The road to America
By Richard Pedler
JAKARTA (JP): After 20 months of qualifying matches, 22 nations have booked their passage to America. Among those who failed, some paid a very heavy price for their efforts.
A matter of seconds determined the fate of some of the group rivals, while 28 were left dead in the post-match hysteria that greeted Colombia's 5-0 demolition of Argentina and consequent qualification.
Soccer is a game of 90 minutes, and that 90th minute proved decisive for both Bulgaria and South Korea. Bulgarian Emil Kostadinov scored twice in Paris, his second matchwinner coming on the stroke of full-time to shatter France, who had lost at home to bottom-placed Israel only the month before.
Japan, favored in Asia, were only ten seconds away from victory over Iraq (and qualification) when they conceded an equalizer which earned South Korea a reprieve and third successive finals appearance.
"Heaven was on our side" said the headline in Seoul's 'Sports Chosum,' while 'Nikkan Sports' reported "Japan aghast! World Cup disappears."
Saudi Arabia eased through unbeaten, as did fellow debutants Greece, thanks partly to the expulsion of Yugoslavia. The only other unbeaten side is Colombia, whose first victory over Argentina resulted in the lawlessness that took 28 lives that night in Bogota, a foretaste of what was to follow with the extraordinary completion of the 'double.'
No Brits
For the first time since they decided to take part back in 1950, none of the countries of Great Britain will be represented at the World Cup Finals, although the Englishmen Jack Charlton and Roy Hodgson have led Ireland and Switzerland through to the finals.
Ireland made it by the narrowest of margins, relying on having scored more goals than European Champions Denmark.
Spain amazingly won their group decider against Denmark, despite having keeper Zubizarretta sent off after only ten minutes. The Romanian Florin Raducioiu, just a substitute at Milan, managed nine strikes for his country.
But Barcelona has provided not one but three nations with World Cup strikers:- Stoichkov for Bulgaria, Romario for Brazil and Salinas for Spain.
San Marino scored the fastest ever World Cup goal (only their second) to shock an already demoralised England after only eight seconds. Holland had controversially beaten England in the real decider, following a professional foul by Dutchman Ronald Koeman on David Platt, who was running clear on goal with the score at 0-0.
The man in black, German Assenmacher, become a hated figure in England by not sending off Koeman, who later scored with a majestic free-kick: "the referee has not applied the laws of the game as we apply them," said England's resigning manager Taylor. After the game, Koeman smilingly admitted that he had expected the red card.
In Africa, with three guaranteed places for the first time (thanks to Cameroon's feats at Italia'90), many groups were disrupted by withdrawals as political problems afflicted Liberia, Angola, Zaire and Uganda. Altogether, eleven nations withdrew, and some very sad and violent incidents occured.
Seeking Asylum
The most extraordinary qualifier of all involved Ethiopia, who arrived in Morocco claiming three players had hopped off their plane to seek asylum in Italy.
Ethiopia was compelled by FIFA to play the game, and fielded two reserve goalkeepers in defense with the assistant coach in midfield. After ten minutes the coach left the field in exhaustion and, one by one, his example was followed until, with only six players and twenty minutes left, the match was abandoned with Morocco 5-0 ahead. The result stood.
Egypt were thrown out of the competition after Zimbabwe complained about the behavior of the 120,000 in Cairo.
Play had been stopped for ten minutes after Grobelaar was hit on the head by two lumps of concrete, followed closely by strikes on four more teammates and national coach, Fabisch. Zimbabwe progressed to meet Cameroon, but this time even the help of a witchdoctor was not enough.
A Heavy Price
On April 28th 1993, an air crash killed 18 Zambian players, decimating the squad. Rising from the ashes came a new team, which rode the wave of emotion until they were only a draw away from qualification before losing controversially in Morocco.
Appeals to FIFA over the standard of refereeing, in particular the decision not to award a last-minute penalty, failed to earn a reprieve. Coach Goes Berserk
In the Asian qualifiers, Qatar, renowned as one of the dullest places on earth, lived up to its reputation when North and South Korea, Japan, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia all stayed at the same hotel, while their supporters shared the stadium, without major incident.
But, when one of Iraqi coach Derjal's players was sent off, and his team lost a two-goal lead, he smashed his plastic seat and kicked it across the running track. He was promptly fired by Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Udai.
So was Brazilian coach Candido, after neglecting an order from one of the Saudi Royal Family to substitute the goalkeeper, who had just conceded a first-minute goal against Iraq!
Tomorrow - The Qualifiers A-Z: Argentina