CUP WEEKEND BOASTS 34 GAMES WORLDWIDE.

Byline: Robert Millward Associated Press 

After a four-year absence because of war, Yugoslavia eased back into international soccer with easy wins over the Faeroe Islands and Malta. Now comes a tough test.

In their fourth qualifying game for the 1998 World Cup, the Yugoslavs face Euro 96 runner-up Czech Republic at Belgrade Sunday.

It is one of 34 World Cup games this weekend in Europe, Africa, South, North and Central America and Oceania in what is believed to be the busiest-ever schedule of international soccer over a two-day period.

Two victories over the Faeroes (3-1 and 8-1) and one over Malta (6-0) have given the Yugoslavs a goal differential of 17-2 from three games.

``The Yugoslavs are excellent in offensive action and they will surely put us under pressure,'' Czech coach Dusan Uhrin said. ``But their defense is not as good, and that's where I see an opportunity for us.''

Yugoslavia will be hampered by the absence of AC Milan forward Dejan Savicevic, who is sidelined with a leg injury.

Savicevic has been out a month. But he believes his team can still win if forward Pedrag Mijatovic plays up to form.

``He is our best player and he alone can win against the Czechs,'' Savicevic said.

The Czechs are expected to field all of their Euro 96 stars, including Manchester United's Karel Poborsky, Liverpool's Patrick Berger and Pavel Nedved of Lazio.

Whatever the result, the Yugoslavs will stay atop the group standings because none of the other four Group Six teams are in action until Wednesday when second-place Slovakia faces fourth-place Spain.

Yugoslavia and Slovakia have the maximum nine points from three games, the Czechs and Spain have four from two, and the Faeroes and Malta have no points.

Defending European champion Germany, which started the World Cup campaign with a 5-1 victory at Armenia, should profit from a home game against Northern Ireland, although sniping from former captain Lothar Matthaeus again threatens to disrupt the team's preparations.

Coach Berti Vogts dropped Matthaeus before Euro 96 and the Bayern Munich star has been fiercely critical of his tactics ever since.

Oliver Bierhoff, whose goal in extra time of the final against the Czechs won the Euro 96 title, may be left out in favor of Fredi Bobic, who leads the Bundesliga scoring list with 10 goals.

In the same Group Nine, leader Ukraine puts its perfect record against second-place Portugal, which will go to the top with a victory at Lisbon. Last month in Kiev, the Portuguese lost 2-1 to Ukraine.

England coach Glenn Hoddle has to decide whether to field under-fire midfielder Paul Gascoigne for Saturday's game against Georgia at Tbilisi.

Women's groups in England called for Gascoigne to be thrown out of the game after admitting he beat up his wife. The Glasgow Rangers star expressed his regret and was kept on the team after agreeing to undergo counseling, but Hoddle has to decide whether the controversy has affected his ability to play.

With Italy idle until February, England is favored to gain its third Group Two victory in a row and strengthen its position atop the standings.