Conference trucks::football;1

    France beat Poland away 5:1 as a warm-up game for the big clash
    scheduled for September 4 in Bratislava.
    
    Goals by Sauz�e, Papin, Simba, Blanc and P�rez.
    
    20 minutes of hell and one goal down. But the remaining of the game was
    entirely controlled by the French who were too fast for the opposition.
    It has to be said that most Polish players haven't started playing in
    their various Leagues (most play abroad) and were evidently not fit.
    Still, last year they drew 0-0 in Paris.
    
    Platini was furious to see the first 20 minutes.
    
    JF

    Certainly is quiet in Iceland, Albania, Spain and Czechoslovakia after
    last Wednesday's French victory away in Bratislava, 2:1.
    
    CZECHOSLOVAKIA  1  -  2  FRANCE
    
    Whoever (28')         Papin (53', 88')
    
    Splendid victory. Two great goals by "JPP" (pronounce GP�P�); Excellent
    team spirit. Why, they look like a British side now!
    
    France need only one point at home against Iceland to advance to
    Sweden.
    
    Delighted-
    JF

    JF - isn't there a match to come in Spain for France yet ??   Is that
    not going to be important for qualification ??
    
    I am sick at not being in France ... not only are the national team
    doing well, but look who's top of the league ...
    
    Ray

    
    Re -1,
    
    	Even if France lose in spain they need a draw at home to Iceland to
    progress.  If Iceland managed a draw in Paris they'd probably declare
    the day a national holiday so I think you can take it that France will
    be in Sweden and will be one of the favourites.
    
    Gary.

    Gary, despite his name, knows better!
    
    France will be one of the favourites if the poor little darlings are
    not exhausted after their season, like Marseille last year at the
    Champions Cup final.
    
    �JF?

    Sorry Juanjo but,
    
    
    	Iceland 2 Spain 0.

    Iceland 2-0 Spain
    
    It is hard to say something about the match yesterday after the sad
    performance of our team.
    
    Iceland absolutely deserved to win, as they were the ones that fought 
    for it. The Spanish players (some of them winning $1 million a year) 
    didn't move at all, they seem to be on a promenade. I was watching the 
    match and I was astonished seeing how a low-standard side was giving a 
    football lesson to the Spanish team.
    
    There are no words: Spain has always been irregular, but what happened
    yesterday hadn't happened in the Spanish football history (at least,
    the recent one I can remember). I cannot understand how players can be
    so demotivated when wearing the national shirt.
    
    I suppose that I will have to "suffer" some replies in this topic...
    *-) *-) (one smile per goal)
    
    
    JUANJO

    Well, let's be honest Iceland are quite a good team. I saw some of the
    match and was impressed by their ball control and tight passing.
    Spain's fall has been coming for some time too.
    
    Peter

    
    	Chin up, Juanjo....
    
    	These sort of results usually have the effect of clearing out 
    	some of the dead-wood (the "demotivated" players wearing their
    	National shirts..) whilst giving the remaining players the 
    	kick in the pants they need to go on to better things.
    
    	I don't think it affects the group does it? Weren't France 
    	favourites for this group already? Excuse my ignorance if I'm
    	wrong!
    
    	Perhaps this is a good opputunity for your team to take a good
    	look and come storming back for the '94 World Cup. It often takes
    	a result like this to get the new talent in in time...
    
    	Keep smiling. It's happened to us (England) before now .... more
    	than once...
    
    	Andy.
             

    Thanks for your sympathy, Andy *-)
    
    I doubt that the clearing-out was done when we referred to the likes of
    Zubizarreta, Butrague�o or M�chel, who were picnicking on the grass
    yesterday...
    
    I wish the clearing out would take place, but... 
    
    Yes, France and Spain were the favourites, but there has been a great
    difference of quality between them. Even Spain was leading the score
    against the French and Czecks when playing away, and doing it very
    well, but after it they collapsed in both matches... I cannot
    understand it.
    
    C'est la vie!
    
    JUANJO

    Before we had the disk problems, somebody entered some very useful
    information about each group. Matches played, remainin dates, tables
    etc. Any chance of them being reposted?

    
    Re -1, see note 91.  It has all the fixtures and the tables prior to
    last night.
    
    Gary.

    
    It takes a while to accept defeat, from a sufferer point of view,
    however a player, I should say a PROFESSIONAL one should never give up
    the contention, nevertheless, some of our players gave up competive
    football as far as the European cup is concerned, on the second half
    of the game against France, and what happened the other night was
    shameful, disgusting and totally unacceptable.
    	Perhaps what they need is a big kick up their butt to learn to
    respect the country they pretented to represent, and the people who has
    to suffer the humilliation of such a disgraceful performance.
    Perhaps the new manager improves the hard approach to same of our
    primadona players who are entertaining other kind of pursuits, to say
    the least.
    Juan
    

    What the previous noter forgot to mention was Spain's shocking defeat
    at the feet of the Icelandic the other day:
    
    ICELAND 2 - 0 SPAIN
    
    That result almost sealed the group. Spain no longer has a chance of
    qualifying. Only the Czech can entertain a dim hope. It would take a
    French defeat in Sevilla this Saturday (very possible) and another in
    Paris against Iceland (highly improbable), plus 2 Czech victories.
    
