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Tuesday,
May 28, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Most open World Cup in history Inzaghi may miss first
game
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Beckham making
good progress
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Chonju to feed minds as well as stomachs Scholes set for
asthma tests Kuerten, Venus, Hewitt advance Chance to assess Dravid missed
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Most open World Cup in history Seoul, May 27 The 17th World Cup kicks off on Friday when France play Senegal in Seoul, six years to the day after former FIFA president Joao Havelange announced that the two Asian neighbours would share the honour of staging the tournament. Since then the Koreans and Japanese have had to put aside a thousand years of rivalry to produce a setting worthy of the greatest event in world sport. If the dramas that unfold on the field matches the breath-taking beauty of the 20 stadiums being used to stage the games, the World Cup will be one to remember. For the first time since the tournament began in 1930, it is not being held in Europe or the Americas and that fact alone is likely have an impact on the outcome. Only once, in 1958 when Brazil won in Sweden, has any team triumphed outside their own continent, an achievement that will almost certainly be repeated on June 30. The Koreans and the Japanese do not expect to win the World Cup and with fellow Asians China and Saudi Arabia unlikely to survive the opening round, the first co-hosted World Cup, the first to be held in Asia and the first of the 21st century is most likely to be won by a European or South American team. The only threat could come from Africa. Pele predicted an African nation would win the World Cup by 2000 and he might yet be proved wrong by only two years, with African champions Cameroon potentially one of the surprises of the tournament. First, however, France will have to stumble. Four years ago as hosts, inspired by a series of superb performances by Zinedine Zidane, France memorably beat Brazil 3-0 in the final to win the World Cup for the first time. They will defend their crown with something they did not have then - a potent strike force. They won the tournament through midfielders getting forward to score and a rock solid defence. Now they have players like Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Sylvain Wiltord in attack and look even better than in 1998. They have lost only three competitive matches in the last nine years and could become the first nation since Brazil (1958 and 1962) to win successive World Cups. Argentina will have other ideas. They romped to victory in the South American qualifying competition and are blistering in attack, with 42 goals in 18 qualifiers. With Hernan Crespo or Gabriel Batistuta leading the attack supported by Kily Gonzalez, and Ariel Ortega, Juan Sebastian Veron and Diego Simeone in midfield, Argentina have few weaknesses. Coach Marcelo Bielsa has worked hard at curbing the short tempers that have undermined their progress in the past and although there are questions marks over the defence, Argentina will be too strong for most teams. Much depends on their first round meeting with England in Sapporo on June 7. England might not have the all-round strength of Argentina, but they could reach the latter stages of the tournament. Much will depend on whether captain David Beckham is fit enough to play. With Nigeria and Sweden in the same group, neither Argentina or England are assured of reaching the second round. Whoever finishes second in the group is also likely to play France in the second round, so they face an awesome task. Traditional powers Germany and Brazil had difficult routes to the World Cup, with the former scraping through the European play-offs and the latter only ensuring their place with a 3-0 win over Venezuela in their final qualifier. Brazil, of course, are the only country to have taken part in all 16 previous finals and a World Cup without them is almost unthinkable. They will be desperate to make up for their defeat by France four years ago and Ronaldo, if he is fit, will be on a personal mission to rebuild his reputation after illness forced him to play like a ghost in the 1998 final. Brazil can never be discounted, but under coach Luis “Big Phil” Felipe Scolari they have abandoned Pele’s “beautiful game” and their more pragmatic style may only see them through to the last eight. Germany are also going through a period of transition and with several key players ruled out through injury will have one eye on the 2006 finals on home soil. They look good enough to survive a first round group also comprising Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon, but a quarter-final place would represent a real achievement. Among those bidding to win the World Cup for the first time , Portugal and Spain have high hopes, while Italy, under coach Giovanni Trappatoni, believe their 20-year wait for their fourth world title is about to end. They could well be right.
