The Guardian du lieu suivant : London, Greater London, England • 14

THE GUARDIAN Thursday June 1 1989 Soccer World Cup, group four: Wales 0, West Germany 0 Fate deals Wales a rough hand again 14 SPORTS NEWS David Lacey at Cardiff Arms Park nippy control of Hassler hard to contain on either wing. Hassler it was who forced Southall to make his one urgent save of the game, pushing wide a 25-yard shot 11 minutes from the end. The Welsh performance belonged strictly to the Terry Yorath school of footballing calisthenics, which can be roughly summed up as Beauty and the Boot. Aizlewood could have had his name taken in the second minute, following a crude foul on Riedle. In the first minute of the second half, with the Welsh still seething about the hand of Buchwald, Home fouled Rein-hardt brusquely.

With Ratcliffe operating as a sweeper behind Nicholas and Aizlewood much depended on Wales being able to get their full-backs, Blackmore and Phillips, forward as often as possible and this they did reasonably well. However, Hughes, Saunders and Rush found it is difficult to disturb the heart of the German defence as did Voller and Riedle at the other end of the field. Just before Buchwald handled, Rush and Hughes got behind the German rearguard but Illgner scrambled the ball clear. WALES: Southall (Everton). Blackmore (Manctiesler Ul.

Phillips (Coventry). Nicholas (Chelsea). Aizlawood Ratcliffe (Everton). Saunders (Derby). Williams (Derby) Rush (Liverpool).

Hughss (Manchester Ul. Home (Southampton) WEST GERMANY: lllgnari Berthold, Brehme, Bernhardt, Router, Buchwald, Riedle, Fach, Voller, Moller, Hassler. Referee: valence (Portugal) that Buchwald had been pushed into the act by Hughes. Terry Yorath, the Welsh manager, accepted that Hughes might have shoved the defender but argued that the referee had not given that foul. Wales do not have much luck when it comes to decisions which can turn World Cup matches.

They went out of the 1978 competition after Joe Jordan's hand earned Scotland a penalty against a Welsh defender, David Jones, at Anfield and were eliminated by the Scots at Ninian Park four years ago after Phillips had been penalised when the ball was driven against him. The Buchwald incident apart, a draw was about the right result last night and if both sides had devoted as much effort to finishing movements as they did to fouling each other the game would not have been goalless. Four Welshmen Blackmore. Rush. Hughes and Home were cautioned.

Rush alone for dissent. Brehme and Berthold were also shown the yellow card. Beckenbauer's infusions of fresh talent into the West German team have already produced the makings of an exciting side. At times Reuter's speed on the right was breathtaking. In midfield Moller did much to make up for the momentum lost with the suspension of Matthaus.

the German captain, while Wales found the THE chances or Wales ending a 31-year-old run of World Cup failures all but disappeared last night when they checked West Germany's stride towards next summer's finals in Italy without lengthening their own. Cardiff Arms Park's first soccer international since 1910 turned out as a goalless rough-house which at times would have done credit to Neath. The immediate beneficiaries are Holland, who stay top of Group Four as a result of winning 1-0 in Finland earlier in the evening. While West Germany often threatened to impose their higher skills on the match their better touches deserted them near goal and in the end they were grateful to the Portuguese referee. Carlos Silva Valente.

that they did not come closer to defeat. In the last minute of the first half he refused to award Wales the penalty that might well have inspired their first victory over the Germans and kept their World Cup aspirations realistically alive. Rush nodded on a centre from Phillips on the left and Buchwald. the gaunt West German centre-back, reached up a hand to knock the ball away. Franz Beckenbauer, the West German team chief, claimed PHOTOGRAPH ANDY COWIfc Big Jack Charlton and Maurice would say I was a dirty Setters Setters giving the Republic their bite Second Division play-off, first leg: Blackburn 3, Crystal Palace 1 Blackburn on the brink Stephen Brierley kLACKBURN ROVERS, scraping past on the away-eoal rule, set themselves up with an excellent chance of returning to the First Division after a 23-vear absence with this pulsating victory at Ewood Park last night.

When Hopkins brought down Gayle in the second half the former Liverpool player, who had put Rovers 2-0 up by half-time, had a golden opportunity to finish Palace off. But his penalty was wide. Palace finished strongly, and Ireland's own, but hardly green The Irish Cynthia Bateman on Charlton an argument BLOODY HELL." said Maurice Setters to his television set. "What's he done now?" Big Jack Charlton's fizzog filled the screen, and he was telling the watching millions what Newcastle United could do with their job. Unfortunately he had forgotten to tell Maurice, who, as his assistant at St James' Park, would more than likely be bounced out of the back door as soon as Jack walked out the front.

