Threats, Regrets, Pouts as the World Cup Turns

One-quarter of the field for the 1998 World Cup is now known. Eight of the 32 teams can begin making plans for their visit to France next summer.

For the United States and Costa Rica, meanwhile, the struggle to qualify continues. And, with the teams scheduled to play in Portland, Ore., next Sunday, the competition has taken a nasty and unnecessary turn.

A few days ago, Juan Luis Hernandez, the Central American country’s newly appointed coach, fired the first salvo with some naive and ludicrous comments in San Jose, Costa Rica.

“If [the media] publish that I am going to the White House with a missile to kill President Bill Clinton, then the chances are that somebody will be expecting me,” Hernandez said.

He intended the remark as a warning to Costa Rican journalists not to reveal the national team’s tactics before the showdown against the United States.

Instead of ignoring it as nothing more than a foolish overstatement by a man on the hot seat, U.S. Soccer unfortunately rose to the bait.

“Gamesmanship is one thing, but if this statement attributed to the national team coach of Costa Rica is true, it clearly steps over the line of decency,” said Hank Steinbrecher, U.S. Soccer’s executive director. “We, as Americans, take very seriously any talk or threat to our president. If true, we are highly incensed and demand an immediate apology.”

The federation made the White House aware of Hernandez’s ill-advised comment and the White House turned the matter over to the Secret Service, which started checking the atlas to find out just where Costa Rica is.

“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Steinbrecher said. “I can’t imagine us having a press conference and joking about assassinating their president. You don’t talk about putting bombs on planes, and you don’t talk about killing heads of state. It’s not funny.”

By Friday, Hernandez had backed down.

“Of course, I owed a humble apology,” he said. “I have already done so. I, too, would be justly angered for such a comment. I would be the first to complain.

“I just wanted to give an example to the press so they would understand the seriousness of the situation. My words were used outside their true context. This matter doesn’t deserve such attention.”

The funny thing about the brouhaha is that Hernandez made equally inflammatory remarks about Mexico and no protest was heard from there.

“Tell Bora [Milutinovic, Mexico’s coach] that we’re going to cut his head off,” Hernandez said. “He likes to say hello and embrace everyone, like an uncle, like a husband, but on the field he is our worst enemy and should be treated as such.”

He also called Milutinovic “a hypocritical man--he embraces and flatters you so that he can later knife you in the back.”

Mexico’s federation did not reply. It will no doubt provide its response on the field in Mexico City on Nov. 9.

Which is what the United States should have done--and should still do--next Sunday.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is getting on with the business of qualifying for the tournament. Here’s an update:

AFRICA

The continent’s qualifying tournament is over and Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia will be playing in France. The Indomitable Lions were the last to make it, Cameroon thus becoming the first African nation to qualify for three consecutive World Cup finals.

Nigeria comes in as the Olympic gold medalist and with the experience of USA ’94 behind it. Morocco also played in the ’94 tournament, whereas Tunisia’s most recent World Cup was Argentina ’78.

Of U.S. interest, Kansas City Wizard striker Vitalis “Digital” Takawira of Zimbabwe finished as the joint-top scorer in the African qualification tournament with five goals.

The South Africans, however, are the story.

“Certain feelings you just can’t describe,” said Phil Masinga, who scored the goal that clinched a first World Cup berth for South Africa. “Obviously, it was the most important goal in my life, but it’s difficult to describe what happened at that moment.

“The roar of 95,000 people in Johannesburg made the earth tremble. And when the final whistle went, everyone was crying and shouting for joy. The partying went on for two days.

“To see white and black people celebrating together was one of those magical things that makes sport such an extraordinary thing.”

ASIA

Qualifying has reached its final round and has produced a fascinating clash. Japan and South Korea, the co-hosts for the 2002 World Cup and the most bitter of rivals, have been drawn into the same group, from which only the winner is assured a place in France.

The draw put Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Iran and Qatar in Group A, while South Korea, Kazakhstan, Japan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates were put in Group B. Round-robin play within each group begins Sept. 12 and concludes Nov. 9.

