European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday May 18, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 23outcome rests with the stars by Piero Valsecchi Milan Italy apr two teams from latin America and three from Europe fit the profile of the potential 1990 world cup soccer Champion. A few goals by superstar forwards such As Diego Maradona and Marco Van Basten could make the difference in a tournament that experts believe will be one of the toughest fought in recent soccer history with defense overwhelming offence. Defending world Champion Argentina which Fields Maradona and european Champion the Netherlands which has Van Basten Are the leading title favourites followed by Italy Brazil and West Germany. A Maradona and Van Basten Are almost unstoppable players and can make the difference Between their teams and the others a italian manager Azeglio Vicini said. Vicini said european Champion . Milan which owns the dutch striker could not have challenged for the italian league and the champions cup titles this season without Van Basten. The manager who Hopes to give Italy an unprecedented fourth world cup title said Brazil and West Germany combining excellent teamwork with individual Talent could join Argentina and the Netherlands in the semifinals in the month Long Competition which starts in Italy on june 8. Argentina often playing without Maradona and other stars performing in the european leagues has been less than impressive in recent exhibitions. Its forwards shut out by rival defences in nine consecutive games since july 1989. The defending world Champion tallied a single goal against underdog scottish team Linfield on its last european appearance in april. Other title favourites also had mixed performances. Italy scored two goals and lost 1-0 to Brazil in six Warmup matches while the Netherlands was held to a scoreless draw by Italy and lost 2-1 to the soviet Union and 1-0 to Brazil in its last three games in preparation for the world cup. West Germany was upset by France a team that failed to qualify for the world cup in february while Brazil was downed by England 1-0 following narrow wins against the italian and dutch teams. Argentina a manager Carlos Bilardo and his brazilian colleague Sabastiao Lazaroni Are not worried however. A exhibition matches Are arranged just to test new tactics and players and improve teamwork a said Bilardo. A you will see the world cup �?T90 individual skills of Holland s Marco Van Basten left and Argentina s Diego Maradona push their teams into favourites roles. At 2 real strength and the determination of the Best teams when the world cup Lazaroni the first brazilian manager to use a sweeper to tighten up the defense noted that his team had allowed Only three goals in 15 matches. A few goals will be scored in the world cup so you need a Good defense to protect narrow leads a Lazaroni said. Brazil the Only team along with Italy to have won three world cup titles has Long been one of the most entertaining squads but its results have been often penalized by Overly offensive tactics. By resorting to european Stylc play using Mauro Galvao As a sweeper Brazil is justifiably among the top title contenders As it can still rely on the skills of midfielders and forwards such As Valdo Areca and Beneto. Romario the brazilian striker of Psi Eindhoven Holland who is recovering from a broken leg could be a big loss Lor the brazilian team. Lazaroni said Romario will be included on the world cup roster but he May not be ready in time. Long injured Star Forward Ruud Gullet will be missing from the dutch team whose real Power stands on Van Baston s offensive inventions and on experienced and Strong Midfield play. West Germany which has reached the world cup finals five times and won two titles Fields several game winners among them Lothar Matthaus Jurgen Klinsmann and Andy is a question Mark because of the advancing age of its players and Over dependence on Maradona. Maradona who plays for italian major league Napoli is 29 and has been troubled by Back injuries. However italian and Argentine doctors said recently he should be in top form by the Start of the world cup. A Maradona plus 10 other players is the recipe for winning the world cup Given by Bilardo. Italy the bookmakers favorite will Benefit from the support of the Home crowd and the special attention usually Given by referees to the Host team. However Vicini must improve the play of the front line if Italy wants to repeat the 82 Triumph and avoid 86�?Ts hop. A we can rely on a Good Midfield and defense but what about the attack Quot asked Roberto be Cantini a soccer commentator for Italy a largest sports daily. Striker Gianluca Villi troubled by a foot injury has not scored in five matches sharply reducing the offensive efficiency of the italian team. Favored teams have won the 1 3 editions of the world cup since 1930. But some italian soccer experts predict surprising results from such a a underdog teams As Yugoslavia Spain Belgium and England. Belgium Fields one of the world s Best goalies Michel preudhomme and the leading scorer of world cup qualifying rounds 24-year-old Forward Marc Degryse. England upset powerful Brazil in Wembley in March and the Talent of Dragan Stoj Kovic Martin Vasquez and Emilio Butra Gueno could take Yugoslavia and Spain unexpectedly the world cup decides on a Winner by Rusty Bryan staff writer the soccer world is throwing its quadrennial Garden party next month. And for a change we re going to the dance. Although its a 1,500-1 Wallflower the United states National team for the first time in 40 years has earned a berth in the world cup tournament a month Long minuet of 24 National teams that increases to polka Tempo Only during the final two weeks or so. It is a dance held in 12 cities this year in Italy that occupies the undivided attention of most of soccer a known world. It is however a laborious process that can confuse the sports fan who a used to the sudden finality of an Mcaa basketball tournament and an explanation of the procedures used to determine soccer a Champion for the next four years May be in order. The 24 survivors of the two year series of zonal qualification games have been divided into six groups of four teams each each group with a top seeded team Italy defending Champion Argentina Brazil West Germany Belgium and England and the rest assigned by supposedly Blind draw. The . Drew group a along with Italy Austria and Czechoslovakia and will play two games in Florence and one in Rome. Like every other team the americans will spend the first 12 Days of the tourney playing one game each against each of the other teams in the group. Two Points Are awarded for a win and one for a tie. At the end of the round Robin which opens Overall on june 8 in Rome the standings Are tallied and the worst eight teams Are sent packing. Most Likely that a when the ., which plays Czechoslovakia june 10 in Florence Italy june 14 in Rome and Austria june 19 in Florence will leave the scene and begin preparing for its Host role for the next tourney in 1994. It might not leave empty handed though because Points Are possible for even the weakest of first round losers. That potential is there because every team that survives the round Robin starts fresh in the round of sixteen. Powerful teams therefore often play just Well enough to qualify for the round of 16 at minimum Effort. Although that tendency can produce some of the most somnolent soccer played anywhere it also opens the door for some improbable draws and wins by the tourneys Lon shots. Nowhere was that More evident than during the 1982 cup where eventual Champion Italy played its first round games at half Speed or slower and where eventual runner up West Germany absorbed an opening game upset by Algeria. The germans followed that with a 75-minute game of catch to preserve a 1-1 tie with Austria that let both clubs move on at the expense of upstart Algeria. Exhibition season though ends in the round of 16, because that a where knockout play begins a win and play again lose and go Home and no lies allowed a the sort of june madness an american fan is used to. This year the round of 16 starts june 23-24 at six Sites with quarterfinals scheduled for june 30-july 1, semifinals july 3, third place game july 7 and championship july 8. Our neighbors will be breathless with anticipation by that time and maybe the rest of us can just enjoy the show being performed by the worlds Best
