From: marco@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu (Marco Petroni)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.french
Subject: World Cup '94 Qualifier: Europe Group 6: Bulgaria - France
Date: 10 Sep 92 13:44:44 GMT
Organization: McGill Research Centre for Intelligent Machines, Montreal, Canada


    WC 1994, Group 6 Qualifier:
    Sofia the 9th of September 1992 at 1600 UTC:

         BULGARIA            2         FRANCE              0 :-( :-(
           Stoichkov '21-p.k.
           Balakov '29
         Att.: 45000

         Referee: Sandro Puhl (Hungary)

                                   LINE-UPS:

    Bulgaria: Mikhailov (cap);
              Kiriakov - Ivanov - Iliev - Tsvetanov;
              Yankov - Sirakov - Balakov - Kostadinov (Iordanov '72);
              Penev (Stoilov '80) - Stoichkov;

    France:   Martini;
              Boli - Roche - Casoni - Petit;
              Sauzee - Fournier (Blanc '66) - Deschamps;
              Ginola - Papin - Vahirua (Durand '68);

    (Source: Radio France Internationale, Vincent Pellegrini)
    Les Bleus came to Sofia totally lacking the self-confidence that had given
them a 100% record in the European Championship qualifier which they lost
at Wembley and haven't retrieved since. They were meeting a very strong
Bulgarian side who had trashed Finland 3-0 in Helsinki before Euro92, so 
the expectations weren't high in Umea... Nor in France, I suppose.
    I may repeat that Eric Cantona is NOT in the team because he isn't
motivated to play for the National Team. Alain Roche was the libero for 
France and Iliev for Bulgaria. Two of the Bulgarians are playing in France,
Mikhailov (Mulhouse) and Sirakov (Lens). The start of the match wasn't too 
terrible, Bulgaria's first chance came on a freekick, but Alain Roche headed
it away, this on a counter attack after a chance for Sauzee where he was
too slow. Just afterwards, France got a dangerous free-kick on a foul by
Iliev on Pascal Vahirua, Franck Sauzee struck it close to the goal of 
Mikhailov. That was the only real chance before the penalty, Emil Kostadinov
went on the attack and was fouled by Jean-Pierre Papin in the box and the ref
made the right decision, it seems (what in hell did Papin do down there???).
Kristo Stoichkov transformed from the spot. After the goal, the French play 
wasn't as good as before it, a magnificent cross from Kostadinov was
struck by Stoichkov and Bruno Martini made a great save, Emmanuel Petit
cleared the rebound off the line. A good ball from Fournier for
Papin, but Iliev intercepted. A good combination by Stoichkov and Kostadinov
went to Balakov who lobbed the ball over the poor Martini. France had most
of the ball after the second goal with Bulgaria counter attacking.
Four minutes from the break Pascal Vahirua had a shot just over the bar worth 
better. The last chance of the half was a combination between Stoichkov-
Kostadinov-Penev which didn't result in anything. 
    The second half started with a great chance for Les Bleus when Didier
Deschamps got the ball alone on the spot by David Ginola, unfortunately no 
goal :-( The match continued with France having more of the ball and playing
better, a good save by Mikhailov on a Papin chance (?) (after a cross from 
Ginola). Bulgaria relied on counter attacks and Penev found Stoichkov who
sent a rocket just left of the goal defended by Martini. Midways through
the half Laurent Blanc substituted another Laurent (Fournier), I was
surprised that Blanc wasn't playing from start and Didier Deschamps
substituted the tired Pascal Vahirua. Vahirua was probably the best French
in the first half. Personally, I would have entered Christophe Cocard
at the break! But, anyway France got another great chance when David Ginola 
made a great move and left the ball for Laurent Blanc who had a shot 
saved on the line by Tsvetanov. Nothing more to say about the match itself,
now it's time for analysis and I start with my first impressions.
    France actually played better in most of this match than they have done
lately, at least that's my impression. The 20 first and parts of the second
half showed that the hope isn't out, yet, but the confidence isn't there.
Papin got more balls than he used to get in Euro92, but he wasn't fed with 
enough balls of the right kind - he needs to get better help by the
midfielders, something Houiller has to work on. Platini help Houiller,
he'll need it! Fortunately, the draw is quite good, France have two
matches at home coming up, both look quite simple (normally) and they
will hopefully retrieve the confidence in these two matches - if they don't 
win them, it's good-bye USA.
    Bulgaria have a very strong attack with Kostadinov, Stoichkov and Penev
and also a solid defence, the squad really fits for playing on counter attacks
and they will be very hard to beat.

Kent...
-- 
+---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Kent Hedlundh             | Les Girondins pour une place Europeenne en 1993 |
| Dept. of Computer Science | France and Sweden for the WC'94!                |
| University of Umea        | All the best for my friends teams!              |
| S-90187 UMEA     SWEDEN   | E-Mail: dvlkhh@cs.umu.se     IP: 130.239.96.17  |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
               "It's always good to talk soccer!" - Marco Petroni