FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°37
Having failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites, Spain find themselves in the last-chance saloon as they take on Bulgaria here on Wednesday.
The ‘Group of Death’ as Group D was dubbed after last December’s draw in Marseilles, has become just that for Spanish coach Javier Clemente, who has endured a tortuous two weeks here as his side lost to Nigeria then stumbled to a goalless draw against Paraguay. With Nigeria’s Super Eagles having already soared into the second phase, the Spanish, officially ranked second in the world behind Brazil, now face an undignified scramble to reach the last 16. Clemente’s reaction has been to adopt a low profile while he struggles to find a solution.” I’m fed up. We’re just not getting any luck at this tournament, and we’re in for a long struggle, “ said Clemente after the Paraguay stalemate.
Former Dutch great Johan Cruyff, who led Barcelona to the 1992 European Cup during a hugely-successful spell at the Catalan club, fanned the flames on Monday by accusing the Spanish camp of over-confidence. ” The trouble with Spain is in their heads. They thought they had it pretty much won before they arrived, “ Cruyff told Spanish television. ” They were over-confident. But they’ve not exactly disappointed me. After all, Spain has never done anything at a World Cup, “ a somewhat harsh assessment as they did come fourth in 1950 and reached the last eight in both 1986 and 1994.
In the face of such a damning judgment, no wonder 48-year-old Clemente has battened down the hatches after the Spanish media blasted his decision to play a surplus of defender against Nigeria only to concede three goals, then to make five changes against the Paraguayans with little positive effect. When the criticism reached a crescendo after the second game Clemente responded angrily: ” I have got news for those people who are moaning that we are out of the World Cup. We are not. “ He insisted: ” If we keep on working as hard as we have been then lady luck will eventually shine on us. We are not giving up the ghost yet. “
Clemente will resist making wholesale changes, but Hierro will likely move back and replace Abelardo at the back. And in midfield, Athletic Bilbao’s Julen Guerrero is set to partner Luis Enrique and Amor, with Real Madrid star Raul given free rein as playmaker. Alfonso and exciting Real newcomer Fernando Morientes get the chance to form an attacking spearhead, which means Juan Antonio Pizzi and Etxeberria would start on the bench.
Bulgaria meanwhile are following the old Dutch handbook on how to divide yet still conquer at a World Cup-that is, gaining inspiration by sowing division in their own camp. Strikers Hristo Stoichkov and Luboslav Penev face the wrath of coach Hristo Bonev for staying out overnight in Paris on Sunday without permission-maybe not the best way to prepare for Wednesday’s make or break battle.
Bonev had expected the team to appear for a morning discussion on the match only to discover the two strikers had disappeared. They appeared in the early afternoon saying they had overslept. Both now face a heavy fine. Whatever his indisdiscretions-and there have been a few-the surprise 1994 semi-finalists still rely heavily on the 32-year-old Stoichkov for inspiration. He was a width of the post away from scoring a precious goal against Paraguay, but looked sluggish in the 1-0 defeat by Nigeria. Yet his 36 goals in 73 international appearances still qualify the 1994 European Player of the Year for a place in the line-up four years after he was joint top-scorer with six goals alongside Russia’s Oleg Salenko.
Stoichkov slammed the Spanish for over-confidence, repeating a weekend allegation that ” they think they are the best. “ He added for good measure that ” the Spanish have no chance of winning the World Cup. “ But if Spain reign on Wednesday, the controversial Bulgar will walk off the world stage for the last time.