PARIS (AP) - Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka might be suspended for a Premier League game after refusing to play in an exhibition for France's national team. The French federation said it considers Anelka already suspended for Manchester City's next game, against Middlesbrough on Nov. 23. The rules of soccer's governing body say that a player released by his club for an international game must play in the game. If he doesn't, he will be banned from playing for his club for the next five days. Anelka said he hoped to play for France in the future. "I've always been proud to wear the France jersey and I've always given my best," Anelka said on his Web site.

Germans flop as Premiership stars lift Dutch to win GELSENKIRCHEN

Germany (AFP) - World Cup finalist Germany fell victim to a second-half smash and grab by two strikers based in the English Premiership in an exhibition loss to Holland here Wednesday. With intensely-felt regional pride at stake, it was the Dutch who had the last laugh as Chelsea forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy netted in the closing stages to complete a 3-1 victory. Sebastian Kehl was the villain for the Germans, as he conceded possession to Rafael van der Vaart, who quickly found Hasselbaink, and his shot past German keeper Oliver Kahn did the rest on 69 minutes. Nine minutes later, and with the Germans reeling, van Nistelrooy made the win safe when he fired home from a teasing Clarence Seedorf cross. The Manchester United striker insisted the Dutch hadn't even played that well. "That wasn't a world class performance from us - we didn't play well in the first half when the Germans played pretty well. But after the break we got better, and 3-1 is a great result for us." The Dutch showed their traditional bitter rivals that they are on the way back after failing to qualify for the World Cup last summer, when Germany made the final despite a slew of injuries. German coach Rudi Voeller, his side shorn of Borussia Dortmund pair Christoph Metzelder and Christian Worns, as well as Dietmar Hamann and Christian Ziege, refused to be downcast. "I am not disappointed with the way we played. The difference was the Dutch showed ice-cold finishing." Kahn summed up the result by praising Holland's attacking prowess. "They are peerless in attack. They took off two world class strikers - and sent another two on in their place." Visiting coach Dick Advocaat was hampered by a promise made to Barcelona coach and former Dutch supremo Louis van Gaal that he would only use players from the Catalan club for 45 minutes - meaning Patrick Kluivert, Frank de Boer, Phillip Cocu and Michael Reiziger will be fresh to meet Real Madrid at the weekend. Perhaps mindful of that, Kluivert worked to get himself on the scoresheet, putting the Dutch into a 22nd-minute lead. Edgar Davids, who had fired over in the opening exchanges, whipped over a free kick and Kluivert muscled in past Marco Rehmer to knock the ball home despite being off balance to stun the 60,000 fans at Schalke's futuristic Arena stadium. Three-time world champion Germany immediately raised its game, and Torsten Frings smacked a shot just wide of keeper Edwin van der Sar from some 25 meters out. But the hosts finally conjured a deserved equalizer after 34 minutes, with veteran striker Fredi Bobic heading in smartly from a Bernd Schneider cross. Hannover 96 forward Bobic, 31, was a surprise late inclusion in the squad following the injury withdrawal of Carsten Jancker. His last cap had come prior to the 1998 World Cup, but eight goals this season have lifted him back into the reckoning. Holland could still have gone in leading at the interval, but Seedorf was slow to latch on to a through ball from de Boer, and Germany keeper Kahn raced out to smother the danger. Kluivert did not reappear after the interval and van Nistelrooy made his entrance, while Hasselbaink had to wait until the 65th minute before coming on for Deportivo La Coruna's Roy Makaay. The Germans were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty by Scottish referee Hugh Dallas just three minutes after the restart as Bochum's Paul Freier, having replaced World Cup star Miroslav Klose, fed a delightful ball through to Bobic. Boudewijn Zenden clashed with the former Stuttgart, Dortmund and Bolton forward, but Dallas was unmoved as the crowd roared for a spotkick.

