ISSUE 17/2015, 1 MAY 2015
ENGLISH EDITION
Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904
CANADA 2015 FRANCE AND TEAM SPIRIT MYANMAR YANGON UNITED PULL AWAY BLATTER LET’S SHAKE HANDS – FOR PEACE
USA - Mexico football rivalry
Strong emotions W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
6
North and Central America 35 members www.concacaf.com
USA - Mexico No matter whether you are a coach, player or fan, the rivalry between the USA and Mexico is always palpable. With the beautiful game on the rise in America, the excitement of USA’s encounters with their southern neighbours is virtually unmatched. Our reporter Michael Lewis paints a picture of love, pride and history.
16
Best of the best Bayern Munich have been crowned German champions for the 25th time after another season in which no other team could hold a candle to Pep Guardiola’s men in the Bundesliga.
23
S epp Blatter “The power of our sport stretches far beyond the touchline and the duration of the match,” the FIFA President says in his weekly column as he reflects on the Handshake for Peace campaign.
24
“ It’s a no-go in a women’s team” In an interview with The FIFA Weekly, France’s women’s national team coach Philippe Bergeroo explains why problems are dealt with differently in women’s football.
South America 10 members www.conmebol.com
17
Egypt Zamalek can dream of the title again after a long dry spell. (Pictured: Omar Gaber (l), Zamalek; Walid Soliman, Al-Ahly)
18
Michael Laudrup The Dane on his coaching philosophy and the decisive phase in the European leagues.
Strong emotions Our cover shows a portrait of Mexican star Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) drawn on a fan’s head. Ashley Landis / Reuters (image)
The FIFA Weekly Magazine App The FIFA Weekly Magazine is available in four languages and also on your tablet every Friday. http://www.fifa.com/mobile
2
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
FIFA Women’s World Cup 6 June – 5 July 2015, Canada
AFP (2), imago,
Due to the May Day holiday, this edition of The FIFA Weekly appears on 30 April 2015, a day earlier than normal.
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
Europe 54 members www.uefa.com
Africa 54 members www.cafonline.com
Asia 46 members www.the-afc.com
Oceania 11 members www.oceaniafootball.com
15
Myanmar With nine wins from nine matches, Yangon United are flying high. (Pictured: Khin Maung Lwin (17); Cezar (13))
37
Aaran Lines The Western New York Flash coach has his wife to thank for his coaching career.
Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
FIFA U-17 World Cup
13 – 14 May 2015, Zurich, Switzerland
30 May – 20 June 2015, New Zealand
9 – 19 July 2015, Portugal
17 October – 8 November 2015, Chile
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
3
UNCOVERED
Shared joy T
he idea that neighbours are like strange beings seems to have become increasingly irrelevant over the past few decades. A globalised world and a society permeated by new media has long become a reality, meaning that our neighbours are no longer nearly so unfamiliar to us. The same is true in football. Whereas teams from different nations or continents may have taken very different approaches to a match had they faced each other a hundred or even fifty years ago, today’s footballing styles, systems and tactics have shifted and harmonised the world over. As with so many close geographic rivalries, encounters between neighbours the USA and Mexico do not focus on their fundamental differences or what separates them but instead on what they have in common. The result is cutting-edge football and the joy of an exciting duel in which both countries strive to prove their sporting superiority. Our reporter Michael Lewis paints a picture of the immense and colourful rivalry between the two teams. Å
Mario Wagner/2Agenten
Perikles Monioudis
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
5
U S A/M E X I C O
15 April 2015 USA versus Mexico, Alamodome Stadium, San Antonio, Texas. 6
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
U S A/M E X I C O
Eternal rivals Scott Ball / The Rivard Report, Scott Kane / Icon Sportswire / Corbis, imago (2)
Emotions run high whenever the USA and Mexico meet. Michael Lewis reports on a rivalry filled with love, pride and history.
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
7
U S A/M E X I C O
Simple but effective Though the game was not played on an official FIFA date and did not feature many of both sides’ best-known players, there still was great enthusiasm for a fixture that has become one of the world’s great footballing rivalries. “It’s like a game in New York City under the bright lights,” U.S. midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “It brings the
media out. Everything’s highlighted a bit more. It’s just a special game. It brings out the best in both countries, [which] seems to make it an exciting game no matter what.” USA captain Michael Bradley added: "There’s a buzz, a sense of excitement. It’s just different, there’s no other way to put it. When you’re on the bus driving to the stadium before the game, you see green, red, white and blue, and you know it’s going to be a special evening." Former Mexican international midfielder Alberto Garcia Aspe told Sports Illustrated that it is “a classic rivalry, and you want to win no matter what. Before, Mexico dominated and it wasn’t a huge rivalry, but with the growth of support for soccer here and the MLS becoming better, it has made these games better and more intense.” With so much at stake - be it the CONCACAF Gold Cup title, World Cup qualifying points or just regional bragging rights - the matches stir up fierce intensity from players and supporters. Yet despite such rivalry, former USA international striker Eric Wynalda, an analyst for Fox Sports, clarified an important issue. "Too many people who don’t know any better start throwing the word ’hatred’ around," he said. “There is no hatred, none whatsoever. There is nothing but respect. That’s what we always fought for, to be respected by the Mexican players and the Mexican people. If anything, we can say ’strongly dislike’ at times. Hatred is not what this game is about." International rivalries can certainly make for some intriguing bedfellows and decisions. A Mexican by birth and an American by naturalisation, Martin Vasquez broke new ground by moving from one national
imago
T
he Alamodome was rocking. An hour before kick-off, a capacity crowd of 64,369 had gathered ahead of another classic clash between the United States and Mexico on 15 April, while some seminal rock music helped set the scene. Quite appropriately, Guns N Roses’ legendary song, "Welcome to the Jungle" was playing, indicating that one team would be in for a difficult game that night. The only question was, whose jungle was it? If you closed your eyes and listened to the crowd during the pre-match introductions, festivities and announcements, you might have thought the game was being held somewhere in Mexico, but definitely not in San Antonio, Texas. According to unofficial estimates, Mexican fans outnumbered American supporters by approximately two to one. Regardless, the decibels inside the dome sometimes reached deafening levels, the green-clad Mexican supporters chanting “Me-HE-co!, Me-HE-co!” while their American counterparts, many of whom were decked out in red, retorted with “USA! USA! USA!”
Slick surface Stewards spray the pitch at the Alamodome in San Antonio prior to the match. 8
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
8
U S A/M E X I C O
team to the other, switching from Mexico to the USA a generation ago. He played three times for Mexico in 1992 and 1993 before settling north of border and making seven appearances for the USA. "When I had the opportunity to play for Mexico, I did it with a lot of pride and took advantage of the opportunity," Vasquez said. "When the U.S. national team gave me the opportunity, I played with a lot of pride and honour. There are mixed emotions, mixed feelings. I feel like a Mexican and like an American. That’s the truth, mainly because my kids, my family have been born here. I owe a lot to this great country." Vasquez added that it was not a difficult decision to switch national sides: "I didn’t come to America by choice. My family moved here. After a few years, we were able to take advantage of the opportunities given here. I look back and this has become my second home." Emotional involvement Today’s players face difficult decisions when it comes to choosing where to play for club and country. Take, for example, USA internationals Ventura Alvarado and William Yarbrough. Born in Phoenix, Arizona to Mexican parents, Alvarado has been on the books at Club America in Mexico for his entire career. “For me, there are a lot of emotions tied up in the game,” the 22-year-old centre-back said of the international derby. "I feel like it’s Club America against Chivas. It’s a Clasico. We’ve got to beat them." Meanwhile, Yarbrough, a 26-year-old native of Aguascalientes, Mexico, was born to American parents who were missionaries. He now plays for Leon. "I grew up watching both teams and when the U.S. or Mexico played, I wanted both to win," the goalkeeper told ESPN Mexico. "When they played each other, I never leaned towards one or the other. I was born and grew up in Mexico, but I know where my family is from. All I can say is that I’ll defend the U.S. colours with everything I have. I will do everything possible to defeat Mexico."
Brad Evans Earned his 18th cap for the USA in April.
Ventura Alvarado The son of a Mexican immigrant.
