Brazil gun for history, Scots run away from it

The heavyweights of world soccer – Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Spain, France and England – are all here and are confident of getting to the quarterfinals.

Debutant nations like Jamaica, Japan and South Africa will celebrate if they reach the second round.

With the eyes of the world watching on TV and thousands of fans travelling by bus, car, plane and even a train ride under the sea, host nation France has dressed itself up for the 32-team extravaganza.

The organisers have had to ride allegations that the tickets share-out was unfair and favoUred the French. They also are on alert from the threat of terrorism from North Africa and hooliganism from known soccer thugs fromEngland, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.

FIFA now has a new president, Sepp Blatter having beaten off UEFA’s Lennart Johansson in the battle to succeed long-serving Brazilian veteran Joao Havelange, who has been in charge for 24 years. Blatter’s aims are to maintain the development of soccer in outposts in Africa and Asia rather than allow Europe and South America to dominate.

The Africans appear to be making faster progress than the Asians with Nigeria coming into the championship as Olympic champion and Cameroon making a third appearance in a row.

Against this background of change in global terms, the qualifiers also have to contend with new measures on the field, with a FIFA directive that referees must expel players who tackle from behind in a dangerous manner. Bookmakers are taking odds of only 10-1 that four or more players could be expelled in one game.

While referees get ready for a busy World Cup, each of the qualifiers have their goals and reasons to do well.

The Dutch are anxious toshow they can play as a team rather than a gathering of talented players going nowhere.

The Yugoslavs have an eight-year soccer exile to make up for because of wars in Croatia and Bosnia while Colombia still mourns the tragic shooting to death of defender Andres Escobar four years ago after an own goal against the Americans put his team out.

The US appearing for the third time in a row, is keen to show it is maintaining its development while Croatia has a great chance to make a splash on its debut. The celebrations start on Wednesday after Brazil meet Scotland and Norway face Morocco.

The tartan-clad fans of Scotland will be raising glasses of single malt whiskeys if they avoid defeat against the mighty Brazilians, who are coached by the wily Mario Zagallo and have probably the most talented squad ever put together.

Although 1994 World Cup star Romario is sidelined through injury, Zagallo still has Ronaldo, Bebeto, Edmundo and Denilson to call on for his strikeforce.

In the same Group A, Norwayshould overcome the Moroccans at Montpellier and have the players to become a strong candidate for the quarterfinal.

On Thursday, day two, Italy faces Chile and Cameroon meets Austria in Group B. The Italians, who only made the finals through the play-offs after finishing runner up in their qualifying group, look a strong contender again provided star striker Alessandro del Piero regains full fitness.

On Friday, group C favourite France meet debutant South Africa in Marseille and Denmark face Saudi Arabia in Lens. Paraguay and Bulgaria meet in Montpellier while the other Group D game is Saturday when Spain face Nigeria at Nantes.

Neighbours the Netherlands and Belgium, confront each other at Saint-Denis on Saturday when the South Koreans, making their fourth appearance in a row but never past the first round, faces Mexico at Lyon.

In Group F, the United States take on European champion Germany at the Parc des Princes in Paris and Yugoslavia face Iran at Saint-Etienne. England start out against Tunisiaat Marseille and Colombia meet Romania in Lyon in Group G.

Argentina, a two-time champion returning to form, hopes for a high-scoring win over debutant Japan in Toulouse while two more first timers, Croatia and Jamaica, meet at Lens.