PARIS, Oct 15: Having negotiated a tough trip to Slovakia where a bog of a pitch and a hostile atmosphere caused problems in almost equal measure England will bid to underline their credentials with three more points in Wednesday’s Euro 2004 against Macedonia at Southampton.

The St Mary’s Stadium should provide a far more comfortable environment for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men and the return to fitness of Arsenal stalwart Sol Campbell in defence following a bout of gastroenteritis should only stiffen the side, although Rio Ferdinand remains unavailable.

A handsome win is nonetheless the bare minimum target for Eriksson’s side as Group Seven rivals Turkey host ultra minnows Liechtenstein with two wins already under their belts.

As England strive to live up to skipper David Beckham’s weekend claim that a solid showing at major tournaments is not enough and that silverware itself should be the aim.

England’s run to the World Cup quarterfinal, where Brazil proved a bridge too far, was more or less par for the course, the 1966 World Cup triumph proving the exception to the rule.

And both Eriksson and Beckham, aware of Turkey’s third-place World Cup finish, could be forgiven for casting envious eyes towards Germany, who looked dead in the water six months ago but who have since roared back to reach the World Cup final without several of their best players.

The Germans continue to make strides under coach Rudi Voller, a 1990 World Cup winner as a player, and he has impressed upon his squad that winning is what counts.

That is engraved on the German mentality and after three World Cup triumphs and three European Championship wins ‘mere’ final appearances tend to draw as much criticism as praise, although defeat to Brazil in June was hardly a disgrace.

Germany host the Faroe Islands on Wednesday, a far cry from their joust with Brazil, since when Voller’s side have won 2-0 in Lithuania to bolster their chances of topping Group Five.

Scotland, coached by Germany’s Euro 1996-winning coach Berti Vogts, currently top the group.

But four points from matches with the Faroes, who almost beat them, and Iceland, make that exalted position misleading with two matches to come against the Germans, who should waltz into the finals.

France, like the Germans, ought to qualify in double quick time after destroying Slovenia, at first glance their only serious Group One rivals, 5-0 on Saturday having already won in Cyprus.

Under Jacques Santini the French have emerged from their dreadful World Cup with a rekindled spirit — and a host of young talents ready to give the survivors of the “golden generation” a run for their appearance money.

And with most of the regular major stars in the English Premiership and Zinedine Zidane back to his best after his summer struggle for fitness France have rocketed to the top of the bookmakers’ list as favourites to retain their 2000 title.

While England and Germany look forward to home comforts against ostensibly inferior opponents the French are off on their travels — but should make a mere mouthful, rather than a meal, of Malta in Valletta.

Malta was a British colony until 1964 — now it’s the French who will be turning up with a colony of their own, in their case from the English Premiership, with stars such as Arsenal trio Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord and Mikael Silvestre of Manchester United in their ranks.

Europe’s other big guns, Italy and Spain, top their respective Groups Nine and Six. But Italy have to make amends following Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Yugoslavia.

The Italians travel to face a Wales side written off in recent years but on the way back under Mark Hughes, who has instilled some long-forgotten self belief into a side which does after all contain the likes of wing wizard Ryan Giggs and Newcastle pair Craig Bellamy and Gary Speed.

Spain, meanwhile, thumped Northern Ireland at the weekend but have a week off as rivals Ukraine, two points adrift after two matches, travel to Northern Ireland and Greece host Armenia.—AFP