All three Scandinavian nations in Euro 2000 were eliminated in the first round. 

Norway stuck to their traditional longball style, hoofing it down the field in the hope one of its big strikers would connect. It was not pretty, but it was effective in holding down the Slovenes. 

As the final whistle blew, the Norwegians though the draw was enough to send them through to the quarterfinals. 

Yugoslavia was leading Spain 3-2 which in the complex mathematics of this tight group that would have seen Norway through despite having scored just one goal in three games. 

Then came the news from Bruges. 

Spain knocked in two injury-time goals to snatch victory. Norway's hopes were dashed. 

The news brought more drama to Arnhem than 90 minutes of drab soccer, as the Norwegians' tentative celebrations turned to disbelief. 

The players trudged dejected off the pitch. Their fans sat in silence on the terraces, Viking-helmeted heads held in hands. 

Finally one man draped in the red-white-and-blue flag, and crowned with horned helmet played a mournful lament on a trumpet as they filed out of the stadium. 

For Slovenia there were no tears. Players from the smallest nation ever to qualify for the European championship had always said they were happy just to be among Europe's soccer elite. They played well, held Norway and Yugoslavia to draws, and lost just to Spain. 

Slovenia's talented individuals shone in European soccer's greatest showcase. Miran Pavlin is expected to move from the lower reaches of Germany's second division with Karlsruhe, to the Champions League next season with FC Porto. 

The ever impressive Zlatko Zahovic seems assured of a move to Spain. 

Many of Norway's team play in England and the squad is rooted in the traditional British style. Big, tough players, high balls down the middle searching for the head of towering strikers. 

Knowing a win would put them through, coach Nils Johan Semb started with four recognized strikers, including the lofty John Carew and Tore Andre Flo. Tottenham Hotspur's Steffan Iversen was also among them despite the broken nose sustained in an earlier match 

In contrast the Slovenes kept it low, playing quick passes along the ground with Zahovic and Pavlin looking sharp. In the 7th minute, Pavlin slipped past the defense to set up Mladen Rudonja, but the ball was just too long and goalie Thomas Myhre smothered it. 

Norway's best early chance came in the 15th minute wen Carew headed down a long pass from midfield, but Flo's effort was deflected wide. 

In the 17th minute, Iversen flicked over Zeljko Milinovic to Carew but a slinging tackle from Aleksander Knavs meant the Slovenes escaped with a corner. 

Then the Slovenes began to find their rhythm, stringing together short passes and menacing the Norwegians with some penetrating runs orchestrated by Zahovic. 

A neat move between Pavlin and Rudonja in the 27th minute earned a corner from Karic that left Ermin Siljak a free shot from the penalty spot, but he screwed it just wide. 

Pavlin, fired in a booming shot from 25 meters that curled past the post and a Zahovic free kick forced Myhre to snatch the ball from the head of Ermin Siljak. 

Seconds before the break, Slovenia had its best chance when Andre Bergdolmo fouled Amir Karic on the Norwegians right flank. The Maribor winger's curling free kick was met by Siljak's diving header that flew just wide of Myhre's goal. 

Just into the second half, a sweet exchange of one-touch passes between Zahovic and Novak, earned Slovenia a corner. The ball ricocheted around the goalmouth, but eventually bounced off a red wall of Norwegians. 

Siljak had the ball in he net in the 54th minute, but he was judged to have fouled defender Bjorn Otto Bragstand by English referee Graham Poll. Minutes later a poor clearance from the Norwegian keeper allowed Siljak to set up Rudonja, but he fired into the sidenetting. 

Zahovic continued to trouble the Norwegian defense with the slippery style that has made him one of the tournament's stars with three goals in his first two games. But the Norwegians covered with and Slovenia were never able to find away through. 

Norway -- Thomas Myhre; Andre Bergdolmo, Bjorn Otto Bragstad, Dan Eggen; Stale Solbakken, Erik Mykland, Stig Inge Bjornebye; Tore Andre Flo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Steffen Iversen, John Carew (61, Eirik Bakke; 82 Roar Strand). 

Slovenia -- Mladen Dabanovic; Zeljko Milinovic, Aleksander Knavs, Amir Karic, Marinko Galic (83, Milenko Acimovic); Dojni Novak, Ales Ceh, Miran Pavlin, Zlatko Zahovic; Mladen Rudonja, Ermin Siljak (85, Milan Osterc).