“When you’re on the bus before the game, you see the fans and you know it’s going to be a special evening.”
John Dorton/ISI/Corbis (4)
USA captain Michael Bradley
Both ended up playing against Mexico. At one time, however, the idea of Mexican players representing the USA, or vice versa, was simply unheard of. In those days, Mexico dominated the rivalry on both sides of the Rio Grande, although the first confrontation between these two teams was not in North America but in Rome in 1934, only three days prior to the kick-off of the World Cup there. USA recorded a 4-2 triumph thanks to Aldo "Buff" Donelli’s four goals and qualified for the tournament proper. Three years later the two sides met again in three matches over 15 days at Parque Necaxa in Mexico City. The hosts emerged with three wins (7-2, 7-3 and 5-1), setting the tone for Mexican dominance for decades to come, in fixtures both home and away. The rivalry’s turning point came in 1991 when the USA stunned Mexico with a 2-0 win in the semi-finals of the very first CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Mexico coach Manuel Lapuente was fired two days later and the Americans suddenly found their confidence. "What people forget is that 1991 game was the original ’dos a cero’," Wynalda said. "It was the first time that we beat them soundly. There was not a period in that game that we didn’t feel like we weren’t going to win. It was a huge turning point in U.S. Soccer as far
Mix Diskerud A defender with Norwegian roots.
William Paul Yarbrough The US goalkeeper was born in Mexico. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
9
U S A/M E X IKO
World-class goalgetter Mexico international Chicharito plays for Real Madrid.
Unfulfilled promise
Last-gasp exit at Brazil 2014 The Mexican national team has experienced disappointments similar to Chicharito’s recent travails when it comes to football’s greatest interna-
10
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
tional gatherings. They are always involved somewhere along the way, but never seem to stay around when competitions enter their most crucial phase. At last year’s World Cup in Brazil, Mexico made it to the Round of 16 for the sixth tournament in a row before being eliminated at that stage for the sixth successive time. Coach Miguel Herrera’s side were incredibly unlucky last summer. First they pushed hosts Brazil to the brink of defeat
Mexico are always involved, but never at the most crucial phase. in the group stage and then led the Netherlands 1-0 until the closing minutes of their last-16 encounter, only for Wesley Sneijder to equalise before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the winner from the penalty spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Many Mexicans have yet to forgive Arjen Robben for tripping theatrically over Marquez. Mexico are the eternally unfulfilled promise of football in Latin America, a team perpetually striving to find a place between the leading powers
Getty Images (2), AFP
M
exico have finally made another impressive appearance on the world stage. Although the action took place far from home, half of the country shared in Chicharito’s delight as he fired Real Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals with the winning goal shortly before the end of his side’s 1-0 triumph over local rivals Atletico. These days the 26-year-old’s real name of Javier Hernandez is known to few outside his family at home in Guadalajara, and even there they call him Chicharito – ’the little pea’. While his goal was by no means spectacular – he had to do little more than steer the ball into an empty net after Cristiano Ronaldo had laid the groundwork – it came as an immense relief both for him and the proud footballing nation of Mexico. With the great Rafael Marquez’s career slowly edging towards its conclusion, Chicharito is now the country’s most popular player. Hernandez has not played nearly so often since arriving in Madrid from Manchester United last summer, but that is understandable given that his competition up front consists of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
U S A/M E X I C O
120 caps Cuauhtemoc Blanco loved to outwit his opponents.
as the team’s mentality was concerned because we really believed in ourselves after that win, and went on to win the Gold Cup." Mind games The series went from a one-sided affair to a full-blown rivalry. There have been two constants as each team has been dominant at home. In the rarefied air of Mexico City, situated 2,240 metres above sea level, ’El Tri’ have been able to ward off the Americans, except for two World Cup qualifying draws and a 1-0 friendly defeat in 2013. Except for winning the 2009 and 2011 Gold Cup finals over their foes, the Mexicans have struggled in the States. In fact, the Americans’ favourite winning scoreline is 2-0 - ’dos a cero’ - which has been accomplished eight times. They have beaten their rivals by the same score in World Cup qualifying at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013. Which brings us to 15 April 2015 at the Alamodome. Aside from Columbus, San Antonio might just be the most appropriate place for this confrontation. It is the home to the Alamo, a historic and iconic landmark in which the Mexican army laid siege to and killed approx-
The rivalry’s turning point came in 1991. Suddenly, the Americans found their confidence. European experience Rafael Marquez’s career included four years with Monaco and seven with Barça.
of South America and Europe. The country has repeatedly produced superb players like Chicharito, Marquez and Hugo Sanchez – who celebrated his goals with a somersault long before Miroslav Klose. Nor should we forget the extrovert goalkeeper Jorge Campos and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the playmaker who would periodically wedge the ball between his feet before hopping over onrushing opponents. All of them have shaped the sport across the globe, but none managed to garner Mexico a major international honour. In 15 World Cup appearances, the Mexicans have reached the quarter-finals twice – in 1970 and 1986, both times on home soil.
First FIFA title The greatest success ever enjoyed by El Tricolor, as their fans call the team clad in the three colours of green, white and red, came with victory in the 1999 Confederations Cup. That year a crowd of 110,000 celebrated a 4-3 triumph over Ronaldinho’s Brazil in the final at the Estadio Azteca. Jorge Campos kept goal and Rafael Marquez marshalled the defence while Cuauhtemoc Blanco fired six goals during the tournament, including the winner in the final. For Mexicans everywhere, those are glorious memories indeed. Sven Goldmann
imately 200 Texan defenders in 1836, an encounter that eventually led to Mexican General Santa Anna’s defeat in the battle of San Jacinto a few weeks later. Some 179 years later, though, history would not repeat itself with a Mexican rout. A day prior to the match, there was another game afoot - gamesmanship. ’Medio Tiempo’, a Mexican media outlet, reported that Hector Gonzalez Inarritu, general manager at the Mexican Football Federation, floated the idea of refusing to play should the condition of the pitch at the Alamodome not improve. The Alamodome has artificial turf, so the U.S. Soccer federation installed a temporary grass pitch, a patchy field that was not up to World Cup standards. After receiving assurances that the pitch would hold up, Mexico agreed to play. Both teams fielded young line-ups with many players from their respective domestic leagues, the LIGA MX and Major League Soccer. ’El Tri’ were without their Europe-based core of performers, including midfielder Andres Guardado (PSV Eindhoven) and forwards Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Real Madrid) and Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal). The USA were unable to select captain and forward Clint Dempsey due to a hamstring injury, while striker Jozy Altidore had received a red card in a previous friendly. "Both teams still want to win and the players want to show what they can do," said USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who opted to put a 20-year-old college sophomore from Stanford University in his starting line-up: Jordan Morris. The striker, who had all of 17 minutes of international experience up to that point, did not let the occasion get to him, however, and in the 49th minute he put the USA in front after taking advantage of a mistake in the Mexican defence. "When Jordan was doing his shooting before the game, he was pretty much missing everything. I told him, ’Just relax. It’s OK,’" Klinsmann said. "To see a boy like Morris score his first international goal, you jump for joy."
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
11
U S A/M E X I C O
Emotional Mexico coach Miguel Herrera.
