E E 18 L D 0 U SI 2 ED IN SIA CH S S U R CH T A
M
FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
RUSSIA CALLING
ENGLISH EDITION
WWW.FIFA.COM/MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018
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LETTER FROM A FIFA LEGEND
Roberto Di Matteo
DEAR READERS OF FIFA 1904, I still remember the day my dad signed me up
These days, I have to be a role model for
for a football club. I was only six years old at
others. As a FIFA Legend, it is important for
the time. I would later go on to score 16 goals
me to inspire and motivate young girls and
in one game for FC Schaffhausen, the local
boys to play the game. This is something that
club in the Swiss town where I was born.
we do day in, day out as FIFA Legends – using
We won that match 21-1, and for every goal
our passion for the game, whether it is in a
that I scored, my dad put a little pebble in his
match, in the media or in our personal lives.
trouser pocket. It was full to bursting by the end of the match!
As far as my other objectives go, my immediate priorities lie with my family. In time, however,
I also have very fond memories of Italy becom-
I want to enjoy more success as a coach.
ing world champions for the third time just a
Whether you are a coach or a player, there is
few years later, in 1982. How we celebrated!
no better feeling in the world than lifting a
One player who really stood out for me in
trophy at the end of the season.
that team was Gaetano Scirea because of his Yours sportingly,
persona on the pitch. He was my role model.
Roberto Di Matteo
imago
elegance, his incredible technique and his
FIFA 1904 /
1
CONTENTS
8 Russian football has a long and glorious tradition. With just a few months to go until the World Cup, we take a closer look at the hosts’ footballing pedigree.
FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
16
20 Lady Luck always has an important role to play in draws, but she has also decided between victory and defeat before when teams have had to draw lots...
8
16 The wait is over – now we all know the groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Some of the best shots from the draw in Moscow.
22 Ever heard of bandy? This popular sport is played with sticks on ice, but it also has a lot of similarities with football. Read our report from Krasnoyarsk.
30 Ballet is Russia, and Russia is ballet. Football fits in perfectly.
38 Russian World Cup stamps: enough to get football fans’ hearts aflutter.
Presse Sports, Gian Paul Lozza, Sergey Bobylev / TASS, Lars Baron / Getty Images
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22
COVER PICTURE
Russian ballet soloist Viktorina Kapitonova poses at the Zurich Opera House. Photo: Gian Paul Lozza 2
/ FIFA 1904
4
4 THE MONTH IN PICTURES An inconsolable Gianluigi Buffon, The Best FIFA Goalkeeper 2017 – A floodlit idyll set against Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
FOOTBALL IN PICTURES
40 FIRST LOVE Derbent, Russia.
47 PANINI Frank Lampard.
47
54 THEN AND NOW From Bjärreds Saltsjöbad to São Paulo.
58 PHOTO ARCHIVE A World Cup draw in good hands (Paris, 5 May 1938).
58
THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
44 FIFA NEWS
46 THE FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
48 NEWS FROM FIFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS 56 A FIFA LEGEND’S CAREER Nwankwo Kanu.
43 President’s message: “The benefits of involving the member associations in decision-making are immediate and visible,” says Gianni Infantino about the FIFA Executive Football Summits. In order to facilitate the work of the member associations, “the agendas of the 12 meetings that we will organise between now and March 2018 will vary according to the participants’ priorities.”
50
62 INNOVATIONS What do you do with old artificial turf pitches?
62
61 CARTOON Mordillo.
64 PUBLICATION DETAILS/COMING UP
Getty imges (3), imago, AFP
63 FANS A Costa Rican fan reveals his expectations of the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA 1904 /
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THE MONTH IN PICTURES
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/ FIFA 1904
 
 
Marco Bertorello / AFP
Goodbye to a world champion Gianluigi Buffon kept goal 175 times for Italy, but the 39-year-old bowed out from the international game after the Azzurri failed to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in their World Cup play-off against Sweden at the San Siro on 13 November 2017.
FIFA 1904 /
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THE MONTH IN PICTURES
Floodlit paradise Lake Geneva provides a stunning backdrop for the pitch in this picture, taken from Mont de Gourze in Riex, Switzerland on 5 October 2017.
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/ FIFA 1904
FIFA 1904 /
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
A BIG COUNTRY WITH BIG DREAMS The Soviet Union and Russia have never been ones to dream small. In six months’ time, the football world will decamp to Russia, and people will once again be asking – can the hosts bring back the good old days? By Alan Schweingruber
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/ FIFA 1904
PRESSE SPORTS
European Championship 1960 The USSR national team, built around the great Lev Yashin, before the final against Yugoslavia (2-1 AET).
FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
I
n the mid-2000s Russia abandoned a
Easier said than done. The really good
This project – let’s call it plan B – began in
grand plan: to win a major trophy
ones were already working somewhere
2006 with the appointment of Dutchman
with a Russian coach at the helm of
for a top club, or weren’t minded to
Guus Hiddink, the somewhat cranky
the national team. Russia had not
go off on an adventure, and the Russians
but accomplished football connoisseur.
won any trophies since the break-up
weren’t interested in the average ones.
He was followed by Dick Advocaat, a
of the Soviet Union in 1991, and so
That left only the aces of the older
compatriot of Hiddink’s who was
began the search for internationally
generation, those who wanted one
renowned for having led a number of
successful, charismatic and expensive
last shot – or maybe two – at the big
teams to success in a short space of time
coaches from the heart of Europe.
time.
(and who is now working for the Dutch
10
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PRESSE SPORTS
Third-place play-off, Rome The USSR, pictured here before taking on England, finished fourth at the European Championship in 1968.
national team for the sixth time). Finally,
personality. Otherwise, you could just as
there was Fabio Capello, the grumpy
easily give Darth Vader the reins.
commissario tecnico, although friends from Italy’s easternmost reaches said he
The truth is, the Sbornaya, as the Russian
had a sunny disposition.
national team are known, still have something of the Soviet Union about them.
But what does “grumpy” actually mean?
And the Sbornaya from the old days also
Many people like to ruminate. Wrinkles
had a record worth shouting about: three
and pits appear on their faces, and their
World Cup quarter-finals (1958, 1962,
eyebrows touch. Capello is a good
1970), a World Cup semi-final (1966)
example. His pensive style had become
and four appearances in the final of the
the hallmark of success and with it he
European Championship, winning one
won 11 titles (not including the two
(1960). Even if there was, in the end, a
scudetti with Juventus that were struck
little bit of luck involved in that European
from the record books), not to mention
Championship triumph in France. West
a UEFA Champions League triumph.
Germany did not participate, while
Who could deny the genius of the signore
Spain’s dictator, General Franco, banned
from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region?
the national team from flying to Russia
When he then broke into a big ironic
for the first game of their two-legged
smile, there were no doubters left:
quarter-final, leaving the way clear for
he was going to do great things with
the USSR. Incidentally, Franco’s order
Russia, too.
came so late that the superstars of the
MANY RUSSIANS BELIEVE THAT A NATIONAL COACH HAS TO HAVE A RUSSIAN MENTALITY AND KNOW THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE A RUSSIAN TEAM.
team, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ladislao Yet don’t foreign challenges always follow
Kubala, were already at the airport.
their own rules? Many Russians believe that a national coach has to have a
So rather unexpectedly, the European
Russian mentality and know the country
champions were the Soviet Union, a
in order to be able to manage a Russian
country bigger than any other on earth by
team. After Hiddink took up the role,
millions of square kilometres.
fellow football coach Valery Gazzaev said
So big, in fact, that even
that “The Russian national coach must
after its collapse into
be a true patriot infused with our national
15 separate nations in
identity, character and traditions, and
1991, a giant Russia
thus must have been born here.”
still emerged. This
Fabio Capello
Shaun Botterill / FIFA via Getty Images
country, with its endless steppes
VAST EXPANSES
and icy wastes, is big enough to hold
Gazzaev was proved right, as all three
both the USA and Australia. How small
trainers from the heart of Europe failed to
they suddenly seem, the superpowers of
make a success of an apparently difficult
Europe: France, England and Germany. Is
plan B, which nonetheless lasted nine
that maybe why the expectations of
years. Capello and Advocaat managed a
Russian football are so high? It would be
win ratio of around 50%. Hiddink, who
understandable.
was the most popular in Russia due to his character, managed 56%. On the other
REMOTE OUTPOSTS OF FOOTBALL
hand, a nation that has failed to get past
Professional football is not played
the first round of a World Cup since 1986
in every corner of Russia.
shouldn’t necessarily be dreaming of glory
The children and young-
just because it has a manager with a big
sters in the remotest FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
regions would love that to be the case,
for your hotel one more time, admiring
of course – their bedroom walls are no
the idyllic images of the pool. Yet when
doubt also adorned with posters of
you are not flying off on holiday, when
Neymar and David Luiz – but the climatic
you clock up hundreds of hours in the air
conditions there make professional
every year for football, the potential for
football operations difficult. In Yakutsk,
sleeping, reading, watching Tom Hanks
for example, where 270,000 people live,
films and duty-free shopping will be
it’s cold and dark for many months a
exhausted at some point. When that
year. From November to February,
happens, the old footballing names
temperatures of -40°C are the norm.
from the Soviet era may well pop up in sleepy players’ conversations – Lev Yashin,
There is a club, however, whose first
Oleg Blokhin, Valeriy Lobanovskyi and
team have been playing in the top
the rest.
division for the first time for the past few months: FC SKA-Energia Khabarovsk, a
The USSR was never short of pioneers,
newly promoted team from an isolated
and if some modern-day pundits proclaim
city in the far east of the country, right
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to be
by the border with China. If you type
a revolutionary “sweeper keeper”, then
Khabarovsk into a search engine, the first
what exactly was Lev Yashin?
hits are maybe a little surprising: images of people walking around the city
YASHIN’S EXPERIMENTS
dressed in shorts. Professional football
It’s often said Yashin smoked three to
and the Russian Premier League face a
four packets of cigarettes a day. If true,
different challenge here – distance.
that would leave little time for football.
