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| April 12th 2005 |
Paris, Stade Colombe
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| SOVIET UNION - SPAIN |
1-2 (0-1)
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GOALS 12' 0-1 José Miguel Michel
55' 1-1 Aleksandr Zavarov
78' 1-2 Raul Gonzalez Blanco
REFEREE William Ling (England)
ATTENDANCE 31,000
YELLOW CARDS Camacho (SPA)
SOVIET UNION (Coach: Valerij Lobanovski, system 4-3-3)
12 Rinat Dassaev (captain)
2 Vladimir Bessonov
17 Viktor Onopko
3 Aleksandr Chivadze
16 Vasili Rats
18 Valeri Voronin (-73)
13 Aleksandr Zavarov
19 Igor Netto
20 Valentin Ivanov (-60)
9 Oleg Protasov
21 Anatoli Ilyin (-73)
Substitutes:
14 Eduard Streltzov (+60)
8 Vladimir Muntian (+73)
15 Igor Tschislenko (+73)
SPAIN (Coach: Miguel Munoz, system 4-4-2)
12 Luis Miguel Arconada
20 Juan Segarra
18 Miguel Bernardo Migueli
6 Fernando Hierro
2 José Antonio Camacho (captain)
8 José Miguel Michel (-82)
21 Victor Munoz
10 Luis Suarez (-84)
11 Francisco Gento
7 Raul Gonzalez Blanco (-80)
9 Emilio Butragueno
Substitutes:
15 Telmo Zarra (+80)
4 Antonio Maceda (+82)
5 José Pirri (+84)
MATCHREPORT
The Soviet Union started the match sure of having qualified for the second
round and Lobanovski left out many of his first choices. But what was left
wasn't bad either. From the team that had played the first two matches as
starters, only Bessonov, Rats and Netto were in the team. Even Yashin was
rested, but Dassaev was more than a worthy replacement. He and Chivadze,
Voronin, Zavarov and Ilyin played their first minutes in this All Time World
Cup.
For Spain this was a do-or-die match. Unlike the Soviets they were not sure
of reaching the next phase. As a complete surprise coach Miguel Munoz left
out his giant goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora, but it was a necessity. Zamora had
injured a thumb in training, it wasn't very bad but Munoz thought he needed
healthy players and put Luis Arconada in the starting line-up. Rafael
Gordillo was the second who had to withdraw, but with Francisco Gento Spain
had a lot of power on the left flank. Munoz opted for a team with two
central strikers, Butragueno was back in business and just behind him Raul
would play.
In the Stade Colombe Spain played very careful from the beginning. Everyone
was convinced that in Pasadena, Mexico would beat the Americans so Spain
needed at least a draw. They played very concentrated defensively against a
Soviet team that was in a freewheeling mood, open-minded but just because of
that at the same time very dangerous. Early on Protasov, left alone by
marker Migueli, got a great opportunity to open the score but Arconada saved
it magnificently, justifying his place. The corner kick that was the result
was headed away by Hierro, and Spain were out of trouble.
At the start the Soviets looked the better team, but when Spain took over
they immediately opened the score. Raul turned away from Netto in midfield
and passed the ball to Michel. The right midfielder released a high curling
shot that surprised Dassaev completely. The shot went in at the far post:
0-1. It reminded very much of the goal Dassaev had conceded from Marco van Basten in
the Euro 1988 final. That was the start Spain had hoped for. Against a not
very motivated Soviet Union they now could lean back and wait for the moments
that would come to counter. It made not a very interesting game and both
teams only had one chance in the rest of the first half. Ilyin shot straight
at Arconada after an intelligent pass by Voronin had beaten Segarra and
Hierro. Shortly after Butragueno was provided with a cross by Gento but he
found Dassaev in the way. Half-time came with a 1-0 lead for the team that
needed it the most.
Lobanovski was not the type of manager to accept his team being lacklustre
and in the dressing room he released a thunderous speech. From the beginning
in the second half, the Soviet Union now showed much more interest and
eagerness to make the most out of it. Ivanov and Ilyin, virtual no-showers
in the first part, increased the pressure on the Spanish full-backs and from
midfield more accurate passes reached Protasov. Vladimir Bessonov, the right
back, now supported his men up front much more. It was him who provided the
equalizer. He freed himself from Victor, Migueli could only clear the cross
partially and Zavarov from 12 metres out made no mistake. Arconada tried to
narrow the angle but it was too late: 1-1. Still no reason to panic for
Spain, but looking at the score from Pasadena at that moment things could go
the wrong way if they would lose.
But once they got the equalizer, the Soviet Union were satisfied. They seemed
to be happy with a draw which would guarantee them the top spot in the
group. Spain came back in the match but created very little chances. Only on
the right flank, where Michel and Rats clashed, they came through
dangerously every now and then. On the left Gento was chained by Bessonov
and Luis Suarez also couldn't impose. Lobanovski tried to revive his team by
taking off Ivanov (chanceless against Camacho) and replacing him with joint
topscorer of the tournament Eduard Streltzov. Later also Muntian and
Tschislenko entered the pitch but it didn't change much. It was Spain that
had taken control now and that took the lead.
It was Netto who unexpectedly lost the ball in midfield. He wanted to pass
it to Rats but Victor had foreseen it. The ball came to Michel who
beautifully passed it over 30 metres to Raul. Onopko and Chivadze were
nowhere to be found and with only Dassaev in the way Raul made no mistake.
The 2-1 lead was the signal for Munoz to shut the door defensively. The
substitution of Raul with Zarra was a normal one, but when he replaced
Michel with central defender Antonio Maceda and Suarez with Pirri, it was
clear what the goal was: keeping the lead intact and nothing more than that.
At any cost Spain wanted to carry the 2-1 over the 90 minutes. And that
happened. The Soviets had one more chance, but Arconada saved from Streltzov
and Protasov couldn't net the rebound. The win gave Spain first place in the
group and a game in Berne against the runners up from group C. The
Soviet union travelled to Yokohama for a match against the winners from group
C.
Next Friday the countries from group C will play their last match. Holland
take on Poland in Mexico City, while at the same time Uruguay and South
Korea meet in Santiago. Holland and Uruguay are the clear favourites to
qualify, but if Holland fail to grab at least a draw against Poland they are
most certainly out. South Korea are sure of elimination but the team will
play for their consolation. Referee in Mexico City is Arnaldo Coelho from
Brazil, while Uruguay-South Korea is under guidance of East-German Rudi
Glöckner. No suspensions or injuries it seems, so all teams can field their
best teams.
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