At East Rutherford N.J.
Wednesday 3 p.m.; ESPN, WCIU-Ch. 26
Italy’s record: Lost to Ireland 1-0, beat Norway 1-0, tied Mexico 1-1, beat Nigeria 2-1, beat Spain 2-1.
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Bulgaria’s record: Lost to Nigeria 3-0, beat Greece 4-0, beat Argentina 2-0, tied Mexico 1-1 (won 3-1 in penalty kicks), beat Germany 2-1.
Offense: The game likely will be decided by one of the world’s finer strikers, either Roberto Baggio of Italy or Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria. Between them, they have scored eight goals (Stoichkov has five) in this World Cup.
Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi surprised some observers Tuesday when he announced that forward Giuseppe Signori would not start. Signori is a likely replacement for Pier Luigi Casiraghi if heat and high humidity become a problem.
Italy tends to run a more controlled attack, sending forwards into small open spaces in the opposing defense. In early matches it appeared that the Italians were trying to force things, and as a result they scored only six goals and fired only 24 shots, both lowest among the semifinalists.
The Bulgarians don’t seem to worry about using one system of attack. Stoichkov likes to roam the field and break into the open for pinpoint crossing passes from midfielder Krasimir Balakov. But the Bulgarians also have a scoring threat in Iordan Letchkov, the balding 27-year-old who is being called “Air Iordan” after his flying header defeated Germany Sunday.
Defense: These are the best defensive teams still alive. Italy has yielded only four goals in five matches, while Bulgaria has given up only two since it let in three in its opening disaster against Nigeria.
Italy will be hampered by the suspension of starter Mauro Tassotti. He will be replaced by 30-year-old Roberto Mussi, who has made only three international appearances.
Intangibles: The expectations couldn’t be more different. The Italians have rallied nicely after blowing their opener, but they have yet to make anyone think of them as championship material.
They were considered a bust when they lost to Argentina in penalty kicks in the semifinal in Naples four years ago, and they probably will be similarly maligned if they fall to the underrated Bulgarians. Playing in front of a boisterous crowd full of New York-bred Italian-Americans should help-but not if things go awry.
The Bulgarians, by contrast, are only too happy to be here. They’ve used their relative anonymity to maximum advantage, and they don’t seem the sort of team that is overburdened by expectations.