New coaches begin with stalemate

Poland 1-1 Belgium
Poland and Belgium, both under new coaches, drew 1-1 tonight in Szczecin in a low-key tune-up for the start of the EURO 2004™ qualifiers next month.

Zurawski on target
Maciej Zurawski, the Polish league's leading scorer over the last two seasons, struck in the fifth minute when Belgian goalkeeper Geert De Vlieger misjudged a looping pass which sailed over his head to leave the TS Wisla Kraków winger in the clear.

Sonck levels
Belgium equalised three minutes from half-time after an errant punch by Polish keeper Radoslaw Majdan was intercepted by Bart Goor, whose cross was headed into the net by KRC Genk striker Wesley Sonck.

Mpenza close
The Red Devils, whose coach Aimé Antheunis fielded a new-look team after the retirement of captain Marc Wilmots and other FIFA World Cup players, had the better of the few scoring opportunities with FC Schalke 04 striker Emile Mpenza going close several times.

Duo rested
Poland trainer Zbigniew Boniek, who scored a hat-trick against Belgium in the World Cup finals in Spain 20 years ago, rested first-choice goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek of Liverpool FC and Panathinaikos FC forward Emannuel Olisadebe.

Qualifiers approaching
Poland are in EURO 2004™ Group 4 alongside Hungary, Latvia, San Marino and Sweden, while Belgium are in Group 8 with Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia and Estonia.