Italy beaten on penalties in the longest final in history For the fourth time the South American side lifts football's top trophy ELIO PRETTE The world champion title went to Brazil in Mexico. The specialists and the luckiest players were crowned again after 120 minutes of frozen, hard-fought and beautiful football. It was the first time the winner had to be decided by a penalty shootout. And the penalties moreover confirmed once again that South American teams have always had the upper hand, and that Europeans have won until now, and not always, only in Europe. Sacchi's Italy, it must be said, would have deserved to stand on the podium at the same level as their opponents, above all for the commitment shown by Franco Baresi, who took to the field almost 15 days after a meniscus operation. He also proved to be very good. A truly great player. However, one cannot judge him by his mistake from the penalty spot, which delivered the decisive strike of the final. Roberto Baggio also recovered and came onto the pitch. Although he was in rather difficult condition, he tried to settle the match in his own way. Taffarel was left with just one goal and then many. But the last issue is that we will nevertheless remember the fourth, we will remember the game he played right through to the final minute. Now someone may also be overwhelmed by bitterness and no longer appreciate the reality of the Italian World Cup, all four managers and especially Arrigo Sacchi. And that would not be fair. Full of obstacles from the start, accompanied by harsh controversy and hostile tones, as well as quarrels, this national side overcame obstacle after obstacle by coming together as a group, bringing out an unexpected temperament and relying on the rare but extraordinary creativity of R. Baggio, in whom this was seen more than in the Italian championship, more than in Juventus, confirming him as a top-class footballer. But others too showed themselves to be great: a very great Maldini, an inspired Donadoni, the usual unstoppable Benarrivo, Apolloni, and even a lively Kerbi. None of that was enough. We can say that the Italians were the only ones who managed to contain a Brazilian side, supported by the heat of Los Angeles and favoured by everyone. The final clash showed that one can defend oneself in many valid ways. Italy was split into for and against Sacchi. The team was not united. In the photo: (from the right) the joyful run of Brazil's Bebeto; (bottom left) Roberto Baggio's disappointment; and (centre) the World Cup. On page 3 Obllak coached Teuta On page 4 Statistics and curiosities from USA '94 On the back page The photo of the champion team On the page The Italy-Brazil final match

After the robbery at the police station Peqin, police officers on trial for the disappearance of weapons After four months of intensive investigations Gjirokastër Two houses go up in flames GJIROKASTËR — In the stadium, the fire has left two families without a home. In fact it initially involved — it was midnight — the two-storey house and the house belonging to them. It was only the crackling of the beams that had caught fire that made the family rush outside in panic, with only one person injured. Meanwhile the fire spread, also engulfing the neighbouring three-storey house. Five days later, those from that house — who had emigrated to Greece — were informed of the event. (R. K) ELBASAN — After four months of investigations, the Elbasan prosecutor's office has sent the court the files concerning the robbery — on 1 March this year — of 23 automatic rifles and 23 magazines from the depot of the Peqin police station. Before the court are the two police officers Ardian Sheshi and Ramiz Kaca — on the night of the robbery they were on duty near the police station building, accused 'of violating the rules of guard duty'. Meanwhile, the defence has put forward the version that the ammunition disappeared before the night when the two arrested men were on duty. Me. Kl.

Ticket price doubled Report from the Ministry of Finance inspection TIRANA — Lottery ticket fraud? Before the new lottery organized by the Sports Lotteries Centre has even been closed, another scandal risks growing in scale. An inspection carried out by the Lotteries Directorate at the Ministry of Finance has established that tickets for the second round were being sold — at several points in Tirana — not at 10 lek, as they should have been, but at twice the price set by the Ministry of Finance. 'This is the price assigned to us by the Sports Lotteries Centre' — those identified by the Ministry of Finance inspection replied. They did not know how to explain why, and on what basis, instead of the 10 lek price shown on the tickets, they were being ordered to sell them for double that amount. But the clash, volcanic as it was, between these 'speculators' and the decisions taken by the Ministry or by the Centre of the new market is unable to explain whether anyone knows the truth. A few days ago, the organisers of the 45' had asked the Ministry to raise the lottery price from 10 to 20 lek. But by 10 July they had received its reply. It was established that the prices were signed by Minister Dobrinca himself: 'prices may be applied in two different amounts for one type of ticket'. Strangely, the lottery organisers did the opposite. What is even more surprising is that in other large cities and at some points in Tirana — as is well known — tickets were sold for 10 lek. Is this another game madness where no one makes sense, just ordinary fraud? Andrea Stefanli

IN DURRËS A TRUCK CARRYING MUSHROOMS FROM SERBIA IS BLOCKED — The embargo against Serbia is once again in force. But this time against its sportsmen. A truck carrying 2,934 kilograms of mushrooms has been blocked in Durrës. The forged licence plate could not hide from the Albanian police the Serbian origin of the mushrooms, which were destined for Italy. LEZHA HOSPITAL TWINED WITH HOSPITALS IN VOJ IN SWITZERLAND — Another twinning agreement completed in the city of Lezha. This time the 'brother' belongs to medicine. The city hospital has been twinned with the group of hospitals in the canton of Voj in Switzerland. The agreement provides for technical assistance and the specialisation of medical staff. IN KUKËS THE POLICE ARREST A WANTED KILLER — Arrested by the police forces of the Has district, Aleksandër Mëreku, born in 1955. A year earlier he had killed citizen Demë Tobi with a firearm and had then managed to escape the police.

Tirana also a capital of international rock June '95, European festival ON PAGE 2 Ancient Albania also in Germany World Congress of Sociology ON PAGE 2

annex, the second floor located by the Bashkuar school. We exchange it for a 2-room apartment and 1 kitchen so that it can be 2060 in Tirana. The printer is a 'Canon BJ 10 SX' brand with universal use.