European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Friday june 1,1990 world a unprecedented 4th cup on Lin but neither expected to dominate Story and capsules by Barry Wilner Rome a no team has won four world cups. No team Ever has had a better shot at it than the italians who will Host the quadrennial Celebration of the worlds most popular sport. Unless its Brazil. Only one Western hemisphere nation Brazil in 1958, has won the world cup when the tournament was held in Europe. No team has had a better Chance to repeat that feat than the brazilians have this year. Italy and Brazil the most dominant teams in International soccer history with three world titles apiece Are the favourites As the world cup begins june 8. But a half dozen other nations including defending Champion Argentina led by the incomparable Diego Maradona and the european Champion dutch team with two time european player of the year Marco Van Bas ten Are highly regarded. A one Hundred nations tried to qualify for the world cup a said Brazil coach Sebastiao Lazaroni. A Only 24 of them succeeded. I do believe the Best 24 teams Are being presented. A teams such As Denmark France and Portugal Good teams from the last world cup Are left out of this Competition so this is going to be a world cup which has United a few elite  and a few rank outsiders such As Egypt the United Arab emirates Costa Rica and the United states which made the world cup finals for the first time in 40 years. A any of the teams in the world cup has gone through a Long difficult process to qualify a . Coach Bob Gansler said. A they Are All Quality  no matter who survives soccer will grab hold of this country a and 22 others a for the next month the Way the world series super bowl and final four dominate sporting interests in the United states. Only among americans a most of whom consider soccer a foreign sport even though it ranks second among . Youths As a participation sport a will there be Mere passing interest in what goes on in Rome Milan Florence and seven other italian cities plus Cagliari on the Island of Sardinia and Palermo on the Island of Sicily. The tournament which opens at Milan with Argentina playing Cameroon features round Robin games in six groups of four teams with 16 of the original 24 advancing to the second round when single Elimina Tion play begins. Just making it to italia �?T90 is Worth More than a million dollars per team. From this years budgeted profits each world cup finalist can expect to get $464,000 per game and each will play at least three times. Fifa the International governing body for soccer will Send $48 million to the 24 teams. Overall fifa expects to earn $ 164 million from the 14th world cup with the biggest Revenue about 40 percent coming from sales of television broadcast rights. Int has those rights in the United states and will carry 24 games live on Cable to. Uni vision which showed every game four years ago with Spanish speaking commentators will televise 33 games. Players from every team will earn bonuses for their performances in the tournament. Italian players whose federation is one of the richest in the world could receive As much As $400,000. West Germany a players will share 60 percent of All world cup related contracts signed by the federation some estimates claim that could total nearly $300,000, but others believe it would be around $ 118,000. American players after a squabble Over contracts with the . Soccer federation will get bonuses from How world soccer a final two dozen stack up a team by team look at the world cup Field in order of predicted finish for first round. Group a 1.Italy a the hosts should have no trouble winning this group and can build momentum As the italians did in 1982, when they won their third cup. As always the defense is solid and goalkeeper Walter Zenga is As acrobatic As they come. Franco Barest is one of the worlds Best defenders. The attack can be spotty and Italy will need someone to emerge the Way Paolo Rossi did in �?T82. Most Likely candidates Are Gianluca Vitalli and Salvatore a a Toto Schillaci. If Italy docs not make the semifinals it will be considered a National disaster. If the team does no twin the championship it will be considered a National disgrace. That a Tough pressure to play under. 2. Austria a because of the weak Competition the austrians figure to Advance out of this group. They have enough firepower in Toni Polster who scored All three goals in a win Over East Germany that qualified Austria. Playing for Seville in Spain he had 32 goals this year third in Europe. Even better this season was Gerhard Rodax who got 35 goals second on the continent playing at Home. Those two alone should lift Austria to second place in the division but the defense Isnit Strong enough for much else. 3. Czechoslovakia a once a world Power the czechoslovak Are weak on attack and not consistent enough defensively. If they can manage a tie against either Italy or Austria a a win Over the United states should be a lock a they could Advance As a wild card. Czechoslovakia a Best Frantisek Straka and Jan players Kocian. Arc defenders Road team. They seem to have overcome that and have plenty of Talent to bother any team in the Field. Perhaps the Best passing team in the world cup the soviets have the finisher in Oleg Protasov and a play maker in Alexander Zaharov. Rinat a Sayer is among the worlds most stingy goalies. Political turmoil at Home has disrupted the squad however and it also is aging in key spots. Still there is enough Talent for the soviets to Challenge. 