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Would the underdogs bark up?
Quarterfinal's teams look very familiar
Posted: Thursday July 02, 1998 11:44 AM
PARIS (CNN/SI) -- There is an eerie familiarity about the quarterfinals of
France
'98.
Four-time champions Brazil is there.
Three-time winners Italy and Germany are
there. Twice champions Argentina is
there. Twice runners-up Holland is there.
Thank heavens then for France, Denmark and Croatia. They
remain our last hopes for some World Cup romance … some much-needed
unpredictability ... some underdog uprising.
What have we had so far in these finals? Three surprises maybe. Spain going out
in the first round, Norway beating
Brazil in their last group game and Nigeria losing
to Denmark in the second round.
And I'm still not convinced the latter was such a surprise in itself. The
manner of the 4-1 Danish success was more shocking than the fact they
actually beat a Nigerian side that had been prematurely placed on a World
Cup pedestal.
Four years ago we had many an upset to enjoy.
Hosts the United
States beat Colombia and
moved into the second round. Saudi
Arabia beat Belgium and
moved into the last 16 for the first time. Romania downed
Argentina in a thrilling 3-2 encounter to reach the quarterfinals.
Then the biggest upset of all. Bulgaria beat
Germany 2-1 in the quarter finals.
Surprising Sweden joined Bulgaria in the semis. Both lost to Brazil and
Italy respectively.
But the unpredictability factor, the giant-killing, the relative minnows
having their day -- it was all so enjoyable.
Now I'm desperately hoping the quarterfinals throw up some more surprises
and really bring France '98 to life.
The Argentina-England game
has set the standard for exciting action and nerve-shredding drama.
But that would be surpassed by Denmark defeating Brazil or Croatia
catapulting Germany out of the tournament. Both are considered highly
unlikely, but then Bulgaria was given little or no chance against the
Germans in USA '94.
And then we have the hosts France, a nation yet to win a World Cup but who
ignite the country's previously dormant footballing passions with every
step nearer the final.
As long as they are alive, this tournament will at least be an intriguing
one -- even for the neutral. Italy stands in their way in the quarters.
Should Holland beat Argentina, we could have a semifinal line-up of Denmark
against Holland and France against Croatia. None of those teams have ever
lifted the most coveted trophy in soccer. Indeed only six nations ever have
-- Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England and Uruguay.
The odds on that semifinal line-up are huge. More realistically the experts
-- and the bookmakers -- predict it will be Brazil against Argentina and
Germany against France or Italy. They're finding it hard to call the
French-Italian affair.
But where's the romance in that?
I'm imploring Denmark or Croatia to pull a Bulgaria and give us our first
France '98 sensation.
I'm demanding the attractive French see off the dour Italians.
I'm insisting Holland's silky skills see off the Argentine penchant for
histrionics.
Then -- and only then -- will this World Cup hit the mark for me. So far
it's been ever so predictable, with few classic confrontations and precious
few upsets.
Now if only France, Denmark and Croatia can hit the World Cup bull's-eye.
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