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Inzaghi may miss first game Sendai, May 27 Doctors have ruled out the worst fears, saying that a scan showed no ligaments were torn. The AC Milan striker should be back for the second game and won’t be sent home, Trapattoni said. Inzaghi suffered the injury to his left knee during Italy’s 2-1 friendly match victory in Tokyo yesterday against J-League champions Kashima Antlers. “Filippo’s knee is not swollen,” Trapattoni said. “This morning he was in good humour.” “Certainly, it’s probable that for the first game he won’t be ready. But it’s very likely that he will be five days later, for the second match,” Trapattoni said. Italy’s first group G game is against Ecuador on June 3 with Croatia and Mexico also in the group. “I’ve asked for no changes regarding of players,” the coach said. “I don’t plan to call another player.” Inzaghi had an operation on the same knee in December to repair damaged ligaments, returning to AC Milan in March. Team doctor Andrea Ferretti said Inzaghi would need two days of physical therapy followed by a gradual return to training. He should be back in playing form within seven to 10 days, he said. “Our objective is for him to be ready for the next game” - against Croatia on June 8, the doctor said. “But it would be difficult for him to be ready for the first match.” Inzaghi was a standout in yesterday’s game before leaving, scoring the first goal and setting up the second. He apparently twisted his knee in play leading up to his goal, and was taken off after less than 30 minutes. Even if Inzaghi’s problems continue, Italy have many options up front with Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus and AS Roma’s Vincenzo Montella both playing well. “In any case, we have other forwards,” Trapattoni said. In fact, the three strikers had been battling for the last spot up front next to Christian Vieri of Inter Milan and Francesco Totti of Roma. Inzaghi started against Kashima yesterday, and appeared to have become Trapattoni’s first choice. As for the second choice - and therefore the striker to play against Ecuador — Trapattoni remained coy today. “Montella is in very good condition,” he said. “Del Piero is also in good condition.” Also today, FIFA officials carried out a surprise doping test on four Italian players, which they will be doing to all teams throughout the tournament. Inzaghi was among those tested along with goalkeeper Francesco Toldo of Inter Milan, defender Fabio Cannavaro of Parma and midfielder Angelo Di Livio of Fiorentina.
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Beckham making
good progress Tsuna (Japan), May 27 Beckham, who has not played for nearly seven weeks, once again trained alone with physiotherapist Alan Smith while most of the rest of the squad enjoyed a day off at five-star Westin resort which is to be England’s base camp for as long as they last in the tournament. “He is working according to a recovery programme that has been laid down for him and it is going well,” Football Association spokesman Paul Newman told AFP. “As part of that programme, today he had another session with the physio, running and kicking the ball in a controlled fashion. “He came through that very well and he is making good progress.” Newman dismissed media speculation that the broken bone in Beckham’s left foot was not healing as fast as had been hoped for. “The bone has heeled,” he said. “David has been kicking the ball for the last few days and running hard. He would not be doing what he is doing if the bone had not heeled.” The England spokesman said coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had not set any deadline for Beckham to be passed fit for Sunday’s clash with the Swedes in Saitama. Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer also trained alone today as he attempts to overcome a knee injury that was initially thought to have ruled him out of the tournament. There was better news from the other England players carrying injuries. Newman said that first-choice goalkeeper David Seaman, who missed yesterday’s match against Cameroon with a groin strain, Arsenal defender Ashley Cole and Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt would all be ready to resume full training on Wednesday.
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Germany ready to spring surprises Yokohama, May 27 Close warm-up games against tougher sides left defending championss France feeling they still had time to improve and three-time champions Italy rating themself as almost ready. Among the favourites, France have the shortest time left for preparations. They play Senegal on Friday in the 32-team tournament’s opener in Seoul. The French were hoping for good news today from tests on a leg injury that star Zinedine Zidane suffered in a 3-2 victory over fellow World Cup qualifier South Korea. “We are hoping to get him back in the team as soon as possible,’ coach Roger Lemerre said. The French trailed the Koreans 2-1 at half-time before an 89th-minute goal by defender Frank Leboeuf saved them the embarrassment of going winless in their last three tuneup matches. After Italy’s 2-1 victory over Japanese league champions Kashima Antlers, coach Giovanni Trapattoni stressed the play of Francesco Totti, who had been out for more than a month because of injury. “He showed us his place between the two attackers at the front of Italy,” Trapattoni said. Totti had a hand in a goal by striker Filippo Inzaghi, who now is a worry because of a knee injury in the game. Although tets showed no torn ligaments, the knee still was painful and the team faced a decision before its opener against Ecuador next Monday on whether to replace him. Teams have until 24 hours before their first world Cup matches to replace injured players. German coach Rudi Voeller was happy with the early pressure put on his team by a Japanese local junior side in their tune-up yesterday. “The Japanese ... tried to go forward, it was good for my team to experience that,” he said. “I’m optimistic we’ll play a good World Cup, that we’ll go fully motivated into the first match and that we’ll have a good opener. I think we can create some surprises.” Key midfielder Michael Ballack, nursing a right foot injury, was the only field player not used in yesterday’s test. Germany opens on Saturday against Saudi Arabia, and Voeller said Ballack would be ready to play, although not yet 100 per cent fit. Four-time champions Brazil had their 3-R offense - Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho - hard at work in training today. “I am feeling better with every training session,” said Ronaldo, recently recovered from an injury that kept him sidelined for more than two years. Most of his shots went wide, however, and coach Luis Felipe Scorali repeatedly shouted, “Come on, Ronaldo, come on.” Brazil open next Monday against Turkey in group C, which also includes China and Costa Rica. China’s coach Bora Milutinovic said he was delighted Ronaldo was likely to play against his team, because ‘big players mean a big World Cup.” His own worry, he added, “is that all of our team’s players are fit and ready for the tournament so that they can play at their full potential.” China is among the lowest-rated teams in the tournament, but the Yugoslav coach has a reputation for doing well with underdogs. Off the field, Japan has refused entry to two British men because one’s name was on a list of convicted soccer hooligans, an immigration official said today. He didn’t say why Japan was ousting the second man after the two arrived yesterday on a flight from Istanbul, Turkey. Trying to keep peace at the World Cup, authorities in co-hosts Japan and South Korea have a list of about 200 people who have been convicted of violence at sporting events in Europe.
