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Thursday 28 May 1998 Previous News 4 Next

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN
… Just 13 Days To Go!

Croatian Rebel Told To Pack His Bags

CROATIA suffered a further blow - self-inflicted this time - to their World Cup plans yesterday when coach Miroslav Blazevic kicked striker Igor Cvitanovic out of his squad for refusing to run extra laps in training. The shock expulsion came only a day after fellow striker Alen Boksic was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Disciplinarian Blazevic, who also dropped a player from his Euro 96 squad after he was caught eating a sandwich in a hotel bar after hours, said: I had to kick him out, because he threatened my authority. He is definitely eliminated. Not even the President can save him now.''
The Real Sociedad striker, who played for Croatia Zagreb against Newcastle in the Champions League last season, said: ''I was exhausted. It seems some can have the luxury of being worn down and I obviously can't,", alluding to stars Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Jarni, who were spared extra running after complaining they were still worn out from a hectic club season.
The whole affair smacks of a coach cutting off his nose to spite his face because, without Boksic and Cvitanovic, Croatia are now down to the bare bones up-front. Blazevic, whose remaining striking options Suker and Goran Vlaovic have been short of games and goals in Spain this season, admitted: "The worst thing is that I need Cvitanovic as badly as one needs bread. He is a fantastic player, I can't describe how much I need him for France. He is now expected to call up veteran Ardian Kozniku and uncapped Petar Krpan, top scorers last season for France's Bastia and Croatian club Osijek respectively.
On a more positive note for Croatia, who are in Group H with Argentina, Japan and Jamaica, sweeper Goran Juric and full back Jarni are expected to shake off nagging injuries in time for the finals.

STRIKE DUO SPICE UP CHILE CHALLENGE

LETHAL striking duo Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano, who scored 23 goals between them in qualifying, are the big names in the World Cup squad named by Chile coach Nelson Acosta yesterday.
Inter Milan's Zamorano, who finished top scorer in South American qualifying, and Salas, who beat England almost single-handedly at Wembley in February and will be playing for Lazio next season, are their country's best hopes for success in their first World Cup for 16 years. They face Italy, Austria and Cameroon in the group stages next month.
Acosta also included Premiership targets Jose Luis Sierra, Javier Margas and Clarence Acuna in his final squad. West Ham were after midfielder and captain Sierra, who hit the 50-yard pass to Salas for his first goal against England, and stopper Margas while Aston Villa's plans to sign midfielder Acuna floundered because of work permit problems.
The full squad - Goalkeepers Nelson Tapia (Universidad Catolica), Marcelo Ramirez (Colo Colo), Carlos Tejas (Coquimbo) Defence Cristian Castaneda (Universidad de Chile), Moises Villarroel (Wanderers), Javier Margas (Universidad Catolica), Pedro Reyes (Colo Colo), Ronald Fuentes (Universidad de Chile), Miguel Ramirez (Universidad Catolica), Francisco Rojas (Colo Colo), Mauricio Aros (Universidad de Chile) Midfield Fabian Estay (Toluca, Mexico) Clarence Acuna (Universidad de Chile), Nelson Parraguez (Universidad Catolica), Luis Musrri (Universidad de Chile), Marcelo Vega (New York/New Jersey Metrostars), Jose Luis Sierra (Colo Colo), Fernando Cornejo (Universidad Catolica) Strikers Marcelo Salas (Lazio), Ivan Zamorano (Inter Milan), Manuel Neira (Colo Colo), Rodrigo Barrera (Universidad de Chile).

ROMARIO 'WILL
FACE SCOTLAND'

ROMARIO is on course to face Scotland in the World Cup curtain raiser. The Brazilian striker suffered a hamstring strain playing for Flamengo in a league game three weeks ago, but he was back in action yesterday during manager Mario Zagallo's first serious work-out since the squad arrived at their base near Paris.
The veteran forward, who scored five goals as Brazil won USA 94, participated in the fitness part of the session but sat out the tactical and ball practice section. Zagallo says he won't take any chances and will play Bebeto, Romario's strike partner four years ago, in a weekend friendly against Athletic Bilbao. I can't understand how Romario's presence in the World Cup is already being put in doubt, he said.
Team doctor Lidio Toledo added: "Romario is advancing slowly, but we are not getting concerned, given that the sole objective is the opening match against Scotland."

DANES GET HIGH
NIELSEN RATING

DENMARK midfielder Allan Nielsen says they can improve on their only previous World Cup experience, when they emerged as one of the most skilful sides in the 1986 finals in Mexico only to fall apart against Spain in the knockout stages.
The Tottenham star knows they are expected to beat Saudi Arabia and South Africa in their first group matches before a possibly crucial game against hosts France that Danish captain Michael Laudrup has - bizarrely - already predicted they will lose, 2-0. Nielsen said: "We will not underestimate the opposition - I have seen South Africa on TV and they scored some impressive goals in their qualifying matches while Saudi Arabia proved in 1994 they are a quality team - but there is a strong belief in our squad that we can put up a good showing. The longer we are together as a unit in France, the better we will become. We should be the second best in our group in terms of recent results and FIFA rankings.
Denmark qualified for the World Cup ahead of Croatia, but had to wait until the last game, a draw with Greece, to be sure of going to France.

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