Soccer-Netherlands hold on to undesirable Euro 2008 top seeding

By Mark Ledsom

BERNE, Switzerland, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The Netherlands have finished as the highest-ranked team in next month's Euro 2008 draw despite losing their final qualifier 2-1 in Belarus.

The Dutch could have been pipped to top spot on Wednesday if Germany had won their last qualifying match but Joachim Loew's team only managed a 0-0 draw at home to Wales.

The Netherlands have little cause to celebrate, however, because their achievement is likely to hand them a tougher route to the tournament's quarter-finals.

Marco van Basten's team will now go into the 'top pot' along with co-hosts Austria and Switzerland plus holders Greece.

Instead of having the chance to play the Austrians, Swiss or Greeks, the Dutch are guaranteed to meet a team from a far more dangerous-looking second pot, comprising world champions Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic and Sweden.

Croatia finished the qualifying tournament as the second-highest ranked team following their 3-2 win at Wembley on Wednesday that ended England's qualifying hopes.

Germany's draw with Wales sees them slip down to pot three alongside Romania, Portugal and Spain.

World Cup runners-up France will be seeded in the bottom pot after their 2-2 draw in Ukraine.