The winner of each group will advance to the finals in France and the runners-up play each other on neutral ground by Nov. 15, the winner qualifying for the finals and the loser having to play Australia, the Oceania winner, for a berth in the World Cup.

EUROPE

A national poll earlier this month revealed that 43% of French people believe that France will win the World Cup for the first time when it hosts the 32-nation finals June 10-July 12 in eight French cities. Michel Platini, former national team star and coach and now co-chairman of the France ’98 Organizing Committee, only wishes it were that easy.

Romania became the first of 14 other European nations to stake a claim to the title, qualifying for the finals when it trounced Macedonia in Bucharest on Aug. 20. Romania produced one of the great performances of World Cup ’94 when it defeated Argentina at the Rose Bowl.

The groups going into the final three month of qualifying play:

Group 1--Denmark leads but an improbable loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina has dented its confidence. Greece and Croatia are giving chase.

Group 2--It is a straight fight between Italy and England, who meet again Oct. 11 in Italy.

Group 3--Norway has it all but wrapped up. Hungary and Switzerland are battling for the runner-up spot.

Group 4--Scotland, Austria and Sweden are in a neck, neck and neck race, but only two can make it.

Group 5--Bulgaria and Russia are doing a bear dance atop the standings. Israel’s chances disappeared with a loss in Sofia in its most recent game.

Group 6--Spain and Yugoslavia are going down to the wire, with Slovakia hanging on by a thread.

Group 7--It’s between the Netherlands and Belgium, although a very unlikely combination of results could push Turkey through.

Group 8--Romania won it by going seven for seven with three games still to play. Macedonia and Ireland have second place to aim for.

Group 9--It’s too close to call among Ukraine, Germany and Portugal, but Germany never fails to qualify.

The nine group winners go to France, along with the second-place team with the best record. The other eight runners-up play off Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 for the last four berths in the World Cup.

OCEANIA

Under the coaching of Terry Venables, who led England to the semifinals of last year’s European Championship, Australia has won the regional title and now awaits a two-leg playoff against the fourth-place finisher in Asia on Nov. 22 and 29 for a berth in the World Cup.

SOUTH AMERICA

The latest round of qualifying games brought the picture into a little sharper focus. Argentina, with 25 points; Colombia with 24, and Paraguay with 23 seem most likely to qualify.

The fourth spot is still being fought for by Chile and Peru, 19 points each; Ecuador, 18, and Bolivia and Uruguay, 17 each. Four of the five have three games remaining, Ecuador having two.

All of Chile’s games are at home, making it the favorite to claim the last place and allowing top striker Ivan “Bam Bam” Zamorano the chance to shine on the world stage.

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

* Where is Diego Armando Maradona getting the drugs?

* Which drug was it this time, straight cocaine as in 1991 or an ephedrine “cocktail” as in 1994?

* Why is he allowed to play soccer any more?

* What is his excuse going to be, addiction?

* Who will he say conspired to rig his latest failed drug test?

* How can Boca Juniors clean this stain from an already poor reputation?

* When is the Argentine soccer federation going to have the guts to impose a lifetime ban on him?

SHORT PASSES

Five Californians are on the United States national team that will play in the fourth FIFA Under-17 World Championships in Egypt starting Thursday. They are defender Dan Califf of Orange, forward Alberto Gutierrez of Chino Hills, midfielder Kevin Wilson of Upland, forward Matt Monsibais of Bakersfield and midfielder Fausto Villeas of Half Moon Bay.

The U.S. women’s national team under Coach Tony DiCicco will travel to Europe next month for two games against European champion Germany, Oct. 9 in Duisburg and Oct. 12 in Salzgitter. . . . U.S. national team goalkeeper Kasey Keller and his wife, Kristin, became the parents of twins last Tuesday. . . . Former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Kim Wyant led the Long Island Lady Riders to the W-League championship, defeating the Chicago Cobras in a shootout, 2-1.