World Cup: Kasperczak to bid farewell to Tunisians

HENRYK KASPERCZAK, the Polish-born coach of England's first World Cup opponents, Tunisia, announced last night that he would resign as soon as his team's participation in the finals was over in order to manage the Corsican club, Bastia.

The 51-year-old Kasperczak sprung the news on a handful of surprised journalists at Montelimar, Provence, where the Tunisians are preparing for tomorrow's opening group match against England in Marseilles. His first signing for Bastia would be Jose Clayton, a Brazilian-born defender with the Tunisia squad.

He said he had waited for the Tunisian Football Association to make him an offer to stay, but none was forthcoming. During his four-year reign, the team reached the African Nations' Cup final and quarter-finals as well as qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Kasperczak claimed his decision would not affect his attitude towards the England game. He admitted he was wary of the aerial power of Shearer, Sheringham and Adams, yet believed that England had "no great players - so far they've proved nothing".

Tunisia, he added, would be well supported at the Stade Velodrome. "Everyone knows," he said with a smile, "that Marseilles is one of the biggest Arab cities in the world".

The South Africa assistant referee Aristidis Chris Soldatos has sustained a minor injury in training and will be replaced by Dramane Dante of Mali for England's game against Tunisia. Soldatos will take Dante's place for England's next match, against Romania on 22 June in Toulouse.

The South African striker Benedict McCarthy will miss Thursday's Group C fixture against Denmark with damaged ankle ligaments sustained in Friday's 3-0 defeat to France. His striking partner, the former Leeds man Phil Masinga, is doubtful for the game in Toulouse with a badly bruised shin.

Two French players, Monaco's David Trezeguet and Chelsea's Franck Leboeuf, were injured in a practice match against a local amateur side in Mallemort yesterday.

Trezeguet sprained his right ankle and may miss France's next match against Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Leboeuf pulled a thigh muscle, but should recover quickly. Another striker, Stephane Guivarc'h, will definitely miss the Saudi game with a knee ligament injury sustained against South Africa.

Ronaldo was yesterday ordered by Brazil's technical director, Zico, to get moving in the world champions' next match against Morocco on Tuesday.

Zico was not happy with the Ronaldo's performance in the 2-1 win over Scotland last Wednesday, even though he was probably Brazil's outstanding performer. "He's an exceptional player, but he has to improve," Zico said. "He has to move more. If he doesn't, he can be marked more easily. If he moves, he complicates things for the opposing defence. It requires some sacrifice."

Fernand Sastre, the co-chairman of the World Cup organising committee, died of lung cancer yesterday at the age 74. He was the president of the French Football Federation from 1973 to 1984.