ROUNDUP: United, Milan grab Champions League wins

(AP) - Ruud Van Nistelrooy's two second-half goals in the space of 90 seconds lifted Manchester United to a 3-1 come-from-behind victory Tuesday in a Champions League match at Basel. Defending champion Real Madrid had no such comeback, falling 1-0 at AC Milan on Andriy Shevchenko's score in the 40th minute in a game featuring teams with 14 European Champions Cups between them. Deportivo and Juventus played a 2-2 draw in Spain, while Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 at Lokomotiv Moscow. Tuesday's four matches opened the six rounds of the second phase, which will cut the field of 16 to eight for the quarterfinals in the spring. In play Wednesday, it's Leverkusen vs. Barcelona, Newcastle vs. Inter Milan, Roma vs. Arsenal, and Valencia vs. Ajax. Basel came close to pulling off the upset of the tournament. Stunned by Christian Gimenez's goal after just 31 seconds, Man United was headed for a shocking loss until Van Nistelrooy struck in the 62nd and 64th. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got the clincher five minutes later. The lightly regarded Swiss ousted Liverpool two weeks ago from Europe's most prestigious club tournament. United played without a half-dozen injured or suspended regulars. At Milan, Ukrainian striker Shevchenko's first-half goal was all AC Milan needed. The big forward took a perfect pass from Portuguese playmaker Manuel Rui Costa and slipped a shot past Madrid's charging goalkeeper Iker Casillas to send the sold-out crowd into celebration. The three points put Milan even with Borussia Dortmund atop Group C. At Moscow, Czech international Jan Koller got the winner for Borussia in the 43rd minute on a left-footed shot from 3 yards. At La Coruna, Spain, Alessandro Birindelli and Pavel Nedved scored as Juventus battled back from a two-goal deficit. In third-round, first-leg matches in the UEFA Cup, Hertha Berlin defeated Fulham 2-1, while Paris Saint-Germain defeated Boavista 2-1.

West Ham hammering out Bowyer deal

January 06, 2003 10:47 AM EST - West Ham hammering out Bowyer deal London, England (Sports Network) - Out-of-sorts Leeds United midfielder Lee Bowyer could be a West Ham player by the end of business Monday. He is currently meeting with Hammers manager Glenn Roeder and Managing Director Paul Aldridge in London this afternoon in a bid to finalize personal terms after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee. Bowyer, who would have been out of contract at Elland Road this summer, has turned down a new deal with Leeds. Leeds agreed a fee with Liverpool for the England midfielder last summer, but Reds manager Gerard Houllier had second thoughts and the move collapsed. This time around, however, Aldridge is keen to seal the transfer of Bowyer before heading abroad Tuesday on club business. That means if personal terms are agreed with Bowyer, he will have a medical later this afternoon and then be unveiled by the Hammers Tuesday. "Lee Bowyer is on his way to meet Glenn Roeder and Paul Aldridge this afternoon. There is no time scale on this but we hope that if all goes well, he will become a West Ham player," a West Ham spokesperson said. The Hammers are desperate to boost their squad during the opening of the transfer window as they battle to climb off the bottom of the Premiership table and avoid relegation. Roeder's priority is to sign a striker as Paolo di Canio and Freddie Kanoute have long-term injuries, but the chance to sign a high-quality midfielder like Bowyer is too good to resist. Legal bills arising from Bowyer's much-publicized trials were believed to be a sticking point in any potential move. But Leeds confirmed they have agreed a plan for him to repay those bills if he returns to London. "Lee Bowyer has told Leeds United he will not sign the contract currently on offer to him at Leeds and would therefore be leaving the club this summer," a Leeds statement read. "In the light of these circumstances we have agreed to transfer Lee Bowyer to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee." Bowyer has had an unsettled time at Leeds since a drawn out court case in 2001 relating to an attack on a student in Leeds in January 2000. He was eventually cleared of all charges in December 2001 although United team- mate Jonathan Woodgate received a sentence of 100 hours community service. Bowyer, whose one England cap to date came against Portugal in September, joined Leeds from London side Charlton in 1996 for $2.8 million. Recent British press reports have said Bowyer wanted a return to the capital. West Ham are based in the East End of London. Bowyer is due to find out on Wednesday what punishment, if any, he will receive from European football's governing body UEFA after television pictures showed him stamping on the head of Malaga defender Gerardo in a UEFA Cup tie in December. But any ban would apply just to European matches, not something West Ham have to worry about as they battle to avoid going into the First Division, with Bowyer free to play in the league and F.A. Cup. Roeder is excited by the possibility of bringing 26-year-old Bowyer in, despite his recent troubles off the field. "He is a fantastic midfield player and has got the best years of his career in front of him," the West Ham manager added.