DUBLIN: Gabriel Batistuta wants to make up for World Cup '94 and be top scorer in '98. Frustrated that Argentina went out in the second round after losing to Romania in the United States, he wants the team to get it right in France. "My big ambition is to be the top scorer there," the striker said yesterday after helping Argentina to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ireland at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

"I had the same hope in the United States four years ago but we went out of the tournament too early."

Romario does the full monty

TOKYO: Romario takes off. The Brazilian soccer star, who guided his nation to a record fourth World Cup title four years ago, has shed his shirt and shorts for a TV ad in Japan. Sumitomo rubber industries chose the Brazilian star with the World Cup in mind, to boost its international image. Last year, the ad featured Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls, bouncing a tire.

In this year's ad, which is only being shown inJapan, Romario turns from a skeleton into a running figure that briefly appears nude. Romario, who was paid 100 million yen ($ 770,000) for the ad, actually wore swimming trunks for the shooting, said company spokesman Hiroshi Watanabe.

Ramos welcomes competition

NEW YORK: The American mid-field used to be Tab Ramos' domain. Now it seemingly belongs to Claudio Reyna. And Ramos, recovering from the same torn knee ligament in less than 18 months, sees that as a help to his game.

"This has been something that has been talked about since Claudio came on to the national team, whether I could play in the same lineup with Claudio," Ramos said yesterday via a news teleconference. "I think Claudio and I totally different. I like to have the ball in the final third of the field, get crosses in, take someone on, make things happen." "It helps me tremendously to have Claudio playing at level he is right now."

Brazil's odds cut to 11/4

LONDON: Brazil's odds were cut from 3/1 to 11/4 favourites towin the soccer World Cup.

France, hosts for the finals starting on June 10, Germany and Italy are offered at 7/1, with England and the Netherlands 8/1 and Argentina 12/1, bookmakers William Hill said yesterday.

Defending champions Brazil also have the favourite to be the tournament's top scorer, Ronaldo at 5/1.

England striker Alan Shearer has been backed from 8/1 to 7/1 to head the scoring list after hitting two goals in his country's 3-0 warm-up win against Portugal at Wembley on Wednesday.

French women indifferent, says poll

PARIS: Most French women are not interested in the World Cup soccer finals to be staged in France in June and July, according to an opinion poll.

The Ipsos poll, commissioned by the Galeries Lafayette departmental stores and published yesterday, said 70 French women were indifferent to the tournament and only 21 per cent were looking forward to it.But 80 per cent said they would be disappointed to see France go out early in the tournament.