Spain: Coach Javier Clemente is planning to make at least three changes to his World Cup side for the crucial match against Paraguay, but he will not be dropping his errant goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, despite an appalling error for the Nigerians' second equaliser.
The Spanish side must bounce back from their shock 3-2 defeat by Nigeria with a convincing win in St Etienne on Friday.
Clemente, wounded by personal attacks in the Spanish press, declined to reveal his plans, but midfielder Julen Guerrero is being groomed to take over from Kiko up front and defender Albert Ferrer is expected to lose his place to Juan Carlos Aguilera. Barcelona's Juan Antonio Pizzi is also expected to replace Ivan Campo and the experienced Barcelona defender Miguel Angel Nadal, who has a a thigh strain, is still doubtful.
Another defeat will dump the highly-rated Spaniards out of the competition, however a sympathetic Clemente has decided that he will maintain a Spanish tradition and let his players enjoy a drink or two with their meals.
Team cook Javier Abrizu took delivery on Monday of a lorryload of provisions which included 360 bottles of red wine, 240 bottles of white and 1,000 bottles of beer.
Referee: FIFA came to the defence of Masayoshi Okada, the Japanese referee in charge of the England-Tunisia game, following claims he had compromised himself by dining with a top English football official on the eve of the match. "There are no suggestions of impropriety," stressed FIFA communication chief Keith Cooper yesterday. "He was accompanied by a FIFA official who just happens to come from England."
South Africa: Star stiker Benni McCarthy returned to full training yesterday and looks set to play in tomorrow's crunch Group C clash with Denmark. Team officials had earlier ruled the 20-year-old Ajax striker out of contention for a place after he was carried off with damaged ankle ligaments in Friday's 3-0 defeat by hosts France. Phil Masinga has not been so lucky with his ankle injury.
Germany: Coach Berti Vogts woke up to good news on the Cote d'Azur yesterday morning after leaving his team's opening match in Paris with fears that he had lost midfielder Thomas Haessler for the rest of the World Cup.
Vogts had been worried that Haessler, who suffered a serious foot injury at the end of 1996, might have torn ligaments in the same left ankle during the Germans' 2-0 victory over the US on Monday. But team officials said the diminutive midfielder had just strained the ankle. Haessler should be fit to face the Yugoslavs on Sunday.
