Conference trucks::football;1

    Congratulations Brazil, congratulations Edu, I won my bet, what's the
    big cover up of the 3rd place play off (can't find the score on the
    telly, in the papers, or in this conf)
    
    Simon
    

    
>>    I think the best side won out, but others may disagree. Do you have any 
>>    opinions on the way it ended, and if you weren't happy, what would you 
>>    recommend to FIFA for rule changes for the next cup?
    
	Italy had the best 2 players on the field yesterday (Maldini & Baresi),
	but Brazil had a better overall tournament. So, I guess it must be fair
	in the end.

	Quite bitter to see a World Cup final go to the penalty shootout,
	but both teams looked pretty burned from the start. Don't know if a
	replay would have been a good solution. 
    
	Eric

    PS   3rd place playoff: Sweden 4-0 Bulgaria
    PPS  Did anybody catch what was written on the flag the Brazilians were 
    	waving after the game (something about Senna...)

    re .2
    
    The flag that the Brazilian team carried round was in memory of Aytoun
    Senna, the racing driver who diead earlier this year.
    
    Well that is what the commentator said!
    
    mac

    So there *is* a god!
    
    Brazil certainly deserved their victory, both for what they did last
    night and throughout the tournament. Sure it wasn't a vintage
    performance, but the tally of shots on goal (16/6 in Brazil's favour -
    statistics courtesy of RAI TV) says it all. Sacchi's strategy for
    stopping Romario/Bebeto was perfectly effective; unfortunately, it
    consisted of withdrawing Dino Baggio, Berti and Albertini about 30
    yards in support of the defence, which meant that Taffarel was a
    spectator for most of the game.
    
    Shame that a great player like Baresi should miss a penalty, but this
    occasion was probably the first time I've seen a team underline their
    superiority even during the penalty shootout! Italy did not have 5 fit
    men to take their penalties; seriously, I think Pagliuca would have
    been a better bet than Baresi/Baggio...
    
    Of course, the Italian newspapers are talking about bad luck, and
    actually giving their players 7s and 8s to the 6s and 6.5s awarded to
    the Brazilians. Maybe after a couple of nights' sleep, they'll realise
    that with Italy's good fortune, Sweden, Spain, Holland and Rumania
    might all have made it to the final (only to be beaten by Brazil).
    Until then, we'll have to put up with the usual "Bebeto wouldn't
    survive in our league...Mazinho wasn't good enough for our football",
    etc. 
    
    The *really* positive aspects for Italy in this World Cup (after a
    nightmare start) were the performances of Bennarivo, Maldini and
    Costacurta. All of which suggests that Italy are still lacking
    something in midfield/attack. Yeh, sure, Roberto Baggio's a great
    player...for about 45 minutes a month! 
    
    Oh, and I still maintain that Sacchi knows his football inside out; but
    I bet people will be calling for his head now. The irony is that I'm
    sure any Italian observer would have given his/her right arm to finish
    as beaten finalists...before the competition started. Who'd be a
    football manager?!
    
    Great World Cup, probably the best I've seen in my lifetime (I was too
    young to watch the 1966 edition ;-). Excellent *attacking* football,
    loads of goals, good standard of fair play (messrs. Tassotti, Leonardo
    and Klinsmann notwithstanding). Personally, I'd be in favour of the
    sudden-death solution...and I'm sure the players would prefer it to
    penalties. I don't think it would have changed much last night - Brazil
    looked liekly to score at any moment during extra time. Of the changes
    made by FIFA, the only one I'm against is the outlawing of the tackle
    from behind. IMO, if the defender gets the ball then fine; otherwise,
    by all means penalise him. 
    
    Well done to the States for their organization - I was pleasantly
    surprised.
    
    Dom

    Dom,
    
    Agree with most of your perceptions about the final and normally I'd
    also prefer sudden death but as I struggled to stay awake those 
    penalties came as a blessed relief in the end. If it was down to 
    sudden death last night they'd still be playing :-)
    
    I bet the Yanks were switching off in their droves.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

                <<< Note 421.3 by ISEPUB::CHAMPOLLION "Can-tas-tic" >>>
>>>                  -< BRAZIL: FOOTBALL NATION OF THE CENTURY! >-
    
    You're jumping the gun Champo. If Italy win in 1998, then the two
    nations will start the next millenium with four World Cups apiece.
    
