Conference trucks::football;1

    U.S. beat Jamaica 1-0.  According to the report in USA TODAY, the
    U.S.'s 16 man squad featured 8 players making their international
    debut's and 3 of them were members of the under-17 national team.  The
    U.S. dominated play despite having only 5 frontline national team
    members on hand.  Mark Dodd, the number 2 goalkeeper played the entire
    game.  Coach Bora Mulutinovic said that winning the game was of
    secondary importance, that with a full two years before hosting the 94
    Cup, he needs to look at new players and evaluate talent.  One of the
    new players, Sadri Gjonbalaj, scored the lone goal.
    
    The draw for the inaugural Women's World Championship was held and the
    USA, which is one of the co-favorites, was placed in Group B with
    Japan, Brazil and Sweden.  Other Groups:
    
    Group A	China, Norway, Denmark and New Zealand
    Group C	Italy, Germany, Nigeria and Taiwan
    
    Tournament begins Nov 16.  Top two from each group advance.
    
    
    	Steve

    The USSF has moved its offices from Colorado Springs to Chicago,
    according to World Soccer magazine. WS reported that although New York
    would have been a better choice (didn't say why) this is a good move.
    Aparrently the USSF has several offices spread around the US, and this
    consolidates the decision-making. The magazine aslo said that this
    would mean that Soldier Field would likely become the US' "home"
    stadium for future friendlies. (Seems to me like it was a good idea to 
    play games in several cities). WS also went on to speculate that the US 
    would be based there for the 1994 WC. What other city would be paired 
    with Chicago in that case? Detroit or Minnesota, if they can grow grass 
    indoors, or perhaps Kansas City (which might be a little far). St Loius
    is a soccer hotbed, but the 50,000 seat stadium is artificial turf and
    is used for baseball during the summer.
    
    Another magazine, "Soccer International" had an article on the New York
    stadium situation. FIFA/USSF definitely want New York to be part of the
    WC, and that New Haven (75 miles away) would not be a suitable
    substitute. (They would consider a NY-NH group, which is bad news for
    Boston.) The Meadowlands Stadium (former home of the NY Cosmos) is
    out, due to costly renovations and putting in a grass field. The City
    owns 2 grass baseball stadiums, and Yankee Stadium looks like the
    better bet. The Yankees management realizes the worldwide importance of
    the WC, and would be willing to consider playing games across town in
    Shea Stadium during the month of the WC. The field is also bigger, so
    ther would be no problem in fitting a regulation-size pitch. They also
    would add about 2,000 seats at the field level, bringing the seating 
    capacity close to 60,000.
    
    So, if this goes through the wild card is New Haven. The Yale Bowl
    stadium needs work, doesn't have lights and must have the press
    facilities upgraded to accommodate WC games. This costs tons of money,
    so a Boston (Foxboro)-New York grouping has a decent chance. Let's see
    what happens.....
    
    Tom    

    Ref: last
    
    I think its great. Chicago is a good soccer city and keeping
    headquarters away from New York improves our chances of getting 
    world cup soccer in Boston. Also, there's a grass stadium in Minneapolis
    /St Paul where the Vikings and Twins used to play. As I recall its
    called municipal stadium and it seats in excess of 70,000. 
    
    JC
    
    

    re .3
    I'm not sure, but I heard that they tore down that stadium
    (Metropollitan Stadium?) once they built the dome in downtown
    Minneapolis. If it still is around, that would be a good choice to go
    with Chicago.
    
    About New York, it seems that Boston's best shot is to be paired with
    New York or New Haven, both with their problems. Another alternative to
    the baseball stadiums in NY is the proposal to build an 80,000 seat
    temporary stadium at the Aqueduct race track (!) This sounds a little 
    crazy to me, considering the cost and the use it would/wouln't get
    after 1994. Definitely the good turnout at the Ireland game gave Boston
    a good shot, but it's a little too early to tell just yet. Where did I
    hear the rumor that they were planning a 4 team tournament modeled after 
    the Scania in Sweden in June 1992 for Foxboro? Supposedly it would include
    the USA, either England or Ireland (whoever did not make Sweden),
    possibly Italy and another European team. If THIS gets 45,000+ crowds,
    I'd say Boston would be a lock...
    
    Tom

    I heard something on the radio a few weeks back about the USSF and some
    local football organization being close to reaching agreement with
    the Irish FA that would have Ireland playing in Foxboro each of the
    next 4 years. As I recall, the U.S. will be the other permanent
    participant and two other national teams will be invited each year.
    I don't recall the figures but significant ca$h was mentioned as an
    incintive for the teams to field their best players.
    
    Lets hope so,
    
    JC
    

    That sounds like great news to have ANY major team come to Foxboro for
    a game evey year... Ireland proved they would be a great draw, but what
    if they qualify for Sweden? As for a pre-tournament friendly or two, I 
    don't know if they would want to travel that far, or how hard they
    would play, considering the possibility for injuries. I think that's
    why England was considered an alternative (which ever did NOT qualify), 
    since they would also expect to bring in a good crowd. Who knows, maybe
    Poland will surprise everyone and BOTH will be available.
    
    Money is certainly a factor, and it can mean the difference between a
    major team bringing its best players (Italy?), which would certainly
    pack them in, and a lesser team with less of drawing power and smaller
    crowds. 
    
    The Ireland game was a great time and I'd like nothing better than to be
    able to repeat that experience as often as possible.... 
    
    Tom

    
    The team competing in Foxboro will be the side in Geroup 7 that fails
    to qualify for Sweden i.e. England.  :-)  
    
    Gary.

The Boston Globe had a squib of soccer information last Saturday:

    This Thursday, Foxboro will be announced as a priority site to be 
    looked-at as a final site for WC-94.  Only 16 sites are designated 
    as priority sites.

    In June of '92, Foxboro will be the site for two games in a Series
    between these four teams:

    		U.S.A
    		Italy
    		Portugal
    		Ireland or England

    That's great to hear about the 4 team event next summer! They must 
    be assuming that Italy won't pull a rabbit out of their hat and pip the 
    USSR. 
    
    Of the 16 sites, does this mean that all these sites will get some
    games, or will they be further narrowed down to 12 cities, like other
    World Cups. They *COULD* have 4 additional cities hosting games in the
    later rounds only, as a chance to spread the WC atmosphere around. In
    Italy, you could be anywhere in the country and be no more that a
    couple hours by train to any of the sites. In a country as large as the 
    US travel might be much more of an issue. 
    
    Tom

    Italy and Portugal both have a chance to qualify for Sweden. Italy
    can remain in the hunt by beating the Soviets in Moscow and Portugal
    is tied with Holland at the top of group 6. they play each other, next.
    
    If Italy and Portugal somehow make it to Sweden, I wouldn't be
    disappointed a bit if we got to see Germany and Holland join the
    U.S. and England in Foxboro. 
    
    JC
    
    

    Re .previous couple,
    
    Oh good another flight to the frozen north (:==:) - any idea whether
    this tournament will be played over consecutive days or weekends??
    
    ... off to VTX to see what courses are running in the north next summer.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    

    More news about the selection proccess for '94, from the Boston Globe.
    Like previous World Cups, only 12 cities will host games. The list has
    been narrowed down to a "priority list" of 19. Starting November 1 two
    seperate FIFA delegations will visit the sites and make final
    reccommendations. 
    
    The thing I find strange is that some of the cities mentioned are 
    considered long-shots, since the only suitable stadium has a field of 
    artificial turf. Some, like E. Rutherford, NJ (a New York suburb) have 
    already stated that it would be too impractical/costly to put in a grass 
    surface and widen the field. 
    Philadelphia has an old decrepit stadium dating from the turn of the 
    century that was recently condemned,and will be torn down soon. The only
    other venue is Veterans' Stadium, where the USA played Sheffield
    Wednesday in August, but not only does it have a turf field, but it is
    also used by the local baseball team during the summer, so I don't see
    how it could still be on the list.
    
    Anyway, here is the list of cities: * means the stadium is artificial
    turf.
    
    Foxboro (Boston)      * Philadelphia       * E. Rutherford (New York)
    New Haven             Chicago              * Detroit
    Columbus, Ohio        * Seattle            San Francisco
    Washington DC         Atlanta              Miami
    Orlando, Florida      Tampa, Florida       * New Orleans
    * Dallas              ** Kansas City       Denver
    Los Angeles
    
    ** If chosen, Kansas City will be changing the surface to grass next
    year.
    
    Tom

    Ref: last
    
    - New Orleans superdome will install a grass field if they can get
    the opening game or the finals. They experimented, with success,
    some grass that grows with artificial lights.(Don't know what the big
    deal is. Foks have been grwoing pot in the closet for many moons, using
    artificial lighting).
    
    Temple University, Phillie, and SMU, Dallas, don't they have grass
    fields?
    
    JC

    Sunday's Boston Globe went a little furthere on this, saying that
    FIFA badly want New York as a site. The article mentioned that Giants
    Stadium in NJ was now considering building a platform on top of the 
    astro-turf, covering it with topsoil and planting grass. The main
    problem originally with Giants Stadium was that the pitch would be too
    narrow 70 yards minimum.
    
    I had forgotten about the Philadelphia site -- it's Franklin Field, on 
    the campus of the Univ. of Pennsylvania, with about 45-50,000 seats.
    
    Also, the Globe said the USA will be scheduling a few more matches,
    most notably agaisnt Costa Rica in November at Dallas, and a couple
    more TBD. These could possibly be in warm areas (Miami?) against
    European teams on their winter break.
    
    Tom                                  

    
    Franklin Field in Philadelphia has an artificial surface. My daughter
    plays soccer for the Penn women's team.
    
    Mike

    Looks like Portugal and Ireland will be two of the three teams
    coming to Foxboro in June unless a miracle occurs to send them 
    to Sweden. Ireland tied Poland 3:3 and Portugal lost to Holland
    1:0 last night. In the end, I think its fair to say both teams
    ended up in Foxboro by virtue of BLOWING 2-goal leads. Portugal
    against Greece the previous game, and Ireland last night in Poland. 
    
    At least we'll get to see TGA play, if J. C., the Irish one, doesn't
    dump him from the squad, that is.... 
    
    JC

    Re .16,
    
    After the crowd they got for the last game that might not be too bad
    and just think we might get to meet someone (TGA) who has met Cunno
    now wouldn't that make us feel important?
    
    Other news :
    
    1) this is for Tom continued from the Liverpool note:
    
       BBC World Service frequencies are on SW at 12.095, 9.41, 7.325,
       6.195 and 3.955 MHZ.
    
       Myself I use 6.195 in daytime (U.S) and 12.095 at night.
       The best time for football results is 10pm and 12pm (GMT), note
       the U.K is on BST for another week so adjust accordingly.
    
    2) An article from the Business section of the Atlanta Journal -
    obviously there's no room in the main or sports pages at the moment
    because of some team called the Braves!
    
    Oh dear I came all this way to get away from him and now John Motson
    may be coming here!!
    
    "Atlanta giving its best kick for World Cup"
    
    It may not be as big as the 1996 Olympics, but Atlanta business leaders
    are excited at the chance of becoming a site for the World Cup soccer
    tournament and its media center.
    
    Atlanta on Thursday survived the latest cut to 19 cities for being a
    site for the 1994 first- and second-round games.
    
    But the big prize is the World Cup media center, which would televise
    the soccer tournament, the most-watched sporting event in the world.
    The media center would fill nearly 200,000 hotel room nights with
    broadcasters and journalists in the city that wins.
    
    It will be a tough fight. Atlanta and Dallas are considered the
    front-runners amongst five competing cities for the media center. But
    the Dallas bid supposedly includes free rent for the facility.
    
    [Atlanta is the home of the CNN TV network and Dallas is the home of
    some other channel that I forget at the moment so the TV and Radio
    facilities are already present - Andrew]
    
    To make a comparable bid at the Georgia World Congress Center, the
    Atlanta community will have to raise about $1.2 million. (that rent has
    already been discounted by $750,000).
    
    Hotels may pick up the tab. "We understand and agree that we have got
    to be able to provide rent-free space based on the large number of room
    nights", said Bill Rhodes regional head of Hyatt Hotels. "You are
    talking about a very small and reasonable rebate situation to pay for
    that".
    
    That's about $5 a room night, said Atlanta chamber president Gerald L
    Bartels.
    
    If Atlanta gets both the center and the games, it would fill 400,000
    hotel rooms, said Dennis Berkholtz, coordinator of the World Cup bid.
    
    There's strong business support for the World Cup bid. Its honorary
    chairs are Brian G Dyson, vice chairman of Coca Cola Enterprises and
    Delta President W.Whitley Hawkins.
    [Both these have their HQs in Atlanta - Andrew]
    
    Atlanta's World Cup bid will cost a total of $230,000 (compared with
    the Olympics bid of $7 million).
    
    [Obviously FIFA don't require all the free holidays and VCRS that
    Atlanta used to bribe the Olympic Commitee - Andrew]
                                            
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Thanks for the info on short wave frequences, Andrew. Is your stay in
    Atlanta long term? You should have a great time with the WC in your
    adopted home city. It doesn't surprise me that Atlanta is a front-runner 
    for hosting some of the games, especially with the Olympics coming 2 years 
    later. At least they will be used to hosting major international sporting 
    events and lots of foreign visitors. Atlanta has definitely become a
    "media center" in the last 10-15 years with the advent of
    cable/sattelite TV, and Ted Turner.
    
    I was surprised Ireland couln't hold on after being up 3-1. The way I
    look at it, we'll get to see some pretty good teams in Foxboro, no matter 
    who qualifies. Don't forget about Italy. The only way they can still make
    it to Sweden is if Cyprus stuffs the Soviets. Fat chance
    
    I hope TGA doesn't get dropped from the Ireland squad. I too was severely
    disappointed that he didn't make it the last time "Jack and the Lads"
    were in this neck of the woods. Imagine shaking the hand that shook the 
    hand of TGC - The Great Cunno.  
    
    Tom

    Tom,
    
    My contract is up in the autumn (fall) of 94 - just after the World Cup
    assuming that DEC stay in business til then.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks 

    I agree Tom. We'll be hosting 4 good teams, with the possible
    exception of Italy. They need an urgent infusion of offensive
    creativity and imagination. Maybe the new coach can get them
    going.... Just Imagine the PARTIES...With the number of Irish,
    Italians and Portuguese in this area June 92 promises to be a good
    football month for us. And YES, now that TGA has met TGC, I'll have
    to buy the $75 ticket so that I can have the opportunity to shake the
    hand that touched TGC.
    
    JC
    

	re .17

	And I went and answered the question in the Liverpool note...sigh.

	But the set of usable frequencies is definitely different in
	Boston to what it is in Atlanta.

	The most reliable frequency round here in the evening is currently
	5975kHz, which (correction) comes on at 21.00UTC in time for Newshour.

	Tony

    The US lost to North Korea 2-1 in a match played at RFK Stadium in
    Washington D.C.  Saw some of the match on TV.  Hugo Perez looked
    especially strong in the midfield.  Late in the second half one of the 
    American forwards hit the crossbar on a free kick from just outside the
    area.
    
    	Steve

    How did the Koreans score, was it due to a defensive lapse on the US,
    or were the US out-played? Although you can't take anyone too lightly, 
    this is one game I figured the US should win, considering how they've 
    been playing over the last several months. SOUTH Korea is a pretty
    decent side and has given the US fits over the last few times they've
    played, but I didn't expect North Korea to be that good, especially
    playing away from home.
    
    What club is Hugo Perez with now? He was in France last season, but I
    don't know if he's back. I don't think the club would have let him go
    for a friendly.
    
    Oh well, I suppose it is a good sign at least if we feel disappointed 
    when they don't win the games they should, instead of only being glad we
    didn't get stuffed TOO badly. Just curious, what kind of attendance did
    they get in Washington?
    
    Tom           

>considering how they've
>    been playing over the last several months.

Hmmm, I've been taking the latest results with a grain of salt.  I think that
the Juventus, Milan, Ireland etc. that played the U.S. lately were not as
motivated as any of these sides would be in a real-for something  type of game.
Friendlys are bad indicators of relative strength.  It does not, IMHO, seem
unlikely on the other hand, that North Korea gave it its all, for political
reasons if nothing else.....

F.

    I didn't see the entire match, but what I did see was a very spirited,
    competitive contest.  The US seemed to dominate for long stretches,
    keeping the ball in the North Korean end, but just not being able to
    finish.  The winning Korean goal came on a brilliant individual move
    along the endline by one of the Korean forwards.
    
    The one thing that was mentioned repeatedly by the commentators was the
    tremendous interest in the match back in North Korea.  The game was
    being televised live in North Korea.  It was the first appearance by
    any North Korean team in any sport, in the United States since the
    Korean War.  As such there was a great deal more significance placed on
    the game by the Koreans than by the US.  The Koreans were highly
    motivated to beat the Americans.  Finally, let's not forget the
    performance of a Korean side in England in '66.
    
    	Steve

    Just took a peek in the Owls topic and Harkes is healthy again.
    He played the last 5 minutes against Utd.
    
    JC

    This according to the USA TODAY newspaper.
    
    The WC 94 group in charge of venue selection visited the Superdome in
    New Orleans yesterday and a spokesman said there's a good change the
    World Cup will have its first-ever game played indoors in 94.
    
    JC

    There was also an article in Saturday's Boston Globe about the FIFA
    delegation's visit to Foxboro Stadium. Basically, It didn't say anything
    unexpected. The field would have to be enlarged, and they would have to 
    cut away some seats to do this. Right now it is at 111 meters long by
    65 meters wide. The "ideal" size would be 120m x 80m, but it would be
    "acceptable" to FIFA at 112 x 75. This would mean trimming about 2,800
    seats from the four corners of the field. The organizing group, known
    as "Boston Soccer," has hired a consulting firm who estimated the total 
    job to cost $800,000 to $1 million. They replace the seats in another
    area of the stadium, like midfield, keeping the capacity at 61,000. Boston 
    Soccer estimates the amount of revenue generated by having at least 3 
    games in Foxboro will make the renovations price tag seem small.  
    
    The article didn't speculate how Foxboro/Boston rated when compared
    with the other cities hoping to be host cities, nor did it give any
    clue as to whether the FIFA delegates thought it would be a suitable
    site.
    
    Tom

    The following transcribed from USA TODAY: 

    By Roscoe Nance

    Coach Bora Milutinovic says he would like to have Roy Wegerle on the U.S.
    national team. But he foresees problems getting Wegerle's team - Queens 
    Park Rangers of the English first division- to release the forward for 
    anything other than midweek games in Europe. Wegerle, married to an 
    American, is eligible to play for the national team after gaining 
    citizenship.

            -----------End of story------------

    Sounds to me like a question of money. We'll get him, unless he's 
    assured a starting position in the English squad.

 JC

    

    *YAWN*
    
    This soap opera has been going on for at least a couple of years. He 
    ought to take a long, hard look at himself and see which country he 
    has the best chance of playing for, and make a decision ASAP. 
    BTW, I never hear him mentioned as a possible England player, but I don't 
    know if it's because Taylor doesn't think of him as being in the same 
    class as Lineker, Barnes, Waddle, etc. 
    
    The USA could have BADLY used him in the '90 WC, but Wegerle was still
    holding his breath. There ARE a few Americans playing in Europe, and
    they have the same kind of club commitments as Wegerle, so that
    shouldn't be the issue. The difference is that these players made a
    commitment to play for their country (not as if they had a choice of
    countries) and suffered through the bad times as well as enjoyed the 
    good times. Wergele knew tht if he played for the US, he would have had 
    a difficult time in the WC, but he may have been able to lend some 
    experience and poise to a young team. 
    
    Bora should tell him to make up his mind. No holding out in hopes for an 
    England shirt. It's now or never.
    
    Tom 

    According to today's Boston Globe Ireland will host the US national
    team February 19 in Dublin. No confirmation from the US soccer federation.
    
    Also,
    Interwting article about Foxboro as a site for the 94 Cup. Sounds like
    we'll get it. I'll transcribe the article when I have a chance.
    meanwhile... Governer Weld is apparently a fan and familiar with WC
    history, dating back to when he studied at Oxford in 1966. What a time
    to be in England, the lucky devil....
    
    The FIFA selection committee that visited Foxboro got a police escort
    that got them from Foxboro to their hotel in Boston in only 20 minutes
    during rush-hour. That's incredible, considering it takes 20 minutes on
    a Sunday afternoon when no one is out driving....
    
    Full article here probably on Monday.
    
    JC
    

    Accoriding to a Boston Globe article it looks like we will have the
    following matches at Foxboro next June:
    
    Italy vs Portugal
    
    To be played on a weekday afternoon. Will be televised to Europe.
    
    Ireland vs Portugal
    
    To be played on a weekend night.
    
    The USA vs Ireland match would be played at RFK stadium, Washington.
    
    JC
    

    Jose,
    
    Did it say how close together in terms of days they would be - e.g all
    in the same week.
    
    Keeping June free...
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Ref: last
    
    It didn't say anything else. I did, however, listen to a radio report
    that said the USSF would prefer to play a tournament in Foxboro as
    opposed to sending ireland to Washington. The problem is that because
    Ireland is certain to draw a large crowd there' lots of pressure to
    play at RFK and make up for the money they lost when they hosted the US
    against some team last year.
   
    Also,  Last night at Texas Stadium and live on sports channel.
    
     USA 1 : 1 Costa Rica (Caniere 6'(SP?) Montero (CR)67'
    
    Not a very good game. The US scored in a scramble in front of the net
    while Costa Rica scored from a corner kick as Meola came out too far
    and Montero headed the ball over his head as he tried to get back into
    position. The second half both teams appeared tired. Bruce Murray for
    the US and Quesada for Costa Rica were sent off in the first half after
    an altercation.
    
    JC (out of town and using a friend's terminal)
    
    

    
    No disitions have been made yet on what arenas WC-92 will take place.
    In the beginning, 24 cities showed their interest, but now it's down to
    19. One of the cities is New York.
    
    When the search for arenas begun three years ago, Yankee Stadium was
    the only arena in New York that applied. Bu t FIFA said that the stadim
    didn't have the standard for WC football. Then New Haven in Conneticut
    applied, and was concidered as the "New York alternative". FIFA didn't
    approve that arena either, and demanded an arena in New York City.
    
    Alan Rothenburg (some sort of president somewhere) is tryingto persuade 
    the owners of Giant Stadium to apply, but the arena have to be rebuilt
    to measure with FIFA standards. The cost would be around $6.000.000, so
    the owners are doubtfull about it.
    
    All this is according to a Swedish morning paper. Anyone know if Boston
    is one of those 19 candidates?
    
    Mats
    
    P.S. Scotland is coming to the States in May. See 89.17 for details.

I saw recently on a soccer mag that a survey had soccer as the 75th most
popular sport out of a possible 114 surveyed in the US. It was beaten by the 
likes of tractor pulling (:)-). What more can be said about American interest 
in the sport.

                          James.

	re .36

>				What more can be said about American interest 
> in the sport.

	Absolutely nothing.

	"The United States doesn't need soccer, and soccer doesn't need
	the United States."

	Tony

>	"The United States doesn't need soccer, and soccer doesn't need
>	the United States."
    
    
    	The states DOES need soccer. According to a report I saw recently 
    interest in some of their 'sports' is dwindling, and the advertisers
    need a new vehicle for their 'messages'.

    Ref: Last few
    
    - Foxboro is one os the sites being considered. It will be a shock if
      we do not end up as one of the selected sites.
    
    - New York is unlikely to be selected. Its a question of field size
      and also proximity to Boston. If they get it, we won't. I say to Hell
      with New York.
    
    - I don't believe the survey showing soccer behind such non-sense as
      tractor pulling. Everywhere I look I find soccer fans and the record
      shows that whenever two good teams were fielded the crowd showed up.
      Wait till 94. I bet we will have as large, if not larger, average 
      crowds than Italy. For the L.A. olympic finals we had a crowd in
      excess of 100,000..... Indoor professional soccer enjoys a higher
      average attendance than the National Hockey League....
      These surveys must have been conducted by anti-soccer organizations. 
      The facts do not support the findings, IMO.
    
      JC

Transcribed from the Boston Herald, Wednesday, 15-Jan-92.

		Worl Class Soccer Returns to Foxboro

 The national teams of Italy, Ireland and Portugal will take part in a 
 four-nation soccer tournament in the United States later this year, the 
 US soccer federation announced yesterday.

  All three teams will make at least one appearence at Foxboro Stadium, 
  where the United States national team played host to Ireland in an
  enormously successful exibition last summer.

  The six match round-robin U.S. Cup will open May 30 at RFK Stadium in 
  Washington with coach Bora Milutinovic's United States squad against
  Ireland. The tournament, which will be decided on points, concludes June 
  7 at Foxboro Stadium with Portugal taking on Ireland. Ireland will also
  play Italy June 4th at Foxboro Stadium.

  Meanwhile, organizers of the 1994 World Cup have decided to use 12 cities 
  for the 1994 tournament and will announce their choices in early March.
  Foxboro is a probable site.

	   ************ End of transcribed  article ************

    Jose,
    
    Great news.
    
    I think I know which week i'm having off for holiday this year! TGA,
    Ronnie, Ray and the boys in D.C one week and at Foxboro the next.
    
    Any news on ticket availability.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Don't worry about tickets. As soon as information becomes available
    I'll post it here and even get them for you in advance, if you wish.
    
    JC

    
    The U.S. will play the USSR (CIS?)january 25th in Miami. 
    
    I read the Ukraine and Russia will allow their players to take part
    in a team from the new Commonwealth of Independent States.
    
    JC

Jose,

Why don't we get a group from the notesfile to go as a block to the games
in Foxboro this summer?  Might be a lot of fun.....

F.

    Sounds good. I'm for it. 
    
    JC

Jose,

	My name is Jim McCann and I work in Network Operations in Toronto.
	I would very much like more info such as all game times, location
	and ticket prices.

	I am a member of an over 30's soccer club based in Whitby which is
	just outside Toronto. The club is very much interested in attending
	some of the games depending upon time and location. We also wouldn't
	mind perhaps playing an over 30's team while we're visiting. Look 
	very much forward to more info.

Jim

ps - btw, I'll be visiting Boston in a couple of weeks attending the Network
	University program - perhaps I can find some info as well

	Last week I was given a "jen-you-whine" World Cup '94 badge.
I was "real" pleased to receive it - but I thought the logo was a bit pony.

World Cup Willy

    Great. I'll post here whatever information I get my hands on as I 
    get it. When its gets closer to the game dates I'll be in touch.
    
    JC

    The following is a list of fixtures for the US team for the next four
    months, as it appeared in this mornings Boston Herald:
    
    Jan 25	CIS (Miami)
    Feb  2	CIS (Pontiac, MI)
    Feb 12      @ Costa Rica
    Feb 26	@ Brazil (site TBA)
    Mar 11	@ Spain (site TBA)
    Apr  4      CHINA (Palo Alto, CA)
    Apr 29	@ Ireland (Dublin)
    

    I think we lost 0:1 on Saturday to the new CIS team. I fell asleep
    late during the second half and haven't heard the final score. The
    Soviet goal was scored on a shot that deflected off of John Doyle.
    Before that CIS had hit the post twice.
    
    JC
    

    
    I'm off. I just received the separation package and will be turning in
    my badge this Friday. I had asked for it and am well on my way to
    starting my own business. The downside of it all is losing access to
    the football notes on a regular basis. I do have friends in the company
    with systems at home and will be checking notes on occasion, as time
    allows.
    
    Its been a pleasure participating in notes with you all. Thanks to you
    I managed to keep my love for football alive despite being so far away
    from real football.
    
    Hope to see you all here in 94.
    
    May the best teams win their respective leagues.
    
    Go Benfica! Go United! Down with Looneypool!
    
    JC
    

    
    	Good luck to you JC, (even if you do support the wrong team in
    Manchester!)
    
    	Was the it a good deal?
    
    
    		Steve

All the best JC, it's sad to see a True Red leaving, 
Best wishes in your new venture, i hope you have loads of success in 92'
like United.

    see ya JC,
    good luck in your new venture...
    ive enjoyed the banter on here, and you will be sorely missed.
    
    Ian.
    

	GO FOR IT JC,
		    all the best...


		Cheers Al....

We'll miss you JC, best of luck. I just got back in here myself after being 
off the network for a month or 2, so I'm realy sorry to see you go. Keep in 
touch, and hoefully we'll see you at one of the Foxboro games in June. My 
indoor team, the WhiteFish, are planning a pre-game extravaganza in the parking 
lot, so if you manage to pop into notes under an assumed name, you'll be able
to locate us!!

Good luck in your new business venture! By the way, what kind of business are 
you getting into?

Cheers,


Tom 

    
    Best of luck in you new future, JC. Your information about the
    portugese league have kept me a little more updated about our
    exile-Swedes performance than the newspapers have been giving. I
    wouldn't be surprised to see your name show up in the conference in a
    few years. Until then, all the best!!!
    
    Mats 

    Jose,
    
    Oh well, best of luck - even if you are a Manc.
    
    Try and post the ticket details for the games in May somehow as it'll
    
    be hard to find out down in Atlanta.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks (temporarily in frozen New Hampshire)
                                                        

    
    	Good hunting, fellow United supporter !
    
    	Once again one of our Cosmopolitan portfolio of noters bids farewell.
    	Good luck to you and yours..
                      
    	Andy.

    Good luck in your new venture J.C.

JC..

All the best and keep in touch with the REDS..

Tony

    JC,
    
    best wishes for the future and lots of fun in the 1994 World Cup !!
    
    Eduard

Well JC,
	Best of luck, Nice to know that somebody over there knows what real
	sport is about :-))

		Mick (visiting USA in the summer of 94)

    JC,
    
    Wear that United tie with pride!
    
    All the best, Simon.

    U.S. 2, CIS 1
    
    At Pontiac, Michigan
    
    
    Commonwealth of Independent States       1    0    -    1
        Sergeyev, 27th minute
    
    United States                            1    1    -    2
        Wynalda, 3rd minute
        Balboa, 75th minute (penalty)
    
    Attendance - 35,248
    
    

re last

Where did they play, the Poniac Silverdome?  What was the atmsosphere like - did 
they actually try to "soccer-ize" the stadium, or was it like the idiots who run
RFK Stadium in Washington, where they left the Redskins (American Football) 
logos painted on the field, even though there wouldn't be a game for 2 weeks?

This is one of the domed stadiums where they are experimenting with growing 
grass indoors. I assume this game was played on turf, but it would be 
interesting to see how the preparations are coming along. How did it look for
soccer-was the filed wide enough? 35,000 isn't a bad crowd, but the place holds 
over 80,000, so it couldn't have been that good for atmosphere.

Supposedly they will be deciding in March which cities will get the bids, so I'm
sure they were looking very closely at this match. Detroit apparently has a lot
going for it since the big auto companies are major sponsors. So far there are 
still 19 cities to be narrowed down to 12.

Tom

	re .68

> sure they were looking very closely at this match. Detroit apparently has a lot
> going for it since the big auto companies are major sponsors. So far there are 

	I suppose when you're losing as much money as the U.S. auto
	manufacturers are anything you give to soccer is just a drop
	in the bucket :-)

	BTW Are Wang still sponsoring Oxford United?

	Tony

    Didn't actually get to see the match, although it was broadcast live on
    Sportschannel here in New England.  (Hint, Hint - someone that saw it
    should enter a report!)
    
    I do know that the game was played in the Silverdome and would have to
    assume that it was on "phony" turf.  
    
    Steve

The US team played Portugal in Algarve recently. I don't have the lineups or
any idea of how the game went, aside from these stats from the Boston Globe:

	Portugal 1	USA
	(Roche -- 56)	(Snow -- 68)
Shots:		9		7
Saves:		2		4
Corner kicks:	4		0
Fouls:		8		18
Offside		10		3

No yellow/red cards, attendance 3,200

Tom

This is a recap of the 1991 year for the USA national team. Overall, they 
played 26, won 11, lost 9, and tied 6. This info comes from "Soccer 
International" magazine.

Date:	Opponent:	Site:	Result:	Score:	USA Goals:	Atendance:
1 Feb	Switzerland	Miami	   L	0-1			10,300
2 Feb	Bayern Munich	Miami	   L	0-4			 5,100
21 Feb	@ Bermuda	Hamilton   L	0-1			12,000
=======Bora Multanovic replaces Bob Gansler as coach======
9 Mar	Olympia-Paraguay  Tampa	   W	2-0	Balboa, Vermes	11,300
12 Mar	*Mexico	    Los Angeles    T    2-2	Washington, Murray 6,300
16 Mar  *Canada		  "	   W    2-0	Washington, Murray 2,700
5 April @ South Korea	Pusan	   L	1-2	Vermes		 4,500
7 April @ South Korea	Kyungju	   L	0-2			 8,500
5 May	Uruguay		Denver	   W	1-0	Vermes		36,000
19 May	Argentina  Palo Alto, Calif. L	0-1			32,000
1 June	Ireland	    Foxboro, Mass  T	1-1	Wynalda		51,000
9 June	Juventus  New Haven, Conn. T	0-0			34,000
16 June AC Milan	Chicago	   T	1-1	Perez		42,000
29 June	+Trinidad Pasadena, Calif. W    2-1	Murray, Balboa	18,000
1 July  +Guatemala   "        "    W	3-0 Murray, Quinn, Wynalda 6,400
3 July  +Costa Rica  Los Angeles   W    3-2 Vermes, Perez, O.G.	37,000
5 July	+Mexico		"	   W	2-0	Doyle, Vermes	41,000
7 July	+Honduras	"	   W	0-0 (4-3 Penalty Kicks) 40,000
2 Aug	Sheffield Wed. Philadelphia W	2-0 	Murray, Quinn	44,200
17 Aug	@ USSR U-23	Moscow	   L	1-2	Perez		22,000
21 Aug  @ FC Tirol 	Innsbruck  L 	0-4			 1,620
28 Aug	@ Romania	Brasov	   W	2-0	Balboa, Murray	 7,500
4 Sept	@ Turkey	Istanbul   T	1-1	Klopas		17,500
14 Sept Jamaica	  High Point, NC   W	1-0	Gjonbalaj	 9,100
19 Oct  North Korea	Washington L	1-2	Murray		16,300
24 Nov  Costa Rica	Dallas	   T	1-1	Kinnear		23,000

* = North American Nations' Cup
+ = CONCACAF Gold Cup
Average home attendance = 24,500
Largest Crowd = 51,000 in Foxboro, Mass, vs Ireland

	

	Can anyone in the Boston area provide me with some general information?
	I will be travelling to Boston as a member of the Whitby Oldtimers 
	over 30's club in June to see the Italy vs Ireland game. I need some
	information regarding hotels and prices anywhere between Brighton
	and Foxboro. We will be staying probably for at least 3 nights from
	Thursday June 4 to Saturday June 6. We have arranged to play a
	friendly on the Saturday morning in Brighton and thats why I have
	requested info for anywhere between Brighton and Foxboro that is
	reasonably priced. I will be asking for more info at a later date
	about places to go and see, recommended restaurants and recommended
	drinking establishments.
	
	This information will be very much appreciated.

	Thx...Jim

Jim, 

I can see what I can dig up on hotel info. I have some sort of AAA guide at home
and I'm sure it has listings. If you are planning on staying until Saturday, 
you could stay another day and catch the Portugal-Ireland match on Sunday 
afternoon. Sure,it's a long drive back to Toronto, but...(What's one more day 
off from work? :-)

Would you be interested in playing another friendly on one of the other days
you'll be here? Maybe we can scrape up a makeshift team of US noters in the 
area.

There's more talk about these matches in the "Friendly" topic.

Tom

>Maybe we can scrape up a makeshift team of US noters in the 
>area.


Sign me up!

F.

    
    Hey! I'm game!..... If it Happens, sign me up!
    
    Nick

    USA TODAY had a piece today about Tom Dooley a midfielder for FC
    Kaiserslautern whom they said was "MVP of the German Bundesliga
    championship".  He has told the US Soccer Federation that he wants to
    apply for US citizenship and play for the national team.
    
    Can anyone provide any further information on him?
    
    Steve

re -1

There was a comment about this in the german League topic about a week ago. I
hadn't heard of him until then. The reason for this is that he hasn't been able 
to crack the lineup of the German national side. I don't know about the "MVP" 
comment, but there are probably better all-around players in the League. I 
didn't know that the Budesliga had a "MVP" award per se, but leave it to "USA 
Okay - The Nation's Nicepaper" to get that one wrong... 

I also read in "World Soccer" that they are leaning toward using only 8 sites 
for the 1994 WC, the reason being travel costs for supporters. The US is a huge
country - bigger than all of Europe. If, say Los Angeles and San Francisco were
in the same group, it would be an all-day trip between the 2 cities. The 
question then is, what kind of format could they have? It couldn't be the 
standard 6 four-team groups. 8 groups of 3 teams each would be ridiculous. A 
first round of only 2 matches per team. If they think teams played to "not lose" 
in Italy.... Not to mention what this would do to the 1-4 rating system. Word is
that they will announce by March 23rd which cities will get the bids, and 
Bosotn/Foxboro appears to have a better than average chance. I'm keeping my 
fingers crossed....

They also reported that there are huge problems with widening the field at 
Foxboro Stadium. Sure, it will cost about a million dollars, but having 4-5 
matches there will more than make up the cost. They went on to say that 
several thousad seats will only have a partial view of the field. Not true! All
this really means is that on a corner kick, you won't see the ball on the 
chalk, but you'll see the player from the waist up, taking the kick. I think 
there is a stadium in Scotland that is basically oval, but the corners are cut 
out, and the wall is a bit higher in that area. Generally, I think World Soccer 
is the best magazine of its kind, but in this case, I have no idea where they 
are coming from. 

Tom

       Heard on the radio today that Foxboro has been chosen as one of the
    venues for the world cup. Supposedly, there will be some sort of an
    announcement made confirming this later today.
                                                                     Dan 

    BBC said this morning that all venues would be announced today
    
    Nigel

    According to USA TODAY this morning, the press conference to announce
    the venues was to be held today at noon (EST) in New York City.  It is
    now 3pm (EST), has anyone heard anything?
    
    Steve  

Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc,clari.news.urgent
Subject: World Cup sites named
Keywords: soccer, men's professional
Message-ID: <worcupU2MN1205pc@clarinet.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 92 13:09:16 EST
Lines: 26
Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com
Location: illinois, michigan, missouri
ACategory: sports
Slugword: worcup
Priority: regular
Format: breaking
X-Supersedes: <worcupU2MN1255pe@clarinet.com>
ANPA: Wc: 248; Id: z3824; Sel: ilscp; Adate: 3-23-1205pcs
Codes: &scpbil., &scpbmi., &scpbmo.
Note: urgent


	NEW YORK (UPI) -- Nine cities, including one with a domed stadium,
were named hosts Monday for soccer's 1994 World Cup in the United
States.
	FIFA, international soccer's governing body, and World Cup USA 1994,
the local organizers, said the winners were: Washington; Los Angeles;
Dallas; Pontiac, Mich.; Chicago; East Rutherford, N.J.; San Francisco;
Orlando, Fla.; and Foxboro, Mass.
	The Silverdome in Pontiac was one of the two domes among the field of
19 finalists bidding for a World Cup venue. This will mark the first
time the World Cup has gone indoors. However, in keeping with World Cup
tradition, the game will be played on a grass field and not a synthetic
surface.
	Two of the winning cities had offered more than one stadium. The nod
in those cases was given to the Rose Bowl outside Los Angeles and
Stanford Stadium outside San Francisco.
	The venues for the opening and closing games, as well as all other
rounds, will be announced in July.
	FIFA and 1994 World Cup USA had said eight to 12 venues would be
selected. Those failing to be named a host were: Atlanta; Columbus,
Ohio; Denver, Kansas City, Mo.; Miami; New Haven, Conn.; New Orleans;
Philadelphia; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.
	Joselph Blatter, FIFA's general secretary, said nine venues will
allow for the best exposure of soccer and ease the travel problems for
all involved in the World Cup.
	``It was the best sporting solution,'' he said.

Wow! 

Well, I know where I'll be in the summer of 1994. 

I think any of you who are planning to come over will be impressed with the 
stadiums in terms of fan comfort, the infrastructure and the enthusiasm from a 
country that isn't supposed to have soccer fans.

The thing I don't get is what the format will be. Sure, LA Coleseum/Pasadena, 
San Francisco Candlestick Park/Palo Alto, Foxboro/Meadowlands, and even Chicago/
Detroit makes sense, but I don't see where they can fit Dallas, Orlando and 
Washington with other cities. I was surprised that Miami or Tampa wasn't linked 
with Orlando and perhaps Kansas City or New Orleans with Dallas, even though 
they are a full day's drive apart.

The way groups have been set up in the past, the final games of the first round
are played simultaneously, in order to avoid situations like the Austria-Germany
match in 1982. What will they do here?

Tom

    Tom,
    
    Not Atlanta... and I thought we had to get the TV centre because Dallas
    didn't want to spend the money on one. There was an article on this
    in the sunday paper which i'll dig out and post.
    
    Guess i'll spend 94 in Boston
    
    Yours,
    
    "sick as a parrot" 
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    P.S any news on tickets for the two games in Foxboro this year?
                                                                   

Sick as a parrot indeed! 

While I'm elated at the idea of a World Cup not only in my country but within 
a half-hour of my home, the format makes NO sense. Yes, I'm very surprised that
Atlanta wasn't selected. The Turner Network has been big on soccer in this 
country, and the facilities there are first-rate. Also, support was pretty good
for the Atlanta Chief of the NASL when they were around. 

