Group matches at France 98 played on Saturday, 13th June.
 Holland vs  Belgium in Saint-Denis (0:0).
 South Korea vs  Mexico in Lyon (1:3).
 Spain vs  Nigeria in Nantes (2:3).
Who was the wise monkey who called Group D the Group of Death?
Whether it was a rapid piece of tabloid alliteration or not, the name has stuck.
Unfortunately, a minute's silence was held for the passing away of
President Fernand Sastre; who was the inspiration behind France's bid to hold the 16th
World Cup finals and later the President of the French Organising Committee.
Raul tried to break Bryan Robson's record for the fastest World Cup
goal, when he forced the Nigerian keeper to make a diving save before the cheer for the
whistle had even died down.
Within four minutes, Raul was back with a header against the crossbar.
Alfonso also tried to look threatening but couldn't connect, when his chance to rise to
the ball was floated in.
The Spaniard's looked a little too relaxed, allowing the Nigerians to
rob them of possession around the centre circle on a number of occasions, and release
Ikpeba of Monaco, and Okocha of Fenerbahce. Both felt comfortable approaching the area but
the shots were wasted.
When Spain tried one-twos in the Nigerian area, they faced a wall of
Green blocking their path.
Only twenty something minutes gone and Hierro fired in a direct
free-kick. Rufai might have thought that the ball was going wide, but in all honesty, he
was badly positioned and too lazy to move. Gooooooooaaaaaaaallllll.
Three minutes later, a high corner dipped into the box for Nigeria,
and Adepoju rose between two defenders to power in the header. A kiss of life.
Nigeria continued to build and push forward, but their shots at goal
were wasted.
Where was the Spanish defence? Zubizaretta had to slide right out of
his area and get up fast to do the job of a sweeper, five minutes before half-time.
Another long ball and again Zubizaretta was forced to hoof it away
from the outside corner of his area and fast approaching danger.
Half-time: (1:1).
Three minutes into the second half, Hierro released a long ball over
the Nigerian defenders and Raul was running at full stretch to volley it home.
Raul was always a danger on his runs.
Nigeria tried to slow their passing down, only to slice the finishing
touch. Rasheed Yekeni was brought on, to rectify the situation.
With Nadal on the floor, the Spanish lost their concentration;
allowing Lawal to take the ball to the line and pull it across to the near post, where the
keeper helped in in.
Spain tried to reply again, but Raul must have wasted a golden
opportunity to join Salas as the leading goalscorer.
Oliseh ricocheted a rocket of a shot in off the upright; sensational
turn of events.
Yekeni added a spectacular scissor kick to the spectacle; narrowly
over.
The Spanish still weren't finished and Sergi almost equalized with a
super curler that had the keeper beat; just too high.
Maximum Football.
Final Score:
Spain 2
-
Nigeria 3
Our Man of the Match:
Too hard to call.
Mexico looked composed, initially, but South Korea were quick to
close down Garcia Aspe and attack them just as fast.
Garcia Aspe fired an early cross-goal shot and although the goalkeeper
dived he was never troubled by it.
Fifteen minutes into the game and South Korea were causing most of the
problems.
Mexico tried to retaliate and had the ball cleared twice, with Korea's
keeper running in circles.
South Korea replied quickly to force a flying save from Campos, at the
other end.
The co-hosts of the next World Cup were out to impress in this one.
Their speed and directness frustrated Mexico, who would have rather rolled the ball
around; forcing the Mexicans into conceding a free-kick, just outside the area.
In the wall, Davino rose to block the free-kick from Seok Ju Ha and
diverted it into the net instead. Own Goal could win the golden boot at this rate.
S J Ha must have had Gazza proportion adrenaline after that; minutes
later he slid into the back of Ramirez, and received the second red card of the
tournament, for his over ambitious challenge.
Down to ten men and still the Koreans were going at Mexico to try and
prevent them from playing the ball around.
How long would their energy last with this display of total
commitment?
A Mexican penalty appeal was turned down and again Korea played like
they had the extra man.
