ISSUE 23/2015, 12 JUNE 2015
ENGLISH EDITION
Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904
Canada 2015
FLYING START ITALY SAPUTO TO THANK FOR BOLOGNA’S SUCCESS BLATTER THE STARS OF TOMORROW SENEGAL A THRILLING TITLE RACE W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
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North and Central America 35 members www.concacaf.com
Canada 2015 The seventh Women’s World Cup has started with a bang. Perikles Monioudis reports from Montreal and reflects on how women’s football has hit upon a format that has been captivating a global audience for years.
South America 10 members www.conmebol.com
G enerational shift in Paraguay In an interview with The FIFA Weekly, Ivan Piris discusses his team’s desire to perform well at the Copa America and says: “We’re searching for a new identity.”
S epp Blatter “FIFA is going through difficult times. This makes me all the more proud that our organisation runs smoothly in a crisis. The ball keeps rolling on. In New Zealand, the world’s best young players are currently competing at the U-20 World Cup.”
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UEFA Champions League Facts and figures from Barcelona’s win over Juventus. Pictured: Lionel Messi.
A historic victory Bhutan have reached the second qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup. Midfielder Karun Gurung believes this momentous day represents a turning point for his team.
24 Flying start Our cover image shows Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala (l) and Francisca Ordega celebrating. The picture was taken on 8 June after the African side’s late equaliser in the 3-3 draw with Sweden.
Joey Saputo The Canadian businessman and Montreal Impact owner has guided Bologna back into Serie A.
The FIFA Weekly app FIFA’s magazine The FIFA Weekly is published in four languages every Friday and is also available free of charge on smartphone and tablet. http://www.fifa.com/mobile 2
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FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
FIFA U-17 World Cup
9 – 19 July 2015, Portugal
17 October – 8 November 2015, Chile
Getty Images, imago (2), Ntokozo Magongo
Adam Pretty / Getty Images
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
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U-20 World Cup Brazil make magic, Fiji celebrate – and there is still more to come from the world’s biggest youth tournament in New Zealand. Pictured: Judivan and Choe Ju Song.
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Swaziland The Royal Leopards have strolled to another title. Pictured: Sizwe Khumalo.
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A heartwarming tale T
Mario Wagner / 2Agenten
he FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ is now in full swing and all 24 teams have played their first match. Some sides have justified their position as favourites, while others have shown that even the tournament’s outsiders are capable of springing surprises. Although newcomers Thailand are unlikely to produce many sporting shocks after losing 4-0 to Norway in their first game, their polite manner has already won the hearts of many fans. Before taking their place on the bench at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Stadium, each substituted player bade farewell to the crowd with a greeting typical in their homeland – clasping their hands together at chest height. The crowd later repaid this courteous gesture by wildly cheering the Thai goalkeeper’s penalty save. The team embarked on a lap of honour after their defeat, greeting spectators and thanking them for their support. This heartwarming World Cup story is sure to be followed by many more. Å Sarah Steiner
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A bigger world elite All 24 teams have now begun their Women’s World Cup campaigns, and this top-quality field seems to be refreshingly closely matched, writes Perikles Monioudis from Montreal.
Matthew Lewis-FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images (3), Adam Pretty-FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images (1)
Winnipeg, 8 June A young US fan waits for kick-off. The picture below shows the Australian team coming back onto the pitch after half-time. The USA went on to win the match 3-1.
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Passionate USA can always rely on vociferous support at the Women’s World Cup (top), but the same can be said of group rivals Nigeria: here, Francisca Ordega (r.) and Asisat Oshoala celebrate their side’s surprising 3-3 draw against Sweden (below).
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Commonwealth Stadium The arena stands empty on the eve of Canada’s 1-0 Opening Match win against China PR. A crowd of more than 53,000 attended the game in Edmonton.
Expanding the Women’s World Cup from 16 to 24 teams was the next logical step.
