WORLD CUP USA ‘94: ROUND OF 16 : Spotlight : SACCHI IS RIGHT AS LONG AS HE WINS, BUT IF HE LOSES . . .

One of those attending Tuesday’s Italy-Nigeria game was former Italian national team striker Giorgio Chinaglia, who is working as a color commentator for Italian radio.

A New York Cosmos star in the days of the late, lamented North American Soccer League offered this observation on the tournament:

“The only negative thing, I think, has been my country. The Italians, they have been a disappointment so far. Let’s hope that today against Nigeria something better happens.

“Nigeria is not a team to underestimate. They are a little naive, especially on defense. But we’ve seen them play in the African (Nations) Cup, which they won, and most of their players do play in Europe, so we know who they are. Their strength is their technical skill and their physical strength. But our players, unfortunately, are all midgets up front.

“Italy doesn’t click as a team, and I think the coach (Arrigo Sacchi) is not putting the players in the right position. For instance, (Giuseppe) Signori, the top goal scorer in the Italian League the last two years, plays midfield or back. He’s got to be up front. That is a logical thing.

“But he (Sacchi) has his own ideas and until he loses, we’ve got to say, ‘OK.’ When he loses, then we can jump on him.”