Intimidated Mexicans Jump is exactly what Morris did after slotting the ball past goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo, throwing a celebratory punch into the air as the outnumbered American fans cheered so loudly that you thought they would blow the dome’s roof off. "I was nervous but excited too," Morris said. "It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid, scoring a goal, especially in such a big game in front of so many fans. I’d never played in an atmosphere like that. It was tough to adjust to it at first, but I’m happy I got the chance and that I was able to put it away.” Juan Agudelo then scored his first international goal in three years to give the Americans yet another ’dos a cero’ result, as USA
fans chanted to remind their Mexican counterparts. “It was pretty amazing,” Klinsmann said. “It was so full of energy. It was really fun.” Well, maybe not so much fun in the Mexican changing room. Including Lapuente, an incredible six Mexican coaches have been dismissed following defeats to the USA: Miguel Mejia Baron (1995), Bora Milutinovic (1997), Enrique Meza (2001), Hugo Sanchez (2008) and Sven-Goran Eriksson (2009). Yet given this match was a friendly and that Mexico have important matters in the Gold Cup and Copa America this summer, coach Miguel Herrera’s position appears safe. "This is not the team you’ll see in competition," he reminded the media in the post-match press conference. Herrera refused to blame
Bora Milutinovic 1983–1986, 1995–1997 12
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
Miguel Mejia Baron 1993–1995
Manuel Lapuente 1990–1991, 1997–2000
Enrique Meza 2000–2001
Hugo Sanchez 2000, 2006–2008
Sven-Göran Eriksson 2008–2009 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
12
imago, Getty Images (6)
Six Mexico coaches dismissed following defeats to the USA
U S A/M E X I C O
the playing conditions for his team’s performance, despite having every right to do so. "There are good pitches and there are bad pitches, and the players have to adjust," he said. "It was the same for both teams." Herrera added: "We don’t have an excuse. They were more convincing. They finished their chances. We didn’t do that." Some of the teams’ most ardent supporters feel Mexico no longer have much of a chance against the USA - unless there is a change in attitude. Valerie Trevino, a Mexican who lives in San Antonio, was concerned about El Tri’s mental state against the USA. "When you watch the United States play Mexico it feels like Mexico are intimidated," she said. "Mexico can beat any team, but when it comes to the United States they freeze. This time we choked." Yet ’El Tricolor’ have plans to avenge the defeat and Herrera promised that Mexico would prevail in the Gold Cup in July. "We can beat them without problems," he said. Defender Carlos Salcedo agreed: "We want to get our revenge in an official competition." He just might get that if both teams reach the final, setting up yet another Clasico confrontation. Å
imago (2)
L e aps and bounds There can be no doubt whatsoever that Mexico is a huge footballing nation. In 1930 the national team participated at the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay, and the country has also hosted the tournament twice itself, in 1970 and 1986. On both occasions Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, one of the most iconic stadiums in world football, provided the stage for the final. To date Mexico are the only team from the CONCACAF region to have won a FIFA tournament, having lifted the Confederations Cup in 1991. After receiving an invitation from CONMEBOL, Mexico have participated at the Copa America since 1993 and finished as runners-up both that year and in 2001. On 4 July 1993 a certain Hugo Sanchez was a member of the team that lost the title-decider 2-1 to Argentina in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil. At that time Sanchez, one of the biggest poster boys for Mexican football, was yet to embark on the final of his three spells with a Madrid-based club. He was at Atletico from 1981 to 1985; at Real from 1985 to 1992 and at Rayo Vallecano in the 1993/94 season. The striker’s goal celebration lives long in the memory. Having done gymnastics as a child, Sanchez celebrated each of his strikes with a forward somersault in honour of his sister, a gymnast who took part at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. mpe
Master and apprentice Goalscorer Jordan Morris (left) with his coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Goalscoring gymnast Hugo Sanchez celebrates scoring for Real Madrid in 1988.
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
13
Every dream needs a kick-off. Inspire her passion. Use your Visa Card to purchase tickets to the FIFA Women’s World Cup™.
TALK ING POIN T S
O N
T H E
Myanmar: National League
Ya n go n s e t t i n g the pace Emanuele Giulianelli is a freelance football correspondent based in Milan.
Yangon United FC
Currently sitting pretty at the top of the Myanmar National League, the highest division in the southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma, Yangon United Football Club are on an impressive run of form. They have won every single one of their nine league matches to date and followed up a 6-0 victory over Rakhine United on the opening day of the season with 5-2 wins against Manaw Myay and Zeyar Shwe Myay. Founded in 2009, Yangon have been crowned champions in three of their seven seasons in existence and boast a goal difference of +22 (30 scored, eight conceded) so far this term.
I N S I D E
The architect behind the team’s dream start this season is Serbian head coach Miodrag Jesic, the much-travelled former poster boy of Partizan Belgrade who has won titles in Bulgaria (with CSKA Sofia) and Libya (with Al Ittihad) during his career. “The philosophy I try to instil in the players involves focusing on one game at a time and making our fans happy in particular,” he says. “There isn’t a place in the world where football would be possible without the fans.” The twelve teams that compete for the championship in Myanmar are each allowed a maximum of four foreign players in their squad – Yangon have three Brazilians and one Japanese player. The domestic league is on hiatus until the end of June due to the national team’s 2018 World Cup second qualifying round clash with Laos, the U-23s’ commitments at the Southeast Asian Games, and the U-20 World Cup.
especially football. The sporting infrastructure in Myanmar, and especially in Yangon, is very good: the country’s largest city is home to two large national stadiums and players are able to train in near perfect conditions. The owner of Yangon United is businessman Pye Phyo Tay Za. Their closest challengers, meanwhile, are Ayeyawady United, who finished sixth the previous season. They have won seven of their eight league games so far this term, drawing the other, and they appear to be the only side capable of overhauling Yangon at the division’s summit. With just two games left to play in the first half of the season, however, Yangon are in pole position to secure a fourth league title in the club’s history. Å
The military regime in Myanmar pumps a lot of money into sport as a whole, but
Plenty to celebrate Nine matches, nine wins. Yangon United are yet to drop a point this season. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
15
Germany: Bundesliga
C h a m p io n s , b u t n o b e e r s h owe r s Andreas Jaros is a Vienna-based freelance writer.
Just ahead of what will be a decisive week in the Champions League for Bayern Munich, with a semi-final clash against Barcelona coming up, the Bavarians managed to secure their first piece of silverware of the season. On Matchday 30, second-placed VfL Wolfsburg failed to produce the victory necessary to postpone Bayern’s 25th German championship triumph by a week after losing 1-0 away to Borussia Monchengladbach. The previous day, Bayern had recorded a workmanlike 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin. The winning goal arrived late in the game courtesy of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has now won the Bundesliga title eight times, a record he shares with Oliver Kahn and Mehmet Scholl. Bayern’s hopes of winning the treble are now over in the wake of their elimination from the DFB Cup. Borussia Dortmund won the semi-final clash 2-0 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1.
It is now 15 years since Bayern last won the league with a victory in their own stadium, before going on to organise an impromptu celebratory party. When they were confirmed champions last Sunday after Max Kruse’s last-minute winner for Gladbach against Wolfsburg, there was no communal get-together. One group of players was at a basketball game, while others sat at home with their feet up on their afternoon off. This year Bayern’s march to the title finished a few weeks later than it did in 2014, when they were crowned champions as early as 25 March in Pep Guardiola’s debut season in Munich. 16
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
Victory cry Mario Gotze shares a picture of himself with the Championship trophy and a bottle of champagne with his Twitter followers.
The squad was severely depleted earlier this year, with a number of key players – including Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and David Alaba – sidelined through injury. The first trophy of the campaign did at least help to mitigate the fuss surrounding the departure of the club’s illustrious doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, who left under acrimonious terms. This season Wolfsburg were almost a replacement Borussia Dortmund after establishing themselves as the leaders’ closest challengers. Wolfsburg thrashed Bayern 4-1 at the start of the second half of the campaign, handing the Bavarians a first league defeat in 2014/15 in a game in which Bayern conceded as many goals in 70 minutes as they had in their
previous 17 games. However, Wolfsburg were subsequently unable to perform consistently enough to challenge the established hierarchy. Nevertheless, in an interview with ‘Sport Bild’, Stefan Effenberg insisted Bayern “should be warned and should respect Wolfsburg, because if they strengthen their squad they could soon become champions.” He also added that: “I would turn on the television to watch a player like Kevin de Bruyne.” Effenberg counts both Bayern and Wolfsburg among his former employers, while another of his erstwhile clubs has emerged as one of the biggest winners this season: under wily coach Lucien Favre, Gladbach have their sights set on reaching the Champions League. Å
However, players and fans alike will have to wait a while longer before letting their hair down in celebration of the Bundesliga title, as Bayern’s demanding schedule in the Champions League requires their full attention. The newspaper ‘Suddeutsche Zeitung’ sympathised with their plight: “Players like Thomas Muller would certainly have loved to have poured a wheat beer over somebody’s head [the traditional way titles are celebrated at Bayern]. Yet he acknowledged the club’s anniversary title triumph almost as if it were a minor matter.”