"So I'm out of work again?" said Maurice, when he telephoned Jack. "Oh hell. I forgot about you. Maurice." said Jack. Setters went back to his tea.

He had seen it all before when they left Sheffield Wednesday in 1983. after five years and with the club on the brink of promotion to the First Division. "I said to him then: 'You can't leave. We are almost But he said: I'm not having anything more to do with and quit. As soon as Howard Wilkinson arrived, he brought in his own man and I was sacked." But the following year, Newcastle United wanted Jack and Jack wanted Maurice.

"Come and sort this lot out," he said. Cycling tion of two Englishmen who are not only from opposite ends of the country one being a Geordie. the other from Devon but are also from opposite ends of the spectrum. They have won Irish hearts as well as matches. Jack, they say, is as well known in Ireland as the country's president, and probably better liked.

Setters, 52, is content to keep a low profile. Jack, 54. paints with broad sweeps on a huge canvas; Maurice picks out the fine detail. They did not know each other well as players. But Setters knew Bobby Charlton and the Charlton family, and when he was sacked from his first managerial job by Doncaster who, incidentally, could not find 6.000 when he wanted to sign John Aldridge from Newport Jack offered him a free meal of a Barnsley chop, followed by a job.

Since then the chop has usually come after the job. Setters openly says that Jack is selfish. Jack's sentiments are unrecorded. Charlton's wife is quoted as saying: "Jack could argue anything with anyone and he argues with me more than anyone else maybe that's why we get on so well." Setters says much the same. "We argue all the time, but out of all our arguments, we get the best." Earle hits a golden goal for Vale Tennis PORT VALE'S Robbie Earle scored a vital away goal in the 73rd minute to earn them a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers at Twerton Park last night in the first leg of the Third Division play-offs final.

Gary Penrice put Rovers ahead in the 31st minute. Michael Phelan, the Norwich City captain, has rejected a new three-year contract and looks likely to leave the club. Everton and Manchester United have shown an interest in the 1 million-rated midfielder who cost 60,000 from Burnley four years ago. Phelan, 26, said: "I've had a great time at Norwich, but at my age I need to look for something a little bit extra." Liverpool's Jim Beglin is to Bates wins in style to earn another bash at Boris Victory slips out of Stieda's hands the man who gives Jack and every assistance And when they left there, another year on, and Jack became the luck of the Irish national team. Maurice was brought in again.

As manager and assistant of the Republic of Ireland, they took the 1988 European Championships by storm and thousands turned out to give the team, which reached the quarter-finals, a hero's return. "Only the Pope pulled a bigger crowd," they tell you in Dublin. Jack was slightly embarrassed by it. "I couldn't believe the welcome we got. After all.

we hadn't actually won anything." Beating England had a lot to do with it. The Irish are still wearing T-shirts that say: England 0, Republic 1. Now the team is well on the way to qualifying, for the first time in the Republic's history, for the World Cup in Italy next year. Sunday's win over Malta consolidated their position as contenders for the second qualifying place in Group Six. and next Sunday at Lansdowne Road they play Hungary, the other contenders.

"We will qualify," says Setters. If they do. it will be through the unlikely combina- sat up and straightened out his jersey to make sure the cameras caught his sponsors' name. "Barnes was coming up fast behind him and I considered it to be a sprint finish. If Stieda had kept going he would have crossed the line alone, in which case the rule does not apply.

He brought it on himself." Stieda's team manager, Richard Dejonckhere unsuccessfully lodged an appeal. "The rule clearly states that if a rider takes his hands off the bars during a sprint he will be placed last in the group taking part in the sprint, but you can hardly refer to two riders as a group." Dejonckhere said. "Alex and Barnes were well clear of the others." Nigel Bishop, who had started the day level with Rouxel, had been driving along a seven-man leading group which formed with 21 miles left, and was in with a good chance of taking over the leadership. Bishop and Rouxel were battling it out at the front as they started a finishing circuit around Llandrindod Wells, and the British rider launched his attack with a mile left. But he was unable to escape and came in at the rear of this group as Stieda opened up a lead and Barnes went after him.

