SURFING THE NETS
Many observers are focusing on the matchup between goalkeepers Fabien Barthez of France and Jose Luis Chilavert of Paraguay as the key to the teams’ round-of-16 match today.
Chilavert is widely considered the best at his position, but the French team disagrees and votes for Barthez.
“Am I afraid to meet the best goalkeeper in the world? But I see him every morning in practice,” forward Thierry Henry said.
Said defender Lilian Thuram: “Chilavert, is he Barthez, just crazier?”
Barthez said he has no plans to follow in Chilavert’s footsteps and take any free kicks his team is awarded.
“Chilavert should stay in his place. When he goes to take a free kick, that’s a lack of respect for his teammates, for [those] who are there to score goals.”
GOOD VIBRATIONS
We’re not sure what this means but . . .
An American journalist supposedly asked England Coach Glenn Hoddle, “If [Michael] Owen symbolizes the Beatles, and [Teddy] Sheringham symbolizes the Rolling Stones, which record would you listen to at the moment you announce your starting 11 against Colombia?”
Said Hoddle: “I’ve always preferred the Beach Boys.”
IT’S ONLY A GAME
Asked about the political significance of the game Thursday between Yugoslavia and the U.S., Yugoslavia Coach Slobodan Santrac dodged the question.
“We are in a sports press conference,” he said. “If you would like to speak of politics, go to the embassy of Yugoslavia in Paris, or telephone the minister of foreign affairs in Belgrade.”
A NAPOLEONIC ERROR
Bulgaria’s 6-1 loss to Spain in its first-round finale wasn’t well received back home.
A newspaper in Sofia declared it “the Waterloo of Bulgarian football.”
