GROUP B
AUSTRIA
* World Cup Record: Played 26, won 12, lost 12, tied two, goals for 40, goals against 43.
* Best Finish: Third place, 1954.
* 1994 showing: Did not qualify.
* Coach: Herbert Prohaska. As a player, he won championships in Austria in Italy, played 80 games for his country and appeared in two World Cup tournaments. Chain-smoking disciplinarian.
* Players to Watch: Michael Konsel, Wolfgang Feiersinger, Harald Cerny, Andreas Herzog, Anton Polster.
* In Brief: Routed, 3-0, by the United States on its home ground in Vienna in April, Austria will need at least one decent result here in order to restore its pride. Chances are, that won’t happen.
* Quick Quote: “We don’t have any pressure on our shoulders. We are happy to have qualified for France and we hope to deliver a few surprises while we are there.”--Anton Polster
* Forecast: Three games and out.
CAMEROON
* World Cup Record: Played 11, won three, lost four, tied four, goals for 11, goals against 21.
* Best Finish: Quarterfinalist, 1990.
* 1994 Showing: Eliminated in the first round.
* Coach: Claude Le Roy. Brought in this year for his second spell in charge of the Indomitable Lions. The Frenchman already has worked wonders, as evidenced by the 2-1 victory over Denmark in Copenhagen last week.
* Players to Watch: Joseph-Desire Job, Rigobert Song, Patrick Mboma, Alphonse Tchami.
* In Brief: The team has been shaken up since it lost in the African Nations Cup quarterfinals in January. Le Roy has dropped half a dozen players and brought in newcomers. Whether the team can mesh in time is problematic.
* Quick Quote: “It’s important that we leave a positive image behind us, that we play good, attractive football.”--Claude Le Roy
* Forecast: Likely first-round exit, but might surprise.
CHILE
* World Cup Record: Played 21, won seven, lost 11, tied three, goals for 26, goals against 32.
* Best Finish: Third place, 1962.
* 1994 showing: Banned from entering.
* Coach: Nelson Acosta. Born in Uruguay but now a Chilean citizen, Acosta came out of nowhere to take over the team in 1996 and hasn’t looked back. Known for his motivational technique.
* Players to Watch: Nelson Tapia, Javier Margas, Jose Luis Sierra, Rodrigo Barrera, Marcelo Salas, Ivan Zamorano.
* In Brief: A memorable 2-0 victory over England at Wembley in February served notice that Chile cannot be taken lightly on its return to the World Cup after serving a FIFA ban for faking injuries. The strike force of Salas and Zamorano is potentially one of the best in the tournament.
* Quick Quote: “I’m sure we can get a goal in each game, and sometimes one goal is enough.”--Nelson Acosta
* Forecast: Will reach the second round but go no farther.
ITALY
* World Cup Record: Played 61, won 35, tied 14, lost 12, goals for 97, goals against 59.
* Best Finish: Champion in 1934, 1938, 1982.
* 1994 Showing: Lost to Brazil in final.
* Coach: Cesare Maldini. He had a haunted look even before Italy’s harrowing qualifying run ended and he looks even more ill at ease now because injuries are devastating his team. His son, Paolo, is one of the world’s top defenders.
* Players to Watch: Paolo Maldini, Dino Baggio, Roberto Baggio, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero.
* In Brief: The Italians should have been a contender, but they have lost starting defender Ciro Ferrara and starting goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi to injury, and three other starters also are limping, including star striker Alessandro Del Piero. The team’s depth and character will be tested right away.
* Quick Quote: “No coach is a savior.”--Cesare Maldini
* Forecast: Quarterfinals are the limit.