Eight-team expansion a success The deafening roar caused by fans at Edmonton’s sold-out Commonwealth Stadium a few days ago has not yet faded but has instead formed a wave that has swept across the country, over the prairies and the Rocky Mountains, all the way to the coast. With all 24 participating teams having completed their first group matches, the hopes and ambitions of every side have now 8
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been placed in context. It is a highly competitive and exciting picture, despite Germany’s thundering 10-0 victory over Women’s World Cup debutants Côte d’Ivoire in which Celia Sasic and 2007 world champion Anja Mittag each scored a hat-trick – an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact five goals was enough to win legendary Japanese attacking midfielder Homare Sawa the Golden Boot at the 2011 tournament. The long-discussed expansion of the Women’s World Cup from 16 to 24 teams was given the green light in time for this summer’s tournament and is the next logical development for the sport; after all, it has been some time since women’s football hit upon a formula capable of captivating a wide audience across the globe. Results such as the aforementioned 10-0 win for Germany do more than just highlight a gulf in class between the teams taking part. Such encounters are also the first opportunities World Cup debutants have to measure themselves against major sides like the two-time world champions in serious competition. They get to see where they stand and what progress they have already made. These matches also reinforce the importance of establishing a league in these countries to supply the national team. Without a high-quality domestic championship – one that can at least be professionally organised even if it cannot offer professional football – associations will only make painstakingly slow progress in the women’s game. “We can learn a lot from this match, particularly when it comes to formation,” said Thailand coach Nuengruethai Sathongwien in Ottawa. Reinvigorated 1995 world champions Norway defeated her counterattacking World Cup first-timers 4-0 – a scoreline that was not nearly as high as some had perhaps expected.
Maddie Meyer- FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Captain! My Captain!” cried Sophie Schmidt after Canada’s 1-0 opening win against a young, defensive Chinese side. The captain in the versatile midfielder’s mind was her skipper Christine Sinclair, who scored the winner shortly before the final whistle by sidefooting neatly into the bottom left corner. This dream penalty was exactly what FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 hosts Canada needed to start the tournament with a bang. After the game, Schmidt was named player of the match in the catacombs of the Commonwealth Stadium, and knew exactly who to thank for this achievement: the remarkable attacking force of Sinclair, who at 32 (she celebrates her birthday on the day this issue of The FIFA Weekly is published) is almost back to her previous best of four years ago. ’O Captain! My Captain’ was the title of the poem written by the great American poet Walt Whitman to mark the death of US President Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery in the United States. For Schmidt, Sinclair’s late strike at least significantly raised Canadian hopes of progressing from Group A into the last 16.
Getty Images (3), imago (3), AFP (2)
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Fast, athletic, intense The expansion of the Women’s World Cup from 16 to 24 teams is proving to be a wise move. The result is a top-quality field playing a refreshing brand of football. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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Not on the menu
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oth Emily Zurrer and Selenia Iacchelli were unused substitutes for Canada in their opening game at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. They sat on the bench just metres from the touchline underneath the Plexiglas cover behind coach John Herdman for the majority of the match at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, which was packed to capacity with 53,000 enthusiastic spectators. It was a situation far removed from selling frozen organic yoghurt and Belgian waffles out of a converted delivery truck in and around Vancouver, which they do when they are not otherwise engaged at a World Cup. That sense was heightened when captain Christine Sinclair scored the winning goal and sprinted wildly towards the bench, where she celebrated in a group hug with the backroom staff and her team-mates - all of whom, incidentally, have to forgo the sweet delights Zurrer and Iacchelli produce.
Canada internationals Selenia Iacchelli and Emily Zurrer.
“Sweet Monkey” is the favourite among Zurrer and Iacchelli’s customers. Quality ingredients The duo’s light blue truck is called “Sweet Ride”, and has the name painted in white letters on the side. They pay great attention to detail and use only the finest locally sourced ingredients. The two have been friends for many years and have run the business since 2012, albeit with occasional interruptions due to their footballing commitments. They take their truck to open air concerts and children’s events, and document friends’ visits on social networks from time to time. Zurrer, a 27-year-old Vancouver native, has so far earned 82 international caps for Canada. The defender has played for teams in Germany and Sweden, where she was captain at Jitex BK last season, and she also won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In contrast, Iacchelli’s career has been plagued by bad luck. The 29-year-old playmaker broke her leg at the age of 12 and later twice broke bones in her foot before fracturing her arm last year at an indoor game in Edmonton. She made her international debut aged 27 at the end of 2013, the culmination of a long, arduous journey to the top. Yet the injuries were merely setbacks and did not throw her off course. “I’m still here,” she said in the run-up to the World Cup on home soil. Abstinence required Iacchelli’s sister, who co-owns the food truck, is taking care of the business while the other two prepare for Canada’s next group game. The favourite among the ‘Sweet Ride FroYo n’ Waffles’ customers is the ‘Sweet Monkey’,
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Sweet Ride Iacchelli (l.) and Zurrer run a food truck selling sweet desserts.
which consists of a freshly made Belgian waffle with hazelnut spread, peanut butter, banana and a generous portion of frozen yoghurt. Other bestsellers include the ‘West Coast Bowl’, with forest fruits and coconut, and ‘Lemon Ride’.