There are seven time zones between
Maybe that was part of the reason why
Moscow and Khabarovsk. The flying time
he originally wanted to be world
between the cities is seven-and-a-half
champion at chess – although that was
hours. From Makhachkala, it’s another
only ever a hypothetical idea. The
three hours on top of that. And then,
Muscovite went on to be named the
of course, you’ve got to allow for
Soviet Union’s goalkeeper of the century,
changing planes, transfers and the time
and without wanting to stretch the term,
difference. For a top athlete from the
it must be said that there has not yet
centre of Europe it would be hard to
been any other Soviet or Russian
imagine how FC SKA’s players overcome
goalkeeper who has been able to play
this obstacle all season long – even if
so consistently well at the highest level
the team always play two away games in
and, while doing so, find the freedom
a row when they head west.
to experiment. Yashin was the first goalkeeper who punched the ball clear.
There’s always plenty to do at the airport
He would also launch attacks with long
and on the plane though, right? As a
throws from the back, and he was of
holidaymaker you might have a glass of
course also renowned for his spectacular
bubbly or a beer, or browse the brochure
saves. Yashin was a goalkeeper, a
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/ FIFA 1904
Stefano Marzoli / LUZ / fotogloria
Life in a northern town Football on snow-bound pitches is a common sight in Lovozero, some 1,200km north of Saint Petersburg.
FIFA 1904 /
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Always one step ahead of the game.
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strategist and an organiser. In computer speak, he was the firewall. By the end of his career, he had amassed 326 appearances for his only club, Dynamo Moscow, as well as 74 caps for the Soviet national team. And, alongside his European Championship title, he also won Olympic gold and the Ballon d’Or, which he is still the only goalkeeper to win. These trophies have now been spread far and wide, and even today a match-worn Lev Yashin shirt will change hands on the internet now and again. The summer before last, the collector and former president of Montpellier HSC, the late Louis Nicollin, bought one for 5,000 euros. When Russian footballers take to the world stage, they always do so with one eye on history. When will we be able to build on the successful days of the Soviet Cherchesov, a Russian, and proof of the fact that the coach you appoint is a matter
© FIFA TM
Union? The current coach is Stanislav
of the heart, not just the head. The media recently decided he was grumpy. But what does grumpy actually mean?
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP™ OFFICIAL POSTER The official poster for the 2018 World Cup in Russia depicts Lev Yashin pulling off a one-handed save. “The Black Panther”, who kept goal for the Soviet Union 74 times, was known for his incredible reflexes. The poster was designed by Latvian artist Igor
FIFA
Gurovich and is the first in the World Cup poster series to feature a famous face, and only the third – after Italy 1930 and Switzerland 1954 – with a goalkeeper on it.
FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
The moment of truth On 1 December at around 19:00 local time, the Final Draw comes to an end in Moscow. Results: Portugal against Spain, Belgium against England, Russia against Uruguay ... it’s only the group stage, yet the round of 32 promises plenty of excitement at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ (14 June – 15 July 2018). You can find the full match schedule in the centrefold. 16
/ FIFA 1904
Getty Images (3)
Presentation of the trophy World champion Miroslav Klose brings the famous World Cup Trophy on stage.
Who will be the top coach in 2018? After the draw, the 32 national team coaches pose for a group photo. FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
A bientôt! France’s coach Didier Deschamps (centre) shakes hands with Belgium’s coach Roberto Martínez (right). Left, Belgian FA General Secretary Koen de Brabander. The earliest the two teams could meet is in the semi-finals.
Will they meet in the semi-finals? Germany’s coach Jogi Löw (left) and general manager Oliver Bierhoff (centre) talk to the Spanish general manager Fernando Hierro (top picture). In the centre photo, Klose presents the trophy, shortly before presenters Gary Lineker and Maria Komandnaya conduct the draw. 18
/ FIFA 1904
Captured in time The ever-popular Pelé receives a kiss from Diego Maradona and shares a joke with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (3rd from left), Gordon Banks (far left) and Lothar Matthäus (2nd from left).
Getty Images (8)
Ready for the show FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left) and Vladimir Putin at the draw opening (top right), former Brazilian national players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho (right) holding their phones up and Russian World Cup ambassador Victoria Lopyreva in the audience (below).
FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
A GAME OF CHANCE The balls have been drawn and we all know who will play whom at Russia 2018. There have been times, however, when the winners and losers have been decided by chance. By Perikles Monioudis
“The coin-toss of Rotterdam� Belgian referee Robert Schaut (middle), surrounded by FC Cologne and Liverpool players, reporters and security officials (24 March 1965).
20
/ FIFA 1904
O
n 6 June 2015, Mali and Uruguay
between FC Zurich and Galatasaray. Both teams
came face to face at Waitako
won their home games 2-0, and a play-off
Stadium in Hamilton, New
on neutral ground in Rome then ended in a
Zealand, in the group stage of
2-2 draw. In the end, a coin-toss decided the
the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
winners – and the Swiss came out on top.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was just another World Cup game, but if so you’d be
The next season, after two goalless draws in
wrong. To many observers, it was clear what
the quarter-final between FC Cologne and
would happen out on the pitch. Neither team
Liverpool, the two sides met in a play-off in
showed any great interest in taking the game to
Rotterdam, which also finished in a 2-2 draw.
their opponents, and as a result the match
Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions for their
petered out into a tame draw – which, as you’ve
fans! As penalty shoot-outs had not yet been
probably guessed by now – was exactly what
introduced – that wouldn’t happen until the
both sides needed to secure their place in the
1970/71 season – the referee again tossed a
next round. And yet the psychology of modern-
coin, which promptly landed on its edge in
day footballers does not really sit well with the
the mud. So again the coin was tossed high in
thought of simply playing for a draw – the risk of
the air, and this time it landed on tails – which
conceding a (late) goal is far too great.
meant Liverpool progressed.
Be that as it may, the Malians and Uruguayans
NOT ALL IS LEFT TO CHANCE
did draw that game 1-1, a 17 -minute goal from
But when it comes to the World Cup draw,
La Celeste’s Franco Acosta being cancelled out by
there is so much more at play than mere chance.
a strike from the eventual adidas Golden Ball
When the teams are assigned to the pots for
winner, Adama Traoré, just after half-time. Both
the draw, FIFA uses the FIFA/Coca-Cola World
sides had secured their passage to the round of
Ranking, which is drawn up and published every
16 on the same number of points, with the same
month by the governing body, to divide the
goal difference, and having scored the same
teams into pots that ensure that the strongest
number of goals. But who would finish in second
teams don’t knock each other out in the early
and who in third? Lots would have to be drawn.
stages and leave a “fluke” winner at the end of
Both teams watched on via live video link as the
the competition.
th
drawing of lots in Auckland left Uruguay as group runners-up, with the Malians in third.
Without this fail-safe, it would be entirely
Nationaal Archief / Collection Spaarnestad
possible in an open draw for the strongest
STEP UP, LADY LUCK
teams to meet in the group stage, which would
Mexico 1970 was another tournament in which
ultimately only benefit the rather “less-fancied”
lots had to be drawn, with the Soviet Union
teams. Such a scenario would distort the
finishing top of Group 1 ahead of the hosts,
competition and be unfair. It goes without
who had the same number of points, only thanks
saying that such mechanisms aren’t needed
to the luck of the draw even though the Soviets
in a league system, as the whole point of a
had a superior goal difference of 6-1, ahead of
league is for each team to play every other team,
Mexico on 5-0. Four years later, FIFA introduced
more often than not on a home-and-away
the rule that says that the number of goals
basis.
scored will be used to separate teams that finish with an identical record.
But a tournament is a whole different beast, one that is played – in the case of the World Cup –
It is not just the World Cup that has history with
over a period of a mere few weeks, at the end
such drama, however. Take the 1963/64 European
of which there can only be one winner – and a
Cup, for example, and the round-of-16 clash
deserving winner at that. FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
Sergei Bobylev / TASS
FOOTBALL ON ICE
Bandy in Siberia The popular sport is one of the fastest around.
22
/ FIFA 1904
Ninety minutes, 11 v. 11, one ball, two goals and a big pitch. Oh, and offside and corner flags too. No, we aren’t talking about football but about bandy – or “football on ice”. We dropped in on perennial Russian champions Yenisey in Krasnoyarsk. By Annette Braun (words) and Sergei Bobylev (pictures)
FIFA 1904 /
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FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
T
he wind is bitterly cold
parts of any bandy fan’s matchday ar-
on this November day, a
moury as again, just like football, bandy is
sure sign that winter has
a game played outdoors.
arrived on the streets of Krasnoyarsk where
Krasnoyarsk, one of the main junctions on
thermometers are show-
the Trans-Siberian Railway and a couple of
ing temperatures below
hundred kilometres closer to Moscow
zero. Having said that, “cold” is rather
than it is to Vladivostok, is a bandy hot-
relative in these parts as temperatures
bed. Yenisey won three consecutive
can easily fall as low as -20ºC here, the
Russian league titles in 2014, 2015 and
third-largest city in Siberia.
