Group matches at France 98 played on Tuesday, 16th June.
 Brazil vs  Morocco in Nantes (3:0).
 Scotland vs  Norway in Bordeaux (1:1).
Scotland needed to take the winning route, here in Bordeaux, and
they started pressing in the right frame of mind from the start.
An early cross from Collins was headed down across goal by Christian
Dailly, but no chance for a frustrated Gordan Durie to get anywhere near it.
Scotland applied most of the pressure in the first half, to a
continued chorus from their fans; many in traditional kilts.
Gallacher crossed a high ball back to Durie, in the twelfth minute,
headed narrowly wide.
In the 16th minute, a penalty appeal was turned down but a free-kick
was awarded just outside the right of the area. Colin Hendry was there to add some height;
Scotland would have to try again.
The Norwegian goal was continually under attack, but still the Viking
ship wouldn't leak.
The first Norwegian corner came in the 21st minute.
At last, Tore Andre Flo had some support. Leighton punched out the
effort, with Hendry's head bravely in to clear the return.
In the few Norwegian raids, Jim Leighton guarded his territory like a
snarling Rottweiller, while his handler, Colin Hendry, patrolled the whole Scottish half.
Half-time: (0:0).
Shockedland.
Straight from the restart, Haavard Flo was on the end of a Riseth
cross, to head in low at the far post. Any one still in the toilet would have missed it.
Jackie McNamarra came on for his Celtic team-mate, Darren Jackson, as
Scotland looked for new ideas on the hour.
Five minutes later, Craig Burley ran onto a long through ball and
lobbed in Scotland's equaliser.
A fine save from Chelsea's Frode Grodas denied Scotland the chance to
take the lead soon after.
The mathematicians will be at work now. Scotland's chances are slim,
but they are still remotely possible. They will need to beat Morocco, and hope that Brazil
win or draw their match tonight and the one against Norway.
Final Score:
Scotland 1 - Norway
1
Our Man of the Match:
Colin Hendry.
Bebeto would be supporting Ronaldo up front again; as
viewers around the world saw them give each other a nice little hug in the centre circle,
before the cautious start.
Baiano culled Hadji's first tentative run and, on the
next attack, Brazil were almost ahead: Robert Carlos to Ronaldo, and through for Leonardo;
offside. Morocco's back line worked effectively.
Benzekri looked a liability again and Rivaldo spotted him
way off his line. The ambitious shot would have gone in, if Pel� was in his boots.
Then the Moroccans gave Ronaldo too much space, in the
ninth minute, and paid; as the Brazilian fired in from the edge of the area. Not much
Benzekri could do about that.
Chiba marked Ronaldo alright after that; he studded the
goalscorer on the thigh, at around the quarter-hour. This one was no play acting, and the
Moroccan was lucky to get away without a booking for dangerous play.
Ronaldo almost connected to a Roberto Carlos cross, in
the 26th minute. The narrow miss hurt more than the earlier footprint of Chiba's.
The referee was conned by Cafu's theatrics, as Hadda
appeared to have placed his foot on the ground, and not the Brazilian.
In the thirty-fifth minute, the Brazilians seemed in all
sorts of problems. A free-kick was awarded to Morocco, on the edge of the area. In all the
frustration and confusion, Dunga almost head-butted one of his own team mates in anger.
Benzekri was at it again, slapping at corners and relying
on defenders to head off the line. Scotland should enjoy playing against him.
On half time, Bebeto passed the ball through to Cafu, on
the right, who crossed in an easy tap-in for Rivaldo.
Half-time: (2:0).
While Bezekri looks like his own worst enemy at times, he
can pull out something important at others: a good save from a Bebeto after the restart,
and again clearing with his foot at the feet of Bebeto after Brazil were three up and
cruising.
The third goal came five minutes into the second-half.
Ronaldo on the left, with Bezekri diving at his feet, flicked the ball for one of Bebeto's
easiest goals.
Morocco tried to put some moves together but they were
out of the contest.
Brazil were at the carnival again. They have won the
group, whatever the outcome against Norway.
Final Score:
Brazil
3 -
Morocco 0
Our Man of the Match:
Rivaldo; even though he was taken off in the dying minutes to give Denilson a run.
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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