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    World Soccer, February 1983

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    World Soccer, February 1983

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    169 views31 pages

    World Soccer, February 1983

    Uploaded by

    Juan Carlos Ballinari
    Wrd soccer

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    WO RIL) SOCCER a ALAN HUDSON Fare an ee’ ‘ ” i c : nm é ALAN HUDSON ASV a ee) ay we WORLD SOCCER. FEBRUARY 1083 MENOTTI GOES BUT WHERE TO? From Eric Weil in Buenos Aires ‘ONE ofthe most significant man- fagerial changes for a tong time {aes place om February 6 when — Darrin acidents — Carles Salva. dor Bilardo succeeds Cesar La ‘Menotti as boss of Argentina Menott’s departure not unc pected. A year ago he announced that he would quit after the World Cap finals in Spain. That he then ‘hose 10 hang on and even enter talks about now contract was more of a surprise: very few men an stand the pressure of being Rational manager for more than to World Cups! He goes — perhaps to Barcelo na, though Fiorentina, River Plate, Milionaris of Bogota, Bra. ails Atletico Mineiro and. even “Argentina's Rosirio Centeal are alin the market’ — with his feputation coming under increas ing fie back home. ‘Menott had fecn in charge of the national team without inter ruption longer than anyother coach in Argentina — just over tight years—~and during that time led. the team in 92 matches of ‘which they Won #8, drew Tost 22 Thi two seriounly ‘however ‘because many matches were used trial james when Meno) repeatedly Stressed that the result was not important. What i more impor Cover picture Action from the World Cub Cuptinal in Tokyo in December, with Penaror's Walkir Silva holding ‘off a challenge from Aston Villa's Des Bremner. For ‘more. about Penarol, sae the lub Focus on pag ‘Other main featur 32 on pp 47; Brian Glenwile, 8; Blayer porta on Fernar $5 Maren, ‘pio, F Memory Lane 25; Diary pp 26.27; European ‘news, pp 28-37; Africa reports, (pp 28-09; Results and tables, pp 48-43 and 46. tant for Argentine soccer is ‘whether hs successor wil have samme character for organisation 8nd getting what he wanted from the FA and clubs — such as foncentrating players away from thei clubs for months, which ‘Seems doubt Menotts was criticised for favouritism (in sticking with cer. tain players — goalkeeper Baley. centre-forward ‘Diaz, midfekier Valencia for example} and he also rade enemies in high places by frequently criticising FA oficals and’ the. government —tcling them the ath to thee faces hich iy not appreciated. was. therefore, insistent rumours that it was. this which helped to push him out These rumours appeared to take con sme credbiy when FA pres {ent tio Grondona sid that the money" Menotti asked for was salable but the FA. wanted to ‘nts affairs in with the nvesary tusterty in the current economic Officially no. agreement was reached because ‘Menottl asked for to0 much. Grondona would not reveal the figures, but Meno Sid his salary could have he Paid withthe gate receipts of one International match ayene This doubitu however. appears Meno asked for £0,000 Sgn fee." £2,000 & month, the usual maich bonuses earned by players tnd thatthe FA pay his tates All this was estimated at atta eos (0 the FA of between £3,000 and 46,000 a month, The man candidates to replace Menot were Carlos Griguol (FC Oeste), Bilatdo of Estudlantes de Ja Plata and Jose Varacka (Loma Negra and laracen unt a short, But with Estudiantes taking cover at the tp a he first dvson Iatly i Bild who appear to have the job sewn up = an in teresting choice, Bearing in mind his backpround. Bilardo, a 41-year-old doctor, was one’ of the Key men of the notorious Estudiantes side who ominsted South: American Cab football in the te 196 and feised_ mayhem in their Workd ‘Club als gaint ‘Manchester United, Milan and Feyenoord in 1968 156 and i Will Argentina step back to- wards tha bleh eet Menou's work to eon up their international age? ‘The