DALLAS. July 6: Squareeyed World Cup watchers got a break from the television on Wednesday when soccer's top tournament began a three-day break but the surviving eight teams pressed on with preparations for the quarter-finals, reports Reuter.

After 44 games and more than 120 goals In nearly 70 hours of soccer spread across three weeks, the event paused while disconsolate losing squads headed for home and the remaining teams — seven European and favourites Brazil — limbered up.

Spain, who trained on the east coast on Wednesday, play Italy at Foxboro near Boston on Saturday in the first of the semifinal deciders. The Dutch, blossoming as USA '94 progresses, meet Brazil in- Dallas the. same day Both teams were travelling to the Texas city on Wednesday.

Defending champions Germany battle Bulgaria at the Giants Stadium on Sunday as Sweden play Romania in Palo Alto for the other semifinal places.

German coach Berti Vogts said midfielder Matthias Sammer, one of the side's most impressive players at the World Cup, faced a race against time tq get fit for the Bulgaria g—e. Si: Hdy »» Spsln «t 22:00 (BST) G*m«B : HoltandwBtari it 01:30 (BST)

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"If the game was today or tomorrow. Matthias would not be able to play." Vogts said during training near Chicago-

Bulgaria pipped Mexico to the quarter-finals in a nail-biting penalty shootout, the first of the World Cup in the United States

Jubilant fans packed the streets of Sofia after the Bulgarian upset. Not since an anti communist coalition won parliamentary elections in 1991 has the city witness*^ such emotional celebrations.

In Italy, similar scenes of Joy were marred when a 15-year-old boy fired a pistol and accidentally killed his seven year-old cousin in the town of Herculaneum near Naples.

Fans in Mexico trudged morosely but peacefully through the streets, but In the Los Angeles area some Mexican supporters stoned police after festivities turned sour. At least six people were arrested.

It was a rare incident of soccer-related hooliganism in the United States during the finals. Elsewhere there have been more violent incidents, including in the Netherlands and Brazil, even though those teams made it to the final eight. London bookmakers still quote Brazil as favourites to win the World Cup at 6-4. ahead of Germany of 7-2 and Italy at 4-1. The Dutch Romanians and Spain are all quoted at 10-1. Sweden are on 12-1 and Bulgaria are the outsiders at 20-1.

One gambler banked on Bulgaria, losing to Mexico and lost 1.21,000 pounds (1.86.000 dollars) a London bookmaker said, adding it was the biggest loss on a single soccer bet he could remember.

"When you bet that amount of money you tend to be philosophical about losing, rather than upset." William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said. "We expect to hear from him again soon."