Belgium’s Predicament Creates Unusual Twist
Belgium and the Netherlands have long been rivals, especially on the soccer field, but the Belgian players now find themselves pulling for their enemies.
The Netherlands and Mexico will meet Thursday at Saint-Etienne, with the Netherlands needing only a tie to advance from Group E into the next round. If the Netherlands defeats Mexico and if Belgium can defeat South Korea, Belgium can get the second spot.
“I think we are at the moment a little bit supporters of Holland because it will be in our favor if they beat Mexico,” Belgian goalkeeper Filip deWilde said. “We know that Holland as a team is a better team than us. They are going for the semis or the finals. We are hoping to get through to the second round.”
THE FIRING LINE
South Korea fired coach Cha Bum Kun after losing its first two games, and Saudi Arabia fired its coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, after losing its first two matches.
Does the same fate await Rene Simoes, Jamaica’s coach?
“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” he said. “The president of the federation is a very sensible person. . . . When we win, everybody wins. When we lose, everybody loses. As a coach, I accept that.”
UNCONCERNED FRENCHMAN
French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who was suspended for two games for a questionable tackle last Thursday against Saudi Arabia and will miss his team’s final first-round game and its second-round match, doesn’t fear France will suffer in his absence.
“Before the start of the competition, I always thought positively,” he told L’Equipe. “The French team will qualify and I will. And although I won’t be on the field against Denmark and in the eighthfinals, I expect to see my teammates again in the quarterfinals.”
SOME HEADY RELAXATION
Head games:
Nigerian players relaxed Friday by playing head tennis, with Jay-Jay Okocha umpiring a game that matched Daniel Amokachi and Celestine Babayaro against Sunday Oliseh and George Finidi.
But when the players couldn’t agree whether the score was 15-16 or 14-17, Okocha bailed out. “OK boys, that was a beautiful point,” he told them. “But now you can count the score for yourselves. I quit!”
HE ACHES TO PLAY
Forward Kanu Nwankwo of Nigeria, considered a prodigy at 21 after playing on the world under-17 and Atlanta Olympic championship teams, has been limited to a substitute’s role in one game here, but it has nothing to do with the heart surgery he underwent a year ago in the U.S. to correct a congenital heart problem.
No, he was stopped by an old-fashioned stomach ache. “I know so much is expected from me by my fans, but the stomach upset I had initially threw me off balance,” he said. “I thank God that I have now recovered and hope to give of my best soon.”
A NIGERIAN ADMIRER
Count Italian Coach Cesare Maldini among Nigeria’s fans. “The success of the Nigerian team isn’t surprising. It just confirms how good they are after their win in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996,” he said.
As for his own team, which leads Group B, Maldini is happy. “The Italy team is doing well and getting stronger all the time,” he said. “It has to. Otherwise, we’d be going home.”
OVERWHELMING CHANGES
Alberto Parreira, coach of Saudi Arabia, can lead a procession of his staff out the door.
Also dismissed were Fahad Nasser Al-Dahmash, president of the delegation; Ahmed Eid A-Harbi, the team technical manager; Moranci Santanta and Chirol Admildo, the physical trainers; Radhwan Mandily, the team manager; Ibrahim Al-Dahmas, the team guide; physiotherapist Mikesell Brian and logistics coordinator Antonio Gomes.
DOWN AND OUT ROMARIO
Brazilian star Romario, who is injured and couldn’t play in the tournament, is depressed and on Valium, according to reports in French newspapers.
He hasn’t slept well and thinks of nothing but the World Cup, according to his friend and physical trainer, Mauricio dos Santos.
THE CLEAN TEAM
Cleanliness is next to . . . unbelievable, unless it’s Japanese or South Korean fans.
Officials in Toulouse were stunned last weekend when Japanese fans cleaned up after themselves and collected the trash they had created before they left the stadium. South Korean fans did the same in Lyon after playing Mexico.