2016 as well as the 2015 Bandy World Cup, a competition featuring the best club
So from that point of view at least, today
sides in the world.
is almost balmy – particularly if you are dressed for whatever the weather can
ENGLISH ROOTS
throw at you, just as these people getting
Bandy, in its current form, has been
off the bus at the Cultural Place 1 May bus
around since the middle of the 18th centu-
stop are. They are all, without exception,
ry and its origins – just like football – can
wrapped up in warm, colourful coats with
be traced back to England. The first
scarves wound tightly around their necks
regular bandy game was played in London
and their hats pulled down over their
in 1875, and the National Bandy Associa-
faces.
tion, the governing body in England, was founded 16 years later. The game failed to
WATCH OUT FOR OFFSIDE!
take off in countries with moderate
You’ll often hear “Perfect weather for a
winters, however, and it had to take even
spot of bandy!” here as the crowds
more of a backseat after the emergence
shuffle off. Sorry? “Bandy”? In Russia,
of ice hockey in purpose-built indoor
bandy is also known as “hockey with a
arenas. In Russia though, and particularly
ball”, a description that is rather apt as
in Siberia, bandy – or “hockey with a ball”
players use and wear much the same gear
– has always been a very popular sport for
as their ice-hockey counterparts – sticks,
men and women alike.
helmets and skates – and also compete on ice. But that is as far as the similarities go,
Some 10,000 fans can cram into the
because bandy is also rather reminiscent
Yenisey Stadium. And although the action
of football with goal lines, corner flags, an
takes place on ice, that is as far as the
offside rule and penalties. You would be
comparisons with ice hockey truly go. The
hard pressed to find a puck on a bandy
pitch is similar in size to a football pitch,
pitch too as the game is played with a
and bodychecks – so prevalent in ice
brightly coloured ball that is smaller than a
hockey – are banned in bandy.
standard football but, statistically speaking, hits the back of the net more often.
QUICK, SHARP PASSING In bandy, it’s not all about stamina and
A closer look at these people getting off
power, but primarily about pace as a
the bus reveals that they are actually
bandy ball does not react in the same way
diehard fans of the local bandy club, and
as a puck. The key to success is often
they are all heading for the Yenisey stadi-
precise passing – tiki taka on ice, if you
um armed with cushions to sit on and
will. Goalkeepers have to have a little bit
polystyrene blocks to stand on – vital
of Manuel Neuer and co. about them too,
24
/ FIFA 1904
Krasnoyarsk This city in Siberia, home to Yenisey, has a great bandy pedigree. Top: action from a Yenisey youth team training session. Bottom: the Yenisey first team in league action against Sibselmash later the same day.
FIFA 1904 /
25
Sergei Bobylev / TASS (2)
FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
guarding their goals with gloves and
team. Slowly they make their way home,
reflexes but without a stick. With so many
their Russian flags safely packed away for
similarities to football, it is little wonder
another day, perhaps until the summer
that the stars and fans of bandy also tend
when they will be brought out again in
to know rather a lot about the beautiful
support of the Russian football team in
game (see our interview with Russian
the World Cup.
Weatherproofed Watching a game of bandy is always fun, even in sub-zero temperatures – if you’re dressed appropriately, of course.
bandy star Sergei Lomanov on page 29). The final at the Bandy World ChampionBandy fans are also experts when it
ship is often between Russia and Sweden.
comes to tactics and the finer points of
If football were to take its lead from
the game as they are accustomed to
bandy with a World Cup final between
staying focused on such a fast game. The
the same two teams, there would be a lot
break-neck speed of the game means that
of bandy fans with absolutely no objec-
it is not ideal for live TV coverage, but the
tions whatsoever...
exact opposite holds true if you are fortunate enough to catch a game in person. The below-zero temperatures are
Today, Yenisey’s fans will go home happy after watching another victory for their 26
/ FIFA 1904
the other-worldly atmosphere.
breath drifting across the pitch to add to
Sergei Bobylev / TASS
part of the experience, the fans’ cold
BANDY
BANDY IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WINTER SPORTS IN THE WORLD. OVER A MILLION PEOPLE PLAY THE SPORT IN RUSSIA ALONE, WHERE THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE WITH 14 TEAMS AND STADIUMS WITH CAPACITIES OF UP TO 15,000. THE REIGNING RUSSIAN CHAMPIONS ARE SKA-NEFTANYIK FROM THE CITY OF KHABAROVSK. BANDY IS MAINLY PLAYED IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN EUROPE AS WELL AS IN NORTH AMERICA. AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, THE TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS ARE RUSSIA AND SWEDEN. THE FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL BANDY (FIB) WAS FOUNDED IN SWEDEN IN 1955 AND CURRENTLY HAS 27 MEMBERS. THE FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WAS HELD IN 1957, FOLLOWED BY THE INAUGURAL WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2004. THE FIB IS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE IOC.
FIFA PARTNER
“EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE IN A MINUTE” Nine-time bandy world champion Sergey Lomanov talks about the similarities between bandy and football, and about the special pressure of playing in a World Cup at home. Annette Braun asked the questions.
H
ow would you describe the
indoor stadiums. Few people will sit in an
was 14, a coach asked me: “What kind of
fascination of bandy? Bandy,
outdoor stadium at minus 20 degrees.
sport do you prefer?” I chose bandy and do
or hockey with a ball, is
not regret it at all, although I played foot-
famous for its speed and the
What do you need to become a great
ball quite well and was involved in various
individual actions of the
bandy player? Talent, but also a great
team tournaments at my age level.”
players, as well as for the very fast transi-
work ethic and the desire to achieve your
tions from defence to attack. Everything
goals. It’s important to always work on
What do you expect from the Russian
can change literally in a minute. There have
yourself and never be satisfied with what
football team at the World Cup next
been games in which a team was two or
you’ve achieved. Keep looking forward
summer? Everybody is longing for victories
three goals down but turned it around in
and do not pay too much attention to
but in my opinion the result is not the
the space of five minutes. There is some
things such as victories. Forget them and
most important thing. We will be playing
kind of unpredictability in the result.
move on quickly. There are defeats, of
at home and we need to show that we
course, but you learn from them, analyse
can handle this special situation. Fans love
them and come back stronger.
beautiful football with lots of goalscoring
Do you have an example in mind? The World Championship final in Khabarovsk
opportunities, so I’m looking forward to
in 2015 is memorable for me. We were
Can football help you succeed in bandy?
some good games from our team, which
3-1 down but came back to win 5-3. In
The two sports are intertwined and quite
would have a great impact on the develop-
two or three minutes, we changed the
comparable. Our sport is closer to football
ment of sport and the youth in our coun-
dynamics and result of the match. The
than it is to ice hockey. We play with the
try. They need to come out and play like
stadium was full. The Prime Minister of
same number of players and on a similar-
we know they can – for the team, for their
Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, was there too.
sized pitch. The only thing that we do not
team-mates, and for the fans who will
He congratulated us and awarded us our
have is grass, but ice is much faster. We
come and support them.
gold medals.
also have the same vision, we like to play with two touches, we use the entire width
Sergey Sergeyevich Lomanov was born in
Bandy has a long tradition in Russia. Ten
of the pitch, and even the tactics are
Krasnoyarsk on 2 June 1980 and made his
years ago, stadiums held up to 25,000
similar.
senior debut for Yenisey Krasnoyarsk
Sergei Bobylev / TASS
people and fans were coming the day
Bandy Club in 1997. He has been part of
before the match to take their seats. They
Have you ever played football yourself?
the Russian national bandy team since
brought hot coffee or tea with a nip of
I lived in Sweden between the ages of nine
2000 and has nine World Championship
something warming in it ... that’s not
and 15. In the summer, I played football for
titles to his name. His father, Sergey
allowed anymore. Nowadays, families love
a club called Sirius, and in the winter I
Ivanovich Lomanov, is also a successful
their comfort and would rather go to
played hockey for the same team. When I
bandy manager and a former player. FIFA 1904 /
29
FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
FOOT BALL ET
Ballet is Russia and Russia is ballet. Football fits in perfectly. We played football with Russians Viktorina Kapitonova and Elena Vostrotina, soloists of the Ballett ZĂźrich. By Perikles Monioudis (text) and Gian Paul Lozza (photos).
30
/ FIFA 1904
FIFA 1904 /
31
32
/ FIFA 1904
AFP (4), Getty Images (2)
FIFA 1904 /
33
FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
“PERFORMING TOGETHER AS ONE” Viktorina Kapitonova is a Russian worldclass ballet dancer. She explains what ballet and football have in common: team spirit, training schedules, and focusing on the same aspects of the body but using different techniques. Perikles Monioudis met the Zurich ballet soloist.
I am also excited for fans to experience the
has their role. Although there are no
great ballet cities of Moscow and Saint
“winners” in ballet, the audience can be
Petersburg in the west. I am sure the Russian
mesmerised by a wonderful, strong
people will deliver a really wonderful event,
performance of the corps – the body of
and I hope it brings people from all coun-
the ballet – just as they can by the defence
tries closer together. For me personally, I
of a football team. If the corps or the
am excited that it will be the first World
defenders do not perform, the ballet
Cup for my son, Henry, who will be old
soloists or strikers won’t be able to do
enough to cheer with us for Russia.
their job very well.
the World Cup?
How do you think the Russian team
So would you say there are other
Viktorina Kapitonova: I’m really excited for
will perform?
similarities?
football supporters from all over the world
To perform at home feels so much easier
Football players in these modern times,
to see for themselves just how wonderful,
and better for every performer. It is true
with stars like Messi and Ronaldo, focus
friendly and diverse the Russian cities and
of ballet that a supportive audience can
on their bodies, their training, and what
people are. The choice of cities is really far
often bring on a great performance from
they eat as much as ballet dancers do.
and wide, and includes cities close to my
dancers – you share a bond from the
As a ballerina, I train eight hours, six days
heart, such as Kazan, where I studied to
opening of the curtains. I think that
a week on my balance, coordination,
become a ballet dancer, which is also a
Russia, with the support of an audience of
power, and the finer details of my
city of Tatars close to my cultural back-
144 million, could be able to do something
technique, with performances in the
ground of Chuvashian people in the east
really special. Russian people will be proud
evenings. I think that football players have
with more similarities to Asia than Europe.
to know that their team tried their best
similar training schedules, focusing on the
whatever happens.
same aspects of the body but using
Are you looking forward to
different techniques. I think it would be What does football have in common
fun to show a footballer our ballet
with ballet?
training in exchange for a day of football
In football as in ballet, natural ability can
training. I think a lot could be learnt in
really show on the pitch and the stage,
both directions.
and in most cases great artists are born to be great stars, like Pelé or Rudolf Nureyev. It captures the imagination when people see someone who grew up poor in Brazil make it in football, or in Russia for ballet, and to then have the world at their feet – and not in their hands, of course. The importance of performing together as one, for each other and with each other, is key in ballet as it is in football. A ballet company is like a football team, and even though there may be stars, every person
Viktorina Kapitonova, who hails from Russia, studied at the Kazan Ballet School and Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre Academy. A winner of “The Young Ballet of Russia” competition and of the “Arabesque” contest, she started dancing at the Jalil Opera House in Kazan in 2005. She was a member of Moscow’s Stanislavsky Ballet for the 2008/2009 season, and she joined Ballett Zürich in 2010.
