Football: Burton eager to try his luck against the best

JAMAICA'S POSSE of English-based players swing into action against Croatia in Group H Toulouse on Sunday - with Deon Burton, the Derby County striker, desperate for the waiting to end.

"I can't wait anymore," the 21-year-old said. "I wish it was already Sunday. We can win. This is the World Cup, anything can happen."

He is joined in the Reggae Boyz' squad by his former Portsmouth team- mates Paul Hall and Fitzroy Simpson, the Wimbledon pair Marcus Gayle and Robbie Earle, his Derby colleague Daryll Powell and the Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair.

The decision by Rene Simoes, the Jamaican coach, to rely on foreign-based players at first caused criticism but it paid off immediately. Burton made a direct impact, scoring in each of his first four World Cup qualifying games, a feat that propelled him to instant fame and the title of Jamaican Sports Personality of the Year.

Theodore Whitmore's ball control skills dazzle in midfield alongside Earle and the veteran Peter Cargill, with the experienced Durrant Brown and Ian Goodison providing support in defence.

Simoes has two major injury problems as he prepares for Croatia. The defender Linval Dixon is suffering from a knee injury and the midfielder Stephen Malcolm from a sore toe.

Sunday's match has had extra spice added to it,. Croatia lodged an official protest after two of their officials were ordered to leave a Jamaican training session earlier this week.

"Our sessions are open to everyone but when we went to watch the Jamaicans we were told to leave. We are not trying to cause trouble, but we have protested to Fifa," Branko Miksa, the president of the Croatian football federation, said.

Another Sunday fixture sees Iran begin their tournament against Yugoslavia in St Etienne. The Iranian coach, Jalal Talebi, says that on a good day the Yugoslavs are a match for anyone - so he is hoping to catch them on one of their bad days.

"Yugoslavia are a very good team. They have a lot of very skilful and experienced players who have technique and play attacking football," said Talebi, who took over the team less than a month ago in Iran's third coaching change of the year.

"On a good day, Yugoslavia can beat any team anywhere in the world. But, on a bad day, they can lose to anyone anywhere in the world," Talebi said. Defence is his preoccupation. Iran have three top strikers who play in the German Bundesliga, but their defenders are not so good.

To increase Talebi's problems Ahmad Abedzadeh, his captain and goalkeeper, who is recovering from a knee operation late last year, is unlikely to be available on Sunday.

"There's only a 40 per cent chance that he'll be well enough to play," Talebi said. Nima Nakisa, seven years younger than the 32-year-old Abedzadeh and not as experienced, is likely to be in the Iranian goal against Yugoslavia.

After Yugoslavia, Iran face the United States and Germany. Iranian fans were so happy when their team qualified for the World Cup that millions danced in the streets, and Talebi admitted that his team were under tremendous pressure to beat the Americans, Iran's political adversaries for almost two decades.

Despite recent overtures by Iran's moderate President, Mohammad Khatami, the United States are still "The Great Satan" for many Iranians.

"Everyone says that politics and sports are different, but unfortunately they go together. There is a lot of pressure on players and the team, but I hope that everyone understands we are here to play football and not for any political reasons," said Talebi, who has lived in the United States.

"We are here to play football, and to show that we don't have problems with anyone," the coach added.