European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday May 23,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 23world cup �?T90 find Little to Feor Emva Italy gunning for 4th Crown. Italian striker Gianluca Villi. Slowed by injury Rome up a anything less than Victory in the world cup final in Rome on july 8 will mean failure for Italy. Failure for coach Azeglio Vicini failure for his players and who knows possible heart failure for untold millions in a land where soccer outweighs almost every other Issue in National importance. There is no doubt that Vicini has folded a Young team capable of winning the world cup for an unprecedented fourth time. He has personally watched most of his technically Superb players develop from the Junior ranks in the Early 1980s, through an impressive though ultimately unsuccessful european championship Campaign of 1988, to stand on the threshold of the world cup As one of the favourites to win the trophy. But the pressure of history and tradition As Well As the expectation of millions of countrymen could prove to be More of a problem than any of the other 23 finalists coming to Battle for the trophy in the summer. The italian team has seemingly been struggling with the weight of that expectation for the last few months. After beating soccer minnow Algeria last november Italy then played scoreless ties with England Argentina and Holland before scraping out a 1-0 win Over Switzerland in a Friendly in Basel on March 31. The goal in that game scored by Sec roup a preview Ond half substitute Luigi de Agostini of jul Vintus was Italy a first in four months. Still every fan in the country seems to be counting the minutes to Italy s first match in group a when it faces Austria in Rome a refurbished olympic stadium on the evening of june 9. It plays the United states june 14 and ends the opening round against Czechoslovakia june 19. There is not one expert who believes Italy will be eliminated in the first round. Veteran defender Giuseppe Bergomi said it straight out. A on paper we re the favourites. But remember Czechoslovakia conceded Only three goals and Only lost one qualifying  Vicini has been carefully building his squad since taking command in 1986. And from the first Day his emphasis has been on youth. Samp Dorian a Gianluca Villi and Roberto Mancini and Giorc Ntina a Roberto Baggio look set to comprise the attack although Villi broke a Bone in his foot in late december missed a couple of months of the season and then found it difficult to regain his Best form. Baggio 22. Forced himself into the reckoning with a series of Good performances throughout last year capped but his two goals As Italy beat Bulgaria 4-0 in a Friendly in september. Vicini can also Call on romans Giuseppe Giannini Roberto Donadoni of a Milan. Napoli s Andrea Carnevale and Aldo Serena of inter Milan to form his front line. A Baggio has the Speed the dribbling ability and the Means to work Well in tight  says Vicini. A but i Don t think we will Sec Many goals in the tournament. I think the top teams Are equal and Only the top stars will make a  Italy a Success has always been built on its defense. In the grim Days of the 1960s when the Catenaccio a double bolts system strangled the goals out of the italian game. Italian teams aimed to score one goal then sit Back and let the other team come at them. This negative approach frustrated both players and fans. Although few teams employ the system defensive play is still one of Italy a major strengths. Lacklustre scoreless ties in the last two Friendly matches of 1989 gave italian fans concern that the Host nation might slump before the Start of the world up. A some of our players were not at their Best in those goalless  head coach Vicini later admitted. A but that docs not matter entirely. 1 want them at their Best for the world cup. Not for a Friendly six months  Polster packing Austria a punch Vienna Austria apr All of soccer looks for goal scoring heroes the players who can put the Ball in the net. Austria a got one and his name is Toni Polster. On a Chilly night last nov. 15, Austria beat East Germany 3-0 to qualify for the world cup for the first time since 1982 and Polster scored All three goals. Polster scored 32 goals this season for Seville in Spain. Teammate Gerhard Rodax of Admira Wacker has been even More effective with 35 goals just three behind european Leader Hugo Sanchez of real Madrid. Rodax however has hit a Snag. The austrian football federation said sunday it May indefinitely suspend the striker of he does no to drop Legal proceedings against his club. Rodax who last week signed a $3.5 million three year contract with Spanish team a Letico Madrid said he filed suit against Admira Friday for tampering with his Transfer. Its Likely however that the Issue will be resolved in time for Polster and Rodax to spearhead the world cup Effort. Italy Heads the austrians first round group which also includes Czechoslovakia and the United states. A a in a expecting two certain Points from the americans but it will be terribly