The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 20

20 SPORTS NEWS THE GUARDIAN Wednesday June 29 1994 Group Republic of Ireland 0, Norway 0 Group Brazil 1, Sweden 1 DineDaifiKsEI oafi IF ffoce oirato fiwiraa great leveODetr Cyrrthls Bat in an In Haw York path of Kennet Andersson, who chested the ball down and, be David Lacay In Patroil THE samba missed a beat under the roof of the Pontiac SUverdome yesterday. Sweden proved Brazil could be led and even if they were unable to establish a case for victory they showed how the team most fancied to win the 1994 World Cup might be stopped. The draw more or less satis fied both sides. As winners of Group Brazil now return to their beloved California and will in all probability meet the United States in Stanford for a place in the quarter-finals. As runners-up, the Swedes travel to Dallas where they could face Holland.

Sweden were entitled to take the greater satisfaction from yesterday match. They were without the suspended Dahlin. their liveliest attacker, and there had been doubts about the ability of their one-naced defence to handle the bewilder ing football patterns of Rai. Be- beto and Romario. In the event the Swedes coped rather well, their quick tackling and close covering denying Brazil the opportunity to impose their swaying rhythms on the game.

Once Romario had brought the scores level at the start of the second half, Kennet Andersson having given Sweden the lead midway through the first, the Brazilians rarely looked like losing but theirs was a comparatively subdued performance. This was the sixth time Brazil and Sweden had met in the World Cup proper, a sequence going back to 1938. The Swedes have yet to win but yesterday tney at least dreamed a little. Having defended patiently for 23 minutes they conceived a goal of sweet simplicity and deft execution. Brolin, the fulcrum of Sweden's attack, disnatched a long crossfield pass into the IT WAS what the Irish wanted least of all a return to the furnace of Orlando.

But at the end of a thunderously heart-shaking, jelly-limbed day, they would have settled for the Sahara. Their goalless stalemate, combined with Mexico's draw with Italy, put them through to the second round as runners-up in Group E. They will meet the winners of Group who are likely to be Belgium. Although it sent them back to Florida, when the final whistle blew in the Giants Stadium, packed with some 77,000 people, the only thing that mattered was that they were through. It was of little significance that they and Norway had produced some of the worst football in the competition.

All four teams finished level on points but Mexico took first place on goals scored and Ireland were runners-up by dint of having beaten Italy. For Norway the draw meant elimination and a sympathetic Jack Charlton said: "It must be hard on them to go out with four points." It was a weary, much-changed Irish side who raised their arms to the heavens as the final whistle went. They had dominated a first half in which Norway rarely ventured across the half-way line. But in the second, when Norway opened up the game, the Irish were still unable to find the telling finish. When Charlton, forced to watch the game from high in the stand after being banned from the touchline by Fifa for unsporting behaviour in the.

game against Mexico, sent on David Kelly to replace Aldridge in the search for a goal it was all to no avail. The Republic's manager was allowed on the pitch half an hour after the end and thousands of Irish fans still in the stadium rose to give him a standing ovation as he went out to talk to the squad members who had not played and were doing training laps. During the game Charlton was in walkie-talkie contact with Maurice Setters on the bench and praised his assistant. "He did everything right," said Charlton. "But I had to tell him to stop players yelling at the referee.

You can't do that in this competition." Staunton and McAteer were the prime offenders, and Houghton was cautioned for dissent in the first half for arguing with the referee, who told him not to carry a water bag on the pitch. Keane and Gary Kelly also received yellow cards, but under the rules all players will start the second round with a clean sheet. Ireland knew that Norway would defend, and attack on the break. Defend they did during the first half, crudely and in great numbers. But they showed no inclination to counter-attack and advanced Italy 1, Mexico 1 Germany show red card to Effenberg McGrath is head and shoulders above the Norwegian striker Goran Sorloth daring the goalless draw It worked well with McGrath, who had not trained for days because of niggling injuries, and Babb again composed and authoritative in the centre of defence.