Cesar Meylan, a Swiss sports scientist with Canadian national team, would no doubt urge Zurrer and Iacchelli to avoid consuming their own products, although the two elite athletes are clearly aware of that themselves. Perikles Monioudis, Montreal
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Getty Images (2), imago
Sharp-shooting stars USA’s double scorer Megan Rapinoe (top), Brazil’s Marta (below left) and Norway defender Trine Ronning (below right).
Giving the national team their all Seven of the 23 members of hosts Canada’s squad play solely for the national team and do not have a club – including Sophie Schmidt. The association offers these players the opportunity to train for their country and take part in competitions, making them less dependent on the international dates set by FIFA as they do not have to be specifically released by their clubs. On the other hand, setting up a professional league in Canada is difficult to contemplate given this setup. The overwhelming majority of the rest of the squad play for teams in the USA. Despite enjoying professional status there, they continue to be supported by the Canadian Soccer Association as footballers cannot earn enough to live on without an additional source of income. The lowest income in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is $6,842 per year, while the highest is $37,800; according to one Canadian newspaper, national footballing idol Christine Sinclair earns $30,000 annually. The NWSL places a salary cap of $265,000 on every club. In addition to a maximum of 16 Canadians, some 23 Americans and 16
Mexicans also receive financial support from their respective associations. These internationals are divided as equally as possible between the NWSL’s clubs in what is known as “player allocation”. The benefits of this competitive environment are made clear by Mexico, who are making their third appearance at a Women’s World Cup this summer. Coach Leonardo Cuellar’s side played out a close-fought 1-1 draw against Las Cafeteras of Colombia, while title contenders France – who finished fourth at the last finals – beat England 1-0 in the other game in Group F. The excitement of the high-scoring victories and defeats seen elsewhere in the first round of matches paled in comparison to such dramatic, high-quality encounters as Sweden versus Nigeria, which ended 3-3 in Winnipeg. The nine-time and reigning African champions have travelled to North America intent on being crowned world champions, an achievement that would be a first for their country and continent alike. Last year their U-20 side narrowly lost the World Cup final to Germany after extra time. Nigeria’s first priority in the first game in Group D was simply to score goals after Lotta Schelin’s Sweden took a 2-0 lead within half an T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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Making successful debuts Current world champions Japan and Homare Sawa – making her 200th international appearance in her sixth Women’s World Cup finals – justified their role as favourites against competition newcomers Switzerland despite failing to shine. The Nadeshiko won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from captain Aya Miyama, with the Swiss pushing the title holders all the way with their attacking passing play, driven on by the remarkable talent of Ramona Bachmann. After the first round of matches, Switzerland and versatile fellow debutantes the Netherlands – who beat New Zealand 1-0 – offered further proof that the decision to expand the Women’s World Cup to 24 teams was the right one. This view was further reinforced by Costa Rica, whose tactical discipline and defiance secured them a 1-1 draw against Spain in the battle of the Spanish-speaking debutants in Group E at a packed venue in Montreal. Only Ecuador and Côte d’Ivoire suffered disappointment in their first appearances on the game’s largest international stage. In Group E Brazil – with the incomparable Marta as captain and 37-year-old Formiga in midfield – began their quest for a first Women’s World Cup title against Korea Republic, returning to the finals for the first time in 12 years. A Canarinha defeated the Taegeuk Nangja 2-0 thanks to some quick thinking and a cool finish from Formiga in the 33rd minute, followed by Marta’s 53rd-minute spot-kick.
Group A
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Group B
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Group C
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Canada 3
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Germany
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Cameroon 3
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Netherlands 3
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Norway 3
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Japan
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China PR
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Thailand 0
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Switzerland 0
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New Zealand
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Ecuador 0
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Group E
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Group F
Group D
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USA 3
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Brazil 3
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France 3
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Nigeria 1
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Costa Rica
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Colombia 1
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Sweden 1
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Spain 1
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Mexico 1
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Australia 0
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Korea Republic 0
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England 0 11 June 2015
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Undiscovered no more
Rachel Rinast The Switzerland defender sang with rapper Danga in 2014.