A shot by Mexican number 19, Braulio Luna, was straight at the
keeper's chest.
Jong Soo Ko replied with a thunder from the edge of the other box,
that had Campos at full stretch.
Just before half-time, Hernandez used an overhead-kick to cross into
Jaime Ordiales who tried to score in similar style.
Half-time: (1:0).
Five minutes into the second half, a corner taken by Ramirez was
poorly headed by Pelaez. The loose ball bounced of Sang Chul Yoo's foot and gave Pelaez a
second chance to pounce and make no mistake.
Still the South Koreans showed tremendous courage and stamina; filling
their area in defence and trying to reach Campos in the other.
Even when Mexico tried to use their extra man to taunt the Koreans,
with cries of Ol� from the fans, a Korean would get a foot in to break it up; like a
torro catching the matador.
The sword to the neck of the bull came in the 74th minute when
Hernandez was on the end of a deep cross from near the corner flag; to flick it in between
the goalkeeper and the far post.
Less than ten minutes later, Hernandez again.
He received a close pass by the penalty circle, turned and struck the
low shot close to the bottom of the post. No chance for the gallant Ji Kim.
Final Score:
South Korea 1 - Mexico
3
Our Man of the Match:
Hernandez.
The Dutch, playing in all blue and orange socks, almost scored
from the first corner.
As the ball came out, Ronald de Boer curled in a chip; pushed around
the post for another corner.
Belgium had their backs to the goal continually: Overmars ran the
length of the left touchline and crossed; no-one there.
Seedorf sent through another ball; yet another move saw Kluivert work
with Overmars; Seedorf on a run this time; Overmars on the wing again.
That was just the first ten minutes.
Overmars was causing too many problems on the left wing; a tactical
change was needed from Belgium.
Still in the first quarter of the game, for our American friends,
Crasson was replaced by Deflandre.
The Brugge player soon let Overmars know that he was there, although
the free-kick from Seedorf came to nothing.
Not much chance for Fiorentina's Oliveira to show what he could do at
the other end, he hardly touched the ball in the first half an hour; when he did, Stam was
like an octopus around him.
Red card for the ref: Deflandre clearly used pulling as his way of
slowing players down. Then it came; Deflandre's yellow card for a another foul on
Overmars.
For Belgium, Oliveira had to come deeper if he wanted to get into the
game.
The match was fast and De Wilde, the Belgian keeper, hardly had a
chance to take his eye off the ball. To try and encourage the Belgians to attack, he
almost brought the ball up the pitch himself. Van der Sar, at the other end, looked
extremely bored.
The first Belgian corner didn't come until just before the half-time
whistle.
Half-time: (0:0).
The Dutch started the second half in the same fashion.
This time it was Seedorf on the right wing and a more lively Kluivert
trying just about everything. What did the Dutch need to do to get a goal?
Belgium's Nilis momentarily broke up the Dutch domination with a chip
floating narrowly over Van der Sar's bar.
Seedorf and Hasselbaink were taken off, with Bergkamp and Zenden sent
on to try their luck.
Frustration time, with ten minutes to go. Kluivert had a serious
attitude problem and continued his confrontation with an elbow nudge. The linesman called
over the referee to point it out; get out that card and walk you prat.
Last tactical signals from the Belgian coach and the whistle must have
been the greatest relief for the Belgian keeper.
What a wet and miserable end.
Final Score:
Holland 0 -
Belgium 0
Our Man of the Match:
De Wilde.
Group A
 Brazil,  Morocco,  Norway,  Scotland.
Group B
 Austria,  Cameroon,  Chile,  Italy.
Group C
 Denmark,  France,  Saudi Arabia,  South Africa.
Group D
 Bulgaria, Nigeria,  Paraguay, Spain.
Group E
Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea.
Group F
 Germany,  Iran,  United States,  Yugoslavia.
Group G
 Colombia,  England,  Romania,  Tunisia.
Group H
 Argentina,  Croatia,  Jamaica,  Japan.
1998 World Cup Finals -
Knockout Stage.
Group Tables - Leading
Goalscorers.
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