By the time it came down to yesterday’s all-American semi- finals, any possible combination for today’s 36-hole final – in fact it is between Jeff Maggert and Andrew Magee – would have had audiences reaching for the remote control, not just around the globe but all over the States.
The quartet of Maggert, Magee, Steve Pate and John Huston, who rank somewhere in-between distinguished and undistinguished, are all between 35 and 37, have a combined total of 16 US tour wins but no major titles, and 19 major top 10 places. Everyone may have a price but the prospect of winning $1m (pounds 625,000) was clearly neither Jumbo’s nor Destiny’s. ONE OF the marketing slogans for golf’s new, shiny, globally- orientated series of World Championship events, of which the Andersen Consulting World Matchplay is but the first, goes something like this: “Now Destiny has a tee-time.”
The only problem is that Joe Destiny took a leaf out of Jumbo Ozaki’s book and did not bother to turn up at La Costa. Experience and a touch of cynical play versus understanding and a lot of pace: the final outcome may rest on this battle.. Especially in Wednesday’s game at Old Trafford, where the Italians are likely to play with five at the back.
The key may actually be how Bergomi and his defensive partner, Francesco Colonnese, deal as a unit with the combined threat of the Yorke-Cole partnership. Bergomi may now be 34 and slowing, but he is still one of the world’s best man-markers and his positional play remains instinctive. He is unlikely to shoulder the burden of keeping Yorke in check on his own, and may act as the spare man in defence. His confrontation with the veteran of four World Cups and more than 100 European ties should be an intriguing one. Inter will also have to be careful not to concede free kicks around the box, as Beckham is rapidly establishing himself as one of the best dead-ball specialists.YORKE V BERGOMINot only has Dwight Yorke scored five goals already in this season’s Champions’ League, he has also looked every bit an international – albeit one from Tobago. In a game where the Italian full-backs will be vulnerable to the wide-men’s runs, though, Alex Ferguson will probably play Ryan Giggs on one wing and Beckham on the other. One major consideration, for both club and country, is whether Beckham should now move to a more central role.
Simeone has gone on record as saying there was not much to that kick, and Beckham has shown strength of character by putting the red card and subsequent national furore behind him. If the United No 7 can stifle the Argentinian’s late runs into the box, while still concentrating on his own passing andpin-point crossing, he might feel fully exorcised. Oh, and he can score goals too (four in the Champions’ League this year).BECKHAM V SIMEONEDon’t mention England-Argentina inSt Etienne. That might be easier said than done, as Baggio is close to his very best. After two years in the Milan wilderness, followed by a slow rehabilitation via the unfashionable Bologna and the eminently more glamorous World Cup stage (where he made Alessandro del Piero look positively ordinary), “Divine Ponytail” is once again pulling the strings from the midfield – without the ponytail.
Alex Ferguson will hope, then, that he does not have to spend too much time tracking back and shadowing Baggio, and can instead concentrate on his own attacking game. Not only is he the ball- winner and hard-tackler, his passing-range has also improved immensely since his arrival at the club in 1993. Indeed, the “will he play, won’t he play” saga looks set to persist right up until kick-off. That said, any 22-year-old who can boast 55 caps and two Fifa World Player of the Year awards, should never be discounted.KEANE V BAGGIOUnited’s more measured three-pronged assault in 1999, can be largely attributed to the Irishman’s return to fitness. There are persistent rumours that his knee injury is a career-threatening one, and the effects – psychological and physical – of that “fit” on July 12 1998 still seem to linger.
When they last met, in the semi-final of France 98, Ronaldo won the day – the Brazil No 9 scored the opening goal after leaving Stam’s defensive partner, Frank de Boer, for dead. The United centre-back is on much better form than he was during the summer, though. And the pressures of his world-record pounds 10.5m transfer fee appear to be evaporating by the game Conversely, Ronaldo’s post World Cup has been unspectacular. United will also be aware that they finished top of their Champions’ League group, a quartet which included Real Madrid and Spartak Moscow. Quite which Inter will reveal itself on Wednesday is impossible to predict, but even at their most potent, you fancy United to prevail on home territory.