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Chonju to feed minds as well as stomachs Chonju, May 27 Chonju, a small city of 630,000 people some 230 km southwest of Seoul, is one of 10 South Korean venue cities for the World Cup soccer finals which kick off on Friday. Chonju’s stylish new stadium will host matches between Spain and Paraguay on June 7 and Portugal and Poland on June 10, as well a second-round game on June 17. The home of ‘bibimbap’ — a popular rice and vegetable dish favoured by ancient Korean kings and by pop star Michael Jackson when he toured South Korea — hopes its cuisine and culture will also be a hit with soccer fans. Inside South Korea, Chonju is synonymous with ‘bibimbap’, but locals say the dish is just one item on a rich menu and soccer fans will not go hungry. With dozens of styles of meat and vegetable dishes, many meals are a multi-course stream of traditional dishes. “We will take this global event as an opportunity to globalise our food,’’ said Park Young-sook, manager of the traditional Korean restaurant Go Gung (Old Palace). The 1,200-year-old city was the capital of Paekje Kingdom (892-936) during the Korea’s Three Kingdoms Period and is the birthplace of the founder of the Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910). It has a rich culture to match its culinary heritage, with even the World Cup stadium designed to represent Chonju as a hub of traditional Korean music and culture. The soccer stadium was voted the most beautiful one in the country by Korean Internet users. The city spent 145 billion won to build the stadium, which has 42,477 seats. Its four roofs resemble traditional folding bamboo fans called “hapjukseon” and the four 68-metre high pillars supporting the roofs symbolise ancient totem poles built at the edge of villages as offerings for a good harvest. The cables for the steel structure are modelled on the 12 strings of a traditional musical instrument called a “gayageum” — a Korean lute or zither. “We look forward to watching exciting games between strong European soccer teams,” said mayor Kim Wan-joo. He added: “We are trying to help foreign visitors experience our culture, not just to look around the city.” Chonju preserves many historical sites, including a traditional tile-roofed housing area where about 800 families live. Visitors can stay in one of these traditional houses, if they book in advance through the local tourist offices. And if you want to taste Korean traditional tea, you can even stay at a traditional tea house. “I hope to teach foreigners how to enjoy the deep taste of our tea, while they stay in my house,” said owner Choi Jong-won. Chonju will hold a series of cultural festivals, including a traditional folk song competition that should give foreigners a chance to hear “pansori”, archetypal Korean vocal music. The competition has provided a stepping stone for young “pansori” singers who aspire to become professional. Most virtuosos were first recognised for their talent at the competition. Visitors can also try the traditional local liquor — “igang”, which is made from pear, ginger and herbs. There is also a fortified wine called “bokbunja”. Koreans in Chonju like to say both have medicinal benefits. And just in case of over-indulgence, locals also say they have the perfect hangover cure — beansprout soup.
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Germany’s recipe for
success Miyazaki (Japan), May 27 Japan’s import ban on meat items prompted the German delegation to hire a local butcher so that the players would not have to do without their “wurst” on the breakfast table. “He did what all Japanese do. He photographed everything in Germany. Then he tested it at home until it was okay,” said the team’s cook, Heinz Imhof. Meanwhile a German baker in Miyazaki is providing the team with German-style rolls and bread. Despite the local help the Germans have freighted in a ton of goods including spices, herbs and oil. “These are things which are incredibly important for the stomach. Asian oil is completely indigestible for Europeans,” said Imhof. The cook explained that he would be including Asian elements on the team’s menu at the Sheraton Phoenix, including sushi, although “raw fish is a risk area”. He added: “Sportsmen and their stomachs are very sensitive. They need the nourishment they are used to.” Special requests are also taken into account. “Michael Ballack always comes up to me and says, ‘cook rice pudding for me like mother makes’”, he said.
