WORLD CUP USA ‘94: SEMIFINALS : TODAY’S GAMES AT A GLANCE
At Giants Stadium East Rutherford, N.J.
Italy vs. Bulgaria
* TIME: 1 p.m. PDT.
* TV: ESPN, Univision.
* KEY MATCHUPS: The Bulgarians need to stop the Baggios. The Italians need to stop Stoitchkov. This one is that simple. Roberto and Dino Baggio--you’ve read 100 times that they are not related--have combined to bring Italy from the brink of elimination to the threshold of their fifth World Cup finale. The Baggios have combined on five of Italy’s six goals. Dino’s have given Italy a short-handed victory over Norway and broken a scoreless tie with Spain. Roberto’s last-minute goals have beaten Nigeria and Spain. The Bulgarian defenders, however, think they can end all this. Since losing to Nigeria in their opener, 3-0, they have not given up a goal on anything other than a penalty kick. Leading the defensive stand will be the trio of Petar Houbtchev, Zlatko Iankov and Trifon Ivanov. The task of the Italian defense is just as formidable. It must stop Hristo Stoitchkov, who is big, fast and surly. Stoitchkov has scored five of his team’s nine goals on eight shots inside the penalty area. He doesn’t miss much. The Italian defense will be handicapped by the loss of Mauro Tassotti, who was suspended after breaking Spaniard Luis Enrique’s nose in the quarterfinals.
* OUTLOOK: Knowing the controlling nature of the World Cup Organizing Committee, there might be a clause that prohibits lightning striking twice at the same venue. The truth is, it can’t happen here. The Italians won’t have to go down to the wire this time. Italy has improved every game, to the point that it is probably the best team left in the tournament. If the Bulgarians concentrate on stopping the Baggios, then who is going to guard Giuseppe Signori or Daniele Massaro? They are only two of the best scorers in the world. Italy is too deep for the Bulgarians.
* OUTCOME: We said Bulgaria would not beat Germany in our lifetime. Oh, well. Another day, another lifetime. And we will say it again: There is no way Bulgaria can defeat Italy. Frankly, the only thing the Bulgarians have going for them is that we are picking against them. Italy by two.
