World Cup 98′

Five days later, as the tournament continued, drunks insulted 27-year-old Andres Escobar outside a Medellin bar. A gunman pumped six bullets into the athlete’s chest. The world condemned a senseless killing. And little changed.

Today, Dario Escobar keeps his son’s memory alive in scrapbooks and through social work. He has tried to convert a heinous crime into a parable for soccer fanatics and impressionable youth, speaking against violence and founding two soccer schools to teach poor kids that winning isn’t everything. But a bitter Escobar says "nothing has been assimilated. We can’t sing victory yet.”Meanwhile, the sport will never be the same for the soccer-loving Escobars.

After the shooting, Andres’ older brother Santiago quit the game, ending a 14-year professional career. He now coaches a youth team. And, Dario Escobar hasn’t been to a soccer stadium since he lost Andres.

"I watch these World Cup games for a minute or two, but it doesn’t interest me like before,” said Escobar. "It brings back bad memories.”

Group C: France 3, S. Africa 0

Scorers: France : Dugarry (35), Issa (own goal), Henry Bookings: France: Petit (27), Deschamps (53), Zidane (75)

90 minutes in 30 words: Our World Cup hosts appeared a bit tentative on their tournament debut, although their obvious frailty was neatly concealed by two late own-goals. South africa were obdurate, if limited, opponents.

Boy done good: There won’t be many more effective left pegs on view in the coming weeks than that of Bixente Lizarazu. An accomplished full-back.

Two left feet: Christophe Dugarry’s first two touches were ascoring chance and a delightfully clean contact (with thin air). His 35th goal saved serious blushes.

Magic moment: More meteorological than football, but the swirling French Mistral actually bent the ball backwards on a couple of ocassions.

Mr. Sitter: Stephane Guivarc’h missed with an admittedly tricky five-yard header after 21 minutes and was crocked in the process.

Turning point: The injury to Guivarc’hheralded Dugarry’s introduction, which in turn prompted the crucial first goal (as well as a truly dismal display of striker’s art).

CHeered: Local hero and Juventus play-maker Zinadine Zidane

Jeered: The inevitable Mexican Wave was rudely interrupted when a second French "goal" was ruled off-side . Ref-er-ee: Quiet, cautious, commendable.

Terrace talk: France: "A valuable win, but where is the beef? Or Lebouef, for that matter?" South Africa: "Just not cricket we might win if it was."

Group D: Bulgaria 0 Paraguay 0

Goals: None Bookings: Bulgaria: Nankov (27), Stoichkov (45),Ivanov (72)

90 minutes in 30 words: Bulgaria’s experience told in the first half, but their age had an effect in the second as the nippier lads from Paraguay picked up the pace and looked like causing a late upset. It wasn’t to be, and the game ended in tournament’s first nil-nil draw.

Boy done good: Jose Chilavert, the Paraguay goal-keeper who not only dribbled the ball up to the halfway line to launch an attack, but took a belting free kick which nearly crept in also kept slate clean.

Two left feet: Miguel Benitez amused the Bulgarian fans with a fresh-air shot only yards from goal.

Magic moment: That Chilavert free kick. Are you watching Jim Leighjon?

Ref-er-ee!: Mr. Al Zeid became the first official of the tournament to wave a red card when he dismissed Anatoly Nankov for his second bookable offence.

Terrace talk: Bulgaria: "Well, our boys are getting on a bit." Paraguay: "If we could string two decent passes together, we’d be quite dangerous."

Group C: Denmark 1SAUDI.ARABIA0

Goals: Rieper 68th Bookings: Denmark: Wieghorst 12th, Rieper 60th, Nielsen 72nd; Saudi Arabia: Al-Muwalid 11th.

90 minutes in 30 words: Scmeichel got so bored during in first half that he wandered up to shout encouragement. The Danes were tentative, S Arabia mediocre – the spectacle was scrappy.

Boy done good: It’s got to be Marc Reiper and his sorely needed goal.

Two left feet: Martin Joergensen sliced woefully wide from a good position during the first half.

Magic moment: Nothing much stood out apart from Saeed al-Owairan’s 25-yard, first half free-kick – which was going wide even though Schmeichel launched an elegant dive to be on the safe side.

Mr Sitter: Ebbe Sand toe-poked from close range over the bar; and later struck a drive at the keeper.

Turning point: Denmark were never given cause to look back after Reiper’s headed winner.

Ref-er-ee!: Mr Castrilli’s whistle, required on an occasional basis, was drowned out by the collective whistle of a bored and restlesscrowd.

Terrace talk: Denmark: "We were just warming up. The world got bored but we got the points."

Saudi Arabia: "We have class like the desert has icebergs."

Yugoslavia confident

Saint Etienne, June 13: Highly favoured Yugoslavia, led by star striker Predrag Mijatovic, meets injury-stricken Iran in their opening Group F game on Sunday.

The Iranians, playing their first World Cup match in 20 years, seem to be worried by the prospect of facing one of Europe’s highest-scoring teams, because of injuries to some key Iranian players.

Iranian goalkeeper and captain, Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh, said he’ll miss the game because he still has not recuperated from a knee operation late last year. His place will be taken by inexperienced reserve Nima Nakissa.

Midfielder Reza Shahroudi was carried off the field with an injury to his left leg during a practice match on Friday. Fellow midfielder Sattar Hamedani walked off with an ice pack on hisleg.

"Iranians have three or four good players, but overall we are a much stronger squad,” said Yugoslav captain Dragan Stojkovic. "We should have no problems beating them.”

What is worrying Santrac the most is the probable absence of Dejan Savicevic, the midfielder, because of a knee ligament injury.

Iran is expected to adopt a defensive strategy against the formidable Yugoslav attackers. But Abedzadeh’s absence and possible injuries that could keep out key players, may make Iran’s weak defense even weaker. But Iran places its hopes on the German-based trio of forwards: Khodadad Azizi, Karim Bagheri and Ali Daei.

Argentina buoyant

TOULOUSE (FRANCE), June 13: Argentina, brimming with talent and top European club experience, can expect to brush debutants Japan aside tomorrow as they launch their campaign for a third World Cup trophy in 20 years.

Coach Daniel Passarella, who captained Argentina to their first title on home soil in 1978, has built a side that finished top in the tough SouthAmerican qualifiers and have lost just once in their last 14 matches.

Their attack is led by Gabriel Batistuta, who scored only two minutes into his first World Cup in Argentina’s 4-0 win over Greece in Boston four years ago, and aims to be the tournament’s top marksman.

Batistuta has notched up a remarkable Argentine record of 43 goals in 61 internationals, including six in his last five matches, fed by a mid-field that includes Ariel Ortega, heir to Diego Maradona’s number 10 shirt. The Fiorentina striker has already scored thrice against Japan in two meetings since 1992, both Argentine wins. Against this backdrop, Japan should find themselves defending for most part and looking to break away at speed and surprise a rival defence. Okada is at the other end of the scale from Passarella, going into only his seventh competitive match in charge after taking over from his former boss Shu Kamo in October.

But despite his lack of experience Okada has surprised everyone on the international stage with hisresults. His team was described by Brazilian former Iran coach Valdir Vieira as the fastest in the world.

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Fattening the geese: US player David Regis feeds geese and ducks in the garden of Chateau de Pizay in Central France

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