    Salut,
    Edward.

	re .3

>    Will see you in France in 1998. Who wants to bet on the existence of
>    this Notesfile?

	I'm sure that as long as there is a Digital there will be a FOOTBALL
	notes file. Of course, that doesn't answer your question.

	Tony

Reuter report

UPDATE: THIRTY-FOUR PEOPLE ARRESTED AT WORLD CUP

PASADENA, Calif (Reuter) - Police arrested 34 soccer fans Sunday on charges
ranging from assault to disorderly conduct as thousands took to the streets
celebrating Brazil's World Cup victory over Italy.

Officers were out in force as jubilant Brazilian fans poured from the Rose
Bowl stadium and paraded through the Old Town section of Pasadena, but police
Commander Mary Schander said the post-game celebrations remained mostly
peaceful.

"It's a noisy, boisterous fun-loving crowd," she said, noting that the number
of arrests was "about normal" for a sports event that attracted 94,000
spectators.

Mindful of a history of soccer "hooliganism" in Europe, local police had
prepared intensively to quell any outbreak of unrest during the World Cup.
But the monthlong tournament was marred by little violence.

On Sunday, the stadium parking resembled a Rio carnival as thousands of
joyous Brazilians -- some clad in colorful costumes, their faces painted
yellow and green -- formed circles, dancing the samba, waving flags and
pounding drums.

From the stadium, many fans drove to Pasadena's historic downtown, filling
bars and restaurants and taking to the streets in noisy celebrations. Dancers
swayed to Brazilian music, and women in bikini tops sat atop men's shoulders
blowing whistles.

As the crowd swelled, police cordoned off several blocks to traffic and
watched on the the fringe, occasionally wading in to break up fights or make
arrests. Bystanders booed as officers led two men away in handcuffs after one
incident.

When officers moved in to confiscate a large inflated soccer ball that
members of the crowd were kicking around, people jeered loudly.

One man clad in a green wig ran over and handed the officers a red card --
the soccer referee's way of expelling an errant player -- and the crowd
erupted in laughter.

Some suspects were taken into custody outside the stadium before the game and
others during the match, but the largest number were arrested in the
festivities that followed.

World Cup Attendance

NEW YORK (AP) - Yearly attendance for World Cup final tournaments with year,
site, total games, attendance and average attendance per match:

Year Site GP Att. Avg.

1930 Uruguay 18 434,500 24,138

1934 Italy 17 395,000 23,235

1938 France 18 483,000 26,833

1950 Brazil 22 1,337,000 60,772

1954 Switzerland 26 943,000 36,270

1958 Sweden 35 868,000 24,800

1962 Chile 32 776,000 24,250

1966 England 32 1,614,677 50,458

1970 Mexico 32 1,673,975 52,311

1974 West Germany 38 1,774,022 46,684

1978 Argentina 38 1,610,215 42,374

1982 Spain 52 1,766,277 33,967

1986 Mexico 52 2,199,941 42,307

1990 Italy 52 2,510,686 48,282

1994 United States 52 3,567,415 68,604

    
    'Good Morning America' (best known US morning talk show) had a special
    on soccer today. One of the topics dealt with the results of the soccer
    popularity campaign in the US. In a poll, held by 'Good Morning
    America' 61% of the US public thinks that the US should have its own
    Major League Soccer. From what I've heard, there will be a 12 team
    league starting in the spring of 1995. One of the 12 teams will be
    Boston. Anybody got any more on this ?
    
    Also, any word yet on Gullit's reason(s) for abandoning the Dutch
    team ? He would reveal them after the WC.
    