2. Argentina a the defenders will make it out of this group with ease and figure to improve As they Progress just As they did in 1986. The key of course is Diego Maradona the wondrous attacking midfielder who made the �?T86 tournament his showcase. If he does it again a he is said to be in serious training and is getting along with teammates and coaches a the argentines will be a Factor. Other solid players Are Jorge Gurruchaga who scored the cup winning goal in Mexico and Jorge Valdano up front defender Oscar Ruggeri and goalie Nery Pumpido. 3. Cameroon a in 1982, Cameroon tied All three of its games and showed a staunch defense. The defense led by goalie Joseph an Toine Bell should be nearly As Good and Cameroon has a Good scorer in Francois Oman by Yick. This could be a Surprise team getting out of the first round if it can beat Romania. 4. Romania a midfielder Gli Eorge Hagi is the Best player but the romanians hero is Gavrila Balint whose goal against Denmark in qualifying lifted them to the cup finals. Balint and Florin Radu Choiu must provide lots of scoring punch. The defense is of but Romania does no to have enough Speed or experience. 4. United states a its first appearance since 1950 figures to be very Short a three games and out. The americans will do Well to score a goal. The team is inexperienced has Little offensive punch and is not Well coached. The players have feuded Tony Meola with the federation. Pity goalie Tony Meola who will be a world class keeper but might be inundated in this tournament. Group c the scots should beat Costa Rica but probably need a Point against Sweden to Advance. 4. Costa Rica a in its first appearance Costa Rica is looking to learn. The three other teams in this group should be willing to oblige with some painful lessons. Costa Rica has few world class players although goalie Luis Conejo midfielder Juan Cavasso and Forward Heman Medford Are Good. Group d 0 group b i. Soviet Union a until 1988, when they lost the european championship to the Netherlands the soviets were not much of a 1. Brazil a probably the most skilled brazilian team since Pele retired this squad must be considered one of the favourites. It has gone to a new format using a sweeper for the first time which should improve its defense against potent teams. Creative technically Superior with Speed and guile Brazil also has depth. Forwards care Ca Muller and Beneto midfielders Valdo Silva Alemao and Silas defenders Mozer Jorgino and Branco All could be stars. Areca might do for Brazil what Maradona did for Argentina in 1986 and Paolo Rossi for Italy in 82. If they do not get to the semifinals it will be a significant failure for Brazil. 2. Sweden a the swedes will hold the score Down and try to be opportunistic on attack but they Lack flair. If they get big outputs from strikers Mats Magnusson and Stefan Pettersson who have done Well in their leagues but brazilian defender Silas. Could Star not for the National team they could last a while. The defense is Fine led by Captain Glenn Hysen and steady Central defender Peter Lars son. The Midfield also is in Good shape and will get More room to work if the forwards show some finishing touch. 3. Scotland a this is Scotland a seventh appearance and fifth in a Row. It still is looking to Advance into the second round for the first time. Scotland needs a steadier defense and timely offence from strikers to Johnston and ally Mccuist. Mccoy St a goal against Norway clinched a spot in the final 24. Keeper Jim Leighton is a steadying influence. 1. West Germany a unlike the last two tournaments when the germans were lightly regarded and made it to the championship game this German team is considered a favorite. The players have experience skills and Sawy. West Germany also might be the deepest team in the Field. Its defense will be physical often punishing and the attackers will Wear Down defences. Up front both Rudi Voeller and Juergen Klinsmann Are threats to Lead the tournament in scoring. Midfielders Lothar Matthaeus and Thomas Haessler Are Superb and the Backfield led by sweeper Klaus Augenthaler Juergen Kohler and Andreas Brehme is Tough. But Augenthaler has slumped recently and the goalkeeping is questionable. Still a run to the finals wont be a Surprise this time. 2. Yugoslavia a if you re looking for a dark horse a remember Belgium made the final four in Mexico a this might be one. The first country to qualify from Europe other than the Host Yugoslavia has an excellent Midfield paced by Dragan Stojkovic Dejan Pavicevic and Safet Susie. Stojkovic might be As valuable to his team As anyone in the tourney. The forwards also Are dangerous but the defense is spotty and keeper Tomislav Ivkovic is inconsistent. The yugoslavs Are known As the champions of exhibition games and rarely do Well in such big events. 3. Colombia a because it can beat the . And because it has a Chance against Yugoslavia Colombia might sneak into the second round. That will be it. Like most South american teams the colombians Are Strong technically and they have a Fine scorer in Carlos Valderrama. Their goalie Rene Higuita is known As a Tel  no explanation necessary. This team has been wracked by turmoil for two years with rumours of drug cartels trying to infiltrate the entire colombian soccer system. 4. United Arab emirates a the players already have been richly rewarded for getting to Italy. Two coaches have been fired since the . Qualified however so things Are even More mixed up with this team than with the colombians. The . Wont score much but it might keep things close particularly if goalie Muhsin Musbeh continues his Strong play