Fifa1904 issue#07

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

MAJOR TOURNAMENTS IN JORDAN AND BRAZIL NEW MEMBERS

WELCOME TO GIBRALTAR AND KOSOVO MIROSLAV BLAŽEVIĆ

A LIFE DEDICATED TO FOOTBALL

HEALTH

IT’S ALL IN THE MIND

THE FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP TURNS 50

ON THE PULSE OF THE GAME ENGLISH EDITION

WWW.FIFA.COM/MAGAZINE

JULY 2016

EDITORIAL

THE JOY OF FOOTBALL Whatever happened to the sweeper? Where are the classic centre forwards?

Is catenaccio still alive and well? And when exactly did the era of tiki-taka end?

The beautiful game is developing more and more, and the development shows no sign of letting up. The pace has increased and the players’ technical and tactical skills have been refined to such an extent that almost every match, even in the lower rungs of amateur leagues, is now worth watching.

The FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) will this summer celebrate its 50th anniversary, having first convened at the 1966 World Cup. Since then, every single match in the World Cup final competitions has been painstakingly analysed and the findings have been made available to coaches worldwide – every coach, player and fan can consult the reports. The technical reports are written by the members of the TSG, who change for each competition. Experts to have served the group include Enzo Bearzot, Gérard Houillier, Tina Theune-Mayer and Roy Hodgson. In later years, the TSG also began producing technical reports for other FIFA tournaments, such as the U-17 World Cup and the Olympic Football

Illustration: Stephan Walter

Tournaments, and the TSG have been present at the Women’s World Cup since the very first edition in China in 1991.

What goes into the preparation of these reports, who is involved and how, and what has been the result of the analysis over the last 50 years? Find out from page 8.

Perikles Monioudis FIFA 1904 /

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CONTENTS

NEW FIFA MEMBERS

28

We introduce FIFA’s two newest members, Gibraltar and Kosovo.

FIRST LOVE

Kolkata, India.

30

Since the 1966 World Cup in England, FIFA’s Technical Study Group, with a constantly changing set of experts, has been analysing what’s been happening on the pitch. How has football changed over the past 50 years?

FIFA 1904 investigates.

22

TECHNICAL STUDIES

Iceland move up four places and are back on the rise.

8

SOCIAL MEDIA

How will the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan benefit women’s football? Our readers give their opinions.

WOMEN’S WORLD RANKING

6

21

FOR THE GAME. FOR THE WORLD.

FIFA’s most recent investments in world football.

4

40

THE INTERVIEW

MEN’S WORLD RANKING

34

THEN AND NOW

From London Colney to Barcelona.

36

Madagascar leap 29 places to consolidate the improvement in their football fortunes.

18

SNAPSHOT

16

Global superstar Zlatan Ibrahimović in his last match for Sweden.

A lifetime devoted to football: Miroslav Blažević has successfully coached several national teams and numerous clubs. We met him in Zagreb, just months after he celebrated his 81st birthday.

DEBATE – PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

COVER PICTURE

Some key terms from football’s rich lexicon.

Illustration: Rinah Lang

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/ FIFA 1904

36

8

Getty Images, FIFA (2), Ino Zeljek, Martin Haake (Illustration)

Video assistant referees on trial: football in all its diversity.

46

HISTORY

North Korea stunned the footballing world at the 1966 World Cup in England.

STATISTICS

FIFA’s 2015 at a glance.

30

PHOTO ARCHIVE

Leônidas da Silva and his Brazilian team-mates on their way to Paris for the 1938 World Cup.

58

HEALTH

Mental health problems are stigmatised in football – but they certainly exist.

FIFA is investigating the issue.

61

44

AN EVENTFUL JUNE

Images of two major tournaments: the Copa América Centenario and EURO 2016.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

We accompany FIFA Senior Women’s Football Development Manager Mayrilian Cruz Blanco on a trip to Beijing.

62

The U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan is nearly upon us.

Before it kicks off, the qualified teams will do battle at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Rio.

50

54

CELEBRATION

Hugo Sánchez was only too pleased to display his trademark somersault goal celebration at the World Cup in his home country of Mexico in 1986.

64

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

FACES OF FIFA

Profiles of three FIFA employees.

40

53

FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL MUSEUM

The ball is round: the eventful history of a spherical object that conquered the world.

38

PUBLICATION DETAILS

58

FIFA 1904 app

FIFA 1904 appears monthly in four languages and is also available as an app for smartphones and tablets http://www.fifa.com/mobile FIFA 1904 /

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FOR THE GAME. FOR THE WORLD.

Preparations for the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia are already in full swing, including the recruitment process for the volunteers. By 6 June, more than 30,000 applications had been received. “Volunteering is really close to my heart. Of course, the process requires a lot of effort but every single event inspires and stimulates you,” says Anastasiya Kulyagina, a member of the FIFA World Cup™ volunteer From 6 to 9 June, the

centre in Volgograd.

second part of the FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP) took place in Zurich. The programme was launched in 2015 in order to support, strengthen and promote women in leadership The “FIFA 11 for

positions and identify women in sport with leadership potential, with the aim of increasing the number of

Health” programme, which

women at the highest decision-making levels around

educates children about disease

the world. FIFA Senior Women’s Football Develop-

prevention and living a healthy lifestyle, is

ment Manager Mayrilian Cruz Blanco says: “We are

to be rolled out in 16 primary schools in Port

committed to supporting the participants in

Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the host country of

further developing their potential as

the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. David Chung,

leaders and along their pathway

President of the Papua New Guinean Football Asso-

in our sport.”

ciation and of the Oceania Football Confederation, Twenty-three new FIFA

says: “The programme is very welcome as it will

security officers completed a

greatly impact the lives of young children in

three-day workshop in Zurich at the end

the schools, because they will be the ones

of May and familiarised themselves with

taking the messages home to their

FIFA’s rules and regulations. The 16 women and

parents and siblings.”

seven men will be on duty at FIFA tournaments and FIFA World Cup™ qualifying matches in the future. “This is already a group of experienced and active security professionals, but we want to make sure that all the specificities of this role, when working for FIFA, become second nature to them,” explains FIFA Director of Security Ralf Mutschke.

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/ FIFA 1904

Illustration: Julien Pacaud FIFA 1904 /

5

1 USA

0

2168

55 Iran

2

1418

108 Luxembourg

0

1134

Liberia **

0

877

2 Germany

0

2115

56 Israel

-1

1414

110 Cyprus

1

1124

Mozambique **

0

873

3 France

0

2064

57 India

1

1412

111 Nepal

1

1120

Kuwait **

0

870

4 England

0

2021

58 Turkey

2

1409

112 Nicaragua

1

1083

British Virgin Islands **

0

867

5 Australia

0

2011

59 Slovenia

0

1405

113 Guinea

1

1077

Qatar **

0

864

6 Sweden

0

2002

60 Bosnia and Herzegovina

2

1404

114 FYR Macedonia

0

1069

US Virgin Islands **

0

852

7 Japan

0

1991

61 Northern Ireland

1

1388

115 Burkina Faso

1

1060

Cayman Islands **

0

849

8 Brazil

0

1982

62 Côte d’Ivoire

-2

1386

116 Gabon

1

1052

Lesotho **

0

836

9 Korea DPR

0

1952

63 Greece

2

1378

117 Namibia

2

1026

Curaçao **

0

831

10 Canada

0

1938

63 Venezuela

1

1378

118 Zambia

0

1021

Belize **

0

825

11 Norway

0

1923

65 Haiti

1

1372

119 St Lucia

1

989

Bhutan **

0

778

12 China PR

0

1914

66 Kazakhstan

1

1355

120 Bangladesh

1

987

Antigua and Barbuda **

0

767

13 Netherlands

0

1902

67 Jamaica

1

1352

121 Sri Lanka

1

978

Comoros **

0

761

14 Spain

1

1861

68 Hong Kong

1

1347

122 Lebanon

1

949

Turks and Caicos Islands **

0

704

15 Switzerland

4

1850

69 Bulgaria

0

1344

123 Maldives

1

948

Barbados *

0

979

16 Iceland

4

1849

70 Indonesia

2

1321

124 Tanzania

1

947

Libya *

0

883 763

17 New Zealand

-1

1848

71 Tunisia

0

1313

125 St Kitts and Nevis

1

942

Andorra *

0

18 Italy

-4

1847

72 Philippines

1

1312

126 Grenada

2

914

Madagascar *

0

714

19 Korea Republic

-2

1843

73 United Arab Emirates

-3

1309

127 Dominica

2

900

Mauritius *

0

335

20 Denmark

-2

1838

74 Morocco

1

1299

128 Malawi

3

838

21 Scotland

0

1778

75 Guatemala

2

1297

129 Swaziland

3

836

22 Russia

0

1762

76 Fiji

2

1292

130 Kenya

3

822

23 Ukraine

0

1756

76 Albania

0

1292

131 Aruba

4

745

24 Colombia

0

1748

78 Bahrain

1

1288

132 Botswana

4

732

25 Austria

0

1747

79 Egypt

4

1287

128 Argentina **

0

1621

26 Belgium

2

1737

80 Faroe Islands

2

1286

129 Chile **

0

1559 1459

** Inactive for more than 18 months and therefore not ranked. * Provisionally listed due to not having played more than five matches against officially ranked teams.

6

+ / – Points

Rank Team

+ / – Points

Rank Team

+ / – Points

Rank Team

+ / – Points

Rank Team

WOMEN´S WORLD RANKING

27 Mexico

-1

1732

81 Algeria

-7

1283

130 Paraguay **

0

28 Finland

-1

1726

82 Guyana

2

1274

131 Peru **

0

1412

29 Costa Rica

1

1658

83 Estonia

-3

1273

132 Panama **

0

1363

30 Thailand

2

1643

83 Laos

2

1273

Uruguay **

0

1361

31 Republic of Ireland

2

1639

85 Malaysia

1

1260

Azerbaijan **

0

1341

32 Czech Republic

-1

1638

86 Tonga

1

1258

Guam **

0

1287 1238

33 Poland

-4

1636

87 New Caledonia

1

1252

Tahiti **

0

34 Vietnam

1

1620

88 Senegal

1

1248

Bolivia **

0

1217

35 Wales

1

1607

89 Lithuania

2

1226

Benin **

0

1187

36 Romania

3

1593

90 Montenegro

-1

1225

Suriname **

0

1152

37 Nigeria

0

1592

91 Mali

2

1222

Honduras **

0

1152

38 Chinese Taipei

0

1590

92 Cuba

0

1217

Vanuatu **

0

1139

39 Hungary

1

1566

93 Zimbabwe

2

1208

Angola **

0

1134

40 Portugal

1

1565

94 Congo

0

1206

Sierra Leone **

0

1132

41 Slovakia

2

1541

95 Palestine

1

1192

Congo DR **

0

1132

42 Uzbekistan

0

1540

96 Dominican Republic

1

1191

Armenia **

0

1104

43 Serbia

2

1529

97 El Salvador

1

1188

American Samoa **

0

1075

44 Myanmar

0

1527

98 Cook Islands

1

1185

Eritrea **

0

1060

45 Trinidad and Tobago

2

1494

99 Moldova

1

1174

St Vincent and the Grenadines **

0

1000 996

46 Ghana

2

1487

100 Latvia

1

1171

Rwanda **

0

47 Cameroon

-1

1484

100 Malta

1

1171

Uganda **

0

965

48 Papua New Guinea

1

1473

102 Singapore

1

1166

Bermuda **

0

943 927

49 Belarus

1

1456

103 Puerto Rico

1

1156

Guinea-Bissau **

0

50 Ecuador

2

1451

104 Ethiopia

1

1155

Syria **

0

927

51 Equatorial Guinea

0

1446

105 Solomon Islands

1

1144

Pakistan **

0

926

52 South Africa

2

1442

106 Georgia

4

1141

Macau **

0

922

53 Croatia

0

1427

107 Samoa

0

1138

Afghanistan **

0

889

54 Jordan

1

1423

108 Kyrgyzstan

0

1134

Iraq **

0

882

/ FIFA 1904

Last updated: 24 June 2016

ICELAND’S FAIRY-TALE RISE

Goal rush Iceland’s superior strike force are sweeping all before them.

Dagný Brynjarsdóttir’s career is the stuff of

without reply (5-0 against Belarus, 4-0

dreams. Having grown up in a village with a

against Scotland and 8-0 against Macedonia),

population of 800, she now plays in the

Brynjarsdóttir scoring the final goal in two of

National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in

the matches and her strike partner Harpa

the USA, often playing to crowds of 15,000

Þorsteinsdóttir netting seven times in total.