The real surprise is Miami. The Robbie family was very influential in getting 
the World Cup, and the stadium there, unlike so many others, was built with 
soccer in mind. Countless matches have been played there, faeturing the USA, 
Switzerland, Bayern Munich, Columbia, Paraguay, Argentina, and others. No 
American city has the international flavor of Miami.In fact, some people argue 
that Miami isn't really "In America" based on the Cuban community and other 
Latin American culture/influence there. Surely any South or Central American 
team playing there would enjoy excellent support.

The whole idea behind selecting fewer than 12 cities was to reduce travel. But 
with this format, there will be much more travel for players and fans, some even
across two time-zones. Take a look at this:

Boston-Detroit-Chicago		New York-Washington-Orlando	Dallas-LA-SF

Each cluster will host 2 four-team groups, so instead of traveling between, say
Chicago and Detroit (about a 4-5 hour car/bus/train trip), fans will have to 
go to Boston (a 2 DAY drive from Chicago) to see their team. New York and 
Orlando? That'll take you about 20 hours in the car. Dallas and the west coast 
is even further, and you cross from central time all the way through the 
mountain time zone to the Pacific coast. Sure, you can always fly if you've got 
tons of money...

Another thing they didn't think of was that in the past, the "seeded" team 
didn't have to travel. Brazil (and their fans) stayed in Turin the whole first
round of Italia '90. Their opponents, Scotland, Costa Rica and Sweden shuffled 
between there and Genoa. In this setup each of the 8 teams will be playing in 
all 3 cities. So much for the advantage of being a #1 seed. (I was expecting a 
Boston-NY group, where we would see 2-3, 2-4 and 3-4, while the #1 team would 
be based in NY).

Now call me crazy, but by adding Miami to go with Orlando and Atlanta to go
with Washington (still a long trip, but..) and either New Orleans St. Louis
or Kansas City to go with Dallas, they could have saved a lot of traveling and
kept the traditional groupings together.

I can only imagine what it will be like to figure out travel plans on short 
notice when the second rounds begin....

Well, I can also imagine what the International press is saying, especially 
considering that many of them were copletely opposed to this idea to begin with.

Fire away...

Tom 

    What disappoints me is that we still seem to be going to get 6 groups
    of 4 (with hardly anyone eliminated at this stage) and then lots of
    knockout rounds.                                      
    
    Lots of boring 0-0 1-1 draws with both sides afraid to lose, followed
    by lots of 'exciting' penalty shoutouts to settle the knockout rounds.
    
    Just like Italia '90...
    
    I vote for 4 groups of 6 with group winners going straight to the
    semi-finals.
    
    Paul

 re last

It does seem odd to have the traditional 6 fours. Suppose they had 3 groups of 8,
with a round-robin (7 games) preliminary round. The final 4 could be the 3 
group winners plus the second place team with the most points.

This might be too many games, but at least there would be an incentive to win
every game.

Another alternative is to have only 12 teams qualifying fro the second round.
The top 4 would get a game off and play the winners of games between the 
remaining 8.
 
Tom  

    RE: .86
    
    We can vote all we want.... It's their vote that counts.
    I don't like it eigther, but all we can do is voice an opinion.
    
    I'm afraid that, sponsorship, commercials, and overall BIG $$$
    have a lot to say. It's too bad! I would like to see the format
    stay the same no matter where the games were held, this way
    everyone would always know that, you've got to do what takes you
    to the final two. Cut and dry, the same for everyone.
    
    Nick

    Tickets for both matches in Foxboro this June are on sale.  Prices are:
    
    	$35,	$30,	$20,	$16,	$12.
    
    You can get by calling 1-800-USA-GOAL (they don't sell the $35 seats)
    or you can call (or go and pick them up at) ticketmaster (I believe
    that is the name) 617-931-2000.
    
    I call both places and they do not know what the seating arrangement is
    for each ticket price yet.
    
    Carlos 

    Don't suppose you know whether this phone number is good for
    any/either of the Washington or Denver games?
    
    

    >>  $35,    $30,    $20,    $16,    $12
    
    These prices seem quite decent for a World Cup Tournament. Compared
    to American stadia sports, how do these prices rate? Favourably I'd
    imagine. If they are cheaper then it's a shrewd incentive from FIFA
    to bring in the American Public. 
    
    barry.

re last
Those are prices for the friendlies in June. The WC organizing committee said
that tickets for 1994 will be "affordable" whatevr that means. 

As for relative price comparisons, those figures are similar to what the Boston 
Celtics (basketball) and Boston Briuns (ice hockey) charge. Keep in mind that
those teams play in an indoor arena that holds maybe 15,000. Foxboro Stadium
has 61,000 seats. The American football team who plays in Foxboro, the New 
England Patriots, charge I think about $45 for the top seat and $20 for end zone 
seats. Baseball is a little cheaper, as the Red Sox prices range from $16 to $7,
but they pay a lot more games, almost every day from April to the end of Sept.

Just curious, but waht are the going rates for International matches, league
matches and Euro matches? I know the Italian league is fairly expensive, but 
then again, EVERYTHING seemed expesniv ewhen I was there.

Tom

	re .92

	Huh? Last time I bought tickets for the Bruins they were the wrong
	side of $30 each, and they were by no means the best in the Garden.

	Tony

Well, I guess it's been a while for me. Come to think of it, I think the top 
Bruins ticket is about $40.

Tom

    The USA defeated The Peoples Republic of China yesterday, 5-0.
    
    The game was played at Stanford Stadium in California, which is one of
    the sites chosen for WC 94.  I saw some of the match on Sportschannel
    and the US completely dominated this one from start to finish.  Hugo
    Perez and Eric Wynalda each had two.  Perez got the first at the 12
    minute mark on a beautifully taken free kick from outside of the area.
    
    The US manage to keep the pressure on at the end, even after inserting
    a number of youngsters.
    
    
    In Olympic news, the US Olympic team also won yesterday, this time 4-3
    away to Honduras.  The US came back from a 0-2 deficit in this one. 
    Steve Snow had 3 goals, including the game winner in the 89th minute.
    The US now has 4 points from its first two qualifying matches.
    
    Steve

    
This is an article that appeared in the Boson Globe of April 15th:

[Headline:] Foxboro may entertain pre-World Cup

All six former World Cup champions have been invited to compete next year in 
a pre-World Cup tounament that could include matches played at Foxboro 
Stadium.
    
"There has been a lot of discussion, but we are about 60 days short of 
announcing anything," said Bill Nuttall, general manager of national teams  
    for the US Soccer Federation. "Sites have not been determined, but World 
Cup venues will be given priority."
    
Nuttall said England and Germany have dates available in June 1993, but 
Argentina, Brazil, Italy and Uraguay are not confirmed.
    
"We have agreements in principle," he said. "Everything will fall together 
very quickly once we get to a certain point." The tournament will be part of 
    the US team's schedule, which could include as many as 30 matches next year.
    
The event will be similar to the Munidalito, a tournament with former 
champions that had been conducted between World Cups, but recently was 
discontinued.
    
"We are working on a four- to six-team format," Nuttall said. "But even if 
we can't get everyone, just having England, Germany and Italy would be a 
big event."
    
Boston Soccer'94 and Foxboro Stadium have a five-year agreement to stage 
matches. The groups are working with the USSF to conduct the US Cup 
tournament with Ireland meeting Italy on June 4, and Portugal on June 7.
    
The US has never defeated Argentina, Brazil, Germany or Italy in a full 
international match. The US upset England, 1-0, in the 1950 World Cup in 
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, but has lost four other times.

    The U.S beat Mexico 3-0 this past weekend in a game played (I think)
    somewhere in Philadelphia.
    
    the game was on Univision with a spanish commentary and as far as I
    could tell it didn't appear to be Mexico's first team - most of their
    players still being involved in european leagues so it was difficult
    to judge how good the U.S was. Mexico had their goalkeeper sent off
    towards the end of the game for bringing down a U.S player outside the
    area.
    
    Anyway as Bobby Robson would say "it's the result that matters and not
    the performance" and was useful as a build up to the crunch games against
    Scotland, Ireland, Portugal and Italy over the next few weeks.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks           

    This was the US Olympic team that beat Mexico. The US clinched a spot
    in the '92 Olympics in Barcelona and has a 100% record (4-0-0) in this 
    group. They are with Canada, Mexico and ??? (Honduras? Costa Rica?)
    They still have 2 games left. Steve Snow again was the big scorer. 
    
    The game was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, an industrial steel-mining
    town in Central PA. The US has been playing games AWAY from large
    cities because they want to get a "home field" advantage. Since most of
    the countries in the CONCACAF region are Spanish speaking, any large
    city would have a lot of fans who would probably delight in seeing "Los 
    Yanquis" lose. This is probably the only country in the world where this
    happens.  
    
    Tom

    For all the nay-sayers out there, the 1994 World Cup comittee signed an
    agreement for TV coverage where ALL the games will be braodcast live,
    with NO commercial interruptions during the games. ABC TV, a free
    network, will broadcast games every Saturday and Sunday. Other weekday
    games will be covered by ESPN, an all-sports cable channel. ESPN is
    part of the "basic" cable which is available as part of regular cable
    service, reaching a nationwide audience. The games will also be covered
    by the Spanish channel, SIN Univision. All games will be during the
    day, so they can be shown live on TV in the evening in Europe.
    
    Definitely a good move to make the games as accessable as possible, for
    both die-hard and casual fans.
    
    Tom

    And having travelled 2000 miles this weekend to Denver Colorado and
    back...
    
    U.S.A 	0	Scotland 1
    				Pat Nevin 5 mins
    
    Attendance 23,156 + one slightly drunk and slightly sunburnt Welshman.
    
    Match report later ....
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks                         

    23,000 might not be a bad crowd, but in Mile High Stadium (75,000 cap.)
    the place must have looked empty. I wonder if people were less than
    enthused because Denver won't be getting WC games.
    
    Scottish noters, what kind of coverage of the game did you get? Do they 
    usually show highlights on TV?
    
    Re Slightly drunk and slightly sunburnt Welshman... Ye kin nae dispute
    it, the Ireland matches in Foxboro will be great occasions. The Portugal 
    match will be the big bash, we've got a group of 24. Italy should also
    be a good one.
    
    Tom                    
    
    

    
    No TV coverage whatsoever Tom, but the press treated it the same way as
    all Scotland matches...Over the Top !!
    
    It seems because Pat Nevin scored...he's a certainty to be in the squad
    for Sweden.
    
    

Re: TV coverage of WC92 - great news, Tom. You're right - we're surprised, 
after all the scare stories we've seen over the past coupld of years. (Shame 
in a way, I was looking forward to all those extra beer-breaks!)

grahame

    I was just curious. It's always interesting to hear how everyone else
    perceives an "American-style" football match. I was waiting for
    comments about the dirt portion of the pitch - used for baseball most
    of the time. Fortunately, none of the stadiums for the 1994 WC are used
    for baseball, so it will be all grass.
    
    A few other international matches are coming up soon, and I wasn't sure
    if they woud be on TV in Europe. It occurred to me that Europeans might
    be curious of they type of venues here, and what kind of atmosphere we
    would have. One match, Ireland-Italy is on a Thursday afternoon, so I 
    thought it might be because of European TV. Then I realized that a 4:00 
    ko here means it would be 21:00 in Ireland and 22:00 in Italy, which is 
    kind of late for live TV.
    
    Tom

    From what I read yesterday, the kick-off for that Thursday match is set
    for 3pm and it is set precisely so that live tv coverage in Europe will
    be in prime time.  It appears that it will be a trial run for the WC 94
    matches, as the majority of those are set for the same time.
    
    Steve 

Steve,

	I have tickets for the game and it specifically says that
	kickoff for the game is 4:00. I hope that the time of kickoff
	doesn't change as I'm travelling down from Toronto for the game.

Jim

    I thought all of you would like to read the following short article in
    the May 20th edition of USA TODAY an American Newspaper.
    
    KING OF THE HILL: The USA is quietly gaining ground on the rest of the
    soccer world.  The USA and Italy are the only countries to have
    qualified for all of FIFA's major championships and the Olympics since
    1990.
    
    During that time the USA has qualified for the Under-17 World
    Championships, the Women's World Championship(WHICH THEY WON-MY
    INSERT), the YOUTH World Championships, the Five-A-Side World
    Championships, the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and the Barcelona Olympics.
    
    
            Now I understand that other countries may be added to this list
    once the World Cup-1994 qualifiers are over--but it ain't bad given the
    abuse we take in this notes conference.
    
    
    Rick Toman from the capital of US soccer--Mission Viejo, California  
    five

    Ummh but the U.S didn't actually qualify for the 94 World Cup
    did they - they're hosting it.
    
    and of course Italy didn't qualify for the European championships
    - but that's organised by UEFA and not FIFA.
    
    But maybe both countries qualified for the Subutteo tournament
    
    Selective journalism...
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks  

    Re: note 108--selective journalism is duly noted and accepted
    
    I suppose the point I was trying to make was that there is momentum
    building in the USA(slowly and with great difficulty) with respect to
    the sport and now even our newspapers are beginning to cover soccer.
    
    Given that I live in southern California I may be somewhat biased about
    our potential now and especially in the future due to the amazing
    amount of age group soccer and beyond being played.
    
    
    By the way congrats to Liverpool on their FA Cup win over Sunderland
    
    
    Regards
    
    Rick Toman

The trip/match report for U.S.A vs Scotland.
============================================

It was quite a long weekend for the Atlanta branch of the Liverpool
Supporters Club given that I didn't arrive in Denver Colorado until
about 10pm MST (that's 12 midnight eastern) on Friday having left Atlanta
Georgia late afternoon and I then had to negotiate rental cars and some
eccentric directions to my hotel which was coincidently located on a road
called Hampden Avenue!.

On Saturday with a day to kill like all good football supporters on an
away trip I checked out the list of local tourist attractions and so I got to 
visit the Coors Brewery located in Golden Colorado (just west of Denver)
- ok so it was wimpy American beer (:==:) but it was still a brewery 
and at the end of the tour they gave out free samples.

The rest of the day was spent touring other local attractionsd including
Red Rocks park site of the famous U2 concert/video/album etc of a few years
back where I ran into the first of many Scotland supporters I was to meet 
this weekend. Sitting in row 68 of the amphitheatre listening to "Here We 
go, Here we go" and the old favourite "I'll walk a million miles for one
of your goals" wasn't quite what the local tourists were expecting.

The day was rounded off with a bottle or two of Samuel Adams (one of the
few palatable American beers) in the Hotel bar where there were an unusually
large number of drunks who had "grandfathers who were born in Scotland" -
alert Jack Charlton now - oh no that's Ireland isn't it.

On Sunday before the game (which was a 1pm kickoff) I went to a place called 
the WynKoop brewing company which is a bar located in the warehouse 
district of town that brews its own beer and I was very happy by
kick-off. They serve their beers warm and I remember having an "India
Pale Ale", a "St Charles Extra Special Bitter" and a "Churchyard Ale"
- all good strong stuff - and what's more I had Shepherd's Pie to eat!

A number of the group that I had run into at Red Rocks and some other people
who were going to the game started up a long discussion on football in
general.

This ranged fron "how good the U.S were" - not very good all the way
to "will the mancs ever win the league" - no obviously!. 
I learnt some things about Scottish football such as "dundee are crap"
from a Dundee Utd supporter to "Dundee Utd are crap" from his friend
a Dundee supporter. Well what sort of discussion do you expect in a bar?

The game kicked off at 1pm and boy was it hot in the high 80s and with the
high altitude of Denver it can't have been easy for the players to adjust.

I was in row 3 a few yards behind Andy Roxborough (the Scotland coach). There 
weren't any Liverpool players playing so I didn't have anyone specificially to 
cheer on though I contented myself by hurling abuse such as "The Mancs will 
NEVER win the league" at Brian Mclair - Cunno would have been proud of me.

The PA system wasn't too good so I didn't really get all the names of the
Scotland players  and the programme just listed the squad but the line-up was 
something like (can someone with a newspaper fill in the blanks?)

Goal:			Gordon Marshall
Defenders ???		??? 		Stewart Mckimmie	???
Midfield Pat Nevin	Paul Mcstay	Stuart McCall	Gary Mcallister
Strikers		Brian Mclair	Ally McCoist
 
Scotland opened brightly and after about 3 minutes won a free-kick on the
edge of the area - all the players lined up as if waiting for a bus - and 
as the kick came in Mccoist broke clear of everyone for a clear header
on goal. Unfortunately he jumped right under the ball - as if he had had 
his eyes closed and completely missed the ball thus earning himself howls
of derision from the large group of presumably Celtic supporters behind me.

After some neat interpassing in midfield Scotland scored in the 5th minute 
with a beautifully taken goal by Pat Nevin from the edge of the area and
immediately Scotland fans popped up all over the stadium cheering.

After that they kind of sat back in Midfield and let the U.S come 
at them for a while. It was difficult to judge how good the U.S were given that 
Scotland didn't appear to take the game as seriously as the Irish did at
Foxboro. Playing Nevin on the right and with the other midfield players
getting in each others way in the centre it left a large gap on the left of
midfield which left ample room for the U.S to attack the Scotland 
left-back. Luckily in most cases the crosses were appalling sailing into 
row 13 or way behind the strikers but on one occassion Marshall dropped the 
ball at the feet of one of the U.S players who messed up completely.

Mccoist and Mclair seemed a good partnership up front - they played 
together at Rangers I believe though it was very confusing to see them
wearing the numbers 5 and 6... and Mckimmie looked good in the centre of
defence though personally I would rather have seen the great Gary Gillespie
there.

Anyway half-time came and went without any substitutions - Richard Gough 
and Gordon Durie were amongst the players on the bench and Scotland again
began the half strongly. They had switched Nevin to the left wing and 
Mcallister to the right which seemed to be the right thing to do and made
the midfield more balanced and Nevin again caused trouble until he was 
hacked down and hobbled off to be replaced by Duncan Ferguson

This sub appeared to be a cross between Niall Quinn and Ian Ormondroyd in 
that he was very tall and gangly like Bambi! Why A midfielder didn't
come on I don't know but this unsettled the front two that had worked so
well and with Mclair dropping back into midfield Scotland had four players
playing in the same bit of the field.

The U.S had lots of chances that they squandered including one where a cross 
from the right went right across the goalline with nobody even making an 
attempt for it.[ According to U.S Today Roy Wegerle has finally decided to
try his luck with the U.S team so they might get better up front] and the
people in the cheap sets at the end of the field appeared to be being used
as target practice for any U.S player who got sight of the goal - Marshall
didn't even have to move for most of the shots.

Then unfortunately Mccoist went in for a header with the U.S Keeper 
(Not Tony Meola) and ended up with an elbow in the face which caused
him to come off to be replaced by Jim MCinally (a midfielder) so Scotland
rejigged again with Mcclair going up front again and Scotland's midfield
getting in each other's way again.

For most of the second half Scotland appeared comfortable and managed to
control the game in the midfield without causing too much trouble up
front. The central defence seemed in control though the two full-backs
didn't seem to be having a good time against the attackers - Bring back
Steve Nicol!.

Towards the end Scotland made two more substitutions bringing on derek Whyte
for Mckimmie and some guy who had one of those horrific looking yuppie 
haircuts for Paul Mcstay (didn't recognise who it was sorry)

The attendance at 23,000 was a little disappointing given that they had
31,000 for Uruguay last year. There were about 50 people in a tour group from
Scotland over for this and the Canada game who I ran into and various
people who may or may not have been Scottish wearing their shorts but
it certainly wasn't the dominant away crowd we saw at Foxboro - it was 
mostly mums and dads and kids from the U.S so the crowd noise was nothing
heck i'll bet they could hear me shout "Mclair you're crap" on the other
side of the stadium.

But at least Scotland won and It was time for me to return to Atlanta
to pay off my credit-card bills ahead of the imminent away trip to 
Washington D.C to see ireland play on May 30th.

Scotland are playing Canada tonight.

    and finally (for tonight) a comment about the T.V Coverage of the 94
    tournament.
    
    The Atlanta Journal gave extensive (for it) coverage of the decision to
    use ABC/ESPN instead of the joint CBS/TNT bid on the front of the
    business section. Clearly still miffed about the loss of the
    broadcasting centre to Dallas as announced earlier it was a little too
    obviously biased about some other station winning at the expense of
    a local Atlanta station.
    
    It cited that Ted Turner was the only person to show the 1990 World Cup
    in the U.S (true?) and that one of his stations SportSouth had been
    showing football this past year (as discussed in many previous notes)
    as part of the Prime Network (that included SportsChannel and NESN I
    believe) but that ESPN wouldn't know soccer (sic) if it hit in the
    face - fairly scathing for a paper that mentioned the U.S vs Scotland
    result just blow a report on Female High Schools sports!
    
    It reported that the ABC bid was $11 million (about 6 million pounds)
    so compare that to what the BBC are paying for Div 1 (sorry Premier
    League) and how much U.S stations are paying for the Olympics.
    
    The bid includes 11 games during prime time (out of 52), a new weekly
    soccer programme on ESPN - it doesn't say when it starts or what time
    it will be on (3am in the morning!) but is vague on whether any of the
    games will actually be on ABC (the network station) and whether any or
    all of the other 41 games will be shown in more than highlight format
    at some strange hour - ESPN is famous for showing all the points from
    all American Football games in a 3 minute segment with some commentator
    who talks so fast you keep thinking he needs to get to the bathroom 
    in a hurry.
     
    So if DIGITAL and I are still here in two years it won't be anything like 
    Grahame or Jon will remember from 90 where we watched some 37 of the games
    live and in their entirety and drank large quantities of beer including the 
    infamous Scotland vs Costa Rica game (Oh how we laughed with a Scotsman
    looking on heartbroken) and the England v Belgium game with the home-made 
    Chilli and the dash down the pub before closing time after Platts late 
    goal! and of course the look on Jon's face when he lost his 25 pounds 7 
    minutes from the end of the final (he had Argentina in the sweepstake)
     
    Heck if it looks as bad as this sounds i'll fly back to the U.K to watch 
    the games on TV.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                

    I think that the key point that was made early in the previous note,
    was that the story was clearly biased, due to Atlanta losing out as
    broadcast center.  It would also be important to remember that Atlanta
    is the headquarters of TNT.
    
    From what I had read in the Boston papers when the rights were awarded,
    I got the impression that coverage would be much closer to European
    coverage.  Is it possible that because it's the U.S. everyone expects
    the coverage to be some travesty?
    
    Again, from what I read, the coverage would be full coverage, with most
    of the games during the day here in the U.S. (prime time in Europe!).
    And we have been assured that there will be no commercial interuptions 
    during play.
    
    I'll be among the first to blast the coverage if it proves to be
    terrible, but let's not complain about the coverage 2 years before it
    even airs.
    
    Steve (who spent days planted in front of the telly during the 74 WC)

    The US and the Ukraine played to a 0-0 tie over the weekend. Apparently
    the US dominated play and outshot Ukraine 23-9 or something like that.
    This was a makeshift lineup for the US as regualr starters Dooley,
    Harkes and Wegerle didn't play. 
    
    No word on who was playing for the Ukraine. I don't know if any of the 
    Ukranian players form the old USSR team are now playing with the CIS 
    team or with the national side, or other USSR players from the various 
    republics. I had heard that the Ukraine has sorted it all out and will 
    have a league set to play in September, and a national team from now on. 
    The trouble is, the 1994 draw was made with the USSR, so which republic(s) 
    will play those matches? Also, Yugoslavia is in the same group, so that
    whole group could be a mess. I can't imagine a playoff between the
    republics for the right to play in the group, but, then agian, you
    can't exactly have 6 or 7 teams representing both Yugoslavia and the
    Soviet Union....
    
    Tom

This group could be

	Russia
	Ukraine
	Byelorussia
	Georgia
	Slovenia
	Croatia
	Bosnia
	Serbia
	Montenegro
	Hungary
	Greece
	Iceland
	Luxembourg
	..and more

Interesting....

    Yup, That was my point exactly... Do they kick Yugoslavia out because
    of the UN sanctions? Any team "Yugoslavia" could come up with would
    certainly not be representative of what once was the entire country,
    and with tensions the way they are, forget about Bosnis vs Serbia vs
    Montenegro vs Croatia vs Slovenia, etc matches to see who plays in the
    group.
    
    It probably wouldn't be right to drag this CIS team on too much longer,
    especially if the republics are pushing forward for their own national 
    teams and leagues. A playoff migh work there, but ther is still a lot
    of ethnic strife there too. If they do go to seperate national teams, 
    UEFA could have 50 members, and something would have to be done. It could 
    be a preliminary round for "minnows" or more groups with fewer teams, then 
    a playoff, like they do in Africa and Asia.
    
    
    For 1994, a draw is a draw, and at the time, both the USSR and Yugoslavia 
    were 2 of the stronger teams around, but if they have to drop out, there 
    will be some happy Greeks, Hungarians, and Icelanders. Too bad that one 
    of three stronger teams in Denmark, Ireland or Spain will not make it 
    to the USA.
    
    Tom 

    From our news services as they say....
    
    The Rose Bowl in Pasedena Calif will be recommended Monday as the site
    for the 1994 World Cup Final, U.S soccer officials said Friday.
    
    Soldier Field in Chicago will be recommended as the site of the opening
    game of the 24-nation, 52-game tournament which starts June 17 1994
    
    The Rose Bowl and Giants Stadium N.J will be recommended as sites for
    semifinals, according to the officials.
    
    The recommendations will be presented Monday by World Cup USA 1994, the
    organizing committee, for the tournament to officials of FIFA, soccer's
    international governing body.
    
    The announcement is scheduled for Monday afternoon following a meeting
    in Zurich Switzerland. the recommendations submitted by World Cup USA
    1994 are expected to be approved by 25-member world-cup committee.
    
    World Cup chairman Alan Rothenburg, a Los Angeles trial lawyer said the
    Rose Bowl fits FIFA's requirements best
    
    [END]
    
    Well Tom what do you think? 110 degree heat and earthquakes should make
    for an interesting penalty shoot-out
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Pasadena for the final it is... Since the Rose Bowl has over 100,000
    seats it makes sense for the largest crowd. As for the prime-time TV
    crowd, Los Angeles is a 3-hour time difference from the Eastern US, so
    that's 9 hours to Contenental Western Europe. So, for a 9 pm telecast,
    they would have to play the game at the hottest point of the day. Oh well, 
    it can't be worse than the same time of day in Mexico, the way the 1986
    WC was played. They always say that the desert heat in S. California is
    a "dry" heat, so it isn't as bad, but still, 100 degrees is pretty hot!
    
    They also announced that each of the 9 cities will host 4 first-round 
    group matches. For the 8 second round games, Pontiac (Detroit) was the
    only city not chosen. The 4 quater-final matches will be played in
    Boston :-) :-) New York, Dallas, Palo Alto (SF). The Semi-finals will
    be played in Pasadena (LA) and New York.
    
    So that's 6 games for Boston, so we should defiitely get to see some
    good teams here!
    
    Tom 

    I suppose that soccer should only be played in 55F weather with no sun
    as it is played in those funny little islands somewhere in the north
    Atlantic. For your information the mean temp in LA in July is about 80f
    at noon with no rain--repeat no rain- which means of course that if any
    of the teams from those funny little islands qualify they already have
    an excuse when they lose because the pitch will be to dry for them to
    play effectively.  With respect to the earthquakes  it would seem to me
    that the 1990 WC was played in area of the world where it shakes a bit
    and even has volcanoes.
    
    I would worry more about the smog--but it would seem that Mexico City
    in 1986 and Rome in 1990 according to the most recent stats have much
    worse air than LA.
    
    So quit complaining and come to Southern California where you might
    have some fun with our blondes.
    
    Rick    

In article <worcup-ticketsU2uU339ac@clarinet.com>, clarinews@clarinet.com (JEFF SHAIN, UPI Sports Writer) writes:
Xref: nntpd.lkg.dec.com clari.sports.misc:8125 clari.sports.top:8948
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!decwrl!looking!clarinews
From: clarinews@clarinet.com (JEFF SHAIN, UPI Sports Writer)
Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc,clari.local.illinois,clari.sports.top
Subject: World Cup tickets to feature two packages
Keywords: soccer, men's professional
Message-ID: <worcup-ticketsU2uU339ac@clarinet.com>
References: <worcup-ticketsU2uT335pe@clarinet.com> <worcupU2uT640pc@clarinet.com>
X-Supersedes: <worcup-ticketsU2uT310pp@clarinet.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 92 1:46:48 PDT
Location: illinois
ACategory: sports
Slugword: worcup-tickets
Priority: major
Format: regular
ANPA: Wc: 702; Id: z1193; Sel: ilscp; Adate: 6-30-339acd; Ver: 0/2
Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com
Codes: &scpril., xxxxxxxx, tcza....

	Tickets for the 1994 World Cup will be sold in two packages, allowing
both the U.S. soccer fan and overseas visitors to reserve seats far
ahead of the tournament.
	``We are pleased to give fans the chance to purchase what in essence
is a 'season ticket' to the 1994 World Cup,'' Alan Rothenberg, chairman
of World Cup USA 1994, said from world soccer headquarters in Zurich,
Switzerland. ``We have several innovative ticketing plans to accommodate
the overwhelming worldwide demand for tickets.''
	For the first time, fans can buy a block of tickets for first- and
second-round games at one venue or a block for all first-round games of
a particular country.
	``Our ticket philosophy is to gear ticket sales to what the consumer
wishes to purchase,'' said Scott Parks LeTellier, chief operating
officer of World Cup USA 1994.
	For now, ticket sales will be made according to two packages. The 
``venue series'' will allow fans, particularly from the United States,
to buy tickets for all games at one site.
	Purchasers of ``venue series'' tickets may order tickets for all four
first-round games at a site, or can also include tickets for a second-
round game and/or quarterfinal.
	The sites of second-round games are Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los
Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, San Francisco and Washington.
Quarterfinal games will be played at Boston, Dallas, New York/New Jersey
and San Francisco.
	Purchasers of the ``team series'' package will be given tickets to
all first-round games of a certain country.
	``If a man from Brussels wants to follow the Belgian team, he can buy
a team series package,'' LeTellier said. ``Of course, anybody in the
United States who has a favorite team can also buy a team series
package.''
	However, the man from Brussels won't know until November 1993 if
Belgium will have qualified at all.
	Except for Germany (defending champion) and the United States (host),
all other 128 competing nations must face a long qualifying process for
the other 22 spots.
	Tickets for the semifinals and finals will be sold separately from
the venue and team series packages. Plans for distribution will not be
announced until 1993.
	World Cup organizers also are developing tour packages that will
allow flexibility to visiting fans. The packages would allow customers
to make their own plans rather than be locked into preset schedules.
	``Our entire ticketing philosophy is based upon satisfying the needs
of the end user,'' Rothenberg said. ``We have worked very hard to devise
systems which will allow us to meet our goal of selling every ticket
while at the same time giving the fans the flexibility he or she wants.''
	More than 3.5 million seats will be available for the 52 World Cup
games, but Rothenberg expects most, if not all, games to be sold out.
	``We have already been inundated with ticket requests and inquiries
from overseas,'' he said. ``I think there is no doubt that 1994 World
Cup tickets will very rapidly become scarce.''
	LeTellier said members of the U.S. soccer ``family'' -- players,
coaches, referees, etc. -- will be given priority purchasing rights until
a deadline yet to be determined. After those rights lapse, tickets will
be sold by mail on a first-come, first-serve basis.
	``We have a commitment to the soccer family, which has contributed
mightily to the growth of the game in America,'' LeTellier said. ``We
want to ensure that they receive our complete priority ticket details
and have a chance to be part of this historic occasion.''
	To receive ticket information, customers should write to World Cup
USA 1994, P.O. Box 1994, Los Angeles, CA 90051-1994. Purchasers also can
call the World Cup ticketing number at 213 365-6300.
	Rothenberg also announced Monday that all 10 World Cup sponsorships
have been sold out two years ahead of time, and five of the eight
openings for marketing partners have been filled. Earlier in the day,
shoe manufacturer adidas announced it would become a marketing partner.
	``At a time when the world is feeling an economic slump, support
continues unabated for the World Cup,'' Rothenberg said.

    Apparently South Africa were admitted to FIFA last Friday and managed to get
    themselves into the World Cup for 94 - in place of Burkina Faso
    who were kicked out for some unspecified reason - their first
    qualifying game is against Zimbabwe on Aug 16 and their first home game
    in 30 years will be against Zambia on Aug 30th. As a warm-up they are
    apparently playing Cameroon 3 times this week - today, thursday and
    saturday.
    
    13 other nations were admitted to FIFA but not necessarily to the 1994 W.C
    (the article didn't specify which were) including Armenia, Belarus,
    Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, Slovenia, Cayman Islands, Namibia
    St Kitts-Nevis and 3 others that weren't listed - anywhere plenty of
    new countries for Scotland to suffer embarrassing defeats against.
    
    The other 7 ex-soviet republics (not counting the Baltic States that
    were admitted earlier) were refused admission on procedural grounds.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    
    
                                                                       

>    qualifying game is against Zimbabwe on Aug 16 and their first home game
>    in 30 years will be against Zambia on Aug 30th. As a warm-up they are
>    apparently playing Cameroon 3 times this week - today, thursday and
>    saturday.
    
and they won the first one 1-0, with even the mighty Roger Milla in the 
opposition.

g

	re .118

	Any idea what tactics the LAPD intend to deploy against soccer
	hooligans?

	Tony

       <<< Note 87.122 by R2ME2::HINXMAN "I'll just sit here and rust" >>>

>	re .118

>	Any idea what tactics the LAPD intend to deploy against soccer
>	hooligans?

>	Tony


Hit first. Cause riot. Get out of jail free?

Stuart

    re .123
    
    I think there are three ways the LAPD will handle soccer hooligans
    
    1.  Do nothing because the Rose Bowl is located in Pasedena where they
    have no jurisdiction in which case the local police and the LA County
    Sheriff's constables will handle it.  In my opinion these guys are a
    lot tougher than the LAPD given the number of lawsuits against them
    alleging brutality.
    
    2.  Create a unified force with all local law enforcewment authorities
    participating as they did for the 1984 Olympics and which worked very
    well.
    
    3   Conscript some of our more famous gang bangers into a public
    service unit and have the gang bangers escort the hooligans around
    during the WC.  This would serve two purposes-first both the hooligans
    and the gang bangers would learn to value differences and second, we
    all would enjoy the WC without violence.    
    
    In my response in 118 I said it never rains in LA in July and I hereby
    retract that statement because for the first time in 49 years we had a
    measurable amount of precipitation yesterday(1/8th inch)--must be the
    earthquakes.
    
    Rick
    Mission Viejo, CA
     

  
      "Conscript some of our more famous gang bangers into a public
       service unit...."
    
    Good Grief ! Is there no limit to the depth of American depravity ? ;-)
    
    	Adam.

    Cultural difference alert:
    
    "Gang-bang" doesn't mean the same in the U.S as it does in the U.K
    
    I will leave it up to .124 and .125 to translate.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    re:cultural alert
    
    In America the term "gang banger" means an individual who is part of a
    gang and who is very active and militant--violent, etc. The term "gang
    bang" means the same around theworld. I was using the member of the
    gang version when describing the public service unit aspect--sort of
    like the Guardian Angels in NYC
    
    sorry for the confusion
    
    rick

	re .127

>							The term "gang
>    bang" means the same around theworld.

	Apparently not. Speakers of English (as opposed to American)
	understand this term to multiple sexual activity - a woman
	being "banged" by a "gang".

	Tony

re .128

>	Apparently not. Speakers of English (as opposed to American)
>	understand this term to multiple sexual activity - a woman
>	being "banged" by a "gang".

	In Australia it means sexual activity as well.



						Dave.

    Ok
    
    lets get this straight
    
    In America a "gang banger" is a member of a gang--the gang being
    engaged in a number of activities- some of which are not lawful
    
    "Gang banged" means multiple sexual activity - a woman being banged by
    a gang-whether a real gang or just a group of men
    
    
    The point I was trying to make with respect to the soccer hooligans is
    that they should be accompanied by members(gang bangers) of some of our
    more notorious LA gangs to insure that the hooligans stay out of
    trouble
    
    Everybody understand now?
    
    rick 
    
    
     

    It was just announced that Mission Viejo, California was selected to
    serve as the national training site for the US World Cup team beginning
    in the spring of 1993 and continuing through the end of 1994.
    
    Mission Viejo is located about 60 miles south of Los Angeles--where the
    finals will be held along with one semi-final and some first and second
    round games.
    
    Mission Viejo is also the home of the Natadores swim team which has
    produced many Olympic swimmers and medal winners and is second to none
    in the United States when it comes to athletic facilities and community
    spirit towards sports in general. In 1984 Mission Viejo hosted several
    cycling events for the Olympic games.
    
    Mission Viejo is also a hotbed of soccer from 5 year olds to adults
    with about 4000 participants annually from a town of 73,000 population.
    
    It should be an exciting several years as the US team will play about
    10 friendlies at our local school facilities in addition to the
    training facility. In addition, clinics and soccer camps will be put on
    by our national team for our residents and others in southern
    California.
    
    As you can probably guess I live in Mission Viejo and am very proud our
    town was selected over Orlando,Florida. 
    
    So come and visit us!!!!
    
    Rick Toman  

    Hidden in an "other sports news" section of the 131 page Braves win
    League Special of the Atlanta paper yesterday I found this:
    
    The U.S.A will play it's first round games of the 1994 World Cup at:
    June 18th - Pontiac Silverdome,  Michigan	(indoors)
    June 22nd - Rose Bowl, Pasadena
    June 26th - Rose Bowl, Pasedena 
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    That is a little surprising. I thought that Chicago was the US "home"
    stadium. I guess they had second thoughts after Chicago had the lowest
    average attendance of the 4 cities involved in the US Cup last summer.
    
    I don't get the scheduling, either.... I thought the groups were
    more/less geographically based (Chicago-Detroit-Boston; NewYork 
    -Washington-Orlando; LA-SF-Dallas). Usually they will have the
    Defending champion play its first game in a different city that its
    group, but the host?? Seems like a big inconvenience for the supporters
    of whoever the US play, since that team will probably have to travel a
    huge distance for the next game.
    
    I have my doubts about the organizing group, since they are all lawyers
    with no real soccer background. They have more in common with the
    California Bar Association than soccer players/coaches. How many of these 
    guys could name their top 20 players in the world? 
    
    Tom 

    Tom,
    
    As long as Baggio plays at Foxboro you'll be happy right?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    You got that right! 
    
    Actually I'm glad to see the USA will not be playing in Foxboro, since
    that increases the odds on games involving 1st rate teams like Holland, 
    Brazil, Italy, Norway ;-) etc. 
    
    Tom

    Tom,
    
    Gosh two days running they have footie news in the paper. This time
    it claims that on Tuesday (October 20th) - that's today according to
    this notes file all the dates/venues will be announced.
    
    On the assumption that the Atlanta Paper won't go quite as far as
    publishing these details can you get a Wednesday Boston Globe and
    see if they say anything. meanwhile I will steal some friends' copies
    of other 'proper' U.S papers such as the New York Times and Washington
    Post to see if they publish anything.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D Wicks 
    
    P.S Do you have your Aldo photo on your cube?
            

    I didn't get the paper yet, but I'm planning on picking it up later.
    I'll see if I can find any info. 
    
>    P.S Do you have your Aldo photo on your cube?
    
    This month I've got Marco Van Basten and Des Washington battling for
    the ball from the USA-AC Milan match in 1991. This calendar has a lot
    of good photos, but definitely slanted toward the Italian League, so
    unless Tranny Rovers decide to part with TGA and someone like Ascoli,
    Cagliari or some other bottom-dwelling side figure it's worth the
    L 1000 gamble....  
           
    Tom 

    
    Todays Irish Times has all the info on the scheduling for the 1994
    World Cup.
    
    The competition runs from June 17th to July 17th 1994 with 
    the holders Germany playing the opening game in Soldier field,Chicago.
    
    Groups A & B will play in Los Angeles,San Francisco and Detroit
    
    Groups C & D will play in Chicago,Boston and Dallas
    
    Groups E & F will play in New York,Orlando and Washington
    
    The matches will be played at either 12:30, 16:00 or 19:00 EDT
    which equates to 5:30pm, 9pm or 00:30am British time.
    
    The final will be played in the Pasadena Rose Bowl at 3:30pm EDT
    or 8:30 British time.
    
    The U.S. are expected to be announced as number 1 seeds in Group A
    and will make history when they play the first ever indoor World Cup game
    in the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit.
    
    
    Stephen C.
    

    Additional information from today's Boston Globe:
    
    Foxboro Stadium will host a total of 6 matches -
    
    Group D match 	Tuesday, June 21, 1994
    Group D match	Thursday, June 23, 1994
    Group D match 	Saturday, June 25, 1994
    Group D match 	Thursday, June 30, 1994
    
    Second Round match	Tuesday, July 5, 1994
     Group D winner vs Group B,E, or F third place
    
    Quarterfinal	Saturday, July 9, 1994
    
    
    Two matches, instead of the traditional one, will be played on opening
    day, June 17th.  Defending champion Germany will meet a second seeded
    team at Soldier Field in Chicago; a second match will be played later
    in the day at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
    
    Semi-final matches will be played on July 13th at Giants Stadium and
    the Rose Bowl.  They are both being played on the same day in order to
    avoid a conflict with the Major League Baseball All-Star game on July
    12th.
    
