Football / World Cup USA '94: Spanish delight tempered by ban

(First Edition)

SPAIN will have to face Switzerland in the second round without one of their leading players, Jose Luis Caminero. The midfield player, who scored two goals in the 3-1 defeat of Bolivia on Monday night, collected his second booking of the tournament for a foul in the last moments of the match.

Some of the Spanish players put their hands to their heads when they saw the yellow card and knew that he would miss the next match.

'I am bit depressed to get the second yellow card but it was a very important result,' Caminero said. 'The coach told me afterwards that I should have been a bit more rational. But we are strong enough to beat Switzerland.'

Javier Clemente, the Spanish coach, said that the team would miss the inspirational Atletico Madrid player, who has collected an automatic one-match suspension. But we have other good players and I am sure he will be replaced effectively. We have qualified and that was the main goal,' he said.

Spain, who have often promised so much at World Cups but very rarely delivered, played some superb football to complete their first victory in the group and take the second qualifying place behind Germany.

They had to survive an early scare when Ramallao hit the bar for Bolivia in the third minute. But a penalty scored by Josep Guardiola set them on their way, and Caminero's two goals were the best that had been seen at Soldier Field, Chicago, in the first round.

His first goal was brilliantly worked. Caminero passed to Sergi on the left flank, Sergi skipped around his marker and slipped the ball back to Caminero, who blasted his shot into the goal.

After Bolivia had scored when Erwin Sanchez's long-range shot took a deflection, Caminero showed great control when he chested down Albert Ferrer's long ball into the penalty area to put the result beyond doubt.

The Bolivian players claimed that Felipe had taken a dive when Spain were awarded their penalty, and television replays appeared to support them.

'We're disappointed because the world will have got the wrong impression of Bolivian football,' Xabier Azkargorta, the Bolivian coach, said. 'Unfortunately we were too often overwhelmed by the occasion. But some of the refereeing was harsh. I don't want to say any more.'

BOLIVIA (1-4-2-3): Trucco (Bolivar); J Pena (Santa Fe), Borja, Rimba, Sandy (all Bolivar), Soruco (Blooming); Ramos (Destroyers), Soria (Bolivar); E Sanchez (Boavista), Ramallo (Oriente Petrolero), Melgar (The Strongest). Substitutes: Moreno (Blooming) for Ramos, h/t; Castillo (Platense) for Soria, 63.

SPAIN (4-4-2): Zubizarreta (Barcelona); Ferrer (Barcelona), Voro (Deportivo La Coruna), Abelardo (Sporting Gijon), Sergi; Goicoechea, Guardiola (all Barcelona), Caminero (Atletico Madrid), Felipe (Tenerife); Salinas (Deportivo La Coruna), Guerrero (Athletic Bilbao). Substitutes: Hierro (Real Madrid) for Felipe, h/t; Bakero (Barcelona) for Guardiola, 69.

Andoni Zubizarreta, the goalkeeper who had his contract cancelled by Barcelona after they lost the European Cup final 4-0 to Milan, has signed a two-year contract with Valencia. His successor at Barcelona will be Julen Lopetegui, formerly of Logrones.