European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday june 23, 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 29 swings a rips world Quot cup by the associated press Foxboro mass. A three years of turmoil seemed to dissipate in an instant. Drug scandals and weight problems were forgotten with one magnificent swing of his left foot. Diego Maradona written off As too fat and too old was Back in the world cup spotlight. He scored As Argentina led by Gabriel Batista tax a three goals overwhelmed Greece 4-0 tuesday in their rain soaked tournament opener. A the is magic. He is the natural Leader of the argentinian team a greek coach Alkis Panagoulias said of Maradona. A the did no to do too much but it is obvious he is an  Maradona was closely guarded throughout the first half by midfielder Panagiotis Salou chides who continually tripped the Argentine Captain and even pulled him Down once by his shirt. But Salou chides a who a nearly a foot taller than the 5-foot-3 Maradona a got a Ellow card warning Midway through the first half and asked off after that. That allowed Maradona to get free for his spectacular goal Early in the second half. Maradona got the Ball about 22 Yards in front of the greek goal after a series of passes but his path was blocked by two defenders. He dribbled a few feet to his left and curled a shot into the Comer of the net for his eighth world cup goal. Maradona then ran toward a sideline to camera his Mouth opened wide in exultation before being mobbed by his teammates. When asked later whether his performance would silence doubters the 33-year-old Maradona smiled. A i have nothing to say. I have just proved it on the Field a he said through an interpreter. A i dedicate the actions and the goals to those  Maradona led Argentina to the world cup title in 1986 and to the championship match four years ago when the squad was reviled for its defensive play and its rough manner. He shed 26 pounds in recent months to get ready for his fourth world cup. Argentina also took a big step toward shedding its poor image from 1990. It put on a dazzling offensive show the biggest scoring outburst so far in the tournament Battistuta scored in the game s second minute when the greeks got caught upfield and the argentines had a 4-on-l advantage on a counterattack. That seemed to immediately take the emotional Energy out of the greek team and its Flag waving fans. A after the first goal that was it Quot Battistuta said. A we had already won it. Battistuta rifled in his second goal from just outside the penalty area in the final minute of the first half. He completed his hat trick on a penalty kick in the games last minute after a greek player handled the Ball inside the penalty area. Greece meanwhile offered Little resistance and showed virtually no creativity on attack. Argentine goalkeeper Luis Islas barely was tested in recording the shutout. Panagoulias was furious at his players after the game saying they were awed by the argentines. A i think the greek players came to take pictures of the argentinians because they loved them so much a he said. A after the game they were still Happy because they had played  a we expected to lose. But i thought at least we would not be afraid of these big name players. I was  greek midfielder Nikolaos in Orlias disagreed saying the problem was not so much fear As a Lack of ability. A we weren to afraid of them a in Orlias said. Quot but the truth is Argentina is Many years ahead of us in the game of soccer. Greek soccer is not As Strong As argentinian  Argentina can Clinch a spot in the second round when it faces Nigeria on saturday in Foxboro. Greece which made its world cup debut tuesday next faces Bulgaria on sunday in Chicago. Diego Maradona embraces Argentine teammate Gabriel Battistuta who scored 3 goals in 4-0 win Over  in rout of Bulgaria Mac military travel corporation by the associated press Dallas a if this is what nigerian soccer is All about the world cup sorely needed it. Playing with flair and panache befitting International soccer elite Nigeria made a dazzling cup debut tuesday night easily beating Bulgaria 3-0 in a game featuring the kind of offence the tournament has been yearning. A we came Here to show that Nigeria can play football Quot coach Clemens Westerhof said. A we Are the champions of Africa and we must play that  Nigeria needed about 15 minutes to get the feel of the game even though the crowd of 44,132 was behind them from the time they began warming up. A Okachi slowly the game began to turn toward Nigeria. Two blown opportunities by Bulgaria. A Nice attack. A Crisp pass. Then George Bandini dribbled along the right Side getting close enough to draw bulgarian goaltender Borislav Mihaylov and allowing Bandini to set up superstar teammate Rashidi Yukini for a left footed tap and a 1-0 Lead. Not satisfied with defending the 1-0 Lead they nigerians continued attacking. A i told my boys they want entertainment in the Usa a Good football with action a Westerhof said. As for Bulgaria the game was merely an Extension of its world cup woes. The y re now 0-l 1 6 m six tournaments. The nigerians never relented their of sense despite pretty much having sealed a Victory with Daniel am Okachi a Brilliant bump and run goal shortly before halftime. Nigerians final goal came in the 55th minute when Emmanuel Amu Nike nailed a header past a stunned Mihaylov. In another game tuesday Germany 1, Spain 1 Chicago a defending Champion Germany needed a second half goal from its scoring Star Juergen Klinsmann to Salvage a tie with Spain. The germans were outplayed for much of the game but Klinsmann sent in a header off a free kick by Thomas Hessier in the 48th minute. Then both teams missed excellent opportunities to win it. Klinsmann has scored both of Germany a goals in the tournament. The germans Are 1-0-1, while Spain also tied South Korea in group c. Juan Antonio Soiko Exea put the spaniards ahead in the 14th minute with his second goal of the Competition. He floated the Ball into the net from the wide Side on the right Wing with what looked like an attempted crossing pass. Spain then pressed but never beat goalkeeper Bodo illgner again. Instead it was Klinsmann who tied it and nearly won it in the second half. In the 4sth minute Klinsmann leaped above two defenders to meet Haessler a free kick and head the Ball powerfully downward. The Ball bounced up Over goalie Andoni Zubizarreta a head and was already Over the goal line when Stefan Effenberg leaped Forward to make sure with a diving header. That set the German fans in the crowd of 63,113 at Soldier Field to chanting and singing.40u w a wow to Washington Baltimore Frankfurt and Rome a Frankfurt to Baltimore Baltimore to Frankfurt Adl chd inf Adl chd inf jun27 $247 $247 $25 jun26 $287 $287 $29 jul04,11 $258 $258 $26 jul 03.10,17,24,31 $287 $287 $29 jul18.25 $273 $273 $28 aug 07 $287 $287 $29 aug 01.08.15,22,29 $273 $273 $28 aug 14 $258 $258 $26 aug 21,28 $247 $247 $25 Rome 1? 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