Newsgroup: it.sport.calcio
Titolo: 1998

After a sixty-year gap, the World Cup returned to its country of birth.
Though the competition had been expanded to a rather bloated 32 teams, the
return to France was to prove a great success.
Brazil were favourites, with striker Ronaldo, a non-playing sub in 1994, at
the peak of his powers. Improbable pace, skill and goalscoring made him
football's hottest property and richest player, endorsed by a whole host of
companies.
Denied the services of an injured Romario, Ronaldo would have to bear the
striking burden. In the opening game, the holders overcame Scotland with
some difficulty before soundly beating Morocco 3-0.
In the third group game they took the lead late on against the dour
Norwegians but were shocked by a late surge. Tore Andre Flo and a Rekdal
penalty landed Brazil with their first opening round defeat since 1966.
The hosts made short work of their group, beating South Africa, Saudi Arabia
and the Danes. But the real story was Zidane's dismissal against the Saudis,
where the Mexican referee red-carded him for stamping out at Fuad Amin. The
French would be without their playmaker for their second round match.
The Italians, for whom Roberto Baggio was making a welcome return, made
short work of their group despite an opening draw with Chile, after Lazio
import Marcelo Salas scored two great goals. Striker Christian Vieri was
outstanding for Italy in all three games.
Highest profile casualties were Spain, who lost in 3-2 thriller to Nigeria
and could only draw 0-0 with Paraguay. Despite beating a Bulgarian side well
past its sell-by-date 6-1 in the final game, it was yet another tale of
underachievement for the Spaniards.
Perhaps the most enticing fixture in the first round was the group match
between USA and Iran. Diplomatic differences were put aside before the game
when the players exchanged flowers and posed for a joint team picture.
Once the game had started Iran outplayed the Americans and were worthy 2-1
winners. Both teams were also-rans in a group dominated by Germany and
Yugoslavia.
Argentina made as good a start to the tournament as they had in 1994. With
Gabriel Batistuta and Ariel Ortega impressive they looked like a side that
England would have preferred to avoid in the second round.
As penance for a late Graeme Le Saux mistake against Romania, England had
come second in their group. But in that famous second round game in St
Etienne they matched the Argentinians, even after having Beckham dismissed
for his petulant kick at Simeone. Despite Owen's great goal England exited
stage left after another penalty shoot-out loss.
Nigeria, who had lit up the first round with enterprising football from the
likes of Kanu, Oliseh and Okocha, capitulated inexpicably to Denmark, who
for once in a major tournament had both Laudrup brothers in tandem.
Italy knocked out Norway in a dull game lit up by a great run and goal by
Christian Vieri. Brazil overpowered Chile with Ronaldo at his best while
Holland beat Yugoslavia by virtue of a 91st-minute winner from Edgar Davids.
France, struggling without the cutting edge of Zidane, were forced to make
history when Laurent Blanc scored the first-ever World Cup extra-time
'Golden Goal' against Paraguay.
Their reward was a date with the Italians. Perhaps due to many of the
Frenchmen playing for clubs in Italy the two sides cancelled each other out
and the game fizzled out, with the end result being the Italians' exit from
their third succesive World Cup on penalties.
While Roberto Baggio was able to bury the ghost of the Pasadena Rose Bowl,
this time it was Luigi Di Biagio who was the unfortunate penalty misser.
Germany, who had shown signs of fallibility all tournament, collapsed in
amazing style against Croatia, playing in their first World Cup. After
having defender Christian Woerns sent-off the Germans fell behind to a great
strike from Robert Jarni and just could not get back into the game. Late
goals from Davor Suker and Goran Vlaovic were no more than the Croats
deserved.
The remaining quarter-finals were classics. Brazil held off the Danes in a
memorable game in Nantes with two goals from Rivaldo helping them to a
narrow 3-2 win.
In Marseille's Stade Velodrome Argentina and Holland served up a feast. An
early exchange of goals from Kluivert and Claudio Lopez led to an even match
of flowing football.