game ly Birds had sty told the FA that he wan tee former cam Imatos aes "Caron Pachame Gicknamed Rasputin. Raul Madero (now lb doctor io Boca Junio) and Roberto Rogel “Argentine focal Bis gun bat Menot'scontiuion il tot be forgoten @ BARCELONA beat Aston Vit Wa 1-0 in the tst leg of the European Super Cup. thanks to ‘0a! from Marcos, (© ROBERT HERAIN, long-time ‘coach of Saint-Etienne, has been relieved of his duties in the latest Shock at the criie-torn French lb, © GARRINCHA, one of the ‘ames greatesi-over players, has ied in Rio de Janeito, aged 49, Real name Manoel Franceco dos ‘Santon, he wae a key figure. at fuiside right in. Brazil's. World {Cup victories of 1958 and 1982. (@ RENE COURTE, 22 years with FIFA and for much of that time ‘Assistant General Secretary and Press Chit, has been dismissed "The reasons remain obscure and ‘even Courte, 4.37 sear old from Laxemboure. professes himself in the dark ~ publicly at ast "is departure the second ma jor change in FIFA offcialdom in the last two years and follows the roplacement of Helmut Kaeser 36 General Secretary by Sopp Blt ‘he move was not «surprise Within FIEA circles for the word has been out for several months that long-term FIFA elients should tot fel themsctves Bound fda! tough Coure anymore ‘A personality clash with Pest deat Joao Havetange is one poss tsi’ there ena dub that Core had proved extremely un opal withthe Latin clement of FIFA‘. membership snd took a reat deal of sick ‘during the World Cup Fats lst ear, fe: quem ot things which were not Sinan eu wt FIFA replace Courts is an iris, ie the ‘media relations in the business of ‘cling football in general nd the World Cap in parila. would appear oo hefty a task ven for the ffi later to take on ss wel Editor: PHILIP. RISING VOL 23, No. 82 February 1983, onstow House 6088 SAFFRON HILL. LONDON ECIN Bay England on top ‘THE YEAR 1982 was something of an event for never before, since I ‘started doing this feature for World Soceer, has England ever topped the European results table. ’ ‘During the year England even won eight consecative games but for all Mr Greenwood's record of won eight and drawn two without Sefeat, all they had to show for it was the British champioaship. “Then, of course, after the World Cup, Bobby Robson took over ‘what was infact rather an old team and under him England won two, ‘rew one and lost one ‘Robson hat rather difficult task for he has to experiment and build a new, younger team, hopefully for the 1984 European ‘Championship finals and the 1986 World Cup "le mast be given the right to experiment, and from time to time, ‘that wll ea to reverses, particularly aay from home, But this isthe price that has to be paid. ‘As Thave so often stated, the critics rave about England when they ‘win, frequently claiming they ate back on top of the word, though that has not been so common lately, and then want the manager sacked when a couple of results don't go the right way. Tnfct,eny national team manager's job isa thankless task, but the England one particularly so. Fist he i given practically no time to coach the players because league fixtures get precedence and of ‘course he finds his squads decimated by injuries sustained in league [Bames, often just three days before England ply. Many people in England are anxious 10 persuade the Foot League to reduce the number of First Division clubs from 22 to 18, ‘ting the West Germans as their example ‘Yet, Tam sure it wil surprise even these advocates that right now the German FA is considering & plea from their manager Jupp Denwall to reduce the Bundesliga 11016 clubs from 18 ‘uaawa CZECHOSLOVAKIA en £05 4 ara oi a tater t 8S Rpenane 8 ba tiles Boo howe was LSet te A mungary ST w 5g “A Koma oi MW ceonorae WA Frees bf hear TiS Bese bi hie io kines wit 2 Wi Sermany Cos Analy Dee ites EE come f Mos ‘oo os yee Ce ean rot i Sem tet svat Dena 4 nomena Wt 1 grain ou f Bapene We Ase a i oes Cot Asse wea i Sete wah koceer hee Pere Wis a pelo wae 1 fare B15 A homena te 2 pe oes A gepent bas rows LEt