Egypt: Premier League
Za ma lek r o l l b a c k t h e ye a r s Mark Gleeson is a Cape Townbased journalist and football
whose headquarters sits ironically not on the island in the middle of the River Nile after which they are named but across the water on its northern bank, last won the Egyptian title in 2004 and have watched with increasing frustration as their bitter rivals Al Ahly have dominated every championship since.
commentator.
Zamalek were the winners of the first ever organised league in Egypt just over 90 years ago but success of late has been hard to come by for the legendary Cairo club, known by their fans as the White Knights. The team,
But with a seven point lead in the title race this season, there is every reason to believe Zamalek could finally emerge top again, putting behind them the disaster of February 22 when 22 spectators were crushed in a stampede outside Cairo Stadium trying to gain entry into Zamalek’s match against
ENPPI. That tragedy brought the league to a halt but it resumed again in late March with matches now played behind closed doors. Zamalek have kept up a strong run, particularly with the veteran Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira at the helm, and now have 57 points from 24 matches. They have lost only once this season and are undefeated in their last 10 games since Ferreira joined in January. Zamalek’s form contrasts with that of Al Ahly, whose loss on Monday to Arab Contractors has added to the pressure on Spanish coach Juan Garrido. Last year Garrido took the Red Devils to the CAF Confederation Cup title but is now the subject of much media criticism as Ahly sit in third place in the league standings, 11 points behind Zamalek with 13 matches to go. Ahly, who have won more titles than any other African club, have found it tough to deal with the departure of over the last year of key players like Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Barakat, now all retired and who have proved near-impossible to replace. ENPPI have not lost in their last nine games and sit second in the premier league standings. Their coach Tarek El Ashry has been in the job for the last three years, which is unusual in Egyptian football, and given time been able to build a more than just competitive side.
Mohamed El-Shahed / AFP
All clubs face an exacting programme in the coming months to complete the league, with teams often playing every three days. “This does affect the players’ performances so we are not playing terribly attractive football but all that matters is to win,” says Ferreira. Å
Title in their sights Zamalek’s Omar Gaber (l) takes on Al Ahly’s Walid Soliman. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
17
THE INTERVIEW
“This part of the season is great” Former midfielder Michael Laudrup, whose pace and sharp mind guided Denmark to the quarter-final at the 1998 World Cup, discusses his philosophy as a coach and reaching the critical stage of the season in the European leagues. Michael, congratulations on winning the Qatar Stars League title in your first season in charge of Lekhwiya. What did you feel after wrapping up the title?
club you need to always want to improve and to know what it takes to improve. You also need the means to have that possibility.
Michael Laudrup: I am very pleased. It was nice to win the trophy. There have been a lot of challenges, like the amount of players we had away on international tournaments such as the Gulf Cup which Qatar won, the Asian Cup and also the Cup of Nations. So I think the fact that we have won the league, and with the number of points difference that we have, is amazing. If you compare it to last season, Lekhwiya won with 53 points, and the second and third placed teams had 48 and 47 respectively. This year we have 62 points and Al Sadd have 57. So we had to get more points this year to win the league. We are also in the Asian Champions League and we want to move on from the group stages. The club has never won two trophies in one season, so we can make history this season if we win one more title, either the Qatar Cup or the Emir Cup.
Do you think you left a legacy behind at Swansea which is still visible today?
Is your coaching philosophy directly linked to your style as a player, and how have you adapted it in the different leagues in which you have coached? I think so; you see it in the way we are training. The big leagues in Europe are another level but a lot of the things I train here are the same as I did in Swansea or Getafe. As a coach you have to adapt to the people, the culture, the level of club and players, but there are things wherever it is, there are basic things you can learn. Here we have a lot of national team players, players with good individual skills. So we are training the position of the ball, keeping it.
Looking back, how would you assess your previous managerial post at Swansea? It was a historic moment, the first time the club went to the top ten in the league and the first trophy in a hundred years for the club. That is history. In ten years’ time they will still look at the League Cup trophy and look at our team from that year. I hope I can do the same here. As a coach, player and 18
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
They have changed a little, a lot of the players I brought are not there anymore and their style has changed a little. They have had a very good season in the Premier League this season, I have to say. I am happy for that. When we won the Cup I told the players to enjoy the moment, because you never know when it will be back. It could be in one year, in five or in 20. But that trophy is there and it is there forever.
Before that you had a successful spell at La Liga side Getafe. How do you compare the technical level of the Premier League and La Liga? I think it is complicated to compare. They are two fantastic leagues with so many great players. What is the typical English team? There are so many different styles of play, from the old style of kick and rush to the passing games of teams like Arsenal and Manchester City. Maybe there are more differences in style in the Premier League than in La Liga, where everyone wants to play with the ball. The intensity in the Premier League is higher than La Liga, but it is a difficult moment in Europe for the English teams; two years in a row without a team in the last eight. I think that is a tough one to accept for people there, for the P remier League, the most branded league in the world, where the most money is. In the years before they had also been dominating in Europe, but everyone now is discussing what is happening. OK, there are Barcelona and Real Madrid, but also Juventus, PSG, Monaco, Porto, so teams from lower leagues are competing better than us, so what is happening?
Talking about tough competition – your two former teams Barcelona and Real Madrid are locked in an extremely tight race in La Liga. Who is your favourite to win it?
It is very difficult. They both have some tough games remaining. Four points was a good margin, now it’s down to two so it is tough. Also what happens in the Champions League will have an impact, because if one goes out and the other goes through that means two more games to play. They both want to win everything, they are prepared and capable so it will be nice to watch. As a spectator this part of the season is great to watch. I still consider Barcelona to be favourites because they are in front, but one bad game and you are behind. Of course it is always better to be in front, as with us here when Al Sadd were behind us. They had to win and hope that the top team loses.
When it comes to choosing between your two former teams, are you sometimes torn in terms of loyalty as you watch matches? No, I am not. I am proud of playing for both. The five years in Barcelona were the best in my life as a player. And I was so well received as a person in Madrid. But I wasn’t born there, I am a foreign player, and just happy that I have played in these fantastic big clubs.
Do you see any players in the teams who remind you of your playing style? There’s a lot with my style. But I am always proud when someone does something special they say ‘he’s like Laudrup’. It is 18 or 19 years since I left Spain, so it is great that they remember me like that. Å Michael Laudrup was speaking to Matthias Krug
Name Michael Laudrup Date and place of birth 15 June 1964, Frederiksberg, Denmark Position Midfielder Clubs played for (selected) 1981 Kjobenhavns Boldklub 1982–1983 Brondby 1983–1989 Juventus 1983–1985 Lazio (loan) 1989–1994 Barcelona 1994–1996 Real Madrid 1997–1998 Ajax Clubs coached (selected) 2002–2006 Brondby 2007–2008 Getafe 2008–2009 Spartak Moscow 2010–2011 Mallorca 2012–2014 Swansea City since 2014 Lekhwiya Denmark national team 104 caps, 37 goals Major honours as player (selected) Italian Championship 1986 Spanish Championship 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Copa del Rey 1990 European Cup 1992 Dutch Championship 1998 Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football 1992, 1993 Major honours as coach (selected)
Bax Lindhardt
English League Cup 2013 Danish Manager of the Year 2003, 2005
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
19
First Love
Place: Rio Negro, Manaus Date: 5 April 2015 Time: 12.34 p.m. Photog rapher: Br uno Kelly
REUTERS
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
21
Developing football everywhere and for all
Organising inspiring tournaments
Caring about society and the environment
For the Game. For the World. FIFA is committed to developing football for the benefit of all. Our mission is to: Develop the game FIFA’s primary objective is to develop the game of football in our 209 member associations. The FIFA World Cup™ gives us the resources we need to invest USD 550,000 per day in football development across the globe. Touch the world FIFA’s aim is to touch the world through its international football competitions and events, uniting and inspiring people everywhere.
FIFA.com
Build a better future Football is much more than just a game. Its universal appeal gives it a unique power and reach which must be managed carefully. FIFA believes it has a duty to society that goes beyond football.
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
PRESIDENTIAL NOTE
Champions to meet in Japan Preparations are well underway as the annual Club World Cup gets set to return to Japan.
A sign of peace
“S
Object of desire Seven teams will battle it out for the Club World Cup trophy this December (Pictured: Carles Puyol, 2011).
Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP Photo
A
fter last staging the prestigious tournament in 2012, Japan will play host again in 2015 and 2016, with this year’s Club World Cup confirmed for 10-20 December. FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke says the experience of the Japan Football Association (JFA) in organising a number of major football tournaments will go a long way to ensuring further success for the event. “This is a country with a proven track record when it comes to staging FIFA events, including six editions of the Club World Cup, which were all successful,” says Valcke. “We know it will be a superb setting once again for this annual competition with good-sized crowds and a wonderful atmosphere. The popularity and profile of the competition continues to build each year and this is sure to continue with the huge support shown within Japan.” JFA President Kuniya Daini says the competition is important for Japan both in terms of development and the entertainment factor. “It is a valuable opportunity for both players and fans to witness the world trends in club football. Not only does this competition bring exciting and entertaining football, it also gives us an insight into each participating country’s club culture and the respective domestic leagues. Together with FIFA, we will do our utmost to ensure the success of this competition. It will be an important experience for us as we look forward to hosting other major sporting events including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” The JFA has started working on the tour nament and an announcement on the selected Host Cities will follow shortly. The event will feature the club champions of all six confederations (the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, the OFC and UEFA) as well as Japan’s domestic champions. Å tfw
port unites people, creates hope and has more power to overcome political and religious barriers than any government,” said the unforgettable Nelson Mandela. His words are more pertinent than ever. I sense this every day. Naturally, developing and improving football is FIFA’s central task, but at the same time social and community issues are coming ever more strongly to the fore. Like almost no other sport, football can build bridges and bring people together. In areas affected by conflict such as Syria, Iraq, A fghanistan, Somalia or Palestine, the kick-off in a football match is not only a trigger for positive emotions and hope, it can also often help initiate diplomatic negotiations. We interact directly with the grass roots through development and youth projects and help in areas out of sight to the general public, be it via infrastructure projects, technical development or organising competitions. FIFA invests US$616,016 in development programmes – every day. The total of our direct assistance has now passed the US$2bn mark. We joined forces with the Norwegian FA and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo to launch the “Handshake for Peace” campaign at our May 2012 Congress in Budapest. The profound symbolic effect and global resonance of this message of peace can be seen weekend after weekend, especially in youth football. The shaking of hands and high-fiving has become a permanent ritual, before and after the match, and even includes the substitutes and coaches. The junior players at the grass roots do not want to miss out on what Neymar and Messi are celebrating in the spotlight. It is a very personal matter to me that we should maintain the intensity and tempo of our efforts and carry the message of the campaign out into the wider world. At the end of the day the power of our sport stretches far beyond the touchline and the duration of the match. Thanks to its charisma and popularity we have a significant chance of bringing people together and promoting respect and understanding. As Mandela said: “Let’s celebrate humanity.” And I would add: “Let’s shake hands – for peace!”
Best wishes, Sepp Blatter T H E F I FA W E E K LY
23
FRANCE
Philippe Bergeroo won the European Championships with France in 1984 and was goalkeeping coach for their 1998 World Cup triumph. Now he is about to lead his country at this summer’s Women’s World Cup. Sarah Steiner spoke with the 61-year-old head coach.
24
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
Franck Fife / AFP
“Problems are dealt with differently in women’s football”
FRANCE
Mr Bergeroo, the Women’s World Cup 2015 begins in Canada in just over six weeks’ time. Where do your team stand right now? Philippe Bergeroo: We’ve worked hard and begun working with a completely new support team, so plenty has changed. Major investments have been made to ensure that these players are optimally prepared for the World Cup. Although my predecessor had already done a fantastic job, we’re making progress. But we’re taking it one step at a time…
To win the Women’s World Cup title in June? We’re certainly not going to Canada as favourites from the outset. Our aim is to progress as far as possible, that much is clear – but the title? Other sides come to mind before us.
Who? There’s USA, Germany, Japan, Brazil, but also China PR and Korea Republic – and don’t forget the Nordic countries, Sweden and Norway. There are only three spots on the podium, and we’re not the only team who want to get up there.
But if you look at France’s qualifying campaign and preparations, it’s easier to imagine you among the favourites than as one of the outsiders. Yes, we’ve delivered good performances. It was important to me that we were able to take part in the Algarve Cup and test ourselves against the big nations. And it went well for us even though we ultimately lost to USA in the final. Our other friendlies against Brazil and Canada also showed that we’re on the right track. What’s more, those kinds of fixtures always enable me to introduce young players and try out new formations.
You’ve given plenty of youngsters a chance to prove themselves in the national side over the past few months. How do you integrate the new additions? We’ve tried to introduce our young players to the team one step at a time, as we did during qualification. In matches against sides like Kazakhstan or Bulgaria I sent more 18 or 19-year-old footballers out onto the pitch, and then they had to take a back seat again for the crucial games. But of course training is also important for integration.
Playing a World Cup means taking a journey together in more than one sense. How important is it that a team functions and blends together 100 per cent? Philippe Bergeroo prefers to handle discussions on a one-to-one basis.
It’s essential and something we’re working hard on. The older, more experienced T H E F I FA W E E K LY
25
FRANCE
What do you mean by that? Criticising or even raising my voice with a player in front of everyone else is out of the question – it’s a no-go in a women’s team. If I’ve got a problem with someone, I take them to one side and clear things up with them in private. There aren’t many differences between men’s and women’s football, at least not when it comes to coaching. After all, I’m not a men’s coach or a women’s coach, I’m a football coach, but in certain situations I’m simply more cautious.
You were a goalkeeper and then a goal keeping coach. Was taking charge of a team the next logical step? I had the chance to make a professional career out of it. When I decided to hang up my playing boots, I completed all my coaching qualifications, and received the offer from Paris after working with the national sports institute and then with the men’s national side as goalkeeping coach. I’d seen everything there was to see as a goalkeeping coach and wanted to experience something new, so I first became an assistant coach and then took control of the PSG first team as head coach.
I’m not a men’s coach or a women’s coach – I’m a football coach. How exactly did you come to work in women’s football? I wasn’t an official candidate for the national team coach position. Noel Le Graet, president of the French Football Federation and one of women’s football’s greatest supporters, called me and offered me the job.
Did you accept it straight away? I had to think about it a little first, and I asked my wife if she thought it was okay [laughs]. Although I accepted the post 48 hours after our phone call, I said: “If we don’t think it’s working after six months, I’ll resign” – and I’m still here.
Are you still a goalkeeper at heart and does that mean you pay particular attention to the custodians within your squad? A little, perhaps – but I’ve got the best goalkeeping coach I could wish for in Albert Rust. I’ve known him for a long time; back in 1984 he was the French No. 2 keeper. I trust him completely and let him get on with his job.
World champion Bergeroo carries Fabien Barthez on his shoulders after the 1998 World Cup Final. 26
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
Is it difficult to find good goalkeepers in women’s football? We’re lucky to have several extremely talented keepers, but it’s tough to find promising youngsters. We’ve got to work on that, including when it comes to scouting. Most importantly, we mustn’t let girls specialise in goalkeeping from the very start, as you’ve got to give them overall coordination first, which they can pick up by learning moves in another sport, for example. You shouldn’t focus too closely on the specifics. I might advise budding goalkeepers to try out other positions or disciplines first. We’ll only try them out between the posts once their coordination’s ready as that’s the area that’s lacking most at the moment.
At the Women’s World Cup you’ve been drawn in a group with England, Colombia and Mexico. Which team is the strongest? I’ve got respect for all three sides, but I know there’s one team that have improved enormously in the past few years: England. That’ll be an extremely tough game.
How are your team preparing for these encounters? We’re studying their play, analysing their tactics and then showing the squad video recordings. By doing that we’ve also seen what set Colombia apart in what was a very strong display against Brazil [editor’s note: a 0-0 draw in September 2014 that secured Colombia’s Women’s World Cup spot]. We’ve got to be extremely alert.
Presse Sports / freshfocus, Fanck Fife / AFP (2)
members of the squad are taking a leading role in that respect, and the team functions thanks to their help. Of course, if there’s a problem I notice it immediately and try to talk about it with the players – but after that they take care of it. Problems are dealt with differently in women’s football.