McGrath put his stamp on the game in the opening minutes with a superb headed clearance from Rekdal's free-kick, awarded against Keane who was booked for the foul. The possibility of an early corner went begging when the Colombian referee inexplicably awarded a goal-kick after Thorstvedt was seen quite clearly to tip the ball over. McAteer's ability to tackle back provided some of the Republic's best chances. But try though Jt gave, thelrish-more space and time to play passes along the ground, which they can do to good effect, they were also kept much busier at the back. In the 55th minute a chip over the defence gave Townsend on the left an opportunity to send in a cross to the near post where Aldridge could not control his header.

Charlton replaced both players as Ireland stepped up their forward efforts, with Whelan coming on in midfleld and David Kelly taking the lone striker's role. But the closest anyone came' was when Sheridan's chip, with fore Maura Silva could make an interception, flicked it beyond Taffarel's reach with the out side of his right foot. So now, for the first tune in this World Cup, Brazil had a problem. Against Russia and Cameroon they had seized the initiative and kept a relaxed grip on each game. Now they were up against opponents de termined to prevent them play ing at a beat ot their own choosing.

A shot from Dunga thudded into Ravelli's midriff and another, from Romario, curled wide. But significantly both were struck from well outside the penalty area. Normally urazu like to get much closer before they start firing. Sweden were soon to learn the truth of this. In the second minute of the second half Romario gathered the ball outside their penalty area and made a Decline tor goal.

Larsson and Schwarz were in attendance but hesitated to make tackles. A fraction of a second was all Romario needed, beating Ravelli into the far right-hand corner of the net with little more than a sleight of foot. It was the sort of goal one had not envisaged the Swedes giving away. Yet seven minutes later Romario very nearly scored another but was thwarted when Ravelli stuck out a foot to divert the ball wide. After that the 'game quietly ebbed and flowed like an evening tide.

As it turned out, the Swedes could have lost and still gone through in second place. But they will have taken heart from giving Brazil a tremor or two. BRAZIL! TatlateV, Jorgtoho, Mauro Silva (Mezlnho, h-t), Boboto, Dunga. Zinho, Rai (Paulo Sergio, 82mln), Romario, Atdalr. Marcio Santos, Leonardo.

SWIOINi Ravelli; Nllsson. Andersson, Lung, Schwarz (Mild, 75), Larsson (Blomqvlst, 64), Ingesson, Thern. Brolin, Kamark, Anoarsson. Refereei Puhl (Hungary). as an International player." Effenberg, who left Chicago yesterday to start a holiday with his family, said: "I played a risky pass and the calls got louder and louder.

I over-reacted. I don't regret it. But when I look back I am sorry. But it was 50 degrees I was playing for Germany at the World Cup for a place in the second round." Effenberg is the second German player to be sent home from a World Cup. The goalkeeper Uli Stein was sent back in 1986 after he criticised Franz Beckenbauer.

1, Russia 6 high five to terms with their defensive assignments as the Russians kept them pinned in their own territory for most of the first half. Songo'o. replacing the terminally disenchanted Bell, was ill protected. Russia took the lead in the 19th minute. Karpin provided another in a series of telling passes to allow Komeev to run at Cameroon's central defence.

The ball was blocked but only to Salenko, who drove the ball under Songo'o. The Cameroonians were then caught out by a quickly taken free-kick. Tsymbalar, put clean through, drew Songo'o before passing to Salenko, who shot into an unguarded net. Salenko completed a 26-min-ute hat-trick with a penalty two minutes later after Ndip dived in on Tsymbalar. It was a rash tackle, no doubt, but television replays indicated that there had been no contact.

CAMIROONi Songo'o: Talaw, Ndlp. Llblh, Kalla, Agbo, Mlede (Milla. h-l), Kana Blylck. Foe, Embo (Tchaml, 47mln), Omam Blylck. MJMMi Gherchosov; Khlestov, Nlkltorov, Onopko, Terrtavaky.