    Average ticket price is expected to be about $50 (US) with tickets not
    available until next year.
    
    The speculation is that Foxboro could play host to a European seeded
    team or a South American team such as Argentina or Brazil.  Italy,
    should they qualify, would probably play at Giants Stadium and Germany
    would play in Chicago.  England would be based in the Orlando grouping.
    
    For ticket information send a stamped, self addressed envelope to:
    
    	World Cup USA
    	2049 Century Park East
    	Suite 4400
    	Los Angeles, CA    90067 

    Germany to be placed in Chicago? There's a sizeable American/German
    community there I believe. All they need is to draw Rep of Ireland
    and that will make for an interesting atmosphere. 
    
    barry.  
                                                        

    The schedule of which games are where seems rather puzzling. I always
    thought that the benefit of being a #1 seeded team was that you
    wouldn't have to travel, but this is definitely not the case here.
    Also, they grouped Dallas with Chicago and Boston/Foxboro, and Detroit
    /Pontiac (which is in the Eastern Time zone) is grouped with the West
    coast cities. This will mean expensive plane trips for any supporters
    following their teams. This is what your travel schedule will look like
    for 1st round games if you plan on following your team:
    
                               Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
    Group A, USA               Pontiac		Pasadena	Pasadena
    Group A, Team 2 (#1 seed)  Pontiac		Pontiac  	Palo Alto
    Group A, Team 3 (#2 seed)  Pasadena		Pasadena	Palo Alto
    Group A, Team 4 (#3 seed)  Pasadena         Pontiac		Pasadena
    
    Group B, Team 1		Pasadena	Palo Alto	Pontiac
    Group B, Team 2		Pasadena	Pontiac		Palo Alto
    Group B, Team 3		Pasadena	Palo Alto	Palo Alto
    Group B, Team 4		Pasadena	Pontiac		Pontiac
    
    Group C, Team 1 (Germany)	Chicago		Chicago		Dallas
    Group C, Team 2             Chicago		Foxboro		Chicago
    Group C, Team 3             Dallas		Chicago		Chicago
    Group C, Team 4             Dallas		Foxboro		Dallas

    Group D, Team 1		Foxboro		Foxboro		Dallas
    Group D, Team 2             Foxboro		Chicago		Foxboro
    Group D, Team 3             Dallas		Foxboro		Foxboro
    Group D, Team 4             Dallas		Chicago		Dallas

    Group E, Team 1		New Jersey	New Jersey	Washington
    Group E, Team 2             New Jersey      Orlando         New Jersey
    Group E, Team 3             Washington      New Jersey      New Jersey
    Group E, Team 4             Washington      Orlando        	Washington
    
    Group F, Team 1		Orlando   	Orlando   	Washington
    Group F, Team 2             Orlando         New Jersey      Orlando
    Group F, Team 3             Washington      Orlando         Orlando
    Group F, Team 4             Washington      New Jersey      Washington
    
    Pasadena and Palo Alto are about a day's drive/train/bus ride apart,
    and the New Jersey - Washington trip isn't too bad, but all the other
    trips are at least a couple of days by land, or a plane trip, so it
    seems like the travel agents are the ones to make some serious money.
    No doubt we'll hear some big complaints once the draw is made,
    especially from the "seeded" teams. I can't say I blame them. IMO this 
    setup could have been scheduled with less travel over shorter distances 
    (Boston-New York-Washington, Chicago-Detroit, etc. for example). 
    
    Tom

    Phone number for WC 94 ticket information.
    
    Extracted from The Irish Emigrant - I believe this is the same address
    as .139 but in a different format. Also includes phone number which
    maybe useful.
    
    Martin

    You weren't going to phone them on company time were you??

    GASH,
    
    The number is [215] 365-6300
    
    I'll get registered and I'll post more details when I get them.
    
    It gives a different address for ticket info than .139 - this one is
    
    World Cup USA 1994 
    P.O Box 1994
    Los Angeles
    California
    90051-1994
    
    (imaginative using 1994 all through eh!)
      
    I have a copy of EuroSport which is actually a U.S Football
    merchandise mag in front of me. I'll post some more details that it gives
    later tonight hopefully... but for Starters
    
    There's a section called "the cup '94 supporters shop" with a picture
    of Bobby Moore holding the old jules rimet trophy on it!
                          
    The inside there's a whole set of merchandise some available from
    25/10 and some not available until 25/1 i'll summarise what we have so
    far but no i'm not taking orders!
    
    Adidas t-shirts with different logos - one for each WC city
    
    batches of other shirts/shorts with World Cup 1994 on them including
    one which has the world cup mascot on it! - I didn't know this but it
    looks like some form of spaniel.
    
    Warm-up jackets, Bumper Stickers, License Tags (i.e Number Plates)
    Buttons, pins, coins, playing cards, frisbee, things that you hang on
    car windows, pennants, key chains, luggage tags and paperweights! etc etc 
    - guess it's going to be a commercial World Cup?
    
    They only list a 800 number which can't be dialed from outside the U.S
    but their address is 
    
    Eurosport,
    431 Highway 70-A East,
    Hillsborough
    North Carolina
    27278
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not surprising that they are pushing hard on the merchandise. Strange
    that the addresses are in Los Angeles and North Carolina, but the phone
    number is in the Philadelphia area. Is that right?
    
    The mascot is pretty pathetic, although it could be worse - like that
    giant condom/insect they chose for the Atlanta olympics. I've seen the
    stupid-looking mutt in poses ranging from heading a ball, kicking it or 
    holding it in his arms (doesn't he know that it's agaisnt the rules?)   
    
    Tom

    Oops sorry can't type.... I dialed the right number but typed the
    wrong one in here - you can all stop dialing Joe's Pizza and Massage
    Parlour in Philadelphia now (:==:)
    
    It's 213-365-6300 - which i've just checked and is in L.A
    
    You're just too alert for me Tom!!
    
    The Eurosport phone/fax numbers - subject to me being corrected are:
    
    Within the 			U.S 1-800-934-3876
    All those other countries   U.S + [919] 644-6800
    
    Any news on next summer yet?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks                                                 

    The mascot is a second cousin to a golden retriever and therefor plays
    in goal --thats why he is holding the ball in his paws:)
    
    

    re mascot
    I kinda lied the modern looking stick figure for Italia '90, and was
    hoping they would have something a little more imaginative. At least
    they didn't pick an Eagle!
    
    re Next summer ??
    
    I know they are planning another "US Cup" and at least a couple games
    will be in Foxboro again. They are supposed to get "Major" teams, and
    some of the countries mentioned in rumors have been England, Germany,
    Holland, Denmark, Italy and/or a South American country. Any of those
    teams would be fine with me. Ireland, however, will not be coming back
    until 1994 (if things go according to their plans), since they've been 
    to the US 2 years in a row.
    
    Tom 

Tom et al,

Yet another promising American seen in the English League (can't remember if 
you've mentioned him here or not). Casey Keller, Millwall's keeper. Looked 
very good against West Ham until Mark Robson beat him by some unexpected 
brilliance. Is he your No 1 these days?

grahame

    No. The first Goal Keeper is Miola.

    GASH,
    
    So you're watching Millwall now then?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

>         <<< Note 87.152 by AIMTEC::WICKS_A "Liverpool 4 Norwich 1" >>>
>                         -< Is this a new allegiance? >-

>    So you're watching Millwall now then?
    
Well, yes - just keeping an eye on the contenders for the other promotion 
spot. They looked pretty good (once the football took over from the 'local 
derby' stuff in the second half), but I'd say Swindon are still the 'best of 
the rest'.

g

    Tony Meola is the captain and first keeper of the USA team. He played
    for a while with a 2nd division Spanish club, but came back to the
    States not too long after. I don't know if it was because of football
    reasons or whether he just couldn't adjust to life in Spain. Meola
    hooked on with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the APSL, which is
    really a semi-pro league, which was a mistake IMO. You just don't get
    the kind of competition in a league like that! 
    
    In the US there are 2 sides to this debate. Some prefer that the USA
    team be based in a domsetic league, so it is easier to get together for
    practices and games. However, players like Harkes (Sheff Wed.) Roy
    Wegerle (Blackburn Rovers), Paul Caliguiri (Hamburg), Thomas Dooley 
    (Kaiserslautern) Tab Ramos & Hugo Perez (Spain), Des Washington (Vasco
    da Gama, Brazil) are getting much more top-rate experience than they ever 
    could by playing in the US. 
    
    Disorganization/makeshift lineups and not having key players 
    available for friendlies is a small price to pay for the long-range 
    development of the team, and the sport as a whole.
    
    Tom                                       

    ...not to forget Eric Wynalda (Karlsruher SC ?), currently
    second in the scorer table of the Bundesliga I with 8 goals.
    He really is a superb striker, some of his goals were brilliant.
    
    Eduard

    According to last weekend's edition of the International Herald
    Tribune, the U.S. Cup tournament next June will feature England,
    Germany, Brazil and the U.S.
    
    This is being positioned as a "test".  Supposedly they are testing the
    concept of indoor soccer, by playing at least one of the matches in the
    Pontiac Silverdome (which is also slated to be used for WC94).  They
    are also testing security, by inviting teams which are known for having 
    "troublesome supporters", i.e. England and Germany.
    
    Supposedly, to emphasize the importance of the competition, the United
    States participation in the prestigious South American championship
    (Copa Cup) in Ecuador one week later, has been downgraded to a second
    priority - with the blessing of FIFA.
    
    Sites for the four-team, round-robin tournament are: the Silverdome,
    Soldier Field in Chicago, RFK Stadium in Washington, Foxboro Stadium
    near Boston, and the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn.  A sixth site is
    being sought for a midweek afternoon match.
    
    If I get time later, I will enter the entire article.
    
    Steve

	I doubt that many German or English "troublesome supporters" will 
	bother to travel all the way to the US for just a "test" tournament,
	and I doubt they will in '94. I can't remember any trouble
	occuring with German or English Hooligans in Mexico '86. 
	It's just too far to travel. To Italy it was just a few hours
	car drive.

	Just my opinion,

	Eduard

    A story in this mornings Boston Herald reports that the Foxboro match
    in U.S. Cup 93 will be Germany versus Brazil.  The story also reports
    that AC Milan will play at Foxboro on July 31, against an as yet
    unnamed opponent.  The match is being staged in conjunction with the US
    Soccer Federations annual meeting, which is being held in Boston this
    year.  With that in mind, I would hazard a guess that the opponent
    might possibly be the U.S. national team.
    
    Steve

    I have to agree with .157
    
    The USSF seem to be making more of an issue out of security than
    necessary. Maybe it's just posturing. Even for the 1994 WC, it will be 
    very expensive for fans to travel form Europe to follow their team, so 
    I'm sure some who might go if it was in Europe will end up staying home. 
    (There is a previous note in here about scheduling and the amount of 
    travel required to follow a specific team.) I doubt that the "typical 
    hooligan troublemaker" will have the money for such a trip.
    
    What does the "downgrading of the Copa America mean? Does this mean the
    USA and other countries won't have their best teams? Sure, some foreign
    based players (from all teams) won't be available, but IMO the USA
    needs to really test themselves agains the iron, and teams like Uraguay 
    are certainly that.
    
    Any news on tickets for these matches?  Brazil, Germany and AC Milan -- 
    this is great! I couldn't have asked for more! 
    
    Tom

    Three minutes into injury time...the referee is looking at his watch...It's 
    over!

    Yes, it's time for me to be moving on. I will be leaving Digital to join 
    a small software company in Natick, Mass (USA) on Dec 14. They have about 
    150 people, and I'll be writing the same sort of marketing communications
    literature I did here. I'll also be involved in their international 
    programs, which is something I've been looking to get involved with for 
    quite some time. My new company has an office outside of London, and I 
    just may get to make a trip over to En-ger-land sometime next year. I 
    hope it will be during the football season, as I would like nothing more 
    than to meet up with a few of you London-area noters for a few pints and 
    take in a match somewhere. My new company is on the Internet, so I can 
    put in an e-mail address when I know it. I might also be popping in here 
    incognito under my wife's mail account name (MR4DEC::PVENUTI). 

    I've enjoyed this conference immensely, with the sheer volume of 
    information on various teams and leagues that you simply can not get 
    in the US, and I'll definitely miss checking in here every day. I'm 
    looking forward to a couple of good matches this summer, and especially 
    to the 1994 World Cup in Foxboro. If any of you are planning a trip to 
    follow your team to the USA, let me know and maybe we can meet up at a 
    match. 

    All the best,
    
    Tom  

    
    All the best Tom. Goodluck in your future ventures. Thanks
    for looking into the ice hockey stuff for me.
    
    C'mon you Canadiens !!!!
    
    JN.

  Tom all the best in yer new job.... 

                                                              -dave-

P.s I hope my Bruins won last night......

    Tom,
    
    Take care, remember if you give to charity to specify that you want
    the money to go to those of us who have another year with DIGITAL (:==:)
    
    Assuming you haven't moved house recently i'll drop you
    a letter before the Summer to let you know my plans for my third
    annual pilgrimage to Foxboro - the home of U.S football - to see
    whatever teams are there (even England!) - maybe we can meet up with
    the Canadians again. If you get any ticket details then drop me a line.
    
    The last two trips were great especially the chances to see Baggio
    and TGA - and you cannae dispute that!!!!
    
    See you in July,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Andy,
    
    I'm still around until the end of the week... It would be great to see
    you again next year. I'll be on the internet at my new job, so once
    that sorts itself out I'll drpo you a note. Too bad this fantasy
    football league is just getting off the ground when I'm ready to leave, 
    as I'd like to stack my team with Baggio clones....
    
    From what I hear, the US Cup games will be spread out over several venues 
    (6 games in 6 cities) which isn't too good for the traveling supporter 
    like yourself. Also, Brazil-Germany is in June, and the USA-AC Milan
    match isn't until Sat. July 31, from what I hear.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Tom

    The following article appeared in today's Boston Globe -
    
    
    Key Matchup seen for Foxboro
    
    	One of the most intriguing matchups of next year's international
    soccer schedule will likely occour when Brazil meets Germany June 10 at
    Foxboro Stadium.  The match could be part of a doubleheader involving
    the US and England in the US Cup competition, which was announced
    yesterday.
    	The tournament will begin June 6 with the US and Brazil meeting at
    the Yale Bowl in New Haven and conclude July 19 with England playing
    Germany at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.  No other sites have been
    finalized because of potential logistical problems at the Silverdome
    and Soldier Field in Chicago.
    	"This is the most important rehearsal for World Cup 1994," said
    Horst Schmidt, an executive with the Federation Internationale de
    Football Associations.  "Along with the matches, this will allow us to
    bring the venue directors together to prepare for the World Cup."
    	This would be the first time that the national teams of Brazil,
    England or Germany compete in the Boston area and indicates that Brazil
    could be based at Foxboro Stadium during the World Cup, scheduled June
    17-July 17, 1994.  Brazil and Germany are the only three-time winners
    of the Cup.
    	As with last year's US Cup, event organizers appear to be relying
    on Foxboro Stadium to play host to a weekday afternoon match (Brazil
    and Germany would meet at 4pm on a Thursday) and possible one other
    match.  The Brazil-England match June 12 had been scheduled for
    Chicago, but could be changed because of a renovation project at
    Soldier Field.  Also, since no site has been chosen for US-Germany June
    9, there is a chance that a doubleheader involving all four teams could
    be played at Foxboro Stadium June 10.
    	"That they would even consider an international doubleheader at
    Foxboro Stadium is the besst evidence that New England is the strongest
    international soccer market in the US," said Bob Caporale, chairman of
    Boston Soccer '94.
    	FIFA had directed that two matches be scheduled in the Silverdome
    in order to test the porspect of growing grass indoors.  However, a
    Paul McCartney concert has disrupted those plans and possible
    jeopardized the Silverdome's prospects of playing host to four World
    Cup matches in 1994.
    	"Boston is a great venue, it has a great organizing committee and we
    have had great success there," US Cup official Richard Groff said.
    	Groff said the Massachusetts Amateur State Soccer Association would
    receive 2.5 percent of the gross gate of the Foxboro matches.
    	The national team coaches of Brazil (Carlos Alberto Parreira),
    England (Graham Taylor) and Germany (Berti Vogts) said they would
    attempt to bring all of their top players to the tournament.  That
    should not be difficult for Germany, since as defencing champion it
    does not play qualifying matches.  England must play qualifiers May 29
    at Poland and June 2 against Norway.  Brazil has the toughest task
    because most of its best players are under contract to European clubs.
    	"It is important to promote football all over the world and to
    bring the best possible players to the best tournaments," said
    Parreira.  "We will cooperate as much as possible."
    
    
    Additionally, in a story in todays USA TODAY, the following qoutes
    appeared -
    
    "We have a responsibility to bring our best players to make the best
    possible tournament," said Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.  "I
    want the best players for all games.  Every time Brazilian teams play,
    we have a responsibility to play for the best result and play skillful
    soccer."
    
    Said England manager Graham Taylor: "the names of the countries
    involved, including the USA, say how strong this tournament is.  There
    will be no easy games."
    
    
    Steve

    Thanks for the update, Steve. I had also heard that the July 31st game
    involving AC Milan (where we thought they'd play the USA) will instead be
    against Benfica Lisbon! 
    
    Tom

    re: .165
    
    I though Italy has also won it 3 times... 
    
    Nick

    Steve,
    
    I don't get to see the Boston Globe very often (we have a few
    northerners here who bring it in from time to time) so i'll rely on you
    and Tom (via Internet) to let me know as the dates get finalised 
    
    Looks as if i'll have to make at least two flights up to see the games
    wasn't one of the games going to be in Washington?
    
    Do you (or anyone) think it's strange that they are going to play a
    game in Connecticut which was rejected as a WC site and haven't yet
    planned a game at any of the 5 sites that haven't even had a game
    yet (L.A, S.F, N.Y, Orlando and Dallas) - shouldn't they be trying
    to drum up some interest in those areas?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks 
    
    Who will be seeing a REAL football game in England in under 72 hours!
                                                      

    I did think it was a bit odd that official WC cities didn't get games,
    but considering the USSF, anything is possible. New Haven was in the
    bidding, and I guess they figure it is close enough (65 miles) to get 
    the New York area fans. The WC stadium, Giants Stadium in New Jersey
    has an astro-turf field and will require a lot of work to get a grass
    field and widening done, so they probably only want to do in once - in
    1994. 
    
    I certainly won't complain that the northeast is getting a lot of
    games, and a Foxboro doubleheader would be great. However, from a 
    business point of view, the last 3 games at Foxboro drew 51,000 (USA-
    Ireland) 45,000 (Italy-Ireland) and 39,000 (Ireland-Portugal), so they 
    would certainly get at least that for separate dates with the 1993 
    teams...
    
    Los Angeles gets occasional Internationals, mostly Mexico friendlies or 
    other Latin American teams. The CONCACAF Gold Cup was played in LA in 
    1991 with USA, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Canada, Costa Rica, and a 
    few others. There seem to be a large number of expat Brits in the Orlando
    area, so I'm surprised that England aren't playing there. Dallas had a
    friendly with the US and North Korea (I think), but I don't know of
    anything else.
    
    Tom  

    Stanford has hosted a couple of international matches, the most recent
    being the U.S. vs China.
    
    According to USA TODAY - "The remaining sites have not been finalized
    because of stadium conflicts.  Chicago, Orlando, Miami and Washington,
    D.C., are being considered."
    
    Steve

    Re .165, 170 (Steve)
    
    According to the Guardian (an English Newspaper) the games this summer
    are:
    
    June 6th 	U.S v Brazil (New Haven)
    June 9th	U.S v Germany
    June 10th   Brazil v England (chicago)
    June 12th   Brazil v Germany (foxboro)
    June 13th   U.S v England
    June 19th   England v Germany (Detroit)
    
    [it didn't list the July 31 game]
    
    this has the 10th/12th games the other way round from the Boston Globe
    article in .165.
    
    I guess that Chicago is still subject to the stadium rebuilding and
    Detroit still depends on whether Paul Mcartney gets first choice?
    
    also a letter I got today from the Washington D.C World Cup games
    (i'm on their mailing list) indicates that one of the U.S games
    will be at RFK in Washington.
    
    Have you seen anything in the Globe this past month on this tournament
    as i'd like to start planning my summer holiday soon (:==:)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Boy is it confusing -
    
    The USA Today (today's paper) in a tiny paragraph says that USA vs England
    will be played on June 9th at Foxboro and Brazil vs England will be
    played June 12th in Washington D.C.
    
    Now, if you look under the "FOR THE RECORD" section in the news paper,
    it says the USA will play Brazil June 6th (New Haven), England June 9th
    (Washington D.C) and Germany June 13th (U.S Site TBA).
    
    So, does anyone know exactly which site the USA vs England will
    playing?
    
    Carlos
    

    Carlos,
    
    If someone has the phone number of Foxboro what about calling them and
    seeing what they think - if the USA today can't even get the same teams
    and dates in the same paper it's no wonder it doesn't agree with either
    the Boston Globe or Guardian!
    
    My scribbled bit of paper now reads something like
    US v Brazil		6th	     New Haven 		
    US v Germany	9th or 13th  unknown
    Brazil v England   10th or 12th  chicago or DC
    Brazil v Germany   10th or 12th  foxboro
    U.S v England       9th or 13th  Foxboro or DC
    England v Germany	19th	     Detroit or ?
    
    obviously brazil can't play england and germany on the same day and
    in a different state anymore than the U.S can play england and germany
    on the same day!!
    
    If they keep the middle four games in the Boston/D.C area then I should
    be able to do all four - as long as they're not the same day!
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    The following is the schedule as it appeared in an Associated Press
    (AP) story printed in the weekend (Jan 9/10) edition of the
    International Herald Tribune -
    
    June 6	US v Brazil 	New Haven
         9	US v England	Foxboro
        10	Brazil v Germany   TBD
        12      Brazil v England   Washington DC
        13      US v Germany 	TBD
        19 	Germany v England  Silverdome (Pontiac)
    
    
    Steve

    Well I wrote to the U.S World Cup Organising Committee and their 
    version ties in with the one Steve posted - they even sent me an
    official looking letter on headed notepaper that says.
    
    U.S Cup '93
    June 6th	USA v Brazil		New Haven, CT
    June 9th	USA v England		TBA
    June 10th	Brazil v Germany	TBA
    June 12th	England v Brazil	Washington DC
    June 13th	USA v Germany		Chicago IL
    June 19th	Germany v England	Detroit MI
    
    So assuming this is right! and that the TBA's are the games at Foxboro
    i'll take the week of June 6th-12th off and take in the first four
    games - I don't fancy a dash from Washington to Chicago and certainly
    don't want to see the indoor game at the end!
    
    Also in the nice letter they sent me are some details of other games
    the U.S are playing this year including one this coming weekend against
    the European Champions Denmark so since it hasn't been posted here's
    that list:
    
    Jan 30	USA v Denmark		Tempe AZ (where???)
    Feb 6	USA v Romania		Santa Barbara CA
    Feb 13 	USA v Russia		Orlando FL (mickey mouse et al)
    Feb 21      USA v Russia		Palo Alto (a world-cup venue)
    
    So at least some of the other WC venues are getting a game this year
    using 6 of the 9 venues (dallas, new york and pasadena miss out)
    unfortunately these 3 are 3 out of the 4 quarter-finals places, both
    semi-final venues and the 3rd place/FInal venue!
    
    Oh and finally while i'm rambling for those of you in Europe or
    elsewhere who want a glimpse of where the World Cup Final will  be 
    played it is also where this year's American Football Superbowl is being
    held this Sunday between some Buffaloes and some Cowboys! the
    venue is the Rose Bowl in Pasedena and the game is on Channel 4 in
    the U.K at around midnight so 1am on the continent.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks         

>>    Jan 30	USA v Denmark		Tempe AZ (where???)

ASU ( Arizona State University ) is in Tempe which is one of the boroughs of 
Phoenix.

Al

    
    The Denamrk game is in the Sun Devil stadium.  Tempe is effectively
    Phoenix.  It's a 70,000 open air all seater stadium home of the Phoenix
    Cardinals and the Arizona State University team.  
    
    Gary.

    
    Heard today that as from WC94 throw-ins will be a thing of the past.
    When the ball goes out it can be kicked back into play. According to
    Blatter of FIFA this is a return to the old ways as throw-ins were
    only introduced in the 20's.
    
    Stephen C.
    
    

    RE .176, .177,
    
    Thanks guys - I looked on my "foreigners guide to the U.S" map and
    couldn't find Tempe anywhere! if they'd have said Phoenix I'd have
    known.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Quite some time ago, several months anyway, USA TODAY had an advert for 
    WC94 Ticket info.  In it you were told to send a self addressed,
    stamped envelope to an address in LA.  I did so, and still have not
    gotten anything in return.  Did anyone else send in and if so, did you
    get anything back yet.
    
    Also, does anyone in the New England area have the address for the
    organizing committee for the Foxboro Venue?  I wanted to look into
    volunteering my services but don't know where to write to.  I know that
    the new executive director has a company in Franklin, MA, but directory 
    assistance has no listing for that company.
    
    Thanks 
    
    Steve

    Steve,
    
    The address for the LA thing was also posted in reply .119 by the 
    legendary Tom Hill and I also wrote to them and they promised to add me 
    to the mailing list. There's also a phone number listed and the last time 
    I rang it they said that they weren't going to issue any mail until nearer
    the date of the draw (dec 17th?).
    
    By a strange coincidence I have within the last hour finally managed
    to reach the legendary TGA and Baggio fan Tom himself via Internet
    so i'll post part of his message and his mail address later. We're
    planning on meeting up for the game in New Haven and both Foxboro
    games so if you want to go to any let's try and get tickets together.
    
    Finally on the Foxboro thing i'd try contacting Jim McCann (his address
    is in ELF he's in Toronto) because I remember that he and the other
    Canadians who came down last year should have some names and phone
    numbers as we met the guy who is/was Chairman of the organising
    Committee in Cambridge. I don't remember what I did what the numbers
    names off-hand.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks 

I just took this from the internet conference.  Nothing is verified...

    I just got the flyer in the mail for WC94 tickets (signed by Alan
    Rothenberg).  Here's the scoop:

    This is an "early bird offer" which expires March 31, 1993.
    Packages of tickets are available at "sale" prices.  A package
    includes 4-5 games at one stadium (usually 4 first round plus
    one second round game).  If you purchase by March 31, then you
    will get an order form for quarterfinals and beyond.

    There are three ticket prices per package.  For most sites
    (Boston, Dallas, LA, NY, Orlando, SF and DC) the sale prices
    are 275/205/127.50 for four first round plus one second round
    game.  Chicago, with the Opening game is more (315/217.50/135)
    and Detroit, with only four first round games is less (210/155/95).
    "Regular" prices are somewhat higher (355/245/140) for normal sites,
    (400/265/150) Chicago and (270/185/105) Detroit.

    There is a World Cup hotline in 310 area code, as well as an 800
    number, but they claim that you need an 8 digit ID code (on the
    mailing label) to get tickets.  Also, alcohol-free sections are
    available, and you are limited to 10 packages total (eg for
    any price range for any stadium).
    
    Also, a handling charge of $7/package is added on.

    So it's not the 213 number posted earlier? that Steve and I have been
    placing our trust in for months - bugger this for a game of
    soldiers - you get yourself on a mailing list and then they start
    another one.
    
    where's 310? any chance of letting me have the number and i'll
    try and contact them.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    U.S. drew on Saturday with European Champions, Denmark - 2-2.
    
    Denmark led at halftime 1-0, but the U.S. equalized in the 59th minute.
    The U.S. dominated play in the second half, but Denmark scored against
    the run of play in the 85th minute to go up 2-1.  U.S. scored just 2
    minutes later for the final 2-2 score.
    
    All in all a fine effort by the U.S.  I happened to catch the game on
    Sportschannel yesterday afternoon at 2pm.  The commentators mentioned
    several times that this was a somewhat different Danish squad then the
    one that won the European championship.  However, there were also some
    new names on the field for the U.S. who were missing people like
    Wegerle, Harkes, Wynalda, Dooley and Ramos.
    
    Next up (at least televised) is Russia on the 13th.
    
    Steve

    Steve,
    
    Sportsouth showed the game at 11pm last night so I have the game on
    tape (couldn't get home from the bar in time) but I did see the
    line-ups this morning. 
    
    Denmark only had 3 of the players that won the European Championships
    in the line-up as most of the players are involved in leagues in
    England (Jensen at the Arse, Schmeichel at the Mancs, Piechnik at
    Liverpool etc) or Spain, Italy etc and Lars Elstrup was the only famous
    player in the starting line-up. 
    
    For similar reasons the U,S only had four of the players who started
    the game against Eire last year.
    
    Sportsouth claim to be showing a "World-Cup qualifying game this Friday
    night" but don't say which one - I didn't realise that the European
    games have started up yet.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    

 >   Sportsouth claim to be showing a "World-Cup qualifying game this Friday
 >   night" but don't say which one - I didn't realise that the European
 >   games have started up yet.
  

Andrew,

The qualification is well under way - see notes 128 - 133 for full the latest.

  - Kevin

    Kevin,
    
    Oops the missing word was "again" as in  
    >   games have started up again yet after the winter break.
    
    I know all about Group 4 (unfortunately!) and looking at the other
    notes I don't see any results since December apart from one game.
    
    Sorry for not explaining myself.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks (who will be here or is it there for WC94)

Heard some guy from the U.S. organizing committee being interviewed on Radio 
this morning, talking about tickets..its like this

they will sell two-thirds of their tickets in the U.S. and the remainder on the
international market i.e. to individual competing countries.

They will be sold on a "venue-series-strip" where the tickets are bought in blocks
to see all the first round games at one particular venue. These sell at
140, 245, and 355 dollars for 5 games. The WC final tickets will be 180 and 475
dollars. 

When asked would many tickets be going to corporations, and would there be many
empty seats because of this, he said that he hopes any unwanted corporate tickets 
could be resold in Jan 1994, by which tiem he expects (hopes) all tickets will 
be sold out. 

He also has no problem with you getting tickets from your american relations or
friends. 

Looks like if you want to see your team in the first round play their three 
matches you are going to have to see the other games in tht venue too, and if 
your first round games are not all in the same place, you have to buy 2 blocks of
tickets!  Hmmmm... dodgy. We'll se how it works out. 

 - Kevin

What Do those America's think they are playing at, Do they think we're loaded!!


From what I can remember: Doesnt a "location" consist of 3 stadiums, so does
a "Venue" mean a Location ie ALL 3 stadiums???

If so then say your country qualify, then you have to block book for the
entire Group, That means you can go to every game played in your first round
group. That sounds good, but One problem, If this "Venue" means the 3 stadiums
Then if who want to use yours tickets then You have to TRAVEL!!

If venue means One stadium and you team plays in ALL 3 different stadiums
then you have to but ALL three block bookings, thus you'll have all the
tickets. BUT this cant be correct, can it???


Would someone who understands the whole lot, please explain.

Thanks

	Mick

    Kevin/Mick,
    
    This of course just a view from a sceptical Welshman based in the U.S
    until next year but anyway...
    
    As explained to me by a lady on the mysterious 310 area code number
    mentioned in an earlier reply the currently available set of tickets
    is for a physical stadium. 
    
    Let's take Group D for an example which comprises 6 games at Foxboro
    (Boston), 4 games in Dallas and 2 games in Chicago  
    and Group C which is 6 games in Chicago, 4 games in Dallas and 2 games
    in Foxboro - confusing isn't it.
    
    Each stadium has 8 games but in one group you might have England
    and in the other might be Germany (who will be in Group D)
    
    So you buy a set of say 4 tickets for Foxboro. Is that 4 group C games
    or 3 group C and 1 group D or ... well you get the picture.
    
    Now take it a step further apart from Germany and the U.S teams are
    going to be at different venues so to see all England's games you'd
    need to buy a strip of tickets at all 3 venues and taht would cost
    about $1000 dollars and then how would you get rid of the tickets
    for the games the other teams play - you're certainly not going
    to criss-cross the U.S every day from Dallas to Foxboro on $300
    airfares - a 4-hour flight to see all 12 group games.
    
    So basicallly it's obvious that these ticket plans are aimed at mums,
    dads, kids and ticket touts in each city!
    
    Final thought for today since you don't know what teams will be playing
    where til Dec 17th how could a travelling supporter buy tickets much
    before January 1994 anyway.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

Thanks Andrew,
	Kevin was saying that 1/3 of the tickets will be for US travelling
supporters. Perhaps this allocation will be handled differently, it better
be or we go man with all these tickets!!





Mick

    USA drew with Romania 1-1 this past Saturday.  That's all the info I
    have, the score was listed at the bottom of the scoreboard page in my
    Sunday paper.
    
    BTW, I got an "Early Bird" ordering brochure for WC94 in the mail this
    past weekend.
    
    Steve

    Finally got my "Early Bird" thingy yesterday and i'll just add a few
    bits of info to what was already posted in .182.
    
    This ticket offer expires on March 31st and will be replaced by
    different one later in the year - it's not clear if it will just
    be higher prices or whether the tickets on sale will differ.
    e.g per game or something like that.
    
    You will only receive an advance form for the Quarter Finals and later
    IF you buy at least one of these current packages - you can't just
    request the order form for later rounds that is mentioned on the
    leaflet - I asked about that.
    
    To clarify an earlier discssuion this package lets you see all games at
    a particular ground, so you will see different teams and even different
    groups. For instance the Foxboro package gives you 3 group D games
    1 group C and one qualifier - probably something like Winner Group C
    v Runner-up group D.
    
    The offer is only for U.S residents and when I rang up to find out
    what SeatinG Category I, II and III meant they obviously recognised
    my 'funny accent' and asked if I really was ringing from the U.S
    (Mccartyhism is alive and well in the U.S Soccer Org!!)
    For Foxboro Category I costs $275 dollars for 5 games, II costs
    $205 and III costs $127.50
    
    You can order up to 10 packages - presumably this to stop touts?
    because it is physically impossible to attend games at more than
    2 venues as you'll see when I post the schedule of games in the next
    reply.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
                         

    OK this is the latest I know
    
    Groups A, B shared between L.A (Pasadena), S.F (Palo Alto), Detroit
    Groups C, D                Chicago, Boston (Foxboro), Dallas
    Groups E, F                New York (New Jersey) , Orlando, Washington
    
    All games at 12.30, 16.00, 19.00 EDT 
    (EDT is Summer Time so -4 from GMT or -5 from BST)
    
    the mainland part of the U.S has 4 timezones (eastern, central,
    mountain and pacific) and the cities in use are in 3 of them
    
    Eastern 	Boston, Orlando, Washington, Detroit, N.Y
    Central	Dallas, Chicago 	(1 hour behind Eastern)
    Pacific	L.A, S.F		(3 hours behind EDT)
    
    June 17th	Chicago, Dallas
    	 18th	L.A, N.Y, Detroit
     	 19th	L.A, Orlando, Washington
         20th   S.F, Washington
         21st   Boston, Dallas, Chicago
         22nd   L.A, Detroit
         23rd   Boston, N.Y
         24th   Orlando, S.F, Detroit
         25th   Boston, N.Y, Orlando
         26th   L.A, S.F, Chicago
         27th   Dallas, Chicago
         28th   N.Y, S.F, Washington, Detroit
         29th   Orlando, Washington
         30th   Boston, Dallas
    
     Second round
    
     July
          1st
    	  2nd   Washington, Chicago
          3rd   Dallas, L.A
          4th   Orlando, S.F
          5th   Boston, N.Y
          6th
          7th
    
    Quarter-finals
    
          8th
          9th   Boston
         10th
    
    {other games in N.Y, S.F, Dallas}
    
    Semi-finals
    
          12th/13th in L.A and N.Y
    
    3rd/4th place
      
          16th 	L.A
    	  
    Final
    
    	  17th  L.A
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    U.S.A 0 Russia 1
    
    A very poorly attended game (only 13,000) in a game played in
    Orlando (which will be a WC venue). Not much to say about it since
    the promised TV showing of this game didn't materialise. The brief
    highlights (about 90 seconds) on one of the sports programmes showed
    the pitch to be in pretty bad condition as if it had just been used
    for a tracor-pull or garth Brooks concert!
    
    or maybe Derby County used to play there?
    
    U.S play Russia again this coming Sunday out in Palo Alto at a
    college football (american-style) stadium - Stanford.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
              

    USA 2  FC ZURICH 1
    
    On February 9th in Mission Viejo, CA  the USA team played FC Zurich in
    a friendly. In a local stadium the attendance was 5,300 with about a
    thousand people turned away at the gate. Fairly enteraining game with
    USA scoring two goals in last 7 minutes to win.
    
    As you may know from previous replies I live in Mission Viejo and the
    USA teams has its permanent training site here also for WC 1994.
    
    I was actively involved in the local organizing committee that brought
    the team here and it has been a pleasure to have them in town and to
    see local games and practices.
    
    If anyone has any questions I'll be glad to answer them
    
    regards
    rick Toman
    

    
>    If anyone has any questions I'll be glad to answer them
    
    Who scored for FC Zurich?  :-)

    U.S.A   0   Russia 0
    
    This game was played in Palo Alto (Stanford Stadium) on Feb 21st but I
    couldn't find the result in any paper and only got to see the game on
    TV on Saturday.
    
    Russia looked the better team but tired drastically towards the end
    (this was their 3rd game in a week - two against the U.S and one
    against El Salvador). The U.S without their European based players
    rested a few other 'first-choice' players including the goalie Tony
    Meola.
    
    They played Brad Fiedel in goal who has been linked with relegation
    hopefuls Notts Forest and only one player up front Jean Harbor
    who is new to the team (this was his 4th game). With 5 across the back
    and 4 in midfield this was always going to be a 0-0 game.
    
    The crowd was only about 20,000 (the last time Russia played here they
    drew 60,000).
    
    The U.S now go north in search of Moose to play against Canada and then
    over to Japan for a tournament - anyone know if Gary Lineker is there
    yet?????
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    re:87.197
    
    
    In the 31st minute Haris Skoro scored for FC Zurich
    
    
    regards
    rick

    Chaos rules...
    
    The Brazil v England game has been moved from Sat June 12th to Sun June
    13th @1pm but remains in Washington.
    
    The Germany v Brazil game has been moved from Foxboro to Washington
    at 4pm so Tom and other New Englanders won't get to see that game and won't
    get to see Germany at all!.
    
    It also means I have to get from Boston to Washington overnight (about
    500 miles) on the Wed night/Thur morning - bugger this for a game of
    soldiers!!
    
    The 'final' schedule is now:
    
    June 6th	U.S.A v Brazil		New Haven CT  daytime
    June 9th	U.S.A v England		Foxboro MA    daytime
    June 10th	Brazil v Germany	Washington DC 4pm
    June 13th	England v Brazil	Washington DC 1pm
    June 13th	U.S.A v Germany		Chicago IL    ?
    june 19th	Germany v England	Detroit MI    ?
    
    Tickets for the DC games are now on sale - call (310)230-1222
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    In the paper today --US 0-Hungary-0 in a tournament in Japan.
    
    Anyone have more info
    
    rick

    Hello
    
         Can somebody post the dates for the start and end of the world cup
    as i dont fancy reading through all these notes.
    
    Thanks
    
    Tony
    

    Tony,
    
    June 17 to July 17 - when I make it back to the office (i'm 2490miles
    closer to it then i have been for the last couple of weeks) i'll point
    you to the latest updated listing of games/times etc...
    
    A couple of weeks ago I received confirmation that I had successfully
    purchased tickets for the matches in Boston and Washington.
    
    Also during my 'exile' I saw a couple of games from the central
    american qualifying group on tv - in the first Canada drew 2-2 with Honduras 
    in a game that saw 3 penalities! The first was given for a very dubious
    dive during what looked look a full scale riot following the Canadian
    opener - not surprisingly the ref's award calmed the crowd down! the
    last was approximately 3 minutes into injury time at the end of the
    game and I have this one on tape because the player who is pushed to
    the ground is a Canadian defender, the ball is nowhere near and the ref gives 
    a penalty to yes you've guessed it Honduras - so the ref gets out of
    Honduras alive, the Canadians are robbed - will Fifa do anything?
    
    in the other game Canada beat El Salvador so it looks like them against
    mexico for that place.
    
    about 6 weeks til the germans, brazilians and Graham Taylor's wonder
    boys arrive - anyone have any news on teams or just anything that's
    appeared in the papers about this tournament.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks (who did see a Sun whilst out in SF)

    Tony,
    
    The most recent and still accurate details for WC 94 can be found only
    a few replies back in .194. 
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    I have heard that the Zimbabwe national side have been involved in an
    air crash en route to a qualifying match and that all have been killed.
    Can anyone confirm this and give more details?
    
    Archie
     

    
    It was the Zambian national side, and they were on their way home
    from a WC qualifying match in Mauritius which they had won 3-0.
    
    The plane was a Zambian Air Force CT15 which crashed after a 
    refuelling stop in Gabon. 18 players and 5 officials were among
    the people presumed killed.

    The word I have is that they were on their way to the Ivory Coast to
    prepare for Sunday's World Cup qualifier with Senegal.
    Apparently, three Zambian star players (Names unknown) who ply their trade 
    in Europe, were not on board.
    Before this tragedy struck, they were second in their qualifying
    section, and were odds on favorites to qualify for USA '94.
    