Wess Eg 1 Seta waa. & Goomours we Aeon 383 Sot wea ene ‘Aone Loa re tet euana AS te romana Lg A Roking te 3 Sate tH2 Ate wis ie sis 3 ‘A France bee ay 2 Satta es enatano co 532 u ninand wee tars waa Same wis i Bas ANeione wae bien Pas kit wis WORLD SOCCER, FEBRUARY 1983 Eric Batty reviews the year’s internationals in Europe “ey ts tng ve wor erotik | were te Ea managers fit ot oe ny eb re lagoon it larcerte gn ey, Engleh Sate pcs tr pieyeler acts pe ee neta Geneoat eeae ee ‘aise i ee ea Spal penesd celaegin rpuinnyeson ney Spain bers ed pre ene tay ern ape ois gee scot be doe by Sogn tare ower no manor o Tigi io Scptiig te kage’ apatite May beeen ge on perc er eh olin = Meni f fay, crrent kes of he Word Cop brings o mid say ape that ey sage el pot het woe rm Sieeet page pockr roa Fee noe Ticking he nr overall lyk ony 1h the ae nd sores tie ei ported Chet ae iy ely Sra tray aeecuieg teat eee peat er fee pe Siete orcas rear Sree ne Sree tare Natl Cop tr ay tar ta ene he oe Sees epee ronale Cie vo oct Tos bon ectabic war lity scacwomen smerny tice reorder bese ander tat purple puch Before the World Cap Inly lat 62 fo France and 01 10 East (Getta sl hd oy trey sey a Tos carafe ebetrioer es Pers and i wi Cameron: Other conn ale ori Rated Tee eve ps tat May oe and ont ont We wt Pee getiee (hs; beaks Panel al ee oo a ae Gale elses iehiopin wearer overeat Tiley tar ar Cpa oes koe ck be ee Chespeenee enon fem Bersots on old oly dee 2 Si Cactus and 69 wih Roman este til po ern cee eet ies ates era steer ace eres eg aes the mow ly omen aes era east uate oia ketosis Songs, Chivas tart loin fey have fly prose! wert tnd wet A Bulga Pues Wor A Semen Eildon WE over wie Weeemany D8 GERMANY, Wet Sean Hee ae os to = Wag. A Argentina Dm cro W238 eee wa emboer ineer Wes A Nord te eS 4 wat downy A Sta we a L142 enolane Doo Stier tists Boe pod £ BSA France 333 Foc ea 8 com ba nme telat G3 ee fenton wa naty : wo AN ireland Lo ant wis ae te oneece Segue 5 92 4 ponuga Lia wade Ct Heat tai Beas LYS Hae tee ier We gremieee tt Cocoemen Ot At te foe Wa A Leterbouy wee iiions Wer A ome rH Wicerany B33 4 ober fe Posen C3 fi Sterne 33 rn ba fpr wis Hungary ™ wo ronan us ouLano eruany.east A Sootand Lie orm at wis ape wi3 Amon ts iy Wis A koora bia io re hee wi Sor B22 Hence te fore 5 hime wea ; et pnd her kor aly it es or ] | | WORLD SOCCER, FEBRUARY 1983 pai ‘lass men, and their overall 1982 record is an excellent won five raw four, lost only one But the plain fact that Oleg Blokhin & Co:%id not do it onthe big occasion in Spain. and as a result the Russians not only went ‘home disappointed but manager Konstantin Beskov was dismissed. ‘My feeling is thatthe Russians lack motivation and there i tle they can do about that. But until they overcome this problem thy ate unlikely to achieve anything of note, whoever is thet hos, My personal rosette for 1982 goes to litle Norway, with Northern Ireland as very close runners-up. The Ulstermen won only two games from the 12 they played, but they didi when it counted — in Spain, But in my view the achievement of Norway is even better, given their tiny population and severe winter, Won thee, drawn two, lost two, is Norway's tally for the year. They beat England of couts in 198i. and now victories over Denmark, Sweden and Yugoslavia, plus an away draw for one European Championship point 22 in Bulgaria, underline their progres, Finally, a word about France. Lenjayed the football they produced in the World Cup, and think now that manager Michel Higego made a mistake in turning out some more physical players against England When they were besten in Bilbao, My view is that their clever lithe midfield men would have cut England to pieces and he should have played the lot of them Tactically. if France, or anyone else has six or seven midfield players as good as Platini, Gieesse, Tgana ete, then I would play the Jot and not field any forwards. fr they have no natural goulscorer at the moment. With such players breaking forward in: bunches: beating men, feinting. weaving