Dutch hopes are badly disrupted

Holland coach Louis van Gaal believes his side's preparations for the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus tonight have been disrupted by the publicity involving Edgar Davids and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Davids, who is banned for tonight game after picking up too many bookings, was in the news after it was revealed he failed a drugs test following a Juventus game in March.

Meanwhile, striker van Nistelrooy this week completed his £19 million move from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United.

Holland, who are third in their group, three points behind the Republic of Ireland and Portugal, must win to keep alive their chances of reaching the 2002 finals.

"Sometimes it is not possible to create order," said van Gaal. "There's always something going. The first training was disturbed due to all sorts of circumstances. It is not good for our game."

West Ham striker Davor Suker will be in action for Croatia against England's World Cup opponents Greece in a friendly tonight.

Coach Mirko Jozic plans to use Suker in attack, even though Croatia's star from the 1998 World Cup has not played a competitive match for several months.

Scotland are without five key players for tonight's friendly in Poland.

Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert, Hearts defender Steven Pressley, Sunderland's Don Hutchison and Rangers pair Barry Ferguson and Allan Johnston are injured.

Craig Brown has drafted in Dunfermline striker Steve Crawford, whose only previous appearance was against Ecuador in 1995.