Group matches at France 98 played on Sunday, 21st June.
 Argentina vs  Jamaica in Paris (5:0).
 Germany vs  Yugoslavia in Lens (2:2).
 United States vs  Iran in Lyon (1:2).
The average age of the Germans is the oldest in the World Cup
Finals.
Perhaps they need some fresh blood in the squad; and the World Cup
some new faces in the finals.
In the thirteenth minute, Mijatovic drove in a long ball that
Stankovic almost touched past the advancing Köpke.
The Yugoslavian team have nothing to do with the problems in Kosovo,
and many of the Yugoslav fans at the finals probably live and work in Germany, or the
German-speaking part of Switzerland. It was nice to see some players of the two teams have
photographs taken together before the start of the match.
Petrovic forced a flying save from Köpke just before the half-hour;
nothing so positive or threatening from the Germans though.
On the 33rd minute, Darko Kovacevic beat the offside trap and ran the
ball off his chest, only to see his chance cleared by the presence of Köpke.
The corner that followed was another scramble for the German
goalkeeper and his defenders. General Vogts had to rethink the positioning of his rusty
panzers.
Half-time: (0:1).
The General sent on Matthöus, as his Lieutenant, to try and shore up
the rearguard. They started with confidence-inspiring square balls across the half-way
line. Maybe the strategy was to avoid a revenge-seeking England in the quarter-finals.
These cart horses would surely struggle on this performance.
Nine minutes into the second half and Andreas Köpke gave away the
second goal. Johanovic came into the area, on the end of a one-two, and released the ball
to the right. Kovacevic sent in a low cross that the aging German goalkeeper collected and
then let slip underneath him for Stojkovic to punt in.
In the 74th minute, the German's were given a lifeline; Tarnat's
free-kick deflected in by Mihajlovic for the tournament's fourth own goal.
The Germans were mobile again. Kirsten, on for Möller, had his header
deflected. From the corner, Bierhoff's header was pushed onto the post and Klinsmann's
opportunity for the sucker punch was cleared off his head by Jugovic.
Two more corners, and Bierhoff headed home.
For the last five mintes, Germany were without Klinsmann and down to
ten men; all substitutes were used in Vogt's reshuffle.
Final Score:
Germany 2 -
Yugoslavia 2
Our Man of the Match:
Johanovic.
With Jamaica needing to win and a draw not really good enough for
Argentina, both teams opened positively. If end to end stuff is a cliche, then I'm using
it anyway.
The first push came from Argentina; Barrett saving point blank from
Sensini, in the fifth minute. Darryl Powell had already earned himself a needless yellow
card too early in the game.
A Wimbledon style long-ball released Portsmouth's Paul Hall, on the
right wing. Hall was pulled down near the edge of the area; the free-kick blasted at the
keeper on the near post.
Ortega tried a high shot, on the quarter-hour. Barrett caught it
firmly and danced back over the line; good job he's got long arms.
Nine minutes later, Ortega dribbled through five players and wasted
all his hard work over the bar.
With Jamaica trying to use Hall out wide, Veron profited from the
space in the middle. Just after the half-hour, the Sampdoria midfielder instigated a fast
one-two, and slipped the ball right to Ortega.
No messing this time, Ortega chipped the ball between the sliding
Jamaican 'keeper and the bar. Gooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllll.
If Jamaica thought that they might reply just before half-time, like
they did against Croatia, then they were in for a shock.
Instead of a goal, they lost a player. Powell was booked again and
sent off.
Half-time: (1:0).
With the extra man advantage, Argentina slowed the game down in
possession.
When Jamaica did get the ball, they gave it away. Lopez found
Batistuta; the shot off for a corner.
Ten minutes into the second-half, Ortega played the one-two and
accelerated with the ball, ö la Maradonna, into the box for his second goal. The change
of beat stunned the Reggae Boyz.
Jamaica tried to pull back the two goal deficit, like others before
them in this tournament, but an off-touch Batistuta finally found the target; twenty
minutes before the end, to effectively put Jamaica and Japan out of the tournament.
Seven minutes later Batistuta added his second and a penalty in the
82nd gave Batistuta his hatrick; the first of the tournament.
Argentina and Croatia will decide the top two places between
themselves on the 26th June, in Bordeaux.
Argentina top of the group at the moment, on goal difference.
Final Score:
Argentina 5 -
Jamaica 0
Our Man of the Match:
Batistuta.
I assume the Iranians knew the words to their national anthem;
they certainly didn't know the tune.
Anyway, it's fair play day and, after the joint photo-call, the
Iranians presented the Americans with flowers and a giant commemorative silver platter.
Maybe one day, the politicians will get together too.
McBride thundered a header onto the crossbar, in the opening minutes,
as the Americans tried to get off to a fair start.
After that, both teams cancelled each other out to a tremendous
atmosphere of drums, whistles, and hooters. The ball travelled all over the pitch like a
pinball machine with an expert on the flippers.
Keller felled Azizi as he entered the area for the ball, around the
twentieth minute, but the man in the middle from Switzerland remained neutral.
Claudio Reyna slammed a shot against the lower part of the upright for
the USA, just after the half-hour; and still the ball didn't go down.
Iranians passed to Americans and Americans passed back to Iranians.
In the 40th minute the script changed. Javad Zarincheh crossed into an
unmarked Hamid Estili, in the middle of the area. Estili headed into the top left corner.
Half-time: (0:1).
I've heard a lot of Americans moan about some of the football in the
World Cup, but they've finally shown the world that there is something that they are not
too good at either.
America had a lot of the possession in the second half, but still they
couldn't put one of them away. Regis made it a woodwork hat-trick, in the 73rd minute; no
wonder the Americans wanted to make the goals larger.
The Swiss referee booked Javad Zarincheh, for not leaving the field
fast enough when his number was called.
Mehdi Mahda Vikia then ran the full half to score Iran's second, with
McBride getting a consolation header five minutes from time.
Keller wanted to come up for a last minute corner, ö la Chilavert,
but his team-mates didn't wait.
Will Steve Sampson get the sack along with the Saudi and Korean
coaches after this?
Final Score:
United
States 1 - Iran 2
Our Man of the Match:
McBride.
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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