World-class soloists Ballet dancers Viktorina Kapitonova (left) and Elena Vostrotina. FIFA 1904 /
35
M A S T E R
C O N T R O L
adidas.com/football Š 2017 adidas AG
“YOU ARE MORE YOURSELF THAN EVER” St Petersburg-born, world-class ballet dancer Elena Vostrotina is very much looking forward to the World Cup in Russia. Dancing, she says, like football, is about the flow, about feeling the energy of your colleagues and the power from the audience. Perikles Monioudis talked to her in a rehearsal room at the Zurich Opera.
Camp Nou. This is something special that
dancers perform. As a soloist, I love to feel
you won’t forget. The people, united, in a
them on stage, they give me the strength
way, their energy – the players. That was
I need to perform at my very best. Even a
art! Yes, that was art.
smile works. I believe that between players there’s also this kind of connection.
In which way is football art? The similarities start with the training at a
Will you attend a World Cup game
very young age. You are drawn by the
in Russia?
passion to do something, be it dancing,
Yes, I really hope so. I miss home. I will
football or something else. You put all
be in St Petersburg next summer.
Elena Vostrotina, what is your
your energy into what you’re doing. You
connection to football?
devote yourself to it – to the arts or sport.
How will your team do?
I have a rather direct link to football,
And, again, dancing and football happen
I really don’t know. My father always says:
because my father is a professional foot-
in the moment – unlike cinema, where
“The field is flat and the ball is round.”
ball and ice-hockey coach. I grew up in a
you see the result at the end. Both foot-
family in which football played a big role
ball and dancing are performing acts. It’s
– sport in general. We often watched
now or never: you win or lose.
games with my father when I was little. Later, I also went to games with my
In football you play to win.
friends. Football is very popular in Russia,
Do you really dance to win?
it brings people together.
I feel a strong exchange of energy with the audience. It is hard to put in words
Have you ever fancied becoming a
the feeling you have when on stage. You
football player?
feel the presence of the audience, but not
Well, of course I tried it out a little. As a
all the time. So you treasure it when it
kid I had a lot of energy, I loved running,
happens. You feel the audience following
and I found it fun to kick the ball around.
you and maybe even stop breathing when
So I tried, but didn’t quite succeed [laughs].
they’re really into what you are doing.
Elena Vostrotina from St Petersburg completed her ballet training at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, and in 2003, she became a member of the Mariinsky Ballet. In 2006, Vostrotina was with the Semperoper Ballett, Dresden. There she was appointed a soloist and danced a wide repertoire of classical, neoclassical and modern ballet. This season she joined the Ballett Zürich.
Winning on stage therefore means losing Do you have fond memories
yourself. Losing yourself in time and space
of football?
and becoming that stage character.
When my father took me to the stadium for the first time – the Petrovsky Stadium
In football that’s called “flow”.
in St Petersburg – we watched an FC Zenit
Yes, that’s it, the flow, something that
game, and I was amazed at the energy at
happens so naturally. You go with it!
the stadium. There was so much energy
With the flow. You lose yourself, but at
there, I felt it run through my body and
the same time you are more yourself than
my bones. And then of course there was
ever. You really get in touch with your
the game itself. When you watch a game,
inner self.
you are caught in the moment, it captivates you. I had more or less the same
Also, as a dancer you are part of a team.
feeling when I had the chance, some years
It’s all about teamwork, always. My
ago, to attend an FC Barcelona game in
performance depends on how my fellow FIFA 1904 /
37
FINAL DRAW FOR RUSSIA 2018
Official Mascot for 2018 Zabivaka, a wolf who radiates charm and confidence, is inspiring millions of fans all over the world.
STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR THE WORLD CUP By Annette Braun
38
/ FIFA 1904
Marka
Collecting stamps is rather a big deal in Russia, and with the clock ticking down to the 2018 FIFA World Cupâ„¢, football-related stamps are all the rage.
W
hether it is
For collectors, stamps are first and fore-
Olympic gold medal in 1956 and three
cosmonaut Alexey
most a hobby but they can also be a solid
World Cup appearances (1958, 1962, 1970).
Arkhipovich Leonov
investment. For those fortunate enough to
floating through
be depicted on a stamp, meanwhile, it is a
It of course remains to be seen which
space, or the
Russian players will emerge as heroes next
after all, if you make it onto a stamp, you
summer, potentially putting themselves in
resplendent in the sunlight, stamps are
must have done something right and have
the frame for stamps in their honour in
incredibly popular in Russia, where they
left a lasting impression somewhere.
the future, but the focus has already fallen
question of prestige and recognition –
United Nations headquarters standing
on next summer’s big event with stamps
commemorate some of the biggest events in history such as the first spacewalk in
With the 2018 World Cup now just
for Zabivaka, the wolf chosen as the
1965 or the foundation of the UN in
around the corner, the newest stamps to
tournament’s official mascot by Russian
1945. These days, however, the world
hit the Russian market have started to
fans, the FIFA World Cup Trophy that all
of digital communication has almost
focus on the country’s football history as
32 teams will be hoping to hold aloft on
consigned old-fashioned letter-writing to
well as on the upcoming tournament
15 July 2018, and Moscow’s Luzhniki
the past, particularly in our private lives,
itself, the subtle mix of nostalgia and
Stadium, the arena that will see the new
because who wants to wait a couple
anticipation underlining Russia’s rich
world champions crowned.
of days for the post to arrive when you
football pedigree while also whetting
can send a message with the click of a
people’s appetite for all that lies in store
And who knows, maybe the sight of
button? The humble stamp has survived it
in just a few months’ time.
these stamps in the run-up to and during the World Cup will encourage people to
all though, whether as a collector’s item or as a solid investment.
FOURTH PLACE IN 1966
start writing letters again. Whatever happens, these stamps are yet another
the glory days of the USSR national team
sign that Russia is ready and waiting to
The stamp has done even more than
that made its World Cup debut in Sweden
host the World Cup, giving stamp
merely survive, as new technology has
in 1958 before going on to claim the
collectors and football fans alike so much
opened even more doors for it to develop
country’s best-ever placing so far with a
to look forward to. It’s almost time to
and move with the times, from the UK’s
fourth-place finish in England eight years
stamp those passports and to let the
first stamp – the famous Penny Black
later. Some of the heroes of that time are
journey begin!
– way back in 1840 with Queen Victoria
obviously taking centre stage and being
to the first Russian Empire stamp with
cast in a new light. There is a stamp
the country’s coat of arms, which was
commemorating the great Lev Yashin, the
printed in typography in brown and blue.
Russian goalkeeping legend and a Euro
These days, these perforated pieces of
pean champion in 1960, who is shown
paper can be printed in 3D, and even in
gazing into the distance, and another for
special sets that can smell and taste of
Gavriil Kachalin, the coach who led the
chocolate.
Soviets to the European title in 1960, the
Some of these new stamps look back at
SPECIAL STAMPS
Lev Yashin (1929-1990) The Soviet legend won the European Championship in 1960 and was one of the best goalkeepers of the 20th century. Gavriil Kachalin (1911-1995) The long-serving coach guided the USSR team through their most successful period (Olympic gold in 1956, European Championship title in 1960). FIFA 1904 /
39
FIRST LOVE PLACE Derbent (Dagestan), Russia DATE 15 July 2017 TIME 18:30 PHOTOGRAPHER Caio Vilela
40
/ FIFA 1904
fotogloria FIFA 1904 /
41
PRESIDENT´S MESSAGE
FACILITATING THE WORK OF THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
I
have a very vivid memory of the inaugural FIFA Executive Football
Member associations have also had a say on the topics to be
Summit in Paris, just over a year ago. I remember a specific moment
discussed: the agendas of the 12 meetings that we will organise
at the beginning of that meeting, when the president of a member
between now and March 2018 will vary according to the
association started to explain a situation his country faced. I looked
participants’ priorities, but will also share a few common topics:
around and noticed how his fellow presidents were staring at each
the next cycle of the FIFA Forward Programme for development;
another: you could tell that they were marvelling at the differences
the future of FIFA’s youth and women’s competitions; and possible
and similarities – especially the similarities – between their challenges
improvements to the transfer system and the international match
and those that they were hearing about. At that moment, I knew
calendar. Even decisions like these, which affect the whole world
that the idea to organise regular summits had been the right one.
of football, must be discussed with those who know what the game is like in their specific territories.
It is a good idea for a very simple reason: it is logical. The 211 member associations are not only important for FIFA: they are FIFA. Serving
Football is so fantastic because it is played and loved in every
its members is FIFA’s very raison d’être. For that, we must listen to
corner of the globe. It seems very clear to me that you cannot
them. Listen carefully and constantly – a process that naturally
hope to act as the governing body of such a widespread and
leads to the FIFA Executive Football Summits.
magical phenomenon by making centralised decisions. The power to promote the game lies in the daily groundwork carried out by the 211 member associations. FIFA exists to facilitate it.
are immediate and visible, to the point that the summits themselves have been improved, for example. It was based on associations’
Yours in football,
feedback that we decided to enhance a few elements for this second cycle, which started in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 21 November.
Michael Regan / FIFA via Getty Images
The benefits of involving the member associations in decision-making
While we still take geography and language compatibility into account, the groups are now even more diverse, with representatives
Gianni Infantino
of at least three confederations present at each of the summits.