Diplomatic Bergeroo is more cautious in some situations
FRANCE
France have considerable potential in attack. In Gaetane Thiney you have the most prolific goalscorer from qualifying in your ranks, with 13 goals to her name during that campaign, and the best passer in Louisa Necib.
History could repeat itself...
The collective unit is the most important thing for me. If that doesn’t work, then even having the best striker won’t achieve anything. Gaetane had an incredibly good season and Louisa is back again after an injury, having made her comeback with Lyon as they defeated Montpellier 2-1 to secure the double. We’re counting on her and her unbelievable skills.
And the ideal next instalment of your plan?
Does this mean that these two players are your best asset? Our greatest strength doesn’t lie with individuals but with the balance within the team. We’re formidable in both attack and defence, and everything hinges on how those two areas complement each other. Of course, I’m also trying to find at least two players for every position so that we can respond in the event of an injury. But at the end of the day I only have 23 places to fill. Every single one of them is valuable.
In 2019, in fact – the year France have been chosen to host the Women’s World Cup. That would be fantastic!
We’ve got various targets, all of them aligned. The first one was to qualify for the Women’s World Cup 2015, and we’ve done that. The next aim was to improve our ranking, and we managed that too [editor’s note: from 6th place in June 2013 to a current position of 3rd]. In addition to that we’ve been able to integrate talented youngsters into the team. The current squad includes 11 players who will still be around in 2019, giving them a chance to play at a home World Cup. That’s terrific! Å
FRANCE WOMEN’S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM World Cup: 2003, 2011, 2015 EURO: 1984, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 Olympic Games: 2012 FIFA Ranking: 3rd position Head coach: Philippe Bergeroo Most caps: Sandrine Soubeyrand (198 selections) Top scorer: Marinette Pichon (81 goals) Squad 2015 World Cup Goalkeepers: Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon), Céline Deville (Juvisy), Méline Gérard (Lyon) Defenders: Laure Boulleau (Paris), Anaïg Butel (Juvisy), Sabrina Delannoy (Paris), Laura Georges (Paris), Jessica Houara d’Hommeaux (Paris), Amel Majri (Lyon), Griedge Mbock Bathy (Guingamp), Wendie Renard (Lyon) Midfielders: Camille Abily (Lyon), Élise Bussaglia (Lyon), Kenza Dali (Paris), Kheira Hamraoui (Paris), Amandine Henry (Lyon), Claire Lavogez (Montpellier), Louisa Nécib (Lyon), Élodie Thomis (Lyon) Forwards: Marie-Laure Delie (Paris), Kadidiatou Diani (Juvisy), Eugénie Le Sommer (Lyon), Gaëtane Thiney (Juvisy) Substitutes: Viviane Asseyi (Montpellier), Charlotte Bilbault (Soyaux), Amandine Guerin (Soyaux), Aurélie Kaci (Paris), Clarisse Le Bihan (Guingamp), Julie Soyer (Juvisy), Sandie Toletti (Montpellier)
You managed to grab one of those in the past. Yes, but only as third-choice goalkeeper at the 1984 European Championship in France – and we won the trophy. I was part of the team again at the 1998 World Cup, this time as a goalkeeping coach. Again it was in France and again we were champions. Those are wonderful memories.
Name Philippe Bergeroo Date and place of birth 13 January 1954, Ciboure, France Playing position Goalkeeper Clubs played for 1969–1971 Saint-Jean-de-Luz 1971–1987 Girondins Bordeaux 1987–1983 Lille OSC 1983–1989 Toulouse Clubs coached 1988–1990 INSEP 1990–1998 France (goalkeeping coach) 1998–2001 Paris Saint-Germain 2002 Stade Rennes 2003, 2007–2008 France U-16 2003–2007 France U-17 2010–2013 France U-18, U-19 since 2013 France (women)
than would be the case with a men’s team.
Looking ahead The Women’s World Cup 2019 on home soil is a long-term target. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
27
sharecocacola.com #shareacocacola
Coca-Cola and the contour bottle are registered trademarks of the Coca-Cola Company.
Share a with
FREE KICK
SPOTLIGHT ON
GENER AL INFORMATION Country: Namibia FIFA Trigramme: NAM Continent: Africa Capital: Windhoek
The numbers game Sarah Steiner
Mario Wagner / 2Agenten
T
he world used to be a simple, structured place – or at least football was. Players had shirt numbers that corresponded to their positions, with goalkeepers wearing the number one jersey and left-wingers the number 11. It was as simple as that. Certain numbers may still have a special significance today, such as the sacred number 10, but the amount of options available to players has dramatically increased. As a rule, any two-digit number is permitted internationally; it is only at major tournaments like World Cups or European Championships that a squad’s shirt numbers must run in consecutive order. Yet in the day-to-day business of domestic championships footballers are spoilt for choice. Moroccan player Hicham Zerouali, who laced his boots for Aberdeen between 1999 and 2002, was given special dispensation from the Scottish league to wear the number zero on his shirt, given that ‘Zero’ was his nickname. The number one, meanwhile, has not been used exclusively by goalkeepers. Argentinian midfielder Osvaldo Ardiles wore it at the 1982 World Cup after shirt numbers were allocated in alphabetical order, while Scottish defender Stuart Balmer did likewise for Charlton Athletic in the 1990s. Similarly, there are countless anecdotes regarding two-digit shirt numbers. For instance, Bixente Lizarazu chose the number 69 because he was born in 1969, was 1.69 metres tall and weighed 69 kilograms. Brazil’s Ronaldo
also opted for a large number (99) following his move from Real Madrid to AC Milan in 2007, as ‘his’ number nine shirt was already taken. “Il Fenomeno” had won the battle for that particular jersey ten years earlier when he first moved to Inter Milan from Barcelona. Inter took the number from Ivan Zamorano, so the Chilean came up with an alternative solution. He subsequently donned the number 18 shirt, albeit with a small plus symbol inserted between the digits. It was a simple matter of arithmetic: 1 + 8 = 9. Å
GEOGR APHIC INFORMATION Surface area: 824,116 km² Highest point: Brandberg Mountain 2,606 m Neighbouring seas and oceans: Atlantic Ocean
MEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 113th World Cup: no appearances
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 115rd World Cup: no appearances
L ATES T RESULTS Men’s: Namibia - Swaziland 1:1 10 September 2014 Women’s: Namibia - Swaziland 6:2 21 March 2015
FIFA INVES TMENTS Since 2001:
The weekly column by our staff writers
$ 2,082,500 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
29
©2014 FIFA TM
6 June - 5 July
C O U N T D OW N T O C A N A DA 2015: 36 DAY S T O G O
Let the party begin The Opening Match of the Women’s World Cup takes place at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on 6 June. As well as the sporting highlights, fans can also look forward to a spectacular celebration. Immense anticipation Canadian fans are ready for a vibrant World Cup party.
36 DAYS TO GO Tegan and Sara, originally from Alberta, are similarly thrilled to be part of the competition that will bring the best female soccer players from around the world to Canada from 6 June to 5 July. “Tegan and I will be there, and are thrilled to take part in the Opening Ceremony!” said Sara Quin. “We’ll be performing a song during the Opening Ceremony alongside other amazing artists and role models. We are looking forward to being there in Edmonton, in our home province of Alberta, to take part in such an exciting event.” Fans as 12th player on the pitch “We are very proud to have such accomplished Canadian home grown talent participate in the Opening Ceremony that will be seen from coast to coast and around the world. Canada is excited to be playing our first two matches, including the Opening Match, in Edmonton,” said Peter Montopoli, CEO of the National Organising Committee for Canada 2015. “We know that Edmonton will continue its tradition as a great host for international soccer and support Canada as our 12th player on the pitch.” Å tfw
G Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
rammy Award winning artist Sarah McLachlan and Juno Award winning duo Tegan and Sara have been announced as featured artists for the Opening Ceremony of the Women’s World Cup taking place directly before the Opening Match featuring Canada against China PR on 6 June in Edmonton. The Opening Ceremony will officially kick off the competition and will feature over 200 performers celebrating the empowerment and unification of women. The competition’s official slogan – To a Greater Goal – will come to life through performances demonstrating the positive impact of the sport both on and off the field. Celebrating the ideas of ambition, inspiration, honour, victory, celebration and pride, values shared by the announced artists, the Opening Ceremony will celebrate the greatest attributes of the game and highlight the lasting legacy and global impact of a competition featuring successful and empowering women from around the world.
