REDWORTH, England, 11 June 2003 — England head into today’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia looking not just for victory, but an end to a circle of violence and racist abuse.
On the pitch, the challenge facing England in Middlesbrough is to follow up their rousing 2-0 win over Turkey two months ago in Sunderland without suspended skipper David Beckham.
England answered their critics with their best performance since the World Cup finals at the Stadium of Light, inspired by their electrifying 17-year-old striker Wayne Rooney.
However, Turkey have wrested back top slot in Group Seven with Saturday’s 1-0 victory in Slovakia and they are unlikely to relinquish it at home to Macedonia today.
With 12 points to England’s 10, the Turks are hoping for another England slip-up in a labored qualifying campaign for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side.
Last October’s scrappy 2-1 victory in a quagmire in Bratislava was followed by an embarrassing 2-2 draw at home to Macedonia and only a 2-0 win in Liechtenstein. England can ill-afford another draw, as it would almost certainly mean having to beat Turkey in October’s final match to qualify automatically — precisely what Eriksson has always wanted to avoid. The omens for today so far have been mixed, with Beckham’s enforced vacation in the United States a major blow. England have come to rely on the midfielder’s steely determination, pinpoint passing and an ability to score in all four previous qualifiers.
Despite the unwanted spotlight of his future at Manchester United, amid talks with Spanish and Italian clubs, his England team mates would clearly rather have Beckham on Teesside than Stateside.
Worse still, he is one of six first-choice absentees — with defenders Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Gary Neville, plus midfielders Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer all injured. The likely replacements — Gareth Southgate, Matthew Upson, Danny Mills, Frank Lampard and Phil Neville — are, aside from Southgate, a notch or two below in quality.
The good news remains Rooney, who should partner Michael Owen when England’s stand-in captain collects his 50th cap, plus the sparkling form of midfielder Steven Gerrard.
Slovakia, who stayed third on six points after Saturday’s defeat, only have pride to play for, according to their coach.
However, a surprise victory — perhaps secured by Middlesbrough striker Szilard Nemeth — would throw open the race for a runners-up slot in the playoffs.
Ballack Urges Germany to
Wake Up Against Faroes
In Torshavn, Germany playmaker Michael Ballack has urged the World Cup finalists to wake up when they play Faroe Islands in a Euro 2004 qualifier today. Ballack, far below his best in the 1-1 draw with Scotland on Saturday in Glasgow, said he wanted to see a reaction from the three-time world and European champions.
“Some of the players must realize what it means to play for Germany and act accordingly,” said the Bayern Munich midfielder, who should play in Torshavn despite a calf problem.
“At the moment we are not able to dominate our opponents when we’re playing away from home,” he added. “Scotland were one of the weakest teams we played recently and look what happened.”
Germany lead Group Five from Scotland on goal difference but have played a game less than their main rivals for first place in the group. Their chances of winning the group to secure direct access to next year’s finals in Portugal are still looking good but they need to win today.
Germany, who struggled to beat the mostly amateur north Atlantic side 2-1 in October in Hanover, will miss midfielder Torsten Frings through suspension.