    
    

    
    Well that explains why they were refuelling in Gabon (which is
    nowhere near Mauritius and Zambia).

     OK I picked up a copy of "soccer International" yesterday which is a U.S
    based magazine and at the moment at least concentrates on the build-up
    to the world-cup so i'll share the salient points here.
    
    They have full 4 page match reports analysis from the games played
    in Jan/Feb against Denmark, Romania and F.C Zurich, an article on
    their training base in Mission Viejo. In the next issue they promise
    reviews of the games against Canada and the tournament in Japan.
    By the way they claim that the U.S was going to play Colombia in
    Miami on Apr 3rd - I guess we all missed that one?
    
    Then they have an article on tickets for the world cup that I might
    enter in full for our english and irish friends who may be coming over
    next year - tickets for the final will be $180, $300 and $475 dollars
    (anyone have that sort of money?????) and some general world cup
    news.
    
    Next we get two pages on the Europen qualifiers (including tables)
    and a page on africa which since we haven't covered that before i'll
    add as a reply to this note and the fixtures for Asia.
    
    then 4 pages of news from europe including news of Les
    Ferdinand, all the norwegians in footie etc, John majors son getting
    sent off playing for his village team! etc and all the league
    tables - and news of 9 u.s players playing in europe.
    
    It finishes up with 3 pages on south america and one on japan.
    
    not bad for under $3
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    

This is a month out-of-date so any updates please reply.

In Africa it's a bit of a mess with 12 teams already withdrawn and 2 or 3 more
on the verge of having to withdraw (including Zambia after the plane crash)
due to political unrest.

One team qualifies from each of the 9 groups, then there's 3 mini-leagues
of 3 with the winner of each taking one of the 3 qualifying places.

Group A		Ghana lead Algeria by 1pt with the the final game in this
                group being in Algeria. Burundi are already out and Uganda
		withdrew. Ghana are the team witH Abdele Pele.

Group B		Cameroon lead Swaziland by 2 points with 1 game left for
		each against Zaire who have been unable to play due to 
		political unrest. Liberia had already withdrawn so if Zaire
		don't fulfill their fixtures it will have been a two-team group
		from which Cameroon will qualify.

Group C		Zimbabwe lead Egypt by 2 points with 1 game left against
		each other. Though if Togo are unable to complete their 
		remaining fixture against Angola (politics again) their
		results will be wiped out. Sierra Leone had already withdrawn

Group D		Unless Congo beat Nigeria 8-0 in the final game Nigeria go
		through. South Africa already out. Sao Taome?Principe (where?)
		and Libya already withdrew.

Group E		Ivory Coast already through ahead of Niger, Botswana and
		Sudan (withdrew)

Group F		Morocco lead Tunisia by a  point ahead of a showdown
		iN Casablanca. Ethiopa and Benin
		already out and Malawi withdrew.

Group G		Gabon lead Senegal by a point, last game in dakar. Mozambique
 		out and MAuritinia withdrew.

Group H		It was all down to Madagascar visit to Zambia but with
		the plane crash I assume Madagascar go through. namibia
		already out, tanzania and Burkina Faso withdrew.

Group I		After withdrawals by Gambia and Mali this became a two-leg
		play-off between Guinea and Kenya. Guinea won the first
		game 4-0

I don't if the 3 groups are wildcarded or whether it's ABC, DEF, GHI
but it certainly seems to have come down to the final game in most of the
groups. The stronger groups appear to be A-C so it would a shame if Cameroon
and Ghana had to play each other and let one of the weaker teams (g-I)
through. qualifiers look something like:

Ghana/Algeria
Cameroon
Zimbabwe/Egypt
Nigeria
Ivory Coast
Morocco/Tunisia
Gabon/Senegal
Madagascar
Guinea/Kenya

P.S If anyone knows what's going on in Oceania or Asia please post what you
know.

Regards,

Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    The 9 African qualifiers have been determined. 
    Zimbabwe,Senegal,Zambia,Cameroon,Nigeria,Ivory Coast,Morocco are
    definitely through.  I can't remember the other 2 but I think algeria
    beat Ghana.
    
    They are now in 3 groups of 3 with the winners qualifying for U.S.A.
    94.
    
    New Zealand meet Australia in the summer with the winners playing off
    against the Concacaf (sp?) runners up (probably Canada).  The winners
    of that game meet the runners up in South America Group B???
    
    The initial Asian round robin tournaments are going on at the moment.
    I don't have any details.
    
    Gary.

    Gary,
    
    You're a hero! I guess the 9th team will be Guinea since they were 4-0
    up after the first leg. It's a shame that Ghana didn't make it since
    they have been so hyped as the team of Africa particularly with Abdele
    Pele. Do you know whether Zambia will be able to fulfill theire
    fixtures?
    
    I haven't seen Kumar from Singapore in this notesfile recently but
    they were a lot of Asia fixtures scheduled for April?may so maybe we
    can get an update on what's happening out there.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

The Asian games are going on at the moment. I've got some results, but without 
the context they're pretty meaningless e.g.

First Round: Group E 
		Malaysia 9 Macau 0

Group F Second Series
		Japan 6 Sri Lanka 0

Looks as if it's early days yet!

g

    GASH,
    
    Thanks for those results - and thanks also to Gary for the Internet
    article which we can't post here. Perhaps it's ok to summarise the
    story so far (gary let me know if this is ok - and let's update this
    when or as the groups complete)
    
    Group's A, B, D start in a few weeks
    A is expected to be a two-horse race between China and Iraq
      Question: Given the Economic sanctions against Iraq do you think
                they would be allowed to play here by the U.S Government
    B: Between Iran and Syria - two other favourites of U.S Foreign policy.
    D: South Korea or Bahrain.
    
    Group C is already over with North Korea through to the second round.
    
    E has just started and is likely to be between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
      Question: if Kuwait and Iraq qualify for the 2nd round will they
                actually play each other?
    
    Group F is betwen japan and UAE and Japan (inspired by Gary Lineker?)
            already have built up a goal difference of 21-1 !!
    
    The 6 group winners go into two-pools of 3 from which the winner of
    each qualifies for the U.S
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                  

    Hello from the soccer capital of the US--Mission Viejo, California
    
    As most of you may know the US national team has its training center
    here and since January, 1993 we have gotten to see a lot of friendlies
    and several full internationals all within a couple of miles of our
    town center. Actually we have hosted games with F.C. Zurich, Canada,
    Iceland, Kedah-Malaysian club team and on May 26 we are hosting a full
    international with Peru.
    
    All of the players have been terrific with the people of our community
    and are active in helping out local youth soccer teams, clinics and
    a variety of speaking engagements.
    
    If anyone has any questions--please let me know
    
    Regards
    Rick Toman   

    Rick,
    
    did you see reply .209 where I mentioned the article on Mission Viejo.
    
    Don't suppose you have the scores for the games after Zurich as we
    never got them out here in god-forsaken Atlanta (the olympic capital!)
    
    We'll look forward to a full report on the Peru game which is just
    before I head north for U.S Cup 93.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    For the games held in and around Mission Viejo
    
    US-2  FC Zurich- 1
    US-2  Canada- 2
    US-1  Iceland- 1
    US-3  Kedah(Malaysian Club Team)-0
    
    In addition to Peru game on May 26--Bolivia will be in town and will
    play US team on May 23
    
    
    Full report after Peru game
    
    regards Rick   

    A short report on the USA-Bolivia game held at CAL-State Fullerton
    stadium last nite as the second game of a doubleheader- the first game
    was LA Salsa vs. Chivas(first division Mexican team) which Salsa won
    2-0.
    
    It was a beautiful nite with about 9500 fans in a stadium that seats
    10,000 and a 120x75 yard field. The score was 0-0 but the US team
    dominated the game but just could not finish the scoring opportunities
    that were numerous.
    
    The US took 18 shots on goal of which the Bolivian keeper had to make 9
    saves-of which 4 were spectaculor and the Bolivians had only 5 shots
    off -of which Brad Friedel had to make 3 saves non of which were that
    inspiring.
    
    It was quite clear that the US team has been working on their midfield
    game as they dominated the center --which had the effect of forcing
    Bolivia to a large degree to playing a long ball game which by in large
    was not terribly effective.
    
    In summary, it should have been 2-0 for the home team.  We will see if
    Wegerle whos will be back from Europe and is available to play striker
    against Peru on the 26th will make a difference in finishing thje
    opportunities.
    
    Rick     

    Well- the US team still has a lot of trouble scoring as they tied Peru
    0-0 last night in Mission Viejo before an overflow crowd of 5,335.
    
    It is really amazing that for $8 per ticket we were able to see a full
    international with a team that will most likely qualify for WC 94.
    
    Peru had the better chances and except for Tony Meola US keeper who
    stopped a penalty shot in the 44th minute with a great dive to his
    right and a point blank shot at about 75 minutes --the result would
    have been different. The US had a couple of chances with one header off
    the post at about 85 minutes.
    
    Roy Wegerle played striker and you could see his skills though the
    Peruvians held him in check pretty well.
    When you all see the US team this summer you will notice that they have
    one primary striker who they try to get the ball to -either to
    distribute or turn and shoot--very little long ball-they play a style
    which is like a lot of South American teams--bringing the ball up with
    everyone involved in the flow.
    
    any questions
    
    regards
    rick
     

Latest from Asia (thanks Gary and Alan)

remember group winners (6 of them) go into two mini-leagues of 3 to decide
the 2 qualifiers from Asia.
    
Group A 
    
             P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
Iraq         4  3  1  0 16  2   7
Yemen        4  2  1  1  8  8   5
China        4  2  0  2  8  2   4
Jordan       4  1  2  1  5  6   4
Pakistan     4  0  0  4  2 21   0

Group finishes on June 20th - China were the heavy favourites
wonder how the U.S would appreciate Iraq qualifying?

Group B

group completes on July 11th - I know Iran and Syria are in it but don't
    have any more news than that

Group C

North Korea through

             P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
North Korea  8  7  1  0 19  6  15
Qatar        8  5  1  2 22  8  11
Singapore    8  5  0  3 12 12  10
Indonesia    8  1  0  7  6 19  2
Vietnam      8  1  0  7  4 18  2


Group D

South Korea looking strong again finishes 13th June

             P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
South Korea  4  3  1  0  7  0   7
Hong Kong    4  2  1  1  6  7   5
Bahrain      4  1  2  1  3  3   4
Lebanon      4  0  3  1  4  5   3
India        4  0  1  3  4  9   1

Group E

Saudi Arabia through (maybe England could play Macau!)

             P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
Saudi Arabia 6  4  2  0 20  1  10
Kuwait       6  3  2  1 21  4  8
Malaysia     6  2  2  2 16  7  6
Macau        6  0  0  6  1 46  0


Group F

Japan through

             P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
Japan        8  7  1  0 28  2  15
UAE          8  6  1  1 19  4  13
Thailand     8  4  0  4 13  7   8
Bangladesh   8  2  0  6  7 28   4
Sri Lanka    8  0  0  8  0 26   0

    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    If anyone knows what's happening in Africa's 3 mini-leagues of 3
    qualifiers then please let us know.
    
    In Oceania Australia beat New Zealand 1-0 in the first leg of their
    playoff - the winner plays Canada and the winner of that plays
    the 4th South American qualifiers (see note 8 for when the games
    in South America are)
    
    Regards,      
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    
    Oceania Update :
    
    Australia  3  New Zealand  0    
    
    Australia win 4-0 on aggregate and now play Canada home and away in
    July and August (1st leg in Canada).
    
    Winners of that play someone from South America (I think Paraguay or
    Columbia, home and away) and the winners of that qualify.

Group D

S Korea 4 HK 1
Bahrain 0 Lebanon 0

             P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
South Korea  5  4  1  0  11 1   9
Hong Kong    5  2  1  2  7  11  5
Bahrain      5  1  3  1  3  3   5
Lebanon      5  0  4  1  4  5   4
India        4  0  1  3  4  9   1

The table I saw has it in that order -presumably it's being settled on goals 
scored if points are level.

grahame

    GASH,
    
    no it's victories - see the one team has the 2 and the other has 1
    by the way do you remember the game in 1950?
    
    i returned from the north with a whole set of results from oceania,
    asia and africa and will post them in the next day or so.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

Hi Andy,

Strange, I hadn't noticed you were back (not much!). Anyone know if there's a 
SET SEEN/AUTH=WICKS command?!!

And meanwhile, back in the footy:

	S Korea won their group and qualify for the next stage.

	Iraq are looking v likely to follow them - now THAT'll get the 
Americans interested!

grahame

    ok here's the latest summary i have.
    
    oceania winners (australia) to play conacaf runners-up (canada)
    home and way on aug 1st/15th for the right to meet the 4th south
    american team for a final place
    
    asia - 4 group winners already known, North Korea, South korea,
           Saudi Arabia and Japan
           group a completes this weekend Iraq lead the group
           group b played between June 28th and July 11th (syria and iran
                   in this group)
           6 group winners go into two mini-leagues of 3 with the winner
             of each group going through to finals
    
    africa - the three mini-leagues (winners get a wc place) are:
           A) Algeria, Nigeria, Ivory Coast 
                     opening result Algeria 1 Ivory coast 1
           B) Morocco, Zambia, senegal
                     opening result Morocco 1 Senegal 0
           C) Cameroon, Guinea, Zimbabwe
                     opening result cameroon 3 guinea 1
              those are apr 16th results but some games were
              played on apr 30th - anyone have those scores?
    
           [it's good to Zambia go on despite the air crash]
    
    regards,
    
    andrew.D.wicks

    RE -1  Zambia:
    
    I heard that the relatives of the players asked the Zambian F.A. to
    put a new team together and carry on, as that is what the players
    killed would have wanted.
    
    Eduard

    
    Iraq are certain to reach the second round.  They need to beat the
    group whipping boys Pakistan to progress (today???).
    
    Gary.

Yup,

	Iraq won the group in spite of losing to China at the weekend.

g

Group A

Nigeria    4-1   Algeria

                P W D L  F  A Pts  
Ivory Coast     2 1 1 0  3  2  3     
Nigeria         2 1 0 1  5  3  2     
Algeria         2 0 1 1  2  5  1     


Group B

Zambia    2-1   Morocco

Brilliant win for Zambia.  I just hope they can qualify.

                P W D L  F  A Pts  
Zambia          1 1 0 0  2  1  2     
Morocco         2 1 0 1  2  2  2     
Senegal         1 0 0 1  0  1  0     


Group C

Zimbabwe   1-0   Cameroon

All home wins here.

                P W D L  F  A Pts  
Guinea          2 1 0 1  4  3  2     
Cameroon        2 1 0 1  3  2  2     
Zimbabwe        2 1 0 1  1  3  2     



Asia Group B

Iran     6-0    Taiwan
Syria    2-1    Oman

Oman drew with Iran and Syria in Tehran but lost out when the group moved to
Damascus.  2 big wins over Taiwan have given Iran the edge on goal difference.

                P W D L  F  A Pts  
Iran            5 3 2 0 14  1  8     
Syria           5 3 2 0 13  3  8     
Oman            5 1 2 2  3  4  4      
Taiwan          5 0 0 5  2 24  0      


	Syria v Iran 6/7 in Damascus, Syria must win to qualify for phase 2.
5 countries have already qualified for phase 2 - North and South Korea, Iraq,
Saudi Arabia and Japan.  

Anyone know the draw for the second phase?  I know it's 2 groups of 3 with 
the winners qualifying.  Has the draw been made?

    Gary,
    
    thanks for the postings - sorry i didn't do them but i haven't been in
    here much due to work committments! I would think the draw for the two
    mini-leagues wouldn't take place til after the 6th team is decided.
    
    as for Africa it's good to see Zambia win - you just wonder how good
    they would have been without the tragedy. Their postponed game against
    senegal has been reaarranged for Aug 18th. 
    The next round of games is in mid jul 16/17/18 with round 5 on
    sept 24/25/26 and the concluding ganes in october 8/9/10.
    
    South America of course starts on thursday.
    
    actually zambia made the normally football free atlanta Journal on
    saturday I quote:
    
    "former Atlanta chiefs soccer star Freddie Mwila has been named to
    coach Zambia's national team in the wake of a plane crash April 28
    that killed 18 players and coaches.
                  
    Mwila a midfielder who scored 16 goals for the Chiefs from 1967-68
    helped Atlanta to the 1968 North American Soccer league championship,
    still the city's only professional team sports crown"
    
    [yikes that means we're now worse than the Mancs!]
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    
    Iran drew 1-1 with Syria in Damascus and thus qualify for the second
    phase.  Iran took the lead after 15 minutes, had a player sent off in
    the first half.  They qualified despite a last minute Syrian penalty.
    
    Gary.

    
    According to my paper Iran and Iraq have been drawn in the same group
    along with Saudi Arabia - lots of problems here.
    
    North and South Korea have also been drawn together.  Japan are also in
    this group.  They're the only team that won't be involved in political
    controversy.
    
    Gary.

    Gary,
    
    Phew! Iraq v Saudi arabia should make the 'old firm' game look like a 
    friendly - I wonder how FIFA intend to handle this - if I remember my
    CNN geography Qatar (the venue) is next to Kuwait which is where Iraq 
    wanted to play their 'home' games before the Desert Storm League Cup!!
    
    at least the games will be on a 'neutral' ground because otherwise you
    could just see the Iraqis refusing to let the referee inspect their
    studs or the linesmen inspect their goalnets.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Re -1 & -2

    This is news to me. 

    It was announced in Tokyo, that the draw for the second stage will be
    held on 15th July 1993. the venue will be Qatar, since the 2nd stage 
    matches would be played in neutral country. 

    All the teams will play each other & the best two teams will qualify
    for USA 94.

    This is as far as, I know. Maybe this decision was changed ??

    Regards

    C. Vishwanath

    
    Re -1, that was certainly the way it happened last time.  I had heard
    that it was changed this time.  I'm not sure.  I'll have to check it.
    
    Gary.

    
    Okay newsy updates.
    
    First of all I was wrong about the Asian qualifiers.  They'll meet in
    one group of 6 in Qatar.  top 2 will qualify.  The games will be played
    over a 2 weeks.  I have the schedule which I'll type in when I get a
    chance.
    
    Bolivia won 7-1 in Venezuela and Ecuador drew 0-0 at home to Brazil in
    the South Ameruican qualifiers.  These were the first 2 games so you
    can work out the group yourself.  Uruguay are the 5th team.
    
    Ivory Coast beat Algeria 1-0.  Algeria are now eliminated.  Nigeria
    need to draw in Algiers and win at home to the Ivory Coast to qualify. 
    Ivory Coast look good for a world cup place.
    
    Morocco won 3-1 in Senegal.  Senegal are virtually out.  Zambia's only
    game so far was a win over Morocco so they could still pull off a fiary
    tale result.  I'd still make Morocco slight favourites.
    
    Cameroon won 1-0 in Guinea.  A draw v Zimbabwe will probably suffice. 
    I think Cameroon have home advantage so the Lions look good for
    America.
    
    This isn't relevant but just in case anybody cares the U.S. have
    qualified for the Gold Cup semi finals by winning all 3 group games.
    Jamaica surprisingly got the runners up spot ahead of Honduras.
    Costa Rica needed to beat Martinique yesterday to qualify.  Canada
    needed to beat Mexico to make it after only drawing 2-2 with
    Martinique.  The Canadians had lead 2-0 and Martinique missed a
    penalty.  Looks good for Oz in the playoffs.
    
    Gary.

    
    Not relevant to the World Cup but here are the Gold Cup results
    
    Mexico 8 Canada 0
    Costa Rica 3 Martinique 1
    
    Semi final pairings
    
    Mexico v Jamaica - Mexico 
    Costa Rica v U.S. - Dallas
    
    Gary.

   Anyone know the approximate dates of the WC in USA next year?

   Tony.

    
    Re -1,
    
    Start June 17th Germany v C2 Chicago
    End July 17th Ireland v Wales Pasadena.  :-)
    
    Gary.

    re .-1
    
    A full schedule can be found in note 87.194
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks (who will be cheering against Eire on July 17th!)

                                                           
    As promised here are the dates for the Asian 2nd round.

Asia qualifiers.  All games to be played in Qatar.  Top 2 qualify.

15/10 Saudi Arabia v   Japan
15/10 North Korea  v  Iraq
16/10 Iran         v  South Korea
18/10 Japan        v  Iran
18/10 North Korea  v  Saudi Arabia
19/10 Iraq         v  South Korea 
21/10 North Korea  v  Japan
22/10 Iran         v  Iraq
22/10 South Korea  v  Saudi Arabia
24/10 Iraq         v  Saudi Arabia
25/10 Iran         v  North Korea
25/10 Japan        v  South Korea
28/10 South Korea  v  North Korea
28/10 Iraq         v  Japan
28/10 Saudi Arabia v  Iran


Gary.

    Gary,
    
    Don't suppose you have the Zambia v Senegal result from last Sunday
    before I post an updated table?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

Courtesy of Don Topaz a more legible World Cup schedule
than the one we had in here til now.
    
                            World Cup 1994
  
Division A              T  v  T         Division B              T  v  T
-------------------------------          -------------------------------
6/18    Detroit         USA v A2           6/19    Pasadena        B3  v B4 
        Pasadena        A3  v A4           6/20    Stanford        B1  v B2 
6/22    Detroit         A4  v A2           6/24    Detroit         B4  v B2 
        Pasadena        USA v A3                   Stanford        B1  v B3 
6/26    Pasadena        USA v A4           6/28    Detroit         B1  v B4 
        Stanford        A2  v A3                   Stanford        B2  v B3 

Division C              T  v  T          Division D              T  v  T
-------------------------------          -------------------------------
6/17  Chicago    GER v C2           6/21    Foxboro         D1  v D2 
      Dallas     C3  v C4                   Dallas          D3  v D4 
6/21  Chicago    GER v C3           6/25    Foxboro         D1  v D3 
6/23  Foxboro    C4  v C2           6/26    Detroit         D4  v D2 
6/27  Chicago    C2  v C3           6/30    Foxboro         D2  v D3 
      Dallas     GER v C4                   Dallas          D1  v D4 

Division E              T  v  T          Division F              T  v  T
-------------------------------          -------------------------------
6/18  NJ/NY      E1  v E2                  6/19    Orlando         F1  v F2 
6/19  Wash., DC  E3  v E4                  6/20    DC              F3  v F4 
6/23  NJ/NY      E1  v E3                  6/25    NJ/NY           F4  v F2 
6/24  Orlando    E4  v E2                          Orlando         F1  v F3 
6/27  Wash., DC  E1  v E4                  6/28    Washington, DC  F1  v F4 
6/28  NJ/NY      E2  v E3                  6/29    Orlando         F2  v F3 


 A1 U.S.A.   B1________  C1 Germany  D1________  E1________  F1________

 A2 ________  B2________  C2________  D2________  E2________  F2________

 A3 ________  B3________  C3________  D3________  E3________  F3________

 A4 ________  B4________  C4________  D4________  E4________  F4________


( Numbers are where the country placed in the division... )
                 ************SECOND  ROUND*************
Saturday, July 2
        Game 37 Chicago                         C1 v (A,B,F) 3
        Game 38 Washington, DC                  A2  v C2

Sunday, July 3
        Game 39 Pasadena                        A1  v (C,D,E) 3
        Game 40 Dallas                          F2 v B2

Monday, July 4
        Game 41 Stanford                        B1 v (A,C,D) 3
        Game 42 Orlando                         F1 v E2

Tuesday, July 5
        Game 43  Foxboro                        D1 v (B,E,F) 3
        Game 44  NJ/NY                          E1 v D2

            $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$QUARTERFINALS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Saturday, July 9
        Game 45 Foxboro                  Winner 43 v Winner 38
        Game 46 Dallas                   Winner 42 v Winner 41

Sunday, July 10
        Game 47 Stanford                 Winner 39 v Winner 40
        Game 48 NJ/NY                    Winner 44 v Winner 37

            $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$SEMI-FINALS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Wednesday, July 13
        Game 49 Pasadena                 Winner 47 v Winner 46
        Game 50 NJ/NY                    Winner 48 v Winner 45

                 *************THIRD PLACE*************
Saturday, July 16                               Pasadena

             $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$CHAMPIONSHIP$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Sunday, July 17                                 Pasadena

    
    Apparently Zambia drew 1-1 in Zimbabwe to qualify for the Nations Cup. 
    The World Cup tie v Senegal must be on some other time.
    
    Gary.

    
    The Senegal v Zambia game may be moved to Nigeria.  There was rioting
    in Dakar after their team's performance against Morocco.  
    
    Gary.

Press release issue July 28 by U.S. national team press office:

BUSY SCHEDULE PLANNED AS USA PREPS FOR 1994 WORLD CUP

   MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (July 28) -- U.S. Soccer officials continue their
efforts to put together an attractive and challenging schedule for the U.S.
National Team as it prepares for the 1994 World Cup. Negotiations are under way
for matches through March with some of the world's top teams including an Oct.
13 rematch in Washington, D.C., with Mexico, who defeated the USA 4-0 July 25
in the Gold Cup final.
   Other games scheduled for October: Ghana, Oct. 9 in Foxboro, Mass.; and
Ukraine, Oct. 16 and 23 in High Point, N.C., and Bethlehem, Pa., respectively.
   England, Russia, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden highlight games planned for
early 1994. The Americans upset England 2-0 June 9 in U.S. Cup '93 action.
Russia has already qualified and Norway, Switzerland and Sweden are all likely
participants in the '94 World Cup.
   "We want to give soccer fans across the country an idea of where the USA
will be playing as the excitement of the US team and the World Cup increases
every day," said U.S. Soccer general manager Bill Nuttall. "We are in the
process of finalizing these games with the various venues and local organizing
committees. These games are not confirmed, but details will be released as soon
as they are available."
   The U.S. team begins its fall schedule in Europe Aug. 31 against Iceland in
Reykjavik and Sept. 8 against Norway in Oslo.
   "U.S. Soccer is trying to match up the national team with the highest
caliber  opposition it can," Nuttall said, "and we will continue to bring the
very best our sport has to offer."
   Following is a look at the tentative schedule for the national team through
March 26 (this is subject to change):

Date   	       		Opponent	Site
Tuesday, Aug 31		Iceland		Reykjavik , Iceland
Wednesday, Sept. 8     	Norway 		Oslo, Norway
Saturday, Oct.9		Ghana		Foxboro, Mass.
Wednesday, Oct. 13	Mexico		Washington, D.C.
Saturday, Oct. 16      	Ukraine		High Point, N.C.
Saturday, Oct. 23      	Ukraine		Bethlehem, Pa.
Saturday, Nov. 20 or 27	Latvia 		Fullerton, Calif.
Saturday, Dec. 4	TBA    		Los Angeles
Saturday, Dec. 18      	Germany		Palo Alto, Calif.
Saturday, Jan. 15	Norway 		Phoenix
Saturday, Jan, 22	Switzerland	Fullerton, Calif.
Saturday, Jan. 29	Russia		TBA
Saturday, Feb. 5	England		Orlando or Tampa
Saturday, Feb. 19	Sweden 		Miami or Orlando
Saturday, March 26	TBA    		Dallas
	

    Thanks - looks like an october trip to the north-east for me and I
    might even pop down to Orlando to see england but I wonder whether
    they'll bother turning up when they don't qualify.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks 

    Canada 2 Australia 1 in the first leg of the CONACAF v Oceania playoff
    second leg on Aug 14th
    
    Regards,
    
    andrew.D.Wicks

This info has been taken from usenet.  A number of people have contributed
to it.  I've extracted all the results, tables and fixtures.  The comments
are mine.


World Cup 1994 qualifiers so far

1	U.S.A  (host)
2	Germany (defending)
3	Mexico
4	Russia
5	Greece


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=





	WORLD CUP 1994 - EUROPE QUALIFIERS
        12 Teams (First 2 of each group) + Germany (Defending)

                Group 1
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Switzerland         7    5    2    0    18     4    12   18
                Italy               7    4    2    1    15     6    10   16
                Portugal            6    3    2    1    12     4     8   16
                Scotland            7    3    2    2    10     9     8   14
                Malta               9    1    1    7     3    21     3    4
                Estonia             6    0    1    5     1    15     1    9


		Group1
                        05.09.93: Estonia-Portugal
                        08.09.93: Scotland-Switzerland
                        22.09.93: Estonia-Italy
                        13.10.93: Portugal-Switzerland
                        13.10.93: Italy-Scotland
                        10.11.93: Portugal-Estonia
                        17.11.93: Italy-Portugal
                        17.11.93: Malta-Scotland
                        17.11.93: Switzerland-Estonia

	Switzerland look good but they need a draw in Scotland or Portugal
to make it.  Portugal need goals and a draw in Italy.  Otherwise they'll
have to win in Italy.  They also must win at home to the Swiss.  Looks like
Italy and Switzerland. 


                Group 2
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Norway              7    5    2    0    20     3    12   18
                England             7    3    3    1    16     6     9   15
                Netherlands         7    3    3    1    17     8     9   15
                Poland              5    3    2    0     8     3     8   18
                Turkey              8    1    1    6     7    17     3    7
                San Marino          8    0    1    7     1    32     1    5


		Group 2
                        08.09.93: England-Poland
                        22.09.93: Norway-Poland
                        22.09.93: San Marino-Netherlands
                        13.10.93: Netherlands-England
                        13.10.93: Poland-Norway
                        27.10.93: Turkey-Poland
                        10.11 93: Turkey-Norway
                        16.11.93: San Marino-England
                        17.11.93: Poland-Netherlands


	Norway look good.  I can't see them failing.  Poland are in the 
strongest position and a draw at Wembley would put them in the driving seat.
England need to draw in Holland and have the advantage of playing San Marino
last.  England appear to be in the worst position of the 4 teams in contention
but I still think they'll make it.


                Group 3
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Ireland             9    6    3    0    15     2    15   21
                Spain               9    5    3    1    18     2    13   19
                Denmark             8    4    4    0     9     1    12   20
                N. Ireland          9    4    2    3    11    11    10   16
                Lithuania          10    2    3    5     8    15     7   11
                Latvia             11    0    5    6     4    19     5    7
                Albania            10    1    2    7     5    20     4    8

		Group 3
                        25.08.93: Denmark-Lithuania
                        08.09.93: Albania-Denmark
                        08.09.93: Ireland-Lithuania
                        08.09.93: N. Ireland-Latvia
                        22.09.93: Albania-Spain
                        13.10.93: Denmark-N. Ireland
                        13.10.93: Ireland-Ireland
                        17.11.93: N. Ireland-Ireland
                        17.11.93: Spain-Denmark

	Ireland are in pole position.  A draw at home to Spain should suffice.
A victory would send Ireland and Denmark through.  Otherwise Spain v Denmark
in Seville will be decisive.  Denmark should be good enough to get a draw in
Seville.  Ireland should qualify as even a highly improbable defeat v Spain
would still give us the chance to win in Belfast and qualify.  Both sides
will be reasonably content with a draw in Dublin.  Spain will always fancy 
their chances in Seville but Denmark look the better side.

                Group 4
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Belgium             8    7    0    1    15     3    14   18
                Romania             7    4    1    2    21    10     9   15
                Czechoslovakia      7    3    3    1    16     7     9   15
                Wales               7    4    1    2    14     8     9   15
                Cyprus              8    2    1    5     8    13     5    9
                Faroe Islands       9    0    0    9     1    34     0    2

		Group 4
                        08.09.93: Wales-Czechoslovakia
                        08.09.93: Faroe Islands-Romania
                        13.10.93: Romania-Belgium
                        13.10.93: Wales-Cyprus
                        27.10.93: Czechoslovakia-Cyprus
                        17.11.93: Wales-Romania
                        17.11.93: Belgium-Czechoslovakia

	Belgium can book their tickets.  Wales need 3 victories in Cardiff to
be certain.  5 points may well be enough as I can't see RCS winning in
Brussels.  My heart says Wales and given their record in the National stadium,
my head agrees.

                Group 5
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Russia              6    4    2    0    12     2    10   14
                Greece              6    4    2    0     6     1    10   14
                Iceland             7    2    2    3     6     6     6    8
                Hungary             6    1    1    4     4     8     3    7
                Luxembourg          5    0    1    4     1    12     1    7
                Yugoslavia          FIFA disqualified


	Russia and Greece look good.  :-)  


		Group 5
                        08.09.93: Hungary-Russia
                        08.09.93: Iceland-Luxembourg
                        12.10.93: Luxembourg-Greece
                        27.10.93: Hungary-Luxembourg
                        17.11.93: Greece-Russia

                Group 6
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Sweden              6    5    0    1    13     3    10   18
                France              6    5    0    1    11     4    10   18
                Bulgaria            7    4    1    2    12     7     9   15
                Austria             6    2    0    4     9    10     4   12
                Finland             6    1    1    4     4     9     3   11
                Israel              7    0    2    5     5    21     2    8


		Group 6
                        22.08.93: Sweden-France
                        25.08.93: Austria-Finland
                        08.09.93: Finland-France
                        08.09.93: Bulgaria-Sweden
                        13.10.93: France-Israel
                        13.10.93: Bulgaria-Austria
                        13.10.93: Sweden-Finland
                        27.10.93: Israel-Austria
                        10.11.93: Austria-Sweden
                        10.11.93: Israel-Finland
                        17.11.93: France-Bulgaria


	A draw on the 22nd would see Sweden and France in good shape.  Despite
hazardous trips to Sofia and Vienna Sweden look good to qualify.  France
are an even better bet.



	Asia  (top 2 advance to WC94)
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


                                G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                Japan           0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                South Korea     0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                North Korea     0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Iraq            0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Iran            0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Saudi Arabia    0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20

                ASIA Round 2 (to be held in Doha, Qatar)

                93/10/15 North Korea    Iraq
                93/10/15 Saudi Arabia   Japan

                93/10/16 Iran           South Korea

                93/10/18 North Korea    Saudi Arabia
                93/10/18 Japan          Iran

                93/10/19 Iraq           South Korea 

                93/10/21 North Korea    Japan

                93/10/22 Iran           Iraq
                93/10/22 South Korea    Saudi Arabia

                93/10/24 Iraq           Saudi Arabia

                93/10/25 Japan          South Korea
                93/10/25 Iran           North Korea

                93/10/28 South Korea    North Korea
                93/10/28 Saudi Arabia   Iran
                93/10/28 Iraq           Japan

                
		I've been following these results closely but it's hard to 
guage form.  On past records South Korea should be slight favourites with
North Korea and Japan the next best but who would have predicted UAE's
qualification the last time?  Iraq put out China which is very impressive.
The devil in me wants to see Iraq and North Korea make it and one of them 
to meet the U.S.
 

	 AFRICAN ZONE STANDINGS (Group winners advance to WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------

                African FINAL Group A
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cote d'Ivoire   3 2 1 0  4  2  5     7
                Nigeria         2 1 0 1  5  3  2     6
                Algeria         3 0 1 2  2  6  1     3

		Ivory Coast must draw in Nigeria.  It's a tough one to call.


                African FINAL Group B
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Morocco         3 2 0 1  5  3  4     6
		Zambia          1 1 0 0  2  1  2     8
                Senegal         2 0 0 2  1  4  0     4

		2 victories over Senegal would put Zambia in the driving seat.
Some goals would come in handy as a 1-0 defeat may suffice then in Morocco.
Senegal are no pushovers but the transfer of the home game to Abidjan should
help Zambia.


                African FINAL Group C
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cameroon        3 2 0 1  4  2  4     6
		Guinea          3 1 0 2  4  4  2     4
                Zimbabwe        2 1 0 1  1  3  2     6

		Zimbabwe need to hit Guinea for 4 and then draw in Cameroon.
I can't see them doing either.  Cameroon should progress.

		08/08/93 Senegal	Zambia
		09/25/93 Nigeria	Cote d'Ivoire
		09/26/93 Zambia		Senegal
		09/26/93 Zimbabwe	Guinea
		10/08/93 Algeria	Nigeria
		10/10/93 Morocco	Zambia
		10/10/93 Cameroon	Zimbabwe


                
              
	South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches
        ---------------------------------------

		South America Group A
		-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

				P W D L  F  A Pts  
		Argentina       1 1 0 0  1  0  2    
		Colombia        1 0 1 0  0  0  1    
		Paraguay        1 0 1 0  0  0  1    
		Peru            1 0 0 1  0  1  0    


	Argentina should win the group.  Colombia are the likely runners up
and will fancy their chances v Australia/Canada.


		South America Group B
		-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

				P W D L  F  A Pts       
		Bolivia		2 2 0 0  9  1  4      
		Brazil          3 1 1 1  5  3  3      
		Uruguay         2 1 1 0  1  0  3      
		Ecuador         2 0 2 0  0  0  2      
		Venezuela       3 0 0 3  1  13 0      
		

	Bolivia are the shock team here.  If they can repeat their success and
beat Uruguay at home they'll leave Brazil and Uruguay to battle for runners
up.  Winning in Ecuador won't be easy but they have the advantage of going 
there last.  A world cup without Brazil is almost unthinkable.  They should
still do it though.

                         
                GROUP A  (TOP FINISHER QUALIFIES FOR FINALS.....
                         RUNNER-UP PLAYS WINNER OF CANADA-AUSTRALIA 
                         TO QUALIFY FOR FINALS.)
                         
                         
                        Aug.  1 -- Colombia 0-0 Paraguay
                        Aug.  1 -- Peru 0-1 Argentina

                        Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina
                        Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia
                         
                        Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru
                        Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina
                         
                        Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia
                        Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru
                         
                        Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay
                        Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru
                         
                        Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay
                        Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia
                         
             GROUP B    (Top two finishers qualify for finals)
                         
                        July 18 -- Venezuela   1-7  Bolivia
                        July 18 -- Ecuador     0-0  Brazil
                         
                        July 25 -- Venezuela   0-1 Uruguay
                        July 25 -- Bolivia     2-0 Brazil
                         
                        Aug.  1 -- Uruguay     0-0 Ecuador
                        Aug.  1 -- Venezuela   1-5 Brazil
                         
                        Aug.  8 -- Bolivia     vs. Uruguay
                        Aug.  8 -- Ecuador     vs. Venezuela
                         
                        Aug. 15 -- Uruguay     vs. Brazil
                        Aug. 15 -- Bolivia     vs. Ecuador
                         
                        Aug. 22 -- Bolivia     vs. Venezuela
                        Aug. 22 -- Brazil      vs. Ecuador
                         
                        Aug. 29 -- Uruguay     vs. Venezuela
                        Aug. 29 -- Brazil      vs. Bolivia
                         
                        Sep.  5 -- Ecuador     vs. Uruguay
                        Sep.  5 -- Brazil      vs. Venezuela
                         
                        Sep. 12 -- Uruguay     vs. Bolivia
                        Sep. 12 -- Venezuela   vs. Ecuador
                        
                        Sep. 19 -- Brazil      vs. Uruguay
                        Sep. 19 -- Ecuador     vs. Bolivia
                        

	CONCACAF/OCEANIA (winner plays 2nd of Group A South America
			   to qualify for WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------------


		7/31/93 Canada	2-1 Australia


		

    
    Terrific summary ....thanks Gary...
    
    Dezzz.

    
    One match in Africa yesterday
    
    Senegal 0 Zambia 0, played in Ivory Coast.
    
    Zambia must win at home to Senegal and draw in Morocco to qualify.
    
    Gary.

    Big match coming up on Sunday in Sydney, Australia V. Canada.
    Canada won the first leg 2-1 after Mark Boznich's replacement Zabica
    was sent off for a professional foul. This highlights the problem of
    getting overseas based players available for countries like Australia.
    
    Latest news is that Frank Farina is in trouble with the Strasbourg
    authorities because the ASF didn't allow him back to France on the
    weekend to play.
    
    It's only once every 4 years, I reckon the clubs put too much pressure
    on these blokes. After they've finished playing, they'll remember the
    World Cup longer than just another league match.
    
    Ica

Heard a nice story this morning on the radio:

	In a Bolivian village the whole village was sitting around
	the only radio listening to the qualification match against
	Uruguay.
	When Bolivia scored the first goal, the crowd went mad and
	someone fired a rocket which landed on the thatched roof of
	one of the huts.
	Only after the match had finished they noticed that the roof 
	had caught fire and 40 huts burnt down to the ground. 
	Fortunately noone was injured.

Eduard  :-) :-)

    
    Bolivia now look good for US 94.  2 points at home to Venezuela
    (certain) and 3 points from Ecuador will guarantee qualification.  
    2 points from Ecuador will probably suffice.  Brazil or Uruguay will
    lose out.  It looks like Uruguay will be staying at home.  Ecuador are
    also serious contenders.
    
    Argentina will qualify as winners of group A.  Paraguay or Colombia will
    be the runners up.  Their return game in Asuncion (sp?) will be vital.
    The runners up meet Australia or Canada.
    
    Gary.

    Here's hoping Brazil get through. A World Cup without them is never the
    real thing.
    
    Paul

RE -1: Especially without their female fans ;-)

   Eduard

    re - 2 and especially with everyone predicting they'll win it every 4
    years, and ending up wrong.
    Ica

    We've got tickets for Sunday's match at the Sydney Football Stadium.
    
    I predict a 1-1 draw, with Australia bowing out.
    
    C'est la vie... I'm no nationalist, I just want to see a good game.
    
    That's why everyone should come to Centennial Park to see th Brian Van
    Wanderers take on the Eton Rifles at 12:30 before the big match.
    