LEADER USA MOVES INTO TOP TEN NONE

at home matches of her club Portland Thorns, where the Icelander is a firm favourite

Iceland are hitting the headlines, and this

with the fans. Although her homeland is

time for all the right reasons, six years after

fabled as a place where elves, trolls and

the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted. “In

gnomes abound, Brynjarsdóttir’s story is

recent years, we have improved a lot,”

actually no myth, but emblematic of the

confirms Brynjarsdóttir. “We have beaten

burgeoning success of women’s football on

teams that we would never have beaten in

the Nordic island.

the past. We have a good mix in the side and I’m sure that we will get even better,” adds

While the men’s team have impressed many

the player mainly responsible for the steady

at this year’s European Championship in

rise in the number of female players in her

France, where they made their tournament

country.

MOVES OUT OF TOP TEN NONE MATCHES PLAYED IN TOTAL 99 MOST MATCHES PLAYED SOUTH AFRICA (6) BIGGEST MOVE BY RANKS SWITZERLAND AND ICELAND (up 4 ranks)

debut, the women’s team had already qualified twice for the Women’s EURO, in 2009

The team is already looking ahead to the

and 2013, and Freyr Alexandersson’s side are

2019 World Cup in France. “If we carry on

currently going great guns in the qualifiers

improving, I believe we have a good chance

for the 2017 edition in the Netherlands.

of qualifying,” says Brynjarsdóttir.

BIGGEST DROP BY RANKS ALGERIA (down 7 ranks)

imago

With a maximum haul of 18 points from six matches, Iceland are currently sitting pretty

Things are stirring in Iceland, and this time,

at the top of the table above Scotland,

it’s not one of its volcanoes.

Slovenia, Belarus and Macedonia. In the last three matches, they have fired in 17 goals

Annette Braun

http://www.fifa.com/worldranking FIFA 1904 /

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FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP

50 YEARS AT FOOTBALL’S SERVICE What do you need to analyse a game of football?

A pitch marked on a piece of paper, a pen ... and the expert eyes of the FIFA Technical Study Group.

By Annette Braun

2010 World Cup final A precise sketch of the passes and ball movements that led to Andrés Iniesta’s winner for Spain in the 116th minute: Casillas > Xavi < Van der Wiel > Sneijder > Van Persie > Elia > Van der Vaart > Elia < Puyol > Navas < Elia > Braafheid < Iniesta > Fàbregas > Navas > Torres < Van der Vaart < Fàbregas > Iniesta > 1-0 to Spain.

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/ FIFA 1904

Šzz-p.ch (zahnzimmermannpartners creative projects ag)

FIFA 1904 /

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FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP THE FIRST TSG (1966) AND OTHER SELECTED MEMBERS 1966 WORLD CUP IN ENGLAND: Valentin Granatkin (USSR), chairman Walter Winterbottom OBE (England), director Ron Greenwood (England) Harold Hassall (England)

Technical reports The TSG has been publishing its post-tournament analyses since 1966.

Gavriil Kachalin (USSR) Roger Quinche (Switzerland) René Courte (Switzerland), secretary

OTHER SELECTED MEMBERS: Dettmar Cramer, West Germany

WHAT IS THE TSG – AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

(1970 World Cup in Mexico)

The main job of the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG), which depending on the

Dr Václav Jíra, Czechoslovakia

tournament can consist of anything from three to 13 people, is to analyse the matches

(1974 World Cup in West Germany)

and identify and record new trends. The TSG also selects the best outfield players and

Rinus Michels, Netherlands

the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The technical report and DVD, with images

(1978 World Cup in Argentina)

and video material to illustrate match situations, is produced in four languages and

Mawade Wade, Senegal

sent to all 211 FIFA member associations and the six confederations.

(1982 World Cup in Spain)

Jean-Paul Brigger, Head of the TSG, says: “The goal of our work is to give people –

Carlos Queiroz, Portugal

including coaches who weren’t there – a technical view of the competition. They can

(1990 World Cup in Italy)

then adapt their training sessions with the help of FIFA programmes, ensuring that they

Andy Roxburgh, Scotland

keep their fingers on the pulse.” After all, the TSG’s main priority is to develop the

(1994 World Cup in the USA)

world’s most popular game.

F04

Gérard Houllier, France (1998 World Cup in France) Carlos Alberto Parreira, Brazil (2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan) Roy Hodgson, England (2006 World Cup in Germany) Teófilo Cubillas, Peru (2010 World Cup in South Africa) Sunday Oliseh, Nigeria (2014 World Cup in Brazil) Enzo Bearzot, Italy (1988 Olympic Football Tournament in Seoul) Óscar Tabárez, Uruguay (U-20 World Cup 1999 in New Zealand) Tina Theune-Meyer, Germany (Women’s World Cup 2007 in China) April Heinrichs, USA (2008 Olympic Football Tournaments in Beijing) All for football In 2014, the FIFA Technical Study Group travelled to Brazil for the World Cup, and in 2016, the group will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

10

/ FIFA 1904

FIFA

F04

Part and parcel of being a football fan is

the teams’ transitions between defence and

their opponents played balls over the

preparing yourself for your team’s next

attack after regaining possession – which

defence. Manuel Neuer in Germany’s

game, almost as if you were the coach and

can often be the difference between

round-of-16 clash with Algeria was a prime

giving tactical instructions to your players.

victory and defeat – were performed with

example, as he played as a “sweeper-

You sit down and study your opponents’

extraordinary quality and at speed. The top

keeper” in front of his box and raced

strengths and weaknesses, and you ponder

teams’ playing styles were built around

strikers for the ball, almost as if it were

long and hard about your team’s ideal

assertiveness, pace, technical ability and

second nature to him.

formation. All of a sudden, the match has

vision, but they also worked hard, passed

become more of a personal affair as you

the ball around well and showed great unity.

At World Cup matches, the TSG members

analyse and commentate on the game to

can be found in the stands with a pen and

your heart’s content, driven by your passion

a notebook in their hands and deep in

for the sport and all of the emotions that come with it.

The FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) has been analysing all FIFA World Cup™ games since 1966, as well as all FIFA Women’s World Cup™ matches since 1991, as part of

At the 2014 World Cup, the TSG noted that coaches were taking calculated risks by pushing their full-backs high up the pitch.

concentration. They jot down the starting formations as well as the teams’ attacking and defensive tactics, take a note of the set pieces on show, decide whether and to what extent the coaches’ substitutions represent a tactical manoeuvre, and also break down how the goals were scored.

its work to identify new trends in the game German coach Otto Rehhagel, who led

and help to further develop football all around the world. But, unlike fans, the

It also became more and more clear that

Greece to the European title in 2004,

TSG’s analysis is not emotional and subjec-

goalkeepers were becoming increasingly

once said that “the truth lies on the pitch”,

tive, but rather rational and objective. They

involved in build-up play, acting almost as

and as such it is the TSG’s job to document

of course marvelled at Gheorghe Hagi’s

an additional outfield player when their

that truth and relay it to coaches all around

stunning 35-yard strike for Romania in the

team was in possession of the ball, and also

the world so that they can consult the

1994 World Cup, an unerring lob from out

taking up a position just in front of their

technical reports and plan their training

wide on the left, but they also analysed

own penalty area to clear danger – either

sessions accordingly, all in the interests of

the positions of the midfielders, the role

with their head or their feet – whenever

player development.

of the goalkeeper, and the frequency of long-range goals.

By the same token, they dissected Carli Lloyd’s stunning hat-trick in the cauldron of the opening 16 minutes of the 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the USA and Japan, which paved the way for the Americans to win their third title after previous triumphs in 1991 and 1999, as well as the subsequent tactical adjustments and substitutions that the Japanese made to try and find a way back into the game.

Reuters/Leonhard Foeger

RISKS, ASSERTIVENESS, “SWEEPER-KEEPERS” At the 2014 World Cup, for example, the TSG noted that coaches were taking calculated risks by pushing their full-backs high up the pitch so that they could press in their opponent’s half of the pitch. In Brazil,

Sweeper-keeper Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer puts his outfield skills to the test as he takes on Algeria’s Islam Slimani in a race for the ball at the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA 1904 /

11

FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP the box and helped football take strides forward.” Back then, he says, travel was not as easy as it is today and the flow of information was much more complicated, with modern-day tools such as the internet, SMS or WhatsApp still a long way off. In their own way, those pioneers helped to put football where it is now, and they ensured that the TSG could go about the work it does today.

“The members of the 1966 group were pioneers.”

Jean-Paul Brigger

Nevertheless, Brigger is still a football fan at heart, and there are times when emotions get the better of him too. Take 2009, for example, when “little Switzerland” reached the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup and ended up winning the title. Brigger was sat in the stands that day, pen and notebook at the ready, when his expert eye saw the decisive header by Haris Seferović – now a full Swiss international and playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga – hit the back of the net a split-second before it actually did so. Brigger jumped up from his seat, briefly punching the air in celebration before sitting down again and refocusing on the match. “That is football in a nutshell,” he smiles, “and the reason why we One pitch, different formations A bird’s eye view of the 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy in Pasadena (Brazil won 3-2 on penalties).

all love it so much.”

The TSG’s next mission is just around the corner: three women and three men will be

opening game between Sweden and South

member associations with technical reports

Africa begin!

his job, analysing each and every game that

for 50 years. When Jean-Paul Brigger sits

he watches in exactly the same way,

back and thinks about his group’s anniver-

whether it is for the TSG or purely as a fan.

sary, then he does so with humility and

“I guess I’m just football-crazy,” he says,

gratitude: “The members of the 1966

laughing.

group were pioneers who thought outside

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/ FIFA 1904

The TSG has now been providing FIFA’s

Head of the TSG. He is fully committed to

Swiss national team as a player, is now the

Football Tournaments 2016. So let the

ENTHUSIASM AND VISION

Mike Powell / Allsport / Getty Images

heading off to Rio to scrutinise the Olympic Jean-Paul Brigger, who won 35 caps for the

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Just because a formation falls out of favour doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily mean that it was a bad one. The Dutch totaalvoetbal system is making a comeback â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and there are even signs of the sweeper returning.

Mirrorpix

By Alan Schweingruber

Pointing the way Bill Dodgin, Southampton manager between 1946 and 1949, issuing instructions to his players.

FIFA 1904 /

13

FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP You don’t always know when the good

thinking, tiki-taka is neither defunct nor has

were certainly not bound by the defensive

times are coming to an end. For a case in

it landed in the aforementioned refuse

duties of other defenders such as full-backs.

point, you need look no further than

receptacle. Every coach practises the elegant

the final weeks and months of the all-

and efficient short-passing game, provided

conquering tiki-taka. That was back in the

his or her players have the requisite quality

European summer of 2012, and it would

to implement it. The system calls for good

have been interesting to have read the mind

technique and even more agility than

of modern coach Cesare Prandelli, who

before, which can clearly be a drawback for

looked on pensively rather than in horror as

teams with older players.

his Italian team were dismantled 4-0 by

Total football’s biggest advocate was Johan Cruyff, who learnt the system at Ajax and fine-tuned it later at FC Barcelona.

Spain in the EURO 2012 final in Ukraine.

THE REFINED SWEEPER

Could that defeat have been prevented by a

Of course, a formation is never completely

different tactical approach? Probably not.

a thing of the past: it would be more

It sounds like a cool job, one that would

Prandelli’s side were never really in the

accurate to say that it is no longer in vogue.

appeal to anyone with an eye for sophisti-

match, despite having begun full of vigour.

The same applies to playing positions of

cation, but sweepers are actually no longer

Against the fleet-footed Spaniards, however,

old, such as the sweeper, that elegant

around, at least not in professional football,

they quickly resembled a team that had just

defender who could read the game perfect-

where every defender worth his salt has to

completed a three-day boot camp in the

ly, join the attack when necessary and help

be highly creative and exceptionally reliable

forests of Kiev. While Prandelli ruminated

to construct moves. A player who was

to be able to ply his trade. It is a different

on the touchline, the howling Azzurri fans

always involved in the play and who took it

story lower down the leagues and in youth

in the stands made it perfectly clear that

upon himself to rescue his team as often as

football, however, where the sweeper can

they wanted tiki-taka to be consigned to

possible was Franz Beckenbauer, the German

still be found, albeit in a slightly different

the rubbish bin of history.

who revolutionised the position of sweeper

position, such as behind the back four of

by adopting the role of playmaker at the

the modern era. Greece played with such a

same time. In the 1970s and 1980s, sweep-

formation when they won EURO 2004, for

ers had a lot of freedom, provided they

example, which, although it was 12 years

were relatively reliable and creative. They

ago, demonstrates that teams can win

Franz Beckenbauer revolutionised the position of sweeper by adopting the role of playmaker at the same time.