Tolradzo, Karpin, Kornoov (Radchonko, 85), Teymbalar, ueuyannov mescnasinyxn, saioroto. ai-ananr (Syria)- Qraup Qroup Italy (0) 1 Massaro 46 Mealoo (0) 1 Berna! 58 53,186 (RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington) Has ot Ireland VS) Norway (0)0 76,322 (Now Jersey Olanla Stadium, New Ydrk) A Pta 3 1113 3 4 Sap of Ireland 3 1112 2 4 Italy 3 1112 2 4 -t 3 111114 Qroup today's nxiura droop Pi Belgium Saudi Arabia (5.30, RFK Memorial Sladlum, Waahlnglon) Morosporti (5 Morocco Holland (5.30, Cilrua Bowl, Orlando) Burosporti (9.30-1.0); ITVi (11.10-120) highlights ol bolh malchoa. Yv A Pta Argentine 2 2 0 0 6 1 Nigeria 2 10 14 2 1 q-'- 2 10 14 3 3 2 0 0 2 0 8 A Pta "TV 2 2 0 0 2 0 IkeuMAraMe-- 2 10 13 3 3 Morocco 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 Sluggish Italians scrape through as they might to draw their opponents out, Norway would not take the bait. The Irish still produced chances, with the best set up by McAteer for Townsend who made a mess of his shot, slicing the ball wide to the corner flag. Sheridan then blazed over after a good build-up with Aldridge.

Fortunately for the Irish, Rek-dal was equally inaccurate. The second half started with all the players packed into the same end of the field, but this time it was the Republic under pressure. Norway, obviously having had a dressing down about their cautious tactics, became more positive. But, al for the conditions and the teams they will meet in the next stage white Italy need to stop playing in slow motion. Even Massaro's promptings came to nought in the second half as colleagues wilted about him.

A graceful header by Berti late in the game, which Campos saved with equal grace and not very much difficulty, summed up their day. "Perhaps we should have moved about a bit more than we did," Sacchi conceded, accepting the result was a just one. "We suffered on the pitch and now we must suffer a wait to see if we advance;" Do Italy deserve to advance? "I think so: we played three strong opponents and held our own." ITALVi Msrchefiianl; Benarrivo, Coslacurta, Maldini. Apolloni, 8aggio, Albertini, Baggio (Donadonl, 65min), Berti, Caalraghl (Massaro, 48), Signori. MBXrCOi Campos; Suaroz, Atnbrlz, Sernal, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Del Olmo, Aspe, Herrnosiflo.

Qsrcla (Chavez, 83), Alves. Refereei Lamollna (Argentina). Paul Wilson In Washington ONE minute Mexico were losing, looking at the possibility of an early flight home. Then Bernal found a space between Maldini's outstretched leg and Marchegiani's outstretched palm to put his side on top of the table. The Group of Death was that close.

Amid delirious celebration from the Mexican majority in the capacity crowd, Italy slipped from the field tired, confused and in third place in the group. But they will have been cheered by the news of Cameroon's defeat that puts them through to the knockout phase of the tournament. The United States, with the same number of points but one goal more, qualify above them, which gives some indication of how disappointing the Italians have been. Green giant Ireland's Paul on the Republic's goal no more than four times in the first half. So lacking was Norway's ambition that their coach Egil 01-sen started with Halle playing on the left wing althpugh he is a right-back for Oldham.

He then replaced him with Jakobsen, a more conventional No. 11, after 33 minutes. By then the Republic had the game by the throat. With then-regular full-backs Phelan and Irwin suspended, Charlton moved Staunton to left-back, Houghton to the left of midfleld and gave Gary Kelly, at right-back, and McAteer, on the right side of midfleld, their first starts in a competitive game. After a patchy first half, during which the only noteworthy Italian attempt on goal was a spectacular bicycle kick from Signori which Campos was well placed to save, Arrigo Sacchi appeared to have worked a master-stroke with the introduction of Daniele Massaro at half-time.

