|
Spain in pain
Scoreless draw with Paraguay leaves Spaniards in bad position
Posted: Friday June 19, 1998 11:55 PM
| |
The Spaniards left the pitch with heads down in dismay (AP) |
SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) --
It was a game that both Spain and the
some 36,000 spectators will want to forget fast. A giant in
club soccer and a team up to recently tipped to make the World Cup
quarterfinal at least, Spain found itself a hair's breath away from
first-round elimination following an 0-0 draw Friday against South American
small fry Paraguay.
The game and the zero scoreline exasperated the attending crowd who
gradually passed from raucous cheers of support at the beginning to
deafening boos of disapproval on the final whistle. Having
already lost 3-2 to Nigeria, Spain
has only one point but nonetheless moves up to No. 3 in Group D, above Bulgaria on
goal difference. It's fate in the tournament depends entirely
on final group games next Wednesday when it meets Bulgaria at Lens and
Paraguay faces Nigeria at Toulouse. "Paraguay came at us with
all its arms," said Spanish coach Javioer Clemente. " They are an
extraordinary team. It's system may not be ambitious but it closes doors.
"It still depends on us," he said. "Against Bulgaria the
players will bust their guts." Paraguay, which started out as
one of the group's underdogs playing its first World Cup finals since 1986,
now looks in a strong position to go through with Nigeria. As
the Spaniards left the pitch with heads down in dismay, the Paraguayans
celebrated. "Tonight's draw suited us," said Paraguay's coach
Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani. " Now its depends on us to get through to the next
round." "Now we play the best team in the group -- Nigeria --
and we will go all out for the best result," said the Brazilian.
Nigeria, who downed Bulgaria 1-0 at Parc des Princes earlier Friday,
stays first with six points while the Paraguayans, who haven't seen a goal
scored in two 0-0 ties, have two. After suffering a barrage of
criticism for his playing strategy in the Nigerian game, Clemente made five
lineup changes to face Paraguay. But the team appeared extremely unsure of
itself and lacking in crucial midfield coordination. Spain went
into the World Cup bubbling with confidence and with a record of just one
defeat in 34 outings but the World Cup performances are likely to lead to
calls for his dismissal. Paraguay with Celsio Ayala strong in
defense and Roberto Acuna impressive in midfield hassled Spain relentlessly
but will have to sharpen up its attack if it is to puncture Nigeria.
Spain started off nervous and lacking in coordination and it was
Paraguay which created the first danger in the 15th minute when a low,
25-meter (yard) free kick by Miguel Angel Benitez got through the defensive
wall but was confidently held by 'keeper Andoni Zubizarreta
Juan Pizzi, Luis Enrique Martinez and Raul Gonzalez had several chances but
never seriously worried Paraguayan 'keeper Jose Luis Chilavert.
For Paraguay, the never-ending penetrating runs of Benitez up front and
Francisco Arce on the wing looked impressive but equally failed to shake
veteran goalie Andoni Zubizarreta.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
