ATWC : GROUP C

The group, the schedule, the stadiums, the squads, the games (please click on the pictures for a better view).

THE GAMES

DAY 1 :

ITALY - PARAGUAY at Stade de France, Saint-Denis (capacity 80.600)

ITALY - PARAGUAY : 1 - 1

Paraguay went for a classic 4-4-2, so did Italy, the Italian way. Mazzola and Rivera were lined-up together, for 70 to 75 minutes. The talentuous Romerito was also dropped out around the hour of play. A fair draw game. 

GOALS (Meazza, Santa Cruz) :

48': Gentile crosses the ball... Riva can't control the ball... but Meazza follows, and score !

74': Arce's corner-kick... Roque Santa Cruz beats both Baresi and Maldini in the air... 1-1 !

Yellow cards : V. Caceres (80').

Man of the Match : posterizing both Baresi and Maldini earning his team 1 point against the four times world champions ensured that Roque Santa Cruz would win the MotM's award.

RATINGS :

Italy :

Buffon 5 - Gentile 5 - Baresi 5 - Maldini 5 - Facchetti 5 - Tardelli 5,5 - Albertini 5 (De Rossi 70') - Mazzola 5 - Rivera 4,5 (Rossi 78') - Meazza 5, Riva 4,5 (Bettega 78'). Tot. : 54,5.

Paraguay :

Chilavert 5 - Arce 6 - Ayala 5,5 - Gamarra 5 - Torales 5 - Solich 4,5 - Acuña 5 - Romerito 3,5 (Vera 61') - Riveros 4,5 (V. Caceres 77') - Erico 5 - Santa Cruz 6,5. Tot. : 55,5.

YUGOSLAVIA - WALES at Johan Cruff Arena, Amsterdam, Holland (capacity 55.800)

YUGOSLAVIA - WALES : 3 - 1

There was more of a show at the Johan Cruyff Arena than at Stade de France, for sure. The Yugoslavian team had maximum efficiency whilst a part of Welsh team were not at it. Is that the Yugoslavian midfield players literally made their heads spin, at times.

GOALS (Oblak, Suker, J. Charles, Katalinski) :

35': Branko Oblak with a screamer !

56' : Suker is found by Susic at the penatly spot. Neat.

63' : Giggs at the corner-kick... J. Charles jumps at tad higher than Katalinski and most of all with the best timing. 

79' : bad clearance by the Welsh defense... Katalinski is there to score with a banger !

Yellow cards : Hughes and Vidic (70').

Man of the Match : Modric was the great regulator of this former-Yugoslavia XI.

Modric, midfield maestro

RATINGS :

Yugoslavia :

J. Oblak 5,5 - B. Stankovic 5,5 - Katalinski 5,5 - Vidic 5,5 - Zebec 5 - B. Oblak 6 - Modric 6,5 - Susic 5,5 (Boban) - Stojkovic 5,5 (Prosinecki) - Dzajic 5 - Suker 5,5. Tot. : 61.

Wales :

Southall 4 - Gunter 5 - J. Charles 5,5 - Ratcliffe 4 - Bale 4 - Speed 4,5 - Ramsey 5 - Meredith 4 (B. Davies) - Rush 5 - Hughes 5 - Giggs 4,5 (Bellamy). Tot. : 50,5.