FIFA Internationals
Olympic Champions Brazil beat Croatia, but World Champions Germany lost to Austria in two international friendlies last week. Yet the results do not make Brazil No. one seed, but reminds us of the result of a World Cup match played between West Germany and Austria on June 25 in 1982. It was the Group 2’s last match. Had the match ended in a draw, West Germany would have been eliminated from the competition in the very first round, as they lost to Algeria 1-2 in the group’s first match.
Austria lost and Germany moved into the second round. Many soccer commentators say that it was a fixed game. They also castigate at the match between host Argentina and Peru four years ago. The hosts needed a victory at least by 5-0 to overstep Brazil on goal difference and did that by 6-0 at the cost of Peru’s goalkeeper, who was an Argentine by birth.
Algeria and Brazil were cheated.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
