The Euro 2004 has become a triumph for small nations whose players are based in big European leagues.

　　However, there seems to be a downside as English, Germans, Spaniards and Italians seem to be getting squeezed out of their own leagues.

　　"The number of foreign players in the big leagues is probably detrimental to the national teams," UEFA CEO Lars-Christer Olsson said in Lisbon yesterday.

　　UEFA used to limit the number of foreigners in European leagues, but the 1995 Bosman ruling made this measure illegal because it impeded free movement of workers in the European Union. Now, the soccer body is seeking other ways to ensure homegrown talent gets enough playing time at home.

　　UEFA is proposing clubs should be obliged to field at least several players who have gone through the youth system either at the club, or another one in the same country. It will further examine the proposal at a meeting of national federation presidents on Saturday.

　　The case of the Bundesliga is especially poignant.

　　"In Germany, for example, why is it so difficult to find a striker?" asked Olsson. "They find out 65-67 percent of strikers in Germany are non-Germans so there are some questions to be answered."

　　Germany scored only two goals in three games at Euro 2004 and its attack was one of the worst at the championship.

　　English players are a rarity at top Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea. Even Manchester United, with a solid youth system, cannot provide enough talent for the national team, which is without a major trophy since 1966.

　　In Spain, the national team has never been able to emulate the success of Real Madrid, which is full of foreign stars such as Roberto Carlos or Luis Figo.

　　UEFA needs to make sure its proposals don't clash with EU legislation on free movement of work force. But the organization was buoyed when EU leaders recognized the specificity of soccer in the proposed EU constitution. UEFA hopes this will give it some leeway to sidestep strict EU rules on nationalities.

　　(The Associated Press)