World Cup Prelims Get Under Way in Europe
Twelve of the 24 World Cup soccer teams play warm-up games across Europe on Wednesday as the buildup to the year’s biggest sports tournament intensifies.
The United States, in the World Cup for the first time since 1950, plays East Germany, which did not qualify, in a match at East Berlin.
Defending champion Argentina, minus captain Diego Maradona but with six players from its 1986 team, travels to Scotland. South American champion Brazil plays England in the newly remodeled Wembley Stadium; European champion the Netherlands is at the Soviet Union; Austria is at Spain, and Wales is at Ireland. Yugoslavia visits Poland, which failed to make the finals that begin June 8.
Wembley, recently turned into an all-seat stadium with a capacity of 80,000, is sold out for the match between Brazil and England, each unbeaten in their last 14 international games.
“Brazil (is) probably the best team I’ve seen for the past 18 months,” England Coach Bobby Robson said. “No one has been able to punish the Brazilians through the middle . . . but no one I’ve seen has tried to test them on the flanks. That’s what I plan to do.”
Brazil Coach Sebastiao Lazaroni will have his full squad except for Romario, the injured forward from the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. Eleven of Brazil’s players are on European clubs.
“What I am trying to do is find a better balance between defense and attack,” Lazaroni said. “We have in Brazil a natural talent to attack, but now we need more competitive players. It is important that I adjust the philosophy that I teach my players and that they understand the realities of the modern game.”
Maradona will be on a promotional tour in Japan rather than at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, where Scotland is playing Argentina.
“Without Maradona in the team, it will be very difficult for us,” Argentina Coach Carlos Bilardo said.
The Dutch team left for its game at Kiev without forward Ruud Gullit, still recovering from a knee injury, and Coach Thijs Libregts. Players are angry at Libregts for his coaching style, and a motion calling for veteran Rinus Michels to replace Libregts has been forwarded to the Dutch soccer federation.
Libregts has turned to the courts, seeking an injunction against his possible dismissal before his contract expires on July 1, seven days before the end of the World Cup.
Spain goes into its game with Austria in Malaga without any injury problems. The Austrians, who play the United States in the World Cup on June 19, will miss midfielders Andreas Herzog and Manfred Linzmaier.
“Those dropouts hit me hard and turned my ideas about Malaga upside down,” Austria Coach Josef Hickersberger said.
