Milan here for friendly matches

Milan here for friendly matches

JAKARTA (JP): Local soccer fans will find their long-time
dreams of having a close encounter with AC Milan come true as the
Italian giants arrive here this afternoon for two friendly
matches in Indonesia.

European champion Milan, fresh from its Latin American
outings, will include 23 players. French mid-fielder Marcel
Desailly became the first visitor to come here yesterday, while
his teammates took a rest in Singapore after a tiring flight from
Colombia.

Desailly missed Milan's recent tour as he powered his national
team at the Kirin Cup in Japan. France beat the host 4-1 for the
cup.

In the absence of its seven international players who will
wear the Italian colors in the World Cup finals in the United
States, Milan brings seven co-Italian premier league footballers
in Saturday's match against the inter-city amateur championship
Persib Bandung at Senayan stadium.

Coach Fabio Capello has picked Uruguayan Enzo Francescoli of
Torino, Stefano Desideri of Udinese, Paolo Baldieri of Lecce,
Stefano Torrisi, Michele Padovano, Christian Lantignotti of
Reggiana and Roberto Lorenzini of Genoa. They will take the
places of Franco Baresi, Alesandro Costacurta, Mauro Tassoti,
Paolo Maldini, Demitrio Albertini, Roberto Donadoni and Daniele
Massaro.

Dane Brian Laudrup, Dejan Savicevic, Zvonimir Boban, Fernando
de Napoli, goalie Sebastiano Rossi and Fillipo Gali will also
included among Capello's 23 players who will start their Asian
tour here.

Savicevic struck for Milan's only goal in its 1-2 defeat to
World Cup finalist Colombia on Sunday. Parma's Faustino Asprilla
and Freddy Rincon spurred the Colombian national team to a 2-0
lead before the break.

Milan, which will receive US$ 265,000 for its June 4
appearance, will be the second Italian giant to run on Senayan
stadium's green grass. Sampdoria gave Indonesian footballers a
soccer lesson on May 8 in its 3-2 win over Liga Selection. (amd)