That wouldn’t happen for a while, if at all, but cracks began to appear in the shortpassing system that had taken the world by storm as instead of winning match after match, Spain started to suffer the odd draw or even defeat. Having won two European championships and one World Cup between 2008 and 2012, it all unravelled for them at the 2014 World Cup with the team’s exit at the group stage and the end of their beloved playing style was declared

fails at crucial moments. Opponents,

Geoff Robins / AFP

nigh. A system is no longer effective if it

to the hitherto world-conquering Spanish style. And today? Contrary to current 14

/ FIFA 1904

particularly less sophisticated ones, adapted Tiki-taka or catenaccio?

Switzerland coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Johan Cruyff A man who helped to shape football both as a player (pictured here in a friendly against England in 1977) and as a coach.

major trophies without having a Ramos or

By contrast, the idea behind total football

Words that could have come straight from a

an Iniesta in their ranks.

was that every outfield player could play in

young Johan Cruyff.

every position. If, say, a midfielder pushed

FUTURISTIC TOTAL FOOTBALL

forward, his place was filled by a team-mate.

Incidentally, it was the Dutch who highlight-

Systems have always changed in football.

When the team had possession, all outfield

ed the limitations of Spain’s tiki-taka. Every

How would today’s coaches react if forward

players were involved in the attack, and

football fan remembers how the Oranje

passes were not allowed, as was the case in

when the ball was lost, they all defended

demolished the world champions 5-1 in

the 19 century? They would have to

together. Total football’s biggest advocate

their first 2014 World Cup group match:

instruct their players to practise dribbling

was Johan Cruyff, who learnt the system at

Van Persie’s breathtaking diving header just

and 50-yard sprints with the ball. Today’s

Ajax and fine-tuned it later at FC Barcelona.

before the break cancelling out Spain’s

footballers are beneficiaries of systems such

Cruyff, of course, died earlier this year, but

opener, followed by four Netherlands goals

as catenaccio (“the door bolt”) from Italy

his legacy lives on. The following notewor-

in the second half. It was the stuff of

and Switzerland or total football from the

thy sentence appeared in the FIFA technical

Hollywood: had a film ever been scripted, it

Netherlands. Even contemporary coaches

report for the 2014 World Cup: “Teams

would have had a working title of “Total

like José Mourinho are increasingly reverting

tended to use flexible systems rather than

Football Mark II Obliterates Tiki-Taka (Part

to the less-than-entertaining catenaccio,

static formations, with players assuming

One)”.

with its emphasis on defence and counter-

different positions but also sticking to their

attacks.

role when the match situation required it.”

Gerry Cranham / Offside

th

FIFA 1904 /

15

SNAPSHOT

16

/ FIFA 1904

Yves Herman / Reuters

Hanging up the gold and blue Swedish national hero Zlatan Ibrahimović in action in the 1-0 defeat to Belgium on 22 June 2016 in the Stade de Nice. The global star retired from international football after Sweden’s group-stage exit from EURO 2016.

FIFA 1904 /

17

0

1503

55 Guinea

3

573

108 Madagascar

2 Belgium

0

1384

56 Panama

-4

572

110 Armenia

3 Colombia

1

1328

57 Slovenia

4

567

4 Germany

1

1310

58 Cameroon

5

566

5 Chile

-2

1293

59 Australia

-9

563

113 Palestine

6 Spain

0

1267

60 Congo

-1

560

114 Belize

7 Brazil

0

1257

61 Nigeria

6

559

115 Guinea-Bissau

8 Portugal

0

1181

62 Morocco

2

555

115 Zimbabwe

9 Uruguay

0

1150

63 Mali

2

554

117 Niger

-11

550

117 Thailand

2

-5

545

117 Swaziland

16

0

544

120 Philippines

-5

-6

536

121 Mauritania

2

529

122 Libya

10 Austria

1

1077

64 Trinidad and Tobago

11 England

-1

1069

65 Saudi Arabia

12 Italy

3

982

66 Uzbekistan

13 Ecuador

-1

978

67 Finland

14 Netherlands

3

959

68 South Africa

+ / – Points

Rank Team

+ / – Points

Rank Team

+ / – Points

Rank Team

1 Argentina

29

317

163 India

-1

151

0

315

164 Tajikistan

0

150

111 Kyrgyzstan

-11

313

165 Gambia

3

145

112 Kazakhstan

5

312

166 Malta

-1

141

17

311

167 Bermuda

2

135

0

307

168 Liechtenstein

5

128

-13

303

168 American Samoa

2

128

11

303

168 Cook Islands

2

128

3

302

168 Samoa

2

128

302

172 Dominica

-7

124

302

173 Malaysia

1

116

299

174 Laos

2

115

-12

294

174 Maldives

-14

115

-10

293

176 Solomon Islands

16

110

15 Switzerland

-1

948

69 Bulgaria

0

518

123 Angola

-2

292

177 Timor-Leste

-2

106

16 Mexico

0

942

70 United Arab Emirates

-2

517

123 Liberia

-15

292

178 Yemen

-1

102

17 France

4

925

71 Israel

5

513

125 Ethiopia

-2

288

179 Tahiti

17

96

18 Turkey

-5

919

72 Uganda

0

500

126 Cuba

-1

285

180 Seychelles

-1

94

19 Ukraine

3

894

73 Burkina Faso

2

479

127 Lithuania

11

282

181 Bangladesh

-3

93

20 Hungary

-2

886

74 Haiti

-3

478

128 Sudan

0

278

182 Nepal

-2

77

20 Bosnia and Herzegovina

0

886

75 Benin

-2

473

129 Kenya

-13

276

183 New Caledonia

8

74

-3

878

76 Equatorial Guinea

7

466

130 Guyana

2

271

184 Cambodia

-1

73

23 Costa Rica

2

853

77 Venezuela

-3

456

130 Bahrain

0

271

185 Vanuatu

-4

72

24 Slovakia

8

852

78 Belarus

-1

442

132 Burundi

-10

269

186 Fiji

-3

68

25 Northern Ireland

1

851

79 Zambia

-1

436

133 Vietnam

12

266

187 Indonesia

-2

65

26 Wales

-2

846

80 Jordan

2

434

134 Turkmenistan

-7

264

188 Bhutan

-2

64

27 Croatia

-4

842

81 China PR

0

423

135 Namibia

0

263

189 Sri Lanka

-2

58

27 Poland

0

842

82 Bolivia

-3

420

136 Tanzania

-7

261

190 Suriname

-2

57

29 Russia

-2

828

83 Antigua and Barbuda

2

413

137 Georgia

-14

260

191 Chinese Taipei

-9

56 54

22 Romania

30 Czech Republic

-1

815

84 Cyprus

-4

407

138 Azerbaijan

-5

252

192 Pakistan

-2

31 USA

-2

803

84 Qatar

-1

407

139 FYR Macedonia

2

250

193 Papua New Guinea

5

51

32 Algeria

1

786

86 Honduras

0

393

140 Barbados

4

245

194 US Virgin Islands

-1

44

33 Republic of Ireland

-2

768

87 Botswana

4

391

141 Kuwait

-1

241

194 Montserrat

-6

44

34 Iceland

1

751

88 Gabon

0

388

142 Mauritius

12

239

196 Macau

-2

42

35 Sweden

1

735

89 Faroe Islands

1

383

143 Hong Kong

0

233

197 Brunei Darussalam

-2

37

36 Côte d'Ivoire

-2

732

90 Montenegro

4

382

143 Aruba

-7

233

198 Turks and Caicos Islands

-1

33

37 Ghana

1

728

91 Guatemala

-2

378

145 St Lucia

-6

225

199 Cayman Islands

0

21

38 Denmark

3

697

92 St Kitts and Nevis

0

374

146 Luxembourg

0

221

200 San Marino

0

20

39 Iran

18

+ / – Points

Rank Team

MEN’S WORLD RANKING

3

688

93 Canada

2

363

147 New Zealand

14

220

201 British Virgin Islands

0

16

40 Greece

-3

678

94 Estonia

-1

360

148 St Vincent and the Grenadines

-7

211

202 Andorra

0

11

41 Senegal

2

677

95 Togo

8

358

149 Singapore

-1

207

203 Mongolia

0

4

42 Albania

3

667

96 Central African Republic

0

351

150 Grenada

7

203

204 Anguilla

0

0

43 Scotland

-3

659

97 Mozambique

4

349

151 Lebanon

7

199

204 Bahamas

0

0

44 Paraguay

-5

638

98 Korea DPR

14

348

152 São Tomé e Príncipe

-2

197

204 Djibouti

0

0

45 Egypt

-1

631

99 El Salvador

-2

342

153 Dominican Republic

-2

193

204 Eritrea

0

0

46 Jamaica

9

630

100 Oman

-2

338

154 Curaçao

-2

191

204 Somalia

0

0

47 Tunisia

0

629

101 Syria

9

336

155 Lesotho

-7

185

204 Tonga

0

0

48 Peru

-2

623

102 Iraq

2

334

156 Afghanistan

-9

184

49 Cape Verde Islands

-2

620

103 Rwanda

50 Korea Republic

4

603

104 Latvia

51 Norway

-2

593

105 Nicaragua

52 Congo DR

-1

589

106 Chad

53 Japan

4

581

54 Serbia

2

576

/ FIFA 1904

-16

332

157 South Sudan

-2

174

3

330

158 Puerto Rico

-6

167

-3

165

2

164

0

329

159 Moldova

-8

326

160 Guam

107 Malawi

-1

320

161 Myanmar

6

161

108 Sierra Leone

10

317

162 Comoros

-3

158

Last updated: 2 June 2016

IN FESTIVE MOOD

©Muzi Ntombela / BackpagePix

COSAFA Cup 2016 Fanomezana Tojo Claudel (Madagascar; second from right) wheels away after netting against the Seychelles at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia (11 June 2016).

Madagascar has a population of 23 million,

It was also slightly reminiscent of the beach

roughly the same number as Australia.

soccer team. On sand, Madagascar is one

Although football is not the most popular

of the strongest countries in the world,

sport in either country, the world’s

and people quickly hoped that the success

second-largest island nation (i.e.

of their agile compatriots would rub off on

Madagascar) had a huge celebration last

the football team. The aims were high,

year when the national team somewhat

perhaps too high for a country that,

unexpectedly finished third at the annual

although on the up, still has to go toe-to-

COSAFA Cup in Southern Africa. You can

toe against world-class teams from Africa.

imagine the scenes in the arrivals hall at

And so it was that the team failed early on

the airport in Antananarivo when the

in its quest to qualify for its first Africa Cup

plane carrying the team, led by skipper

of Nations, but they can at least be

Johann Paul, landed. It was an incredible

content with a climb of 29 places to 108th

achievement.

in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Of course, expectations rise with every

There will soon be movement in the top 40,

champagne cork popped, and many

as the results of EURO 2016 and the Copa

Madagascans already wistfully recall the

América Centenario will be taken into

now legendary day of 25 May 2015,

account in July. Will Argentina and Belgium

when their team eliminated Ghana 2-1 in

still be at the top? Who will break into the

the quarter-finals of the COSAFA Cup.

top ten for the first time? And where will

To knock out such serial World Cup

Madagascar figure after failing to reach the

qualifiers, who as a visiting team and the

quarter-finals of the 2016 COSAFA Cup in

tournament favourites did not have to

Namibia? The next edition of the ranking

contest any group matches and thus

will certainly make for interesting reading.

LEADER ARGENTINA MOVES INTO TOP TEN AUSTRIA (up 71 ranks) MOVES OUT OF TOP TEN ENGLAND (down 1 rank) MATCHES PLAYED IN TOTAL 49 MOST MATCHES PLAYED USA (3 matches) BIGGEST MOVE BY POINTS SLOVAKIA (up 68 points) BIGGEST MOVE BY RANKS MADAGASCAR (up 29 ranks) BIGGEST DROP BY POINTS RWANDA (down 69 points) BIGGEST DROP BY RANKS RWANDA (down 16 ranks)

maybe assumed that they would breeze through to the final, was like a dream.

Alan Schweingruber

http://www.fifa.com/worldranking FIFA 1904 /

19

SOCIAL MEDIA FIFA 1904 ASKED ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

“WHAT LEGACY DO YOU WANT THE #U17WWC IN JORDAN TO LEAVE FOR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL?”

