Norway have accused Yugoslavia of play-acting tactics after an early Savo Milosevic goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat which means they must beat Slovenia in their final Group C game to make sure of reaching the quarter-finals.

Norwegian coach Nils Johan Semb and his players claimed the Yugoslavs had tried to deceive Scottish referee Hugh Dallas by acting as though they had been poleaxed off the ball.

Several Yugoslavs, including Milosevic, fell to the ground in feigned agony and then pleaded with Dallas to take disciplinary action against their opponents.

The Scottish official was nonplussed by their antics and that left Norway's players furious. Tottenham's Steffen Iversen complained: 'They were lying around for nothing. I think the referee could have done more.

'They were play-acting. If the referee had done something early on by handing out a yellow card then he would have stopped all the diving.'

Semb claimed Yugoslavia had sabotaged a game, which became increasingly ugly as it wore on. It culminated in Yugoslavia's Mateja Kezman being sent off for a dangerous challenge on Erik Myk-land less than a minute after going on as a substitute for Predrag Mihatovic.

'They sabotaged the game and that's not fair play. I am very upset,' Semb said. 'When you are lying down time and time again it is not right. This is the first time I have experienced that and it was as if the Yugoslavs were refereeing the game.'

The Yugoslavs, of course, claimed their victory had been won fair and square. Former Aston Villa striker Milosevic scored his third goal in two games inside the opening 10 minutes and followed that up by refuting Norway's allegations.

He said: 'We were expecting a tough game. We knew what we could expect from the Norwegian team and we were prepared. It was important that we kept the ball in our possession as long as possible and that's what we did.

'I understand what they said but I think it was a fair game because they are stronger than us.'

Norway never got into their stride once Milosevic had struck and their best chance fell to substitute John Carew moments before the end. However, he tamely shot wide of the target with only Ivica Kralj to beat.

The defeat leaves Norway requiring a win against Slovenia on Wednesday night to ensure they reach the last eight. Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo said: 'The second half was just a mess for us because we didn't play.

'I think they deserved to win but scoring the first goal is so important to us. We are not so good at chasing the game when we go a goal behind and it showed. But I still think we can reach the quarter-finals.'

A point for Yugoslavia against Spain would earn them a place in the quarterfinals.

Sweden need everything to fall into place tonight if they are to take any further part in the competition.

The Swedes not only have to beat Group B winners Italy in Eidhoven but they also need Turkey to defeat Belgium in Brussels. Even then, they can only squeeze through on goal difference.

Their chances will take a further knock if, as expected, leading marksman Kennet Andersson is ruled out by an ankle injury. But captain Patrik Andersson will be back after being suspended for the draw with Turkey.