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COACH TRIVIA
- Brazilian soccer coach of Jamaica's "Reggae Boyz", Rene Simoes, is a Jamaican national hero and a miracle maker. He has slashed crime rates, boosted industrial growth rates and made the government declare a national holiday. Simple, straightforward miracles for one who has led the Jamaican team from virtual obscurity to the soccer world cup in just four years.
- Argentina's rivals better watch out. Coach Daniel Passarella tells his players to dance with the ball, to pretend it is their girlfriend at a dance and not to let anyone else steal her away. A disciplinarian, he banned players who were homosexual and sported long hair or earrings - a move that had star striker Gabriel Batistuta cutting his locks.
- German coach Berti Vogts faces the unfortunate pressures of pleasing the German public who expect soccer success. While reaching the semifinals would be something to celebrate for most of the other hopefuls in France, it is considered a matter of course for Germany, the most consistent tournament team in world soccer.
- Game-plan and strategies are fine, but England's Glenn Hoddle has an additional weapon in his armoury - a faith healer. Hoddle brushes aside the ridicule by saying, "I don't give two monkeys what anyone else thinks about me or my decisions."
- Monkeys or not, Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente echoes the feelings of all the coaches when he admitted, ""I am the one with my neck on the chopping block here."
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