“FOOTBALL IS FOR ALL OF US. FIRST MAJOR FIFA TOURNAMENT WITH HIJAB. THIS MATTERS. IT INSPIRES.” Shireen Ahmed (Canada) on Twitter

“IT WILL INSPIRE SO MANY GIRLS AROUND THE KINGDOM TO PLAY THE BEAUTIFUL GAME AND REALISE THAT FOOTBALL IS NOT JUST FOR BOYS.” Yan Malkosh (Jordan) on Twitter

“JORDAN WILL BE AN EXAMPLE AND AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER COUNTRIES OF HOW TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND NOT JUST MAKE EXCUSES.” Patricia González (Azerbaijan) on Twitter

“IT WILL EMPOWER GIRLS EVERYWHERE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS!” Zeina Shahzada (Jordan) on Twitter

“DREAMS DO COME TRUE IN COUNTRIES LIKE JORDAN. COUNTRIES THAT ARE SMALL IN SIZE BUT HUGE IN POTENTIAL.” Zayna Al-Hamarneh (Jordan) on Twitter

FIFA 1904 /

21

NEW FIFA MEMBERS

WELCOME!

National pride An emotional Albert Bunjaku after scoring Kosovo’s first-ever goal.

In May 2016, Gibraltar and Kosovo were admitted as members of FIFA. We present the two newest member associations.

By Alan Schweingruber and Perikles Monioudis

Winston Churchill Avenue is not as big and grand as its name would suggest. There are

peninsula’s only airport, meaning that whenever a plane takes off, a barrier comes down and pedestrians and cars have to wait.

22

/ FIFA 1904

with the small British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The road runs right across the

in England. The four-lane “avenue” is just a few hundred metres long and links Spain

Jan Huebner / imago

no expensive cigars for sale, and neither does it lead to Woodstock, Churchill’s birthplace

â&#x20AC;&#x2030;

â&#x20AC;&#x2030;

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images

30,000 fans The entire population of Gibraltar would fit into one stadium.

Gibraltar is home to a good 30,000 people, and as the runway shows, one thing is clear: space is at a premium on the rock at the southernmost tip of the Costa del Sol. Victoria Stadium, a multi-purpose sports facility, can hold 5,000 spectators. From the stands, the fans can also wave at the passengers in the passing aeroplanes or the red doubledecker buses outside the stadium. Gibraltar has something of the feel of London, only a lot smaller of course.

FIFA 1904 /

23

NEW FIFA MEMBERS But this small country has no need to measure itself against the world’s big and powerful nations. In fact it is partly its manageable size that makes Gibraltar such an interesting place – it covers an area of only 6.5km2, yet has its own airport and its own government.

While the inhabitants of British cities like Birmingham or Leeds dream of summer holidays on the beach, the Gibraltarians enjoy their Friday night beers with the Med lapping at their feet.

WHEN ENGLAND CALLS Gibraltar, an overseas territory of football’s mother country as it is, of course also has its own national team as a matter of honour. It even has two leagues, giving all those English tourists spending a few days’ holiday in their southern outpost the pleasant feeling of still being in football’s heartland. The same could of course be said of those a few miles away

GIBRALTAR FIFA member:

on the Spanish mainland. But when the sun is shining it doesn’t matter too much if the Eurobet Division, in which players are all semi-professional or amateurs, doesn’t quite live up to La Liga or the Premier League.

Coach:

As far as youth football development goes, however, Gibraltar has a herculean task. There

Jeff Wood (England)

is certainly talent, and young players can play at home or for one of the neighbouring

Home stadium:

Spanish clubs. The problem is that many young footballers leave the peninsula at the age

Victoria Stadium (5,000 capacity)

of 18 or 19 to go and study in the UK. There they play for university teams, or if they

Population:

show promise they join British football clubs. The best known Gibraltarian players at the

30,000

moment are Scott Wiseman who plays for Scunthorpe United (in Football League One,

Form of government:

England’s third-highest division), and Jake Gosling playing for AFC Newport (Football

British Overseas Territory

League Two, England’s fourth-highest division), both on professional contracts. In terms

Official language:

of planning for the future the question is also, which national team would a super-talent

English

from Gibraltar play for? Given the choice, most players would probably opt for England.

All 6.5km2 of Gibraltar A bird’s eye view of Gibraltar – replete with the Rock of Gibraltar, the stadium and the airport runway.

24

/ FIFA 1904

HO

since 13 May 2016

AGAINST ÅLAND AND RHODES Gibraltar, already a member of UEFA since 2013, was admitted to FIFA just two months

2018 WORLD CUP

ago. At the moment it all feels very new. Photos of the famous Barbary monkeys on the

The 14-month European

cliffs will now no longer just adorn the pages of travel magazines and cruise brochures,

race to qualify for

but also the sports pages of the international press. Gibraltar did quite well in their first

Russia 2018 will get

European Championship qualification phase, even if the final competition was never really

under way in September.

within reach. Their last few games, and in particular the noteworthy 0-0 against Slovakia

Both Kosovo and

in their very first game as a UEFA member, show they are leaving their modest past

Gibraltar will be under

behind. It might have been fun before, but the International Island Games with

starter’s orders for the

entertaining matches against teams such as Åland (Finland) or Rhodes (Greece) will no

very first time. Kosovo

longer take priority.

have been added to Group I

For their international home games, the team led by manager Jeff Wood use the Estádio

(Croatia, Iceland,

Algarve in Portugal. It would be possible to fit all of Gibraltar’s inhabitants into this

Ukraine, Turkey, Finland),

stadium. But somebody has to stay at home to drive the red double-decker buses...

whereas Gibraltar have joined Group H (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus).

Thirteen out of the

THE SUN IS SHINING ON KOSOVO

52 European entrants

It is early June, and coach Albert Bunjaki’s Kosovan national team has come together

will qualify for the final

under a cloudy Frankfurt sky, the players’ black shorts and blue shirts almost seeming

competition.

to blend in against the backdrop of the unseasonably gloomy weather. Summer is (apparently) approaching, but there is no sign yet of the weather playing ball in Germany.

F04

Undeterred, the players begin their first training session with a gentle jog around the pitch – and despite the inclement weather, the players are beaming because after years of trying and waiting, the Kosovan FA (FFK) was recently granted official membership of FIFA at the world governing body’s Congress in Mexico City in mid-May. As the players go about their business on the pitch ahead of their first friendly – against the Faroe Islands – they do so under the watchful gaze of some of their fans, referred to as “compatriots” in an official FFK press release, and they probably are exactly that, given that there are some 420,000 Kosovans living abroad, mainly in Germany, the USA, Austria and Switzerland, in addition to the 1.8 million who live in the football-mad country itself. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008 and is now recognised by more than 100 UN member states, despite not actually being a member of the body itself. The country’s population is the youngest in Europe, with 33% of people below the age of 16. More than half of the population are younger than 25, and the birth rate is far higher than the mortality rate. From a footballing perspective, it is easy to conclude that Kosovo will surely be able to build on the potential of their youth.

FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE

Some 1.8 million people live in football-mad Kosovo, and that does not include the estimated 420,000 Kosovans who currently reside abroad.

One area in which the country is lacking, however, is football infrastructure. FFK President Fadil Vokrri is under no illusions about the size of the job ahead for his association, with special attention needing to be paid not only to the legal side of its operations, for FIFA 1904 /

25

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proving our innovative spirit with every dip, swipe, click, and tap.

Visa is fully committed to innovation, aiding in transforming the way we shop and pay through billions of connected devices, everywhere. Innovation starts with Visa.

visa.com

example with the drafting of a sponsorship law and an anti-hooligan law, but also to renovation work on the main stadium in the capital city of Pristina as well as on the Trepča Stadium in Mitrovica. There is also talk of building a new national stadium.

Back in Frankfurt, the team has now moved on to technical and tactical combination work but the atmosphere is still relaxed, even though the players are fully focused.

Later that evening, the players are all brought together again for the low-down on the revised Laws of the Game. They will have one final training session tomorrow morning ahead of the match on 3 June, for which the FFK’s official Facebook page proudly posts a screenshot of the FIFA.com page showing the match pairing under the FIFA logo. As for the game itself, some 7,000 fans flock to FSV Frankfurt’s stadium to see Kosovo run out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Albert Bunjaku, a player with previous Bundesliga experience under his belt (1-0; 44th minute), and Elbasan Rashani (2-0; 90th).

KOSOVO FIFA member:

“A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US”

since 13 May 2016

In Kosovo, there is a professional super league as well as a second division. At European

Coach:

level, they will be represented in the first round of UEFA Champions League qualifiers by

Albert Bunjaki (Kosovo)

FC Feronikeli, and in the first round of Europa League qualifiers by FC Pristina, who won

Home stadium:

the Cup thanks to a 2-0 victory over FC Drita, with 19-year-old Ghanaian Abdul Basit Khalid scoring both goals.

Trepča Stadium, Mitrovica (18,000 capacity) Population:

There is clearly still a lot to do, but Kosovan football is willing to go the extra mile to make their dreams come true. After helping Kosovo win their first official FIFA international

Capital city: Pristina

and should not be confused with coach Albert Bunjaki) said: “There is a lot of work ahead

Official languages:

of us. But I believe that our team has a great future.”

Albanian and Serbian

Agron Beqiri / Reuters

match, Albert Bunjaku (who played six times for Switzerland before switching to Kosovo,

1.8 million

Pristina, division two A few hardy souls turn up early for a match between KF Ramiz Sadiku and KF Trepça.

FIFA 1904 /

27

FIRST LOVE PLACE Kolkata, India DATE 15 October 2013 TIME 12.29 PHOTOGRAPHER Tuul & Bruno Morandi

28

/ FIFA 1904

laif FIFA 1904 /

29

THE INTERVIEW

Miroslav Blažević, 81 “I coached 28 teams? That’s crazy.”

30

/ FIFA 1904

“YOU HAD TO BE TOUGH WITH THEM” Despite celebrating his 81st birthday in February, legendary coach Miroslav Blažević has lost none of his originality or vitality.

FIFA 1904 met him in Zagreb.

By Alan Schweingruber (text) and Ino Zeljak (photos)

When Miroslav Blažević arrives in the Croatian capital, we go off together seeking the quiet sanctuary of a café or bistro. Just three minutes later, we are in Ban Jelačić Square, where Blažević is immediately surrounded by a group of teenagers clamouring to have their photograph taken with him, all calling him by his nickname

Is it nice to be so popular?

My wife doesn’t like it when people come up to me in the street wanting to have long conversations, take pictures and the rest of it.

But I value every encounter and am grateful for the experience. In Bosnia, where I was born, I get even more attention. But you have to enjoy it: after all, I might die tomorrow.

28.

That’s crazy.

Schoolchildren also wave at you. What do they know about you and your career?

Kids probably know me from the adverts that I do for salami, plus I’m still involved in politics and appear in newspapers. Or maybe they know me from the stories that their parents and grandparents tell them.

That was in the early 80s...

Yes, 1982. We won the Yugoslavian championship for the first time in 24 years. Can you imagine how everyone reacted to that? Dinamo Zagreb sold 42,000 season tickets. 42,000!

Only Barcelona could match that sort of figure.

Zagreb was the place to be.

Do you know how many professional teams you’ve coached in your career?

No idea. Go on, how many is it?

But the climax of your career came later, when Croatia finished third at the 1998 World Cup. We made history in 1998. No one can take that away from us, and I have many great memories of that campaign. Our third-place finish is etched in the memory of every Croatian, as you can see

You coached Dinamo Zagreb four times alone.

The first spell at Dinamo was fantastic, so exciting. That time shaped me as coach more than any other because we lit up the whole region with our football.

“Ćiro”. A few steps later, he is accosted by a nun who clasps his hand and whispers: “I’ve been praying for you, Ćiro.”

The Bosnian Croat thus gradually makes his way over to the other side of the square until 15 minutes later, he is finally ensconced

Ino Zeljak

in the Johann Franck restaurant.

Mr Blažević, a tram just stopped when the driver saw you.

Yes, they always do when they see me, and I wave to them to say thank you.

Have a guess.

26?

FIFA 1904 /

31

THE INTERVIEW [laughs]. But my personal highlight would be Dinamo in ‘82, although not everyone might see it that way. France ‘98 touched the whole nation, and it wasn’t so long after the war had ended.

People still talk today about how you reached the semi-final, after Croatia beat Germany 3-0.

What was it like?

Oh, it was crazy.

The match?

Not just the match, everything before and after it. I gave my tactical talks in preparation, as normal, which is something that is important to me. You have to focus all your energy on it and come up with a plan, otherwise it’s not worth all the effort. Anyway, on the day itself, everyone was waiting for my big plan but suddenly – before this huge match – it just wasn’t happening. I went green in the face, I felt really ill from all the excitement. And when the players saw me in that state... well, you can imagine. The team was affected by my mood.

