World Cup 8217;98 8212; Update

Group A: Morocco2 8212; 2Norway
Scorers: Morocco: Hadji 38th, Hadda 59th.
Norway: Chippo 45th own goal, Eggen 61st.
Bookings: Morocco: Chiba 79
90 minutes in30 words: Morocco, beaten 1 8211; 0 by England in a prep match, gave Norway a fright and a half by twice taking the lead only to throw it away twice at set-pieces. Norwegian muscle cancelled out Moroccan finesse, of which there was plenty. Boy done good: Moustafa Hadji, missing from the recent England game, dazzled throughout the first half with his quick feet and beefy shooting. His opener was class.
Two left feet: Youseff Chippo, having defended pretty well during open play, was dodgy as hell on set pieces 8211; his slack headed own goal kept Norway in the game.
Magic moment: Hadji8217;s goal 8211; top dribbling capped with a sharp, pin-point finish.
Turning point: In a game of flux and unpredictability, there were two pivotal moments 8212; the Norwegian equalisers.
Ref-er-ee!: Mr Un-Prasert from Thailand kept things flowing smoothly, like the aftermath of a curry from an iffy restaurant in Bangkok.
Terrace talk: Morocco: quot;We8217;ve got the skill, but we need moresteel.quot;
Norway: quot;That was close 8211; it8217;s not easy, this World Cup lark.quot;

Ronaldo8217;s sublime skill is Brazil8217;s essence

Ronaldo8217;s jinks and shimmies, backheels and dummies are the essence of the best of Brazil and his supreme talent was on show in their open in the 2-1 victory over Scotland. Brazil8217;s overall performance might have left coach Mario Zagallo scratching his head about how to get the best out of his players. Following a fabulous first half hour, his team went off the boil in the second half and only a fortunate own goal by Scotland gave them the win.

But, on this performance, Zagallo must be delighted that Ronaldo has lived up to his World Cup media hype. Ronaldo twisted and turned to beat defender Colin Hendry in almost embarrassing fashion in the first half.

Then, after the break, came a couple of sublime skills from Ronaldo, setting up Rivaldo with a dummy and then creating a chance for Leonardo with a backheel. His blistering pace was also on show and, but for diving keeperJim Leighton, he would have opened his World Cup goal account 8212; he was in the squad for USA 8217;94 but never got on the pitch let alone score.

The record books will show Cesar Sampaio scoring for Brazil, John Collins equalizing from the spot, and Tommy Boyd hitting an own goal for the Scots.

In truth the match had a 1-1 draw written all over it until Scotland were hit by the cruellest of blows.

A ball came in from midfield and Cafu, who went up with Gordon Durie, tried to hook the ball past Jim Leighton. But the ball rebounded off Leighton8217;s face and cannoned off Boyd8217;s shoulder. Colin Hendry, racing in, couldn8217;t prevent the ball crossing the line.

However Ronaldo, who has only quite recently risen to fame, has no doubts Brazil can do better and go on to take the title. Inter Milan were so impressed by his skills that they were willing to splash out 30 million to break the transfer record.

But the 21-year-old knows he will never be mentioned in the same breath as Pele or Maradona until he has put aWorld Cup winner8217;s medal in his pocket.

Money Talk

A cash bonanza awaits various teams as potential title bonus payments from their respective National federations.

SPAIN: Fernando Morientes and his teammates can rake in a record 280,000 per head from the national federation and coach Javier Clemente will even get double the amount if Spain win their first world title.

BRAZIL: Ronaldo and the fellow-Brazilians will have to settle for 220,000, but at least for the superstar that sum is anyway only a small figure compared to his multi-million dollar earnings from Inter Milan and endorsements.

THE NETHERLANDS: The figure may be even higher than the 110,000 dollars officially announced.

ITALY: quot;Squadra Azzuraquot; can bank on around 200,000 dollars each for winning a fourth title, down from 300,000 offered four years ago, when they came up short against Brazil in the final.

GERMANY: Far less than Italy, as three-times champions eye 85,000.NORWAY amp;USA: Both are counting on around 150,000 per player for securing the title. Like Brazil, the US Federation is bathing in money as it has a 10-year deal with sporting goods manufacturer Nike.

COLOMBIA: A players8217; strike threat forced the federation to increase the sum for a second-round berth from 10,000 to 50,000. Further negotiations will be on should the team go further.

