U.S. to Face Tough Test Next June
When Coach Bruce Arena gathers a new-look U.S. men’s national team around him in Washington today to begin preparing for Sunday’s match against El Salvador at RFK Stadium, he will do so in the knowledge that much-tougher opponents lie ahead.
The draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup in France in June has yet to be held, but FIFA already has made decisions that have an impact on the eight teams taking part.
To begin with, the present and former world champions, Brazil and France, have been kept apart, with each heading one four-nation group. In addition, FIFA has dropped the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris as one of the venues, meaning that the tournament will take place in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, Lyon and Saint-Etienne.
Because countries from the same confederation cannot play each other in the first round, South American champion Colombia will be in the same group as France, and Turkey will be in the same group as Brazil.
That leaves Cameroon, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S. All, including the Americans, know that they will play either France and Colombia or Brazil and Turkey in the first round of the June 18-29 tournament.
Referee Protest
Enrico Preziosi, president of the Italian Serie A club Como, resigned Sunday in protest against what he believes is biased officiating in the league.
His decision was announced shortly after Como lost to Bologna, 1-0, on a penalty kick awarded by referee Alfredo Trentalange.
“Today we can say Bologna 1, Como 0, goal scorer Trentalange,” Preziosi said. “Today we saw scandalous refereeing, all in favor of Bologna. I criticized the [league] referees during the week and this was the reaction.
“So it is better that I go. I don’t want to be part of this world any more.”
Referee Praise
The FIFA-sanctioned one-match experiment that allowed referee Laurent Duhamel and his linesmen to communicate via radio headsets during Saturday night’s French league game between Lille and Nantes proved so successful that Frederic Thiriez, the league president, said he wants to see it used more extensively.
Duhamel also praised the innovation.
“It was very positive,” he said. “On several occasions it meant that I could react immediately -- whether it was over the substitutions or the seriousness of a foul.”
More widespread use of the technology would have to be approved by FIFA.
Quinn Retires
One of Ireland’s longest-serving and most popular players, Sunderland striker Niall Quinn, announced his retirement at age 36.
The Dublin-born forward had retired from international competition after the Korea/Japan ’02 World Cup, but a back injury caused him to leave the sport altogether.
Quinn, who played 91 games for Ireland, began his professional career with Arsenal in 1983 and played for Manchester City before joining Sunderland.
On Sunday, during an emotional farewell ceremony at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light at halftime of the game against Tottenham Hotspur, Quinn donated $1.59 million to charity. The money had been raised on his behalf at a testimonial game last season.
Barcelona Blues
Barcelona has reached an incentive-based agreement with its players by which they would share a reported $6-million bonus for winning the Spanish championship this season and a $10-million bonus for winning the European Champions League.
Two Drop Out
The number of countries seeking to win the soccer gold medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games has been reduced by two after Mauritania and Guinea Bissau dropped out of qualifying competition in Africa.
Their decision allowed the Cape Verde Islands and Gambia a bye into the next round.
