The Stars of France '98
Demetrio Albertini
August, 23 -1971, Midfielder
Milan
ITALY
Group B
A strategically fundamental member of the Italian National Team both with Sacchi and now with Cesare Maldini. He has plenty of brains and good international experience. With Milan he replaced Ancelotti and even not showing the same competitive charge of his precedessor he always distinguishes himself as a great playmaker. Time made his character stronger and his plays deeper. However he has been lately suffering himself the consequences of Milan’s bad moment. He was probably given too many sudden responsabilities both with Milan and with Italy. During the last Wold Cup in the U.S. he risked to collapse before emerging game after game. Still a very young player of Padova (Serie B) he showed great free-kicks but now with Milan he has to share this responsability with other teammates.
Alfonso
September, 26 - 1972, Forward
Betis Seville
SPAIN
Group D
Somehow Raul replaced Butragueno in the Spanish hierarchy of Football but Alfonso should be considered as the true heir because of his technical characteristics. Alfonso won the Gold Medal during the Olympic Games in Barcelona, along with Kiko and Luis Enrique, making a trio that Clemente wants to re-propose now with the major National Team. Only injuries have slowed him down so far.
Khalid Al-Muwallid
November, 23 - 1971, Midfielder
Al-Hilal
SAUDI ARABIA
Group C
He doesn’t wear the usual number 10 but a more charming number 14 like Cruijff. Midfield player with a soft touch and an inspired view of the game he can tell his grandsons how he took part in writing some of the brightest pages in the history of the Arab Football: from the great performance during the U.S. World Cup four years ago to the Asiatic Title won in 1996. He is the Captain of his National Team.
Faustino Asprilla
November, 10 - 1969, Forward
Parma (Italy)
COLOMBIA
Group F
Always the same old Tino: an unusual talent coupled with an unusual head. In England, with Newcastle, he showed great plays and scored some spectacular goals, but he couldn’t replace Shearer when the English forward was injured and he won neither the Championship nor the Champions League. Colombia flies by his runs and goals, (he scored 7 times to help the National Team to qualify for the next World Cup), but he also came to blows with Paraguayan goalkeeper Chilavert. Incorrigible.
Krassimir Balakov
March, 29 - 1966, Inside Forward
Stoccarda (Germany)
BULGARIA
Group D
Otherwise than his more famous CSKA Sofia’s teammates, Balakov never interfered with the Bulgarian Federation in choosing the Coach of the National Team. He just focused on playing and scored 5 goals emerging as the best Bulgarian player and scorer (along with forward Kostadinov) during the preliminary heats of the World Cup. He was named best Bulgarian player of the year and became a model to imitate in Germany’s Bundesliga. The next World Cup in France will probably be his last appearance in the “great football”.
Gabriel Batistuta
February, 1 - 1969, Forward - Fiorentina (Italy)
ARGENTINA
Group H
Passarella assured that Batistuta will be called to play the next World Cup in France, but meanwhile he didn’t line up Gabriel for the most part of the preliminary heats. It’s a long story that started in 1991 when Batistuta was acquired by Fiorentina and the former World Champion expressed his doubts about Gabriel’s talent. Batistuta, however, later became the Captain of the National Team coached by Passerella himself who unsuccesfully tried to replace Gabriel with his favourite young forward Hernan Crespo, in difficulties after an unlucky season with Parma.
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