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ife may be moving at a much quicker pace than Rachel Rinast is used to at present, but that is not to say she is suffering. Quite the opposite, in fact. Rinast, a gifted left-footed defender in the Swiss national team, plays her club football for Cologne and is famed for her long throw-ins. The 24-year-old recently helped the Rhineland side earn promotion to the Bundesliga, an achievement that was cause for great celebrations in a city that seems to be in party mode most of the year anyway thanks to its Carnival and other events. Rinast celebrated a personal triumph in spring this year too. She was called up to the Switzerland side for the first time ever by head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and made her debut at the Algarve Cup. Swift to adapt Given that Switzerland had never previously qualified for a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ prior to Canada 2015, and that accomplished defenders are in short supply, her nomination begged the question as to why she was only included shortly before her 24th birthday. The answer is that nobody in Switzerland knew Rinast was eligible to don the country’s red jersey. Born and raised in northern Germany, she has dual German and Swiss citizenship. That only came to light during a conversation with her advisor a few months ago, when Rinast mentioned in passing that her mother came from St. Gallen. Her advisor immediately got in touch with Voss-Tecklenburg, and Rinast has since become a mainstay in the national team, playing the full 90 minutes in Switzerland’s 1-0 defeat to Japan in their opening game at Canada 2015. Multitalented musician “In Switzerland we don’t have the same sort of depth other countries like Germany or the USA have,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. “Rachel is extremely athletic and her performance data is excellent. It’s great that she’s Swiss.” Football aside, the German literature student has another great passion in life: music. She plays the violin and featured as a singer in a music video by Cologne rapper Danga last year. sca
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hour. The Super Falcons struck back with a double blow as Ngozi Okobi and Asisat Oshoala levelled the scores shortly after half-time with a combination of quick direct play, no-frills switching of possession and confident finishing. With her impressive ball control and pace, Liverpool striker Oshoala proved that she is a complete player at the age of just 20. Nigeria rounded off a gutsy performance by equalising at 3-3 just before the final whistle through 21-year-old Francisca Ordega, who plays for Washington Spirit in the NWSL. Cameroon also dealt two quick blows in their first-ever Women’s World Cup match against Ecuador thanks to goals from Madeleine Ngono Mani and Gaelle Enganamouit in the 34th and 36th minutes. The African side led 3-0 at half-time after Christine Manie coolly converted a penalty. Ecuador captain Ligia Moreira was dismissed for a professional foul in the 66th minute, and the Indomitable Lionesses scored another three times in the second half to post a 6-0 victory that does not do justice to the efforts of their South American opponents. 22-year-old Ajara Nchout of NWSL club Western New York Flash replaced goalscorer Ngono Mani but was unable to add to her team’s tally.
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Getty Images (2), imago
Unforgettable moments Australia’s Alanna Kennedy (top) takes a selfie with American fans. Below, supporters from Nigeria (left), Japan and Switzerland (right) pose for the cameras.
Marta has time on her side “Having 24 teams in the tournament is a good thing,” the five-time FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year said after the match, wearing a blue sweatshirt bearing a bright yellow number 10, hair still damp from the shower and carrying a rucksack full of kit. “The differences in performance have got smaller,” she continued. “There’s no comparison with ten years ago.” Marta was in no hurry to leave. Standing in the extensive network of tunnels underneath Montreal’s Olympic Stadium she smiled, pleased that her team were off to a good start. Her eyes betrayed only the slightest hint of post-match tiredness. “The teams are attracting attention for women’s football at home, and that’s a good thing.” Although it was almost time for the Brazil bus to leave, she seemed happy to linger a little longer. “Marta, whose poems do you most enjoy reading?” The 29-yearold laughed engagingly. “Poetry?” She paused. “I’m mostly inspired by music; the singer-songwriter Djavan or Victor e Leo and their gui-
tars.” Taking a pen and a folded-up team sheet, she wrote down their names. “And when you need to make some noise, Ivete Sangalo.” With that, the Women’s World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer clenched her fists, mimed a small drum solo in the air and grinned. Four years ago the Brazilians reached the quarter-finals without dropping a point or conceding a goal, only to be eliminated from the competition at the hands of the USA. With their sights set on a third Women’s World Cup title after 1991 and 1999, the Stars and Stripes were held at 1-1 for an hour of their opening match this summer until Christen Press struck in the 61st minute to make it 2-1. Formidable playmaker Megan Rapinoe scored USA’s other two goals in the 12th and 78th minutes respectively. Walt Whitman’s masterpieces ’Leaves of Grass’ was published in 1855. Although it comprises hundreds of poems, it begins with the line: “I celebrate myself”. It is a concept that extroverted Canadian Sophie Schmidt would endorse without hesitation, and one shared by each and every player at this wonderful tournament. Å T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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Swaziland: MTN Premier League
Leopa rd s strol l t h e t it l e Emanuele Giulianelli is a freelance football correspondent based in Milan.