But, in keeping with an unhappy tradition, Argentina then pressed the
self-destruct button as Ortega was dismissed for headbutting the chin of
Holland keeper Edwin Van Der Sar.
And just when the game seemed destined for extra-time, Dennis Bergkamp
produced a goal that would grace any stage. Controlling a long pass
instantly in the air, he wrongfooted a defender and prodded it with the
outside of his boot into the roof of the net. Keeper Carlos Roa could do
nothing.
Marseille hosted the Dutch once more as they faced Brazil in the semi-final.
After Ronaldo had scored a typical goal just after half-time, Brazil seemed
to have a place in the final in their grasp.
But Patrick Kluivert fired in three minutes from time. Again the Golden Goal
rule restricted both sides' ambitions and it was a penalty shoot-out once
more.
Brazil converted all four but Phillipe Cocu and Ronald De Boer's misses put
the favourites in the final.
There they would meet the hosts, who could thank defender Lilian Thuram's
sudden discovery of a scoring touch when the game seemed to be turning
towards Croatia. The Croats, for who Davor Suker finished as the
tournament's top scorer, satisfied themselves with a win in the third place
play-off over Holland.
The furore that blew up before the final is perhaps the biggest scandal in
World Cup history and the true facts are yet to be revealed. When the teams
for the match at Stade De France were announced, Ronaldo was missing from
the team-sheet with Edmundo in his place.
There was speculation his ailing knee had finally given out but then a
bizarre story emerged. Ronaldo had had some form of fit while sleeping in
his hotel room.
Roberto Carlos had alerted doctors and worries over damage his brain had led
to his omission from the team-sheet. But when the teams lined up, a rather
nervous Ronaldo was there - at least in body.
Rumours persist that he had been given a sedative by doctors and that team
sponsor Nike, for whom Ronaldo was their leading endorsed player, had forced
his inclusion.
Whatever the truth, his zombiefied performance reflected a young man in
turmoil who did not want to be playing.
Without him Brazil looked lost and fell to a France side empowered by a rush
of football fervour from the home country. Despite the efforts of hapless
striker Stephane Guivarc'h the French overpowered Brazil.
Even without Laurent Blanc, suspended following a red card after a terrible
piece of play-acting by Slaven Bilic in the semi-final, the defence easily
smothered what few Brazilian attacks there were.
Zidane, who had improved steadily as the tournament went on, reached a
crescendo when, unmarked on both occasions, he headed in two identical goals
from Emmanuel Petit corners.
And though pivotal defender Marcel Desailly was sent-off for a horrible foul
on Cafu in the 75th minute, France finished the stronger, eventually sealing
their win with a breakaway goal from Petit.
Brazil had been thrashed, their dreams of a fifth World Cup perhaps dying in
Ronaldo's hotel room but few could argue with the validity of France as
winners.
Skipper Didier Deschamps lifted the trophy, fans partied on the Champs
Elysees and for once cycling became France's second favourite sport.

 endorsed player, had forced his inclusion.
"La tensione della finale rappresenta forse il piu' grande scandalo nella 
storia della Coppa del Mondo e ancora non e' dato sapere come siano 
andate le cose. Quando furono annunciate le formazioni della finale, 
Ronaldo mancava e c'era Edmundo al suo posto. Si parlava di guai al 
ginocchio ma alla fine emerse una storia inquietante: Ronaldo aveva avuto 
una sorta di fitta mentre dormiva nella sua camera. Roberto Carlos 
allerto' i medici e le preoccupazioni a proposito di un danno al cervello 
condussero all'esclusione nella formazione. Ma quando le squadre 
entrarono in campo, c'era anche un Ronaldo piuttosto nervoso, almeno nel 
fisico. Alcuni dicono che gli fu dato un sedativo e che lo sponsor del 
Brasile (Nike), per il quale Ronaldo era il giocatore piu' importante, 
forzarono la sua inclusione.".
-- 
Shiningbell