    Koos
    

WORLD CUP GOALSCORERS

PASADENA, California, July 17 (Reuter) - Goalscorers at the 1994 World Cup
finals:

6 - Oleg Salenko (Russia), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)

5 - Juergen Klinsmann (Germany), Roberto Baggio (Italy),

Romario (Brazil), Kennet Andersson (Sweden)

4 - Martin Dahlin (Sweden), Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina),

Florin Raducioiu (Romania)

3 - Bebeto (Brazil), Gheorghe Hagi (Romania), Jose Caminero

(Spain), Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands), Tomas Brolin

(Sweden)

2 - Juan Goikoetxea (Spain), Ilie Dumitrescu (Romania),

Adolfo Valencia (Colombia), Luis Garcia (Mexico), Fuad

Anwar Amin (Saudi Arabia), Claudio Caniggia (Argentia),

Hong Myong-bo (South Korea), Daniel Amokachie (Nigeria),

Rudi Voeller (Germany), Philippe Albert (Belgium), Wim

Jonk (Netherlands), Dino Baggio (Italy), Emmanuel Amunike

(Nigeria), Yordan Lechkov (Bulgaria), Georges Bregy

(Switzerland)

1 - Julio Salinas (Spain), Hwang Sun-Hong (South Korea),

Soe Jung-won (South Korea), Eric Wynalda (United States),

Ray Houghton (Ireland), Marc Degryse (Belgium), Kjetil

Rekdal (Norway), Roger Ljung (Sweden), David Embe

(Cameroon), Francois Omar-Biyik (Cameroon), Rai (Brazil),

Gaston Taument (Netherlands), Diego Maradona (Argentina),

Bryan Roy (Netherlands), Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria), Finidi

George (Nigeria), Alberto Garcia (Mexico), Alain Sutter

(Switzerland), Stephane Chapuisat (Switzerland), Adrian

Knup (Switzerland), Ernie Stewart (United States), John

Aldridge (Ireland), Marcio Santos (Brazil), Dmitry

Radchenko (Russia), Sami al-Jaber (Saudi Arabia),

Georges Grun (Belgium), Mohamed Chaouch (Morocco),

Samson Siasia (Nigeria), Daniel Borimirov (Bulgaria),

Harold Lozano (Colombia), Herman Gaviria (Colombia),

Karlheinz Riedle (Germany), Erwin Sanchez (Bolivia),

Josep Guardiola (Spain), Daniele Massaro (Italy),

Marcelino Bernal (Mexico), Fahd al-Ghshiyan

(Saudi Arabia), Roger Milla (Cameroon), Saeed Owairan

(Saudi Arabia), Hassan Nader (Morocco), Nasko Sirakov

(Bulgaria), Fernando Hierro (Spain), Luis Enrique (Spain),

Aitor Beguiristain (Spain), Abel Balbo (Argentina),

Branco (Brazil), Aron Winter (Netherlands), Lothar

Matthaeus (Germany), Dan Petrescu (Romania), Henrik

Larsson (Sweden), Haakan Mild (Sweden)

    The final left a bad taste in my mouth. After 120 minutes, Italy wasn't
    beaten and Brazil hadn't won. My vote would be to have a replay the
    Wednesday after the final, if there is a draw at the end of extra time.
    By all means use the penalty shoot-out for all games up to the final,
    but for the final itself, only a result on the field does justice to
    both teams.
    
    Regards,
    Alan 
    
    p.s. the final was carried live on network TV in the 'States, but the
    network planners clearly hadn't expected it to run on so long. About 2
    minutes after Baggio missed, and following several "up close and
    personal" shots of the Italian 'keeper in tears and Baggio sitting with
    a shell-shocked look on his face, the broadcast was terminated and we
    were returned to the studio. I had to flip over to Telemundo to get the
    shots of the Brazilians being presented with the trophy. I was a bit
    peeved at ABC for being so chinzy....fancy the Beeb cutting back to Dr
    Who before Bobby Moore was presented with the cup in '66! 

>    peeved at ABC for being so chinzy....fancy the Beeb cutting back to Dr
>   Who before Bobby Moore was presented with the cup in '66! 
    
    
    	With all the references in here to 1966, I'm beginning to think I'M
    a time traveller. 8-))
    
    Archie
    

    Well, the Final will certainly provide for months, if not years, of
    endless but interesting discussions and arguments about referees, 
    tie-breaking procedures, superstars and not-so-super-stars, and the
    quality (or lack thereof) of the American efforts in hosting the games.
    