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Scholes set for
asthma tests London, May 27 Scholes uses salbutamol, the active ingredient in an asthma inhaler, which is banned by the medical committee of world governing body FIFA. It was believed a certificate from a team doctor or specialist, given in advance, would be enough to prove Scholes’ use of the drug and thus avoid any potential ban.
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Kuerten, Venus, Hewitt advance Paris, May 27 Hewitt kicked off his campaign on the Suzanne Lenglen Court with a straight sets win over Brazilian Andre Sa, while Williams, seeded second, dismissed German teen Bianka Lamade 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour on the Philippe Chatrier Centre Court. US Open champion Hewitt, who reached the quarterfinals here last year, was made to work before coming away a 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 winner in two hours 40 minutes against an opponent who has never won a match at Roland
Garros. It was the second win for the Australian over 25-year-old Sa, whom he defeated in the Davis Cup semifinals in Brisbane two years ago. Wimbledon and US Open champion Williams had little to fear from world No 95 Lamade with the powerful American cruising to a 3-0 lead in just eight minutes before letting the chilly, overcast weather with intermittent showers distract her. “It was a little tough this morning because it’s so cold. It’s hard to warm-up,” said Williams. “But once I get going I seem to be okay.” Defending champion Gustavo Kuerten, advanced into the second round defeating Ivo Heuberger of Switzerland 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour 33 minutes in their rain-interrupted match. The Brazilian, bidding for a third consecutive title and fourth overall on the red clay of Roland Garros, will next meet either Davide Sanguinetti of Italy or Austrian Julian Knowle in the next round. The Australian, hoping to improve on his quarterfinal showing here last year, was given a stern test in the opening set as his counter-punching tactics proved ineffective in the windy and overcast conditions. The first man to qualify for the next round was last year’s finalist Alex Corretja of Spain. The 18th-seed defeated Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-1, 6-4, 6-1. Russian Elena Dementieva, seeded 13th, struggled to settle into her game against Czech Adriana Gersi before coming away a 7-5, 6-3 winner in 69 minutes. The Russian will meet Asa Svensson in the second round, after the Swede brushed aside Tunisia’s Selima Sfar 6-0, 6-2. Italy’s Adriana Serra-Zanetti was the first women’s player to advance to the second round when she defeated Canada’s Jana Nejedly 6-1, 6-2 in just 44 minutes. Serra-Zanetti now meets Daniela Hantuchova, the No. 11 seed from Slovakia, after she came away 6-2, 6-3 winner over Cara Black of Zimbabwe.
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Chance to assess Dravid
missed Kingston, May 27 We know he is a good man to have in front of the wickets. We are not sure how he is behind the sticks. I believe you need to have a specialist wicketkeeper in both forms of the game, be it in the Tests or in one-dayers. The Indians obviously want to lengthen their batting as they must be chastened by their experience of Tests where batsmen failed them on more than one occasion. It is not for me to comment on the merit of the choice. I believe if it strengthens a team and makes its chances in a game get better then there is no harm. There is also no point in looking at the negative aspect and wonder if one of your main batsmen could get injured in trying to take up an unfamiliar role. Unlike in Tests, we do not have the first-hand experience of a few specialist Indian one-day players. We saw a bit of Virender Sehwag in Zimbabwe and I believe he is an exciting, destructive batsman in the Tendulkar mode. The Caribbean public would love to see a dasher like him in full flow. I am also looking forward to watching the ability of Yuvraj Singh who is another talented youngster the Indians have. We have tried to procure videos of Indian players before the one-day series and hopefully we would secure them before the Barbados game. The same was the case before the Tests when we tried to get hold of video footage. We must confess we were rather desperate for it. We didn’t get it in time and when we got them it was too late. Fortunately, we have a little bit of first-hand knowledge about most of them and it should come in handy. Ours is mostly a young side and we have tried to assimilate them for a common, collective objective in the last few days. In this respect, rain has been of help in a way. We made sure the younger players are not left to their own devices and allowed to keep a do-not-disturb sign at the door. Rather, we have trained with great intensity together in the gym and tried to make everyone aware of his responsibility. We are pretty much looking forward to Barbados. We don’t want complacency to creep in. We have savoured our Test win but it is gone and is history. The important thing was to maintain intensity and train hard at a time when formal practice was not possible. This we managed to our satisfaction. At the moment, we can’t wait to get out in the park in Barbados. We had two boring days because of rain but we could also relax and I had a chance to spend some quality time with my wife and kid. We had a chance to go to the movies and I dealt with a whole lot of pending e-mails.
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