    Total football?
    
    Peter.
    
    

    re .259
    	This is true about Brazil being seen as a potential WC winner. 
    However, this time around they look awful.  As a fan of Brazilian
    football, I am very disappointed.  I wonder how many people can still
    say Brazil have a good chance of winning WC94.
    	I am one of those who, every 4 year, hope Brazil will win.  This
    time, with this team, I don't know how I would feel if they won. I just
    don't think they have what it takes. 
    	Other notes have mentioned that a WC without Brazil would not be
    the same.  This is absolutely true.  The question remains though:
    what's better no Brazil or a louzy Brazil?

    
    Re .257, I trust you feel the same about England Paul.  :-)
    
    Gary.

    
    	I know you won't like this Gary and I'm not sure I understand the
    sentiment but....
    
    	Many other nations think that a world cup without England isn't
    quite the same. Certainly I've heard German colleagues say so, and the
    occasional Dutch and Italian. Maybe they just want to see which
    Dinosaur is manager THIS time round...
    
    	Of course they're all dying to see the latest cut and thrust,
    daredevil Irish team gleam on the world's biggest stage! :-}
    
    	By the way Tiger, thanks for putting me out of my misery. I've been
    wondering how long it would be before some made the quip abuout
    'England boys' staying at home. And what better place for them?

  The first half performance of Brazil in their game against Germany was probably
the best 45mins of football I have ever seen. Brazil could have led 5 or 6 nil
at half time instead of 3-0. I think the last time that Germany were so outplayed
was in the 1982 WC final against Italy. The second half was a different story
and that's probably the reason why Brazil are struggling at the moment...

   As Ed said earlier The Brazilian fans are something else (especially the
female ones!!!) and they along with the Brazilian team would be sorely missed
in the states.
                                                                -dave-

p.s The above mentioned game was played in June (US cup..)                                         

    
    World Cup result
    
    Australia  2   Canada   1     (agg 3-3, after extra time)
    
    Australia won penalty shoot-out 4-1
    
    Australia now play Paraguay or Colombia in the final qualifying
    round.
    
    

    re :-1
    
    > 
    >Australia now play Paraguay or Colombia in the final qualifying
    >round.
    >
    
    Australia might end up playing Argentina since they lost to Colombia
    yesterday.

    re: a couple back about England and Dinosaurs...
    
    Whats the difference between the English FA and its England Manager and 
    "Jurassic Park"?
    
    One is all about a museum full of dinosaurs living together on an Island
    cut off from the rest of the world...
    
    The other is a movie.
    
    Julian
    

    Gary, (re .253)
    
    I don't think Zambia need 3 more points just 2 ...
    the game against Senegal is irrevalant to zambia i.e they can
    afford to lose it - they only need a victory against Morocco
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
                1993 South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches
    
    (Home team first)
    
    Group A
    
    Aug.  1 -- Colombia vs. Paraguay        0-0
    Aug.  1 -- Peru vs. Argentina           0-1
    
    Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina       1-3
    Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia            0-1
    
    Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru            2-1
    Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina       2-1
    
    Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia        1-1
    Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru           2-1
    
    Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay       0-0
    Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru            4-0
    
    Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay            2-2
    Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia       0-5
    
                    G  W  D  L   F   A   P
    Colombia        6  4  2  0   13  2   10
    Argentina       6  3  1  2   7   9   7
    Paraguay        6  1  4  1   6   7   6
    Peru            6  0  1  5   4   12  0
      
    Colombia qualify, Argentina meet Australia for a place in the finals.
    
    Gary.

    
    July 18 -- Venezuela vs. Bolivia        1-7
    July 18 -- Ecuador vs. Brazil           0-0
    
    July 25 -- Venezuela vs. Uruguay        0-1
    July 25 -- Bolivia vs. Brazil           2-0
    
    Aug.  1 -- Uruguay vs. Ecuador          0-0
    Aug.  1 -- Venezuela vs. Brazil         1-5
    
    Aug.  8 -- Bolivia vs. Uruguay          3-1
    Aug.  8 -- Ecuador vs. Venezuela        5-0
    
    Aug. 15 -- Uruguay vs. Brazil           1-1
    Aug. 15 -- Bolivia vs. Ecuador          1-0
    
    Aug. 22 -- Bolivia vs. Venezuela        7-0
    Aug. 22 -- Brazil vs. Ecuador           2-0
    
    Aug. 29 -- Uruguay vs. Venezuela        4-0
    Aug. 29 -- Brazil vs. Bolivia           6-0
    
    Sep.  5 -- Ecuador vs. Uruguay          0-1
    Sep.  5 -- Brazil vs. Venezuela         4-0
    
                    G  W  D  L   F   A   P
    Brazil          7  4  2  1  18   4  10
    Bolivia         6  5  0  1  20   8  10
    Uruguay         6  3  2  1   8   4   8
    Ecuador         6  1  2  3   5   4   4
    Venezuela       7  0  0  7   2  33   0
    
    Sep. 12 -- Uruguay vs. Bolivia
    Sep. 12 -- Venezuela vs. Ecuador
    
    Sep. 19 -- Brazil vs. Uruguay
    Sep. 19 -- Ecuador vs. Bolivia
     
    Brazil need a draw at home to Uruguay.  They should be okay.  Bolivia
    are still favourites as even a 4-0 defeat in Uruguay is okay once they
    can draw with already eliminated Ecuador.
    
    Gary.

    Just thought you would like to know the US National team beat the
    touring Cameroon national team in a scrimmage last nite at their
    training facility in Mission Viejo. The score was 3-1 with Peter
    Vermes, Cobi Jones and Chris Henderson scoring. With Hugo Perez and Tom
    Dooley at midfield they controlled the ball very well. Its nice to see
    good soccer for free
    
    rick  

 
    so now we know 1/3rd of the teams for next summer's world cup
    U.S.A, Germany, Russia, Greece
    Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia
    
    final table from the remaining south american group.
    
                    G  W  D  L   F   A   P
    Brazil          8  5  2  1  20   4  12
    Bolivia         8  5  1  2  22  11  11
    Uruguay         8  4  2  2  10   7  10
    Ecuador         8  1  3  4   7   7   5
    Venezuela       8  1  0  7   4  34   0
    
    
    Sep. 19 -- Brazil 2  vs. 0 Uruguay
    Sep. 19 -- Ecuador 1 vs. 1 Bolivia
                         
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    OK i'm 500 notes behind and god knows how many mail messages so could some
    kind soul post here the 3 African results from over the weekend.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    African scores in 144.70

    re .274
    
    why don't we just stick to this stream since it has the more meaningful
    title.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Nigeria 1 Algeria 1 
    
    Nigeria qualify on goal difference over Ivory Coast.
    
    Other two Africa qualifiers to be decided on Sunday.

    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    And the tickets for the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the
    Final (Eire v Wales!) are now on sale. Order forms either in the mail
    on page 9C of today's USA today or available by calling 310-277-9494
    (an info only number is available on 1-800-600-1994
    
    If I get time over the weekend i'll transcribe the whole form but here
    are the highlights...
    
    tickets for the QF are $55, $80 or $140
    tickets for the SF are $90, $200 or $300
    tickets for the 3/4 are $60, $100, $125
    tickets for the final are $180, $300, $475 (I need a pay-rise)
    
    Catch 1- you can only order 2 (two) tickets per game
    	     not 1, 3 or more....
    Catch 2 - the draw is random (supposedly) you no longer get any
              priority even if you coughed up $500 for the earlier rounds.
    Catch 3 - one order form per address so unless you're
    	      Joe-the-godfather-Pistacchio with multipl credit-cards and
    	      safe houses you can only get two tickets
    
    You don't get told whether you get tickets til Jan 31st 1994 even
    though the forms must be returned by October 31st 1993
    
    There's 15 other conditions and exclusione listed beneath the form ,
    and 8 I haven't listed on the form itself.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks                                                   

    
    REsults
    
    Morocco 1 Zambia 0 - Morocco qualify
    
    Cameroon 3 Zimbabwe 1 - Cameroon qualify
    
    Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 - Nigeria qualify
    
    Full tables to follow.
    
    Gary.

World Cup 1994 qualifiers so far

1	U.S.A  (host)
2	Germany (defending)
3	Mexico
4	Russia
5	Greece
6       Colombia
7       Brazil
8       Bolivia
9	Nigeria
10	Morocco
11	Cameroon

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=





	WORLD CUP 1994 - EUROPE QUALIFIERS
        12 Teams (First 2 of each group) + Germany (Defending)

                Group 1
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Switzerland         8    5    3    0    19     5    13   17
                Italy               8    5    2    1    18     6    12   16
                Portugal            7    4    2    1    14     4    10   16
                Scotland            8    3    3    2    11    10     9   13
                Malta               9    1    1    7     3    21     3    4
                Estonia             8    0    1    7     1    20     1    5


		Group1
                        13.10.93: Portugal-Switzerland
                        13.10.93: Italy-Scotland
                        10.11.93: Portugal-Estonia
                        17.11.93: Italy-Portugal
                        17.11.93: Malta-Scotland
                        17.11.93: Switzerland-Estonia



                Group 2
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Norway              8    6    2    0    21     3    14   18
                Netherlands         8    4    3    1    24     8    11   15
                England             8    4    3    1    19     6    11   15
                Poland              7    3    2    2     8     7     8   14
                Turkey              8    1    1    6     7    17     3    7
                San Marino          9    0    1    8     1    39     1    3


		Group 2
                        13.10.93: Netherlands-England
                        13.10.93: Poland-Norway
                        27.10.93: Turkey-Poland
                        10.11 93: Turkey-Norway
                        16.11.93: San Marino-England
                        17.11.93: Poland-Netherlands




                Group 3
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Ireland            10    7    3    0    17     2    17   21
                Denmark            10    6    4    0    14     1    16   20
                Spain              10    6    3    1    23     3    15   19
                N. Ireland         10    5    2    3    13    11    12   16
                Lithuania          12    2    3    7     8    21     7    7
                Latvia             12    0    5    7     4    21     5    5
                Albania            12    1    2    9     6    26     4    4

                Group 3
                        13.10.93: Denmark-N. Ireland
                        13.10.93: Ireland-Spain
                        17.11.93: N. Ireland-Ireland
                        17.11.93: Spain-Denmark
      

                Group 4
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Belgium             8    7    0    1    15     3    14   18
                Romania             8    5    1    2    25    10    11   15
                Czechoslovakia      8    3    4    1    18     9    10   14
                Wales               8    4    2    2    16    10    10   14
                Cyprus              8    2    1    5     8    13     5    9
                Faroe Islands      10    0    0   10     1    38     0    0

		Group 4
                        13.10.93: Romania-Belgium
                        13.10.93: Wales-Cyprus
                        27.10.93: Czechoslovakia-Cyprus
                        17.11.93: Wales-Romania
                        17.11.93: Belgium-Czechoslovakia


                Group 5
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Russia              7    5    2    0    15     3    12   14
                Greece              6    4    2    0     6     1    10   14
                Iceland             8    3    2    3     7     6     8    8
                Hungary             7    1    1    5     5    11     3    5
                Luxembourg          6    0    1    5     1    13     1    5
                Yugoslavia          FIFA disqualified



		Group 5
                        12.10.93: Luxembourg-Greece
                        27.10.93: Hungary-Luxembourg
                        17.11.93: Greece-Russia

                Group 6
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Sweden              8    5    2    1    15     5    12   16
                France              8    6    1    1    14     5    13   17
                Bulgaria            8    4    2    2    13     8    10   14
                Austria             7    3    0    4    12    10     6   12
                Finland             8    1    1    6     4    14     3    7
                Israel              7    0    2    5     5    21     2    8


		Group 6
                        13.10.93: France-Israel
                        13.10.93: Bulgaria-Austria
                        13.10.93: Sweden-Finland
                        27.10.93: Israel-Austria
                        10.11.93: Austria-Sweden
                        10.11.93: Israel-Finland
                        17.11.93: France-Bulgaria




	Asia  (top 2 advance to WC94)
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


                                G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                Japan           0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                South Korea     0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                North Korea     0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Iraq            0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Iran            0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Saudi Arabia    0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20

                ASIA Round 2 (to be held in Doha, Qatar)

                93/10/15 North Korea    Iraq
                93/10/15 Saudi Arabia   Japan

                93/10/16 Iran           South Korea

                93/10/18 North Korea    Saudi Arabia
                93/10/18 Japan          Iran

                93/10/19 Iraq           South Korea 

                93/10/21 North Korea    Japan

                93/10/22 Iran           Iraq
                93/10/22 South Korea    Saudi Arabia

                93/10/24 Iraq           Saudi Arabia

                93/10/25 Japan          South Korea
                93/10/25 Iran           North Korea

                93/10/28 South Korea    North Korea
                93/10/28 Saudi Arabia   Iran
                93/10/28 Iraq           Japan

                
 

	 AFRICAN ZONE STANDINGS (Group winners advance to WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------

                African FINAL Group A
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Nigeria         4 2 1 1  10 5  5     5
                Cote d'Ivoire   4 2 1 1  5  6  5     5
                Algeria         4 0 2 2  3  7  2     2



                African FINAL Group B
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Morocco         4 3 0 1  6  3  6     6
		Zambia          4 2 1 1  6  2  5     5
                Senegal         4 0 1 3  1  8  1     1


                African FINAL Group C
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cameroon        4 3 0 1  7  3  4     6
                Zimbabwe        4 2 0 2  3  6  4     4
		Guinea          4 1 0 3  4  5  2     2 



                
              
                        

	CONCACAF/OCEANIA (winner plays Argentina)
	--------------------------------------------------------------


		7/31/93 Canada	2-1 Australia

		14/8/93 Australia 2 Canada 1 aet (Australia win 4-1 on pens)


            1993 South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches

(Home team first)      

Group A

Aug.  1 -- Colombia vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug.  1 -- Peru vs. Argentina		0-1  

Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina	1-3  
Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia		0-1

Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru		2-1
Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina	2-1  

Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia	1-1
Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru		2-1

Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru		4-0

Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay		2-2
Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia	0-5

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Colombia        6  4  2  0   13  2   10
Argentina       6  3  1  2   7   9   7
Paraguay        6  1  4  1   6   7   6
Peru            6  0  1  5   4   12  1



                             Group B

July 18 -- Venezuela vs. Bolivia	1-7
July 18 -- Ecuador vs. Brazil		0-0

July 25 -- Venezuela vs. Uruguay	0-1
July 25 -- Bolivia vs. Brazil		2-0

Aug.  1 -- Uruguay vs. Ecuador		0-0
Aug.  1 -- Venezuela vs. Brazil		1-5

Aug.  8 -- Bolivia vs. Uruguay   	3-1
Aug.  8 -- Ecuador vs. Venezuela	5-0

Aug. 15 -- Uruguay vs. Brazil		1-1
Aug. 15 -- Bolivia vs. Ecuador		1-0

Aug. 22 -- Bolivia vs. Venezuela	7-0
Aug. 22 -- Brazil vs. Ecuador		2-0

Aug. 29 -- Uruguay vs. Venezuela	4-0
Aug. 29 -- Brazil vs. Bolivia		6-0

Sep.  5 -- Ecuador vs. Uruguay		0-1
Sep.  5 -- Brazil vs. Venezuela		4-0

Sep. 12 -- Uruguay vs. Bolivia		2-1
Sep. 12 -- Venezuela vs. Ecuador	2-1

Sep. 19 -- Brazil vs. Uruguay		2-0
Sep. 19 -- Ecuador vs. Bolivia		1-1

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Brazil          8  5  2  1  20   4  12
Bolivia         8  5  1  2  22  11  11
Uruguay         8  4  2  2  10   7  10
Ecuador         8  1  3  3   7   7   5
Venezuela       8  1  0  7   4  34   0

    Only omission I could spot was the dates of the Australia v Argentina
    play-offs for the 24th spot which are...
    
    Oct 31st and Nov 13th.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    Oct 31st in Sydney, Nov 13th in Argentina (Beunos Aires ?)

  Maradona is back on the Argentina team to play Oz, the only problem is geting
a visa because of his drugs related offense. 

    Gooday,
    	re -.1, we don't ban drug users from our shores, like the bloody
    hypocritical Yanks, we let 'em in. After all, as everyone knows, you
    Europeans sent all the riff-raff out here and we're just keeping up the
    tradition.
    
    The latest is that the Australian Immigration Minister, Nick Bolkus, is
    to personally process Primadonna's visa application. It looks like the
    little petulant bastard will be playing.
    
    Yesterday he threatened from Buenos Aries - "If they don't let me go, I'll
    run rings around them here in the second leg". Is this the same turd
    who demanded half a million every time he played for his country?
    
    BTW, the return leg is on on November 17th in Buenos Aries.
    
    Ica
                                                                        

    I'm not sure what prompted this early morning (U.K time since that's
    where this node is) outburst from our Australian friend but before I
    call it a night i'd just like to record the fact (accroding to the BBC)
    that of 7 teams that could have confirmed a WC berth yesterday only
    1 Norway did.
    
    they become the 12th nation to qualify for WC 94 
    
    that means i guess that the 9 remaining European slots and the
    CONACAF/OCEANIA/South america slot will all be decided on Nov 17th.
    
    The draw remember will be made on Dec 17th in las Vegas.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    G'day Wicksy,
    		I'm not sure what prompted the outburst either. Maybe it
    was a puffed up, stuffed up, drug-taking has-been from Argentina. Or
    maybe it is the sheer excitement of seeing the Socceroos 3 hours from
    USA '94. As far as the Yanks are concerned, why do they get the World
    Cup when their nation on the whole knows nothing about soccer? After
    holding the last one in Italy (soccer heaven), USA '94, I fear, will be
    like holding Vatican III in hell.
    
    A lot of you won't know this but this match has been staged before, on
    July 14th, 1988. The result was Australia 4 Argentina 1. 
    
    Ica 

    
    Hi Ica,
    
    	Well I hope you thrash Argentina and get a trip to the states. I'll
    support your crowd since we're staying at home. And there was I hoping
    the American police would massacre our holligan problem for us!
    
    		Steve

    
    
     Steve,
    
           if fist fights were all the American police would see, then
    they'd decalre a national holiday forthemseles that day.
    They must dream in bed at night for a normal fist fight.
    
    Gazzer

World Cup 1994 qualifiers so far

1	U.S.A  (host)
2	Germany (defending)
3	Mexico
4	Russia
5	Greece
6       Colombia
7       Brazil
8       Bolivia
9	Nigeria
10	Morocco
11	Cameroon
12	Norway
13	Sweden

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=





	WORLD CUP 1994 - EUROPE QUALIFIERS
        12 Teams (First 2 of each group) + Germany (Defending)

                Group 1
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Italy               9    6    2    1    21     7    14   16
                Switzerland         9    5    3    1    19     6    13   15
                Portugal            8    5    2    1    15     4    12   16
                Scotland            9    3    3    3    12    13     9   11
                Malta               9    1    1    7     3    21     3    4
                Estonia             8    0    1    7     1    20     1    5


		Group1
                        10.11.93: Portugal-Estonia
                        17.11.93: Italy-Portugal
                        17.11.93: Malta-Scotland
                        17.11.93: Switzerland-Estonia



                Group 2
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Norway              9    7    2    0    24     3    16   18
                Netherlands         9    5    3    1    26     8    13   15
                England             9    4    3    2    19     8    11   13
                Poland              8    3    2    3     8    10     8   12
                Turkey              8    1    1    6     7    17     3    7
                San Marino          9    0    1    8     1    39     1    3


		Group 2
                        27.10.93: Turkey-Poland
                        10.11 93: Turkey-Norway
                        16.11.93: San Marino-England
                        17.11.93: Poland-Netherlands




                Group 3
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Denmark            11    7    4    0    15     1    18   20
                Spain              11    7    3    1    26     4    17   19
                Ireland            11    7    3    1    18     5    17   19
                N. Ireland         11    5    2    4    13    12    12   14
                Lithuania          12    2    3    7     8    21     7    7
                Latvia             12    0    5    7     4    21     5    5
                Albania            12    1    2    9     6    26     4    4

                Group 3
                        17.11.93: N. Ireland-Ireland
                        17.11.93: Spain-Denmark
      

                Group 4
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Belgium             9    7    0    2    16     5    14   16
                Romania             9    6    1    2    27    11    13   15
                Wales               9    5    2    2    18    10    12   14
                Czechoslovakia      8    3    4    1    18     9    10   14
                Cyprus              9    2    1    6     8    15     5    7
                Faroe Islands      10    0    0   10     1    38     0    0

		Group 4
                        27.10.93: Czechoslovakia-Cyprus
                        17.11.93: Wales-Romania
                        17.11.93: Belgium-Czechoslovakia


                Group 5
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Russia              7    5    2    0    15     3    12   14
                Greece              7    5    2    0     8     2    12   14
                Iceland             8    3    2    3     7     6     8    8
                Hungary             7    1    1    5     5    11     3    5
                Luxembourg          7    0    1    6     2    15     1    3
                Yugoslavia          FIFA disqualified



		Group 5
                        27.10.93: Hungary-Luxembourg
                        17.11.93: Greece-Russia

                Group 6
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Sweden              9    6    2    1    18     7    14   16
                France              9    6    1    2    16     8    13   15
                Bulgaria            9    5    2    2    17     9    12   14
                Austria             8    3    0    5    13    14     6   10
                Israel              8    1    2    5     8    23     4    8
                Finland             9    1    1    7     6    17     3    5


		Group 6
                        27.10.93: Israel-Austria
                        10.11.93: Austria-Sweden
                        10.11.93: Israel-Finland
                        17.11.93: France-Bulgaria




	Asia  (top 2 advance to WC94)
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


                                G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                Japan           0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                South Korea     0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                North Korea     0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Iraq            0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Iran            0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20
                Saudi Arabia    0   0  0  0    0   0    0     20

                ASIA Round 2 (to be held in Doha, Qatar)

                93/10/15 North Korea    Iraq
                93/10/15 Saudi Arabia   Japan

                93/10/16 Iran           South Korea

                93/10/18 North Korea    Saudi Arabia
                93/10/18 Japan          Iran

                93/10/19 Iraq           South Korea 

                93/10/21 North Korea    Japan

                93/10/22 Iran           Iraq
                93/10/22 South Korea    Saudi Arabia

                93/10/24 Iraq           Saudi Arabia

                93/10/25 Japan          South Korea
                93/10/25 Iran           North Korea

                93/10/28 South Korea    North Korea
                93/10/28 Saudi Arabia   Iran
                93/10/28 Iraq           Japan

                
 

	 AFRICAN ZONE STANDINGS (Group winners advance to WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------

                African FINAL Group A
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Nigeria         4 2 1 1  10 5  5     5
                Cote d'Ivoire   4 2 1 1  5  6  5     5
                Algeria         4 0 2 2  3  7  2     2



                African FINAL Group B
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Morocco         4 3 0 1  6  3  6     6
		Zambia          4 2 1 1  6  2  5     5
                Senegal         4 0 1 3  1  8  1     1


                African FINAL Group C
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cameroon        4 3 0 1  7  3  4     6
                Zimbabwe        4 2 0 2  3  6  4     4
		Guinea          4 1 0 3  4  5  2     2 



                
              
                        

	CONCACAF/OCEANIA (winner plays Argentina)
	--------------------------------------------------------------


		7/31/93 Canada	2-1 Australia

		14/8/93 Australia 2 Canada 1 aet (Australia win 4-1 on pens)

		31/10/93  Australia v Argentina
		14/11/93  Argentina v Australia


            1993 South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches

(Home team first)      

Group A

Aug.  1 -- Colombia vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug.  1 -- Peru vs. Argentina		0-1  

Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina	1-3  
Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia		0-1

Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru		2-1
Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina	2-1  

Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia	1-1
Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru		2-1

Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru		4-0

Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay		2-2
Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia	0-5

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Colombia        6  4  2  0   13  2   10
Argentina       6  3  1  2   7   9   7
Paraguay        6  1  4  1   6   7   6
Peru            6  0  1  5   4   12  1



                             Group B

July 18 -- Venezuela vs. Bolivia	1-7
July 18 -- Ecuador vs. Brazil		0-0

July 25 -- Venezuela vs. Uruguay	0-1
July 25 -- Bolivia vs. Brazil		2-0

Aug.  1 -- Uruguay vs. Ecuador		0-0
Aug.  1 -- Venezuela vs. Brazil		1-5

Aug.  8 -- Bolivia vs. Uruguay   	3-1
Aug.  8 -- Ecuador vs. Venezuela	5-0

Aug. 15 -- Uruguay vs. Brazil		1-1
Aug. 15 -- Bolivia vs. Ecuador		1-0

Aug. 22 -- Bolivia vs. Venezuela	7-0
Aug. 22 -- Brazil vs. Ecuador		2-0

Aug. 29 -- Uruguay vs. Venezuela	4-0
Aug. 29 -- Brazil vs. Bolivia		6-0

Sep.  5 -- Ecuador vs. Uruguay		0-1
Sep.  5 -- Brazil vs. Venezuela		4-0

Sep. 12 -- Uruguay vs. Bolivia		2-1
Sep. 12 -- Venezuela vs. Ecuador	2-1

Sep. 19 -- Brazil vs. Uruguay		2-0
Sep. 19 -- Ecuador vs. Bolivia		1-1

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Brazil          8  5  2  1  20   4  12
Bolivia         8  5  1  2  22  11  11
Uruguay         8  4  2  2  10   7  10
Ecuador         8  1  3  3   7   7   5
Venezuela       8  1  0  7   4  34   0

    
    Comments on Europe.
    
    Group 1
    
    Portugal must beat Estonia by 4 goals to have a realistic chance.  They
    may draw in Italy but I can't see them winning there.  Switzerland must
    put 2 past Estonia to be sure.
    
    Group 2
    
    Holland should get the point required in Poland.  England will probably
    get seven against San Marino but they need a lot of luck to qualify.
    
    Group 3
    
    Ireland will have big problems winning in Belfast.  We've never even
    scored up there.  I fancy Spain to win and Ireland to sneak through.
    
    Group 4
    
    Belgium should draw at home to RCS.  It's looking tough for Wales but
    my heart still says they can do it.  On from Romania look a better bet.
    
    Group 5
    
    Russia and Greece to qualify.  :-)
    
    Group 6
    
    France need a draw at home to Bulgaria.  It will be a nerve wracking
    night in Paris.  
    
    Gary.

    
    Mmmm, I wondered when this note would go in.....Yes Germany are
    starting to look very ominous with Moeller, Effenberg and Ziege
    starting to look like the anchor men for the team. 
    
    Germany aren't supposed to play this well in friendlies...goodness
    knows what they'll be like when it comes to the real thing...
    
    OK I'll go out on a limb here....Germany or Brasil to win on 17th July.
    
    Dark horses...Columbia
    
    Dezzz.
     

    I watched this match - since I couldn't watch the England v Holland
    game. Germany looked superb in the first half (or should that read
    Uruguay looked appalling?) - and I thought the game would end 10 nil
    to Germany. However, in the 2nd half I think Uruguay looked slightly
    better, and Germany seemed to have lost interest (understandable!) - so 
    it got a bit boring really (maybe not if you were supporting Germany or 
    Uruguay).
    The German team was little changed from the one that played England in 
    the semi-finals of the last world cup, and they still looked good. 
    You're right, Graham Taylor could *certainly* learn something from that! 
    
    Al.

    opening results from qatar on the asian qualifiers
    games played friday/saturday.
    
    North korea 3 Iraq 2 (iraq were 2-0 up)
    Saudi Arabia 0 Japan 0
    
    I missed the iran v S. Korea result - anyone care to fill in the blank.
    
    Second round of games today/tomorrow
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    3-0 to South Korea, you'll find it in 313
    

    
    
    
      News from The Sydney Morning Herald  Australia V. Argentina 31 October.
                                                                
       
                                                                           
    Its' official! Diego Maradona and the Argentine soccer team will be
    playing to the "beat of a different drum" when they meet the Socceroos
    at the Sydney Football Stadium later this month. In fact, they'll be
    performing to the silence of no drums. The Australian Soccer Federation
    will stand firm behind their decision to ban Argentine supporters from
    bringing their customary drums into the ground. "Our only intention is
    to support our national team and make this occasion a memorable evening
    with a carnival atmosphere - full of colour that such an important game
    deserves", Carlos Schwinidt, coordinator of the Argentine supporters
    said. But Ian Holmes, chief executive of the ASF said his
    organisation's reasons for not allowing the drums was for "safety and
    convenience". "If you paid top dollar to watch the match, and have the
    unfortunate experience of sitting next to someone banging a bloody big
    drum for 90 minutes, your earholes would not be too good by fulltime.
    It's not as if we're playing in an open park and can send the drummers
    to the other side. The stadium will be full to overflowing, and because
    of the nature of the match there will be a bit of bite in the air. One
    thing could so easily lead to a crowd problem. Our reasoning is for
    safety and convenience and if it makes us unpopular, so be it".
    
    
    A good decision by the ASF, I think. Who needs drums when you've got
    voices. Yes to drugs, but no to drums.
    
    Ica
    
    P.S. G'day Steve, how are ya?
    
    
    

    
    do you think this will prompt any retaliation in the return leg?
    what do aussie fans take to footie games that could be banned?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    ok world service was too crackly last night due to a thunderstorm
    or something.
    
    I saw elsewhere that Saudi beat North Korea 2-1 but what happened
    in japan v iran and Iraq v S.Korea
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    G'day Wicksy,
    	We take our voices, we don't need drums or drugs.
    
    	For example - to the tune of Mama Mia by ABBA -
    	and dedicated to the great Frank Arok, Australian coach 1983-1990
    
    	We've been cheated by FIFA since we don't know when,
    	They make us play South Americans at the stroke of a pen.
                
Chorus: Frankie,Frankie, here we go again,
    	Why, why, won't they let us qualify.
    
    	Ica
    

    From the Sydney Morning Herald, October 20th.
    
    Around 2000 fans gathered at Sydney Airport last night to greet Diego
    Primadona and 10 other members of Argentina's World Cup squad. In scenes
    reminiscent of a South American soccer stadium, masses of drum-beating,
    flag-waving Argentine supporters began to assemble hours before the
    players' delayed arrival from Auckland at 10.05pm.
    
    Hundreds of people, including children, were clad in Argentina's sky
    blue and white striped shirts, bearing huge banners and chanting
    Argentina ! Argentina!
    
    They waited and waited and began to grow restless, but finally were
    rewarded with 90 seconds of bliss when the sliding doors in the arrival
    lounge opened to reveal  Primadona and goalkeeper Sergio Goychochea
    surrounded by six police officers.
    
    At first, Primadona appeared nonplussed by the crowd's fervour but he
    broke into a broad smile and gave a wave before disappearing. He and
    the other players were then spirited out a back entrance and taken to a
    Coogee hotel.
    
    The rest of the sqaud, including Italian and Spanish-based players,
    will arrive next week.
    
    
    

    
    One more result
    
    South Korea 2 Iraq 2
    
    Iraq equalised after 86 minutes.
    
    No side has full points and no side is pointless after 2 games.  Looks
    like a close group.  South Korea must still be favourites.
    
                                    G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                    South Korea     2   1  1  0    5   2    3      9
                    Saudi Arabia    2   1  1  0    2   1    3      9
                    North Korea     2   1  0  1    4   4    2      8
                    Iran            2   1  0  1    2   4    2      8
                    Iraq            2   0  1  1    4   5    1      7
                    Japan           2   0  1  1    1   2    1      7
    
                    ASIA Round 2 (to be held in Doha, Qatar)
    
                    93/10/21 North Korea    Japan
    
                    93/10/22 Iran           Iraq
                    93/10/22 South Korea    Saudi Arabia
    
                    93/10/24 Iraq           Saudi Arabia
    
                    93/10/25 Japan          South Korea
                    93/10/25 Iran           North Korea
    
                    93/10/28 South Korea    North Korea
                    93/10/28 Saudi Arabia   Iran
                    93/10/28 Iraq           Japan
    

Shock!:
    
                    93/10/21 North Korea    Japan
    					0 - 3
				
                                    G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                    South Korea     2   1  1  0    5   2    3      9
                    Japan           3   1  1  1    4   2    3      7
                    Saudi Arabia    2   1  1  0    2   1    3      9
                    Iran            2   1  0  1    2   4    2      8
                    North Korea     3   1  0  2    4   7    2      6
                    Iraq            2   0  1  1    4   5    1      7
    
                    ASIA Round 2 (to be held in Doha, Qatar)
    
                    93/10/22 Iran           Iraq
                    93/10/22 South Korea    Saudi Arabia
    
                    93/10/24 Iraq           Saudi Arabia
    
                    93/10/25 Japan          South Korea
                    93/10/25 Iran           North Korea
    
                    93/10/28 South Korea    North Korea
                    93/10/28 Saudi Arabia   Iran
                    93/10/28 Iraq           Japan
    

    GASh,
    
    It's still early - I mean Japan went from 6th to 2nd just by winning 
    a game!
    
    Anyone know what happens if all the teams finish on say 5 points? 
    A shoot-out? using helicopter gunships??
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    

    
    Iraq 2 - Iran 0. Both sides had a man sent off. The Iraqis live to
    fight another day - against the Saudis next.....
    
    Apparently their strikers were like Scuds.....they very rarely hit the
    target and then suddenly 2 got lucky!

    IRAQ also drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia - this places them on top of the
    table at the moment (everyone else has a game in hand).
    
    Anyone know the result of South Korea v Saudi played on the 22nd?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    Standings of the Asian group so far...
    
    Japan         4   2 1 1   5-2   5
    Saudi Arabia  4   1 3 0   4-3   5
    South Korea   4   1 2 1   6-4   4
    Iraq          4   1 2 1   7-7   4
    Iran          4   2 0 2   5-7   4
    North Korea   4   1 0 3   5-9   2
    
    93/10/28	South Korea  - North Korea
    93/10/28	Saudi Arabia - Iran
    93/10/28	Iraq         - Japan
    
    Looks like the last round decides it all...
    
    
    Hermann
    

    The table in .-1 differs from the one I have so i'll post this one
    (the one in .-1 has different goal totals for Iran/Iraq)
    
                                        G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts
                        Japan           4   2  1  1    5   2    5
                        Saudi Arabia    4   1  3  0    4   3    5
                        South Korea     4   1  2  1    6   4    4
                        Iraq            4   1  2  1    7   6    4
                        Iran            4   2  0  2    4   7    4
                        North Korea     4   1  0  3    5   9    2
      
    Here are the results of rounds 3 and 4:
    
                       93/10/21 North Korea    0 Japan 3
                       93/10/22 Iran           0 Iraq  2
                       93/10/22 South Korea    1 Saudi Arabia 1
    
                       93/10/24 Iraq           1 Saudi Arabia 1
                       93/10/25 Japan          1 South Korea 0
                       93/10/25 Iran           2 North Korea 1
     
    I guess the surprises were japan who perked up after a disappointing start
    to go from last to first. South korea the pre-tournament favourites
    falling to third. Saudi arabia look at bit boring with three draws.
    
    Only North korea are out so this will all go down to the wire with any
    of the other 5 making it through.
    
    It finishes on thursday with 
    
                        93/10/28 South Korea    North Korea
                        93/10/28 Saudi Arabia   Iran
                        93/10/28 Iraq           Japan
    
    The u.S papers/tv programmes only mention of the tournament other than
    the scores was the prospect of iraq qualifying, this appears to be
    getting a bit of coverage with letters to the local paper saying that
    they shouldn't be allowed to enter. Guess everyone wants Japan and
    Saudi Arabia to qualify?
    
    regards,
                                  
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Wicksy,
    		not me, I'm supporting Iraq, North Korea, Iran, South
    Korea, Japan and the Saudis in that order.
    
    Ica

    Latest News on the Australia V. Argentina match October 31, Sydney.
    
    Diego Primadonna scored 9 goals in a practice match at Wentworth Park
    yesterday in what amounted to a mere stroll. Argentina ened up scoring
    in the region of 13 goals against a team made up of a number of young
    local players. Meanwhile, their preparation for Sunday is set to move
    into top gear following the arrival of the rest of the squad last
    night, including Gabriel Batistuta.
    
    Australian coach Eddie Thomson has hit out at divisive elements who are
    trying to undermine the Socceroos. He admitted he has been disgusted by
    claims that there is a widening rift between the overseas-based
    players and the locals in the squad. "It makes me sick to hear rubbish
    like that" Thomson said.
    
    Ica

Bosnich was in outrageous form for Villa last night. We won 4-1 against
Sunderland but without him we could have lost 6-4.

Athletic leaps, daring dives, garish jerseys, he's got the lot.

Mike

    
    I concur. I watched the TV highlights and Bosnich was world class. He
    was quite astonishing with several impossible saves, notably from
    Armstrong and Goodman. Sunderland murdered Villa in the first half hour
    and but for Bosnich would've been 4 nil up. However, Villa soaked up
    the pressure and caught the Makems on the break 4 times -- they had about 
    5 chances and scored 4, so you can't argue with that level of
    professionalism.
    
    Tim

    
    I think the game Irak - Iran ended 2 - 1, and so the table
    in .306 would the correct one.
    Correct me if I am wrong.
    
    Hermann
    

    I was going on the result posted in .304

it was 2-1. The goals were on telly last night..

    Especially not after drinking half a bottle of Glenfiddich !

    
    I've just heard that South Korea and Saudi Arabia have qualified.
    
    This is third hand and from a reliable source but I've no idea if his
    source is reliable.
    
    Gary.

    Well today's the day so can anyone check World Service or TeleText.
    
    South Korea and Saudi would definitely be the governments choice over
    here! 
    
    if this is true then I guess Japan must have lost to Iraq.
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

I can confirm that Saudi Arabia and South Korea have qualified.
Although I don't know the exact results, I know that they both won.
Japan and Iraq played 1 : 1 and Japan is third on goal difference.

	1. Saudi Arabia
	2. South Korea
	3. Japan
	.
	.
	.

Eduard

                                             
     South Korea - North Korea   3-0         
     Saudi Arabia - Iran         4-3         
     Iraq - Japan                2-2         
                                             
     Saudi Arabia  5 2 3 0 8- 6 7            
     South Korea   5 2 2 1 9- 4 6            
     Japan         5 2 2 1 7- 4 6            
     Iraq          5 1 3 1 9- 9 5            
     Iran          5 2 0 3 8-11 4            
     North Korea   5 1 0 4 5-12 2                         
         
    I wonder what the CIA budget for this project was? ;^)                    

And Japan were only 10seconds away from winning 2-1 and qualifying . . .

g

    
    Japan missed out.  They led 2-1 with 10 seconds left and Iraq equalised
    to send South Korea through.
    
    Gary.

