
Boca and River Square Up in Libertadores Semis
In Rio de Janeiro, Argentine clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate, who enjoy one of the most intense soccer rivalries in the world, square up this week in the first leg of their Libertadores Cup semifinal.
Brazil striker Luis Fabiano, who scored in Sunday’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Chile, leads the Sao Paulo attack when they host Colombian surprise package Caldas in the other tie.
Boca and River, who last met in the Libertadores four years ago when Boca won 4-2 on aggregate, clash in Boca’s Bombonera stadium on Thursday in Buenos Aires.
Local authorities, always wary of potential violence when the pair meet, have agreed the game can go ahead at night but have banned visiting fans.
Boca are defending champions and have won the competition three times in the last four years — all under coach Carlos Bianchi — and River would like nothing more than to end their domination.
Boca captain Diego Cagna and midfielder Matias Donnet are both doubtful because of injury and mystery surrounds their possible line-up. River are expected to be at full strength, apart from injury-plagued Chilean striker Marcelo Salas who is expected to be on the bench as he recovers from his latest muscular problem.
