WORLD VIEWS
FRANCE
From Sud Ouest:
“Contrary to what was expected, the first round of the World Cup wasn’t marked by the rise of African football but by the grand return of Latin America. The Brazilian monsters and Argentines are not alone. One is present at a return to tradition confirmed by the good showing of Eastern Europe with the qualifications of Romania, Croatia and Yugoslavia.
“The passage to the final 32 teams had the opposite effect of what was counted upon. One awaited the emergence of new nations that would expand the range of world powers and one was present at the return of the usual international matchups. Football seems to rediscover its base at the moment when it is experiencing a planetary explosion.
“This return is good for teams but not for players. The revelations that were dug up, from Salas to Ilie and including Thierry Henry, but the first teachings of the World Cup are going to be quickly forgotten with the start of the playoffs. One hasn’t had time to breathe and starting [Saturday] we are offered Italy-Norway and Brazil-Chile, which will give us a first indication of their strength. Those who played the spoilsport in the first 15 days, can they upset the two great favorites? If tradition holds, it’s hardly likely.”
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From L’Equipe:
“The Jamaicans, crazy with joy after their 2-1 victory over Japan [Friday], left Lyon in a bus to catch a plane that will take them back to Kingston. Despite their elimination in the first round, one can imagine the warm ambience, for the length of the journey, and the chants of the Reggae Boyz who surely don’t care about sleeping.
“One can imagine too the welcome that awaits them in the Jamaican capital, where all the people are going to celebrate the team upon its return from its first participation in the World Cup, with a victory in its pocket. See you again in four years!”
GERMANY
Conservative Berlin daily Die Welt:
“Former Argentinian coach Cesar Luis Menotti calls the match of Mexico vs. Germany ‘creative madness’ vs ‘gray soccer.’ Menotti also said: ‘What the team of Berti Vogts offered, is a product of horror.’ ”
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Nationwide tabloid Bild demands on the front page:
“Stop that Diesel Soccer! Berti, put Premium into the tank now!”
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Nationwide daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung quotes Croatia Coach Miroslav Blasevic:
“Soccer has become faster. For correct decisions we need radar screens rather than referees.”
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Conservative nationwide daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung quotes Nathalie Pires, wife of French player Robert Pires:
“I am always amazed how fast my husband can run on the soccer field. At home, he isn’t able to breathe after three stories of stair walking.”
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From Sueddeutsche:
“Who still knows the names, who counts the goals? Just 2 1/2 weeks of the World Cup are over, but already 48 of 64 matches. Just heavily addicted soccer fans could have an overview on who played against whom in which group. To increase the number of teams to 32 does not necessarily mean a sportive increase.”
Correspondents Helene Elliott in Marseille and Christian Retzlaff in Berlin contributed to this report.