Barrie Clarke, of the Britannia amateur team, lost his lead in the King of the Mountains competition by one point to the Spaniard, Santiago Portillo. flYESTERDAY GLOUCESTER LLANDRINDOD WELLS Graham Snowdon Wright were in the national team. During his National Service he played for the Army, with Bobby Robson. Don Howe and Jimmy Armfield. Setters' career as a tough, bruising wing-half "Some would say I was a dirty bastard" took him from Exeter in the Third Division (South) to West Bromwich Albion, before seven years at Manchester United, whom he joined in the year after Munich.

At Old Trafford he played alongside the likes of George Best, Denis Law. Paddy Crer-and and Harry Gregg, before a knee injury forced him to quit, via Stoke City and Charlton, and take up management. "Like everybody else, I wanted to be another Matt Busby," he recalls. Charlton has recently been given a three-year contract with the Republic, but Big Jack, tends not to sign things like that. As long as the team are winning, the job is hassle-free and the fishing is good in Ireland, he will stay.

But occasionally there is a hint that the pair might make one big financial killing abroad at a continental club. There is only one way Setters would be left behind, and that is if the Irish asked him to stay on as No. 1. "I think then I could die happy." he says. who is almost 15 years the younger man.

"It's a great win for me because I'd lost to him three times. I respect him more than any other player." Serving for the match at 5-4 and 30-30 in the fourth, Berger let Connors off the hook by hitting one smash straight towards him and putting the next into the net. Connors promptly broke back. "That overhead was tough." Berger said. "I'd make those 10 times out of 10 in practice but this was to beat Connors at the French Open." Some 20 minutes later, though, his wish was fulfilled.

Connors had no regrets about playing in five European clay-court tournaments and winning only five matches. "I'm in shape. Now I don't mind moving on to a surface where if 1 hit one. I can hit a winner and be able to cut points a bit shorter. "But I've enjoyed myself over here and worked hard.

I hope it may pay dividends over the next couple of months. At least at Wimbledon I know that if 1 hit a good shot. I'll get a reward for it." Stefan Edberg. the Wimbledon champion, recovered from an uneasy start against last year's world junior champion. Nicolas Pereira of Venezuela, to play some superbly controlled tennis and win 6-1.

6-1. 6-2. The traditional Children's Day and they swarmed all over the place brought better luck for the French. Thierry Tulasne followed up his victory over Miloslav Mecir by beating Horst Skoff. the runner-up at the German Open, by 3-6, 7-5.

6-2. 4-6. 6-1 and now plays a compatriot in Jean Fleurian. himself a 6-3, 7-6. 6-3 winner over Andrei Cherkasov.

In the women's singles Steffi Graf sprinted through 6-0, 6-1 in 47 minutes against Bettina Fulco; Gabriela Sabatini took rather longer to stop Alexia Dc-chaume. 6- 3. 6-1. But the out-of-form fifth seed, Helena Sukova. went out 6-1, 7-5 to the tiny Japanese, Akiko Kijimuta.

He claims that Charlton, for whom a good strike is likely to involve a salmon rather than Tony Cascarino. does not love football in the way that he does. "But when it comes to the game, we have the same ideas and we know what we want from it. "We haven't the resources of other countries but it is getting better. There are a lot of players who want to play for Ireland.

The whole of the country is alive to it. Even England talk about Ireland because of the European Championships. "Of course you are never as strong as you would like to be. We would like Frank Stapleton to be 22 instead of 32 and Liam Brady at 19 instead of 33. but I think it is as disappointing for them as it is for us.

They have played for Ireland all these years and they must realise this is their last chance of a World Cup, which is the highest accolade." Setters was denied his accolade, that of a full England cap. He played for England Schoolboys with Duncan Edwards, and was captain even before he signed professional with Exeter. He went on to make the England under-21 and under-23 teams. He was selected for the England squad in the days when Tom Finney and Billy land's Olli Rahnasto for the third time this year by a convincing 6-3, 6-2, 61 to record his seventh consecutive straight-sets win this month. Becker also won within the distance, beating Eric Wino-gradsky of France by 7-6.

7-5. 6- 2. It was intriguing, if wholly realistic, to hear Bates say he was happier to be playing Becker on clay than grass. "At least on clay you can get yourself into the match. If he's serving bombs all the time it's difficult." Bates can vividly recall his only previous singles match with Becker, at Wembley in 1985.

