Football: Around the world - Croatia face tense journey to Yugoslavia

Around The World

THE INTERNATIONAL football season kicks off this week with, as the highlight of a busy programme tomorrow, a match in Belgrade with huge sporting and political significance.

Yugoslavia take on their neighbours, Croatia, in a European Championship qualifier which the visitors must win if they are to have a realistic chance of claiming first place in Group Eight and automatic qualification for next year's finals in Belgium and the Netherlands.

But, of course, this Balkan derby is much more than just a football match. Any sporting contact between the former war-time enemies carries huge political significance, and this encounter is no different.

"However hard we pretend that it is only sport, the truth remains that the upcoming match will be much more than that," Croatia's coach, Miroslav Blazevic, said. "The match has a special importance and no one can dismiss its political connotations."

Croatia have not played the Yugoslavs since the countries split in 1991. This qualifier was scheduled to be played in March, but it was postponed due to Nato's bombing of Yugoslavia. The return fixture, in Zagreb on 10 October, will be the final, and probably decisive, fixture in the group. Yugoslavia lead the section, two points ahead of the Croats, who have played a game more.

"I cannot recall if I have ever felt such pressure," Blazevic said. "Wherever I go everybody is asking me: `Are we going to beat them?'.

"They [Yugoslavia] do not have a weak spot. They will undoubtedly do everything within their power, their squad will be fanatically motivated," Blazevic added. "But nothing is impossible. If we win I will dedicate the victory to the Croatian people, because I know they will be with us heart and soul."

His Yugoslav counterpart, Vujadin Boskov, said: "We must bow to Croatia for finishing third in the World Cup. We had a better team and still went out in the second round. My players will have to be above themselves physically and mentally to win." He must make do without Dejan Savicevic, who ruptured a tendon playing in a Champions' League qualifier for Rapid Vienna last week, and Dragan Stojkovic, who has not been released by his Japanese club, Nagoya Grampus Eight. The Croats have injury doubts over Alen Boksic and Zvonimir Boban.

Tomorrow's other Euro 2000 qualifier is also in the former Yugoslavia. Slovenia entertain Albania in Ljubljana seeking three points which will make them the favourites to finish second behind Norway in Group Two. They also have a chance of claiming an automatic qualification place as the best of the runners-up.

France travel to Northern Ireland tomorrow for one of several attractive friendlies. The world champions will be fielding a weakened side, which will mean opportunities for fringe players like Frederic Dehu, Johan Micoud and Laurent Robert.

The Netherlands, who take on Denmark in Copenhagen, can find no place for Pierre van Hooijdonk, who scored on his debut for Vitesse Arnhem last weekend, but they have recalled Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, whose move from Leeds to Atletico Madrid is, it seems, by no means complete.