    JF

    This Saturday in Sevilla Spain and France will play a game for honour's
    sake.
    
    The Spanish are likely to introduce new, young players as a preparation
    for next WC qualifying rounds.
    
    The French will field their usual line-up with Cantona returning in
    attack.
    
    Likely line-up will be:
    
    				MARTINI (Auxerre)
    
    ANGLOMA (Marseille)  BOLI (Marseille)  BLANC (Naples)   AMOROS (Marseille)
    
             DESCHAMPS (Marseille)  SAUZ�E (Marseille)   P�REZ (Paris SG)
    
             PAPIN (Marseille)      CANTONA (N�mes)      VAHIRUA (Auxerre)
    
    France will try to maintain their unbeaten-in-2 years streak while
    Spain will want to demonstrate that they still are a force in European
    football. M�chel has been dropped for "lack of motivation".
    
    Live on TF1 at 20:45 after the commercials.
    
    �JF?
    

    Yes, J-F, we have to wash our honour after the Icelandic fiasco. M�chel
    will not be present (he has been the escape-goat after Iceland, though
    he is doing very well right now).
    
    Spain will try to maintain the tradition in Sevilla, namely, no team
    has got a victory there.
    
    A possible line-up could be:
    
    			Zubizarreta
    			(Barcelona)
    
     Cortijo	  Soloz�bal	    Sanch�s	 Abelardo		
    (Sevilla)     (Atl�tico)     (Real Madrid)  (Sp�rting)
    
    
    	 Vizca�no 	     Hierro 	    Eusebio
    	(Atl�tico)        (Real Madrid)   (Barcelona)
    
    	Manolo		 Butrague�o	  Goicoechea
      (Atl�tico)       (Real Madrid)      (Barcelona)
    
    
    

    	
    	Sauzee is injured and will not participate.
    
        Don't know who will replace him.
    
        Pierre-Yves

    Goicoechea is injured and has been substituted for by Soler (Atl�tico
    de Madrid).
    
    JUANJO

    I think Fernandez will replace Sausez

                           SPAIN 1  - FRANCE 2
    
                   Abelardo (34')     Fernandez (12')
    				      Papin	(16')
    
    This is it. France needed only one point to go through and they got two.
    The game started with a little surprise: the Spaniards looked like they
    were waiting for the French who in turn played very upfront. After 12
    minutes, Amoros ran on the left wing, got caught, but followed on to
    get the ball back to P�rez who crossed. Spain's #8 headed back quite
    badly to the edge of the penalty box where 3 (three!) French were
    lurking. Fernandez was the quicker and volleyed home for the 1:0.
    
    Four minutes later Laurent Blanc was up in midfield and found a running
    Papin who went around his opponent and crossed his shot to make it 2:0.
    
    Spain reacted very strongly and pushed a lot. A good cross rebounded in
    the penalty area and Abelardo, unmarked, headed home for the 1:2.
    
    The rest of the first half was dominated by Spain but they did not
    create clear chances. At one point a very suspicious foul on Butrague�o
    could have produced a penalty but the referee judged the foul just
    outside the box. Frankly, it looked just inside.
    
    In the second half Eusebio came in to bring more punch to the Spanish
    attack but again no clear chances. 
    
    As often in that kind of scenario a lot of space was left open for
    French counter-attacks and, on 3 occasions it could have been goal.
    
    On the first, Deschamps shot well and Zubi saved well too.
    On the second, Zubi dived in front of Papin and blocked the ball with
    his hand outside the penalty area but the ref did not see it (with the
    new rules he was liable for a red card).
    
    On the third, after an impressive run by Angloma on the right, Papin
    was left with a sitter but Cristobal managed to clear it on the goal
    line.
    
    France is the first country to qualify. It is the first time they
    have qualified for the European Championships. It is also the first time
    they've won all their games (with one remaining in Paris vs. Iceland).
    
    Impossible to single out one player: they played very much as a team.
    Special marks to Angloma, Deschamps, Fernandez and Papin for their
    outsanding contribution.
    
    For Spain, Martin-Vazquez was a disappointment but there are good
    players in that squad and El Bu�tre is as dangerous as ever.
    Zubizarreta made great saves.
    
    I hear the USSR also qualified. That makes it 3 (Sweden as the host).
    
    Elated
    �JF?

    Few things worth to notice : 
    
    Players were very fairplay, for example at the beginning of second half, 
    while spain pressure was at its maximum a french player was injured 
    and Spain's #6 did not hesitate to put the ball out.
    
    This was in great contrast with the public.I was very disappointed to
    see nazi flags in the stadium and to see so many "things" thrown
    directly at players and trainers.
    
    What a difference when you see a rugby match ...
    
    
    On what I saw Saturday, I think spain will have a good team soon.