Though still only 17, the West German was making a triumphant return to London looking for a 13th consecutive singles win there after his summer titles at Queen's Club and Wimbledon. He made Becker fight to get it 7- 6. 7-5. "But I just felt I was going backwards all the time when he was serving, and hitting off the ground as well. He was the first decent player I'd met.

so really I wasn't aware of what it was about." Bates felt he was now better equipped to deal with Becker's power. "I'm more used to it and I'm stronger now. Hopefully it won't be too much of a factor, but he has a huge game, there's no doubt about that." The British No. 1 felt confident in his own ability after a string of victories. "He's a great player, sure, but he can have bad matches like everyone else.

It will be good fun playing him. I'm looking forward to it." Even by Jimmy Connors' standards, four hours and 38 minutes was an over-long "day at the And little good it did him. The No. 9 seed fought defiantly but lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-5. 7-5 to Jay Berger, who beat Mats Wilander in Rome, and thus made his earliest exit here since 1973.

It was a furious contest. "I'm so drained right now I can barely talk," admitted Berger. Bull stands by once more pie of early chances out of nothing in the opening robust skirmishes, but it appeared Palace were warming to their defensive task when Gayle struck twice within five minutes, one a scrambled affair, the other a peach. Sellars, as always an inspiration, crossed to the near post where Garner threw himself forward to glide a header beyond Suckling. Burke and Gayle went for the ball with Gayle getting the vital touch.

Garner ran to congratulate Sellars, Gayle peeled off towards the main stand beaming hugely. His smile, if anything, was even wider soon afterwards. Another Blackburn attack seemed to have petered out. but Burke failed to clear properly, and the ball was worked back into the centre where Gayle unleashed a spectacular shot that left Suckling on his back with his legs in the air. Hendry, such an influence in the centre of Blackburn's defence, had injured his leg in a first-half clash with the Palace goalkeeper, but he forgot his limp as a First Division bounce entered every Blackburn step.

Stirring stuff it was, with Palace more than a little shaken. Those final two goals left everyone in a tremble. This Saturday afternoon's match at Selhurst Park should be quite a game, and is not yet finished by any manner of means. Blackburn Rovers: Gennoe. Alk'ns.

Sutley Reid. Hendry. Mail. Gayle Millar. Milter Garner.

Sellars Crystal Palace: Suckling Pemberton Burke Madden (Pennylatrter 57min) Hopkins. Hedman. McGoldrick. Pardew Bright. Wright.

Barber Referee: Worrail (Warrington) front and Smith or Bull on the bench. The rest of the Arsenal and Liverpool players, who had to miss the Rous Cup matches against Chile and Scotland, trained yesterday and according to Robson looked fresh. "I have told them that it's one last push, one final step," he said. "The three Liverpool players McMahon, Beardsley and Barnes seem to have put their disappointment behind them and are happy to be part of a different scene, and of course the Arsenal lads are on a high anyway." Nottingham Forest's Des Walker, who left Glasgow wearing a surgical collar after ricking his neck, is much improved. Chess Veteran duo share lead BENT LARSEN.

54, of Denmark, and the former Romanian champion Mihai Suba, 41, the two oldest players in the Watson, Farley and Williams international in the City of London, share the lead with two rounds left, writes Leonard Burden. Each has eight points out of 11. Half a point behind is Daniel King. 25. of Bromley, Britain's newest grandmaster, who meets Larsen in today's final round.

Matthew Sadler. 15. the youngest contestant, achieved the biggest upset of the tournament when he defeated the reigning US champion. Michael Wilder in 31 moves. Blackburn began to get a little frantic.

A free-kick by Pember-ton was headed on by Wright, and McGoldrick scored his first, and arguably his most important, goal of the season, hooking the ball past Gennoe from close range. Only four minutes remained but, with the whistle about to be blown. Garner, that old warhorse, struck, forcing in a cross by Gayle. Under grey, drizzly skies, altogether more in keeping with football and Lancashire. Rovers, who had been uncomfortable in the heat against Watford, took to the damp with relish.

Garner almost snaffled a cou- sign for Leeds United today after being given a free transfer. He has been unable to regain his first-team place at Anfield after breaking his leg two years ago. Martin Keown, the Aston Villa central defender, has rejected his club's offer of a three-year contract and is free to talk to other clubs. But Sheffield Wednesday's success in persuading Ron Atkinson to stay as manager paid a dividend yesterday when their international defender Nigel Worthington agreed a one-year contract. Two key members of the Wolves squad, their Northern Ireland international winger Robbie Dennison and the experienced central defender Alistair Robertson, are to sign new deals.

day's World Cup qualifier against the Poles at Wembley. Everything depends on Smith recovering sufficiently to be able to take part in this morning's training session at Bisham Abbey. "To be able to rule himself in, he must convince me he is fit to train." said Robson yesterday. "If not, Steve Bull will be recalled from Plymouth." Yesterday Smith was running a slight temperature and taking antibiotics. His aerial ability gives Robson an important option, but after the way things have been working out for Bull the Arsenal striker may be fated to miss Saturday's match.

