FINLAND 0 GERMANY 0
EUROPEAN champions Germany stuttered to a disappointing goalless draw in a World Cup warm-up against Finland, despite the return of legendary sweeper Lothar Matthaeus to the national side after three-and-a-half years out in the international wilderness. The Bayern Munich man, who has had a well-publicised falling out with German captain Jurgen Klinsmann which looked as though it would never be resolved, couldn't really stamp his authority on the game as Finland grabbed the initiative and created the better chances.
Jari Litmanen unnerved the German defence when he shot narrowly wide after just two minutes and from then on the Germans struggled to contain the impressive Ajax striker. Midfielder Thomas Hassler did his level best to spearhead Germany's effort to wrestle the initiative from their opponents and went close to scoring with a free-kick in 18th minute. Then he was unlucky with a powerful shot from a long way out in the 35th minute, but unfortunately the ball failed to find the target. Klinsmann, who was desperate to show that he is still Germany's first-choice striker, had pulled out of the game just hours before kick-off with a bruised calf and was immediately flown home for medical checks, but may still be able to take part in a friendly against Colombia on Saturday. But the strike force employed by coach Berti Vogts - Oliver Bierhoff and Ulf Kirsten - never seriously threatened Antti Niemi's goal. Vogts was clearly disappointed with the result, saying: I can't be pleased with this performance. Our midfield really didn't work at all.

DUTCH BOSS GLOOMY HOLLAND 0 CAMEROON 0 DUTCH coach Guus Hiddink offered Glenn Hoddle a lesson in realism after his side's goalless draw by admitting: What is important in a tournament is that you don't give away any goals, but of the eight or nine chances we couldn't even put one away. Clarence Seedorf stood out for Holland, going close three times and twice setting up near-misses from Ronald De Boer. But luck and the form of Cameroon keeper Jacques Songo'o kept the Dutch at bay and their fans hoping for a quick return from Dennis Bergkamp. England's Player of the Year was not even on the bench and Hiddinck admitted: "There is no doubt he wants to train, but we don't want to force it. He is not too optimistic for the next two matches.

ENGLAND OPPONENTS SLUMP IN AUSTRIA AUSTRIA 2 TUNISIA 1 AFTER his own side's uninspiring performance against Morocco, Glenn Hoddle at least had some reason to smile after witnessing a dreadful warm-up for England's first finals opponents. Tunisia suggested there would be little to fear for Hoddle's men on 15 June as they slumped to defeat against an Austrian side which had lost recent friendlies 3-2 to Hungary and 3-0 to the United States. Tunisia looked extremely frail at the back and conceded goals to Harald Cerny and Arnold Wetl on 11 and 17 minutes before a mix-up between Franz Wohlfahrt and fit-again midfielder Heimo Pfeifenberger gifted Khaled Badra a goal on 23 minutes. But despite plenty of pressure they created few clear-cut chances and Cerny seemed hugely flattering when he called them not a bad side .

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