FIFA President FIFA 1904 /
43
FIFA NEWS
ENGLAND’S U-17 TEAM TRIUMPHS IN INDIA England convincingly overcame Spain 5-2 in the FIFA U-17 World Cup final in Kolkata to join their U-20 counterparts at the summit of world youth football, the elder Three Lions having prevailed in Korea Republic four months previously. Spain were left licking their wounds after letting a two-goal lead slip and suffering their fourth U-17 World Cup final defeat. A total of 1.35 million spectators – almost 30,000 per match – attended the tournament, beating the previous record of 1.23 million set at the inaugural competition in China PR in 1985.
FIRST REPORT OF FIFA’S HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY BOARD
been done to date by continuing to strengthen efforts to address
The Human Rights Advisory Board, which was created in early
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE WORLD CUP At its meeting in Kolkata, India, the FIFA Council approved a 12%
trade unions and FIFA sponsors discusses FIFA’s work on human
increase in prize money for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ from
rights and outlines a set of specific recommendations to FIFA.
USD 358 million in 2014 to USD 400 million. It also ratified the
“This report shows that FIFA is making important progress in
Bureau of the Council’s decision of 6 September 2017 to approve
integrating respect for human rights throughout its wide range
stringent bidding regulations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ and
of activities,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. The
appointed the members of the Bid Evaluation Task Force. Other
advisory board stated: “We recognise that FIFA has taken impor-
matters discussed by the Council were the establishment of a FIFA
tant steps, particularly by adopting a new Human Rights Policy,
Foundation to provide a legal and institutional basis for FIFA’s
fighting discrimination connected to matches and integrating
social commitment, a consultation phase during which to review
human rights requirements into the 2026 FIFA World Cup bidding
FIFA’s women’s, youth and club competitions and the introduction
documents. We also make 33 detailed recommendations on issues
of an international transfer matching system for women’s football
FIFA should focus on, including, as a priority, building on what has
on 1 January 2018.
44
/ FIFA 1904
group of eight representatives from the UN System, civil society,
responsibilities, has published its first report. In it, the expert
sites in Russia and Qatar.”
Jan Kruger / FIFA via Getty Images
2017 to provide independent advice on FIFA’s human rights
risks to workers’ rights on FIFA World Cup stadium construction
FIFA EWORLD CUP Since its launch in 2004, the FIFA Interactive World Cup has
REFEREES PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES IN ABU DHABI
enjoyed rapid growth and set new standards for the virtual game
FIFA referees from all over the world came together in Abu Dhabi
on the EA SPORTS™ FIFA platform, as well as giving gamers a
from 25 to 30 November for a seminar so that those who would
global stage on which to develop their talent at elite level. To
be deployed in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE could use the
reflect the e-sport’s continued rise in popularity, FIFA and its
following six days to put the finishing touches to their
partner EA SPORTS™ are taking the biggest global tournament
preparations for the tournament. As well as taking part in
for the EA SPORTS™ FIFA series to a new level by launching
theoretical and practical sessions, the referees worked with
the FIFA eWorld Cup. Qualification for the Grand Final in 2018
video assistant referees (VARs) and simulated situations that
will take place via the new FIFA 18 Global Series.
call VARs into play. The FIFA Club World Cup 2017 is being held
Alexander Hassenstein / FIFA via Getty Images
from 6 to 16 December in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
FIFA DIVERSITY AWARD
help with their integration. The decision was made by a jury of
Football’s ability to inspire people was again in clear evidence at
diversity in sport. “It is FIFA’s duty to promote diversity on the
the FIFA Diversity Award ceremony in London. FIFA Secretary
pitch, in the stands and in each area of society that is touched by
General Fatma Samoura presented the prize to Soccer Without
the most popular sport in the world. The Diversity Award is part
Borders, an organisation that uses football to build the confidence
of this,” said the Secretary General.
11 prominent figures from the fields of global football and
of young refugees in places, such as the USA and Uganda and FIFA 1904 /
45
+ / – Points
Rank Team
+ / – Points
Rank Team
+ / – Points
Rank Team
1 Germany
0
1602
57 Haiti
-1
607
113 St Kitts and Nevis
-5
291
169 St Vincent and the Grenadines
3
99
2 Brazil
0
1483
58 Norway
0
573
114 Korea DPR
18
283
170 Nepal
6
98
3 Portugal
0
1358
59 Korea Republic
3
563
115 Bahrain
10
282
170 Cuba
9
98
4 Argentina
0
1348
60 China PR
-3
561
115 Kyrgyzstan
5
282
170 Singapore
3
98
5 Belgium
0
1325
61 Côte d'Ivoire
0
557
117 Azerbaijan
-2
281
170 Cambodia
0
98
6 Spain
2
1231
62 Albania
9
553
118 Philippines
-2
280
174 Kosovo
9
97
7 Poland
-1
1209
63 Saudi Arabia
0
539
119 Namibia
10
274
174 Malaysia
-4
97
8 Switzerland
3
1190
64 Algeria
3
537
120 Rwanda
-2
269
174 St Lucia
0
97
9 France
-2
1183
65 Russia
0
534
121 Yemen
-9
268
177 São Tomé e Príncipe
-1
94
10 Chile
-1
1162
66 Guinea
0
532
122 New Zealand
0
267
178 Fiji
-3
93
11 Peru
-1
1128
67 Finland
7
531
123 Togo
1
266
179 Aruba
-1
92
12 Denmark
7
1099
68 Cape Verde Islands
-4
530
123 Central African Republic
-4
266
180 Bermuda
1
72 66
13 Colombia
0
1078
69 Slovenia
-1
522
125 Vietnam
-4
265
181 Malta
1
14 Italy
1
1052
70 Honduras
-1
521
126 Malawi
-9
260
182 Macau
-2
65
-3
1047
71 Ecuador
-11
508
127 Tajikistan
-4
255
183 Djibouti
2
64
16 Mexico
0
1032
72 Mali
0
493
128 Suriname
-3
245
184 Laos
-22
62
17 Croatia
1
1018
73 United Arab Emirates
-1
474
129 Guatemala
-1
242
185 Vanuatu
3
55
18 Sweden
7
998
74 Uganda
-4
471
130 Comoros
-3
235
185 Bhutan
5
55
-5
985
75 Zambia
2
449
131 Latvia
-2
233
187 Liechtenstein
0
54 52
15 England
19 Wales 20 Netherlands
0
952
76 FYR Macedonia
9
446
132 Thailand
6
230
188 Kuwait
-2
21 Uruguay
-4
924
77 Libya
10
442
133 Swaziland
7
225
189 Seychelles
-1
51
22 Iceland
-1
910
77 Syria
0
442
134 Liberia
1
224
190 Brunei Darussalam
-6
45
23 Senegal
9
884
79 Iraq
8
221
191 Guam
0
43
24 USA
3
867
80 Uzbekistan
-3
220
192 Bangladesh
4
38
1
438
135 Chinese Taipei
-4
437
136 Kazakhstan
24 Northern Ireland
-1
867
81 South Africa
-7
434
137 Sudan
4
219
192 American Samoa
1
38
26 Costa Rica
-4
850
82 Benin
-3
427
138 Burundi
-9
216
192 Cook Islands
1
38
27 Tunisia
1
838
82 Palestine
2
427
139 Andorra
5
215
192 Samoa
1
38
28 Slovakia
-4
817
84 Luxembourg
9
407
140 Antigua and Barbuda
-4
209
196 Timor-Leste
29 Austria
10
815
84 Estonia
-4
407
141 Angola
-2
201
197 US Virgin Islands
-4
32
2
26 20
30 Paraguay
6
812
84 Curaçao
5
407
142 Tanzania
-6
193
198 Montserrat
2
31 Egypt
-1
805
87 Lebanon
13
404
143 Hong Kong
-1
189
199 Mongolia
-2
17
32 Republic of Ireland
-6
798
88 Guinea-Bissau
0
403
144 Lesotho
2
188
200 Sri Lanka
-2
16
-6
402
145 Equatorial Guinea
-12
187
201 Pakistan
0
15
0
383
145 Ethiopia
6
187
202 Turks and Caicos Islands
0
13
7
181
202 Cayman Islands
0
13
-3
179
204 San Marino
0
11
32 Iran
2
798
89 Trinidad and Tobago
32 Scotland
-3
798
90 Armenia
35 Ukraine
-5
781
91 Cyprus
-5
373
147 Afghanistan
36 Congo DR
-1
764
92 Belarus
-1
372
148 Lithuania
37 Serbia
1
756
93 Gabon
-1
370
148 Solomon Islands
4
179
205 British Virgin Islands
0
6
38 Bosnia and Herzegovina
2
753
94 Canada
2
369
150 Myanmar
5
176
206 Anguilla
0
0
39 Australia
4
747
95 Faroe Islands
0
364
150 Botswana
-3
176
206 Bahamas
0
0
40 Morocco
8
738
96 Congo
-2
362
152 South Sudan
1
172
206 Eritrea
0
0
41 Romania
4
737
97 Sierra Leone
2
360
153 Tahiti
-5
149
206 Gibraltar
0
0
42 Turkey
-9
735
98 Israel
-16
355
154 Indonesia
11
144
206 Somalia
0
0
43 Bulgaria
-7
719
99 Mauritania
2
354
154 Barbados
6
144
206 Tonga
0
0
44 Burkina Faso
11
705
100 El Salvador
-3
352
156 New Caledonia
-6
139
45 Cameroon
-3
696
101 Oman
9
350
157 Maldives
-1
135
-5
336
157 Belize
4
135
1
323
159 Mauritius
-1
134
46 Montenegro
8
681
102 Qatar
47 Greece
0
680
103 Zimbabwe
48 Czech Republic
-2
677
104 Georgia
3
322
160 Grenada
-3
132
49 Bolivia
1
674
105 India
0
320
161 Papua New Guinea
-2
126
50 Nigeria
-9
671
106 Nicaragua
2
315
162 Dominican Republic
1
121
51 Ghana
1
657
107 Jordan
6
311
163 Gambia
1
120
52 Venezuela
-1
639
108 Madagascar
-5
309
164 Guyana
1
117
53 Hungary
0
630
108 Niger
-2
309
165 Puerto Rico
2
112 111
54 Jamaica 55 Japan 56 Panama
46
+ / – Points
Rank Team
FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
/ FIFA 1904
5
625
110 Mozambique
-11
623
111 Kenya
-7
621
112 Turkmenistan
1
304
166 Dominica
3
-9
300
166 Moldova
1
111
2
292
168 Chad
-19
110
Last updated: 23 November 2017
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking
A CAREER IN PANINI STICKERS
FRANK LAMPARD
© PANINI
FIFA Legend, 106 caps for England. UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League winner.
