WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : SPOTLIGHT : INSTANT HUMBLE

Some international journalists had to bite their tongues when Bulgarian star forward Hristo Stoichkov stood on the interview podium Sunday and presented himself as a team player.

“I do not see myself as a star,” he said after his team’s 4-0 victory over Greece. “I am just one of 22 (players). Although I play for Barcelona, I hope I do not have the star attitude.”

Bulgarian bull?

Stoichkov has the reputation of a self-centered hothead. Said Barcelona Coach Johan Cruyff of Stoichkov: “Teammates are just people to be used for his own individual ends and then thrown away.”