CONCACAF GOLD CUP SPOTLIGHT

CONFUSED? YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE

One reason the World Cup succeeded on these shores is because the average American sports fan can appreciate a championship fight. In 1994, the World Cup was an easy sell--whichever team wins this tournament is the best soccer team in the world. Americans who didn’t know a corner kick from a cornerback could understand that much, and the World Cup became one sellout after another.

Not so the Gold Cup.

According to the media guide, “the Gold Cup is CONCACAF’s showpiece event. Contested every two years, it determines the Confederation’s finest national team.”

OK.

Except the first Gold Cup was held in 1991, the second in 1993 and the third . . . in 1996.

Next problem: CONCACAF.

What is it?

The noise a Scottish defender makes running up and down a frozen pitch in Kilmarnock?

No, it is the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.

Got that? The CONCACAF Gold Cup is played to determine the best national team of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Except, Brazil’s in it.

Well, that’s because Brazil was invited as “a special guest.” Translation: Brazil might bring some bodies to the Coliseum. Americans surely remember the goal-scoring splendor of Romario and Bebeto.

Except, Romario and Bebeto aren’t on this team.

This is Brazil’s Under-23 team, here to gain some valuable experience before the Summer Olympics.

Except, Brazil’s best Under-23 players--Juninho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos--are not here. They’re in Europe, gaining valuable paychecks from their club teams.

So, the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup is a tournament held every two or three years to determine the best team from North and Central America and the Caribbean unless the Brazilian frosh-soph team wins it. In that case, the runner-up will be declared CONCACAF champion and will represent the region in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, which also features the champions of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America . . . and the national team from Saudi Arabia. Why? Because Saudi Arabia hosts the thing. The same principle got the United States a free pass into the last World Cup.

After that, it will be time for the next Gold Cup.

To be held in 1997, or 1998, or, possibly, 1999.

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING?

Two more reasons for the Gold Cup’s struggles at the turnstiles:

1. The tournament planners forgot to advertise.

2. Once they remembered, they forgot some details.

Such as where the United States was playing its first game.

Intrepid newspaper readers may have come across this ad copy in their Friday editions:

at the L.A. Coliseum

today 5:00 p.m. BRAZIL VS. CANADA

tomorrow 4:00 p.m. USA VS. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

come and see the world champion team in its first official appearance in the USA after the World Cup, as well as the stars of the USA team.

That’s fine if you came to the Coliseum on Friday; Brazil and Canada were there. But if you came to the Coliseum on Saturday at 4 p.m., you might have seen a few early arrivals for the Clipper-Rocket game at the Sports Arena.

Meanwhile, USA and Trinidad & Tobago did play Saturday at 4 p.m.

At Anaheim Stadium.

That would explain the paltry 9,850 who witnessed the United States’ 3-2 victory.

Now, who told them?

IF YOU SPEND IT, THEY WILL COME

Among those adding their voice to the growing tide of criticism against the Gold Cup’s contracted organizers, InterForever of Florida and Global Sport Inc. of California, was U.S. Coach Steve Sampson.

Asked about the lack of American fans at Saturday’s game, Sampson replied:

“First of all, the American public has to be informed about the game. There has to be promotion. . . . If they involve the youth programs, if they use television, if they use radio, they will come, because they now know about the quality of this [U.S.] national team. . . .

“That’s not to take anything away from the Hispanic community. I think it’s important that they be here as well to support their teams, but we have to start thinking what’s best for CONCACAF as a whole. And I think the success of the United States team is only going to improve the level of play in CONCACAF, and the way to do that is to support the American people coming to the games.

“You must spend some money. There’s a lot of things you can do in Southern California. So, whenever you promote a tournament here, it has to be intelligently done, well in advance and it has to involve all the soccer-playing community, and they will come.”

A SPELLBOUND AUDIENCE

One highlight of the tournament, at least for the U.S. media, was the “audience” granted to a handful of writers by Bora Milutinovic between midnight and 2 a.m. Friday in the bar of the Mexican team’s hotel in San Diego.

Free from the pressure imposed upon him by media south of the border, Bora was able to relax and joke, recalling his stint as U.S. World Cup coach, saying he misses the United States, diagraming plays on napkins, assessing the Gold Cup teams and looking ahead to France ’98.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Mehrdad Masoudi, the Canadian press officer helping to keep things running despite the worst efforts of the Gold Cup organizers, is a collector of unusual statistics.

His proudest feat is identifying the first fan to attend the CONCACAF women’s championship in Montreal. He missed duplicating that feat at Anaheim Stadium last Wednesday, but has collected a few other “firsts” from the tournament. For example:

--First kick: Tomasz Radzinski (Canada).

--First corner kick: Tom Kouzmanis (Canada).

--First offside: Radzinski (Canada).

--First foul: Radzinski (Canada).

--First hand ball: Alex Pineda (Honduras).

--First yellow card: Craig Forrest (Canada).

--First red card: Paul Dolan (Canada).

--First shutout: Jorge Campos (Mexico).

--First substitute: Jose Luis Pineda in for Arnold Cruz (Honduras).

--First shot to hit post or crossbar: Carlo Corazzin (Canada).

--First penalty kick: Raul Diaz Arce (El Salvador).

--First goal from free kick: Joe-Max Moore (United States).

COLOR COMMENTARY

It was a rather understated Jorge Campos who showed up for Mexico’s first game, against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Discarding his trademark fluorescent outfits, the goalkeeper wore white shorts and socks, but saved his reputation with an appallingly loud jersey of white, orange, yellow, lime green, blue and purple.

The next day at the Coliseum, who should be wearing that same jersey but Fitz-Gerald Bramble, the St. Vincent goalkeeper. “I swapped with him,” he explained.

Compiled by Grahame L. Jones and Mike Penner.

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND SCHEDULE

ROUND ROBIN

Group Winners and Top Second-Place Team Advance

JAN. 10

At Anaheim Stadium

* Canada 3, Honduras 1

At Anaheim Stadium

* El Salvador 3, Trinidad and Tobago 2

JAN. 11

At San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium

* Mexico 5,

St. Vincent & the Grenadines 0

JAN. 12

At Coliseum

* Brazil 4, Canada 1

JAN. 13

At Anaheim Stadium

* United States 3, Trinidad and Tobago 2

JAN. 14

At San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium

* Mexico 1, Guatemala 0

At Coliseum

* Brazil 5, Honduras 0

TUESDAY

At Anaheim Stadium

* St. Vincent & the Grenadines vs.

Guatemala, 6 p.m.

At Anaheim Stadium

* El Salvador vs. U.S., 8 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

THURSDAY At Coliseum

* Group B winner vs. Group C winner, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY At San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium

* Group A winner vs. best second place, 8 p.m.

THIRD PLACE

SUNDAY, JAN. 21

At Coliseum

* Semifinal losers, 2 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

SUNDAY, JAN. 21

At Coliseum

* Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

FACTS AND FIGURES

GOALKEEPERS

*--*

Keeper (Country) G GA GAA Jorge Campos (Mexico) 2 0 0.00 Dida (Brazil) 1 1 1.00 Edgar Estrada (Guatemala) 1 1 1.00 Kasey Keller (United States) 1 2 2.00 Raul Garcia (El Salvador) 1 2 2.00 Craig Forrest (Canada) 2 5 2.50 Ross Russell (Trinidad & Tobago) 2 6 3.00 Wilmer Cruz (Honduras) 1 3 3.00 Fitz-Gerald Bramble (St. Vin.) 1 5 5.00

*--*