    I'm sad that it's over.  And whether hosting the games in the US will
    have some measurable change in soccer popularity here is really of
    no concern to the millions of existing fans and participants who
    were involved in the game even before the selection of the US as
    the host nation.  Yes, I know, its of no concern to you noters from
    countries with longer soccer traditions than the US.
    
    I would like to mention one positive, but overlooked effect of having
    the World Cup in the US.  This country has many ethnic groups, most
    of which seem content to isolate themselves, and to view others with
    disinterest, if not suspicion.  I observed a wonderful interaction of
    these groups, all excited about one thing: soccer.  In the building
    where I work, I park my car and go up to the office...the garage 
    attendants, one originally from Africa and one from South America,
    would typically not talk much to arriving workers.  That has changed.
    We now know a little bit about each other, and have some things in
    common:  our love of the game, our joy and excitement over the various
    WC games, our shock and sadness over Maradona and Escobar.  If all
    that was accomplished by hosting the WC here in the US was to bring us 
    all a little bit closer together, it was worth it!
    

    
>								If all
>    that was accomplished by hosting the WC here in the US was to bring us 
>    all a little bit closer together, it was worth it!
 
    	And that's what sport should primarily be about.......
    
    Dezzz.
                                                                   

    Re: penalty shoot-out's
    
    What does anyone think about having the penalty shoot-out BEFORE the
    game, so that teams will have to chase the game ?
    
    Or what about the idea of sudden-death? Play until some-one scores?
    
    PH

Hello ,


    I would like to put anly one question:

    " Have you seen one or two times playing footbal during the final game ?

    I saw only one team playing the game (Brazil). The italians were only waiting 
for the penalties. (thats not footbal).

    So, I don't understand why are now unhappy....

    Is the soccer a spetacle or a motive to defend everything ????

    What do you think about the brasilian team in Spain 1982 ? 

    For me, Roberto and Dino Baggio, Albertini and  Maldini (may be Zola and 
Signori) are soccer players , the others are mercenaires and defenders.

    Sacchi is a creation of the press.

    Brazil is the country of the real soccer. Argentina,Romenia and Germany are 
the others potential countries that could discuss the second place in the next 
twenty years. May be Spain , Bulgaria , France and Portugal could discuss the 
third. The rest of the countries. it's better try another sport.

bye and thanks,

    Joao

I don't think having the penalty shoot out before the game will make both teams
play attacking football. What I think they should do is just disqualify any team
involved in a 0-0 draw. Consequently, for me, Sweden are the rightful World
Champions. 8-)

Mike

P.S. re:-1 Romania fluked an easy qualifying game, scraped through against a
demoralised team that had lost its heart and its best player, and got stuffed by
the first half decent team they played. They will never in a million years
contest a world cup final.

    
    My personal view of the world cup:
    
    BRA: The favourite has won. The best team has won. The team with the
    biggest desire to win has won. But the gap to the trailing teams wasn't 
    too big. And I don't like Romario.
    
    ITA: They can be proud to have reached the second place. Now, for the
    next 4 years they're the official second best team in the world. Yet
    I believe they've had a tremendous amount of luck to reach the finals.
    Commiserations to Massaro, Baresi and Pagliuca. I was extremely
    impressed by that friendly gesture between Taffarel and Pagliuca
    
    SWE: They should both be proud and angry. I wonder who made up the
    schedule that Sweden would meet Brazil in the semis. I'd rank them
    higher than Italy.
    
    BUL: Two good games (against ARG and GER) were sufficient. Stoichkow 
    is the impersonation of arrogance. I wonder why the rest of the
    Bulgarian team would so desperately try to let Stoichkow score in the
    3/4-place match. 
    
    GER: One good game was not sufficient. Before the tournament I was
    asking myself why Klinsmann was in the squad in the first place. Now
    I've seen that he was almost the only player willing to fight for
    success. He played a great tournament.
    
    ROM: Played like a Diva. With more luck, they could have been in the
    finals. Hagi was best player of the tournament - at times.
    
    ESP: Still waiting for their first semifinal. They deserve it. 
    
    NIG: The Nigerian star was just about to rise, when it was ruined by
    tactical plays. What would have happened it Amokachi and Amunike would 
    not have been injured.
    
