FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°26
Belgian veterans Enzo Scifo and Franky Van der Elst, both appearing in their fourth World Cup finals, are being asked to supply the creative spark on Saturday against Mexico that was so obviously lacking in their 0-0 draw with Holland. Belgium cannot afford to lose to Mexico, who beat 10-man South Korea 3-1 a week ago, as they will then have to hope the Mexicans beat the Dutch in the final round of Group E matches-or face an inglorious exit from the tournament.
The 32-year-old Scifo and Van der Elst, who are the last two survivors of the Belgium side who were beaten by Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina in the 1986 semi-finals, can at least add a bit of genuine class to a side that singularly lacked it against their arch-rivals the Dutch last Saturday. Both 37-year-old Van der Elst, who on Tuesday announced he would retire after the World Cup, and Scifo have been recalled to the international scene by coach George Leekens-although Scifo had to endure a period in the wilderness under him.
The double selection by Leekens, who had sacked Scifo as captain and dropped him from the squad earlier in the year, confirmed the impression that the Belgians would be a more aggressive outfit against the other two teams in their group, the other being South Korea. Van der Elst, who is a slight worry with a painful thigh picked up in training on Wednesday, is finding the going harder these days but is still a forceful presence in midfield. Scifo, Belgian-born but with a temperament and dark looks to go with his Sicilian ancestry, is also lacking his old pace but still has the eye for the decisive pass and for goal.
“Scifo has come along a lot both mentally and physically. He has really impressed me in training,” Leekens said. “I need someone creative in midfield who can deliver the killer final pass,” he added. It gives Scifo an opportunity to score the goal that will take him past Jan Ceulemans, who played alongside him in 1986 and 1990, as Belgium’s leading scorer in World Cup football. Leekens, who guided his side here after a play-off win over the Republic of Ireland, has also recalled stopper Gordan Vidovic, who was unfit for the Dutch match, while Erik Deflandre, who replaced the experienced Bertrand Crasson after just 22 minutes last Saturday, retains his place.
Meanwhile the previously underfire Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente displayed his new found confidence, following the victory over the South Koreans, and experimented with a three pronged strikeforce during the week’s training. Lapuente’s optimism that Belgium will try and stifle his side as they did the Dutch may well prove to be misplaced given that Deflandre and Scifo are playing. Lapuente fielded a 4-3-3 attacking formation in closed-door practice with Francisco Palencia fielded as attacking pointman, and midfielder Jaime Ordiales, substituted in the Korea game, losing his place.
Should Lapuente, who came under fire in the lead-up to the finals with a series of uninspiring friendly results, opt to use Palencia he will line up alongside Luis ‘El Matador’ Hernandez, who scored twice against the Koreans, and last Saturday’s other goalscorer Ricardo Pelaez, whose goal sent his imagination running wild.
“We can go on to win World Cup” Pelaez said after the match. Certainly the Belgians will have their work cut out to break down the ever reliable Claudio Suarez, winner of over 100 caps, and fellow veterans Marcelino Bernal, Luis Garcia and Alberto Garcia Aspe, who were all part of the side that were unlucky to be beaten by Bulgaria on penalties in the second round in 1994.