World Cup 1994 qualifiers so far

1	U.S.A  (host)
2	Germany (defending)
3	Mexico
4	Russia
5	Greece
6       Colombia
7       Brazil
8       Bolivia
9	Nigeria
10	Morocco
11	Cameroon
12	Norway
13	Sweden
14	Saudi Arabia
15	Republic of Korea (South Korea)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=





	WORLD CUP 1994 - EUROPE QUALIFIERS
        12 Teams (First 2 of each group) + Germany (Defending)

                Group 1
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Italy               9    6    2    1    21     7    14   16
                Switzerland         9    5    3    1    19     6    13   15
                Portugal            8    5    2    1    15     4    12   16
                Scotland            9    3    3    3    12    13     9   11
                Malta               9    1    1    7     3    21     3    4
                Estonia             8    0    1    7     1    20     1    5


		Group1
                        10.11.93: Portugal-Estonia
                        17.11.93: Italy-Portugal
                        17.11.93: Malta-Scotland
                        17.11.93: Switzerland-Estonia



                Group 2
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Norway              9    7    2    0    24     3    16   18
                Netherlands         9    5    3    1    26     8    13   15
                England             9    4    3    2    19     8    11   13
                Poland              9    3    2    4     9    12     8   10
                Turkey              9    2    1    6     9    18     5    7
                San Marino          9    0    1    8     1    39     1    3


		Group 2
                        10.11 93: Turkey-Norway
                        16.11.93: San Marino-England
                        17.11.93: Poland-Netherlands




                Group 3
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Denmark            11    7    4    0    15     1    18   20
                Spain              11    7    3    1    26     4    17   19
                Ireland            11    7    3    1    18     5    17   19
                N. Ireland         11    5    2    4    13    12    12   14
                Lithuania          12    2    3    7     8    21     7    7
                Latvia             12    0    5    7     4    21     5    5
                Albania            12    1    2    9     6    26     4    4

                Group 3
                        17.11.93: N. Ireland-Ireland
                        17.11.93: Spain-Denmark
      

                Group 4
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Belgium             9    7    0    2    16     5    14   16
                Romania             9    6    1    2    27    11    13   15
                Czechoslovakia      9    4    4    1    21     9    12   14
                Wales               9    5    2    2    18    10    12   14
                Cyprus             10    2    1    7     8    18     5    5
                Faroe Islands      10    0    0   10     1    38     0    0

		Group 4
                        17.11.93: Wales-Romania
                        17.11.93: Belgium-Czechoslovakia


                Group 5
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Russia              7    5    2    0    15     3    12   14
                Greece              7    5    2    0     8     2    12   14
                Iceland             8    3    2    3     7     6     8    8
                Hungary             8    2    1    5     6    11     5    5
                Luxembourg          8    0    1    7     2    16     1    1
                Yugoslavia          FIFA disqualified



		Group 5
                        17.11.93: Greece-Russia

                Group 6
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Sweden              9    6    2    1    18     7    14   16
                France              9    6    1    2    16     8    13   15
                Bulgaria            9    5    2    2    17     9    12   14
                Austria             8    3    1    5    14    15     7    9
                Israel              8    1    3    5     9    24     5    7
                Finland             9    1    1    7     6    17     3    5


		Group 6
                        10.11.93: Austria-Sweden
                        10.11.93: Israel-Finland
                        17.11.93: France-Bulgaria




	Asia  (top 2 advance to WC94)
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


                                G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                Saudi Arabia    5   2  3  0    8   6    7      7
                South Korea     5   2  2  1    9   4    6      6
                Japan           5   2  2  1    7   4    6      6
                Iraq            5   1  3  1    9   9    5      5
                Iran            5   2  0  3    8   11   4      4
                North Korea     5   1  0  4    5   12   2      2

                ASIA Round 2 (held in Doha, Qatar)

                
 

	 AFRICAN ZONE STANDINGS (Group winners advance to WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------

                African FINAL Group A
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Nigeria         4 2 1 1  10 5  5     5
                Cote d'Ivoire   4 2 1 1  5  6  5     5
                Algeria         4 0 2 2  3  7  2     2



                African FINAL Group B
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Morocco         4 3 0 1  6  3  6     6
		Zambia          4 2 1 1  6  2  5     5
                Senegal         4 0 1 3  1  8  1     1


                African FINAL Group C
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cameroon        4 3 0 1  7  3  4     6
                Zimbabwe        4 2 0 2  3  6  4     4
		Guinea          4 1 0 3  4  5  2     2 



                
              
                        

	CONCACAF/OCEANIA (winner plays Argentina)
	--------------------------------------------------------------


		7/31/93 Canada	2-1 Australia

		14/8/93 Australia 2 Canada 1 aet (Australia win 4-1 on pens)

		31/10/93  Australia v Argentina
		14/11/93  Argentina v Australia


            1993 South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches

(Home team first)      

Group A

Aug.  1 -- Colombia vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug.  1 -- Peru vs. Argentina		0-1  

Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina	1-3  
Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia		0-1

Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru		2-1
Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina	2-1  

Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia	1-1
Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru		2-1

Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru		4-0

Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay		2-2
Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia	0-5

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Colombia        6  4  2  0   13  2   10
Argentina       6  3  1  2   7   9   7
Paraguay        6  1  4  1   6   7   6
Peru            6  0  1  5   4   12  1



                             Group B

July 18 -- Venezuela vs. Bolivia	1-7
July 18 -- Ecuador vs. Brazil		0-0

July 25 -- Venezuela vs. Uruguay	0-1
July 25 -- Bolivia vs. Brazil		2-0

Aug.  1 -- Uruguay vs. Ecuador		0-0
Aug.  1 -- Venezuela vs. Brazil		1-5

Aug.  8 -- Bolivia vs. Uruguay   	3-1
Aug.  8 -- Ecuador vs. Venezuela	5-0

Aug. 15 -- Uruguay vs. Brazil		1-1
Aug. 15 -- Bolivia vs. Ecuador		1-0

Aug. 22 -- Bolivia vs. Venezuela	7-0
Aug. 22 -- Brazil vs. Ecuador		2-0

Aug. 29 -- Uruguay vs. Venezuela	4-0
Aug. 29 -- Brazil vs. Bolivia		6-0

Sep.  5 -- Ecuador vs. Uruguay		0-1
Sep.  5 -- Brazil vs. Venezuela		4-0

Sep. 12 -- Uruguay vs. Bolivia		2-1
Sep. 12 -- Venezuela vs. Ecuador	2-1

Sep. 19 -- Brazil vs. Uruguay		2-0
Sep. 19 -- Ecuador vs. Bolivia		1-1

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Brazil          8  5  2  1  20   4  12
Bolivia         8  5  1  2  22  11  11
Uruguay         8  4  2  2  10   7  10
Ecuador         8  1  3  3   7   7   5
Venezuela       8  1  0  7   4  34   0

Well at least it won't be a complete walkover for Germany. There are loads of
teams in that list that will give them a run for their money, although I can't
think of any specific examples.

Even England could have done well against that lot.

Mike

    Australia 1 Argentina 1	- match report later
    
    Ica

    
    World Cup Qualifier 1st Leg
    
    Australia    1  Argentina    1
    
    Argentina scored with their first chance after about 37 mins.
    Australia equalised 5 mins later.  Draw was about the right
    result.
    
    Impressions.  Besides crossing for the goal, Maradona was too
    old and too slow and largely a waste of space.  Argentina will
    almost certainly qualify but will trouble no-one in USA 94.
    
    Attendence: 43,967 a record for Sydney Football Stadium for any
    sport (which raised a lot of Rugby League eyebrows).

Australia 1 Argentina 1

The Socceroos showed they are definitely now a force to be reckoned with at the 
highest level with last nights performance. They were at Argentina from the 
word go and were unlucky not to go ahead during the first half hour. Robbie 
Slater in particular was outstanding for Australia, continually taking on 
the defence with his pace. It came as a surprise then when Argentina got a 
goal thanks to Primadona and a great header from Balbo as this was their 
first shot. Happily for us we equalised 5 minutes later when Zelic put 
Vidmar through down the right with a pass of German precision, he crossed, 
and his brother put it away.

Half time 1-1, the floodlights failed and it took half an hour to get back 
on the pitch.  The Argies got it together a bit more and started passing 
the ball around, keeping possession for long periods, but our defence was 
pretty organised and they hardly had a shot at goal. The world's greatest 
goalkeeper wasn't troubled and even decided to head the ball to safety at 
one stage. If they can show off their superior ball skills Bosnich can show 
off his superior heading and throwing skills. 

I was a bit disappointed that we only had Arnie up front and Mitchell 
coming on didn't really make that much difference but Frank Farina will be 
back for the 2nd leg so look out Argentina. Arnie's finished I'm afraid. 

As for Primadona he was just another player with a skill level at 10 out of 
10 like his teammates, but the good news is we are catching up. Most of the 
Aussie team now play in Europe and it is only a matter of time before the 
world cup is ours. Maybe FIFA could put us in the Asian group because with 
this side we'd drill the Saudis and South Korea.

Ica
    
    P.S. Gooday Parsons, I reckon League's on the way out and 'The World
    Game' as Sir Les Murray calls it is on the way in. Its a shame we could
    only fit 43000 in but that'll soon be put right at Homebush Bay.

    
    Just a question:
    How did Mexico qualify?
    
    Hermann
    (Hope the Australians do it)
    

    Mexico won the CONCACAF qualifying group.
    
    Steve

    not entirely relevant to this note but since the U.S has been so
    paranoid about the threat of football hooliganism for the world cup
    it would be interesting to see if either of the following incidents
    gets blown up out of proportion since they happened in Amercian Football
    games this past weekend - the TV news covered them briefly just
    after the "cat crosses road" news item and I saw no mention of them
    in the press outside of a byline in the game report on the sports page.
    
    Michigan v wisconsin - wisconsin fans (students mostly) decide to storm
    the field at the end of the game to celebrate victory. The aisle to the
    field is too narrow and they start clamberinging over benches etc...
    all this does is succeed in bringing a wall down and everyone falls on
    to each other. TV pictures were brief but for me at least were too
    reminiscent of Hillsborough - lots of men and women trapped under about
    3 others. good news is nobody was killed though one person is still
    reported as in critical condition.
    
    Penn State v Ohio state - same general storm the field idea. this one
    succeeded and the brief TV pictures showed a few thousand fans on the
    field - can't think of a comparison in real football since the pitch
    was literally covered with people. People clambering on goal posts,
    taunting any opposing fasn who hadn't left etc.... attempts by the
    few police officers present to disperse the crowd failed
    and they eventually called in reinforcements and dispersed the crowd
    using Mace (a type of gas I guess). One arrest! and one person treated
    in hospital due to the effects of Mace.
    
    as I say there was a lack of TV and press coverage compared to the coverage
    given to the England v Holland game and it makes you wonder whether
    the U.S authorities really are prepared.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    Andrew, isn't it true that this only happens at college games and
    at the 'real' stadiums (not saying that Ann Arbor is not) are a little
    better on security and safety ??
    
    Dezzz.

    Dezzz, (how many Z's??)
    
    well yes to some extent you're right but my main point was the hyprocisy 
    of the U.S media - after all being crushed to death or beaten up - it 
    doesn't really matter whether it was a college game or not. The
    reaction is still one of complacency. Noone has died at a college game
    to the best of my knowledge in the last couple of years but on Saturday
    they came very close.
    
    remember that the World Cup venues in Orlando, San Francisco. L.A
    and Dallas (I think) are college stadiums.
                                                                       
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Dezzz,
    
    the Wisconsin-Michigan game was played at Wisconsin , not in Ann Arbor.
    Not that it makes much difference about the result....although I don't
    think that U of M has the same "fences" that people were pushing
    against in Madison,Wi.
                        
    Jacques

    Hi Guys
    
    I am not quite sure the issue you are discussing--
    
    is it the lack of security at the games that permits the crowd to get
    on the field or
    
    is it the behavior of the crowd which resulted in them rushing to get
    on the field
    
    
    In either case I would not worry to much as it relates to the World
    Cup for a couple of reasons
    
    The Wisconsin crowd was a celebrating crowd not bent on destruction and
    mayhem(except for tearing down the goalposts which is an American
    tradition and is generally allowed by thge authorities) This crowd and
    most American crowds in general at games at whatever sport don"t act as
    hooligans as we know the phrase
    
    
    From what I have read about World Cup security even the conditions
    which caused the problem at Wisconsin will not be tolerated
    
    
    
    regards rick   

    Hi guys,                    
    
    It is very possible that Belgium and/or Spain and/or Russia would be
    seeded number 1 in next years WC.
    
    Here is how each team will seed for next year's world cup according to
    yesterday's USA paper.
    
    Teams are awarded points according to where they placed in previous
    World Cups.  One point for 1st, two for second and so on through 24th
    place. Teams that did not qualify for any of the World Cups are given
    25 points. Host and Champion are automatically seeded number 1.
    
    Points for the 1990 WC are multiplied by 3, points for 1986 WC are
    multiplied by 2 and points for 1982 are multiplied by one.
    
    Teams are seed 1-4 and placed in one of the six groups through a blind
    draw.  Tournament rules prohibit teams from the same confederation
    playing each other in the 1st round with the exception of teams from
    Europe.
    
    Teams in CAPITAL letters are teams that have already qualified.  Other
    teams are still in contention:
    
    pts	Team			'90	'86	'82
    
    	USA (Host)
    
    	GERMANY (Defending Champion)
    
    19	Argentina		2	1	11
    
    34	Italy			3	12	1
    
    34	England			4	8	6
    
    42	BRAZIL			9	5	5
    
    51	Belgium			11	4	10
    
    56	Spain			10	7	12
    
    78	RUSSIA			17	10	7
    
    85	France			--	3	4
    
    87	Czech Republic		6	--	19
    
    88	CAMEROON		7	--	17
    
    99	Ireland			8	--	--
    
    111	Romania			12	--	--
    
    112	MEXICO			--	6	--
    
    117	COLOMBIA		14	--	--
    
    118	Denmark			--	9	--
    
    120	Netherlands		15	--	--
    
    122	MOROCCO			--	11	--
    
    130	Bulgaria		--	15	--
    
    131	SOUTH KOREA		22	20	00
    
    134	Portugal		--	17	--
    
    138	SWEDEN			21	--	--
    
    150 BOLIVIA			--	--	--
    	GREECE
    	NORWAY
    	NIGERIA
    	SAUDI ARABIA
    	Switzerland
    	Australia
    	Wales
    

    carlos,
    
    great work - beat me to it. unless there's some big shocks on the 17th
    I think it'll go as follows
    
    No 1 seeds - US, germany, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, belgium
    No 2 seeds - russia, france, cameroon, eire, mexico, colombia
    
    of course i'm assuming england, spain, rcs and romania miss out!
    (especially the last two!!!)
    
    The draw is apparently going to be shown live on ESPN.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    If Germany weren't the holders and the U.S weren't the host they would
    have the following points total
    
    Germany record 1982 2nd, 1986 2nd, 1990 1st 	total = 9 
    U.S            1982 --   1986 ---  1990 23rd        total = 148
    
    so Germany would be ranked 1st and the U.S the lowest of the teams
    who've qualified in the last 3 tournaments.
    
    fwiw - England would be the joint 3rd best team in the world
    
    P.S I worked that out when the machine crashed so it's technically not
        during working hours!
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    Well I suppose Germany deserve to be a seed after all !!!!
    
    Dezzz.

    In today's USA TODAY, there was a tiny article about interests among
    Americans for the World Cup next year.
    
    They surveyed over 1200 adults across the country and...
    
    ...only 13% of Americans know the World Cup will be play in the USA
    next year.
    
    ...about 55% are not interested in watching any of the games on TV.
    
    ...about 69% are not interested in watching a game in person.
    
    Of course (according to the paper) "The latter might be difficult
    anyway, since the sale of tickets to the public quickly was
    oversubscribed within a couple days of being offered."
    
    Boy, they must have really gone out to the COUNTRY to get the 1200
    adults.
    
    Carlos

	Given that your average American faced with a round ball rolling
	towards him will pick it up rather than kick it, I find this
	level of interest surprisingly high.

	Tony

    
    55% of America is still ten times the population of the UK.
    
    Thats a lot of people missing England in the World thingy.
    
    Gazzer.

    
>    55% of America is still ten times the population of the UK.
    
	Population of the U.S.A ~250,000,000

	55% of 250,000,000 = 137,500,000

	Population of the U.K. ~55,000,000
	10 x 55,000,000 = 550,000,000

	Dammit man. DEC is a computer company. If you can't do sums like
	this by yourself we've got millions of pounds worth of computing
	equipment you can check your arithmetic on.

	Tony

    
    
     -1.
    
      I knew someone would fall into my cunningly laid trap.
    
      I use my computer for delivering customer services, not for working
      out the population of the UK vs The U.S.A.
    
       Dammit Tony,
      
    if you continue to blatantly abuse the equipment supplied to you to
    perform your job function steps will have to be taken.
    
    Gazzer (who never could do maths or use a computer) 
          

	re .343

>    if you continue to blatantly abuse the equipment supplied to you to
>    perform your job function steps will have to be taken.

	Au contraire, I did the calculations on my own calculator.
	The only subversion of DEC computing resources was to enter
	the note correcting your misconception.

>    Gazzer (who never could do maths or use a computer) 

	What exactly is it we pay you to do?

	Tony

    Heard(on CNN sports) last night that the following change will be brought 
    in for the WC. 
    
    Injured players must be stretchered off the field immediately (except
    in the case of serious head/back injuries). Any player coming back from
    the sideline too quickly will be yellow-carded for 'Ungentlemanly
    behaviour'.
    
    Looks like a start to get at the divers........

    
    
    >    Gazzer (who never could do maths or use a computer)
    
    What exactly is it we pay you to do?
    
    
    I run the 24hour support group at Viables.
    
    Frightening isn't it .. ;-)
    
    
    Gazzer

    
>>    I run the 24hour support group at Viables.
    
    You don't - you just answer the phone......
    
    Paul$technical_support_guru

    
    
    SShhhhhhuushhh..
    
    
    I know that.  Even more frightening aint it. !
    
    
    Can't that bloke just accept that I mean't 'A lot of people would be
    watching it' 
    
    
    Gazzer.

    Given Gary's mathematical qualifications (:==:) are we sure he knows
    how many hours there are in 24 hours???
                  
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    I'm still curious about Mexico - *how* did they qualify?
    Anyone got a table of the CONCACAF qualifying group, or
    just witch teams got bummed?
    
    I just want to complete my tables with all happenings.
    
    Hermann

    
     -< The big hand is on the 12 and the... (:==:) >-
    
    Now that our clocks have gone forward an hour I can't understand why my
    boss doesn't agree with my new shift uplift figures. Surely were all
    working 25 hours a day now and not 24  ?.  I mean thats an extra 16.59
    days work per year.
    
    
    Gazzer.
    

World Cup 1994 qualifiers so far

1	U.S.A  (host)
2	Germany (defending)
3	Mexico
4	Russia
5	Greece
6       Colombia
7       Brazil
8       Bolivia
9	Nigeria
10	Morocco
11	Cameroon
12	Norway
13	Sweden
14	Saudi Arabia
15	Republic of Korea (South Korea)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=





	WORLD CUP 1994 - EUROPE QUALIFIERS
        12 Teams (First 2 of each group) + Germany (Defending)

    		Portugal 3 Estonia 0
    
                Group 1
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Italy               9    6    2    1    21     7    14   16
                Portugal            9    6    2    1    18     4    14   16
                Switzerland         9    5    3    1    19     6    13   15
                Scotland            9    3    3    3    12    13     9   11
                Malta               9    1    1    7     3    21     3    4
                Estonia             9    0    1    8     1    23     1    3


		Group1
                        17.11.93: Italy-Portugal
                        17.11.93: Malta-Scotland
                        17.11.93: Switzerland-Estonia


    		Turkey 2 Norway 1
    
                Group 2
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Norway             10    7    2    1    25     5    16   16
                Netherlands         9    5    3    1    26     8    13   15
                England             9    4    3    2    19     8    11   13
                Poland              9    3    2    4     9    12     8   10
                Turkey             10    3    1    6    11    19     7    7
                San Marino          9    0    1    8     1    39     1    3


		Group 2
                        17.11.93: San Marino-England
                        17.11.93: Poland-Netherlands




                Group 3
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Denmark            11    7    4    0    15     1    18   20
                Spain              11    7    3    1    26     4    17   19
                Ireland            11    7    3    1    18     5    17   19
                N. Ireland         11    5    2    4    13    12    12   14
                Lithuania          12    2    3    7     8    21     7    7
                Latvia             12    0    5    7     4    21     5    5
                Albania            12    1    2    9     6    26     4    4

                Group 3
                        17.11.93: N. Ireland-Ireland
                        17.11.93: Spain-Denmark
      

                Group 4
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Belgium             9    7    0    2    16     5    14   16
                Romania             9    6    1    2    27    11    13   15
                Czechoslovakia      9    4    4    1    21     9    12   14
                Wales               9    5    2    2    18    10    12   14
                Cyprus             10    2    1    7     8    18     5    5
                Faroe Islands      10    0    0   10     1    38     0    0

		Group 4
                        17.11.93: Wales-Romania
                        17.11.93: Belgium-Czechoslovakia


                Group 5
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Russia              7    5    2    0    15     3    12   14
                Greece              7    5    2    0     8     2    12   14
                Iceland             8    3    2    3     7     6     8    8
                Hungary             8    2    1    5     6    11     5    5
                Luxembourg          8    0    1    7     2    16     1    1
                Yugoslavia          FIFA disqualified



		Group 5
                        17.11.93: Greece-Russia

    		Austria 1 Sweden 1
    		Israel 1 Finland 3
    
                Group 6
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Sweden             10    6    3    1    19     8    15   15
                France              9    6    1    2    16     8    13   15
                Bulgaria            9    5    2    2    17     9    12   14
                Austria            10    3    2    5    15    16     8    8
                Finland            10    2    1    7     9    18     5    5
                Israel             10    1    3    6    10    27     5    5


		Group 6
                        17.11.93: France-Bulgaria




	Asia  (top 2 advance to WC94)
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


                                G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                Saudi Arabia    5   2  3  0    8   6    7      7
                South Korea     5   2  2  1    9   4    6      6
                Japan           5   2  2  1    7   4    6      6
                Iraq            5   1  3  1    9   9    5      5
                Iran            5   2  0  3    8   11   4      4
                North Korea     5   1  0  4    5   12   2      2

                ASIA Round 2 (held in Doha, Qatar)

                
 

	 AFRICAN ZONE STANDINGS (Group winners advance to WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------

                African FINAL Group A
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Nigeria         4 2 1 1  10 5  5     5
                Cote d'Ivoire   4 2 1 1  5  6  5     5
                Algeria         4 0 2 2  3  7  2     2



                African FINAL Group B
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Morocco         4 3 0 1  6  3  6     6
		Zambia          4 2 1 1  6  2  5     5
                Senegal         4 0 1 3  1  8  1     1


                African FINAL Group C
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cameroon        4 3 0 1  7  3  4     6
                Zimbabwe        4 2 0 2  3  6  4     4
		Guinea          4 1 0 3  4  5  2     2 



                
              
                        

	CONCACAF/OCEANIA (winner plays Argentina)
	--------------------------------------------------------------


		7/31/93 Canada	2-1 Australia

		14/8/93 Australia 2 Canada 1 aet (Australia won 4-1 on pens)

		31/10/93  Australia 1 Argentina 1
		14/11/93  Argentina v Australia


            1993 South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches

(Home team first)      

Group A

Aug.  1 -- Colombia vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug.  1 -- Peru vs. Argentina		0-1  

Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina	1-3  
Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia		0-1

Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru		2-1
Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina	2-1  

Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia	1-1
Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru		2-1

Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru		4-0

Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay		2-2
Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia	0-5

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Colombia        6  4  2  0   13  2   10
Argentina       6  3  1  2   7   9   7
Paraguay        6  1  4  1   6   7   6
Peru            6  0  1  5   4   12  1



                             Group B

July 18 -- Venezuela vs. Bolivia	1-7
July 18 -- Ecuador vs. Brazil		0-0

July 25 -- Venezuela vs. Uruguay	0-1
July 25 -- Bolivia vs. Brazil		2-0

Aug.  1 -- Uruguay vs. Ecuador		0-0
Aug.  1 -- Venezuela vs. Brazil		1-5

Aug.  8 -- Bolivia vs. Uruguay   	3-1
Aug.  8 -- Ecuador vs. Venezuela	5-0

Aug. 15 -- Uruguay vs. Brazil		1-1
Aug. 15 -- Bolivia vs. Ecuador		1-0

Aug. 22 -- Bolivia vs. Venezuela	7-0
Aug. 22 -- Brazil vs. Ecuador		2-0

Aug. 29 -- Uruguay vs. Venezuela	4-0
Aug. 29 -- Brazil vs. Bolivia		6-0

Sep.  5 -- Ecuador vs. Uruguay		0-1
Sep.  5 -- Brazil vs. Venezuela		4-0

Sep. 12 -- Uruguay vs. Bolivia		2-1
Sep. 12 -- Venezuela vs. Ecuador	2-1

Sep. 19 -- Brazil vs. Uruguay		2-0
Sep. 19 -- Ecuador vs. Bolivia		1-1

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Brazil          8  5  2  1  20   4  12
Bolivia         8  5  1  2  22  11  11
Uruguay         8  4  2  2  10   7  10
Ecuador         8  1  3  3   7   7   5
Venezuela       8  1  0  7   4  34   0

	re .351

>    Now that our clocks have gone forward an hour I can't understand why my

	Oh, has daylight saving kicked in in Australia?

	Here in the northern hemisphere the clocks have been going back.
	Of course, if continental Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. could all
	arrange to come off daylight saving on the same Sunday it would
	make life a little simpler.

	Tony

    Yeah,
    	we've now got about 5 time zones because daylight saving in
    Australia is done on a state by state basis
    
    Sydney time = GMT + 11 hours
    
    The bad news is that our 2 best players, Mark Bosnich and Ned Zelic, are
    both out of the match in Buenos Aries on Wednesday. The captain (Paul
    Wade) has got a sprained ankle, but looks like he'll still be
    marking Primadonna. Still, even though the odds are 8-1 I reckon the 
    Socceroos will perform OK.   
    
    Ica

    OK here are the 23 qualifers so far...
    anyone know when Arg v Aus is tonight?
    
    U.S.A, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Belgium, Spain
    Russia, cameroon, Eire, Romania, Mexico, Colombia
    Holland, Morocco, Bulgaria, South Korea, Sweden, Bolivia
    Greece, Norway, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland
    
    What price a Holland v Germany final?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

       Argentina v Australia was supposed to start at 5.30 eastern US
       time.

    well lads it's a night of comiserations all around for noters of this
    conference as Argentina beat Australia 1-0 to claim the 24th and last 
    place.

    G'day Wicksy,
    		Commisserations to Wales as well. The Aussies played well
    and to lose 1-2 on aggregate to Argentina shows how far soccer (as its
    called here, football is Aussie Rules in Melbourne and Rugby League in
    Sydney) has come in Australia in the last 5 years. We had a few shots,
    mostly off-target, they scored from a cruel deflection. I suppose
    generally their greater skill level got them through in the end,
    Primadona still has the finest touch ever even if he runs out of steam by
    half time. Rodondo (sp?) is a genius, he'll spark in US '94. We missed
    our version of him, Ned Zelic, out with a bad knee.
    	The defensive performance of Australia was outstanding, Zabica,
    Bosnich's replacement having a great game. Also the centre backs
    Ivanovic and Durakovic. Paul Wade, Australia's captain kept going right
    to the end, never stopped, and hardly had enough energy to clear the
    ball in the last minute.
    	There has been some criticism of Eddie Thomson in not being
    attacking enough, but I think the general consensus is that he got us
    this far and without him we may not have even got past the Kiwis.   
    	Still, next time we'll be there because we're in Asia now and I
    reckon a very good match for South Korea and the Saudis. 	 
    
	So I'll be supporting the Irish and any other underdog but above
    all I want to see players like Rodondo and goals,goals,goals.
    
    Ica
                                                                     

Saw the second half, and the Aussies put up a brave fight, but went out through
a cruel goal. As -.1 said, defensively they were very tight, with the odd scare.
I don't think even Bosnich ininspired form could have done anything about the
goal. However, in attack they showed their niaveness. They really didn't know
how to deal with the Argies offside trap, and apart from a couple of times when
the penalty area resembled a pin ball machine, and the shot in the last minute
that was just wide, they didn't threaten where it counts. The Argentinians put
up their usual professional performance, and played some good football in
spells. Lets hope they play like that next year, and not like they did in Italy.

Al (With matchsticks in his eyelids)

World Cup 1994 qualifiers 

1	U.S.A  (host)
2	Germany (defending)
3	Mexico
4	Russia
5	Greece
6       Colombia
7       Brazil
8       Bolivia
9	Nigeria
10	Morocco
11	Cameroon
12	Norway
13	Sweden
14	Saudi Arabia
15	Republic of Korea (South Korea)
16	Republic of Ireland
17	Spain
18	Switzerland
19	Italy
20	Holland
21	Belgium
22	Romania
23	Bulgaria
24	Argentina

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=





	WORLD CUP 1994 - EUROPE QUALIFIERS
        12 Teams (First 2 of each group) + Germany (Defending)

                Group 1
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Italy              10    7    2    1    22     7    16   16
                Switzerland        10    6    3    1    23     6    15   15
                Portugal           10    6    2    2    18     5    14   14
                Scotland           10    4    3    3    14    13    11   11
                Malta              10    1    1    8     3    23     3    3
                Estonia            10    0    1    9     1    27     1    1




                Group 2
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Norway             10    7    2    1    25     5    16   16
                Netherlands        10    6    3    1    29     9    15   15
                England            10    5    3    2    26     9    13   13
                Poland             10    3    2    5    10    15     8    8
                Turkey             10    3    1    6    11    19     7    7
                San Marino         10    0    1    9     2    46     1    1




                Group 3
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Spain              12    8    3    1    27     4    19   19
                Ireland            12    7    4    1    19     6    18   18
                Denmark            12    7    4    1    15     2    18   18
                N. Ireland         12    5    3    4    14    13    13   13
                Lithuania          12    2    3    7     8    21     7    7
                Latvia             12    0    5    7     4    21     5    5
                Albania            12    1    2    9     6    26     4    4

      

                Group 4
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Romania            10    7    1    2    29    12    15   15
                Belgium            10    7    1    2    16     5    15   15
                Czechoslovakia     10    4    5    1    21     9    13   13
                Wales              10    5    2    3    19    12    12   12
                Cyprus             10    2    1    7     8    18     5    5
                Faroe Islands      10    0    0   10     1    38     0    0



                Group 5
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Greece              8    6    2    0     9     2    14   14
                Russia              8    5    2    1    15     4    12   12
                Iceland             8    3    2    3     7     6     8    8
                Hungary             8    2    1    5     6    11     5    5
                Luxembourg          8    0    1    7     2    16     1    1
                Yugoslavia          FIFA disqualified



                Group 6
                                   GP    W    D    L    GF    GA   Pts  MxPts
                Sweden             10    6    3    1    19     8    15   15
                Bulgaria           10    6    2    2    19    10    14   14
                France             10    6    1    3    17    10    13   13
                Austria            10    3    2    5    15    16     8    8
                Finland            10    2    1    7     9    18     5    5
                Israel             10    1    3    6    10    27     5    5





	Asia  (top 2 advance to WC94)
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


                                G   W  D  L   GF  GA   Pts   MxPts
                Saudi Arabia    5   2  3  0    8   6    7      7
                South Korea     5   2  2  1    9   4    6      6
                Japan           5   2  2  1    7   4    6      6
                Iraq            5   1  3  1    9   9    5      5
                Iran            5   2  0  3    8   11   4      4
                North Korea     5   1  0  4    5   12   2      2

                ASIA Round 2 (held in Doha, Qatar)

                
 

	 AFRICAN ZONE STANDINGS (Group winners advance to WC94)
	--------------------------------------------------------

                African FINAL Group A
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Nigeria         4 2 1 1  10 5  5     5
                Cote d'Ivoire   4 2 1 1  5  6  5     5
                Algeria         4 0 2 2  3  7  2     2



                African FINAL Group B
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Morocco         4 3 0 1  6  3  6     6
		Zambia          4 2 1 1  6  2  5     5
                Senegal         4 0 1 3  1  8  1     1


                African FINAL Group C
                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                                P W D L  F  A Pts  Maxpts
                Cameroon        4 3 0 1  7  3  4     6
                Zimbabwe        4 2 0 2  3  6  4     4
		Guinea          4 1 0 3  4  5  2     2 



                
              
                        

	CONCACAF/OCEANIA (winner plays Argentina)
	--------------------------------------------------------------


		7/31/93 Canada	2-1 Australia

		14/8/93 Australia 2 Canada 1 aet (Australia won 4-1 on pens)

		31/10/93  Australia 1 Argentina 1
		17/11/93  Argentina 1 Australia 0 (Argentina won 2-1 on 
							aggregate)


            1993 South America WC'94 Qualifying Matches

(Home team first)      

Group A

Aug.  1 -- Colombia vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug.  1 -- Peru vs. Argentina		0-1  

Aug.  8 -- Paraguay vs. Argentina	1-3  
Aug.  8 -- Peru vs. Colombia		0-1

Aug. 15 -- Paraguay vs. Peru		2-1
Aug. 15 -- Colombia vs. Argentina	2-1  

Aug. 22 -- Paraguay vs. Colombia	1-1
Aug. 22 -- Argentina vs. Peru		2-1

Aug. 29 -- Argentina vs. Paraguay	0-0
Aug. 29 -- Colombia vs. Peru		4-0

Sep.  5 -- Peru vs. Paraguay		2-2
Sep.  5 -- Argentina vs. Colombia	0-5

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Colombia        6  4  2  0   13  2   10
Argentina       6  3  1  2   7   9   7
Paraguay        6  1  4  1   6   7   6
Peru            6  0  1  5   4   12  1



                             Group B

July 18 -- Venezuela vs. Bolivia	1-7
July 18 -- Ecuador vs. Brazil		0-0

July 25 -- Venezuela vs. Uruguay	0-1
July 25 -- Bolivia vs. Brazil		2-0

Aug.  1 -- Uruguay vs. Ecuador		0-0
Aug.  1 -- Venezuela vs. Brazil		1-5

Aug.  8 -- Bolivia vs. Uruguay   	3-1
Aug.  8 -- Ecuador vs. Venezuela	5-0

Aug. 15 -- Uruguay vs. Brazil		1-1
Aug. 15 -- Bolivia vs. Ecuador		1-0

Aug. 22 -- Bolivia vs. Venezuela	7-0
Aug. 22 -- Brazil vs. Ecuador		2-0

Aug. 29 -- Uruguay vs. Venezuela	4-0
Aug. 29 -- Brazil vs. Bolivia		6-0

Sep.  5 -- Ecuador vs. Uruguay		0-1
Sep.  5 -- Brazil vs. Venezuela		4-0

Sep. 12 -- Uruguay vs. Bolivia		2-1
Sep. 12 -- Venezuela vs. Ecuador	2-1

Sep. 19 -- Brazil vs. Uruguay		2-0
Sep. 19 -- Ecuador vs. Bolivia		1-1

                G  W  D  L   F   A   P
Brazil          8  5  2  1  20   4  12
Bolivia         8  5  1  2  22  11  11
Uruguay         8  4  2  2  10   7  10
Ecuador         8  1  3  3   7   7   5
Venezuela       8  1  0  7   4  34   0

Here is my best guess at the seeding system for the wrodl cup.  Seeding is
based on performance in past tournaments.

Group 1	Germany, U.S.A., Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Belgium

Group 2 Spain, Russia, Cameroon, Ireland, Romania, Mexico

Group 3 Colombia, Holland, Bulgaria, Morocco, South Korea, Sweden

Group 4 Norway, Bolivia, Greece, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria

    Gary,
    
    that's how it was listed on UNIVISION too. remember that the 4 south
    american teams and the 3 asia teams have to be drawn in different
    groups. The next decision I expect is where to place the first seeds
    I guess Italy will get Foxboro (group D) or NY (group E). Argentina
    and Brazil will most likely be placed in group B (LA/S.F) or F.
    
    As I have tickets for group D and E (with the odd game in C and F)
    i'd like to see Italy and Belgium - as my good friend and former
    noter Tom Hill will be following those two. Also i'll definitely take
    in at least one Eire game so we can all get together - I promise
    to buy a green shirt for that game.
    
    The draw is live on ESPN on Dec 19th at 3pm EST - does anyone know
    whether it'll be shown anywhere in the U.K as i'll be in Reading on
    that day?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks 

       According to someone on Usenet, a Dutch newspaper reported that
       FIFA wants the following lineup:
       
              1st seed           Home Base		
       		USA 		Los Angeles
		Argentina 	San Francisco
		Germany 	Chicago
		Belgium 	Boston  
		Italy 		New York
		Brasil 		Orlando

       This is in theory still subject to begotiation with the host
       country, but I hope it's solid.  That would mean Belgium would
       play 2 1st-round matches at Foxboro.  If Ireland is the 2nd seed
       in group D, they would also play twice in the 1st-round at
       Foxboro (21 June vs Belgium, and 30 June vs the 3rd seeded team).
       
       --Mr Topaz

    Don,
    
    yes that seems to be the wind is blowing i.e the two south american
    teams in the south and the two european teams in the north
    (U.S.A and GErmany are already fixed). 
    
    the only problem I could see is they would also want Mexico to be placed 
    somewhere in the south but would probably not want to place them in a 
    group with Brazil or Argentina - apparently Mexico can't be in the same
    group as the U.S since they're both CONACAF countries.
    
    Here's my prediction for the "unfixed" draw in group A
    U.S.A, Cameroon, South Korea, Greece
    remember where your read it first!
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks                                        

    
    According to te USA Today on Friday (19th), the venues will not be
    picked until after the draw to see which best fit the teams drawn. This
    does exclude Germany and USA.
    
    Dezzz.

    
    Looking at the final list of qualifiers I reckon Germany are a cert
    to retain the W.C. With France & Denmark failing to qualify only
    Italy and maybe Holland (with Gullit returning & Cruyff managing)
    look as though they can stop them. 
    
    Can't see any of the other qualifiers going the distance.
    
    Del    
      

    
    As much as I hate to admit it, the Republic at 28/1 arent a bad bet.
    
    Hard to beat, with loads of support.
    
    Dave...

    
    Have you got a full list of odd's handy ?
    
    If so could you post them please ?
    
    Peter(An Impartial Celt).

    Re 367
    
    I agree that the Irish are a hard team to beat.  I think they'll get
    through their group but they'll get knocked out in the second round. 
    They simply aren't good enough to go all the way.
    
    
    GAry.... (The Impartial Soapboxer)

    What about Brasil???  Not only do they have the forward line, (Romario,
    Bebeto, Rai, for starters) but this team plays as good if not better
    than the team they had in Italy!  Can't wait to see Germany vs Brasil. 
    I saw them in Washington D.C. and what a match.  Brasil up 3 at half
    and Germany scores 3 in the second half to equalize.
    
    Joe

    
    Germany, Brasil, Italy, Argentina and Holland....look to be the serious
    contenders. However, Columbia, Greece, Switzerland and maybe Belgium
    look to be teams on form and that should just about wrap the quarter
    finals.
    
    Ireland..yeah, they should make it past the group stage but reaching
    the quarter finals may be beyond them...As the USA today reported
    today...little Offensive Imagination. Well I suppose that's what we saw
    over the last few matches.
    
    What's Nigeria's price?...they seem to have a few good strikers playing
    in Europe. 
    
    Dezzz.
    

    well having been away for a while i'm about 750 notes behind but I have
    a couple of questions.
    
    apparently the u.s played ecuador yesterday (the 5th) anyone know what
    teh score was.
    
    On the plane back from London yesterday there was a sports programme on
    that advertised Argentina v Germany live on pay-per-view from the
    ORange Bowl on Dec 15th? anyone know anything about this
    
    more later when the jetlag wears off and I start into the unseen
    notes...
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
>    apparently the u.s played ecuador yesterday (the 5th) anyone know what
>    teh score was.
    
    Well according to my local paper the US played El Salvador and won 7-0!
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan

    Stefan
    
    sorry El Salvador it was (i had the right first and last letters!)
    - apparently the U.S will also be playing Germany iN palo Alto 
    (san francisco) on December 18th.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    For our friends in the U.S.:
    
    Wednesday, Dec 15th 21:00 CET in Miami  (15:00 local time?)
    
    		Germany - Argentina
    
    Saturday, Dec 18th 21:00 CET in San Francisco
    
    		USA - Germany
    
    Wednesday, Dec 22nd 23:00 CET in Mexico City
    
    		Mexico - Germany
    
    All in all some interesting games.
    
    Eduard

    
    In "The Times" today they divulge the new formula for drawing the Teams
    on Sunday. It's as follows:
    
    Three bowls.
    
    Bowl 1 = 1st and only seeds.(USA ,Ger. ,Arg. ,Bra. , Ita. , Bel. )
    Bowl 2 = Non seeded ( Cam. , Mor. , Nig. , Bol. , Col. , Mex. )
    Bowl 3 = Non seeded ( Esp. , Rus. , Irl. , Rom. , Hol. , Bul. )
    Bowl 4 = Non seeded ( Sth. Kor. , Saudia Ara. , Swe. , Gre. , Nor. ,
    	     Swi. )
    
    Bowls 2 - 4 arranged according to Geography and Politics !
    
    One team will be chosen from each bowl, in order, until all groups are
    decided. 
    
    Then venues will be allocated according to ethnic populations 
    best suiting the relevant groups.
    
    OR
    
    Another scenario mentioned it that... Virtually All the tickets are already 
    sold for the world cup, so who gives a shit whether ethnic populations are 
    catered for or not.
    Make people spend money, make them travel (fly) to other cities and
    spend loads'a money on Hotels etc... i.e Match groups to the
    greatest profit making potential. And you have to admit there are no
    better men than the Americans to do that !
    
    
    The potential for uneven and boring groups is frightening.
    

    P.S 
    Pele will *not* ( from what I have heard )  be actively taking part
    in the draw on Sunday. He is currently involved in some legal wranglings
    with the "Brazilial Soccer federation" i.e Ricardo Teixeira i.e
    son-in-law of one Joao Havelange i.e Head of F.I.F.A ? so he has been
    confined to the bench by Mr. Havelange.
    
    
    But don't worry folks they've lined up an even bigger celeb to hold
    the attention of us soccer lovers. Yes the only man who can score with
    his nose
    
    Barry Manilow ( I jest not ! ) 
    
    
    
    
    'Nuf for now,
    
    
    Peter(An Impartial Celt)
    

    Well as the big day (for Eire anyway) draws nearer the U.S TV stations
    have gone footie mad - I just hope my VCR can cope with
    
    1.30pm EST on ESPN "World Cup USA style" - a fashion prog?
    2.30pm EST on ESPN "World Cup USA" - part 4 in their magazine series
    10.30pm EST on Sportsouth - Mancs v Norwich (guess i'll watch it)
    
    and of course on PPV today we have the Argies v Germany.
    
    Regards,
                  
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
>    Bowl 1 = 1st and only seeds.(USA ,Ger. ,Arg. ,Bra. , Ita. , Bel. )
>    Bowl 2 = Non seeded ( Cam. , Mor. , Nig. , Bol. , Col. , Mex. )
>    Bowl 3 = Non seeded ( Esp. , Rus. , Irl. , Rom. , Hol. , Bul. )
>    Bowl 4 = Non seeded ( Sth. Kor. , Saudia Ara. , Swe. , Gre. , Nor. ,
>    	     Swi. )
 
    This is pure speculation right? It doesn't look anything like what's
    been suggested so far.

    
    Will they be using the 'square' posts in the world cup? - I noticed
    they were using them last night (Germany v Argentina).
    
    Argentina won 2-1 BTW.
    
    Al.

    
    > This is pure speculation right? It doesn't look anything like what's
    > been suggested so far.
    