MOROCCO: If they beat Brazil in the preliminary round they8217;ll get 55,000 instantly 8212; and a house.

Player Watch

Roberto Baggio, Italy
Roberto Baggio may have been through all this twice before, but starting the World Cup finals is still a thrill for the Italian idol. The pressure and the adulation may be all old news to the 31-year-old, who guided Italy almost single-handed to the 1994 final against Brazil, but he knows full well that he is starting again from scratch against Italy8217;s major rivals in Group B.

quot;What8217;s different is that this is another World Cup,quot; he said simply. Stressingthe team aspect, Baggio said: quot;I feel really fortunate to be in the side, and let8217;s not forget that there are other players in it too. If we8217;re able to do well, we8217;ll have done it together.quot;

As football becomes less about teams and more about individuals, Baggio knows that people expect him to leave his mark on the finals. But after more than 10 years at the top, Baggio is used to dealing with people8217;s expectations.

quot;At the end of it all, only a few players will be able to come away from these World Cup finals saying that they did well,quot; he said. quot;Unfortunately, that8217;s the way it happens. Let8217;s just wait till they8217;re over and then we8217;ll see who has done best .

quot;I8217;ve got my responsibilities 8230; but I can live them, because I know that however things turn out, this is still a sport, even though there is enormous pressure at times.quot;

Asked the 64,000 question, if he wondered why he is still Italy8217;s best loved footballer, he said: quot;I8217;ve never actually asked myself that. But it8217;s something that makes mevery happy.quot;

Moustafa Hadji, Morocco
Moustafa Hadji finally cast aside doubts about his fitness last night with a brilliant opening goal in Morocco8217;s 2-2 draw with Norway. All week, the question that was continually asked at the Moroccan camp was how well the Deportivo Coruna midfielder had recovered from his broken toe. And after 38 minutes of a keen clash at the Stade De La Mosson he showed everthing was fine as he used his troublesome right foot to deadly effect to get his country8217;s opening goal.

Hadji, born in Morocco but brought up in France, turned down the chance to play for his adopted country at under-21 level five years ago. He has now emerged as one of Morocco8217;s leading players and has no regrets about his decision. quot;It8217;s my country 8212; even though I only really know it through short holidays,quot; he said. quot;I8217;m prepared to play through pain to bring glory to Morocco.quot;

Under fire for a poor showing in the African Nations8217; Cup earlier this year, the 26-year-old was determined to make hismark in the country where he spent his formative soccer years playing for Nancy.

Michael Laudrup, Denmark
Michael Laudrup won his 100th cap in Denmark8217;s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia today, a remarkable achievement for a player who refused to play for his country for three years.

Laudrup, the team captain, becomes only the third Dane to reach the century landmark after 1986 Cup captain Morten Olsen 102 and goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played his 100th game last Friday in the 1-2 defeat by Cameroon. quot;It8217;s a special day,quot; acknowledged Laudrup, the last link to Denmark8217;s scintillating 1986 finals team.

quot;The 99th was in Denmark in the Parken, my home ground, so I don8217;t think so much about my 100th game. But when I stop I8217;ll always remember the day,quot; said Laudrup, who celebrates his 34th birthday on Monday.

Michael first played for Denmark as a teenager in 1982 and like his brother, has graced some of Europe8217;s foremost clubs, including Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and AjaxAmsterdam. He also had a spell in Japan with Vissel Kobe.

quot;Touch wood, I have never had bad injuries and I8217;ve never been operated on8230;Sixteen years is a lot of time. I8217;ve had little luck, a little skill in reading the game, reading my opponents,quot; the player said.

Betting Shop

BANGKOK: Thailand8217;s education ministry is sending out 1,200 inspectors and volunteers to try and stop students from betting on the World Cup.

A research report by a local bank released day said more students than ever are betting on soccer, and about 20 per cent of them are placing their bets through bookmakers. The report said thais nationwide will bet about 680 million on the world cup, up 35 per cent from what they bet on the 1994 Cup.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong police arrested 44 people early this morning suspected of illegally gambling on World Cup matches.

A 29-year-old man asked an undercover police officer to bet on the World Cup opener between Brazil and Scotland in a bar last night. Police laterarrested 44 people when the man settled the bet.