FIFA 1904 /
47
FIFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
INAUGURATION OF THE GIRLS’ INTER-SCHOOL TOURNAMENT IN PARAGUAY An excellent day was had with the inauguration of the Women’s U-11 and U-13 Inter-School Football Tournament, organised by the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) under the auspices of FIFA. The event is part of FIFA’s initiative under the Evolution Programme to promote women’s football in Paraguay and throughout South America. The APF’s development division, presided by Douglas Martínez, celebrated in style by holding the event, with the participants’ parade, folk dancing and the first matches, which showed just how good the players
programme instructor, Manoel
equipment), a video referee
help clubs and football avoid
Serapião. During these activities,
(analysing all footage angles)
being affected by errors that
The training programme
he also advised on how referee
and a VAR (in charge of the
can be amended. As a conse-
for the use of video
signals should be made while
camera placed at the offside
quence, the referee will also
VAR IN BRAZIL
assistant referee (VAR)
employing this technology.
position). Finally, an assistant
not suffer from pressure. “The
technology by the Refereeing
The afternoon, in turn, was
and a referee with electronic
main purpose, however, is to
Committee of the Brazilian
scheduled for a practice
earpiece communication were
validate results, help football be
Football Association focused on
session. While one team stayed
positioned on the pitch.
more ethical and prevent a
a key issue. In the city of Águas
in a room with TV monitors
The athletes partaking in the
club’s title going to the wrong
de Lindóia, São Paulo, partici-
showing footage recorded by
activity, members of the Brasilis
club due to a refereeing error
pants attended theoretical and
seven cameras, in addition to
FC U-17 squad, were told by
that can be amended,” stated
practical activities that were
enabling the replay feature, a
CBF instructors to carry out
Manoel Serapião. On the night
split into three shifts. The day
pair of referees proceeded to
actions that would leave
shift, the instructors showed
kicked off with referees and
the pitch to receive instructions
referees and assistants in doubt.
footage of activities carried out
assistants watching specific
from the VAR and to practise
In penalty kicks, for instance,
throughout the day and made
refereeing-themed videos that
hand signals. There were three
the goalkeeper would wait until
general comments on commu-
showcased controversial plays
people in the booth: a replay
the ball was right above the line
nication, gestural and postural
and calls, thereafter undergoing
operator (responsible for
before proceeding to defend it.
assessments.
assessments carried out by the
technical operation of the
The purpose of the VAR is to
48
/ FIFA 1904
APF
from the various teams are.
SPORTS MEDICAL COURSE IN URUGUAY
Dwayne Woolliams, is looking
OFC technical team for provid-
assistant, Mladen Krstajić –
forward to building on FIFA’s
ing that pathway for me to be
who had 59 appearances for
relationship with the NZPFA
an accredited coach,” said
the senior team – has taken
The Sports Medical
and working together to
Aka. “The road to the OFC B
the reins until a successor is
Course on Preventing
produce an agreement that
licence wasn’t an easy one.
appointed. Muslin was given
Injury from a Young
satisfies all parties. “The
I’ve sacrificed a lot of family
the role in May 2016 and
Age was initiated at the
prospect of a single collective
time, but the hard work and
tasted competitive defeat only
Uruguayan Football Associa-
agreement, providing equal
persistence has paid off in the
once, courtesy of a late goal
tion and was organised by the
terms and conditions for our
end. And I certainly wouldn’t
in a 3-2 loss in Austria, on the
CONMEBOL Medical Commit-
men and women, is exciting
have done it without the
way to guiding the South
tee and the AUF’s develop-
and indeed a natural step from
support and assistance from a
Africa 2010 qualifiers back to
ment department. Raúl Möller,
the current agreements which
lot of great people around
the World Cup as Group D
director of this department,
already provide for pay equality.
me.” When her playing career
winners in Europe. Six wins
welcomed those present and
New Zealand Football is
came to a close after almost
from their ten games saw
thanked them for supporting
committed to a robust
20 years, Aka knew she had
them clinch progression with
the permanent training for
bargaining process which
more to offer. As a volunteer,
victory over Georgia ahead of
medical staff required for the
builds on the common ground
she was soon given an oppor-
the Republic of Ireland and
well-being of athletes. Mr
we currently have with the
tunity to attend a grassroots
Wales. Of his 15 games at the
Möller encouraged them to
NZPFA and respects the
coaching course and hasn’t
helm he won eight, losing just
make use of the training
confidentiality of both parties.
looked back since. She’s led
two in total. Russia 2018 will
provided for the overall devel-
As such, we will not be making
the OFC Just Play Programme
be the second appearance for
opment of sport in general
further public comment until
in Papua New Guinea and in
Serbia at the finals as an
and particularly football. The
negotiations are concluded.”
2014 found herself in charge
independent nation, having
course is aimed at 31 partici-
of the national U-15 girls’ team
exited at the group stage
pants, including doctors,
which competed at the Youth
seven years ago.
physiotherapists and kinesiologists, who will attend lectures held by Doctors Francisco Forriol, Jorge Cheyre, Daniel Rienzi and José Veloso.
AKA BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA Becoming the first
Getty Images
NZF TO NEGOTIATE NEW PLAYERS’ AGREEMENT
Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. It was this opportunity which really set Aka on her coaching journey as she then went on to lead the Papua New Guinea U-17 women’s team to
woman in Papua New
silver at the OFC U-17 Women’s
Guinea to receive an
Championship in 2016.
FODA TO BECOME AUSTRIA’S MANAGER
OFC B licence has left Margaret Aka feeling both humbled and grateful. The
New Zealand Foot-
former international said the
ball confirms it will
path to this achievement has
enter into formal
been long and arduous, and
SERBIA PART COMPANY WITH SLAVOLJUB MUSLIN
talks before the end of the
without the backing of the
year with the New Zealand
Papua New Guinea Football
Serbia have terminated
Professional Footballers’
Association (PNGFA) and her
the contract of head
Association (NZPFA) regarding
coaching colleagues, she’s
coach Slavoljub Muslin
a new collective agreement for
unsure she would have made
the employment of all senior international football players.
Franco Foda is the first
three weeks after the former
German to become Austria’s
it to the end. “I have to take
Lokomotiv Moscow and
manager. The 51-year old will
the time to thank PNGFA for
Red Star Belgrade boss led
replace the Swiss, Marcel
New Zealand Football High
giving me the opportunity to
them to 2018 FIFA World Cup
Koller, whose contract expired
Performance Manager,
be involved in football and the
Russia qualification. His
and was not renewed, after FIFA 1904 /
49
FIFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
SHADDAD RETURNS TO THE HELM OF THE SUDAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Austria’s failure to qualify for
to nominate an “off-pitch”
as the development of clubs
the 2018 FIFA World Cup
club leader, such as a chairman
and coaches in Scotland
Russia™. Under Koller, Austria’s
or club secretary and an
continues.”
manager since November
“on-pitch” club coach devel-
2011, the team qualified for
oper, such as a head coach,
the UEFA EURO 2016, but
manager or development
despite a strong performance
officer to attend the day. As
in their qualifying group, were
such, players, coaches, staff,
immediately knocked out in
volunteers, board members,
the group stage, without
and managers from all over
Football Association (SFA) for a
winning a single match. In the
the country attended the
four-year term. Shaddad, 82,
qualifiers for Russia 2018 they
conference to hear from some
beat incumbent Mutasim
finished fourth in the European
top-class speakers. Key-note
Gaafar by 33 to 28 votes at
Group D behind Serbia, the
speakers who addressed both
the Elective General Assembly
Republic of Ireland and Wales.
groups were Gavin Levey and
of the SFA held in Khartoum
“The fact that Franco Foda
Steven Sweeney of Aberdeen
on Sunday, 29 October 2017.
was unanimously elected is a
FC and the Aberdeen FC
Previously head of the SFA
reflection of his professional
Community Trust, as well as
between 2001 and 2010,
reputation. He knows Austrian
former Manchester United
Shaddad returns to the helm
football as a player and as a
coaches Paul McGuiness and
bringing an end to months of
coach. He is a meticulous
Jim Ryan. Speaking specifically
Algeria legend
internal wrangling within the
worker. He could become a
to coach developers were
Rabah Madjer has
SFA. The General Assembly
figurehead”, said Austrian FA
Liverpool FC’s Michael Beale
been appointed as
was supervised by CAF
President Leo Windtner. “It is
and Stuart Ferrier from the
head coach of the Algerian
Executive Committee member
a great honour for a coach to
sportscotland institute of
national team following their
Suleiman Hassan Waberi and
manage the Austrian national
sport. Whilst the club leaders
unsuccessful bid to qualify for
FIFA Regional Development
team. I am looking forward to
heard from Peter Davidson
the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Manager David Fani.
the task and to working with
of the Links Park Community
Russia. Algeria were knocked
the players and I am convinced
Trust and Greig Mailer,
out of World Cup contention
that together we will be a
the Scottish FA’s recently
after failing to win any of their
success,” said Foda.