Milan's leading scorer struck within two minutes of his arrival, attacking the Mexican goal more directly than any of his colleagues had and controlling Albertini's through ball skilfully on his chest before taking his time and burying a low shot beneath Campos. Massaro was so conspicuously Italy's best attacker that supporters were entitled to wonder why he did not start the game. At 34 he might have been the oldest player on the field but it was his header which almost brought a second goal in the 56th minute; and after the nunciation. Not, as you might expect, with Nigerian or Korean names last night Barry Davles' tongue was gliding around "Lee Young-jin to Kim Joo-sung to Ko Jeong-woon" as if it was Smith to Brown to Jones. No.

This problem is even more pronounced. For instance Don Howe keeps referring to Romania's star midfielder as "Argy" as in "that cheating little Argy Diego Trevor Brooking has discovered a German defender called John Fa-shanu had "Rincorn" playing for Columbia and Brian Moore refers to the Dutch defender Valckx as "VaUx" when his name is roughly the English equivalent of Foulkes. Even familiarity is no safeguard. ITN's Bill Neeley calls STEFAN EFFENBERG has been ejected from the Germany squad after he made made an obscene gesture to the crowd during the 3-2 win over South Korea on Monday. The midfielder, who plays for the Italian club Fiorentina and is regarded as arrogant in his home country, showed his middle finger to German fans in the crowd who were chanting "Effenberg out" "It was the last straw," said the Germany coach Berti Vogts.

"As far as I am concerned, Effenberg is over Group Bs Cameroon Salenko snun the wheel again in Palo Alto last Inight. and this time thev hit the jackpot. Oleg Salenko, the Valencia striker who has replaced the out-of-favour Sergei Yuran, exploited the spaces in a reshuffled and often undermanned defence to score five goals. Dmitry Radchenko added another to complete what had turned into a rout. Salenko ran free for much of the game and eventually he ran wild.

His five goals set a new scoring record in the World Cup finals and gave Russia at least a chance of advancing to the second round. Cameroon can feel a little hard done by as they return home. Two disputed goals left them deep in trouble by half-time and, when they succeeded in putting pressure on the Russians, they were undone on the break. Their only reward was a goal just after half-time from Roger Milla, the 42-year-old striker belatedly reprising his substitute' role from Italia '90. He is the oldest player to score in the World Cup finals.

Cameroon struggled to come Group A A Ma 3 0 I 5 5 Switzerland- 3 1 1 1 4 4 United States 3 1113 3 4 Colombia 3 10 2 4 5 3 Group Brazil (0) 1 Swatter) (1) Romario 47 Andersson 24 77,217 (Ponliac Silverdome, Dolroll) nraala (3) Cameroon (0) Salenko IS, 41, 45 (pen), 72, 75 Milla 47 Radchenko 82 74,814 (Stanford Stadium, San Francisco) A Pta Brazil 3 2 1 0 6 1 3 1 2 0 6 4 3 1 0 2 7 6 9 3 0 1 2 3 11 1 Group BoUtria (0) 1 Sanchez 66 paaima Guardlola 10 (pan) Camlneroes, 71 Chicago) (Soldier Field stadium, Oormany (3) a Kllnsmann 12, 38 Rlodlo 20 (Colton Bow), Dallas) South Korea 0)-Hwang Sun-hong 52 Hong Myong-bo 62 Ormany 3 2 1 Soelri. 3 1 2 south Korea 3 0 2 Bolivia. 3 0 1 A 5 4 5 1 4 PHOTOGRAPH: TOM JENKINS Thorstvedt off his line, landed on the roof of the net, although Norway had hit the top of the angle earlier in the half. Both sides survived last-minute scares and at the end Ireland's luck had held but by the slenderest of threads. mPIWUC OF IRttANPi oxiwr (Celtic); a KeUv ILels).

Babb (Coventry). alearath. Staunton (both Aston Villa). MoAtaar (Solton), Kama Manchester Utrj). Sheridan (Shorlleld Wednesday), Townsend (Aston Villa-.

