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Robin Parke

Every World Cup provides a special stage for a special player and Chilean striker Marcelo Salas looks like making France 98 his tournament.

 Salas is no unknown, of course, and Lazio of Rome paid over HK$170 million to River Plate for his services next season. Italian fans following Serie A will be a lot happier seeing him next season than they were at the pleasant Parc Lescure on Thursday.

 Two goals of sublime brilliance that underlined the art of the striker at the highest level should have propelled Chile to victory over Italy in the first Group B game of the 16th World Cup.

 But no team can legislate for the referee and official Lucian Bouchardeau of Niger awarded the harshest of penalties in the closing minutes of a superbly entertaining game to deny Chile the maximum points.

 It was at least fitting that Roberto Baggio, cold-shouldered for 18 months by coach Cesare Maldini, should slot it so professionally past Nelson Tapia for a less-than-deserved equaliser.

 Baggio's problems at international level started from his missed penalty in the World Cup final four years ago.

 Sadly, the game ended with Chilean skipper Ivan Zamorano, another world class performer, stretchered off and towering defender Javier Margas nursing a pulled muscle.

 Salas was once pursued by Manchester United and this display showed why Alex Ferguson should be bitterly disappointed at losing him. If Chile can remain in this World Cup to its later stages - and on this display why should they not? - then this superb striker could end up the tournament's leading scorer.

 His strikes were truly exceptional, particularly as he was being marked and bustled by Fabio Cannavaro, who was to be shown a yellow card for his efforts.

 Ultimately, there is little that can be done to deny sheer class and Salas' goals were total quality. His first was taken when Zamorano headed down in a crowded penalty area, leaving his front-line partner less than a metre in which to turn and act.

 But Salas did just that and the ball was spinning in the top corner of Gianluca Pagliuca's net before Cannavaro knew what had happened.

 That was virtually the last kick of the first half and Salas put Chile ahead minutes after the restart with another goal taken from the book of striking brilliance. In the manner of the great Pele, or the Scottish immortal, Denis Law, Salas seemed to defy the natural laws of gravity to hang in the air before glancing a powerful header just inside the post, giving Pagliuca no hope.

 Earlier, Baggio had shown the wisdom of his belated re-call by sending the giant Christian Vieri clear and the Atletico Madrid striker slipped the ball wide of Tapia to give Italy the early lead.

 Italy, despite their disapproving fans, did not play badly. Chile simply played a lot better - and in the overall context of this World Cup, it is difficult to see the Italians being successful.

 But they did start in America four years ago with a 1-0 defeat by Ireland and proceeded to wobble and weave their way to the final - getting better as the tournament progressed.

 They should really have lost here because the penalty award was not justified and the Chilean defence had already absorbed and dealt with everything the Italians could produce.

 It was a measure of Italy's frantic frustration that they were finally hurling Route One long balls into the Chilean area in a bid for an equaliser.

 It was easy to feel more than a little sorry for Chile, who were thoroughly entertaining and had the best players on the field in Salas and Zamorano. Hopefully, they will ultimately get what they most thoroughly deserve and reach the later stages of France 98.

 Italy almost certainly will. But coach Maldini must get more from his team if they are to pose a major threat. He needs more than a magic wand - he needs a Salas.



Salas has fans marvelling at his feats