    USA: The can't bes dissapointed. They gave the new world champions a
    hard time beating them. But will the 98 squad be that strong as well ?
    
    KOR: I liked the way they never gave up. 
    
    CAM: Disappointing \
    RUS: Disappointing  > I was hoping for better performances of these
    GRE: Disappointing /
    
    
    
    
    

    With so much riding on the outcome of the Penalty Shots on Sunday, it
    occurred to me on how it was determined who shot first i.e. how was it
    determined that Italy shot first and Brazil second?  Does the "home"
    team go last, as in American baseball?  If so, how did the "visiting"
    team and "home" team get determined?
    
    Thanks!
    
    Don McLean, USA
    

	Toss of a coin.

	I believe the way it works is that the winner of the coin toss
	decides whether to kick first or second, and the loser decides
	which goal is to be used.

	Tony

   In our leagues, the ref chooses the goal to be used.  Winner of 
   coin toss gets to choose to kick first or second.  

   It seems that "first" wins more often, in my experience, perhaps   
   because more pressure can come to bear on the team kicking second.

   Clark

>        I believe the way it works is that the winner of the coin toss
>        decides whether to kick first or second, and the loser decides
>        which goal is to be used.

Does anyone know who won the toss Sunday?

Does anyone know who the fifth shooter for Brazil would have been?  Bebeto?

The selection of shooters was interesting.  The first and fifth shooters are 
probably the key ones.  It's understandable for Sacci to go with two shooters 
who are mentally tough, even if they are injured.  I wonder how much the 
injuries affected them.

It was great drama, but I'm another one of those that doesn't like shootouts 
to decide WC championships.  I'd like to see it decided on the field, but 
then the concerns over the health of the players and the possibility of going 
on forever are there, so any solution would have to include a gimmick.  Of 
the gimmicks I've heard, the two most palatable to me are having less players 
on the field (more running, but also more room for the skilled players to 
operate, more difficult for a team to simple pack the box), and to allow 
substituted players to re-enter the game.

Clay

    Normal rules are whoever wins the toss shoots first.  The ref
    chooses ends (with, no doubt, help from FIFA and the TV
    companies!). 

    Gerry

    To continue the discussion on the shoot-out between Italy and Brazil, I 
    thought that the Goalkeeper had to keep both feet on the goal line and 
    could not move until the ball was kicked.  If he moved before the ball 
    was kicked and the shooter scored, the goal counted.  If he moved before 
    the ball was kicked and the shooter missed, then the kick was retaken.
    
    It looked to me that each goalkeeper moved before each kick.  I think
    even one of the commentators on ABC (American TV) said that the goalkeeper 
    does a little "hop" forward then dives to one side to try to make the save. 
    This little "hop" gives him some momentum during the save attempt. 
    
    I'm confused between what I thought was the rule versus what I saw on
    Sunday.  Can someone help me?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Don McLean, USA
    

    re .27
    
    	Don't be confused.  The keeper is NOT supposed to move before the
    ball is kicked.  Instead they moved a bit before the kick (but after
    the kick began his run).
    
    	The ref could call it back if it was a miss.  However, I'd hate to
    be the ref to do that if it was close. (ALthough I've called back a
    couple of penalty kick goals due to a teammate entering the penalty
    area before the kick!)
    
    				Jeff

    
    Gents,
    
    I've yet to see any goalkeeper make a save from a penalty without
    moving before the kick is taken. Some move an inch or two, some move
    a couple of feet.
    Some are punished & some get away with it. It all depends on the score
    at the time, the oppostion, the importantness of the match, whether or
    not the ref is in a weird sort of a mood that day etc.
    Over here in Scotland, it's very seldom a goalie is punished for moving
    prior to a spot kick, and fans over here have just come to accept it.
    
    

For the purposes of consistency, I thought I'd just mention that there
wasn't a penalty "shoot out", when England won the cup in '66. 

Very much so,


Motty

    
    That's right, but in those days they awarded a goal for being near to
    the goal line.  8-))
    
    Archie
    

    
    >That's right, but in those days they awarded a goal for being near to
    >the goal line.  8-))
    
    (Best BBC "Pathe News" voice): 
    
    "In *those* days, men were equipped with fully working lungs and didn't
    go down with crap ten minutes after half-time.
    
