Davids does the damage

Norway 0-1 Netherlands

Superiority counts for nothing
The match offered few clues about the form of either team before the start of next month's EURO 2004™ qualifiers. The Dutch had most of the possession but failed to make their superiority count. Norway sparkled only when they launched sporadic, but swift, counterattacks. Despite Manchester United FC's prolific scorers Ruud van Nistelrooij and Ole Gunnar Solskjær both on the pitch in opposition to one another, neither came close to scoring.

Iversen missing
Van Nistelrooij played the first half for his side, while Solskjær came on at half-time for Norway, who were without Tottenham Hotspur FC striker Steffen Iversen. He was allowed to return to his family and miss the match after his younger brother was seriously injured in a car crash on Sunday.

Only goal
The only goal came 20 minutes from the end when Davids pounced on a rebound from Norwegian goakeeper Frode Grodas, who had half-saved a shot from inside the box from Andy van der Meyde.

September fixtures
Norway open their EURO 2004™ campaign in Group 2 at home to Denmark on 7 September while the Netherlands host Belarus in Group 3 the same night.