The Royal Leopards secured their fifth championship title to mark their 40th season in the Swazi Premier League, Swaziland’s top flight. The police team have won all of their league trophies since the 2005/06 campaign and even defended their crown this year. Their success is proof of the steady dismantling of the Swazi Premier League’s former hierarchy, traditionally dominated by teams from Manzini and the capital Mbabane.
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All of the Royal Leopards’ players are policemen and are coached by 29-year-old Sifiso Ntibane, who has used his blend of experience and charisma to lead his team to a remarkable result at continental level. The Simunye-based side almost qualified for the prestigious CAF Confederation Cup play-off round after eliminating South A frica’s Bidvest Wist on penalties in the preliminary round and Petro de Luanda from Angola in the first round. Swaziland’s representatives even won the first leg of the 16-team second round against AS Vita Club 1-0 but lost the return leg 4-1 in Kinshasa at the stadium that hosted the historic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Despite this disappointment, the police team can take solace from having pushed last year’s CAF Champions League finalists to the brink. Meanwhile, Ntibane’s squad secured
the league title on 22 April after soundly beating closest rivals Mbabane Swallows 4-0, and held an 11-point lead over second place by the end of the season. The national team of this small kingdom between South Africa and Mozambique is also flying high at present. After suffering a 3-1 loss to their historic rivals Bafana Bafana, Swaziland recorded three notable results in a row, winning away to both Tanzania and Lesotho before securing a draw in Madagascar. The Sihlangu Semnikati or ‘King’s Shield’ are currently 162nd in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. With an all-time best ranking of 99th back in 1999 and a low of 186th two years ago, Swaziland have the potential to keep climbing the table. Å
CAF Confederation Cup Royal Leopards’ Sizwe Khumalo (l) takes on Deo Kanda of AS Vita Club from Congo DR. 14
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Ntokozo Magongo
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At the Amadou Barry stadium AS Pikine’s Yahya Fall (r.) tries to dribble his way through the FC Guediawaye defence.
Senegal: Championnat National
T i g ht t u s s l e g u a r a nte e d Mark Gleeson is a Cape Townbased journalist and football commentator.
SENESPORT.INFO
With four matches left of the Ligue 1 season in Senegal, a tight tussle for the title is guaranteed with more than half of the clubs in the top flight still in the running. The list, however, does not include last year’s champions AS Pikine, who face relegation after a catastrophic campaign in which they have won just three times since their heroics of last season. Instead Pikine have lost almost half their matches, their latest setback coming at home to Niarry Tally, who are one of the clubs best placed to become their successors. Niarry Tally, even though they are nicknamed ‘Les Galactiques’, have never won the Ligue 1 title but are now on 35 points after a topsy-turvy
season in which all the top contenders have battled to show any consistency or put together a run of successes.
taken a stoic line of trying to temper the excitement by refusing to talk about the prospect of a first-ever championship.
The club from Dakar, whose best ever finish was runner-up in 2010, are just one point behind a trio who share top place – five-time champions AS Douanes, the 2013 league winners Diambars de Saly and Stade Mbour, the provincial club looking for a first piece of silverware. Three points off the leaders are AS Ouakam, who were Senegalese champions four years ago, and ASC Suneor, who used to be known as Sonacos and are also past champions. Just five points behind top place are Casa Sports, champions in 2012, and six points off the pace are Linguere from the coast town of Saint-Louis.
