WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : TODAY AT A GLANCE
GROUP E
at Giants Stadium,
East Rutherford, N.J.
Ireland vs. Italy
* TIME: 1 p.m. PDT.
* TV: ESPN, Univision.
* KEY MATCHUPS: The biggest battle will be between the players and the heat. Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s for the late-afternoon start. The recent humidity at the Meadowlands has been making skin crawl. The Irish, whose aggressive style works well in the chill of their homeland, are the most worried. Their age and unfamiliarity with a beating sun could be a losing combination.
Irish goalie Pat Bonner is 34. One of their best forwards, Tony Cascarino, is 32. Top midfielder Andy Townsend is 30. Star defenseman Paul McGrath is 35.
The Italians are also afraid of wilting, but at least they are younger and more skilled. The Irish will try to nullify this advantage with hard tackling and other intimidation techniques.
* OUTLOOK: Dubbed “the Immigrant Bowl,” this will be one of the most-watched first-round games because of the large numbers of U.S. citizens with ancestors from Italy and Ireland.
But all the pressure will be on the Italians. They will have the most fans--the Irish wish this game could have been played in Boston--and are burdened with the highest expectations. They have enough talent to reach the final. But under flaky Coach Arrigo Sacchi, do they have the fortitude?
The Irish, under Coach Jack Charlton, have the tenacity but lack the skill.
* OUTCOME: After about 60 minutes in this weather, both teams will decide to be thrilled with a tie. By the 90-minute mark, they won’t believe they ever thought of anything else. Nobody loses. Everybody survives.