    No. That's the way it is. The regular seeding and selection method was scraped 
    at the request of the U.S soccer federation.  
    
    Peter(An Impartial Celt)

First of all the latest decision on the seedings is a disgrace.  Cameroon,
Morocco and Mexico have been totally screwed.  

However we benefit in 2 ways

1 We avoid Holland and Bulgaria but could now meet Mexico or Cameroon.  On
balance this is good.

2 Looking at the format I now realise why they've made the strong European
pot pool 3.  pool 2 countries play their opening game in one city, then
move, then return.  Pool 3 countries play their opening game in one city
and then move for 2 games to another city.  This means less travelling.
Pool 3 countries get to play pool 4 countries first.

If we get Boston (I still think it's a big IF) we play our opening match
in Dallas against a pool 4 country.

There will be no more than 3 European teams in any group.  Only
one group will have 3 teams.  This favours the European top seeds.  Pool 4
contains 4 strongish European sides and 2 Asian sides.  The 2 Asian sides
will be drawn with either Germany, Italy or Belgium.  Any odds on Belgium
getting the European team? :-)

The important things in Sunday's draw now are

A European top seed and an Asian 4th seed (preferably Belgium)

Avoid Colombia (Bolivia would be nice).  I assume the 3 African teams will
be drawn with Argentina,USA and Brazil.

They'll may still fix the draw.  They may fix it for us to play in Boston.
Remember they can't fix too many things as it gets complicated.  Remember
the hassle in Mexico when the orphan picked out the wrong ball (he actually
picked out the right one but not the one he was told to pick).


Things that could be fixed

1 Get USA into the 2nd round.  This is now harder as they'll meet a European
4th seed.  They'll probably give them Greece but actually Greece are quite
strong.

2 Italy and Germany get the Asian teams rather than Belgium

3 Ireland in Boston, freeze the Irish ball and draw us out with Belgium.  

We'll know on sunday night.

Comments??

Gary.       

     Peter,

     Re .376

    >>Then venues will be allocated according to ethnic populations 
    >>best suiting the relevant groups.

     Does that mean that the USA aren't definitely in LA and Germany 
     aren't definitely in Chicago?  I thought they had already made that 
     decision?

     Gerry

    
    Well I'm just going by the article I read yesterday (Yeah I know Don't 
    believe all you read in the papers). Germany are definitely playing out 
    of Chicago, but as for the rest, nobody knows, except maybe F.I.F.A. 
    
    Peter(An Impartial Celt)

    Here are the World Cup odds as published in today's BOSTON HERALD.
    
    	
    		Germany			7-2
    		Brazil			4-1
    		Italy 			9-2
    		Argentina		8-1
    		Netherlands 		8-1
    		Colombia	       12-1
    		Spain		       16-1
    		Russia		       20-1
    		Norway		       25-1
    		Belgium		       25-1
    		Sweden                 25-1
                Bolivia		       25-1
    		IRELAND		       28-1
                Mexico                 33-1
                Switzerland            33-1
		UNITED STATES          50-1
     		Romania		       50-1
    		Bulgaria	       50-1
    		Cameroon 	       66-1
    		Nigeria		       80-1
    		Morocco		      100-1
    		Greece		      100-1
    		Saudi Arabia	      200-1
    		South Korea	      250-1
    
    						

    re . 382, (gerry)
    
    I'm stil digesting the previous notes (it's too early in the morning for 
    long notes) but according to the Wc committee quoted in the Soccer USA
    Mag USA are in group A out in L.A and Germany are in C in Chicago.
    
    ESPN 3pm Sunday will tell us for sure.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
              

    
    Any casual observer of football (no offence to the ladies reading this
    ) would definitely have a right to say on Sunday evening to the other
    one glued to the set...
    
    "And you have a cheek to tell me about the Eurovision Song Contest !!"
    
    
    It all seems very emotional and intensive...lets hope the footbal in te
    summer lives up to the hype over "The Draw".
    
    In this week's Sport Bild (German Midweek Sports Mag), the draw was 
    all laid out according to the previously thought 'seedings'. Berti
    Vogts was quoted as saying 'his' draw would be; Germany, Spain, South
    Korea and Saudi Arabia...The Bild..God Luv'em...quoted the difficult
    one would be Germany, Spain, Holland, Norway....and the easy one as
    Germany, Mexico, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
    
    I wonder why it seems Berti would like to play Spain..well I guess its
    probably down to ..the devil you know..
    
    As for Ireland...well using the latest draw mechanisms...
    
    	Difficult		(Relatively) Easy
    	----------              ------------------
    	Brazil			USA
    	Norway			Saudi Arabia
    	Columbia		Bolivia
    
    
    I'd be quite happy with Group D 
    
    	Belgium		Boston
    	Mexico          Boston
    	Greece          Dallas
    
    
    All speculation of course....
    
    Dezzz.
    
    
    
    
      
    
       

> First of all the latest decision on the seedings is a disgrace.  Cameroon,
> Morocco and Mexico have been totally screwed.  
    
    So have Sweden.
    
    It can't be right to have teams of such different quality in the same
    pool. Not that it really matters to us, I just feel sorry for the teams
    in the other pools who draw us instead of the push-overs from Norway.
    
    No draw will be easy, but we could do worse than this:
    
    Bowl 1: Belgium (based on the other's strenghts, not Belgium's weakness.
    	    	     Also reasonable to assume that they have the least
    		     number of fans. USA?  well, there's always that home
    		     advantage) 
    
    Bowl 2: Morocco (have to admit total ignorance on the current quality
    		     here. Bolivia may be a good draw, they qualified
    		     purely on good home results in extreme conditions)
    
    Bowl 3: Ireland (will draw a lot of support, local as well as
    		     travelling, but are definitely on the way down, sorry Gary)
    
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan
    
    

    
>    Any casual observer of football (no offence to the ladies reading this
>    ) would definitely have a right to say on Sunday evening to the other
>    one glued to the set...
>    
>    "And you have a cheek to tell me about the Eurovision Song Contest !!"
    
    No offence taken ;-) This is Lale, a lady who used to watch Eurovision
    Song Contest every year before moving to North America where she can no
    longer find a cable station which broadcasts the Grandprix, and a lady
    who enjoys World Cup much more than Olympic Games.
    
    Why I came to this conference is in the next reply.
    
    Cheers
    
    Lale    

    lale,
    
    the tickets to the final were put on sale in October and despite
    rumours to the contrary you didn't have to have bought tickets to the
    earlier rounds - this was a bit of a bummer to those of us who fell
    for that trick and are now stuck with tickets to korea v bolivia
    (see next reply for why). the ticket sales closed on Oct 31st
    and the lucky people will be notified by Jan 31st - tickets for the
    final ranged from $180 to $475.
    
    future ticket sales are apparently to be based on teams and sold only
    to the countries of those teams but there will be no further sales here
    in the u.s - that's what they said but they've lied to us before.
    
    ... and naturally i'm pissed since i get to see games in 4 different
    groups but don't get to see Eire!!
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Well guys here it is the draw.
    
    Group A     U.S.A, switzerland, colombia, rumania       in L.a
          B     brazil, russia, cameroon, sweden               S.F
          C     germany, bolivia, spain, korea                 Chicago
          D     Argentina, greece, nigeria, bulgaria           Boston
          E     Italy, Eire, Norway, mexico                    N.Y
          F     belgium, morocco, holland, saudi.              Orlando
    
    My first reaction was that Eire have been drawn in the 'group of death'
    my second reaction was shock as they placed that group up in New York
    and not in Foxboro where I bought tickets. how the hell do you place
    the argies in Boston based on 'geographical and ethnic considerations'
    yet Belgium go to Orlando - shouldn't it be the other way round?
    
    even after a few beers I still wanted to kick alan Rothenberg and the
    organising committee in the goolies since I'm now the less than proud
    owner of tickets to see the Argies, Nigeria, Mexico and Saudi arabia
    play twice.
    
    I see every team in group E play except Eire. Anyone got a spare ticket
    to game in N.Y or Orlando. What is there say about the best laid plans
    of mice and men....
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks
                       

    And here before I go to bed is the fixture list for the first round
    
    Group A
    =======
    18/6	U.S.A v Switzerland		Detroit
    		Colombia v Romania		L.A
    22/6	Romania v Switzerland		Detroit
    		U.S.A v Colombia		L.A
    26/6	U.S.A v Romania			L.A
    		Switzerland v Colombia		S.F
    
    Group B
    =======
    19/6	Cameroon v Sweden		L.A
    20/6	Brazil v Russia			S.F
    24/6	Sweden v Russia			Detroit
    		Brazil v Cameroon		S.F
    28/6	Brazil v Sweden			Detroit
    		Russia v Cameroon		S.F
    
    Group C
    =======
    17/6	Germany v Bolivia		Chicago
    		Spain v Korea			Dallas
    21/6	Germany v Spain			Chicago
    23/6	Korea v Bolivia			Boston
    27/6	Bolivia v Spain			Chicago
    		Germany v Korea       		Dallas
    
    Group D
    =======
    21/6	Argentina v Greece		Boston
    		Nigeria v Bulgaria		Dallas
    25/6	Argentina v Nigeria		Boston
    26/6	Bulgaria v Greece		Detroit
    30/6	Greece v Nigeria		Boston
    		Argentina v Bulgaria		Dallas
    
    Group E
    =======
    18/6	Italy v Eire			N.Y
    19/6	Norway v Mexico			D.C
    23/6	Italy v Norway	     		N.Y
    24/6	Mexico v Eire			Orlando
    27/6	Italy v Mexico			D.C
    28/6	Eire v Norway			N.Y
    
    Group F
    =======
    19/6	Belgium v Morocco 		Orlando
    20/6	Holland v Saudi			D.C
    25/6	Saudi v Morocco			N.Y
    		Belgium v Holland 		Orlando
    28/6	Belgium v Saudi			D.C
    29/6	Morocco v Holland		Orlando
    
    P.S for those who've followed this notes stream I have tickets to
    all the games in Boston and D.C so I get see exciting games such
    as Korea V Bolivia
    
    Comisserations to the Irish since their fabled luck certainly
    failed them today.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

Re .391

Andy,

I can easily understand that you're pissed off and I send you my 
'comiserations'. ;-)
When I saw the choice of locations, I said to my wife:
  "There's going to be quite a few replies of pi**ed off Irish noters
   in the Football Conference tomorrow".
It was hard luck that Eire was drawn into the group with Italy because
as number one seed they get the higher "location priority" which of course
is New York.

Personally, I believe that the Brazilian group is the 'group of death',
but only shortly followed by the Italian group.
Germany's group I don't consider too difficult.

Perhaps you should go and look for a pi**ed off Argentinian who bought
tickets for New York and Orlando. ;-)

Cheers

Eduard

    -1;		you're right of course....
    Mr Bladder & friends in FIFA have made a complete hash of it....
    
    				regards,    Ray, (P-ed off Irish noter)

    
    I simply cannot understand why the Irish should feel p-ed off, as you
    put it.
    
    First of all these relative newcomers to the international Football
    scene don't have any right to expect the draw and group location being
    done to their will. God knows FIFA tried their best to put Ireland in
    Boston, in the end they failed.
    
    Secondly being grouped with Norway guarantees that Ireland will
    actually *win* their first World Cup game ever (penalty shoot-outs
    excluded of course). Shouldn't that be a reason to celebrate?
    
    I agree that the group with Brazil, Cameroon, Russia and Sweden looks
    hardest. If you consider the original seeding plans (based on previous
    World Cup results) this group consists of one 1st seed. two 2nd seeds
    and one 3rd seed. Talk about being hard done by!
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan

    
    Oh,
    
    One more thing:
    
    Among all this discussion about "ethnic" group allocation, I'm
    surprised that noone ever suggested that Cameroon and Nigeria should be
    placed in the Deep South where there are a lot of people of West
    African origin :-)
    
    	cheers,
    
    		Stefan

    Stefan,
    
    As an Irish noter (nutter ?), I'm delighted with the draw. This will
    give us the chance to avenge our defeat by the Italians in 1990.
    Everyone who knows anything about football agrees that the Italians
    were incredibly lucky to scrape through against a vastly superior Irish
    team in that match. Schillachi (sp?) clearly hit the ball with his hand
    from the edge of the box for that fateful deciding goal !
    
    Obviously, my delight is slightly tainted by our being drawn against
    the strongest of the Scandinavian teams, but you can't have everything!
    
    
    Jerry.
    

    
>    Obviously, my delight is slightly tainted by our being drawn against
>    the strongest of the Scandinavian teams, but you can't have everything!
    
    Jerry,
    
    Norway, by far the luckiest of all the qualifiers, will not pose a
    problem even for Ireland. Again, congratulations!
    
    :-)

    
    The draw didn't appear to be fixed.
    
    One question.  anyone understand why Mexico went into Italy's group.
    Cameroon were first out of the pot.  They groups were lined up
    
    Ger Bra Arg Bel Ita USA
    
    Now Cameroon went into Brazil's group to keep the South Americans apart
    but then Mexico came out.  Surely they should have gone with Germany
    and Bolivia then would have gone into Belgium's group.
    
    Gary.

    Gary,
    
    mexico were drawn 6th out of Pot 2 there was only one slot left for
    them.
    
    the draw in 2 was Cameroon, Colombia, Bolivia, nigeria, Morocco, Mexico.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

	Yes, yesterdays spectacle was a real dog - a bunch of has beens
	Dick Clark, Faye Dunaway, Barry Manilow and who let James Brown
	out of jail.

	Anyways, our team got together to see who we'll be seeing in
	June. We had previously ordered a package deal of 5 games in
	Orlando at the citrus bowl and the 5 games (i believe) are as
	follows:

	June 19 Belgium vs Morocco

	June 24 Ireland vs Mexico

	June 25 Belgium vs Holland

	June 29 Holland vs Morocco

	July 4 Winner Group F vs runner-up Group E

	Andrew, if you plan to be at any of these games, let me know
	and we'll try and get togeter. Oh by the way, we are trying to 
	arrange a couple of games while we're down there.

Regards...Jim (from Canada)

    jim,
    
    great to hear from you - I don't know yet as to whether I have enough money
    to fly anywhere other than Boston or D.C
    
    You certainly got a better deal than me - Belgium v Holland is one of
    the top 2 games in the first round.
    
    Say hello to the team from me.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    some tidbits of news that I'm not sure were in earlier notes
    
    o there's one error in the fixture list I posted in .362. The Group D
      game on 26/6 is in Chicago.
    
    o Johann Cruyff won't be coaching the dutch
    
    o It's 3 points for a win
    
    o U.S, Bolivia, Colombia and Sweden will play a 4-team tournament
      Feb 18-20th in Miami.
    
    o U.S plays Norway in Phoenix on Jan 18th and Switzerland on Jan 22nd
      in Fullerton (somewhere in California)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                        

    
    Re the draw and pot 2, yes my mistake.  It was Colombia that came out
    second and went in USA's group.  USA should have got the 6th team out.
    
    Otherwise the draw was fine but as for the antics of the so called
    stars...
    
    Gary (still getting sick over the Baggio makes great kicks)
    
    

    well the credit card bill is in and in the ballot for
    later round tickets I got:
    
    2 tickets to the Quarter-final in Dallas
    2 tickets to the semi-final in L.A
    2 tickets to the 3/4th game in L.A
    
    I didn't get tickets to the final itself and to use an old cliche
    am "sick as a parrot"
                              
    Regards,
    
    andrew.D.wicks

    Re. -1
    
    Likewise, I just got my credit card bill and found a charge for World
    Cup tickets made on 12/22 so I'm assuming I got tickets for the
    Quarter-final at Foxboro (Argentina v. ???).  
    
    Certainly saves the organizers money when they don't have to mail out 
    acknowledgements to people who "won" the lottery for later round tickets.
    
    Steve
    	

    Steve,
    
    The acknowledgements are supposed to be issued by jan 31st but it would
    be interesting trying to deal with the Credit card company then if
    you've already paid your bill and the totals don't add up
    
    ... still since I charged mine to the now extinct corporate AMEX card I 
    have to pay it off quick before the corporate police get after me!
                                        
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    From the USA TODAY
    
    Top 10 in the weekly Sprint Poll as determined by a panel of
    international jounalists. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system, with
    first-place teams receiving 10 points (first-place votes in
    parenthesis).
    
    	1. Germany (32)			364
    	2. Brazil			348
    	3. Italy (4)			348
    	4. Netherlands			236
    	5. Colombia			224
    	6. Argentina (4)		180
    	7. Mexico			120
    	8. Belgium			108
    	9. Norway			100
    	10. Spain			 80
    
    IMO, if Germany continues playing the way they have been doing the past
    few games, I don't see how they can be favorite to win it.

    Norway rated above Sweden? that should wind stefan up (:==:)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    re .-2
    
    Look at Germany's run up to the 1990 WC .....
    
    They always perform on the day....
    
    Dezzz.

    Can anyone point me to a WC schedule with times for each match?  I
    thought I remember seeing one somewhere but haven't been able to find
    it.  I'm particularly interested in the times for the games at Foxboro.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Steve

    steve,
    
    I don't remember posting one with the times (.392 had the fixtures)
    but here just for you are the Foxboro games
    
    Tues Jun 21		Argentina v greece 12.30pm Eastern
    thurs June 23	South Korea v Bolivia 4pm eastern
    Sat June 25th	Argentina v Nigeria 4pm eastern
    Thurs june 30th	greece v nigeria 7.30pm Eastern
    
    don't have the time to hand for the QF game on July 5th
    
    Regards,
    
    andrew.D.wicks

    Does anyone know the prices for the Qtr-final, semi-final, and finals
    were?
    
    A buddy of mine got the charge on his credit card and he only order the
    qtr-final @foxboro and finals.  According to the charge, it looks like
    we are going to the FINALS but before we jump for joy and before I kill
    him for getting my hopes high, does anyone remember the cost for the
    tickets?
    
    Yeah, yeah, we could wait for the notification but the suspense is
    getting to us. My buddy is having so many doubts of what he ordered and
    does not remember the prices.
    
    Any help on the prices would definetely help us determine if we are
    going to LA or not.
    
    Carlos

    CARLOS 
    
    see .277 - don't suppose you have a spare?
    how did you win?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    re: -1
    
    Thanks.
    
    It looks like I am going to the FINALS.  Yahooooo....
    
    I got it thru my friend.  I made everyone (family members in diferent
    households, and friends) sign up.  Out of 6 orders, one of them hit it.
    
    Carlos

    re: .414
    
    Andrew, I'm the one that Carlos mentioned who seems to have gotten the
    tickets to the final. With the prices, I still couldn't come up with
    the exact total. I remember they put some surcharge for S&H things for
    each ticket you purchased. Do you remember how much that is for each
    ticket?
    
    I'm getting very excited about it now... 
    
    thanks,
    -Steve

    Steve,
    
    it was $10 service charge - btw your mail arrived the same time I saw
    this note. Since i have tickets to the semi-final and 3/4th maybe
    we'll meet up out there (I have a spare for the 3/4th if you're
    interested) as I guess i'll try and buy a final ticket somehow.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    
    In Canada, you buy tickets from the Canadian Soccer Association and
    they have a quota assigned to them by FIFA which is independent of
    US ticket sales. There is no restriction on the number of tickets.
    The only limitation is those wishing to purchase tickets for the final
    must buy exact number and category of tickets for the 3rd/4th bronze
    medal match.
    
    We got our order forms a couple of days ago and we ordered tickets for
    these games:
    
    	9th of July, Boston, quarter final, W5 vs W6
    	10th of July, NewYork, quarter final, W3 vs W4
        13th of July, NewYork, semi final, WB vs WC
    
    We decided not to order any tickets for the final in LA on 17th,
    since the airfare, tickets and accomodation add up to 3K. I would
    have loved to but... Santa was very generous to us this Christmas
    but he hasn't calculated the world cup expenses ;-)
    
    This is the end of Canadian Update.
    
    Lale

    
    Hello folks,
    I have the intention to go to the US for the W.C.
    As you know Switzerland is playing in Detroit and San Francisco.
    I hope to have tickets but I'm looking for accomodations.
    
    If you have suggestions for reasonable accomodation in these areas
    or if you can point me to another source for this info., please 
    let me know.
    
    Remy
     

    6 months to the day before the world Cup final in Pasadena...
    
    A major earthquake 6.6 on the richter scale struck L.A - the epicentre
    was a mere 30 miles due west of the Rose Bowl.
    
    whilst from watching the news reports i don't think anything was
    damaged in the Pasadena area itself some of the major highways that
    lead out of L.A were damaged, couple of collapsed intersections and
    there was some damage out at the Cal state campus which I think I read
    was slated to be used as a training facility for some team but it may
    not have been the exact same site.
     
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks 

    The US defeated Norway 2-1 in Tempe, Arizona this past Saturday. 
    Norway had lead 0-1 at halftime.  
    
    US plays Switzerland this Saturday.
    
    Steve

    Well the marketing goes on.... I'd mentioned in previous notes that
    i'd been sent "special introductory offers" for the official World
    Cup Poster etc well in the mail comes an ominous looking letter
    from the U.S Mint! offering me the following essential items:
    
    1) a Proof clad Half Hollar for $9.75
    2) a Proof Silver Dollar for $27.00
    3) a Proof Gold five-dollar for $185.00
    
    and various combinations of the above in 'special commemorative' packs
    
    It did say that a portion of the proceeds would go to the World Cup
    Organizing committee and some to the Soccer Federation .
    
    What next? official World Cup toilet paper?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    

    
    	What, you haven't seen THE OFFICIAL WORLD CUP TOILET PAPER YET????
    It's selling like hot cakes over here. 8-)
    
    JBG

    We have the England Toilet paper instead! :-)
    
    rick
    

	There is alot of concern here in Ireland about the allocation of tickets. On
the news last night it looks at the moment that 8,000 tickets will come to Ireland
(4,000 to travel Companies and 4,000 to the FAI)
	Of course we have our politians working on it, to see if we can get more
tickets but when have our politicans been any good!!
	As for myself I'll have to wait and see, I hope to go with the supporters
club so perhaps I wont have too much bother, but then again you never know...

    Bear in mind tHAT this may be a result of the fact that Ireland are now in
    N.Y behind Italy who will probably take most of the tickets. 
    
    I thought I read that each team got up to 15% of the tickets to the
    stadium they were placed in and Meadowlands holds aBout 60,000
    (yes I know 8,000 isn't 15% of that).
    
    Obviously since this is America most of the tickets (about 40%) go to
    the sponsors.
    
    Oh to live in a democracy.
    
    Regards,
                                                        
    Andrew.D.wicks

    US plays Switzerland tomorrow in Fullerton, CA.  Viewers in the US can
    see the match on Sportschannel at 9PM.
    
    Steve

    
    Folks,
    I am still hoping that someone have ideas how I can get acces to 
    accomodation for the WC in Detroit and San Francisco.
    Could be a flat, bugalow etc
    
    Thanks for your help

    
    ref. .428
    
    Hi, 
    
    What we do is we just call the 800 number of chain hotels and ask
    for their Digital rate. For example:
    
    	1-800-HOLIDAY for Holiday Inn
    	1-800-333-333 for Radisson
    	1-800-2RAMADA for Ramada Inn
    
    You might want to try some local conferences. I believe there is
    a holiday/vacation conference. Search EASYNET_CONFERENCES to find
    related conferences to post your question. Had I lived in one of those
    cities, I would have offered you my guest room.
    
    Good Luck
    
    Lale

    US drew with Switzerland 1-1 this past Saturday.  Switzerland scored
    first and the US equalized on an own goal by the Swiss.
    
    Steve

    Steve,
    
    do you know whether the U.S have any more games scheduled? since the
    England game was cancelled the only other game I had seen advertised
    was Sweden in mid-feb.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    I believe that the US is supposed to be playing Russia in Seattle soon,
    in fact I want to say that the match is being played this weekend. 
    According to USA TODAY they will also be playing South Korea in
    Fullerton, CA on March 12th, with proceeds going to earthquake relief
    efforts in the LA area.
    
    Also read that Roy Wegerle injured his knee and will be out of action
    for 6-8 weeks.  (A double blow, as he plays for my beloved Coventry
    City Sky Blues!)
    
    Steve

    USA Today had an article last week in which Bora was quoted as wanting
    to play every week until the World Cup started.  I believe USSF is
    trying to set up as many matches as possible.  
    
    The US played Norway two weeks ago and won.  They tied Switzerland last
    week.  Only one non-US based player was available, all the rest are in
    full time training in California.
    
    I'll try to see if Soccer America lists a schedule.
    
    Art
    

    
    
    Switzerland beat Mexico 5-1 last night. Didn't see the match (4.30 am
    kickoff) so can't make any comments. Anyone see it.
    
    P

    US drew again, this time 1-1 with Russia.  The match was played indoors
    on artificial turf.
    
    For the third match in a row the US scored in the closing minutes of
    play.  Russia scored first in the 53rd minute and held the 1 goal lead,
    despite being outplayed, until Alexi Lalas equalized somewhere around
    the 85th minute.
    
    The US is playing with a great deal of confidence right now, having won
    one and drawn two against three countries who will be participating in
    WC94.  The commentators repeatly made the point that the US players
    don't get rattled when they get behind because they are confident that
    they will get the goal they need when it gets down the final minutes of
    the match - the last 3 games certainly seem to prove that out.
    
    Steve

    Here are the stats on the US/Russia game
    
    
                     USA    RUSSIA
    
    Shots             18      3
    Saves             1       6
    Corner Kicks      2       1 
    Fouls             8       22
    Offside           1       9
    Yellow Cards      0       3
    
    All in all the US clearly outplayed them and the Russiians needed to
    foul in order to break up plays
    
    
    Regards 
    Rick
    
    
       

    
    Re.
    
>    All in all the US clearly outplayed them and the Russiians needed to
>    foul in order to break up plays
    
       I thought The US team just managed to equalize in the last minutes.
    A few minutes earlier and they would have lost the match.
    
    
    Philippe

    
    Which is why football is football....and basketball is basketball.
    
    You can outplay a team as the US obviously did and still get beaten
    by a fluke breakaway...Anyhow...glad to see the host nation coming up
    with some bottle. I noticed in the France Football last week an article
    on the amount of games the US and Mexico have played in the last
    year...AC Milan would just pip them...Playing that many times together
    MUST have a positive effect on the squad but the question is how will
    the boss merge his European players into his WC opening campaign ???
    
    Dezzz.
    
    

    If the Russians would foul to break up the plays then why were the
    fouls listed as US 22 and Russian 8?
    
    Joe

    re:439
    
    I believe you read the chart incorrectly--the Russians had 22 fouls and
    3 yellow cards called against them to the US having 8 fouls and 0
    yellow cards

    Sorry, looks like I had to to many Sam Adams.  I should say not enough,
    maybe then I would see straight.
    
    Joe

    re-438
    
    With reespect to your question as to how Bora will merge his European
    based players with those in training in Mission Viejo  covential wisdom
    would say that 6 months ago players such as Tab Ramos, John Harkes, Roy
    Wegerle, Ernie Stewart and Eric Wynalda would just step in and be in
    the starting 11--but
    
    in my opinion the level of play by the US based squad has risen
    dramaticaly  as evidenced by the last 6 games or so.  
    
    There is animosity between the two groups on a variety of fronts--that
    is the European based players act and think they are so much better
    than the US based players(according to press reports anyway) and while
    they play in relative obscurity in Europe the US based players are
    starting to make some good money for endorsements etc.
    
    It will be very interesting if the US contnues to play well in their
    next 5 games in the next month against Denmark,Romania, Bolivia and
    Sweden-all WC qualifiers what the position of the European based
    players will be?
    
    I know I did not answer your question but--it is food for thought
    
    regards
    rick toman
    Mission Viejo, CA    

    re:442
    
    oops I am sorry--Denmark did not qualify but is still a very very good
    test for the US team
    
    regards
    rick

    From US SOCCER the following is the tenative starting lineups for the
    USA/Denmark game on Feb 10 in Hong Kong
    
    USA
    
    Goal keeper-Friedel
    
    Defenders- Armstrong,Lapper,Agoos and Lalas
    Midfielders-Dooley,Burns,Henderson,Jones,Perez
    Forward-Moore
    
    Denmark
    
    Goalkeeper-Krogh
    
    Defenders- Hogh,Carsten,Dethlefsen,Rieper,Jensen,Bruun
    Midfielders-Kristensen,EKelund,Thomsen
    Forwards-Fernandez,Frederiksen
    
    
    I would say that the USA lineup has been pretty much the same the last
    several games and is considered the "Mission Viejo" based lineup
    
    What about the Danes?  strong/medium weak???  Any comments
    
    rick  

    of interest to all bar Newcastle supporters (:==:) was the appearance
    of Juergen Sommer as the Luton goalkeeper last night - apparently
    he's an american.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    He didn't impress me much, although granted he didn't have a lot to do.
    
    Tim

    For those that have SportsChannel.
    
    
    Tomorrow, SportsChannel is showing two games Live from Miami.
    
    @4:00pm 	Colombia vs Sweeden
    @6:30pm	USA vs Bolivia
    
    Carlos

    
>    @4:00pm 	Colombia vs Sweeden
    
    Yes, Sweden are playing Colombia tonight and USA on Sunday. This is a
    home-based Swedish side which will have very little in common with the
    actual World Cup team. "Foreigners" like Thern, Schwarz, Brolin,
    Ingesson, Nilsson, Patrik Andersson, Jan Eriksson, Ljung and Dahlin are
    all on club duty. I think Colombia have a similar situation with
    Asprilla and a couple of other stars missing.
    
    Still you'll be able to catch the profiles of:
    
    - Tomas Ravelli, the worst goal-keeper in the world
    - Anders Limpar, who doesn't get a game with Arsenal at the moment.
    He can be dazzling, rubbish and both within five minutes.
    - Stefan Rehn, who is too slow for international Football but still
    entertaining to watch.
    - Henrik Larsson, young talent who was recently snapped up by
    Feyenoord. Easy to recognize in his Gullit hair-style.
    
    The four above are the only ones I reckon to be contenders for a place
    in the World Cup team.
    
    If Ravelli picks up a career-ending injury on this trip it has been a
    worthy cause.
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan

    You are correct, Colombia will not be playing with some of their
    international start like Asprilla, Valenciano, Alvarez, Rincon. 
    However, Valderrama (the key player I believe) and Valencia will be
    playing.
    
    USA will not be playing with Ernie Stewart, Wynalda, Wegerle, Ramos,
    and Harkes.
    
    Out of the four teams that are playing in this "Joe Robbie Cup",
    Bolivia seems to be the strongest since they will be playing with 13 of
    the 16 players that played in WC qualification.
    
    So the Schedule is:
    
    		TODAY @4:00PM  Colombia vs Sweeden
    		      @6:30pm  USA vs Bolivia
    
    		SUNDAY @12:30pm Colombia vs Bolivia
    		       @3:30pm USA vs Sweeden.
    
    Carlos

    SportsChannel will be showing the games today Live!
    
    On Sunday, they will be showing the game (taped)
    
    		Colombia vs Bolivia @9:00pm
    		USA vs Sweeden @11:30pm

    W.C. final ticket...
    
    I was wondering if anyone who has their credit card charged for the 
    W.C semi and final tickets has already received the mail notification? 
    
    -Steve

    
    Results:
    
    Fri:	Colombia	0   
    		Sweden		0
                                      
                USA		1    
    		Bolivia 	1
    
    Sun:	Colombia	2
    		Bolivia		0
    
    		USA		1
    		Sweden		3
    
    Sweden win the "Joe Robbie Cup" on goal difference. Oh Glory!

    RE. .451
    
    I received mail notification for quarterfinal tickets over the weekend.
    
    Steve
    

    steve,
    
    the ticket confirmations letter was dated 11-feb  - even though one of
    the 700 odd conditions with buying the tickets said "all confirmations
    will be mailed by 31st january 1994" !!!
    
    don't suppose anyone has the times of the games for the later rounds
    to hand - all I could find was the times of the games in the first
    round - time to start booking plane flights you see.
    
    regards,
    
    andrew.d.wicks

    RE: .454
    
    Andrew,
    
    Yes, I finally got my confirmation. To my surprise, that wasn't quite
    exactly what I was expecting. I got one more set of quarterfinal
    tickets for SF.
    
    No, I don't have the time for the game either.
    
    -Steve

    steve,
    
    so what did you end up with tickets for altogether?
    still going to be in L.A?.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks
    

    Can anyone confirm this:
    
    A friend of mine heard on the radio on Monday morning that the
    Colombian team were robbed (cash, jewlry, etc.. at a total over $23k)
    at their hotel in Miami.  Just about each room at the hotel were the
    players were staying was broken into and robbed.  My understanding is
    that it happen while they were playing Bolivia on Sunday.   However, I
    have not heard this news anywhere else?  Has any one?
    
    FYI - Valderrama (the key player for Colombia) was operated on Sunday
    to fix some ligimants on his knee.  He was injured during the game
    against Sweeden and for those that saw the game, this explains why he
    wanted to injure one player (got a yellow card, he should have gotten a
    red card) and then threw a punch at another (which then the
    Red card was presented to him) before halftime.  According to the
    spanish news, Valderrama was kicked in the knee and he was furious
    which led to his temperament.  He will be out for about 6-8 weeks.
    
    Carlos
    
    

    re: .456
    
    Hi Andrew,
    
    I got Foxboro and SF Quarterfinals and L.A. finals. Yes, I'll still go
    to L.A. I've already gotten my boarding pass from Boston to L.A.
    already! 
    
    -Steve 

    
    Hi Carlos,
    
    I read that the Swedish team were robbed at the hotel, don't know about
    the Colombians or whether they stayed at the same hotel.
    
>    FYI - Valderrama (the key player for Colombia) was operated on Sunday
>    to fix some ligimants on his knee.  He was injured during the game
>    against Sweeden and for those that saw the game, this explains why he
>    wanted to injure one player (got a yellow card, he should have gotten a
>    red card) and then threw a punch at another (which then the
>    Red card was presented to him) before halftime.  According to the
>    spanish news, Valderrama was kicked in the knee and he was furious
>    which led to his temperament.  He will be out for about 6-8 weeks.
    
    Valderrama was injured in a collision with Kenneth Andersson. In my
    opinion no foul was involved, and none was given by the ref. 10 minutes
    later or so, Valderrama came flying at 1 meter above sea level, feet
    first, in what can only be described as an assassination attempt on
    Anders Limpar! Valderrama stated after the game that he mistook Limpar
    for Andersson. I guess that's all right then!
    
    Limpar is OK, by the way. Sweden play Mexico tonight.
    
    
    	cheers,
    
    		Stefan

Stefan,
    
>          -< Valderrama: Is there a brain underneath all that hair? >-

He must have one to be able to create plays.
    
>    I read that the Swedish team were robbed at the hotel, don't know about
>    the Colombians or whether they stayed at the same hotel.

Few other friends also heard that the Colombians were robbed.

Miami is sure getting publicity with tourists.
    
>    later or so, Valderrama came flying at 1 meter above sea level, feet
>    first, in what can only be described as an assassination attempt on
>    Anders Limpar!

    Good description.   That is why I was totally surprise when the ref
    only gave him a yellow card because without a doubt that should have
    been a red card.

Carlos

    re - 1,
    
    remember in the original bid - Miami got the final - it is still the
    only stadium in the U.S built for football. Then of course they got
    the baseball team and they dropped out.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    
>>          -< Valderrama: Is there a brain underneath all that hair? >-
>
> He must have one to be able to create plays.
    
    Yeah, sorry about that. It's just that the challenge on Limpar looked a
    bit brainless, and the comments after the match didn't help either. I
    wish he'd gone for Ravelli instead :-) 
    
    Anyway, another result:
    
    Mexico 2	- Sweden 1
    
    Slightly surprising considering Mexico's recent heavy defeats.
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan

    I heard that Colombia will be playing in Connecticut and New York for
    preparation to the W.C.
    
    Does any one know the dates and who they are playing?
    
    I would not mind going to Conn. to see them
    
    Carlos 

    carlos,
    
    the U.S WC committee may know - their number starts with 310 it's
    somewhere earlier in this notes stream.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    The following is the USA's schedule from now until WC
    
    Sat  March 26  Bolivia  @Dallas
    Wed  April 13  Argentina @Buenos Aires (tenative)
    Sat        16  Moldova(former Soviet Union Republic) @ Jacksonville, FL
    Wed        20  Moldova @Davidson, NC
    Sun        24  Iceland @San Diego, CA
    Sat        30  Chile @Albuquerque,NM
    Sun  May   15  TBA   @East Los Angeles
    Sat        21  Bayern-Munich @Cleveland
    Wed        25  Saudi Arabia @TBA
    Sat        28  Greece @New Haven,CONN
    Sat  June  5   Mexico @Pasadena,CA  (Rose Bowl)
    
    regards
    rick
                

    The u.S drew 1-1 with S.korea in Fullerton this past weekend
    I don't have any more details as I Only saw the score and odd flashes
    of the game on a screen in a bar last night.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Hi all
    
    Iwas at the game--disappointing if you are a USA fan--USA's goal was on
    a set play(corner) again--Korea's goal was scored by Desmond Washington
    of the USA off his head as he tried to clear.
    
    The USA has no cogent attack--Korea very quick--the USA speedsters
    Jones and Henderson were actually run down from behind by Korea
    fullbacks.
    
    regards
    rick 

    
    Hi all
    
    I'm looking for tickets for Italy matches in N.Y. or D.C. (fase 1) or
    if it's possible two tickets for semi-final or quart in N.Y. (...may be
    that Italy continue his WorldCup in N.Y.).
    
    Can somebody help me ? (...in Italy tickets are available only by some
    travel companies...and they want >3.000$ for travel+3 nights in Hotel+
    only 1 ticket for fase 1)
    
    Max price: 300$ for ticket.
    
    Ciao and many thanks
    
    Francesco
    
    MEZZASALMA::ROMTSS
    MEZZASALMA@RIO (Rome office)
    
    
    
     

    The u.S drew 2-2 with Bolivia in Dallas on Saturday- as usual I
    haven't seen the game though my video recorder has!. The side was
    described as experimental (3 months before the finals!) with peter
    Vermes returning up front for the first time in years alongside a
    similarly recalled Hugo perez (who must be about 40 by now).
    
    the crowd appeared to number only a few thousand ...
    
    Alexei lalas (the guy who looks like catweazle) played in defence while
    the central defender Thomas Dooley played in midfield - shades of
    Graham Taylor in the formation I fear.
    
    80 days til it starts for real.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks                                                         

    The game against Argentina is apparently off so we won't get to see
    ma(ra)donna on U.S TV - there was no reason given in the paper for the
    cancellation.
    
    CNN have decided out of the blue to start showing some football (even
    though they're mainly a news/talk station). This morning at the ungodly
    hour of 11am we were treated to half-an-hour of something called world
    soccer weekly! the 'expert' on hand is one Rodney Marsh!! It seemed
    very similar to the not recently seen ESPN World Cup Preview with
    features on Thomas Dooley, an interview with Alan Rothenberg, something
    about Bolivia and odd real news items such as the scores from the
    African Nations Cup where apparently the final is between Nigeria and
    Zambia and is being played today. 
    
    Still no sign of life on ABC or ESPN who are showing all the games in
    just 68 days time ... sigh
    
    Anyone know what medium we're going to get to see the F.A CUp Final
    this year - will it be ESPN, PPV or a Satellite station.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
                               

    By coincidence, this weekend I saw an add that said that ALL of the
    European championship games will be shown live on PPV.  This include
    the following games:
    
    		FA Cup Final
    		European Cup Final
    		Cup Champions Cup Final
    		EUFA cup final
    
    I believe there was one more but I am not certain.
    
    Anyway, the add was on NESN so I will keep an eye on it to give the
    exact info.
    
    BTW, can anyone post the exact dates for the final(s)?  I want to mark
    them in my calendar so that I can get the VCR ready.
    
    Carlos

    Carlos,
    
    oh no not PPV again!!!!!!!. 
    
    midweek games throughout may usually for the Euro games e.g May 4, 11, 18,
    25 (the UEFA cup final being two-legs) not sure which is which though.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    

    Well, if you live up here in NH, the cost will be a lot cheaper.
    
    If you do happen to be around here in NH during any of those finals,
    send me MAIL and I will tell you where you can see it for a very cheap
    price.
    
    Carlos

    carlos,
    
    won't be up north til June for the games at Foxboro.
    
    Oh by the way ESPN have just started showing a world cup magazine
    programme too - it was on yesterday at 3pm but next week it will be on
    Wednesday at 3pm. It's similar in format to the CNN programme on
    sundays a couple of results e.g F.A cup semis, features on MSL, the
    U.S squad etc 
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    well the U.S pulled off a draw against mighty Moldovia in jacksonville
    last night - this was Moldovia's first ever international game so
    theoretically they're the only unbeaten team in the world  and should
    be ranked No 1 above Germany, Brazil etc...
    
    The U.S scorer was Mike Soper, the Modovians equalised with an 85th min
     penalty for an offence for which alexei Lalas (aka catweazle was sent
    off)
    
    The u.s continues to play without a recognised striker and apparently 
    Roy Wegerle had his knee operated on yesterday and won't play in
    england again this season. Eric wynalda is rumoured to have asked for
    an early release from his German side. maybe they should look for
    some players with American Grannies quickly? 
    
    In related news the grass is finally down at Giants stadium in N.Y just
    two months before Ireland play Italy - I don't what took them so long
    as no American football has been played there since December. this was
    the only outdoor stadium on plastic as foxboro went to grass ages ago.
    