and carving clever litle patterns (0 fel the ball forward they not only entertain but make itp Finally my assessment of the yeur forthe figutes do not tell the whole trth, In my opinion there are precious few teams realy worth going far to see, andthe pick of what I saw in 1982 were Brazil alead by ¢ casiderable margin, and France For the rest, lke italy, West Germany, England, Russia, they all ‘depend on their key forwards playing st their best when it counts But wtzeand Lo w 24 Smenonovaia 5 2 Wt H Romene Boo ae ‘LUXEMBOURG wf kF Hees Loe MOH Denman ti 4M A eager tee ot maura WO 1 tela was A Sutgra te ot A rotor toe ut Nonway DT rind eel £01 Wemeny ox Loe Ht Denman war Ht Seeaen wig 2 vines tet L o4 H Yugos wot £ Od A bugere Di bit z rowan 582 5 may 2 00 8 0 "A Cameroon 2a 2A rau wer W 10-4 Cam wae 2 22 home Des eet Ces 482 A Petes woe W 32 "A Fanes was A Flan waz muy i we Ae cormany Ot a areca wan 2 Stata Dit A Woman My f pol Deo A Sencenand te Pent a A ee rae Cameroon Bit A Prong wae 2 igor Wan A pan wat 2 bash woe “A Paana wo owawa 2 We Gomany wat ag Lie FIVE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS TABLE FOR EUROPE, 1982 Po WD LF A % avccens enouano "wo 3 Ta 8 Meet usta htt ae 7 me fssia sat 6 ta Swicetond «108 2 BM Ta Pound $3 2% Geo Sogim oh 8 2 ae WestGormany 18 7 4 4 ae foo Span ia 3 i fo Roma = 1883 ko 7 Nowe 7 32a a Wate ra 22% m4 France era's me fay Bis i sa tian Tat 3k feo ogous 2223 so hunoory rere soo Pong 8 3 88 fo ExtGemany 3 2 3 8 soo Grenocowla 1 2 6 3 16 ise Scoumd i} 4 3 8 te ie Oemec D8 tT Sweden ri aes Niwend 8 2-8 8 7 fara a8 a Torey Pioat Bugle = 81 8 8 te ere isa s reece waits tetera a2 43 frie sot 33 = fora Fane tot ses memboug 8 80 3 1 8 {here are vo few really top quality Torwarde about that sccm clear to'me that the tactical game, defend and counter attack Is going ‘tay with us for some time yet, and that eannot be good forthe fue ‘of football with cubs needing to entertain to bring inthe crowds, The fans everywhere will only pay in large numbers to watch good players, playing good attacking football and winning. And there ae ‘ery few teams, club or country who can do that. ie gun ereas | ee fae eames ie i ee ae ieee Bes a8 he Se eee ae ae £02 H EGermany O22 —_ W232 H Russia Dia i= is ike a i 13 te. ae i Be mes oe aan B00 A cyprus wo wes eine ee en ae ee = i ee ewe fe i ae ae Ae pees A 7 ees a ae ae fees #8 tee lee ue oe os oe 4m ta fo eS ghee = pe matin i i oe ine! Gute oH 4 Brant 14 A Stone tor te. gate ke tS | pH tee ui A Switzeriand L2H Norway wio i ee on oe Tee eee oe io rote Be ime eee ee joo SESE #8 ie RE t= is ero te ik #8 six ACTIVITY of South American national teams was entirely confined to the four which took part in the World Cup finals in Spain — Brazil, “Argentina, Peru and Chile — who played 18 warm-up games before ‘ging to Spain and 1S inthe finals, a total of 83 matches. There was no more international activity forthe est Of the year. A Jot has already been written about these teams and none of them ‘ally came up to expectations in Spain withthe possible exception of, Pera from whom possibly only their own most fervent fans expected “Apart from the World Cup, only one country played fall international matches abroad ~~ Peru, ‘who showed up. well in drawing I-1 with Algeria and beating France 14, but they did not ‘repeat these performances in Spain. Earlier, Uruguay scat a team to play in the Nehru Cup in fia, but although it was quite a strong team, these matches were ot fall internationals. Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia and Para- also saw no international action at all dating the ye ‘Over all there seems no doubt that Brazil were once agai the best team on the continent. and they played the best soccer. The nly defeat of the year was the vital one and it knocked them out ofthe ‘World Cup —3-2 by tay who went on t0 win the trophy, but there ace those’ who believe Brazil would not have lost if they had Speculated more instead of sticking 1 their entertaining attacking style “Argentina, who lst their world ttle during the year, only once showed the class with which they won iin 10 games... notin any of helt warm-up matches at home, but in beating Hungary 41 in the ‘World Cup to stay alive in thei fist round group. Algeria and Cameroons delight [AS THE African football season begins to wind down for the December to January slack period it isa good opportunity to glance bck and sccest what kindof year 1982 hasbeen ‘Obviously the World Cup was the most important competition and the whole continent were delighted sith Algeria and Cameroons “The various A‘tican nations might not alvays see eye to eye on ‘matters but they do like 10 see. Africa triumph over outsiders, partculrly the affluent west "Therefore Cameroons’ draw with Italy and Algeria's magnificent win over West Germany were celebrated throughout the length ofthe Continent. When all the fuss had died down a few lone voices did juestion how the results were achieved, andthe Cameroons. ly were described as playing ‘non-African’ football Tndeed they did tend to pack theit midfield, often leaving the ‘excellent Miller desperatly short of support, and there was itl sign ‘of players taking men on and beating them or, with the exception of Kande's rather predictable free kicks of the deadly long range ‘hooting that had been the trade mark ofthe Portuguese Africans of the 60. In. short Cameroon. went to Europe and played like Enropeans. ‘The tes were excellent ut the methods were disappointing. Sil there is 90 doubt that the African results in Spain were far better than anybody excepted but we must wait to see if this isthe start ofa new golden age. Progress seldom happens in straight ins, for example North Koreas resus inthe "66 Cup hardly proved 10 be the start of « new era for Asian football "Yet atthe moment there are thre, maybe four African sides which ‘ould hold their own against good European oppestion and it would be nice to see one of these Teams invited #0 Europe for a full international. Tram sure the prospect of Cameroon playing at Wembley would furact a big @ crow as yet another match against Rumania oF Bulgaria, T doubt if st will happen though, if the Cameroons do get an invitation 10 England it wll probably be to do a tour of the third ‘division grounds where they wil be lucky to draw more than couple of thousand spectators or les. It wil be noted that most of the top African footballing powers ‘come from either West Arica or north of the Sahara with East Africa very much a poor relation. However this yea I belive I saw an East WORLD SOCCER, FEBRUARY 1983 Eric Weil and Rob Pateman review Sout Eight European national teams came 1 the continent for watm-up ants prot the Wold Cap — Caecesovai, West German Union, Bulgaria, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and the Tide hepabee-— epey «ora of 15 gamen The best ofthe Punch were West Germany and their 1-0 defeat in Brazil and I-1 draw in ‘Argentina were the outstanding events of the 1982 local international ‘scene although they had several injured players absent, notably Rummenie ‘One match now deleted from the calender for 1983 is Argentina ¥ England in Buenos Aires in July which was fixed long before the Falklands conflict asa return match fo the one Argentina played at ‘Wembley in 1980. One big stumbling block was the 100,000 dollars which the Argentine FA were duc to pay for it under contract (as they received the stme sum when they played at Wembley), With the current high dollar exchange rate locally, such a match would be & Financial burden and it was no surprise when the match fell through 3 "secrity” grounds [Atican side that could challenge forthe major continental honours, it wasnt the East Alrican champions Kenya but third. placed Zimbabwe “Zimbabwe has, of course, only returned to international soccer since Tadependance in 1980, Then they had a ridiculous internal !rgument when thei two top elub sides failed to turn up fora league match and life bans were given out here there and everywhere “As is