difficult against Czechoslovakia a austrian coach Josef hic Kersberger who has led Austria to an 8-8-6 record since taking Over from Branko Eisner on Jan. 1,1988, said. Hic Kersberger a former first division player who appeared in 39 games for the National team has kept his Cool in times of crisis and made unpopular decisions that Drew bitter criticism. After recovering from an illness Heribert Weber then team Captain wanted to play in the match against East Germany. After hic Kersberger disagreed Weber refused to sit the Bench and sat in the stands. Hic Kersberger then kicked him off the team. The Young austrian team a most players Are Between 23 and 26 years old a has done Well under pressure. After a disappointing scoreless tie Aga not Egypt in Cairo on feb. 28, the austrians rallied from a two goal halftime deficit to beat Spain 3-2 at Malaga March 28. Then came a 3-0 Victory Over Hungary april 11 and a 1-1 tie with defending world cup Champion Argentina on May 2. Remaining is a May 30 game against the Netherlands in Vienna. Because the United states is in the group hic Kersberger believes Austria has a Good Chance to Advance to the second round. In 34 games against Czechoslovakia so far the austrians Are 8-16-10 and Are wingless in eight years. Italy leads its series with Austria 14-13-7, although Austria leads in scoring 54-42. But the last austrian Victory in the series was in 1960. The United states and Austria never have played each  action Beer busted Vienna up a wary of even a casual alcoholic drink austrian National soccer coach Josef hic Kersberger said sunday his players would be allowed Only one Glass of Beer a Day during the world cup. Beer which in Austria is considered As harmless As water will Only be served with supper. A i  totally disallow it and get away with it a hic Kersberger , Bye love Rome apr this was it for the italian National soccer team. A final fling. A last Chance at Romance. After last weekend it was Arr ver Durci Amore. Italian coach Azeglio Vicini has put a ban on sex for the players until after the tournament ends july 8, a Little More than six weeks away. Vicinio a imposed rite of celibacy a the coach Calls it Quot seclusion a began monday. A chastity of players prior and during a major Competition has been a Long debated but unsolved problem a the coach said. Czechs battling winds of change Prague Czechoslovakia apr twelve years after its last world cup appearance. Czechoslovakia finds its Hopes for a comeback both boosted and buffeted by political changes. The overthrow of the communist government in Prague allowed czechoslovak players to sign for relatively big Money with Western clubs. But As the stars scattered National team officials bemoaned a breakdown in strategy and morale. Czechoslovakia which lost the 1934 world cup final to Italy and the 1962 final to Brazil is traditionally Strong. But its Only major Victory in the last 20 years was a penalty kick win Over West Germany for the 1976 european championship. Czechoslovakia a revolution of 1989 ended four decades of communist Rule not Only in politics but in sports As Well. At least six of the players picked by coach Josef Vang los to face England at Wembley on april 25 already had signed with Western european teams. They used their Freedom to sell their skills for hard currency. Goalkeeper Luck Miklosko became the first czechoslovak soccer Star to play in the English league signing with West Flam. A a it a not All that different from what i knew Back Home Quot Miklosko said after a 4-2 loss to England at Wembley. It was Czechoslovakia a third consecutive defeat following losses against Spain and Egypt. Czechoslovakia a defense thought to be the stronger part of the team failed most noticeably in Wembley. Many think it was the Lack of coordination of players now used to different tactics on different clubs. Frantisek Straka and Jan Kocian. Two starting defenders Are playing in West Germany while Julius Bielik of Sparta Prague and Jan Kadlec of Ostrava meet Only for International matches. The return of Lubos Kubik. A top midfielder and scorer was one of the hotly discussed topics of the Warmup series. He and Winger Ivo Knoflicek defected from Czechoslovakia in 1988. Claiming the authorities were hindering their ambition to play in the English league. After a two year Odyssey Kubik ended up with Italy s Fiorentina Knoflicek with pc St. Pauli of West Germany. Their return to the National team was protested by some players. They played Bard in the qualifiers and done to want to be replaced by the returning stars. Tomas Skuhravy and Stanislav Griga. Two of the teams most successful scorers have been lacklustre of late in league games. But the presence of scouts at the world cup and the Chance for big Money May be the right incentive. Vaclav Jezek the teams assistant coach hinted that the team has a lot of Confidence. It opens against the americans on May 10 in Florence. A we already know exactly what we Are going to play in our first match against the United  Jezek said. Quot just wait and you May be