“France ‘98 touched the whole nation, and it wasn’t so long after the war had ended.”

That sounds a bit fanciful: after all, no psychologist uses fear as a motivator.

It’s wrong to believe that fear always paralyses a team. Fear can energise the players and help them to get through a difficult period. It’s a bit like running for your life and then the knots suddenly unravel.

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NAME Miroslav “Ćiro” Blažević BORN 10 February 1935 in Travnik (today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina) PLAYING CAREER NK Travnik, FK Sarajevo, NK Rijeka, Dinamo Zagreb, Vevey Sports, FC Sion COACHING CAREER Vevey Sports, FC Sion, FC Lausanne-Sport, NK Rijeka, Dinamo Zagreb (four times), Grasshoppers Zurich, FK Priština, FC Nantes, PAOK Saloniki, Croatia, Iran, NK Osijek, NK Mura, NK Varteks Varaždin, Hajduk Split, Neuchâtel Xamax, NK Zagreb (twice), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Shanghai Shenhua, China PR U-23, Mes Kerman, FK Sloboda Tuzla, NK Zadar MAJOR HONOURS 3rd place at the 1998 World Cup (with Croatia), 5 league titles

Ino Zeljak

So you sent the team out onto the pitch?

I deliberately said nothing in the dressing room for seven minutes. I can still see the players’ faces today – they were all as white as a sheet.

But this reverence that they had for the Germans is actually what spurred them on and was the reason they won.

“It’s up to the coach what he actually allows. Players are allowed to be spoilt, playful, free, I have no problem with that.

But when push comes to shove, they have to knuckle down.”

Was that the secret of your success at the 1998 World Cup? No, it was just the quarter-final against Germany. During the tournament as a whole, I would tell the team that they should aim to win it.

Seriously?

It wasn’t so unrealistic, when you get down to it. We had world-class players in our team in Šuker, Boban and Šimić. The current squad are no slouches, either. When I see these names…

[Blažević grabs the newspaper]... Modrić, Rakitić, Mandžukić, Perišić… I mean, come on!

Croatia are top drawer. These players are all playing for big clubs.

Does national team coach Ante Čačić ever ask you for advice?

We speak to each other occasionally.

What does a good coach need today?

In professional football, seven factors are crucial: talent, motivation, character, intelligence, hard work, ambition and luck. The more of these qualities that come into play, the greater your chances of success. By “intelligence”, I don’t mean you have to have a degree in rocket science: using your instinct is also a form of intelligence.

Is Pep Guardiola the best coach in the world at present?

I cannot say, from where I am. He’s doing a great job, for sure, but so is José Mourinho.

Maybe you should only judge a coach after a certain amount of time – say after 20 years of success, like Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Being a good coach isn’t just about tactics and systems.

(Blažević sticks a cigarette in his mouth and a young woman rushes over from a nearby table to give him a light.)

As a coach, you had a reputation for being strict, but you don’t seem like that at all today.

When I look back on my time with Croatia, with all of its stars, you had to be tough with them.

If I’d stood before the team and mollycoddled them, no one would have listened. Discipline and order are important. It’s true that I was a bit strict [laughs].

Why do you laugh?

I’ve just remembered a scene with Davor Šuker.

I summoned him to my office and told him what I expected from him. I was a tad cross, it must be said. Of course, I asked him questions during this discussion, but every time he answered, I shouted: “Be quiet! I’m doing the talking here!” [Laughs at length.] When I think about it today, the whole affair embarrasses me. I can also remember very little of it.

These are the sorts of stories that ex-players tell amongst themselves.

Are today’s footballers spoilt?

Yes, but they were then, too. It’s up to the coach as to how he handles the players, what he actually allows and what he doesn’t. Players are allowed to be spoilt, playful, free, I have no problem with that. But when push comes to shove, they have to knuckle down. I have never won a match anywhere in the world if the players have been messing about in the dressing room beforehand.

When I stopped playing at the end of the ‘60s at FC Sion, I immediately wanted to work as a coach. I already had the necessary badges, but unfortunately nobody wanted me until one day, an opportunity came up with Vevey Sports in the Swiss third division. Six years later, I won the Swiss Cup with Sion, and a delighted local journalist wrote: “Blažević is the best coach in the world!” And I believed it, too! [laughs] That was the start of my coaching career.

Were you always competitive?

No. Yet you won the Yugoslavian cross-country skiing championship at 18…

That’s because I became competitive. Both of my brothers died in the war, in 1942 and 1944.

My parents also died young, so my three sisters and I were left alone from an early age. That leaves its mark on you. I became very ambitious and won the national title you mentioned in 1953 before switching to football.

Will you come back as a coach again?

No, it’s over now.

That’s what you said when you were 70.

It’s my final decision. Football was my life, but now I’m enjoying just watching games. The nice thing is that people haven’t forgotten me.

What greater honour could you wish for?

28 TEAMS, 6 GRANDCHILDREN AND 3 PASSPORTS Bosnian-born Miroslav Blažević coached a total of 28 professional teams in his long career and today lives on the Adriatic coast in Croatia and in Zagreb. He is married

Where did you learn the most as a coach?

In Switzerland where it all began, and I’m always going back there. My wife lives in Lausanne.

with three children and six grandchildren.

Blažević also has Croatian and Swiss nationalities.

FIFA 1904 /

33

THEN

1976 LONDON COLNEY, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND

Press Association

Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kevin Keegan holds up the plastic eye from his Madame Tussauds model to compare it with his real eye.

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NOW

2015 BARCELONA, SPAIN

Courtesy of Madame Tussauds Orlando

Nearly 40 years later, Brazilian star Neymar does the same.

FIFA 1904 /

35

DEBATE

VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREES ON TRIAL Video assistant referees (VARs) and video

four cases: goals, penalty decisions, instances

Australia: Hyundai A-League; Brazil: various

evidence have been part and parcel of

involving sending players off (direct red

competitions under the auspices of the

many sports, including ice hockey and

cards) and administrative cases involving

Brazilian Football Association (CBF); Germany:

American football, for some time now.

mistaken identity.

Bundesliga (as a joint project of the German Football Association (DFB) and the German

Football, however, is another matter, with objections being raised as to the purpose of

“The International Football Association

Football League (DFL); the Netherlands:

VARs. Some say that they would interrupt

Board believes the best way to answer the

various competitions under the auspices of

the flow of play, while others contend that

question of whether the use of VARs will

the Dutch Football Association (KNVB);

video technology would then be used for

improve the game is to test it in different

Portugal: Taça CTT, the Portuguese Cup and

every single infringement on the pitch.

regions, so we are delighted that competi-

Super Cup; USA: Major League Soccer.

tions in four confederations have already Neither view is correct, however, as the tests

signed up,” says IFAB Secretary Lukas Brud.

“The organisers of these competitions can

with VARs will only initially be conducted in

Those competitions are:

now begin installing and testing video

REVIEWABLE DECISIONS Three main (plus one administrative) incidents have been identified as game-changing. Only these are part of the VARs experiments:

REVIEW INITIATED BY REFEREE AND/OR VAR

GOALS

STEP 1

The role of VARs is to assist the referee to determine whether there was an infringement that means a goal should not be awarded. As the ball has crossed the line, the play has already been interrupted, so there is no direct impact on the game.

The referee informs the VARs or the VARs recommend to the referee that a decision/ incident should be reviewed.

PENALTY DECISIONS

STEP 2

The role of the VARs is to ensure that no clearly wrong decisions are made in conjunction with the award or non-award of a penalty kick.

The video footage is reviewed by the VARs who advise the referee via headset what the video shows.

RED CARD INCIDENTS

STEP 3

The role of the VARs is to ensure that no clearly wrong decisions are made in conjunction with the sending-off of a player.

The referee decides to review the video footage at the side of the pitch before taking the appropriate action/decision or

MISTAKEN IDENTITY The referee cautions or sends off the wrong player, or is unsure which player should be sanctioned. The VARs will inform the referee so that the correct player can be disciplined.

36

/ FIFA 1904

the referee accepts the information from the VARs and takes the appropriate action/decision.

PRESIDENT´S MESSAGE

replay facilities as well as training match officials and technical staff in line with the

FOOTBALL – BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

protocol and in consultation with The IFAB and FIFA’s Football Technology Innovation Department,” adds Brud. The VAR tests will initially be conducted in the background (offline) before the introduction of live tests with full participation. Depending on how the first tests go, the FIFA Club World Cup

EURO 2016 has undoubtedly produced a host of close, exciting matches,

Japan 2016 could serve as a dress rehearsal

featuring players whose performances have epitomised football at its finest in

before The IFAB authorises live tests for the

their pursuit of winning a major trophy. The tournament has been captivating

start of the following year.

and, once again, reminded us why we love this sport of sports. mpe I was delighted to attend the final of the Copa América Centenario, which too was noteworthy for the outstanding quality on display. The players experienced the sort of high drama and moments of triumph that only the beautiful game can produce, and we fans followed them every step of the way.

Two great celebrations of football – yet trouble erupted in and around the stadiums in some EURO 2016 host cities, with flares even thrown onto the pitch, wreaking havoc. A minority of troublemakers and hooligans attempted to disrupt football by leaving a stain on the game and destroying the unifying force that binds it together. But football belongs to everyone who approaches it with joy and a competitive spirit. It belongs to all of us – to every supporter who can endow it with values such as respect for others and unqualified appreciation of a team’s good performance, regardless of who they are.

I know that football fans everywhere, especially all those who love the game, will agree with me when I say: football is a unifying force, it has a pure nature, we celebrate the way it brings people together, and we will not let others ruin it for us. That is what I stand for both as the FIFA President and as an ordinary fan, along with every other devotee of the game in the world.

I will say it again, so as to leave no room for doubt: no one who wilfully seeks to damage the game we love will succeed. Football continues to be a force for unity all over the globe and it belongs only to its true fans.

Lukas Mäder / 13 Photo

Best wishes, Gianni Infantino

FIFA 1904 /

37

FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL MUSEUM

Early days Three boys attempt to tie the lace of a leather ball while keeping it airtight in 1930.

could do battle against each other. But what is perfection when it comes to that all-important spherical object? The first versions were roughly concocted some 1,500 years ago using anything that came to hand, including rags, which were held together by a form of netting. It must have been an agreeable feeling to convey a ball around a field with one’s bare feet.

38

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By Alan Schweingruber

fashioning a decent ball with which players

A football reveals much about the period in which it was made, the first versions consisting simply of a few bundled rags.

early on in its history when it came to

Fox Photos / Getty Images

WHEN LEATHER FELL OUT OF FASHION

The search for perfection in football began

In the past, rain would take all of the pace out of the game, which is exactly what happened at the 1954 World Cup final between Hungary and West Germany.

The leather ball quickly became sodden, and elegantly struck crosses suddenly failed to reach the intended attacker’s head.

But that was way back at the beginning.

happened at the 1954 World Cup final

Soon, a more robust material appeared in

between Hungary and West Germany.

the form of leather, and – with animals

The leather ball quickly became sodden,

already proving a rich source of materials –

and elegantly struck crosses suddenly failed

other ideas began to emerge as to what to

to reach the intended attacker’s head, or

use for a ball, such as an inflated pig’s

simply landed at the defender’s feet. That’s

bladder. This organ could withstand a good

just how things used to be.

MEMENTOS

deal of pressure, although admittedly it was a long way from being the finished article.

THE LEGENDARY TANGO

The originally round spheres soon became

Those images of the Berne mudbath were

misshapen and eventually only served as a

still in the collective memory at the time of

dog’s plaything.

the 1978 World Cup in a rain-drenched

This picture shows notes made during the

Argentinian June, but then came the Tango

controversial 1966 World Cup quarter-final

SODDEN BALLS

ball. The name itself said it all: light, ele-

between England and Argentina by

Transforming the original leather versions

gant, bewitching – like the dance, which

German referee Rudolf Kreitlein, who sent

into today’s sophisticated feats of technology

originated in the barrios of Buenos Aires.

off the Argentinian captain Antonio Rattín

was a long process. Visitors to the basement

And rather like other dramatic names like

in the 35th minute. The latter, however,

level of the FIFA World Football Museum in

Mr Crack (the ball from Chile 62), the Tango

refused to leave the field, and asked for an

Zurich can feel three models from 1900,

was intended to evoke passion.

interpreter, as the notes record. They also

1930 and 2014 with their hands, together

reveal that he had already received a final

with football boots from the period, and

More importantly, like its predecessor, it

warning. He eventually trudged reluctantly

experience 116 years of history. To put it

boasted the Durlast coating, a mixture of

off the pitch.

bluntly, in 1900, footballers kicked a small,

plastic and artificial resin whose waterproof-

brown medicine ball around the pitch with

ing qualities proved especially effective in

That Wembley quarter-final and, more

leather clodhoppers, and today, they wear

the 1978 tournament. An era was dawning

specifically, the Rattín incident, led to

soft, garish boots to manipulate a sphere

in which young pros grinned uncertainly

the introduction of yellow and red cards.

of synthetic material weighing a mere

whenever the 1950s were mentioned.

