Early but vital days on the road to Euro 2004

These are still early days in the race for the 2004 European Championships, but none of the favourites will want to slip up when many face two qualifying matches over the next few days.

In all, 39 qualifiers are taking place across Europe from Iceland in the north to Turkey in the south. That number would have been 40 but Israel's match with Cyprus has been postponed because of the political instability in the Middle East.

But by next Wednesday the embryonic groups, in which some teams have yet to play a match and the others have only played once, should have a rather more familiar look to them than they have at the moment.

Reigning European champions France have a good chance to chalk up two victories over Slovenia at home and Malta away as new coach Jacques Santini continues with his re-building programme following France's disappointing World Cup showing.

France opened their campaign with a 2-1 win in Cyprus a month ago, and with Slovenia winning their opener 3-0 against Malta, Saturday's match in Paris will give both teams a tougher test.

France then travel to Malta for next Wednesday's match and by then could be top of the Group One table -- although they will have to do that without David Trezeguet who pulled out of the squad with an injury on Tuesday. He has been replaced by uncapped Lens striker Daniel Moreira.

GERMANY WAIT

Germany meet Bosnia in a friendly on Friday before taking part in what is likely to be one of the most mis-matched European internationals of the year when they play the Faroe Islands in Hannover next Wednesday.

The Faroes sprang a huge upset when they raced into a 2-0 lead against Scotland last month before emerging with a highly creditable 2-2 draw.

However to do the same against the beaten World Cup finalists is a task too far and Germany should win their Group Five match with several goals to spare.

Defenders Christian Woerns and Marko Rehmer have both recovered from injuries and are recalled to the German squad who opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Lithuania a month ago.

Turkey, the second-best European team in the World Cup, began their Group Seven campaign with a 3-0 win over Slovakia and can consolidate their good start with wins over both Macedonia and minnows Liechtenstein in the next few days.

Turkey coach Senol Gunes said recently despite the improvements his team has made recently, they are "still not at the highest level" and must work hard to maintain their momentum.

They go into the two games without their talisman and skipper Hakan Sukur but should still be too strong for both opponents.

CAMPBELL SICK

Among the other fancied teams expected to reach the 2004 finals, England travel to Bratislava for a first meeting with Slovakia without Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, sidelined with a stomach bug, and his Manchester United partner Rio Ferdinand.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is likely to replace them with the Middlesbrough duo of Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu, at least for the visit to Slovakia for the other match in Group Seven. Campbell could yet recover for England's match next Wednesday against Macedonia at Southampton, but Ferdinand, who has had an operation on an injured knee will not be fit in time.

Italy, runners-up to France in Euro 2000 and looking to do well in this tournament after their disappointing second round World Cup exit, play Yugoslavia in their home Group Nine match without injured forward Francesco Totti, who has thigh and knee problems.

He is also likely to miss the visit to Cardiff for next Wednesday's match against a resurgent Welsh team who started their campaign with a 2-0 win in Finland and have now gone six matches without defeat.