    Oh and after my outburst about lack of TV coverage from ESPN last week
    they obviously sat up and took notice as they produced not one but two
    programmes this week called "World Cup USA preview" and "world Cup usa
    1994" both at half-hour length that covered items on:
    
    o Sweden, 
    o the 1990 Opening Game (cameroon v Argies), 
    o a profile of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 
    o the choices for position in the final U.S 22 (e.g which of the 4 goalies)
    o the J-league, 
    o MLS (the proposed outdoor U.s league), 
    o boots designed by the legendary Craig Johnston (bet Cunno has a pair!)
    o the Mexican goalie Campos.
    
    CNN responde with a very strange half-hour programme covering
    o Uruguay - who didn't qualify
    o the grass going down in N.Y
    o profile or Roberto baggio
    o yet another feature on the U.S goalies (can they play striker??)
    
    and Sportsouth has started showing the PRIME Network feed called
    FUTBOL MUNDIAL (world football) which showed the goals and highlights
    from the african nation cup semis and finals, a report from the world
    youth cup in Dallas (Tott Hotspur did not win or get very far!) and
    a feature on that team from turkey that knocked the Mancs out.
    
    Things are looking up but will it all stop on July 18th??
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks 

    Here are some international friendlies before the WC.
    
    June 3rd		Colombia vs N. Ireland	@Foxboro
    
    June 5th		Colombia vs Greece	@N.Y.
    
    June 7th		Italy vs ????		@New Haven
    
    I forgot who Italy will be playing against.
    
    
    Does anyone know who won this past weekend between Colombia vs Nigeria?
    
    Last weekend, Bolivia beat Colombia in Colombia 1-0./
    
    Carlos

    carlos,
    
    are you sure the game in Foxboro is Norther Ireland? surely it would
    be Eire.
                  
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Yes, I am sure.  It was in the USA Today and in the Lowell newspapers.
    
    It is against N. Ireland.
    
    Now, I have to figure out where to call to get tickets.
    
    Carlos

    Correction to note .476
    
    June 11th		Italy vs Costa Rica	@New Haven
         ----                    ----------
    
    
    Carlos
    

    last Wednesday the U.S beat Modova 3-0 with goals from rainer, klopke
    and lapper in a game played in davidson N.C
    
    yesterday they were due to play iceland in San Diego but I didn't catch
    the score as the sports programmes were obsessed (more than usual) with
    covering American football yesterday.
    
    Anyone catch the score?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    I was there---USA lost 2-1
    
    lack of finishers hurt them--many lost opportunities in front of
    Iceland's net
    
    The USA plays with a pretty style but ........
    
    rick
    
    mission viejo
    

    Rick,
    
    since Sportsouth probably won't show this game can you give me an idea
    what the team was and whether they're still subbing about 3 or 4
    players per game. Chile on the 30th will be the last game before
    Harkes, Wynalda etc return won't it.
    
    maybe we could pick our own 22? and whoever comes closest to bora's
    selection gets a free beer off the other - i'll be staying in Santa Ana(sp?)
    for the final rounds which isn't far from Mission Viejo is it?         
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Andrew,
    
    Actually- Santa Ana is about 15 miles north of Mission Viejo and about
    3 miles from IVO(Irvine) which is Digital's largest facility in Orange
    County(300 or so employees) so I will take you up on that wager with
    respect to the final 22.
    
    The game against Iceland I thnk again showed that althogh the Americans
    are very technically proficient with their South American build-up one
    touch style as they manuever the ball at midfield and begin their
    attack--they often become too "cute" and have one pass too many in
    trying to get the perfect shot on goal--as a result they don't get the
    shot off or the attacker is run off the ball.  It seems to me that
    there are two ways to play the Americans--press the defenders in their
    end (Germany/Sweden did this) and they give up the ball or mass your
    defenders in your end and counterattack quickly with a long ball when a
    mistake is made in the Americans build up
    style(Korea/Switzerland/Iceland
    
    This last  game started with Balboa as sweeper/Clavijoand Agoos as the
    outside fullbacks/Lalas as the manmarker--Quinn and Dooley as inside
    midfielders/Jones and Reyna as the wings/ Klopas as the up striker with
    Perez as the withdrawn striker and Friedel as the keeper.
    
    Kinnear replaced Balboa with Dooley going to sweeper-Reyna moving to
    Dooleys spot and Kinnear playing wing and Caliguirie replacing Agoos
    
    
    It appears that some of the Americans will be in camp the first week in
    May--USA plays Estonia on May 7 and Armenia on May 15 both at Cal-STATE
    fULLERTON ABOUT 20 MILES FROM MISSION VIEJO a very nice 120x75 field .
    
    my 22 to come later
    
    rick

    
    How badly is Romario(sp?) injured? Will he be OK for U.S 94??
    
    Tony
    
    

    For those that are interested in catching the European finals, I saw
    the add this weekend:
    
    All games are PPV:
    
    Tuesday May 3rd Arsenal vs Parma 	@5:00pm ET (Tape Delay)
    
    Wednesday May 18th European Champions Cup Final @2:00pm ET (Live)
    
    
    Saturday May 14th  FA Cup final  (forgot the time).
    
    
    I am also sure that PRIME (NESN in New England) network will be showing
    the European Champions Cup semi-finals.  
    
    Carlos

    A friend of mine told me (it was confirmed by USA Today) that certain
    people are getting letters where they can call to order single tickets
    for the first, second round and quaterfinals games.
    
    To order tickets, call 1-800-769-1994.
    
    According to the USA Today, this is a four-telephone sale, that started
    on Sunday.  Tickets are available for 37 of the 48 1st, 2nd round and
    quater-final games.
    
    Carlos

    Oooooppps.....
    
    RE: -1
    
    >...this is a four-telephone sale,
    
    What I meant to write was that this was a four-day telephone sale.
    
    Carlos

    sean,
    
    what's Mosaic?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

>     what's Mosaic?

	xmosaic

	from the OSF/1 command line.

	Tony

    oh sorry - only got VMS machines here don't suppose there's an 
    equivalent.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    As we all know Bora has said he won't name his team until the last
    minute(june 3) and this technique is causing a lot of consternation
    among the US players.  It is my understanding that most other WC
    qualifiers at this stage at least know 15-19 players who have made
    their team and the final few spots are still be competed for.
    
    can anyone confirm or deny 
    
    rick

    rick,
    
    come on you're not playing for time are you? 
    
    I have my 22 selected.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    re. 491
    
    Have a look in the in the internet tools conference...
    
    	SOFBAS::INTERNET_TOOLS
    
    I run xmosaic which is located on out VMS cluster... you can also get
    it for the PC I believe.. :->
    
    Rick.

Andrew,

Try:   dir TECO::SYS$PUBLIC:

You'll find everything you need there.

Copy the .bck file and V2.1 .exe to your own account, restore the backup file,
do an @ of the command file and run the baby. Play around and enjoy. 
The V2.1 .exe is the latest version( I think ) and you should use this to
replace the .exe in the backup file.

As somebody said, Internet Tools is a good notes file for reading and
discovering the wonderful world of the WWW "World Wide Web" 


Regards,

Peter.

    OK Andrew---here is the winning list by position though some players
    could play other positions--Now by having the team in Mission Viejo I
    have had the opportunity on numerous occasions to hear Bora and his
    assistants coaches speak about the kind of players that they will pick
    but since I am putting my list down first I will not put down the
    primary reasons for my selections--will do that later.
    
    
    keepers      defenders       midfield        forwards
     meola        lapper          ramos           vermes
     friedel      kooiman         harkes          wynalda
     sommer       lalas           jones           stewart
                  balboa          reyna
                  dooley          perez
                  armstrong       henderson
                  caligiuri       sorber
                                  moore
                                  klopas
    
    
       Now I did not pick Wegerle who may be The USA's best player because
    i don't think his knee will be healed--Kooiman is in the same boat 
    only time will tell
    
    what do you think
    
    regards
    rick

    Rick,
    
    OK I think we have 18 players in common but here's my list
    
    goalies: meola, friedel, sommer
    defenders: clavijio, armstrong, lalas, balboa, agoos, caligiuri, lapper
    midfield: ramos, harkes, henderson, jones, perez, quinn, dooley, reyna
    forwards, wynalda, klopas, wegerle, moore
    
    we disagreed up front - I omitted both Vermes who has hardly scored
    since 1991 and Stewart who has hardly ever scored. So I picked wegerle.
    there really isn't a lot of choice as we don't have many players.
    
    in goal we agreed - we both omitted keller ( i hate millwall)
    
    in defence apart from you counting dooley (who I had in midfield) you
    chose Kooiman whereas I went for Clavijio and Agoos on experience and
    a being fit basis. we both left out Mikchallik.
    
    in midfield you counted moore/klopas  whereas i listed them up front. 
    but you chose Sorber - I accept I might be wrong about him we have too many
    midfielders (bit like Arsenal with centre-backs). I went for Quinn's
    experience. we both left out Kinnear and Burns.
     
    btw: i used the squad of 35 that have played in the last year so I also
         omitted Harbor, Doyle, woodring, chung, murray none of whom have
         appeared in months 
    
    so I make the differences 
    you:	vermes, Stewart, Sorber, Kooiman
    me:         wegerle, quinn, clavijio, agoos 
    
    wonder what Bora thinks?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    Andrew
    
    As you indicated we have 18 in common and 4 differences
    
    you are already 1 ahead as US soccer released Peter Vermes yesterday
    
    This is an interesting cut as it looks like some payback on the part of
    Bora for Peter being the player rep until the players hired Leah
    Steinberg 4 months ago as agent.
    
    Asy ou may not know from june 0f 93 to November 93 Peter was
    essentially disabled and really unable to play without pain as a result
    of a back injury.  Late november he had surgery and by early February
    was ready to play for the first time without pain. Bora would not play
    him even though there were no real strikers in camp.  The last two
    months or so during scrimmages in camp either intrasquad or aginst
    visiting teams who were traveling in the states (cameroon,several
    mexican first division teams etc.) Peter was playing up front and had
    regained his old form and was awesome(these scrimmages are open to the
    public) but for hat ever reason bora would not play him in regular game
    except for 10 minutes against Switzerland and 45 minutes againsst
    moldovia and 45 minutes against Bolivia out of a total of 12 games or
    so and while Peter was on the field the USA scored.
    
    Even the players don't understand bora's actions as peter was a team
    leader, unselfish hard worker who had returned to form.  the only
    explanation based on bora's coaching experience(mostly latin america)
    is that he cannot handle anyone who exerts leadership and that he wants
    players who he can totally manipulate(young players and those who are
    docile)
    
    so it looks like will field a team of college players and those who
    have not really played at a high professional level--except for those
    players the press has declared as the saviors of the team who are
    playing in Europe.
    
    
    anyway we will see what happens--if the USA doesn't get a good result
    against Chile--watch out Bora is in trouble---also Agoos and Quinn not
    making trip
    
    so what do you think
    
    regards
    rick    

    Well the U.S lost 2-0 to Chile last night. Chile's goals came in
    the 3rd minute of injury time at the end of the first half and one
    minute from the end of the game. i imagine Rick will have a fuller
    report tomorrow. the match was in Albuquerque New Mexico
    
    In addition to Vermes a veteran of the 1990 world cup the following squad 
    players have also been cut none of whom have played recently.
    bruce Murray the most capped U.S player ever who was in the 1990 team
                 and is listed as playing for Stockport County!!
    Dario Brose - who plays for st Brieuc in france
    John kerr Jr - who apparently plays for Millwall 
    
    anyone know more about theses stars of the english league?
    
    the article reckons Quinn, Mikchallik, sorber and Klopas are at risk
    the last surprises  me as he the only player scoring goals!!!
    
    the paper also suggests that Harkes won't return until the end of
    may as Derby will be playing in the promotion play-offs is this true?
    
    apparently someone's whingeing about the World Cup postage stamps
    as they identify one of the venues as being in new York city rather
    than over the border in New jersey - which is wheere Giants stadium
    is - all this fuss over little bits of $.29c paper - this got the most
    column inches in the paper today.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Ticket news
    ===========
    
    It turns out that only 5 of the first 48 games are actually sold out
    after all and tickets for the other 43 went on sale just 2 hours a go
    so those of you who've been asking for tickets you can try this number
    tomorrow
    1-800-769-1994                                                   
    
    the five sold-out games are:
    Italy v Ireland in N.Y
    Argentina v Greece in Boston
    Italy v Norway in N.Y
    Argentina v Nigeria in Boston
    belgium v holland in Orlando.
    
    for the other games a total of 450,000 tickets are available. My maths
    say that using listed stadium capacities (which may not be the same for 
    World Cup football) says that this is about 15% of the tickets. Prices are
    between $25 and $140 per game and you can buy up to 10.
    
    Note 2 of the 3 Ireland games are not sold out!
    No tickets are available for the Semi Finals or the Final.
    
    Fewest tickets are available for Chicago, D.C, N.Y. Lots of tickets
    acvailable for Dallas, L.A, detroit and s.F
    (which leaves Boston and Orlando in the middle I guess)
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.d.Wicks

>   <<< Note 87.499 by AIMTEC::WICKS_A "Atlanta's Most (In)famous Welshman" >>>
>                             -< Team news etc.... >-

    John kerr Jr - who apparently plays for Millwall 
    
Came on as sub for them yesterday

>    the paper also suggests that Harkes won't return until the end of
>    may as Derby will be playing in the promotion play-offs is this true?
    
They look about 90% sure of making it.

grahame

    more news ...
    
    the tickets that we all paid hundreds of dollars for won't now be
    delivered in May as they had promised but will come in early June!!!!!!
    
    and they'll be delivered by courier - who'll make 3 attempts to deliver
    them before returning them to the WC committee. Bugger this for a game
    of soldiers some of us have jobs (well sort of a job) and really can't
    stay home for days at an end waiting for someone to turn up.
    
    sigh....                                             
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    ESPN reports that only 26 of the 52 world cup games are sold out
    and that good tickets still remain as follows:   
    
    Group A: all except U.S v Colombia still available
    Group B; Brazil v Russia and Brazil v cameroon sold out
    	     others (4) incl Brazil v Sweden not
    Group C; germany v Bolivia and germany v spain sold out
    	     others (4) incl germany v korea not
    Group d: ONLY nigeria v bulgaria and argies v bulgaria available
    Group E; (the group of death) 
    	     ALL 6 games sold out
    Group F: Holland v saudi, Holland v Belgium sold out
    	     others (4) incl Holland v Morocco not
    
    2nd round - tickets available for 5 of 8 games in dallas, l.a, orlando
    		san.fran and Boston (chicago, d.c n.y all gone)
    
    Q.F dallas and San.fran still available (foxboro and n.y sold out)
    
    not quite what the WC committe have been saying all along is it?
    
    1-800-769-1994 if you still want any of these.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.d.Wicks (40 days and 40 nights til game 1)

    The following article was published last week in USA TODAY... I found
    it funny and I can't tell if there is any truth behind it or not...
    
    Jacques
    
    STOP! POLICE ! PUT DOWN THAT KAZOO
    	by Taylor Buckley.
    
    These World Cup soccer stories are getting curiouser and curiouser.
    What is it about soccer and its fans that triggers such explosive
    paranoia in officialdom?
    First the World Cup '94 honchos get the Defense Department to kick in
    $10 million worth of security, including "air support".
    Then they talk about banning beer.
    Then they want the playing fields fenced in.
    Then they want everybody checked by the FBI. Yes. As if they were
    Supreme Court nominees.
    Who are they expecting? The IRA ?
    Abu Nidal?
    Greenpeace?
    They even want reporters checked by the FBI. Is Dave Letterman's mom
    that big of a threat?
    The latest is that now they want to ban musical instruments.
    I swear. Reuters quoted Chicago police Commander Jack Seamonds as
    saying, " We're not going to let anybody bring drums and trumpets into
    the stadium."
    They're worried about what you can hide in a tuba, but how the heck can
    you put on a decent sporting event without beer and trumpets? Brazilian
    soccer fans don't go to church without their drums.
    So, the Cup chairman, Alan Rothenberg, apparently fearing the world's
    longest conga line will show up in protest outside his headquarters
    (it's right there in Century City, Calif., drum fans!), makes a
    statement. "Drums are fine," says the chairman.
    Nevertheless, he can't make his thumbs-up-for-drums deal stick in
    Chicago or  any of the eight other cities where Cup matches will be
    played this summer. The U.S. Air Force might be flying air cover, but
    on the ground, local security forces rule.
    So, don't try taking your drum to a game in Chicago - and don't sit
    next to anyone with a large horn - unless, of course, you are wearing
    something that makes you invisible to the F-15s overhead or impervious
    to Sidewinder missiles.
    Rothenberg, however, worries about people coming in " with anything
    that could be a weapon or a projectile."(Are theye expecting that many
    schoolchildren?) Otherwise, he says, " We think we can have a happy
    medium."
    What's that, a happy medium?
    You can come in with a harmonica and maybe a tub of KFC chicken. But,
    "Hold it right there, Mack. Drop the drumsticks!"      

    Hi all
    
    
    US Soccer just announced 4 cuts to team
    
    Jeff agoss,Desmond Armstrong, Januscz Michalik and Brian Quinn
    
    also recalled Brian Bliss from second division German team
    
    25 left or to be in camp within next two weeks
    
    Armstrong was a former player rep just like Vermes who was cut last
    week--bora payyback
    
    How bora the wonderful can cut Armstrong while keeping the unskilled
    college kid Lapper is beyond me 
    
    rick 

Article 18035 of clari.sports.misc:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!decwrl!looking!bass!clarinews
Comment: Subject mapped from all upper case
From: clarinews@clarinet.com (Reuters)
Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc
Distribution: clari.reuters
Subject: Soccer-Fence Ordered for World Cup Against FIFA Wishes
Copyright: 1994 by Reuters, R
Message-ID: <Rsoccer-world-fenceURe9b_4yB@clarinet.com>
Date: Tue, 10 May 94 21:20:04 PDT
Expires: Tue, 17 May 94 21:20:04 PDT
ACategory: sports
Slugword: SOCCER-WORLD-FENCE
Priority: regular
ANPA: Wc: 198/0; Id: a0020; Src: reut; Sel: reute; Adate: 05-11-N/A
Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com
Lines: 22

	 WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Citing concerns for the safety of
players and fans, D.C. police have ordered a six-foot
fence erected around the playing field at RFK Stadium for the
five World Cup soccer matches to be played there, the Washington
Post reported Wednesday.
	 ``It is a well-known fact that foreign fans associated with
soccer have had a tendency to charge the field,'' the paper
quoted Assistant Chief Melvin Clark, who is coordinating World
Cup security for the police department.
	 FIFA officials, sensitive about the game's image as a result
of well-publicized incidents of hooliganism and violence
throughout Europe, are not happy about the police decision.
	 The Post quoted Guido Tognoni, a spokesman for the sport's
international governing body, as saying that people were
''panicking a little bit.''
	 ``We think some people have been misled and this is damaging
the whole image of the event. FIFA is trying to show in the
United States that this is a peaceful game, that we do not need
fences,'' Tognoni told the newspaper.
	 According to Clark, the chain-link fence will surround the
playing field and include many gates which will be manned by
security officers.



Arghhhhhhhhhhh !!!!! ,


Peter.

    Sounds like they're getting ready for World War 3 instead of the World
    Cup...   :-<
    
    
    
    	Rick.

    re .507
    
    does this apply to any of the other stadia in use for the World Cup?...
    I just hope that they aren't tempting fate....
    
    here's to a peaceful World Cup....

All this talk about barriers, no drums etc.. is bloody pathetic.

When was was the last time there was any trouble *Inside* the ground during a
World Cup match??

I can't remember any, but then again I have got the memory of a fish :)

I can understand the concerns about the possibility of trouble in the streets
though.

If the States are so worried about it, why the hell did they apply to hold the
event in the first place.


Al


All this talk about barriers, no drums etc.. is bloody pathetic.

When was was the last time there was any trouble *Inside* the ground during a
World Cup match??

I can't remember any, but then again I have got the memory of a fish :)

Deja vue

From the looks of things it's just Washington at the moment. Each police force
seems to be doing it's own thing. But you know what can happen , go one go all.
I've read that a police chief in Florida was looking for funds for a Tank to use
in controling crowds at the games in the Citrus Bowl.

Peter.

    RE.-1 Peter
    About that tank.
    That was a joke, right?
    
    I think that they'd better concentrate on the supporters BEFORE and
    especially AFTER a game.
    
    Marcel

He seriously wanted a crowd control tane. I presume, somthing with water cannons
and the such like.

Can you believe it ?!!!

Peter.

    RE.-1
    You mean the tanks they use against crowds in very far away countries?
    
    I still think is is very pittyfull.
    
    Marcel

    
    	Hang on a minute...these measures are well over the top....we
    	didn't qualify, remember?
    
    	Confused.

    re: we didn't qualify
    
    Although our hooligans are still the ones most other countries
    hooligans want to beat (because, like footie itself we invented it) I
    think the Dutch, Germans and Italians can be just as bad as our lot.
    
    I think tanks are totally acceptable, after all they'll probably be one
    in the Republic's team. Seriously, fences and tanks etc are completely
    out of order. It's just complete paranoia by the authorities.
    
    Paul.
    

Maybe the US authorities have seen footage of some of the Italian domestic 
matches... where on many grounds they have high fences, but sections of the 
crowd still manage to throw coins, bottles, etc. at corner kickers and 
goalkeepers. To be fair, the US are used to different types of sporting 
audiences (much more family oriented), so maybe some over-reaction (if that's 
what it is) is understandable. Having said that there hasn't been much
trouble in previous world cups (inside the grounds, anyway), so let's hope their
fears are unwarranted.

Norman (with sensible head on, this morning ;-)) 

    
    There is, of course, always the risk that some of the more accomplished
    hooligans may view this as a challenge to their abilities to cause
    trouble.  It may even cause rival hooligans to unite and direct their
    attacks towards the authorities !
    
    I hope I'm wrong,
    
    Jerry.

    re .506 (rick)
    
    yes I got told about these last four cuts in the middle of Bourbon St
    (of all places!) by Gerry Campkin I almost dropped the beer I was carrying.
    it was definitely a shock.
    
    I heard that kasey keller also got cut too! Armstrong is definitely a 
    surprise as he is definitely a class player who could hold his own in a top
    european league. 
    
    how did the U.S do against Armenia by the way?
    
    IN more related news the number of games sold-out has risen to a
    miserly 34 out of 52 and in a desperate move organizers will now take
    orders from fans overseas - the number is:
    
    U.S + 213-365-6300
    
    for u.s residents it's still 1-800-769-1994
    
    The games left (according to U.S.A today) are:
    Boston 	s.korea v bolivia (surprise surprise)
    Chicago 	<none>
    Dallas 	All 6 games including the quarterfinal
    	        (maybe this wasn't a good choice?? after all)
    New York	Saudi v Morocco (no surprise there)
    Orlando	Belgium v Morocco, 2nd round game
    L.A		Colombia v Romania, Cameroon v Sweden, U.S.A v Romania
    Detroit	romania v Switz, Sweden v Russia
    S.F		Russia v Cameroon, 2nd round game and the q.f
    Washnington <none>
    
    strange to see two quarter-finals not sold out
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks (back from the Big Sleazy - new Orleans)
                                                  

    I understand how teams advance to the 2nd round, but, how are the 2nd
    round pairings determined? Do the advancing teams from each group
    play each other or is it more complicated?

    Yes it's much more complex than that ....
    I think we explained it way back in this notes stream it's something like 
    Winner of group A v Runner up group F
    etc etc
    (no winner plays another winner, no 2nd place plays another 2nd)
    
    and then there's the 4 third place teams that qualifier so you get
    Winner of group B v Third place from B , E or F
    
    Do you need a proper explanation or was that enough?
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    more now i've caught up with the stuff in my mail...
    
    Alan Rothenberg did finally express concern about ticket sales in
    DALLAS where all 6 games aren't sold out and they've now taken the
    unusual step of placing tickets at the Ticketmaster outlets (they do
    rock concerts etc etc ). On sunday Ticketmaster will also offer tickets
    for Detroit.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    oh dear the paranoia is spreading. The authorities at Stanford in San
    francisco and the Cotton Bowl in Dallas have also decided to install
    fences....
    
    and in dallas they've also decided to ban RVs (recreational vehicles -
    those big houses on wheels) from the car park - what sort of security
    threat are they - they move slower than Jan Molby.
    
    I checked some results and the U.S beat Estonia 4-0 last weekend
    with goals from Klopas, max-Moore (first game in months), balboa, and
    reyna. they also played Armenia last night but I don't know the score.
    
    TV coverage is picking up - ESPN are now showing 3 1/2 hour programmes 
    per week and ABC is showing 1/2 hour.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    I heard today that Ireland, Holland and Belgium all want their mid-day
    games in Orlando moved to a later time when it wont be so hot. The
    official reason for not moving them is that there would be too much
    danger from electrical storms in the afternoon ! 
    
    Don't forget your umbrella's.
    
    Fintan

    I was there last year and around 4:00 every day there were 
   massive thunderstorms which lasted about one hour or so.

    

    fintan,
    
    umbrella's are on the list of banned items that you can't take in !
    
    apart from upsetting the sponsors and the tv companies I doubt whether 
    they could do this at this late stage because on 3 of the first 4 games 
    there are already games scheduled at 4pm and 7.30pm (eastern time)
    
    regards,          
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Jerry
    
    nope it appears that the stadiums are doing their own thing and
    overruling the WC committee - you could try calling the police
    department in each of the nine cities (:==:) i'm sure they would be
    please to meet you at the airport.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Umbrella's?
    What's next? Jackets, coats, pants, socks (smelly little bas###ds)?
    How about money? That can provoke someone to steal it from you, causing
    violence. Let's ban wallets!
    
    Marcel
    
    P.S. I think they just crossed the point of no return, by about 400
    miles. It's getting ridiculous.

    
    The chairman of FIFA's medical commission 'warned' all the finalists
    not to underestimate the risks of playing in high temperatures....
    (i.e. at midday)
    
    Huh ask Bobby Charlton and Franny Lee about that one...
    
    I can't really see them changing the times at this late stage...
    
    Dezzz. 

    Marcel,
    
    there was an article in one of the papers about a security test done
    at Stanford Stadium recently and they even had metal detectors on the
    entrances - does anyone remember the ones at West Ham? do they still
    use theM?. It listed a number of items that they were 'looking for'
    such as bottles, cans, binoculars, musical instruments etc etc ....
    (it didn;t actually mention guns, rocket launchers etc...)
    
    sadly the security test claimed a victim - one of the people
    pretending to be a hooligan (I believe he was an off-duty police
    officer) was shot and killed by a security guard who was supposed to
    have blanks in his gun but didn't. I hope that this isn't a shoot
    first ask questions later society we're encouraging. 
    
    this is a scary country sometimes.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                                        

    US NATIONAL TEAM- TEAM V. SWITZERLAND, DETROIT, JUNE 18, 1994
    
    				MEOLA
    
    BURNS		DOOLEY		KOOIMAN			BLISS
    
    
    RAMOS		REYNA		HARKES			JONES
    				WEGERLE
    
    			
    				STEWART
    
    SUB: WYNALDA
    
    I'VE BEEN READING THESE NOTES AND THOUGHT I'D ADD IN.
    
    BRYAN
    

    bryan,
    
    interesting guess - this guy Bliss has come from nowhere - has he even
    played a full game? I'd expect balboa or Caligulari to start based on
    experience and maybe Wynalda up front but we;ll see.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks 

Velcome to ze vonderful vorld off nodeing Bryan.
Is alwayz goot do ave new contributers.

Regards,

Peter.

    
    Bliss is from Carl-Zeiss Jena. 
    
    I don't know if 'coming from nowhere' is a close guess.
    
    Heiko

    
>>>    Bliss is from Carl-Zeiss Jena. 
    
   How can he play in the World Cup...


He'd be stopped at the door, he's a pair of binoculars !!! ;~0

    
    I agree Bliss is a bit of an unknown right now, at least to Bora, Bora 
    Bora, but he has more pace that Caliguri and It looks as though Balboa
    hasn't been the same player since his ACL surgery. Bliss is on a 10 day
    trial right now. We'll see what happens after Bayern Munich, Saudi
    Arabia and Greece. Hopefully Bora can make up his mind by then so that
    the players can get on with the business instead of worrying about the
    final 22.

    Heiko,
    
    I meant 'come-from-nowhere' in the context of the U.S team. they've
    used 37 players in the last year and he wasn' one of them
                  
    more news...
    
    on sunday night the U.S crushed mighty Armenia 1-0 with Frank Klopas
    again scoring - bet they'll drop him now.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

Just as a matter of pure idle curiosity Andrew. Are you Welsh or American of
Welsh decent ?

This has nothing to do with anything other that calling immigration so don't
worry :-)

Peter.

    Peter 
    
    I'm Welsh and no I don't have a green card or U.S passport. If you
    could wait til after July 17th to turn me in i'd appreciate it.
                  
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks 

    Peter,
    
    If you're thinking of blackmailing Andrew, might I suggest that you get
    him to make his payments into a Swiss bank account. I just happen to
    know of such an account, and the commission is quite reasonable ;-)))
    
    Jerry.

Well as they say Jerry "Great minds...etc"

Now about that bank...

yours extortionately,

Peter.

    Sorry i'm employed by DIGITAL (at least til July 1st) so your blackmail
    attempts are in vain.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    Re: last 6 noters.... you guys are funny... nice chat,  but why don't we
    	just keep this note limited to soccer.
    
    	Tx.......... /PZ

    Paudely,
    
    Do you remember that ad about a financial firm....When they talk...
    Everyone stops and listens...
    
    
    These three guys ARE SOCCER! Any time they talk... we listen!
    
    
    Jerry, Peter, This guy is O.K.... it's his brother that is a pain in
    the Arse...
    
    Nick

Well what can I say Nick except...

I'm...I'm...I'm touched and flattered by your glowing tribute to not only my
good self but also Jerry who as we all know scarcely deserves such high praise ,
but it was nice of you to include him anyway. I notice you left out JBG and some
other notable gurus. Your taste is exquisite , your intellect astounding !

Yes we are soccer , but that begs the question "What is it *to be* Soccer" ?
This holy grail , fountain of truth , tree of knowledge has eluded man for eons 
and when you find it you will have found contentment and peace with your inner
self. Good luck in your quest my son .

Don't get me wrong though , being righteous and infalliable is not an easy cross
to bear. We must strive, every day ,to enlighten the heathen swine who populate
this conference.We must make them see that the only way is that of impartial and
unbiased assessment of the facts as they are presented. We must make them
understand the error of their ways , disgard the materialism which makes them
think that they can buy success , break the satanic alliances that have formed
in the name of Satans waters and encourage a United populous which will
eventually converge at Old Tra.. Paradise.


Your quest will be a long and trecherous one as you try to reconcile your self
to the praise and adoration of Hayden and Bolger. You're half way there just
take that final step and you will be saved.

Bless you,

(An Impartial Celt) 

    Sorry Paudely,
    
    I didn't realise that WC 1994 had anything to do with soccer. I heard a
    rumour recently which suggested that the organisers were considering
    change the name to "Weird Carnival" - it's more accurate and it keeps
    the same initials ;-) 
    
    As far as I can tell it's main concerns are in the following areas :
    
    	1. Weapons Control :  Including musical instruments and weather
    		protection devices (umbrellas). It should be noted that the
    		local Police forces are exempt from exercising control with 
    		their weapons - hence the incident in Foxboro. 
    
    
    	2. Fixed "Random" Draws :  Personally, I think that the team of
    		international observers who oversaw the South Africa 
    		elections could have spent their time far better at the
    		draw for the groups in WC 1994.
    
    	3. Lottery Mismanagement :  From Andrew et al's (who's Al ?)
    		description of the ticket sale process, it looks like
    		the WC will go down as the one where "A lot of people saw a
    		lot of games but very few people saw the games they wanted 
    		to see." It looks like this little plan may have backfired
    		with a number of games still not sold out !  Perhaps next
    		time, they should just announce the dates and venues when 
    		they sell the tickets. Then once all the tickets have been
    		bought and payed for, they can announce the teams.
    
    
    I could go on, but it's Friday evening ...
    

    Nick,
    
>    These three guys ARE SOCCER! Any time they talk... we listen!
    
    I'll send you that check just as soon as Andrew lodges the blackmail
    money for Peter to my account ;-)
    
    
    Let the Carnival continue ....
    
    Jerry.

    
    	I'd just like to add a few words in honour of our chosen ones,
    Jerry and Peter. Nick put it so very well, they are soccer. I am
    one of the few privilaged to see Jerry play. For those who regularly
    share this rare honour, it is almost embarrassing as they struggle to
    control their passes whilst Jerry seems to score at will, usually more
    that once. "His touch is exquisite" was all Una could say after first
    hand experience. Jobber, who simply doesn't have Jerry's subtlety,
    complains "its incredible how he pulls off some of those passes, I've
    tried to copy his technique but I never seem to get the same results".
    
	As you can see, he's raring to go again.....
    
    >>    I could go on, but it's Friday evening ...
    
    JBG
    

    Jon,
    
    There you go again. It's you and your big mouth that prevented Tony
    from sending us the entry forms for the Five-A-Side. If he didn't know
    how good we were, he would have been more than happy to take our money
    and let us enter.
    
    Honestly Tony, we're no good !  Send us the prize money, err, I mean
    Application Forms.
    
    Jerry.

    
    P.S. Being a reasonably intelligent individual, I am quite aware that
    there was a certain amount of double meaning in Jon's note (i.e. it was
    riddled with sexual innuendo !). Being a rii (see above), I decided to
    completely ignore it, and simply assume that Jon has finally recognised
    the true extent of my footballing talents !

    Hey! guys,
    
    I thought you'd include me in your club once I reached "200" in the
    predictions.... I mean, here I was as naive as a roast pig in July,
    about soccer...(well, my only qualification being Sicilian born)
    andby studying you guys I've finally (my third year) achieved the
    ultimate in reaching the big "200" (whoow! that gives me the sshhivers!)
    and now you say I still have to waite... Peter, I'll cry and cry.. ha!
    you know... please tell me I don't have to waite any longer? Please?
    Jerry, Jon, can you put in a good word in for me?
    Booohh! boohh!   
    
    Nick

    
    re .-1
    
    > "I mean, here I was as naive as a roast pig in July about soccer"
    
    Why is a roast pig naive?!?!
    
    :-)
    
    Ian.

    Ian,
    
    re .-1
    
>    > "I mean, here I was as naive as a roast pig in July about soccer"
    
>    Why is a roast pig naive?!?!
 
    
    When's the last time you met a roast pig who knew anything about
    soccer ? 								;-)
    
    
    Nick,
    
    Peter and I will discuss your case at the next executive meeting. It's
    scheduled for Liechtenstein in June (I think) next year. It coincides,
    coincidentally, with the Liechtenstein v Ireland European Championship
    qualifier. Donations to the aforementioned Swiss bank account may help
    to place your application in a more favourable light ;-)
    
    
    Jerry.
    
    P.S. I hope whatshisname is happy now that we're back talking about
    football !  Will peopla never learn ?  ;-))) 

    
    .....come on chaps, Jerry's being as subtle as he can but nobody seems
    to be taking the hint. The fact of the matter is, his high-scoring
    style is cleaning him out of readies. I know its embarrasing for him to
    admit, but he has one of the only two Swiss numbered accounts which
    regularly get show the red card.....so, any donations would be greatly
    appreciated. Come on, dig deep, we all know just what a wonderful guy
    he is. 8-)
    
    JBG

    Re: -1
    
>    admit, but he has one of the only two Swiss numbered accounts which
>    regularly get show the red card.....so, any donations would be greatly
    
    
    Jon knows this because he has the other ;-)
    
    Still, If anyone feels the urge to send me money, that's OK with me.
    
    
    Jerry.
                                                                        

    Ha! o.k. you convinced me! I've mailed in ~@^750,000.00 (that's
    750,000.00 FARTHONS.. I hope it's still accepted in that Swiss bank)
    
    
    sh*t, if it's not, then I've been saving all those millions farthons
    for nothing? I think I need to take a walk on a short pear! HELP!
    
    Nick

    
     Republic of Ireland Squad For USA '94
    
     1. P.Bonner		Glasgow Celtic
     2. A.Kelly			Sheffield United
     3. G.Kelly			Newcastle United
     4. D.Irwin			Manchester United
     5. P.McGrath		Aston Villa
     6. P.Babb			Coventry City
     7. A.Kernaghan		Manchester City
     8. K.Moran			Blackburn Rovers
     9. T.Phelan		Manchester City
    10. R.Houghton		Aston Villa
    11. J.McAteer		Bolton Wanderers
    12. R.Keane			Manchester United
    13. J.Sheridan		Sheffield Wednesday
    14. A.Townsend		Aston Villa
    15. R.Whelan		Liverpool
    16. S.Staunton		Aston Villa
    17. E.McGoldrick		Arsenal	
    18. A.McLoughlin		Portsmouth
    19. J.Aldridge		Tramere Rovers
    20. T.Cascarino		Chelsea
    21. T.Coyne     		Millwall
    22. D.Kelly			Wolverhampton Wanderers
        
    

    Yeah Sean... Gary Kelly plays for Leeds.. I think someone believed
    Teletext on either BBC 1 or Sky... :->>>>
    
    Show how much you know about the Irish squad!! :->
    
    Rick

    :->
    
    Rick.

    Looks a fairly predicatable squad - were they any omissions of note
    that i didn't spot on a first glance?
    
    Mcateer was a name I didn't recognise who is he?
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    Ok news from the U.S.
    
    The U.S played Bayern Munich on Saturday in Cleveland. They lost 3-2
    but Frank Klopas scored both U.S goals - with 6 goals in 6 games he's
    probably almost certain to get dropped in favour of Roy HotShot Wegerle
    I fear.
    
    Newcastle supporters (hello GASH) will be delighted to know that Brad
    Friedel had a terrible game in goal - positioning was terrible, looked
    dodgy on crosses and didn't come off the line - a great buy.
    
    I also saw Greece v bolivia on Univision but had to leave before the
    end of the game with the score at 0-0. Anyone, Carlos? know how it
    finished.
    
    The Derby v Millwall game got lots of exposure on U.S TV to prove that
    hooliganism is alive and well. CNN forgot to mention that england
    didn't qualify for the WC and the whole item appeared to be more 
    scaremongering. 
    
    And the worst news yet Stanford (S.F) and Pasadena (L.A) have decided
    to ban alcohol sales at all W.C games f**k, F**k, f**k wonder if other
    stadiums will follow like sheep.
    
    regards,
                                            
    Andrew.D.wicks

    
    Jason McAteer is a young midfield player who comes from a family famous
    in Liverpool for boxing !
    
    He was instrumental in Boltons excellent cup run this season and is
    being closely watched by some bigger clubs.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Just received news that Brad Friedel has signed a contract with
    Newcastle United for $70,000/year plus a $525,000 signing bonus.
    I know that some of you are not keen on American footballers, but two
    U.S. keepers in Division One and now one in the Premier League....?
    Sounds like some sort of endorsement to the state of American soccer
    (and English?).

      <<< Note 87.567 by KERNEL::MCKEAVENEYJ "Shy Ann (Indian Virgin)" >>>

    
>    Andy, the only player I notice that has been left out is Liam O'Brien,
>    but he isn't one of the big names in the game.
    
     FIFA have declared Liam O'Brien ineligible to play as both his parents
     and grandparents are Irish.

     Hope this helps,

     Stuart

    >FIFA have declared Liam O'Brien ineligible to play as both his parents
    >and grandparents are Irish.
    
    Could you even imagine a guy with a name like "Liam O'Brien" playing
    for Ireland in the World Cup? I mean, if he was really serious about
    wanting a callup from Big Jack, he'd have changed his name to
    Blenkinsop or Ponsonby-Smythe long ago ;-)
    
    Actually, there was an interesting article about Jack Charlton in
    yesterday's Grauniad, written by an Irish journalist called Con
    Houlihan. He finished up with the same joke about Liam Brady not
    getting a callup because he has four Irish grandparents ;-)
    
    Dom

    I'm told that today's Irish Times has a 70-page World Cup magazine full
    of every piece of info that you never wanted to know about the World
    Cup, plus the obligatory 350 pics of Big Jack....order your copy NOW...
    My copy is on its way as I write....only 3 and a half weeks away now..I
    can already feel the butterflies....Mods, is there any chance of setting
    up a World Cup prediction comp????
    
    Ray....

    
    Did anyone see the show on Meridian TV on Sunday called "World Cup
    Heros and Villians"???
    
    It was hilarious!! One of the many gems was Jack Charltons matter-of-
    fact opinion on the Rijkard/Voller spitting incident. "If he'd have
    spat on me I'd have chinned him". Superb.
    
    Could you imagine Graham Taylor saying that.
    
    Tony
    
    

>   <<< Note 87.565 by AIMTEC::WICKS_A "Atlanta's Most (In)famous Welshman" >>>
>                                 -< U.S news >-

>    Newcastle supporters (hello GASH) will be delighted to know that Brad
>    Friedel had a terrible game in goal - positioning was terrible, looked
>    dodgy on crosses and didn't come off the line - a great buy.
    
Hi Andy - nah, you're getting confused. That's Mike Hooper, who we signed from 
another average side . . .

grahame