Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 92

Pge 20F June 1 6, 1 994 Free Press Special Section ORLDCUP94 group Germany MATTHAEUS I Cup record: 0-3-0 Colors: Green shirts with white trim, white shorts, green socks Cup history: Looking for first goal in the finals. Lost, 8-0, to Uruguay in last appearance. As sweeper, he finds new work for old legs Oothar Matthaeus, a former interior decorator, found a better living organizing the interior of the defending World Cup champion German team. The gregarious 33-year-old has played 110 international matches, more than anyone in Germany's history. He is the most recognized sports figure in Germany, bigger even than Boris Becker or Steffi Graf.

Matthaeus thought his career was over in April 1992, when he suffered a knee injury. The midfielder flew to Colorado for surgery, and the word back home was that Germany's team captain had played in his final World Cup. But Matthaeus was determined to defend the title, and he will be in the starting lineup at sweeper when Germany faces Bolivia on Friday in the opener in Chicago. It is his fourth Cup appearance. Although Matthaeus' legs aren't what they used to be, he still has the uncanny ability to change ball speed as he dribbles.

His move to sweeper will allow midfielder Andreas Moeller to shine. Matthaeus grew up in Herzogenaurach, home of Adidas and Puma. He began his career with Moenchengladbach of the Bundesliga, and made his international debut in 1980. He transferred to Bayern Munich, then to Italian club Inter Milan, and then back to Bayem. After his performance in the 1990 World Cup, Matthaeus was named world player of the year.

He recently married his longtime girlfriend, Cup record: 39-1 4-1 5 (as Germany or West Germany) Colors: White shirts with black, red and amber trim, black shorts, white socks Cup history: Germans got revenge in 1 990 with a 1 -0 win over Argentina. Other titles came in 1 954 as hosts in 1974. MICHAEL PROBSTAssociated Press Lothar Matthaeus is Germany's biggest sports star, outranking Boris Becker or Steffi Graf. Cup, missing out on competitive matches that other qualifiers had to endure. Nonetheless, if Germany can withstand the pressure, watch out.

By Michelle Kaufman Lolita Moreno, a former Miss Switzerland. The German roster is loaded. Eleven players return from 1990. As defending champions, the Germans automatically qualified for the 1994 South Korea Spain ZUB1ZARRETA Bolivia ETCHEVERRY KIM They call him "El Diablo" (The Devil), but forward Marco Antonio Etcheverry looks more like a South Korea has never been a hotbed of soccer talent, so the fact that Kim Joo Sung plays for For the third World Cup in a row, Spain comes in with high hopes. Much of its optimism stems from the fact that Andoni (Zubi) Zubizarreta is still in goal.

Cup record: 13-12-7 Colors: Red shirts with yellow trim, blue shorts, black socks Cup history: A pointing record for a country with a great soccer tradition. Best finish was fourth in 1 950. German Second Division club Bochum says something. Kim, a rock star with his long, black curls. He wears the coveted No.

10 jersey The 32-year-old goalkeeper is among the best in the world. Zubi is Spain's record-holder, with more than 80 international matches, and he played in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups. Spain also will rely on defender Albert Ferrer and forward Julio Salinas, a dangerous finisher who scored seven goals in eight Cup qualifying matches. The team is nicknamed "The Spanish Fury." Only time will tell if it lives up to its billing. and likes to roam behind Bolivia's front men, creating scoring opportunities.

Sometimes he dishes off; other times, he takes long shots, like the 22-yarder that found the net in Bolivia's 3-1 qualifying victory over Uruguay. Etcheverry has played professionally in Spain and Chile. He suffered a serious knee injury in November 1993 and is just getting back to form. Bolivia shocked the world with a 2-0 victory over Brazil last year, but a shaky defense and inconsistent goalkeeper Carlos Trucco may hurt Bolivia's chances. speedy midfielder, played in the past two World Cups and the 1988 Olympics.

He often wears his hair long, thus his nickname, "Little Samson." Kim, 28, wants to show the world that soccer has improved in Asia, although baseball is still the most popular sport in his country. A good showing also could help the nation's bid to host the 2002 World Cup. The only other player of note on South Korea's squad is striker Hwang Sun Hong, who also plays in the German Second Division. He is probably the team's quickest player and Kim's favorite target around the goal. South Korea has a fast team, but it often has trouble with rough opponents.

Cup record: 0-7-1 jC olors: Red with white, blue and yellow trim Cup history: Third consecutive trip to the finals. An Oxford student first coined the term soccer, which comes from association football. In the 1890s in England, it was common to add "er" to the end of words. When asked if he was going to play "rugger" or rugby he sakJ, "No. Iprer.