usually the casein Africa a few apologies brought everybody «pardon bat it did not help the young teams progress and certainly ‘Naunduma, the wonder boy at the time, never seemed to regain his form, However in Ligands this year the Zimbabwe side showed a fare and level of skill that was quite exciting. Zimbabwe just might {god et for one of Alica’s places in the 4 Olympics, provid ourse thatthe new government can mainiain law and order and the | ‘whole country dase’ dissolve into chaos and violence ‘When talking about football in Africa's alvays worth remember: ing that few ofthese counts enjoy the stability or wealth of Europe fad for this reason I was pleased to see Uganda, that most Deautifal ‘of countries which has suffered terribly in ecent years, sage the East ‘African Championship so succesfully. ‘AS for 1982 I would rank the leading African nations in this order, ‘based purely on ther results over the twelve month period 1st Ghana ‘The Aftican Nation Cup Winners forthe fourth time, a performance ‘that in my opinion ranked them abave either Cameroon or Algeria. Tn fact the ‘Black Stars’ meet both ofthese sides in Libya and by all accounts were unlucky only to draw with Cameroon and a litle fortunate in ther victory over Alger "The national team alko took the 1 Meredea tournament a result which regarded South Korean side. Add to this Sekond's saccess in the ‘West African Cup and’ Asanie reaching the African Cup Final and you will see what fine year it has been for Ghana, 2nd Algeria [RANKED second mainly on their World Cup performances although ‘they played well In Libya without several of their profesional stars and were leading 21 inthe 89th minute ofthe ea-fnal before Essien scored the equalising goal for Ghana, WORLD SOCCER, FEBRUARY 1983 merica and Africa’s internationals tmoae SOUTH AMERICA'S FULL INTERNATIONALS January: Brant 3 East Gormany March: Braz 1 Czechoslovakia; Argentina 0 Czechoslovaki 0: Bazi ‘West Germany 9; Argentina | West Germany ¥; che 2 Peru; Peru nite. ‘Apri Argentina 1 Soviet Union 1: Algerlat Peru 1; France O Peru 1. ‘May: Argentina 2 Bulgaria; Gra 2 Portogt 1; Argentina 1 Romania 0; Peru 2 Romania 0; Chile 2 Romania 3: Bran 1 Swiserand 1; Chie 1 Inch Republic; Bazi ish Republi. June (al! in World Cup: Belglum 1 Argentina 0: Soviet Union 1 Bra 2 Ccemorcon 0 Paru Austin Chile @; Sealand | Bras ay Perf, Hungary | Argentina 4; West Germany 4 Chile 1; Poland 5 Pru ty El Salvador 0 Argentina 2; New Zealand Breas; Algeria 3 Che 2 raz (a) 3 Argentina 2 aly 3 uy (ll World Cup): aly 2 Argentina reais away Total % DL goals W DL goals = 1 157 8 2 1 Setter 32 46 3 3 2° 7a - 3 97 4 3 4 1H08s = 4 39 2 - 5 81320 ontinent “Two of ther elub sides, R.S. Kouba inthe African Cup and Union Sportive in the Cup Winners Cup got through to the quarterfinal sage but above all there was that 21 victory over West Germany, 3rd Cameroons ‘THREE draws in the World Cup against top opposition, including the ‘eventual World Champions, speaks for iself and ona dozen occasions the width of the post was all that stopped chem making the second, vas mote disappointing wit the team not playing well and failing to reach the semi-final. One ‘must wonder how Cameroons will manage in next years Olympic {qualifying rounds if thei growing number of professionals, which ‘ow include N'Kono ate not realised. 44 Egypt IN fourth place I wold rank Egypt. They refused to 0 to Libya for ‘was a ight between Libyan and Egyptian players the 197% African Games, so we didn't se thelr jor competition However their club sides performed magnificently and demons- trated that Egyptian Toothall. is probably” the most technically advanced in Affiea and El Ahly particularly could hold their own ia most European fist divisions. bia th ‘THE most surprising side of 1982, ‘They were excellent in Libya in thei 3-0 victory over Nigeria and were @ trifle unlucky to tse tothe home sie inthe semi final but Finished third "Their greatest triumph however came later in the year when they ‘won the four sided