After the match, English referee Ken Aston

450 grams towards the opposition’s goal.

Leather balls smeared with grease?

was waiting at traffic lights in his car and

FIFA-MUSEUM

the idea of the cards came to him when In terms of the match itself, the onset

In addition to the original balls and boots,

of rain, while hardly pleasant for the

the whole history can be read in detail on

spectators, does not have a major impact

the museum’s computer. And if you click on

Kreitlein’s notes are just one document in

on the players – far from it, in fact. As a

the Brazilian Brazuca, the sophisticated

the Zurich museum’s extensive collection

rule, the groundsman gets to work before

2014 model, you can be a fly on the wall in

of more than 1,000 exhibits, including

every match to ensure that the grass is nice

the manufacturers’ research laboratories.

nostalgic objects, documents and images

and wet, making the game slick as a result.

The World Cup in Russia kicks off in two

from the FIFA archives.

In the past, rain would take all of the pace

years’ time: striving for perfection used to

out of the game, which is exactly what

be a lot easier, or so it would seem.

the red and amber lights lit up.

F04 FIFA 1904 /

39

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

ON THE BIG STAGE The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will get under way in Jordan on 30 September.

The stadiums and the mascot are ready and primed for action in a tournament that is sure to shape the region and further strengthen women’s football.

By Annette Braun

Aseela, the official mascot of the FIFA U-17

At the press conference in Amman, Aseela

and dreamers have built the mythology of

Women’s World Cup 2016, brought a

took to the stage in her bright-red, laced-

the unicorn on her resilient frame. Hunters

smile to the faces of everyone at a recent

up football boots and pointed the way

have done their best to stamp out her

FIFA/LOC press conference in Amman,

forward for women’s football, saying that

existence, yet she remains – not as a relic

with the Arabian oryx playing a key role in

she wants to inspire girls in Jordan to

of the region’s past, but as an enduring

drumming up public interest for what will

follow in her “hoofsteps” and embrace

symbol ready to gallop into the future.

be a historic tournament in Jordan.

the game of football with open arms.

OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

In Aseela, football fans in the kingdom not only have a mascot that appeals to their

The Arabian oryx is an antelope that is

This message is ideal for the FIFA U-17

national identity but also underlines the

renowned in its Hashemite homeland for

Women’s World Cup, which will take place

significance of the first major women’s

its power and grace. Poets have dedicated

in Jordan in September and October.

football tournament in the Arab world.

countless verses to her striking presence,

As ever, the tournament promises thrilling

40

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“This tournament will be a milestone for women’s football in the region and the world.”

HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein

Surprise visitor German international Mesut Özil drops in on a training session of the Jordan U-17 national team.

matches galore as teams vie for the title,

AN ILLUSTRIOUS GUEST

but this year it will also be about develop-

Preparations for the tournament in Jordan

ing women’s football and the legacy of the

are going according to plan. The stadiums

tournament, the first major one of its kind

are 95% ready, other infrastructure in the

in the Middle East. As HRH Prince Ali Bin

country has been expanded, and the

Al Hussein said: “This tournament will be a

Jordanian U-17 team is raring to go. The

milestone for women’s football in the

team was recently visited by none other

region and the world.”

than Mesut Özil, who trained with the girls before visiting the Zaatari refugee camp to

Regular seminars have also been held in

give children some shirts and to have a

the region in the build-up to the event to

kick-about with them too. Rania Juneidi,

give young girls a closer insight into the

a 12-year-old Syrian refugee, was thrilled:

game and to train female coaches. “The

“I passed the ball to Mesut Özil himself and

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is part of

he gave me a high five, this is the best day

FIFA’s commitment to promote, develop

of my life!”

Muhammad Hamed / Reuters, COL

and invest in women’s football, so that the

Ready to go The Al-Hassan Stadium in Irbid is all set for the start of the tournament.

THE GROUPS AT A GLANCE:

sport and those who play it can grow to

The final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World

GROUP A:

GROUP C:

reach their full potential in Jordan, across

Cup will be played on 21 October. Only

Jordan

Nigeria

the Middle East, and beyond,” stressed

one team will be able to lift the trophy –

Spain

Brazil

Lydia Nsekera, who in 2013 became the

but one thing is already certain: and that is

Mexico

England

first woman to be elected as a full member

that women’s football will be the winner,

New Zealand

Korea DPR

of the FIFA Executive Committee. Safa

not only in Jordan, but also in the entire

Abdallah Al-Shaoubi, head of women’s

Middle East and all over the world. And

GROUP B:

GROUP D:

football in Yemen, said: “My wish is for

Aseela, the strong and graceful oryx, will

Venezuela

USA

decision-makers in my country to under-

be there to celebrate with all of the girls.

Germany

Paraguay

stand the role of women within football for

Cameroon

Ghana

greater inclusion and diversity in society.”

Canada

Japan FIFA 1904 /

41

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

THE OLYMPIC DREAM Twelve teams have qualified for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Rio. Their goal: gold, silver or bronze – or is it just the taking part that counts?

By Annette Braun

The players are holding sunflowers in their hands, the beautiful

a record matched only by the USA and Brazil. At the European

bouquets blending in perfectly against their traditional yellow

qualifying tournament in the Netherlands in March, Pia Sundhage’s

shirts. The Swedish women’s team have, once again, qualified for

charges saw off the hosts, as well as Norway and Switzerland, to

the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, which this year will

claim not only those sunflowers, but more importantly, their

be played in Rio, starting on 3 August. Women’s football has

tickets to Brazil alongside fellow European representatives France

been part of the Olympics since 1996, and the Swedes have

and Germany, who had already sealed their Olympic places at last

played in all six tournaments so far – consistency personified, and

year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada.

42

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VI Imágenes de Getty Images

Flowers for Rio The Swedish national team celebrates qualifying for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

“It’s the taking part that counts” may well be the modern-day Olympic motto, but the Swedes have their sights set higher – they want a medal. They went close to winning bronze in Athens in 2004, but lost out to Germany 1-0. Now they are

MORE AND MORE FANS

aiming for the podium in Rio. As midfielder Lisa Dahlkvist says: “Everyone in our team will have to be on top of their game.

The magic number, in Rennes on 3 June at least, was

If we do that and if we stick together, then we have a chance.”

24,385 – that was the number of fans who watched the Women’s EURO qualifier between France and Greece in

FIVE RINGS, ONE DREAM

north-west France, a new record for a women’s football

All 12 teams will united by another goal: to enjoy the unique

match in France. Those who turned up were rewarded

Olympic atmosphere. “You go to the Olympic Village and see

with a 1-0 victory for the home team, but more

all the different nationalities and athletes,” says Amber Hearn,

importantly the attendance was yet more proof that

New Zealand’s record goalscorer. “The Olympics are something

women’s football is continuing to go from strength to

that you have to appreciate, you have to experience it.”

strength all over the world.

But while Rio 2016 will be Hearn’s third Olympics, Zimbabwe’s

No fewer than 1,353,506 fans attended matches at last

Rudo Neshamba is at the other end of the scale as she will be

year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada – yet

making her Olympic debut. Just 12 months ago, Neshamba

another record. England also surprised many with their

wasn’t even sure that she had a future in the game, which

excellent showing in Canada, finishing in fourth place,

explains why she enrolled on a journalism course. But now she

and their performances last year have also seen league

is about to take part in the Olympics. “I am incredibly proud to

attendances on the rise back home. They aren’t alone in

help my country achieve this dream,” she said. “The victory

that feat either, as the USA also welcomed more and

was celebrated throughout Zimbabwe, and we can feel that

more fans in 2015, with an average of 5,000 fans at each

the whole country is behind the team.” The Olympic motto will

league game, an increase of more than 20% compared

certainly be apt for the Zimbabweans in Rio.

to the previous year’s figures.

MANY FAVOURITES, BUT ONLY ONE WINNER

For the players, such support is priceless. After the

The Germans are another team who will be shooting for the

Greece match on 3 June, France’s Wendie Renard said:

stars. They already have three bronze medals to their name,

“It’s great to play in front of so many people. It gives us

but so far they have been unable to go all the way. Coach Silvia

more motivation to do our best. We play to win, of

Neid will be handing over the reins to Steffi Jones after Rio,

course, but also to entertain the fans.”

so can she bow out with a gold medal around her neck?

It certainly wouldn’t be the worst way to say goodbye.

Lena Goessling has already found time to analyse Germany’s main rivals, saying: “France are definitely one of the favourites to win. Like ourselves and the USA, they play really good football. Brazil are the hosts but they’re a little harder to assess right now, although they could surprise us, who knows?

They’re playing in front of their own fans and the pressure on them might be higher than usual. We know what that’s like: it can spur you on or it can be too much.”

THE GROUPS AT A GLANCE:

The USA, however, are no strangers to pressure, having won

GROUP E:

GROUP F:

GROUP G:

the tournament four times already, including on home soil in

Brazil

Australia

Colombia

1996. They are also the reigning world champions, so they will

China PR

Canada

France

be the team to beat – whether it is for a medal, and/or for the

South Africa

Germany

New Zealand

next bunch of sunflowers...

Sweden

Zimbabwe

USA

FIFA 1904 /

43

PHOTO ARCHIVE

Platform kickabout Leônidas da Silva (centre) and his Brazil team-mates after arriving at Paris’ Gare de Strasbourg on 1 June 1938. Brazil went on 44

/ FIFA 1904

Presse Sports

to finish third at that yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Cup in France.

FIFA 1904 /

45

HISTORY

THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES One goal, one win, one football fairy tale: Korea DPR stunned the world of football in 1966, and a group of men forged a very special friendship that endures to this very day.

By Annette Braun

Press Association

46

/ FIFA 1904

Pak Doo-ik strolls over the lush green pitch and gazes longingly

World Cup™ in England to become the first-ever Asian team to

at the empty stadium in Middlesbrough, and as he does so

reach the quarter-finals.

a little smile creeps over his face as the memories start to come back. In his mind’s eye he is watching a film with a plot that

The setting for this drama was Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough,

critics would probably have dismissed as being too far-fetched.

a working-class town in the north-east of England, where

But these scenes are far from fiction. They actually happened.

19,000 fans witnessed the Koreans’ stunning victory. Thirty-six

This particular film is a 90-minute tale of passion and belief

years later, the seven surviving members of the Korean side

in one’s own ability. It tells the tale of Korea DPR defeating hot

returned to the scene to reminisce about their moment in the

favourites Italy 1-0 in their final group game of the 1966 FIFA

sun for a documentary called The Game of Their Lives (2002).

THE SUPPORT OF A NATION

“If I conceded a goal, the reputation of North Korea would fall.

Therefore, I guarded the goal with my life.”

Lee Chang-myung

Going into the tournament, very little was known about the North Koreans who had qualified on the back of two victories over Australia (6-1 and 3-1) and had piqued the interest of the English fans, who were curious as to what they could expect from their Asian guests.

Their opening match against the Soviet Union confirmed what they – and the media – had probably expected: not a lot.

The North Koreans were simply too small and unable to match the USSR’s sheer physical strength, going down 3-0 without too much of a fight. A 1-1 draw with Chile put them back in the race, however, and the Koreans went into their final group match against two-time world champions Italy knowing that a win would be enough.

Pak Doo-ik’s smile gets bigger when he thinks back to that fateful day and a famous match in which he would play a starring role. Whereas the Italians seemed to think that victory was a mere formality, for the Koreans this game meant everything – it was what they had trained for. Goalkeeper Lee Chang-myung says: “Behind me there was a goal, which was small. But behind that goal was our entire nation. If I conceded a goal, the reputation of North Korea would fall. Therefore, I guarded the goal with my life.”

PAK THE HERO The Korean goalkeeper played the game of his life too, pulling off save after save to make sure that Italy finished without a goal to their name, while at the other end of the pitch, Pak Doo-ik seized on a loose ball to fire home from just inside the box for the only goal of the game. “I moved so I could use my right foot which was always more accurate,” explains the man who sent his team-mates into raptures, went down in World Cup history Ahoy there!

