WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Spotlight : IT’S ONLY A GAME

Anders Limpar, a Swedish midfielder, said Americans should be ashamed for not selling out every World Cup match.

“I expected every game to be packed with crowds,” Limpar said before his team’s game Friday against Russia at the Pontiac Silverdome.

More than 16,000 seats were left unsold earlier this week for a Silverdome match between Switzerland and Romania.

“Based on the popularity of the sport (in the world), it should be packed every game,” said Limpar, who plays for Everton, an English club team.

Limpar said this is nothing like Italy during the 1990 World Cup.

“They were hysterical in Italy,” he said. “It’s like religion to them. They’re like mad-dog crazy for it. Every game is like the Super Bowl for the Italians. It’s a different culture.”

What Limpar fails to mention is that many of the stadiums during Italia ’90 were half empty for games.