Euro 2000: McCarthy's men celebrate flying start to campaign but there is little joy for Brown, Gould or McMenemy

THE only vestige of tradition around Celtic Park these days is the club song which blares out as Jozef Venglos's players take the field.

Croatia Zagreb 3 Celtic 0 Zagreb win 3-1 aggregate

TOM BOYD, the Celtic captain, insists his side must succeed in their chase for a Champions' League place if Scottish clubs are to shed their tag of European also-rans. The Parkhead side's destiny rests on the outcome of tonight's second qualifying round second leg tie against Croatia Zagreb.

CROATIA does not soothe many people's minds as an opportunity for overseas travel. For Tommy Burns, though, the gnawing doubts about visiting a hot spot the Foreign Office would advise against proved unfounded. The only shots fired were by strikers, the only rockets were flares from excited football fans.

Celtic 1 Croatia Zagreb 0

Japan 0 Croatia 1 Suker 77 Att: 39,000

World Cup: Croatia's maverick talents overhaul a lively but limited Japan to qualify for the second round; Japan 0 Croatia 1 Suker 77 Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 39,000

ANY country that beats the France 98 favourites has to be taken seriously, and Argentina secured their first success in Brazil for 28 years when they won 1-0 in Rio last month. If luck travels with them, a third World Cup in six tournaments is a possibility.

Squads published after the France 98 supplement in today's Sunday Review went to press

IN A controversial gesture, the Pope will beatify a Croatian archbishop seen as a hero to Croats but who is a hate-figure in neighbouring Serbia, writes Marcus Tanner.

IT WAS more than half a century later and a continent away but Dinko Sakic's leer was the same. His alleged victims - Jews, Serbs and gypsies - went to their deaths watching that same twisted smile on the face of their concentration camp commander.

Pressing issue in Croatia

THE European Union will increase financial aid to independent media in Croatia to try to promote more democratic change, an EU official said last night. The 15-nation EU wants to "promote democracy, human rights and civil society in Croatia", said Per Vinther, a special delegate of the European Commission in Croatia.