FYI: IMAGE WON’T GET YOU TO ROUND 2
Sometimes style counts as much as substance.
For Chile, which led Italy, 2-1, on Thursday until Roberto Baggio tied the score on a penalty kick that resulted from a questionable call, the draw was the best advertisement they could offer for the quality of their soccer.
“The most important thing about this match against Italy is the image we have projected,” defender Pedro Reyes said. “We won a moral victory in this match. We should have won the game.”
Said forward Ivan Zamorano, the team’s captain: “Of course, our result could have been better, but before the match I didn’t think Chile could have played so well against one of the potential winners of the tournament.”
Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca offered compliments to Chile. “Our defenders played well but had trouble controlling the threat of Zamorano and [Marcelo] Salas,” he said. “It will be the same for other teams.”
THANKS, GREAT SHOT, NOW GRAB SOME PINE
Coach Cesare Maldini turned his back and couldn’t watch Baggio take the 85th-minute penalty kick, but Baggio said he wasn’t nervous.
“It’s my job to take penalty kicks,” he said. “I made 11 this season with Bologna.”
Despite his heroics, he might not be in the starting lineup for Italy’s next game. He started Thursday only because Alessandro Del Piero was hampered by a sore thigh muscle.
“I don’t know if I will go back to the bench for the next match. That’s the decision of the coach,” Baggio said. “Me, I did all that I could do.”
TICKETS ARE AT WILL CALL UNDER DOUBLE ZEE
Like any athlete playing in his hometown, standout French midfielder Zinedine Zidane had to provide tickets for his family Friday. Scraping up 25 World Cup tickets, however, isn’t quite as easy as finding 25 in a luxury box at the Pond of Anaheim or field-level seats at Dodger Stadium.
Somehow, he managed to get enough tickets. However, the only way he will see his friends and relatives is from a distance.
“It’s true that I’m very happy to be in Marseille, but I won’t have time to see my family,” he said.
His parents decided to stay home, too nervous to watch him in person. “They will be more at ease there,” he said.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY RADIO FREE RONALDO
Brazilian star Ronaldo has an exclusive radio contract with a Spanish radio show, Super Garcia en la Cope. From midnight to 1 a.m., and on the night before matches, he shares his opinions on the popular show.
But he’s not being greedy. He has decided to give his fees to an orphans’ association in Brazil.
