DALLAS, July 6: Kennet Andersson. the expensive misfit who . almost never ma-

de it to the World

Cup. has finally left the bad times behind, reports Reuter.

The gangling Swedish striker. who has spent his enUre career with little clubs, has hit the big time with thgee goals In the finals, he once feared he would miss — Including one against Brazil.

Andersson played only three minutes In Sweden’s 10 World Cup qualifying games after spending most of last year in the International wilderness when he was snubbed by his Belgian club. Mechelen.

But after regaining his form when he moved to French club Lille a year ago. Andersson won a late call-up to the Swedish squad, and the striker who averages a goal every two games has fully repaid cqach Tommy Svensson.

"When I was having trouble with Mechelen I thought I would never make it to the World Cup." said Andersson.

"And even when I was selected 1 did not think I would be playing because I did not play in the friendlies before the World Cup.

"To be here is great, to play and score goals is even better. I'm having,a really good time: We all are. "

A substitute in the opening match. he scored the Sweden's goal in the 1-1 draw with Brazil and then earned them a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years with two in the 3-1 second-round win over Saudi Arabia.

"I thought before the tournament that we could make the quarter-finals, but I never imagined I'd score so nVany goals." he said.

'I think the goal against Brazil was probably ‘he most beautiful I have ever scored, and certainly the biggest thrill

of the World Cup so far,' said the 26-year-old.

In Sunday's quarter-final against Romania he could draw level with teammate Martin Dahlin, whose four goals so far make him Sweden's Joint World Cup record goalscorer.

"I never even knew about the record before the tournament. It will be broken, and I think Martin will break it," he said.

Andersson was left out of the starting line-up for Sweden's opening match against Cameroon, but came in against Russia when Svensson decided to play two strikers. With Dahlin suspended for the Brazil game. Andersson kept his place and scored his first World Cup goal.

"He has Improved over the last four weeks and his selfconfidence has been really boosted by scoring a few goals." said teammate Roland Nilsson.

But Andersson feared for his international career when Mechelen dropped him in October 1992 after spending most of the previous season on the substitutes’ bench.

The club, in severe financial difficulties, barred him from training with the first team to try to force h^n to leave so they could cut his 400.000 dollars salary.

A promising international career, which began in 1990 and seemed to-be flourishing when he scored in the European Championship semifinal against Germany in 1992. went on hold as he triW to sort out his dispute with Mechelen.

Eventually he went back to Sweden, on loan to Norrko-ping. and in July 1993 Joined Ulle. where he scored 10 goals last season.

"Going to Lille and playing professional football again was really important. I got my selfconfidence back there." said Andersson.

He earned his international recall in February in a three-team tournament in Miami, scoring against the United States.

Last month he switched clubs again. Joining another small town French side. Caen, for five million francs (925,000 dollars). Now his World Cup goals have led to rumours of interest from Italian clubs.

But It seems the Normandy club may have got themselves the biggest World Cup bargain of all time.