competition for the A.F.C. SiNer Jubilee trophy Against Ghana, Algeria and Egypt. In addition the core of the national eam took Power Dynamo to the Cup Winners Cup final 46h Libya AN awful lo of oll money has gone into promoting sport in Libya and General Gaddaft seems to see having a sucessful football seas an Important part of the developing countries new Image, inly came close to winning the Nations Cup, they Gnaly ies, but it is eifiul to access how much that second All Fergani of Algeria. place was really worth for the home nation, particularly infront of obust African erowds, are always at an advantage [Never the less the standard oF play im the country is improving ‘rapidly and Fawzi ssawi and winger Elmajdoub looked impressive 7th Morocco MOROCCO came within one step of reaching their second World Cup Finals, but losing t9 Cameroon knocked the heart out of these and ‘resale ina under par performance in Libya. [Never theless the country that were the ist to represent Alia in a modern World Cup continue to remain # major force on the ‘8h Nigeria AA season that started s0 promising ended in chaos with the whole However itis perhaps to0 easy to look on the dul side fr Nigeria did provide some eretiable performances, particularly In reaching the last four ofthe World Cup qualifying tournament. Engu Rangers were semi finaliss inthe African Cup while the growing number of ‘Nigerians playing abroad is proof of the high level of individual skill to be found in the country 9th Kenya ‘THE best ofthe East Afticans in 1982 They regained the East Atican Trophy by beating the home side, Uganda, on penalties while Leopards took the East African Club Championship. ‘Although neither the national team or club sides have made much {impact in Continental championships there has been general ein standard and defender Ogollo and goalkeeper Abbas looked as good fasany in Africa, 10th Uganda {A leat cholce. Zaire and Ivory Coast are ‘Atrcas strongest nations but they di ite in "82. ditional amongst Ethiopia got to Libya but were out of theie depth there so I would ‘opt for Uganda who reached the final ofthe East Alrcan Cup only to lose out on penalties. Jimmy Kirunda, ia his eighth year ay captain ‘was an excellent settling influence atthe back of the team and theit forwards, particulary the talented Sekataw, looked very sseful in the early matches. EIGHT FIFA are of course perfectly within their rights to order the Football League and Football Assocation to step back int line and abolish the new ruling wherebs “professional fouls” outside the box carry an automat sending off but I think they would be Indeed o think again ‘As I mentioned last month, the law is by ‘no means uniformly applied; as indeed how could it be, referees being, despite certain suspicions tothe contrary only human. But ithhas made a vast, beneficial difference to the English game this season, and its evi dence should have convinced FIFA. that rather than crush it, they should most seriously discuss implying ton a global basis Not that T expect any better from the egregious Joao Havelange, who, despite his war, and wonderful qualities as a, human being, administrator, ‘world waveller and public figure, has never evinced the slightest nue feeling for football; though Iam sure he fecls very deeply and strongly indeed about water polo, which once he played Buses, Yoo, no doubt: he used to run those, and perhaps stil does, “The news that if the new ruling is abo- lished Clive Thomas will resign did not, T ‘must confess, ruin my Breaklast, but for once that highly controversial figure i plumb bang right. Something has to be done to defend the game from itself and its more ruthless practitioners; most of whom, to be fai, re to be found outside the British Isles, not cast in Spain. ‘That there are ambiguities, especially, ‘over the position of the goalkeeper was clearly shown in a game T saw at Watlord when. Manchester United’: Gary Baley rushed out of his penalty area to handle, after Buchan's miscued back pass had ex Posed