    
    OK, not a bad report, but a few things worth mentioning :-
    
    1. The 'penalty'; well, I watched it several times and was convinced
    that the contact, (ie the foul) was definitely made outside the area,
    although the Spaniard fell well into the area...
    
    2. Zubi to be sent off ? I wasn't sure that he deliberately handballed
    it, and that's if it hit his hands at all. From what I saw, he knew
    that he was well outside his area, and tried to get his body in the
    way. Let's face it, having the ball blasted at you from half a metre,
    that's all you CAN do - I reckon it would have been harsh to send him
    off.
    
    3. And, in the light of that, you neglected to mention that two other
    players sought to gain an advantage by using their hands, notably
    Papin, and were only booked, when had they got away with it, it would
    have been a goal on each occasion ( the Spaniard actually put the ball
    in the net!). Which suggests to me that you're being even more harsh on
    Zubi...
    
    4. For me, there was only one man of the match. Angloma. Sans doute ! I
    agree though, this is a strong french TEAM, who work very well
    together. And on the night, Spain showed that they're hardly down and
    out - there's plenty of fight, and talent too.
    
    Finally, I think France do look like a team to watch come the finals.
    As for them being favourites, as I heard on the TV afterwards, well,
    there's plenty of room for argument there ! As an Englishman, I can
    hope that they've peaked too early. Out of interest, when did they last
    play the Germans ???
    
    
    Adam.

    Points taken.
    
    About Papin's handball, he explained afterwards he did it on purpose to
    get a yellow card to make sure he will miss the next international game
    against Iceland and not the opening one in Sweden! Can you believe it?
    
    >>have been a goal on each occasion ( the Spaniard actually put the ball
    
    Er, you mean when Papin was about to score for France?
    
    About Zubi handling the ball, I suppose it's always a question of
    intent. The fact remains that he did control it with
    his hand, denying Papin of an almost certain goal. But I agree sending
    a guy off for that is too harsh. Why not a penalty? He would still have
    a chance then.
    
    Angloma the best? Yeah, why not indeed. I just felt they all played
    well together.
    
    Favourites for Sweden? I'd say yes, along the 7 other teams!
    
    Last time we met West Germany was in a friendly just before the 1990
    World Cup, in Montpellier, France won 2:1, goals by M�ller, Papin and
    Cantona.
    
    We'll play England at Wembley in February - That will be an interesting
    test indeed.
    
    �JF?

    
    No, I don't believe it (Papin's booking). Any player with half a brain 
    would never even consider it. A player with more than half a brain (I
    would put Papin in this category!), would at least have the sense to do
    it in the last few minutes, rather than the tenth minute. Let's face
    it, for 80 minutes he was only one silly challenge away from being sent
    off ! Bit of a risk, wouldn't you say ?
    
    Another thing I forgot to mention in my "unbiased" note - why on earth
    was the ball allowed to BOUNCE on the six yard line, from a dead ball
    situation, for the Spanish goal. Full marks to the Spaniard (sorry, I
    can't remember his name) - he had to react very quickly to steer a
    forceful header inside the post. It has to be said though, that at
    least two french defenders could have, and should have made that ball
    ... Still, I don't mind if they do that against England !!!
    
    So much for my "adopted" nationality !
    
    Adam.

    > It has to be said though, that at least two french defenders could 
    > have, and should have made that ball.
    
    From the replay, I think the faulty player is Laurent Blanc who did not
    move at all ?

    Did the French put the finishing touch to a perfect record? What
    happened last night when they played Iceland?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Jacques

	In a few words:
	
	France - Iceland	3 - 1
	
	Loads of chances to score, good goal keeping by the visting keeper, ...
	
							.Andre.

    This was a very live match.
    The result is good because Iceland lost to Czechoslovakia and Spain
    by 1 goal only and considering that they scored on the only occasion
    they had ...
    
    Goals by Simba (1) Cantonna (2) for France and Swerisson (sp?) for
    Iceland.
    
    France won all its matches in this qualification, which according to
    the press is a record.
    The record is that's the first time they succeed to qualify.
    
    Let's hope some good football now in Sweden.
    
    Thierry

    Excuse my enormous rathole but which club is Cantona playing for this
    season ???
    
    Ray

    He moved to Nimes from Marseille.
    Thierry

    
    Re .28
    
     you say that  "the record is that France have succeeded to qualify"
    
     But (correct me if I'm wrong) but did they not win it 1984........
    
    
    
    Peter

    Yes but they were automatically qualified as organiser country.
    
    Thierry

    
    I read in today's paper that tomorrows match between Albania and Spain
    is cancelled due to the unstable political situation, and it will never
    be played. The result would have no impact on the group standing, so
    UEFA decided to cancel it.
    
    As the world is changing around us, so will intenational football. It's
    very unsure witch countries that will participate in Sweden, and in the
    coming World Cup qualifications. I guess we just have to wait and see.
    
    Mats

    Sorry for the confusion I have created.... but this should have been
    moved to 133 (World cup qualifier group 6).
    
    
    Jacques

Sorry lads -

JF