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This is an archive article published on June 17, 1998

Marcelo Salas ready for another strike

ST ETIENNE, June 16: Chile striker Marcelo Salas, joint leading goalscorer at the World Cup finals, is back in business and set to line up a...

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ST ETIENNE, June 16: Chile striker Marcelo Salas, joint leading goalscorer at the World Cup finals, is back in business and set to line up against Austria tomorrow.

Salas suffered a thigh strain at the weekend and missed training with teammates. But reports on Monday indicated he had done some light solo work, was recovering well and would line up alongside Ivan Zamorano.

Chile impressed with an attractive attacking display in their 2-2 draw with Italy last week, Salas scoring twice and sending out an early warning to the rest of Group B8217;.

The Austrians, on the other hand, were heading for defeat against Cameroon until veteran striker Toni Polster equalised in the dying seconds.

Polster, who will win an Austrian record-equalling 93rd cap against Chile, accepts his side will be the underdogs.

quot;They8217;re definitely the favourites after their performance against Italy but we8217;ll put on a good show and look for our chances,quot; he said.

The Austrians have no injury worries, with Libero WolfgangFeiersinger having recovered from a calf strain.

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Chile coach Nelson Acosta8217;s game plan will be as against Italy. quot;We play with two forwards who press on their opponents,quot; he said. quot;We worked to find a new way of playing as we prepare for the World Cup and we8217;ve achieved it.quot; Acosta felt Austria had played far better against Cameroon than in the warm-up matches he studied on video.

Austrian coach Herbert Prohaska said he was impressed by the way Chile applied pressure against the Italians, particularly in the first half but says his side will try to cut off the supply route to the dangerous frontmen.

quot;It won8217;t be enough to control the Chileans. We have to take the initiative,quot; said Prohaska. quot;We have to force the Chileans to try to control us in mid-field.quot;

Prohaska8217;s toughest decision is whether to stick with Polster as the only out-and-out striker or give him a partner in the form of one of the Sturm Graz forwards Ivica Vastic or Mario Haas.

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Probable teams: Austria: 1-Michael Konsel,5-Wolfgang Feiersinger, 3-Peter Schoettel, 4-Anton Pfeffer; 13-Harald Cerny, 22-Dietmar Kuehbauer, 17-Roman Maehlich, 8-Heimo Pfeifenberger, 15-Arnold Wetl; 10-Andreas Herzog; 19-Toni Polster.

Chile: 1-Nelson Tapia, 3-Ronaldo Fuentes, 15-Moises Villarroel, 5-Javier Margas, 6-Pedro Reyes, 4-Francisco Rojas; 8-Clarence Acuna, 7-Nelson Parraguez, 20-Fabian Estay; 9-Ivan Zamorano, 11-Marcelo Salas

 

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