    Why, Alan Ball would have been running laps round the athletics track
    last Sunday, to keep his muscles warm for the penalty shootout".  ;-)
    
    Brig. Reginald Ponsonby-Smythe

    
>    "In *those* days, men were equipped with fully working lungs and didn't
>    go down with crap ten minutes after half-time.
  
    I think you mean CRAMP, it would be extremely serious indeed were ones
    lungs to be impaired by crap.
                            
    Keep taking the tablets,
    
    Dr. Dolittle
    

    >I think you mean CRAMP, it would be extremely serious indeed were ones
    >lungs to be impaired by crap.
     
    Well, after such a tedious final, I could pretend that I was referring
    to the spectators rather than the players (I take it the expression
    "bored sh*tless" is still in vogue in the UK?).
    
    But fair cop, Dr. Green. Maybe we'll be seeing you running on with the
    sponge bag for Blackburn in the not-too-distant future? 
    
    I'll keep taking the tablets,
     Dom

    >I think you mean CRAMP, it would be extremely serious indeed were ones
    >lungs to be impaired by crap

well to be extremely pedantic about it, it would be pretty bloody serious if your
lungs were impaired by cramp, which is an involuntary muscle spasm primarily
affecting large muscles, thought to be caused by mineral depletion following
prolonged exertion. 

ie it affects your leg muscles after a game of footy


	Mr. Pedantic

    Dom,                 
    
    the expression "bored sh*tless" can still be heard around some football
    grounds in England, usually when the visiting team are that team called      
    
    Unfortunately since the World Cup we won't have the man running on with the
    miracle cold wet sponge any longer, its the  carry-him-off-the-pitch
    routine now. Jack Walker is currently negotiating for the builders to
    leave one of the cranes behind to be used for this very purpose. Jack
    said if its good enough for Formula One its good enough for us because 
    our players cost more than their cars ! Ray Harford will be driving the 
    crane and is instructed that visiting players should be dipped
    playfully in the river that runs behind the Walkersteel Stand, until
    the end of the game or they drown, whichever is the sooner.
    
    If you still have trouble with that rash I can give you a repeat
    prescription !
    
    Your hippocratically,
    
    Dr. Dolittle
    
    

    Mr Pedantic,
    
    I bow to your superior knowledge of medical matters, I get all my
    advice from talking to the animals.
    
    Regards,
    
    Dr Dolittle
    
    p.s. I have only ever had cramp during the game, any problems I have
    standing up after the game are a case of frothy substance overdose and
    are self inflicted.

    Dear Mr. Pedantic, 
    
    In your note of 20-JUL-1994 13:12, you stated that I had, on a previous
    occasion, suggested that there might be a connection between the lungs
    and the medical condition MUSCLUS KNACKEREDUS, commonly known as
    "cramp".
    
    May I take this opportunity to point out that in no way did my note .32 
    imply that this was the case, nor have I ever publicly opinions to this
    effect. I would therefore be grateful if your newspaper were to publish
    a <insert correct Latin expression> as soon as possible.
    
    Yours sincerely, 
        
         Dr. Zeus  

    Glad to see this world cup topic is preceding as sensibly as most
    of the others.  Although I would like to point out that I have often 
    suffered the expeience of having cramp in the lungs.  It usually
    happens at about the same time as I learn how much the round I'm
    buying comes to.  God knows why??
    
    Mr. Tight

    Mr Tight,
    
    Without knowing your location, religion, sexual preference and
    favourite flavour of ice-cream it is difficult to diagnose the root 
    cause of your lung cramp. However what is certain is that prevention is 
    better than cure, trust me I'm a doctor.
    
    The only remedy for your condition is to avoid buying a round in the
    first place, known in medical circles as the "Yorkshire Technique".
    
    I therefore recommend hiding in the car park to avoid being first to
    the bar, controlling your bladder to ensure that it is being emptied at
    the same time as peoples glasses (don't forget to get up and go to the
    right place during this exercise), and never, ever take your wallet
    to the pub. 
    