appointed Head of Marketing
first five matches in a difficult
and Communications. Scottish
Group B, which paired them
FA Coach Education Manager
with Nigeria, Zambia and
Greig Paterson said: “This
Cameroon. Les Fennecs have
Football is helping
type of conference was the
turned to experienced coach
bring a level of
first of its kind delivered by
and former forward Madjer to
the Scottish FA as we seek to
succeed the outgoing Lucas
citizens of Somalia, a country
The Scottish FA
bring best practice from both
Alcaraz to get them back on
that has long been ravaged by
welcomed more than
the domestic game and the
track ahead of the 2019 CAF
upheaval. The end of October
140 club leaders and
Veteran football administrator Kamal Shaddad has been elected president of the Sudan
HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR SOMALI FOOTBALL
happiness to the
wider world of sport to help
Africa Cup of Nations
marked a historic moment
coach developers from all
support the development
qualifiers next year. Madjer,
with the laying of a founda-
parts of the pathway to the
of football in Scotland. We
who had a distinguished
tion stone for the Somali
recent Club and Coach
were treated to a host of
playing career with Porto and
Football Federation’s (SFF)
Development Conference at
interesting presentations with
the Algerian national team as
new premises, the national
the University of Stirling. The
a lot of interesting ideas,
a forward, has coached Les
association having operated in
conference was available to
which I hope can be utilised
Fennecs on two previous
rented offices for over half a
clubs at all levels of the game
by clubs across Scotland.
occasions (1994-1995 and
century. Located in the Horn
and each club was encouraged
This will be the first of many
2001-2002).
of Africa, Somalia has a long
50
/ FIFA 1904
imago
DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE IN SCOTLAND
MADJER TAKES CHARGE OF ALGERIA
association with football
the 2018 FIFA World Cup
players through an advanced
EXCEL System in 2014, player
dating all the way back to
Russia. A 2-1 defeat away to
curriculum. Talented U-14 to
development progress has
1951, but never before has the
Trinidad and Tobago on 10
U-18 players will be offered a
improved across all age
governing body had premises
October, combined with
comprehensive training
groups, and a significant
to call its own. The new
Honduras and Panama’s
programme aligned to Canada
number of youth players have
headquarters are being built
recording victories over Mexico
Soccer’s national curriculum
excelled for Canada Soccer’s
on a portion of land that was
and Costa Rica respectively,
that will provide them with the
women’s national team,
recently donated to the SFF
meant the Stars and Stripes
opportunity to accumulate
including bronze medalists
by the Ministry for Youth
finished fifth in CONCACAF’s
high-quality training hours
Deanne Rose, Kadeisha
and Sport, as announced
Hexagonal standings. It is the
while developing world-class
Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence,
by Minister Hon Khadija
first time the USA have failed
skills across Canada Soccer’s
Rebecca Quinn, and Jessie
Mohamed Diriye. The associa-
to qualify for the World Cup
entire development
Fleming.
tion has indicated their plan
since Mexico 1986. “It is the
programme. The 28 players
to apply for funding from
greatest privilege for any
attending the first intake of
FIFA’s Forward Development
coach to manage their
the Ontario Regional EXCEL
Programme for the new base
country’s national team, and
Super Centre in January will
which is expected to be
as I leave that role today, I am
engage in a full-time pro-
completed next year. “The
honoured and grateful to have
gramme and train or play five
construction of these new
had that opportunity twice in
days per week from January to
headquarters will end more
my career,” said Arena, who
June in a “best with best”
National coach and
than half a century of the
coached the USA at Korea/
environment with national
former national
Somali Football Federation
Japan 2002 and Germany
and internationally licensed
team captain,
serving in rented offices,” said
2006 during his first stint as
coaches, while attending Bill
Jamal Abu Abed (photo) has
SFF President Abdiqani Said
national team manager.
Crothers Secondary School.
been officially appointed as
Arab. “This will be the first
“Canada Soccer’s EXCEL
head coach of the men’s
building owned by the associ-
Program was designed to
senior national team for the
ation in its whole history. It is
ensure Canada is consistently
upcoming phase. Abu Abed
producing female soccer
was introduced to the media
players with the necessary
in a press conference that took
skillset by design, rather than
place at the Jordan Football
by chance,” said John Herdman,
Association headquarters.
being built thanks to the new development initiatives created by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The headquarters
CANADA SOCCER LAUNCHES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
will be home to the entire
Canada Soccer has
Canada Soccer’s Women’s
Jordan FA General Secretary
football family of Somalia.
partnered with
National Program Director and
Sizar Soubar stressed that the
Ontario Soccer,
Women’s National Team Head
appointment of Abu Abed was
Having more space to work will help the development of
Own the Podium, Sport
Coach. “By cementing the
football in the country.”
Canada, the Canadian Sport
connection between Regional
Institute Ontario, and Bill
EXCEL Centres across the
Crothers Secondary School in
nation, Canada Soccer’s
Markham, Ontario, to launch
National EXCEL Program and
its third Regional EXCEL (REX)
the Women’s National Team
Super Centre in Canada. The
Program, Canada Soccer is
Bruce Arena has
Ontario Regional EXCEL Super
aligning Canada’s talent pool
stepped down from
Centre will be launched in
to ensure talent is identified
his role as USA head
January 2018 and provide
and nurtured so players have
coach. Arena’s decision to
Canada’s top youth talent with
a clear pathway towards
resign as national team
a centralised daily training
representing our nation on
manager comes after the
environment that supports
the international stage.” Since
country failed to qualify for
Canada’s elite female youth
the inception of the Women’s
ARENA RESIGNS AS USA COACH
JFA
ABU ABED APPOINTED AS JORDAN HEAD COACH
FIFA 1904 /
51
FIFA CHIEF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL OFFICER VISITS AIFF
not temporary, stating that the
head coach’s seat for the
Jordan FA, represented by its
Green Falcons. Bauza’s first
Executive Committee, as well
task will be to prepare the
as President HRH Prince Ali Bin
team for the World Cup next
Al Hussein, had put their faith
summer, where they are
Representatives of
Grassroots Programmes and
in the national coach to lead
returning to the world finals
the All India Football
it is refreshing to see how
the Nashama in the upcoming
for the first time since 2006.
Federation (AIFF) met
young girls are being encour-
period of time. For his part,
The 59-year-old coach will be
FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football
aged to take up football.
Jordan FA Technical Director
the fourth South American to
Officer Sarai Bareman at the
Organising school-level
Belhassan Maloush welcomed
take charge of Saudi Arabia
AIFF headquarters in New
tournaments is the next big
the appointment of Abu Abed
at a World Cup, following in
Delhi to discuss the progress
step in ensuring that the
and stressed that Abu Abed
the footsteps of Jorge Solari
of women’s football in India.
development in women’s
would be leading the national
(at USA 1994), Carlos Alberto
The AIFF briefed the FIFA
football penetrates deep
team in the upcoming AFC
Parreira (at France 1998) and
Chief Women’s Football
within the grassroots,” she
Asian Cup finals in the UAE in
Marcos Paqueta (at Germany
Officer on the roadmap for
added. The AIFF launched the
2019. The newly appointed
2006).
women’s football in India and
Indian Women’s League early
head coach expressed his
discussed at length possible
this year, wherein six teams
delight to take charge of the
methods to ensure rapid
vied for a place in history.
national team, and made it
progression in women’s
Eastern Sporting Union
football. “Women’s football in
defeated Rising Students 3-0
India is clearly on the rise with
in the final to become the
the AIFF launching a domestic
first team to win the Indian
league (Indian Women’s
Women’s League.
clear that he would be making changes in the planning and squad in the upcoming phase, in order to meet the expectations of Jordanian fans.
COACHING STUDY PROGRAMME IN JAPAN The Japan Football
League),” said Bareman. “The AIFF has linked the FIFA Live Your Goals project very efficiently with the AIFF
Association invited five coaches each from Cambodia and Myanmar as part of a joint project with the
AIFF
BAUZA TO LEAD SAUDI ARABIA AT WORLD CUP
Japan Foundation Asia Center to a coaching study programme specialised for
Argentinian head
youth development. The youth
coach Edgardo
coaches visited Japan from
Bauza has replaced
22 September to 1 October.
Bert van Marwijk as head
Since both football associations
coach of Saudi Arabia and will
have been focusing on youth
lead the team to next summer’s
development in recent years,
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
they were keen to join the
Bauza was named head coach
programme which was
of the UAE back in May 2017,
arranged in cooperation with
and oversaw a 1-1 draw in
the JFA Academy and Omiya
Thailand, 2-1 victory over
Ardija (a J1 League club). Two
Saudi Arabia and 1-0 defeat
of the overseas coaches from
by Iraq in World Cup qualifiers
Japan, Ohara Kazunori
during his time with the UAE.
(Technical Director of Football
Bauza and the UAE FA were
Federation of Cambodia),
able to reach a mutual
and Koga Takuma (Coach of
agreement with the Saudis for
Myanmar Academy) also
the Argentinian to take the
joined the programme. FIFA 1904 /
53
THEN
1958 BJÄRREDS SALTSJÖBAD, SWEDEN
imago
Table tennis at a World Cup training base: Germany’s manager Helmut Schön and Horst Eckel against Aki Schmidt and Herbert Erhardt (left to right). Horst Szymaniak (in light trousers) and Hans Cieslarczyk look on.
54
/ FIFA 1904
NOW
2017 SĂƒO PAULO, BRAZIL
Miguel Schincariol/AFP
Teqball perfection: Brazilian players Gabriel Jesus, Dani Alves, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho (left to right) after training for a World Cup qualifier.
FIFA 1904 /
55
A FIFA LEGEND’S CAREER
It was often said that Nwankwo Kanu was an unpredictable player, with opponents never sure what he would do next. The two-time African Footballer of the Year, who was the captain of the Nigeria side that won Olympic gold in 1996 and scored two crucial goals in the semi-final against Brazil, was also known for his excellent technique. His success with clubs such as Ajax, Internazionale and Arsenal paved the way for the next generation of African players to follow in his footsteps in Europe.
