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Vieri looking strong for Italy
Posted: Tuesday June 23, 1998 06:11 PM
PARIS (CNN/SI) -- Every World Cup winner has a great goalscorer.
Just look at this list from the last seven finals: Pele for Brazil in 1970,
Gerd Muller for Germany in
1974, Mario Kempes for Argentina in
1978, Paulo Rossi for Italy in 1982,
Diego Maradona for Argentina in 1986, Romario for Brazil in 1994.
Only in 1990, when Germany triumphed, did the champions' goals get shared
around a little more. Jurgen Klinsmann, Rudi Voller and marauding sweeper
Lothar Matthaus were all-too-willing to play their goalscoring part.
But the norm is for one man on one outstanding team to shine and carry his
nation to glory. That's got to be good news for Italy. So far
Christian Vieri has four goals from three games -- the opener against Chile, two
against Cameroon and
another in the 2-1 win against Austria on
Tuesday as the Italians marched into the second round as Group B winners.
Vieri made his name at Juventus before signing for Atletico
Madrid in Spain last
season, where he finished as top scorer in the Primera Division and fully
justified his 20 million dollar price tag. Now he's making his mark on
the world stage. Vieri has power in the air, strength on the
ground and a surprising amount of skill for one so big. Goals flow freely
for him, whatever the level. And with Alessandro Del Pierro and
Roberto Baggio alternating off the bench to give him sublime support, Italy
is looking to be in fine working order up front. Seven goals in
their three group games is an unusually productive start for Italy. Vieri's
the main reason. Gabriel Batistuta, Marcelo Salas and Thierry Henry are
among the other World Cup hits so far for Argentina, Chile and France
respectively. But Vieri on current form could well top them all and take
the prized Golden Boot. If he does, it might be no surprise to also
find Italy is top of the world.
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