“Important to have strong female role models” “I’m honoured to be a part of the event. This will be a great opportunity for me to perform “In Your Shoes”, a song that was inspired by Malala Yousafzai’s incredible story and her strength of character to stand up to what she believed in,” said McLachlan. “As the mother of two daughters, it’s important to have strong female role models for young girls and we are so fortunate right here in Canada to have such an accomplished group of athletes on our Canadian team who inspire us all.” T H E F I FA W E E K LY
31
MIRROR IMAGE
T
H
E
N
Highbury Stadium, London
1951
Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal take on Glasgow Rangers in a floodlit match.
32
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
MIRROR IMAGE
N
O
W
Allianz Arena, Munich
2012
Daniel Kopatsch / Bongarts / Getty Images
A laser show heralds the start of Bayern Munich’s game against Borussia Monchengladbach.
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
33
NET ZER KNOWS!
How many Alpha personalities can a team cope with?
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“We have to change the catering because many, many times they don’t see the games. Really, I think they stay eating and drinking. Sushi, lobster, champagne of high quality, Cristal – everything! We should give them bread and water.” Jose Mourinho lashes out at those responsible for monitoring match officials
“When I lifted the World Cup Trophy in Berlin, I could touch the sky. Zidane’s headbutt contributed to our victory – that’s a fact.” Marco Materazzi, world champion
“Since the beginning of the season, I’ve received over 2,000 phone calls about Pogba. I received many engagement proposals, but none of Taking it easy Gunter Netzer aged 34.
Sven Simon / imago
A
great deal of tact is needed to deal with Alpha personalities, especially from the coach. It’s his job to intervene at the right time when things get out of hand between people on a personal level. He has to be able to recognise the role each player has and the key is to find a balance. There is no longer the same significance attached to having leaders in modern football as there was in the past, and that’s a good thing in my view. In the 1970s and 80s it was common practice for a team to be built around one individual player and if they were ever absent then the whole system fell apart. Nowadays it’s noticeable how many characters the top teams have out on the pitch, but it’s not an issue as long as there’s mutual respect and nobody puts themselves first. However, it
must be said that quiet, understated dominant personalities exist too. They’re extremely important, especially at times when things aren’t going well for the team. It comes with the territory that Alpha personalities need a lot of freedom, but in exchange they have to perform. I got up to a few shenanigans at Borussia Monchengladbach and Real Madrid, but the people there didn’t mind because they said to themselves: ‘At least he plays well’. Å
them were worthy of marriage! We signed with Juventus for five more years, but we’re all gentlemen: if the right offer arrives, we’ll take it.” Mina Raiola, agent of Paul Pogba
“I disagree that Dybala is the new Aguero. He’s the new Messi. He operates all over the pitch like Messi.”
What have you always wanted to know about football? Ask Gunter Netzer: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org
Maurizio Zamparini, Palermo president T H E F I FA W E E K LY
35
FIFA PARTNER
TURNING POINT
“I owe my coaching career to my wife” Former New Zealand international Aaran Lines has made quite a name for himself as a coach in the USA – thanks in no small part to his wife.
Keystone / AP
I
never thought I would one day be reaching for the stars as head coach of a women’s soccer team in the USA. I never really considered a career in women’s football during my playing career. The legendary Wynton Rufer scouted me when I was a teenager and brought me from New Zealand to Germany. After coming through the youth academy at Werder Bremen and following spells at several other clubs – first in northern Germany, and later in Poland – I finished my career in the USA and became more familiar with the women’s game through my wife Alexandra, who played football herself. Alex has played an integral role in everything that has happened since my playing days came to an end. First things first, though: towards the end of my playing career in the USA, I decided to get my coaching licence. In Europe, you play football for eleven months of the year, whereas in the USA it’s only eight. I therefore had enough time to do my UEFA B Licence at the Sports University in Leipzig. I’ve always been interested in becoming a coach. After returning to the USA I founded a team with my wife – the Western New York Flash, who are based in Rochester. My wife’s family owns the franchise and they all agreed that I should assume the role of head coach. I had no experience in women’s
football but through Alex, who played at a reasonably high level at Niagara University, I was always aware of how passionate women are about the sport. The first year was a trial run, but it won me over completely. The huge challenges I faced back then and those modest beginnings continue to spur me on at a club that has long since established itself as a major side, because we always want to raise the bar and continue to develop. We did that in 2011, when we were champions of the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL), which later folded, and again in 2013, when we finished as runners-up in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The year before that I was voted coach of the year in the USA. Alex has played a key part in my career and in my success. Å Aaran Lines was speaking to Rainer Hennies
Name Aaran Lines Date and place of birth 21 December 1976, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Clubs (selected) Halswell United, New Zealand 1995–1996 Werder Bremen reserves 1996–1998 Kickers Emden 1998–1999 VfL Osnabrück 2002 Dresdner SC 2002–2003 Ruch Chorzow 2005 Portland Timbers 2006–2007 Rochester Rhinos bis 2009 Richmond SC Nationalteam: New Zealand 31 caps, four goals Clubs coached 2009–2010 Buffalo Flash since 2011 Western New York Flash
In Turning Point, personalities reflect on a decisive moment in their lives. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
37
MEN’S WORLD R ANKING
Germany (unchanged) Switzerland (9th, up 3 ranks), Spain (10th, up 1 rank) France (11th, down 3 ranks), Italy (13th, down 3 ranks) 135 British Virgin Islands, Dominica (3 matches each) Wales (up 153 points) Bhutan (up 46 ranks) Israel (down 231 points) New Caledonia (down 23 ranks)
Leader Moves into top ten Moves out of top ten Matches played in total Most matches played Biggest move by points Biggest move by ranks Biggest drop by points Biggest drop by ranks Rank Team
+/- Points
Rank Team
+/- Points
Rank Team
Last updated: 9 April 2015 +/- Points
Rank Team
+/- Points
1 Germany
0 1687
55 Gabon
-1
583
109 Cuba
1
298
163 Bhutan
46
128
2 Argentina
0 1490
56 Mali
-5
578
110 Sudan
0
288
164 Malaysia
-11
123
3 Belgium
1 1457
57 Albania
4
575
111 Libya
120
4 Colombia
-1 1412
57 Korea Republic
-1
575
111 St Kitts and Nevis
