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Inquistion about to hit Spain, again
Posted: Wednesday June 24, 1998 06:17 PM
PARIS (CNN/SI) -- There was a time when the last group matches in the World
Cup finals were played at different times.
A goalless draw between West Germany and Austria in 1982
changed all that -- and weren't we just the benefactors on Wednesday.
That 1982 debacle came because both countries went into the match knowing a
draw would take them through at the expense of Algeria.
Neither side went for victory. There were precious few goalmouth incidents
or shots and it was oh so painful.
"Rigged" went the cry. "It's fixed" said the watching world. FIFA, soccer's
world governing body, decided this couldn't happen again. Now all of the
last group games kick off simultaneously.
That left us with a fascinating scenario on Wednesday in the so-called
Group of Death.
Paraguay needed to beat Group D winners Nigeria to
progress to round two. But if the South Americans slipped up, Spain or Bulgaria could
capitalize by winning their match in Lens, which was taking place at
exactly the same time.
And what drama we had.
Paraguay broke its France '98
scoring drought after just 52 seconds. 1-nil.
Across in Lens, Luis Enrique was fouled and Fernando Hierro scored from the
penalty spot. The 100th goal of the World Cup in France - 1-nil Spain.
Just minutes later, Nigeria equalized and Spain scored a second through
Luis Enrique. Spain was suddenly looking good again, occupying second
place.
But there was still a lot of time to go. Anything could happen -- and did.
Spain continued to take care of its side of the bargain, adding goals
through Francesco Morientes (2) and Kiko, plus an own goal from the header
by Kiko onto the goalkeeper and defender for a Spanish six-hit night.
Bulgaria replied just once.
But over in Toulouse, the Paraguayans --
with the worst scoring record of all the South American qualifiers for
France '98 and who couldn't find the net in their first two group games --
struck again on the hour mark. 2-1. Now they were back in the driving seat.
Nigeria, with seven changes from their last line-up, had to equalize again
or Spain was out.
It never looked likely. With just four minutes left, Jose Cardozo put Spain
out of its misery with a third Paraguayan goal. Group winners Nigeria had
lost 3-1. Paraguay was through. Spain was out.
The tears flowed at Lens as the news filtered through to a distraught
Spanish squad. They'd left their best for last -- and it was too late.
I had them going all the way to the final -- and wasn't the only one.
The Spanish media had high hopes for what one journalist told me was "our
best team ever."
Coach Javier Clemente was hammered after a defeat by Nigeria and agoalless
draw against Paraguay. Now he could be facing the ax.
Spain has failed on the world stage yet again. The press and the public
will demand a new leader to try and get it right for Euro 2000.
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