England bank on winning start in Slovakia

England should finally turn the page on their World Cup disappointment by making a winning start to their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign against Slovakia on Saturday.

Four months after an injury-ravaged England were bundled out of the World Cup quarter-finals by Brazil, they open in group seven with a double-header that continues on Wednesday against Macedonia in Southampton.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's objective -- of getting six quick points on the board -- is clearly within reach.

England can ill-afford any mistakes in a group that could be decided by results against the smaller teams, such as Liechtenstein, rather than head-to-heads with main rivals Turkey.

The Turks, surprise World Cup semi-finalists, showed the way last month by trouncing the Slovaks 3-0 in Istanbul and England will want a similarly comfortable margin of victory.

As in Japan, Eriksson will have to cope with injuries on Saturday -- though on nothing like the same scale.

Central defenders Sol Campbell (gastroenteritis) and Rio Ferdinand (knee) have both been ruled out and should be replaced by Middlesbrough duo Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu.

Ironically, the main threat will come from their club mate, Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth. Eriksson will doubtless have been briefed, though, on Nemeth's qualities by England assistant coach Steve McClaren, the 'Boro manager.

Eriksson can welcome back World Cup absentees Steven Gerrard, in central midfield, and Gary Neville, who should claim back his place at right back from Danny Mills.

GOALSCORING SCHOLES

Kieron Dyer, skipper David Beckham and Michael Owen -- all hampered by injury in Japan -- have returned to fitness while Paul Scholes looks back to his goalscoring best after bagging a brace in Manchester United's league win over Everton on Monday.

Dyer, Scholes, Gerrard and Beckham will look after the midfield. Left back Ashley Cole is fit to line up ahead of Arsenal team mate David Seaman in goal.

Seaman, at 39, remains Eriksson's first-choice keeper despite the mistake that handed Brazil their winner in Shizuoka and the increasing competition from David James.

Up front, the only doubt is whether Alan Smith or Emile Heskey will start alongside Owen.

Though Heskey has long been the preferred partner, Smith's well-taken goal and overall performance on his debut in last month's friendly draw with Portugal may give him the edge.

If England are turning their eyes to the 2004 tournament which the Portuguese are hosting, Slovakia's objective on Saturday will be to walk off with their heads held high -- and perhaps a point to boot.

Slovak coach Ladislav Jurkemik has rung the changes in the squad since their defeat at the Ali Sami Yen and added Nemeth, who missed their opener through injury, to what was a fairly toothless attack.

With the Slovaks likely to outgun Macedonia, as well as Liechtenstein, Jurkemik's main aim is to be ready in ambush should either England or Turkey slip up over the coming year and squander the runners-up's place in the play-offs.

Probable teams

Slovakia: Miroslav Konig; Marian Cisovsky, Peter Dzurik, Vladimir Leitner, Martin Petras; Vladimir Janocko, Marek Mintal, Attila Pinte, Miroslav Karhan; Robert Vittek, Szilard Nemeth.

England: David Seaman; Gary Neville, Ugo Ehiogu, Gareth Southgate, Ashley Cole; David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Kieron Dyer; Alan Smith, Michael Owen.