5 Brazil
1 1354
59 Zambia
1
556
113 Namibia
6 Netherlands
-1 1301
60 South Africa
-5
553
114 Canada
7 Portugal
0 1221
61 Equatorial Guinea
-11
549
115 Azerbaijan
8 Uruguay
1 1176
62 Republic of Ireland
4
546
9 Switzerland
3 1135
63 Australia
2
10 Spain
1 1132
64 Peru
11 France
-3 1127
65 Trinidad and Tobago
12 Romania
2 1086
66 Burkina Faso
13 Italy
-3 1085
67 Bulgaria
14 England
3 1030
15 Costa Rica
-2 1014
16 Chile
-1
991
17 Croatia
2
977
1
281
165 Grenada
-7
10
281
166 Puerto Rico
-6
119
0
279
167 Hong Kong
-10
116
2
277
167 Bangladesh
-5
116
24
264
169 Suriname
-8
115
116 St Vincent and the Grenadines
3
262
170 Yemen
5
111
531
117 Kenya
1
258
171 Montserrat
1
107
-5
526
118 Dominican Republic
-11
257
172 Pakistan
-2
106
-2
519
119 Niger
-5
252
173 US Virgin Islands
24
104
2
517
120 Mauritania
-5
246
174 New Caledonia
-23
101
4
505
121 Moldova
1
245
175 Guam
-8
97
68 United Arab Emirates
1
501
122 Lesotho
-2
242
175 Swaziland
-12
97
69 Venezuela
3
495
123 Burundi
3
237
177 Dominica
4
96
70 Norway
0
491
123 Zimbabwe
1
237
178 Laos
-8
88
70 Montenegro
-3
491
125 Vietnam
5
229
179 Cambodia
2
86
18 Mexico
3
937
72 Uganda
2
485
126 Syria
26
225
179 Chinese Taipei
9
86
19 Czech Republic
-3
923
73 Uzbekistan
-1
476
127 Kuwait
-2
224
181 Nepal
-1
71
20 Slovakia
2
920
74 Rwanda
-10
474
128 Liechtenstein
-5
219
181 Mauritius
9
71
21 Algeria
-3
917
75 Jamaica
1
466
129 Bermuda
40
217
183 Brunei Darussalam
15
69
22 Wales
15
916
76 Honduras
5
451
130 Barbados
1
215
184 Turks and Caicos Islands
-8
66
23 Côte d'Ivoire
-3
907
77 Armenia
2
449
131 Guinea-Bissau
3
212
184 Macau
3
66
24 Greece
3
900
78 Finland
0
446
131 Liberia
-14
212
186 Tahiti
-22
65
25 Austria
-2
891
79 Haiti
-2
442
133 Kazakhstan
5
210
186 Comoros
-9
65
26 Ghana
-2
833
80 Togo
-5
435
134 Aruba
-6
204
186 Sri Lanka
-12
65
27 USA
5
815
81 Paraguay
-1
418
135 Afghanistan
2
203
189 Seychelles
-11
60
28 Denmark
0
808
82 China PR
29 Scotland
10
796
83 Belarus
30 Tunisia
-5
793
84 El Salvador
31 Bosnia and Herzegovina
-1
783
85 Latvia
1
408
136 St Lucia
-4
202
190 São Tomé e Príncipe
-11
58
15
397
137 Luxembourg
-1
200
191 Cayman Islands
14
48
5
388
138 Georgia
-12
197
192 Solomon Islands
-8
46
10
387
139 Philippines
-11
193
193 South Sudan
-5
43
32 Russia
1
781
86 Mozambique
0
385
140 Palestine
0
192
194 San Marino
-13
40
33 Ukraine
-2
772
86 Iraq
11
385
141 Maldives
-8
191
195 Vanuatu
-4
34
34 Ecuador
-5
759
88 Sierra Leone
-1
382
142 Thailand
0
183
196 Fiji
-4
30
35 Poland
-1
753
89 Angola
-5
381
143 Tajikistan
-2
175
196 Samoa
-4
30
36 Senegal
0
752
90 Guatemala
-8
372
144 Central African Republic
-1
163
198 Bahamas
-4
26
37 Cape Verde Islands
1
737
91 Morocco
-2
371
144 Lebanon
2
163
198 British Virgin Islands
3
26
38 Iceland
-3
728
92 Bolivia
0
360
144 New Zealand
-10
163
200 Mongolia
-5
19
39 Sweden
6
704
93 Estonia
-6
358
147 India
26
161
201 Tonga
-5
17
40 Iran
2
689
94 Benin
-2
357
148 Curaçao
11
159
202 Papua New Guinea
-3
13
41 Guinea
3
678
95 Saudi Arabia
4
349
149 Malta
-4
158
203 American Samoa
-3
12
42 Northern Ireland
1
672
96 Cyprus
-11
342
150 Madagascar
-3
156
204 Andorra
-3
8
43 Hungary
3
665
97 Oman
-1
341
151 Chad
-3
155
204 Eritrea
-3
8
44 Serbia
-4
664
97 Malawi
-6
341
152 Timor-Leste
33
151
206 Somalia
-2
6
45 Nigeria
-4
652
99 Qatar
10
337
153 Kyrgyzstan
-3
146
207 Djibouti
-1
4
-20
649
100 Lithuania
-6
333
154 Nicaragua
31
142
207 Cook Islands
-1
4
47 Slovenia
1
648
101 Ethiopia
1
321
155 Guyana
11
139
209 Anguilla
-1
2
48 Cameroon
1
627
102 Faroe Islands
3
318
156 Gambia
12
138
46 Israel
49 Congo
3
624
103 Jordan
-2
316
157 Korea DPR
-8
137
50 Japan
3
614
104 Botswana
2
314
158 Myanmar
-5
133
51 Egypt
7
612
105 FYR Macedonia
3
312
159 Turkmenistan
-15
131
52 Turkey
4
603
106 Antigua and Barbuda
-4
311
159 Indonesia
-3
131
53 Panama
8
587
107 Tanzania
-7
302
159 Belize
5
131
54 Congo DR
-7
584
108 Bahrain
-4
299
162 Singapore
-9
130
38
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/index.html
PUZZLE
Published weekly by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
President Joseph S. Blatter
1
5
7
9
4 7
Director of Communications and Public Affairs Walter De Gregorio
3
9
8
1
Chief Editor Perikles Monioudis
4
Staff Writers Alan Schweingruber (Deputy Editor), Sarah Steiner
6
7
2
2
9
5
5
2
1
4
1
8
5
1
4
4
4 3 3
8
1
3
5
5
7 4
9 1
6
5
7
Production Hans-Peter Frei
6
9
3
7
4
3
5
HARD
2
Printer Zofinger Tagblatt AG
2 2
Internet www.fifa.com/theweekly
Any views expressed in The FIFA Weekly do not necessarily reflect those of FIFA.
9
8
7
Editorial Assistants Alissa Rosskopf, Honey Thaljieh
Reproduction of photos or articles in whole or in part is only permitted with prior editorial approval and if attributed “The FIFA Weekly, © FIFA 2015”. The editor and staff are not obliged to publish unsolicited manuscripts and photos. FIFA and the FIFA logo are registered trademarks of FIFA. Made and printed in Switzerland.
7
8
Contributors to this Issue Andreas Alf, Emanuele Giulianelli, Mark Gleeson, Rainer Hennies, Matthias Krug, Michael Lewis
Contact feedback-theweekly@fifa.org
6
7 3
6
Contributors Ronald Dueker, Luigi Garlando, Sven Goldmann, Andreas Jaros, Jordi Punti, Thomas Renggli, David Winner, Roland Zorn
Translation www.sportstranslations.com
4
MEDIUM
Proof Reader Nena Morf (Lead), Martin Beran, Kristina Rotach
Project Management Bernd Fisa, Christian Schaub
7
1 3
Art Direction Catharina Clajus
Layout Richie Kroenert (Lead), Tobias Benz, Susanne Egli
3
1
2
Secretary General Jérôme Valcke
Picture Editor Peggy Knotz, Andres Wilhelm (Deputy)
2
EASY
9 3
5
1
3
4
4
6
6 5
4
5 7
9 2
4
7
8
1
2 3
4
9 1
4
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
Puzzles courtesy: opensky.ca/sudoku
Publisher FIFA, FIFA-Strasse 20, PO box, CH-8044 Zurich Phone +41-(0)43-222 7777, Fax +41-(0)43-222 7878
The objective of Sudoku is to fill a 9x9 grid with digits so that each of the numbers from 1 to 9 appears exactly once in each column, row and 3x3 sub-grid.
39
R E S U LT S O F PR E V I O U S P O L L
T HIS WEEK’S POLL
Who are your favourites to win the 2014/15 Europa League?
Which of these continental champions will go furthest at this year’s 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup?
42+38+137 7%
13%
42%
· Brazil · Madagascar · Mexico · Oman · Russia Cast your votes at: FIFA.com/newscentre
≠ Sevilla ≠ Napoli ≠ Fiorentina ≠ Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
29 is the age at which Ezequiel Lavezzi scored his first-ever league hat-trick. Paris SaintGermain’s Argentinian forward, who had netted just once in his previous 16 appear ances for club and country, struck three times within the space of 49 minutes to inspire a 6-1 thrashing of Lille.
WEEK IN NUMBERS
12
South African league championships have now been won by Kaizer Chiefs. The Soweto giants, who have lost only two of their 27 league matches this season and conceded just 12 goals, crossed the finishing line with three games to spare thanks to a 4-1 win over Polokwane City.
20 years without an Italian Serie A win over Juventus was the run that finally came to end for Torino. A 2-1 win in the latest Derby della Mole ended a winless run of 17 matches for I Granata – their longest such streak against any domestic opponent.
Fotopress / Getty Images, Getty Images (2), BackpagePix
Source: Fifa.com
38%