Germans Say Cup Win Was to Be Expected

German students spending their summer at Harvard reacted nonchalantly to their soccer team's 1-0 World Cup championship win over Argentina Sunday.

They said they expected the victory all along.

"The Germans deserved to win." Harvard Summer School student Sandra Wettmann said, speaking through an interpreter. "They played 10 times better than the Argentines."

Wettmann, a native of Germany, said she wishes the game had been played a little more skillfully. She said, "The Argentines tripped the Germans too much, and the judges interrupted the game too many times."

Germany won after a controversial call gave Andreas Brehme a penalty kick late in the game. But while the Germans scored only once, they controlled the flow of the game throughout, allowing Argentina just one shot on goal.

Soccer expert Rico DiCenso, of Pinocchio's pizza parlor, said the Germans had a distinct psychological advantage.

"They were overdue," he said. "They were in the finals the last two times and lost. I think they were very determined."

Pinocchio's has long been considered a mecca for Harvard Square soccer fans, and support for the Italian national team runs high in the pizza parlor.

But there were no celebrations in Pinnochio's this weekend, since Italy--the nation hosting this year's WorldCup--had lost to Argentina in the semifinals, in a1-1 game decided by a tiebreaker. Italy wonSaturday's consolation game against England, 2-1.

DiCenso said Italy's defeat surprised him, andsaid the game's location--Naples--may haveaffected the outcome.

According to DiCenso, Argentina's powerhouse,Diego Maradona, plays for a Naples team during theregular season. As a result, the Naples crowd mayhave been divided over which team to support,depriving the Italian team of the psychologicaledge it needed.

Despite the close score in theArgentina-Germany final, one German student at theSummer School said she wished Italy had playedGermany instead.

"I think it was very boring," said Katja N.Natus. "The Argentines did not play very well.Maybe they were all very tired."

Natus said she thought Germany would win thecup again in 1994, but DiCenso said he had doubtsabout such predictions, because German Coach FranzBeckenbauer is leaving and because the team lacksyoung talent.

Instead, DiCenso said he sees Italy, andperhaps Brazil, emerging as top contenders for the1994 Cup. Brazil will be out for revenge, DiCensosaid, after suffering a humiliating defeat at thehands of Argentina this year.

Because the United States will host the 1994Cup, DiCenso said he hopes support for the U.S.team grows in this country.

"Even though I'm Italian, I'd like to see theUnited States get past the second round," he said.

DiCenso said a few quality performances inWorld Cup competition could help soccer becomemore popular here, and added that "In 1994 thepeople are really going to get behind soccer."CrimsonAli F. ZaidiADAM DICENSO, an employee at Pinochio'sexpresses his feelings about Italy's failure atthe World Soccer Cup Tournament.