[ALBSA-Info] Football Comments

[Agron Alibali]

International Herald Tribune (Neuilly-sur-Seine,
France) 


March 26, 2001, Monday 

Sport; Pg. 22 

Kiss From Lady Luck Blesses 2 Europowers; 
England and Germany Win Cup Qualifiers 

By Rob Hughes ; International Herald Tribune 

LIVERPOOL, England 


It was, I believe, Napoleon Bonaparte who asked of his
generals that they be lucky on the field of battle.
Today, both England and Germany can be thankful for
that quality in their soccer teams following victories
in Group 9 World Cup qualifying matches on Saturday.
England, playing its first meaningful ''home'' match
outside Wembley Stadium since 1962, created history at
Anfield, the home of Liverpool. It beat Finland, 2-1,
hanging on against a visiting team full of the spirit
that, for decades, has distinguished Finland's
independence and individuality. Luck, indeed, was a
major player in a triumph that kept alive England's
hopes of reaching the 2002 World Cup finals in Korea
and Japan. Meanwhile, as the more than 44,000 fans in
Liverpool bit on every fingernail until the final
whistle blew on Finland's bravery, the Germans were
waiting in Leverkusen. Their match kicked off after
England's had ended. And surely, the pundits said,
Germany would easily dispense with the unheralded
Albania. Ah, but there are no certainties in modern
soccer. Albania threw body and soul at Germany and
seemed to outplay the mighty opposition at times. But
Albania succumbed, 2-1, to a late and dubious German
goal in which three men were surely offside. So much
for the supremacy of Europe's soccer powers. Finland,
big, strong and athletic, rattled England's cage for
huge spells of the 90-minute contest. Albania, running
from the heart, was quick and elusive, shaking Germany
until the home crowd in torrential rain shivered with
fright. And this is just a game. These are ''unequal''
forces. The generals - Sven-Goran Eriksson for
England, Rudi Voller for Germany - were lucky. At
Anfield, this was a new experience in many aspects for
England. Eriksson, of course, is Swedish, a mercenary
hired at l2 million ($2.8 million) per year to teach
the oldest soccer nation how to blend its renowned
physical and spiritual tenacity with modern cunning.
He sat, seemingly passive, behind his rimless
spectacles while others - English by birth - jumped,
gesticulated, and fretted. Finland had come to
blockade, with Jonatan Johansson soldiering on in a
solitary attacking role. Behind Johansson, Jari
Litmanen, the captain and playmaker, was locked in a
thrilling dual against Steven Gerrard, England's
''baby'' midfielder, a 20- year-old whose body has
grown two inches to 6-foot-2 (1.86 meters) in the past
year - and who suffers rebellious pains in his back,
his thighs, his groin. England needs Gerrard's
combative, yet gifted, force. He should, if his body
holds together, grow into the natural leader of his
country because he relishes responsibility and
challenge. On Saturday, he was a Liverpool FC player
set against another Liverpool player since Litmanen is
employed by the same club. How engaging, then, to view
them in opposition. How interesting, when England's
defense carelessly ceded the opening goal, to see
Gerrard shouting from midfield at more experienced
Englishmen to fight the good fight. The goal followed
a corner kick. Aki Riihilahti was allowed the freedom
of the air to head it toward the net, and the ball
deflected into the goal off the kneecap of an English
defender, Gary Neville. Now we would see the meat of
the contest. Michael Owen, rejuvenated, struck a
marvelous equalizer, even if it also took a slight
deflection. And David Beckham, the Manchester United
celebrity and nominally the England captain, scored a
heavenly goal. A sinuous run by Steve McManamen, a
judicious flick from Paul Scholes and a tumultuous
right foot from Beckham put the ball past the
goalkeeper. Beckham and Owen were lauded, but in the
dying moments England was under siege. Litmanen,
despite a suspected broken wrist, had the chance to
equalize. Six yards from goal, unmarked, he headed the
ball down, but David Seaman, England's 37-year-old
goalie, dived to his ankles to block the shot. 

On Wednesday, politics permitting, England is expected
in Tirana to face Albania in the second group game of
the week. Unless the Albanians used up all their
energy in Leverkusen, that won't be easy. ''I am not
satisfied with the way we played,'' said Voller, the
Germany coach. ''We played fearfully, especially in
the first half, but such wins are very important to a
team's morale.'' Maybe they are. Maybe Albania, by all
accounts the better team for spells, will draw
strength - and some indignation - by coming so close.
It had clawed back into the game after Sebastien
Deisler's strike gave Germany the lead. Bledar Kola,
with an even more handsome, cleaner shot, leveled and
Germany fretted until the last seconds. Then Miroslav
Klose, a substitute for the fading Oliver Bierhoff,
struck. Already yellow-carded for diving in the
penalty box, Klose and two other Germans were yards
offside, but in the eyes of Graciano Cesari, the
Italian referee, ''not interfering with play.'' Klose
interfered so much that he stooped almost on hands and
knees to head in the winner. So, at the top of Group
9, Germany leads and England is second, at least until
Wednesday. Elsewhere, Italy impressively beat Romania
in Bucharest, 2-0, thanks to the opportunism of
Felippo Inzaghi. The Netherlands, Spain and Ireland
all soundly thrashed opponents they were expected to
beat. The tightest game was the 2-2 draw between
Scotland and Belgium in Glasgow, where the Belgians
showed commendable spirit in coming from two down (and
with Eric Deflandre sent off) to square the contest.
And, arguably, the weekend's most telling scoreline
was: Norway 2, Poland 3. The game was played in Oslo,
and the Polish hero was Emmanuel Olisadebe, born in
Nigeria, abused in some parts of his adopted homeland
for being black. His two goals destroyed the defense
of the Norwegians and took Poland a significant step
closer to the World Cup finals. Poland is lucky to
have him, and it isn't only generals who can use that
trait. 


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