1993-1996 Ajax 3 league titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Intercontinental Cup. 54 games, 25 goals. “I was enjoying myself, playing African football, dribbling, entertaining and displaying all my skills. But Louis van Gaal came to me and said, ‘Hey, listen, this is business. Every team needs to have their pattern and you have to follow the pattern.’
1992-1993 Iwuanyanwu Nationale
Ajax was like a school and I am glad that I went to that school.” Nwankwo Kanu
1996-1999 Internazionale 1 UEFA Cup. 12 games, 1 goal.
1 league title. 25 games, 15 goals.
After a medical examination reveals a
Kanu’s goals fire the team to the league
heart problem, football has to take a
title and secure his place in Nigeria’s squad
back seat for a while. Faced with the
for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Golden
possibility of never playing football
Eaglets go all the way in Japan, defeating
again, Kanu goes under the knife and
Ghana in the final, and Kanu catches the
makes his comeback in 1997.
eye of many top European clubs.
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD... 1992
1993
1996
The Toronto Blue Jays
Queen Elizabeth II decides to
US rapper Tupac
become the first-ever
open up Buckingham Palace’s
Shakur is shot and
team from outside the
state rooms to visitors for eight
dies from his injuries
USA to win baseball’s
weeks a year. All tickets for the
six days later.
World Series.
next three years are promptly snapped up shortly after going on sale.
56
/ FIFA 1904
“My best moment was at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta because we were the first African country to reach the final of the Olympics and win it.”
1999-2004 Arsenal 2 league titles, 2 FA Cups. 119 games, 37 goals. If one game cemented Kanu’s reputation as a super-sub, then it was Chelsea v. Arsenal in 1999. The Gunners are 2-0 down when
Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu comes off the bench to turn the match on its head with a 15-minute hat-trick. His strike to make it 3-2 is Kanu in a nutshell: technique, ingenuity and artistic perfection.
2004-2006 West Bromwich Albion 58 games, 9 goals. If you want to know what kind of impression Kanu made on West Brom, just look at where their fans hail from. On the club’s social media platforms, the vast majority of Baggies supporters come from the UK. In second place? Fans from Nigeria.
2006-2012 Portsmouth 1 FA Cup. 141 games, 20 goals. During his time at Pompey, the Nigerian striker writes himself into club folklore with the goal that clinches the FA Cup in 2008, a feat that earns him a new nickname: “King Kanu”.
“SpongeBob SquarePants“ airs on
2006
Nickelodeon for the first time,
Google purchases YouTube
going on to spawn numerous
for USD 1.65 billion.
Illustration: Tobias Göbel
1999
movies, video games, comic books and a wide range of merchandise.
2004 George W. Bush is elected US President for a second and final four-year term.
FIFA 1904 /
57
PHOTO ARCHIVE
World Cup draw in good hands FIFA President Jules Rimet (left) holds the urn so that his grandson can draw the teams for the 1938 World 58
/ FIFA 1904
AFP
Cup in France (Paris, 5 May 1938). FIFA 1904 /
59
Š Mordillo Foundation. All rights reserved. Licensed by Rubinstein Royalty Management B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; www.mordillo.com; Illustration provided by Rubinstein Royalty Management B.V., Mordillo Worldwide Licensing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
MORDILLO
FIFA 1904 /
61
INNOVATIONS
RECYCLING FOOTBALL PITCHES What do you do with old artificial turf pitches that are past their sell-by date? FIFA is setting an example by recycling them. By Perikles Monioudis Remember the old days when football pitches were so heavy that
surface, which means that it has become vital to worldwide
even wearing boots with extra-long studs couldn’t guarantee
football development.
that your feet wouldn’t get stuck in the mud at a vital moment in the game? Or playing as a kid on clay-type surfaces that were
Work has recently been completed on relaying the surface of
rutted with holes, and screw-in studs provided precious little grip?
FIFA’s artificial turf pitch at its headquarters in Zurich. It is just one
The 1954 World Cup final in Switzerland is a famous example of
of 3,437 such FIFA-certified pitches in 149 countries that have
the former, while the latter evokes memories of the type of
been installed since 2006.
rough-and-ready neighbourhood pitch beloved of kids looking for a kick-about.
As the normal life of artificial turf is around eight years, operators around the world are starting to wonder how to dispose of their
Such pitches are fast becoming a thing of the past thanks to
old turf. In FIFA’s case, rather than throw it away after years of
artificial turf, which was used for some World Cup qualifying
sterling service, the decision was made to recycle it.
many leagues and cups are also won and lost on such surfaces.
In its environmental impact study, FIFA also explains how to
But the reason they are so popular is that they can be used
dispose of artificial turf elsewhere in the world in a more
anywhere in the world, thus adding to the game’s global appeal.
environmentally friendly way that enables 99% of the materials
Thanks to artificial turf, more children and adults alike can
to be recycled, thus consigning even the happiest memories of
experience the enjoyment that comes from playing on a decent
boggy pitches to oblivion.
Good for the environment 99% of the artificial turf at the Home of FIFA is being recycled.
62
/ FIFA 1904
FIFA
matches and has even featured in a Women’s World Cup, and
FANS
“I CAN’T WAIT TO WATCH ICELAND” Fans have the last word: after the Final Draw in Moscow, Luis Arredondo Jiménez from Costa Rica is licking his lips ahead of next year’s World Cup. Recorded by Annette Braun
I get goosebumps whenever I think
I’ve followed the national league, the
about Brazil 2014. It was a tournament
national team and clubs like Juventus,
that changed the history of my country,
Barcelona and Real Madrid right from the
Costa Rica. We took the world by
start. Players like Alessandro Del Piero,
surprise by reaching the quarter-finals
Robert Pires and David Beckham were
and only lost in a penalty shoot-out to
my heroes.
the Netherlands. Expectations of us will be high next year, and nobody will
Some of my most treasured memories
underestimate us any more, which is
involve football – like the 2002 World
why it’s going to be tough to reach the
Cup, where Costa Rica were the only
quarters again, but I hope we can do it.
team to score twice against Brazil, who went on to become champions, or the
The Final Draw gave us a taste of things
opening match in 2006 against hosts
to come at the World Cup – all of the
Germany. There will be new memories
emotions, the people, the dreams –
to come in Russia, that’s for sure. Brazil
that’s what makes this tournament great. I can’t wait to watch Iceland, who were pretty impressive in qualification. I’m
At the hallowed Bernabéu Luis Arredondo Jiménez at the home of his beloved Real Madrid.
and France have a very good chance of winning, but Germany must be the favourites. Joachim Löw could field four
looking forward to seeing Panama’s
teams of equal quality, with the depth
so-called golden generation at its first
of talent available to him.
World Cup, as well as Egypt, who last qualified 28 years ago. An African team
But regardless of who takes the trophy
could cause an upset with their speed
Ousmane Dembélé take the world by
home, the World Cup will be a football
and ability to play deep.
storm? I have a hunch that the big star
fiesta that will bring people together
could be the Spanish boy wonder Marco
around the world, all of them speaking
Asensio.
one language: that of the beautiful
The World Cup gives young and experi-
HO
enced players alike a platform. How will
game.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
I’ll watch the games on TV and follow
perform in what will probably be their
them on social media, as will most other
last tournament on the global stage, and
people in my country. Football is like a
will rising talents such as Gabriel Jesus,
religion in Costa Rica. As a kid, you live
Kylian Mbappé, Adrien Rabiot and
and breathe it, and I was no different. FIFA 1904 /
63
COMING UP
PUBLICATION DETAILS: FIFA 1904 – PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FIFA).
FEBRUARY 2018 FILMS AND FOOTBALL
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PUBLISHER FIFA, FIFA-Strasse 20, P.O. Box, 8044 Zurich, Switzerland Phone +41 (0)43 222 7777, fax +41 (0)43 222 7878 PRESIDENT Gianni Infantino SECRETARY GENERAL Fatma Samoura CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Pure emotion! Football and films have rather a lot in common: they draw huge crowds, provide fantastic entertainment and turn their stars into household names.
Fabrice Jouhaud HEAD OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS Rüdiger Müller CHIEF EDITOR Perikles Monioudis
Our next issue, which will be published on 26 January 2018, will take a closer look at some of the best football films and reveal which actors and directors are big football fans.
STAFF WRITERS Alan Schweingruber (Deputy Editor), Annette Braun ART DIRECTION Marc Salvador PICTURE EDITOR Peggy Knotz LAYOUT Susanne Egli, Linda Schwartz TRANSLATION AND PROOFREADING English: Timo Eugster, Andrew Hurley, Stuart Makin, Milica Sajin; French: Alexandre Adriano, Alexandre Hubert, Alexandre Károlyi, Nicolas Samier, Estelle Valensuela; Spanish: Irene Antolín Pérez, José Ibarra, Juan F. López Vera, Natalia Pita Álvarez;
Stars from different worlds Sylvester Stallone and Pelé on the Escape to Victory set (1981).
»
German: Sandra Locher, Yves-Manuel Méan, Gabriela Straube-Zweifel
PRODUCTION Philipp Mahrer / Hans-Peter Frei PRINTING ZT Medien AG CONTACT feedback-magazine@fifa.org INTERNET www.FIFA.com/Magazine
Reproduction of photographs and articles of FIFA 1904 in whole or in part is only permitted with prior editorial approval and with reference to the source (FIFA 1904, © FIFA 2017). The editor and staff are not obliged to publish unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. The views expressed in FIFA 1904 are not necessarily those of FIFA. FIFA and the FIFA logo are registered trademarks.
imago
Made and printed in Switzerland.
64
/ FIFA 1904
MY GAME IS FAIR PLAY
Football is a powerful unifying force. Participating in the beautiful game is a joy, but it also means we all have a responsibility: to treat each other with respect and sportsmanship, whether we are players, ofďŹ cials or fans. What happens on the pitch is not restricted to the touchlines: it can inspire the world.