his goal. Bailey was lectured and allowed to say on after Tong consultation between referee and linesman, A few days later I saw 2 goalkeeper commit a painful and ruthless foul outside the box ‘on an advancing forward. He stayed on, too, and hhundted times deserved to go of. Perhaps where goalkeepers, and they lone, are concerned, the West German idea ‘of a “sin bin, ako turned down by FIFA, it ‘worth implementing. To lose your keeper ‘ot forthe whole game but fora least. part of it, would havea salutary effect on sich Aispleasing excesses, and a referee, would thus be given, not ony the reassurance that Keeper need not be banished forthe whole of the game, but the possibilty to differentiote between offences, ‘TALKING of Watford, they scem ben rumbled; but Lam most happy that they are giving more than they generally receive. Te surprised me a great deal 10 receive WORLD SOCCER, FEBRUARY 1983 FIFA should think a back England’s new Luther Blissett — “promising, exuberant but profligate” — gives Luxembourg's, Johny Clemens a rare chance to catch up with him during the International at Wembley. uber of exremely pesvsh kter rom Wat tae whe 1nd ete te Perfomance at home fo Manchester United though thadbcen,llseaon, mone tong tows wie wed thet wel Perhaps his had somthing vo do with the fac hat my Sunday Tunes ep whieh wes team to co, aceon as e son oo Sal yerep”(aferene to the mime ‘Commander ChartesReep Tigh Priest ofthe Long Bal) came ain the eat, “ial ye esp,” whic sounded oe tot Lundentand spill cose ad a #83 port cuphemisealy Personal ind the sitempt to spect fool oaths ana anes Slagrams ot only brig bat reve jas found the good Wing Commanders af the sie, whom he was tumpeting be Sich of tha her ony ball eam Yerhanpton Wanderer Tseng wre aso nuperty wel then why. ever ted Wotengeden eign comr tos Gd, an with it the reign of their manager, Mr. Stanley Cullis? How well member sitting right infront ‘of him one muddy Saturday at Luton (but then all Saturdays at Luton somehow con rive to seem muddy). "Here it comes," he'd say, in his extraordinary Black ‘Country accent, scarely mediated by all thse years in Ellesmere Port. “The classical stu. Tap. tap. Tap-tap.”’ The scom was bottomless thump-thump” he said happily in the econd half, when Wolves stated banging the ball about: and won, 1 do not think Watford have sinned against the light and Ido stil admire both them and thelr young manager, Graham Taylor, for what they have achieved: not least their extraordinary ability to poll excellent new young players out of the hat. I do not se theit-methods as a threat to the English game; both Manchester United. making mincemeat oftheir centre backs, and Liver, Pool, in the fist half the week afer showed ‘Up their vulnerability. Whiteside and Staple {on sadly exposed the limitations ofthe tio stoppers, Sims and Bolton; even i the only goal of ‘that game came. from an awful WORLD SOCCER, FEBRUARY 1983 NINE mistake by the veteran Pat Rice. ‘There is, however, the question of entrust: ing the England youth team to Graham ‘Taylor which, on the face of it, does seem a strange one. Twill ot hear a word against ‘Taylor, He has setup his stall and made his methods perfectly lear. If, under these ‘reumstances, he given the England youth team to. prepare, that is the. clear and absolute responsibility of the Football Asso- lation and those there who have made the ppointment. They can hardy claim they did fot know what he was about [PVE never much liked the Nations Cup, and ‘om [lke I less than ever. Recent develop- iments have taken me back tothe time when ‘that greatest of competitors Vittorio Pozzo, ‘winner twice of the World Cup with Ialy tween the wars, complained to me that nowadays it seemed impossible o play any games at all without torning them into 2 {earnament at some kind, Particularly ironic in view of Tals decline since the World Cup. The home defeat in Rome. by Switzerland didn’t matter very much, even iit was an anti-

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