An English sailor embarks on an impromptu lap of honour with goalscorer Pak Seung-zin after Korea DPR’s 1-1 draw with Chile.

and sparked off football fever back home.

Pak Doo-ik, Korea DPR’s number 7 in 1966, had started his professional career in 1957, but after that fateful 1966 match, FIFA 1904 /

47

© 2016 adidas AG

the Italian media focused on his actual profession – dentist – which proved to be rather apt as it was he who left the Italians down in the mouth at the World Cup. Despair and frustration in Italy, joy unconfined in Middles­ brough – the North Koreans had not only played themselves -

into the quarter finals but also into English fans’ hearts. Maybe it was also down to the fact that the Koreans were a hard

-

that was because of the English love of an underdog, but maybe working team, one that had almost been forged in the image of this industrial town. The fans flocked into the streets and escorted the Koreans’ bus back to the team hotel. All of a sudden, 19,000 fans had doubled in number as more and more -

wanted to be in Liverpool for the quarter finals to see the next footballing sensation unfold. In the end, some 3,000 people travelled from Middlesbrough to support the Koreans against

Leapfrog The North Koreans in training before their first match against the Soviet Union.

Portugal.

STOPPED BY EUSÉBIO In Liverpool, the North Korean fairy tale carried on where it had -

left off in Middlesbrough as Myung Rye hyun’s team raced into -

a 3 0 lead in the first 25 minutes. That was as good as it got, however, as a certain Portuguese striker by the name of Eusébio -

pulled them back to 3 2 by the break before scoring another -

two goals in the second half to seal the Europeans’ 5 3 win.

It was the end of the road for the North Koreans, who by now were heroes back home. Commemorative stamps were printed and thousands of fans turned out at the airport to welcome -

them. Yang Seung kook says: “In our generation everyone recognises my face. Younger generations recognise me by my -

1-0! Pak Doo ik’s historic strike against Italy.

-

name: Yang Seung kook – the hero of the eighth World Cup.” The 1966 team was a unit and worked hard for each other. The players themselves did not allow themselves to dwell on their defeat by Portugal, and instead they focused on all that they had achieved together. That togetherness did not end once the tournament in England was over either, as the 1966 boys still get together to mark birthdays, to celebrate together and to talk about days gone by.

-

As for the Italians, the name Pak Doo ik appears to have an effect on them even now, 50 years later. When North Korea’s goalscoring hero made a brief return to the UK in 2002, he lost 2 1 to the Welsh. Pak himself would probably neither -

confirm nor deny that he had a part to play in that… instead he would probably just allow himself to smile and lose himself in his favourite film again.

Time to celebrate Korea DPR’s heroes after their 1 0 victory over Italy.

-

Getty Images (3)

-

made a pit stop in Wales... and the Squadra Azzurra promptly

FIFA 1904 /

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STATISTICS

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Clive Rose / FIFA via Getty Images, Shutterstock

FIFA’S 2015 AT A GLANCE

FIFA 1904 /

51

FACES OF FIFA

Name: Philipp Tobler Job title: Medicine & Science Manager Age: 45 Nationality: Switzerland Date joined FIFA: 2012

Name: Flavia Lopes Sant Anna Job title: Senior Manager, Performance Programmes Age: 32 Nationality: Brazil Date joined FIFA: 2010

Name: Innocent Maduagwu Job title: Logistics Coordinator Age: 39 Nationality: Nigeria Date joined FIFA: 2008

Why did you want to work for FIFA?

Why did you want to work for FIFA?

Why did you want to work at FIFA?

After working for eight years in management

I have always been passionately involved in sport,

I wanted to work at FIFA to be part of the great work

consulting, I felt the time was right for a new

particularly football. FIFA was certainly a dream job

it carries out in football. FIFA brings hope, unity, peace

challenge. A job advert for FIFA caught my eye over

for me and a logical succession to my previous jobs,

and the development of football throughout the whole

Christmas in 2011 and I sent off my CV the same day.

as I went from working as a physical coach in a

world, “For the Game. For the World”. It has provided

When I got a call on New Year’s Eve in Times Square,

football club in Brazil, to a sports marketing agency,

me with a wonderful opportunity to meet people and

New York City, inviting me for an interview, it was

and back to university to take a masters degree in

experience different cultures when I have had the

party time in Manhattan! After three nerve-wracking

sport (the FIFA Master).

opportunity to work at various FIFA events.

What exactly do you do at FIFA?

What exactly do you do at FIFA?

interviews, I got the job, and I’ve been a proud member of the FIFA team since April 2012.

At FIFA, I work for the PERFORMANCE Programme,

I work in the Logistics Department, which is a service

What exactly do you do at FIFA?

which helps member associations to improve their

provider to all FIFA divisions. On a daily basis, my

My current range of duties is like a colourful bouquet

organisation and become more professional and

main tasks are the processing of incoming and

of flowers. I’m responsible for all 49 of the FIFA

commercial. It is wonderful to work with the member

outgoing mail and parcels at the Home of FIFA,

Medical Centres of Excellence worldwide, handling

associations on the ground and get to understand

Sonnenberg, Hitzigweg and the FIFA Museum as well

everything related to them, and I am also in charge

their specific needs.

as the printing and distribution of agendas, circulars,

Lukas Mäder / 13 Photo (3)

of the “FIFA 11+” injury prevention programme in

regulations, meeting documents, etc. in all FIFA

our department. In addition, I have an organisational

Which footballer (or person in football) would

languages. We also provide on-site logistics support

and coordinating role at FIFA tournaments and am

you like to meet and why?

at all FIFA events.

the first point of contact for all medical matters,

I really wanted to meet Marta and Pelé, the two

from A to Z, including doping controls.

football legends of my country. Thanks to my work at

Who is your favourite football team of all time?

FIFA, I had the chance to meet Pelé at the Congress

That’s an easy one! My home country, the Nigerian

What has been the highlight of your time at FIFA

in 2010; it was quite surreal to get to chat with him,

Super Eagles, of course.

to date?

even if briefly. With Marta, the chance came at the

The U-20 World Cup 2015 in New Zealand.

Ballon D’Or and it was amazing to tell her how much

What has been the highlight of your time at FIFA

The great atmosphere in the stadiums, seeing the

I appreciated what she has done for women’s

to date?

young players and stars of tomorrow, the welcoming

football and football as a whole.

There have been many highlights at my time at FIFA.

Kiwis and of course the friendships that I made and

One of my most memorable events was when I was

strengthened in the FIFA team over there.

working at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, when the Nigerian Flying Eagles won the tournament by beating Mali 2-0 in the final.

FIFA 1904 /

53

AN EVENTFUL JUNE

DOWN TO THE WIRE

The group stage of the European Championship 2016 with its 24 teams has been characterised by tight games and late goals.

By Annette Braun

It was the 89th minute of the EURO 2016

pionship in 2000 (3-0 against Denmark) –

opening match between France and Romania

and went on to win both competitions.

when Dimitri Payet had his “now or never” moment. With the scoreline at 1-1, he received

Payet, who currently plays for West Ham,

the ball at the right-hand edge of the penalty

made the difference for France and, in doing

area, and hammered it with his left foot into

so, secured his place in the hearts of the fans.

the top-left corner of the goal. The crowd at

In the third group-stage match against

the Stade de France in Paris went wild, and

Switzerland, the coach decided to rest him,

Didier Deschamps’ team breathed a huge sigh

only bringing him on in the 63rd minute with

of relief. They seemed nervous throughout the

the chant of “Payet, Payet” echoing around

opening match, perhaps feeling the pressure of

the stands. Marco van Basten, Michel Platini,

the massive expectations of being the hosts.

Andrey Arschavin – all have left their mark on

Only one player was able to overcome that

this competition in the past. Now it is Payet’s

pressure: Dimitri Payet. The midfielder had

turn to take up the mantle, and the public are

been slogging away for 89 minutes, driving Les

backing him all the way.

Bleus’ attacking game. The first goal from Olivier Giroud in the 57th minute had been set

KINGS OF ADDITIONAL TIME

up by a perfect cross from Payet, and Payet

Payet not only provided the first emotional

continued to drive his team on after that. No

moment of this tournament, he also started a

surprise, therefore, that it was Payet who

trend – that of the very late deciding goal. In

scored the deciding goal, ending the match 2-1.

the first week of EURO 2016, 34 goals were scored, ten of which were scored after the 87th

After the final whistle, Payet, who comes

minute. Thinking of leaving before the final

from the French overseas département of

whistle to beat the traffic? “It’s all over

Réunion, had to fight back tears, while in

anyway,” you might think. But if you did that

the stands there was no holding back the

in this year’s tournament, you would regret it

emotions. The French got their perfect start

– hard-fought matches have ended with

to the tournament after all – a happy ending

goal-filled finales. It’s almost as if the teams

at the very last minute, to secure a result that

were trying to avoid penalty shoot-outs, even

was of vital importance for the host team.

though they are not used in the group stage

L’équipe tricolore also started their 1998

anyway. Maybe they think they are actors in a

World Cup campaign with a win (3-0 against

play in which the shocking dénouement all

South Africa), as well as the European Cham-

happens in the last act.

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Worth the wait Dimitri Payet’s stunning late strike gave France a 2-1 victory over Romania in the opening match of EURO 2016.

Payet started it in the match against

score 2-0, while Éder took Italy through to

focusing on defence, and for the attacking

Romania, and continued the trend in

the round of 16 with his late goal against

teams it has been difficult to get through

France’s second match against Albania.

Sweden shortly before the final whistle.

the defensive formations. They launch

Hot on the heels of Antoine Griezmann’s

Germany’s World Cup coach of 1954, Sepp

attacks, create chances here and there, but

goal for 1-0 in the 90 minute, Payet’s

Herberger, is famously quoted for saying:

don’t get the result they want... until the

96th-minute goal making the score 2-0 was

“The ball is round and the game lasts

final minutes, when the opponents may be

the latest goal in European Championship

90 minutes.” This year’s EURO, however,

flagging, both mentally and physically.

history. But it has not just been France with

shows that the match is not always lost or

It takes just one mistake to make the whole

the late goals. In the England v. Wales match,

won in 90 minutes, but often a good few

game plan go wrong. Just one inattentive

Daniel Sturridge scored in the 91st minute for

minutes later.

moment and it is too late to react. And

sealed the deal for Germany against Ukraine

What these tight matches and late goals

or the Éders of the competition seize their

with his goal in stoppage time to make the

show is that many of the teams have been

opportunity.

that is when the Payets, the Schweinsteigers

the Three Lions. Bastian Schweinsteiger

Clive Rose / Getty Images

th

FIFA 1904 /

55

AN EVENTFUL JUNE

THE END OF AN ERA

As Chile celebrated winning the Copa América Centenario, the team they beat in the final – Argentina – are now standing at a crossroads as Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football straight after the Albiceleste’s latest defeat in a final.

By Annette Braun

-

The penalty shoot out to decide the final of the Copa América Centenario between Chile and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey had just finished, and Lionel Messi cut a dejected figure as he sat slumped on the pitch. The Chileans were not holding back -

-

in celebrating their 4 2 victory, and the five time Ballon d’Or winner looked bewildered, almost apathetic as this golden Albiceleste generation set about coming to terms with losing their third final in as many years (2014 World Cup, Copa América 2015, Copa América Centenario 2016). The shock had not yet truly hit

Joy Chile successfully defended the Copa América title they won in 2015.

home and the tears were still flowing when the FC Barcelona star announced the end of his international career. “It [a title with Argentina] was the thing I wanted the most. It hurts not to be a

MESSI’S MAGIC

champion,” he said, head bowed.

And so Messi joins a list of players unable to crown impressive careers with a major title at international level, but he has already achieved far too much for his career to be labelled in any way as “incomplete” or “blemished”, having fired FC Barcelona to four UEFA Champions League titles, eight Spanish league champion­ ships and four Spanish cups. He is a player like no other, a player who can do things with the ball that defy all the laws of physics, leaving his opponents dazed as he dribbles past them, relying upon his incredible vision in even the tightest of spaces before finishing with unerring accuracy. Quite simply: if Messi has the ball, alarm bells go off in the opposition defence as they know that he is the one man who can do the unexpected and decide a game all on his own.

It is not just for FC Barcelona that he has shone, but also for -

Argentina. It was at the FIFA U 20 World Cup in the Netherlands

Dismay Lionel Messi was left to rue a third major final defeat in as many years.