    Its a two week course which should ensure that you will never have to
    buy another round, you will be left with either no mates, or thick
    mates, either way you are quids in !
    
    toodle-pip,
    
    Dr Dolittle.
    

    Gentlemen,		My cut at deciding a match that is tied after 90
    		min.
    			1. send the players back to the dressing room, 
    			   15 min rest, fluids, trainers attend to the
    			   injured.
    			2. the overtime session(s) would be 30 min with
    			   15 min rests. The overtime could be sudden-
    			   death, motivation to end it.
    			3. Allow 1 or 2  additional substitutions per
    			   Overtime period.
    
    		The games should be won or lost as a team not by Penalty
    	shoot-out which is alot of pressure riding on an individual.
    
    re .19	<<  Brazil is where real soccer is played. >>
    		It is true that Brazil is creative and do have magnifiecent
    		skill for offence.  But there are two parts to every game
    		offence and Defence!! in the past Brazil has always been
    		one of the best offence teams in the WC but they have
    		lacked defensive abilities e.g WC-82.  This years team is
    		one of the best all around Brazillian teams to wear the
    		blue and gold with exception to 1970's team (tough to
                compare) and the reason for their success is the defensive
    		play they exhibited the best i've ever seen them defend.
    		These defence skills were developed playing in Europe
    		against the best players and where defence is also a skill.
    
    		So Brazil is not where "Real Soccer" is played but
    		"Offensive soccer" is played.
    
     	Regards,  Milan 
    
    p.s.    Slovenian decent, raised on football.
    p.p.s   has Gullit, van Bastien made there press releases as to WHY?
    

I'd go for sudden death, but with one small addition. I'd take off a player 
from each side every five minutes - until just the goalkeepers were left.
That would be preferable to penalties.

    Dear Dr Doolittle,
    
      Thankyou for your advice, I can see you have great experience in the
    art of avoiding the round.  Did you do your training in Scotland??
      I'll practice the techniques over the weekend and I'll let you
    know if I've got any mates left by the end of it.
    
    Mr Tight.

    
    Sorry to repeat 1966......But......
    
    Could you imagine sudden death with a goal like that deciding it!!
    
    Dezzz.....
    

    One last question from the final - I keep seeing references as the
    Italian team being called the Azzurri's (sp).  What does Azzurri mean? 
    Is it the name for the Italian national team, or does it mean something
    else?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Don McLean, USA
    

    Don,
    
    Azure is a shade of blue - Italy play in blue 
    
    "Forza Azurri" the main chant of the fans is hence "forward blues"
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

	But why do they play in blue at all?

	I've heard the answer to this, but I can't remember it.
	Anyone know it?

	Ian.

    
    Eh?
    
    Ah...You mean to say, why do they play at all.
    
    I sure don't know.
    
    Hermann
    

    They play in Blue because "Forza Azzurri" woulld sound stupid if they
    were playing in red/white/green ;-)  They'd probably be cheering the
    opposition.
    
    Peter.

    Re: .49
    
    This from the man who said I'm a nutter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    I'll sen dyou some of my tablets by internal mail, Peter. Try not to
    hurt yourself in the meantime ;-)
    
    Jerry.

    
    It all dates back to the French Tricolor which was Italy's flag
    probably up until circa 1861 when Garribaldi united the country.
    
    They 'obviously couldn't ' have the same flag as France so the blue bit
    was changed to green. However why they chose the blue from a historical
    point of view beats me.....
    
    I suppose its a bit like the anamoly of St. Patricks Day blue being
    worn !!!
    
    Dezzz.

    
    	Re- Italians wearing blue.
    
      I'm sure if this is wrong, one of our Italian noters can correct but
    I thought that the reason the Italy played in blue was because it was
    the historical colour of the Royal house of Italy. Sounded impressive
    in the pub after 14 pints and a dozen Eldorado's even if it isn't true.
    
    	John (not Motson, honest).

    
    Now THAT sounds the feasible reason why 
    1. Garribaldi changed it to green.....
    2. How the colour originated in the first place and is still a relavant
    part of Italian history....
    
    Dezzz.

    Green White     Red
    Basil Mozorella Tomatoes  = Pizza = Italy
    
    Simple.
    Dave WOOD