Wheten, Liverpool. 7Sroin), HougMon iHsion viiibj. juoraaa tiranmere; 0 Hewy, Wolves. 64). NORWAYi ThemtvMtt (Totlontiam); Barg (Blackburn).

Johneen (Chelsea). Orateeth tneraer Bremen), aaoernaaya mosanoorgj, Flo (Sheltleld Unllsd), Rekdal (Llerse), Mtfkland (Start). Laonhardaan (Rosanhofo-. Bahlnan, Nottingham Forest, 67), Halle tuianatn; jaaooeen, Liorae. 34).

i8ursaspor). Raferaai Torres (Colombia). Massaro celebrates his goal flOGER MDXA's name was written in felt-tip pen on the back of his shirt last night. Unfortunately it said MO HARD feelings yester- I day from one Norwegian, Roar Hagen Petreborg. "We are going to the Irish pub to celebrate together." He will be easy to recognise.

He was wearing shorts, reindeer skin boots and the four-pointed hat of a Lapp herder from arctic Norway. SO, THE Norwegian TV commentator did not get a chance to rehash one of his country's most famous mo ments: "James Joyce, the Nolan Sisters, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Val Doonican, Bob Geldof St Patrick, Eamon Dunphy your boys took a helluva beating." I mm gs Mexican equaliser it was Massaro whose perceptive balls into the area set up Roberto Baggio and Berti for chances they might have been quicker to accept. But once Mexico were level, Bernal's accurate shot making Signori pay dearly for failing to cut out Hermosillo's pass, Italy slipped back into their previous sluggishness. Doubtless the heat was a factor, as was the boundless energy of the opposition, but Italy always seemed to want more time and space than the Mexicans were ever likely to allow. Aspre served notice of Mexico's intentions at the end of the first half with a thunderous shot from the edge of the area, which Marchegiani did well to tip over, and they were still attacking at the end of the game, with Italy becoming increasingly ragged at the back.

Mexico seem well equipped Spurs goalkeeper Thorsvclt. The dilemma Is presumably whether to be a good internationalist and risk sounding flashy or a stub-bora narochialist and end up sounding like Sid James in a Carry On film. In the 1970s, when Ajax first came to prominence, commentators, probably not knowing any better, called the team after the floor cleaner. It took years for the accepted pronunciation in Britain to become Still, though, the debate goes on. During one World Cup game Alan Parry called Spain's goalkeeper "Canyith-ares" while his co-commentator was stubbornly referred to him as The co-commentator was Trevor Francis.

Or should thatbeFrankis? Commentators who make a pronounced difference Reserve of strength Daniele Saudi Arabia on top of a battle of beer was just too much and produced such a diplomatic stink that Heine-ken were summoned to the Saudi embassy in The Hague. As a result Heineken agreed to reach those parts they had failed to please by taking out ads in two Dutch papers apologising for the insult. SPORTS editors should beware of overdoing things during the World Cup. The sports editor of the Romanian newspaper Cotldianul died of a heart attack shortly after Romania beat the United States 1-0. Gheorghe Falnita was SO years old.

However, a colleague put things in perspective. "His joy was too great," he said. "A heart that stayed alive only for soccer was killed by the king of sports." EMBRACING Saudi Arabian culture has hardly been meat and drink for two of the west's most famous companies. First of all McDonald's got a flea in their ear for printing the Saudi flag along with those of other competing countries on special souvenir bags. The problem is that the Saudi flag carries words from the Koran which Muslims feel is out of place wrapped round a burger.

After complaints McDonald's agreed to withdraw the bags. Now comes news of a problem for Heineken. According to yesterday's FT the Dutch brewers ran a competition for drinkers to collect Am-stel beer bottle tops. Each top would carry a flag of a competing country. Collect all 24 and win a World Cup book.

But the flag of teetotal American graffiti Martin Thorpe TELEVISION commentators are having a little trouble with their pro.