56

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quick to realise that they were watching a rather special player indeed. He may have been slight in stature, but as soon as he had

AFP (2)

in 2005 that Messi first came to the world’s attention, with fans

THE LEGACY OF THE GREEKS the ball, any doubts about his class and ability quickly

It was Greece in the 2004 European

dissipated. Argentina duly won the title by beating

Championship who showed that keeping

Nigeria 2-1 in the final, with Messi scoring both

a compact defence could lead to success.

Albiceleste goals. He then went on to lead his country

The tactic of Otto Rehhagel’s team was

to Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, and by the time he

for up to three players to put pressure on

had called time on his Argentina days, he had set a

the opponent’s player in possession, and

new record by bagging 55 goals in 113 games.

their defence operated with strict man-marking. The goals – seven in six

Messi well and truly left his mark on this year’s Copa

matches – were almost by-the-by, com-

too, entering the fray in Argentina’s group game

ing mainly from headers off corner kicks

against Paraguay with the score at 1-0 and promptly

or long crosses. In the semi-final against

notching a hat-trick in a 5-0 win, and in the semi-final

the Czech Republic, it was the sweeper

against the USA, he nonchalantly whipped a free kick

This year’s EURO shows that the match is not always lost or won in 90 minutes, but often a good few minutes later.

into the top corner to set up a re-match of the 2015 Copa final against Chile.

A COPA OF SURPRISES CONMEBOL’s centenary tournament certainly had its fair share of surprises. Both Uruguay and Brazil, two teams that many people had tipped for the title, didn’t even make it out of the group phase, with Peru and Venezuela reaching the quarter-finals in their stead.

Traianos Dellas who headed in the silver goal in the 105th minute, and in the final against Portugal, Angelo Charisteas bagged a 1-0 win for Greece. Suddenly, they were the surprise European champions. England manager Roy Hodgson claimed luck was on his team’s side after their last-minute victory against Wales last week. The same could have been said for Greece back in 2004. But the

Brazil coach Carlos Dunga promptly paid the price for

English and the Greeks both know the

that exit and bade farewell to the Seleção, to be re-

saying which counsels caution at a time

placed by Tite. Mexico were another team with clear

of euphoria: “He who laughs last laughs

designs on the title, but their dreams were also dashed

longest.” Namely – when the winners at

in the quarter-finals after a crushing 7-0 defeat at the

the Stade de France in Paris on 10 July

hands of Chile. The Chileans, however, went from

hold that trophy in their hands.

strength to strength, cruising past Colombia 2-0 in the semis before holding their nerve in the penalty shootout against Argentina to lift the trophy.

“It’s not enough to just get to the final and not win,” lamented a self-critical Messi after that defeat, once again bearing witness to the high expectations that he has always had of himself, and which the public have also placed on his shoulders for good measure. After three major final defeats in as many years, Messi’s disappointment is clearly easy to understand. It can only be hoped that he did not decide to retire in the

maestro in action in upcoming international tournaments, but also every single fan of the beautiful game in every corner of the world.

for sure: it is not just Argentina that will miss seeing the

that he had thought long and hard about. One thing is

Dan Mullan / Getty Images

heat of the moment, but rather that it was a decision

Last-gasp joy Daniel Sturridge fires home in injury time to give England a 2-1 win over Wales.

FIFA 1904 /

57

HEALTH

FIGHTING THE TABOO Mental problems are stigmatised in football – but they certainly exist, as demonstrated by studies carried out in the course of a FIFA research project on mental health at the Hamburg Medical School.

10 November 2009 was a dark day in the

had nothing to be depressed about, but

highly competitive environment in which

annals of German football: it was the day

there had been examples before him of

they operate, the pressure on sufferers to

that Robert Enke, goalkeeper for Hannover

pros who suffered from the illness, such as

hide it remains high. Professor Astrid Junge,

96 and the national team, committed

Sebastian Deisler, one of the most talented

Head of Research at the FIFA Medical

suicide. Although Enke suffered from

German players of his generation, who

Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC),

depression, nobody knew about it apart

called time on his career at just 27.

confirms: “Football players, especially the top players, are subject to higher levels of

from his closest friends – neither the club and national teams nor the general public.

Awareness among professional athletes of

stress, not only physically in training and

A professional footballer with depression?

the condition has grown since Enke’s tragic

matches but also in terms of the high

The general view was that such athletes

death, but given the public scrutiny and the

expectations of them as well as potential

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Illustration: Martin Haake

By Annette Braun

“Mental fitness is just as important for professional footballers’ well-being and performance as physical fitness and technique.”

Project Manager Birgit Prinz

competition and conflicts within the team.”

among top-level footballers compared

The reasons given by players for suffering

Professional football is a fast-moving

to the general public. The anonymous

depression in their playing days were

business in which, every day, players have

questionnaires revealed that the percentage

conflict with the coach, injuries or personal

to prove themselves and perform at their

of male and female players in the top

problems, while in retirement, the causes

very best.

league who suffer from depression is

were a lack of prospects and financial

as high as that among the general public,

difficulties. The player’s position on the

How widespread is depression among

with 7.6% showing indications of mild

pitch was also a factor, with strikers and

professional athletes? Are footballers more

depression and 3% having to contend

goalkeepers most at risk, possibly because

at risk than the general public due to the

with a more severe form. The distribution

they receive the most attention and can be

pressure they face? Few studies were

among the U-21 players was higher,

the difference between winning and losing.

devoted to the subject in the past,

with an average of 2.8 players in each

In addition, fewer players who command a

particularly any involving a broad participa-

23-man squad reporting initial signs of

regular place in the team suffer from

tion that would yield a scientifically sound

depression.

depression than those on the fringes.

analysis. FIFA therefore opened up a new

Both studies show that coaches play an

research area with the Hamburg Medical

The study also showed that injured players

important role in a player’s psychological

School in 2014. The intention behind

are more prone to depression than non-

state, and it would therefore be beneficial

“Mental Health and Sport” is to remove

injured ones, with strikers particularly

if mental training were included in coach

the stigma surrounding mental health and

affected. Midfielders are the least likely to

education.

top athletes and develop basic foundations

suffer from the condition.

for treatment and sources of information for team doctors, coaches and players.

FIFA’s research project is intended to raise

FIGHTING THE STIGMA

awareness of the issue, remove doubt from

How high is the risk of a professional

the minds of those involved and provoke a

The head researcher in the project is Birgit

female player suffering from depression

debate. “We need to dispel the myth that

Prinz, three-time FIFA Women’s World

during and after her career? This issue

professional footballers are invincible,” says

Player of the Year and a qualified psycholo-

was tackled in a second study involving

Prinz. Mental problems are not confined to

gist. She says: “Mental fitness is just as

157 players from the top-tier German

specific groups and can be found in all

important for professional footballers’

women’s league. The results were

walks of life, regardless of location or

well-being and performance as physical

revealing: almost 40% of the participants

culture. In the words of the project leader:

fitness and technique.”

had wanted to seek psychological help, but

“Mental stress can be prevented, treated

only 10% actually received it. Post-career,

and cured.”

HIGH LEVELS AMONG U-21 PLAYERS

the first figure reduced to 24%, 90% of

Members of all ten top-tier Swiss women’s

whom actually received support privately.

teams along with nine of the ten men’s

These figures clearly show that the stigma

top-level teams and four U-21 teams took

still exists, leading to players hiding

part in an initial study that was designed

their psychological problems during their

to ascertain how widespread depression is

careers.

FIFA 1904 /

59

FIFA PARTNER

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

A FIFA SENIOR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER It’s five in the morning when Mayi Cruz Blanco lands in Beijing, but despite the early hour, the bubbly Cuban, who is in charge of women’s football development at FIFA, shows no signs of weariness. Being a former athlete, a key part of her strength comes from having made sport a part of her everyday life. This seasoned traveller has been going around the world on behalf of women’s football for some years now. Bursting with energy, she makes her way from the airport to the headquarters of the Chinese FA (CFA) and flicks through her documents one last time.

These contain all of the key points of the presentation that she is giving at the meeting between FIFA and the CFA. Members of the CFA’s executive, the General Secretary, other decision-makers in the

Mayrilian Cruz Blanco “Football boosts recognition for girls and women and their potential.”

association and the FIFA delegation listen

Friedemann Vogel / FIFA via Getty Images

intently to Cruz Blanco as she talks about FIFA’s programmes to promote women’s

A meeting with Wen Lirong, Head of the

development portfolio, including Live Your

football and points out the advantages to

CFA’s Women’s Football Department, is a

Goals, which is now active in 72 countries,

the CFA and society in general from

key part of her mission in China. Legendary

the introduction of the FIFA Female

developing the women’s game in the

former China PR international Sun Wen

Leadership Development Programme and

country. The audience is receptive, as FIFA

joins the meeting as well and together they

other initiatives designed to create and

has had significant success in this area.

talk about a strategy that embraces

enhance the pathways for female players

grassroots football, pathways to the top for

and to upskill coaches, administrators and

The Live Your Goals campaign has inspired

talented players, communication

leaders within the women’s game.

girls and women worldwide to take up the

opportunities and promoting the league.

sport since its launch in 2011 and is now

There are also plans to establish a

After two days of fruitful discussions,

about to be introduced in China PR, with

partnership with the Ministry of Education

Cruz Blanco heads back to Zurich.

many festivals and events planned over the

and Sport that would focus on a direct

It’s an early start for her again (6.45), but

next four years, targeting up to 10,000 girls

exchange and pave the way for tailored

she is secure in the knowledge that China

annually. Cruz Blanco is delighted, as she

development projects in the country.

PR is on the right track, and she will now

knows the importance of such projects:

manage the projects from Switzerland.

“I believe that creating opportunities for

Cruz Blanco is convinced of the potential

The next mission awaits – for women’s

girls and women in football will have a

for growth of women’s football and,

football and its remarkable potential.

direct impact in bringing our sport to the

together with her colleague from Bosnia,

next level.” She continues: “Football boosts

Arijana Demirović, strives to develop

recognition for girls and women and their

football for girls and women around the

potential for having a positive effect on

world. Their work has been instrumental in

society and the wider world.”

the expansion of the FIFA women’s football

Annette Braun

Each month, FIFA 1904 accompanies a FIFA employee in their daily work.

FIFA 1904 /

61

CELEBRATION

HUGO SÁNCHEZ It’s a topsy-turvy world – or at least it was when legendary Mexican number 9 Hugo Sánchez used to perform his trademark somersault goal celebration, which inspired many others to copy his feat of gymnastics – German World Cup record goalscorer Miroslav Klose is one who comes to mind – and which he also produced in the round-of-16 match against Bulgaria at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

In fact, so associated with the joyous celebration was Sánchez, the inventive yet ruthlessly efficient hotshot from Mexico City, that he felt obliged to perform it even when one of his teammates scored. Which is exactly what happened on 15 June 1986 at the Estadio Azteca in the Mexican capital, when effervescent striker Manuel Negrete scored with a spectacular volley on the edge of the box after 34 minutes and Raúl Servín made it two with a header with an hour played.

The two goals were enough to secure victory for the hosts in a match that took place in searing heat in front of 114,500 spectators.

Sánchez, who was the top scorer five times in La Liga for Real Madrid (1985-88, 1990), had his chances in the game but failed to score on that occasion. However, his goal celebration will linger forever in the memory.

Perikles Monioudis

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FIFA 1904 /

63

Bob Thomas / Getty Images

PUBLICATION DETAILS FIFA 1904 – PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FIFA) CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Prof. Astrid Junge PRODUCTION Hans-Peter Frei PROJECT MANAGEMENT Christian Schaub PRINTING Zofinger Tagblatt 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 2016).

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.

Made and printed in Switzerland.

Niklaus Waechter / Reportair.ch

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 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Nicolas Maingot (ad interim) HEAD OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Julia Ferguson CHIEF EDITOR Perikles Monioudis STAFF WRITERS Alan Schweingruber (Deputy Editor), Annette Braun ART DIRECTION Catharina Clajus PICTURE EDITOR Peggy Knotz LAYOUT Susanne Egli TRANSLATION AND PROOFREADING English: Timo Eugster, Andrew Hurley, Stuart Makin, Caitlin Stephens; French: Alexandre Adriano, Alexandre Károlyi, Nicolas Samier, Estelle Valensuela; Spanish: Irene Antolín Pérez, José Ibarra, Juan F. López Vera, Natalia Pita Álvarez; German: Sandra Locher, Yves-Manuel Méan, Gabriela Straube-Zweifel.

Home of FIFA, Zurich.

64

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YOU ARE PLAYER NUMBER 12

JORDAN...

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WITH YOUR LOYALITY AND PRIDE, EXCITEMENT AND PASSION ...

YOU ARE THE PULSE IN THE STANDS. September 30 - October 21, 2016

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