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Latin uprising
All but one South American team makes Round of 16
Posted: Saturday June 27, 1998 04:20 PM
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Jose Luis Chilavert has guided surprising Paraguay into the Round of 16 (AP) |
PARIS (AP) -- Europe's World Cup has acquired a distinct Latin
flavor. Played in France, in the
heart of Europe, this was expected to be a World Cup by the Europeans, for
the Europeans. But so far, with the second round set to start
Saturday, it's the teams from the other side of the Atlantic that have made
it their tournament, placing five of their six berths in the second round.
Colombia is
the only one missing from the Latin American entries, having lost to Romania and England. The United
States and Jamaica, the
other American teams, also were eliminated in the first round. Brazil and Argentina,
winners of six of the 15 World Cups, were widely expected to reach the
round of 16. But ... Chile, Paraguay and
Mexico?
None of them were expected to advance, grouped with much tougher European
teams in the first round. Chile had the best showing ever among the trio,
having reached the semifinals in 1962 when it hosted the championship.
However, all three have advanced, and without a single loss.
Chile drew its three games, including two in which it led much of the way
before giving up late goals. Mexico beat South Korea
and then managed 2-2 draws against Belgium and the
Netherlands
, both after falling behind 2-0 and playing with 10 men. Paraguay was the
only unbeaten team in the "Group of Death." It held favorite Spain and Bulgaria to
scoreless draws before defeating Nigeria, the
Group D winner, 3-1. Argentina was the most impressive, defeating
all of its three opponents without conceding a goal.
Luis Hernandez has already scored three goals for Mexico (AP) | |
The only
qualified Latin American team that lost a game was none other than
four-time world champion Brazil, beaten 2-1 by Norway in a
meaningless game after it had won Group A. But South American
success "should not come as a surprise. We had a very tough qualifying
tournament," Argentina's coach Daniel Passarella said. The region's
teams "play well and have good players and good tactics. The tough
qualifying tournament enabled them to reach the World Cup in top form and
to do well here." Argentina led the Latins in the first round,
dominating all three of its matches, including a 1-0 victory against a
talented Croatia.
"Argentina confirmed its big ambitions," Croatian coach Miroslav
Blazevic said. Argentina relied on striker Gabriel Batistuta, who
scored four goals, flashes of brilliance by midfielder Ariel Ortega, and a
solid defense. Paraguay also made it to the next stage on the
strenght of its defense, led by goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who
conceded just one goal in what many consider the tournament's toughest
group. "We have the best defense in the world," Chilavert said.
The back line includes Francisco Arce and Carlos Gamarra, who play in
Brazil, as well a Celso Ayala, key on Argentina's River Plate.
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Ronaldo (left) and Brazil have rolled forward as expected (AP) |
FIFA
president Joseph Blatter rated Paraguay as probably the biggest surprise in
the tournament. After saying that no miracle teams should be
expected in this World Cup, Blatter admitted "maybe the surprise is
Paraguay, although not if you look at the way they played in qualifying."
Paraguay led the South American qualifying before finishing second,
one point behind Argentina. Chile has shown a well-balanced team
with two powerful strikers, Marcelo Salas, who scored three goals, and Ivan
Zamorano. "Chile has one of the most efficient and feared front
lines in the Cup," claimed Brazilian midfielder Leonardo. Brazil, a
perennial candidate to win the title, has been an enigma. It advanced to
the second round after only two games, but has fallen short of expectations
in a mediocre group, and two-time FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldo has
scored only once. Coach Mario Zagallo claims that the defeat by
Norway was the wake-up call the team needed. "We lost a game we had
won. It will serve as a lesson, so we don't lose our concentration again,"
he said after Brazil conceded two goals in the final seven minutes,
including a penalty in the 89th. The Mexicans, meanwhile, managed
five points in another difficult group. Little was expected from them after
a disastrous run-up to the Cup, one in which their own media dubbed the
team "El Tritanic" as a mocking tribute to their nickname of "El Tricolor."
But the team has rallied from a deficit in each of its games, and
Luis Hernandez is among the scoring leaders with three goals. "I
told my players not to lose faith," coach Manuel Lapuente said. "With faith
you move mountains. They have a big heart and they displayed that all over
the field."
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