In all probability Robson will start the game with Gary Lin-eker and Peter Beardsley up Butler did a sort of rain dance, his mother ran on court to hug him. and the England supporters nearly split their faces with smiles. It had ended a dismal sequence for England: humiliation in the team event was followed on Tuesday by defeat for Fiona Smith, and their other seeded woman. Helen Troke, lost 12-9. 11-5 to Indonesia's Sarwendah Kusumawardhani.

Butler now has a chance of reaching the last eight because his next opponent, the Indonesian Hermawan Susanto, is unseeded. Susanto caused the day's other upset, a victory over China's World Grand Prix titleholder, Zhang Qingwu. Ml I ORE and more this looks like being the year of the Bull Steve Bull that is, writes David Lacey. Having distinguished his first full England appearance with an excellent goal against Scotland on Saturday, the Wolves striker is now standing by for an early recall to the World Cup squad because Alan Smith is laid up with sinusitis. The Arsenal striker was yesterday confined to bed at England's hotel in the Thames Valley.

Bull is due to appear for the Under-21 side against Poland at Plymouth tomorrow but instead could find himself travelling back to join the senior squad's preparation for Satur- Badminton David Irvine in Paris TO MOST golfers who have never made a hole in one. sinking the ball straight off the tee is a fluke, a freak or a miracle. Recently at Coombe Hill in Surrey. Britain's top-ranked tennis player, Jeremy Bates, managed the feat svith a six iron from 185 yards. Which may just make him feel that anything is possible when he faces Boris Becker, the second seed, in the third round of the French Open tomorrow.

It may well require that degree of accuracy, but over a considerably longer distance, if Grand Prix Master Becker, who has lost only four of 35 matches this year and stands 145 places above Bates in the world rankings, is to be conquered in the way Coombe Hill's eighth hole was. At least Bates managed to set up this all-too-rare confrontation with style, beating Fin- Bates Friday on his mind JOY has its hazards. If in doubt ask Alex Stieda, who lost his chance of a Milk Race stage win when he was relegated to second place for taking his hands off the handlebars in a sprint finish. He also lost the 1,000 daily prize when the Belgian referee, Aime Omloop. carried out his threat to discipline riders who committed the transgression.

Stieda's misfortune meant British riders continued their unbeaten record in this year's event, with Nick Barnes, the PMS-Falcon professional, being given first place at the end of a 93-mile stage from Gloucester to Llandrindod Wells. Barnes. 27. takes over the leadership from his team-mate Keith Reynolds, the winner at Bristol on Tuesday. The controversy did not affect the overall situation; Barnes would still have taken the jersey on points from Stieda and he finished ahead of the other man he needed to beat, the French amateur Jean-Philippe Rouxel.

Stieda. the 28-year-old "-Eleven professional from Vancouver, was philosophical. "I don't care." he said. "I won the race and that's all I'm worried about. Sitting up and giving a victory salute at the line is the whole idea of winning a race.

It's what you've worked for." Barnes, who goes into today's fourth stage from Llandrindod Wells to Malvern with a four-second lead, would have been happy just to have gained the yellow jersey. "I'd rather have won the stage another way but we were all warned before the race." he said. Omloop is noted for his hardline interpretation of the rule, which has existed for several years in amateur races, though rarely applied outside Belgium. He said later: "Stieda led the sprint from a long way out, and had a 200-metre lead when he Stalled English hopes get a timely recharge from a man called Turbo Richard Jago in Jakarta STEVE BUTLER awoke the English from their Jakarta nightmare with one of the best wins of his career yesterday, when he upset the ninth-seeded Malaysian Foo Kok Keong 15-2. 15-10, to reach the last 16 of the world championships.

The man nicknamed Turbo managed to give a performance in overdrive despite intense heat and a stomach bug. After one of the bravest and fiercest displays of attacking badminton you could wish to see, there was a spectacular and noisy release of tension from the English camp. pUOIgj Wj-JlTH "I SO 40 id B0 1 TODAY 83 ml. I LLANDRINDOD 10.00 LED8URV MALVERN CREDENHIU.X M. Km CLUBS OeA.