Diambars have two players – Elimane Cisse and Alhassane Sylla – at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand where Senegal won through to the knockout stage. Essentially an academy, Diambars was set up 15 years ago by former French internationals Patrick Vieria and Bernard Lama, and has gone on to win a place in the top flight and find league success, along with rolling out a steady supply line of exciting talent. Å
Douanes and Diambars must still meet each other while the advantage seemingly lies with Stade Mbour, who play three of their remaining matches at home. Mbour is in a state of massive anticipation. The town is on the coast, about 80km south of the capital Dakar and never had any major footballing success before. Stade’s coach Ousseynou Sene has T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LE AGUE
Saving the best for last A 3-1 victory over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League final capped a perfect season for Barcelona. Here are the key facts and figures from the contest at a
Source: uefa.com | Emilio Morenatti / AP Photo
1st
team to win the treble twice
361
goals
4
finals won in a row
Barcelona are the first side to win the treble of domestic league, main domestic cup, and UEFA Champions League on two separate occasions (2009, 2015). Manchester United (1999), Inter Milan (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013) have all achieved that feat just once.
The four goals scored in Berlin lifted the overall total for the 2014/15 Champions League campaign to 361 – just one goal less than the previous season. An average of 2.89 goals were scored in every game, the third highest tally in the 23-year history of Europe’s premier club competition.
The victory was Barca’s fourth Champions League final win in succession (2006 vs. Arsenal, 2009 and 2011 vs. Man United, and 2015 vs. Juventus). By contrast, Juve have now lost four finals on the trot (1997 vs. Borussia Dortmund, 1998 vs Real Madrid, 2003 vs. AC Milan and 2015 vs. Barca).
151
3
95,000
appearances
Xavi, Barcelona’s midfield magician, appeared in his 151st Champions League match against Juventus, making him the competition’s record appearance holder ahead of Iker Casillas (150 appearances for Real Madrid) and Raul (130 for Real Madrid, 12 for Schalke).
minutes, 22 seconds
Ivan Rakitic’s opening goal for Barcelona was the third quickest strike in Champions League final history. Only Paolo Maldini’s first-minute goal against Liverpool in 2005 and Gaizka Mendieta’s third-minute penalty against Bayern in 2001 were faster.
fans
2,000 guests were present as Barcelona celebrated their success in the departure lounge of the former Tempelhof Airport. They returned to Barcelona the following day, where they took part in a parade through the city all the way to the Nou Camp. 95,000 fans were there to greet them. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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Name Ivan Rodrigo Piris Leguizamon Date and place of birth 10 March 1989, Itaugua, Paraguay Position Defender 2008–2011 Cerro Porteno 2011–2014 Deportivo Maldonado 2011–2012 Sao Paulo (loan) 2012–2013 Roma (loan) 2013–2014 Sporting Lisbon (loan) since 2014 Udinese Paraguay national team 17 caps
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Fabrizio Giraldi / LUZ / fotogloria
Clubs played for
THE INTERVIEW
“Football helps to forget problems” The Copa America takes place in Chile from 11 June until 4 July and could prove to be a turning point for Paraguay. Defender Ivan Piris discusses the team’s new identity and players to watch for the future.
Ivan Piris, could Paraguay really achieve something at the Copa America? Ivan Piris: I can’t really answer that question. We’re currently moving into a new generation with plenty of new players and a coach who has so far only completed two friendlies with us. We certainly don’t lack the will to perform well, so we hope that’ll be enough to get us a good result.
For the past 20 years Paraguay have been fluctuating between good results, including two Rounds of 16 and a quarter-final at the FIFA World Cup, and immense disappointment such as that experienced in the last three years. How do you explain this rollercoaster ride? When I made my debut at the Copa America in 2011, the group of players who had made Paraguay great were coming to the end of their era of success. No-one has been able to replicate that since. Having said that, we mustn’t forget that we’re a country with a population of less than seven million and only a few professional clubs.
What are your memories of the Copa America 2011 and Paraguay’s second-place finish? I was personally torn between the joy of playing for the national team and the frustration of knowing I wasn’t back at my best after an operation. When you get to a final you want to win no matter what, so naturally you’re initially overcome by disappointment if that doesn’t happen. But as soon as you return to your homeland, the pride of what you’ve achieved takes over.
What was your welcome back to Asuncion like that year?
We were greeted like heroes. That made it clear to us that we’d made the whole country proud and that football can act as a kind of social release in difficult times, offering people an opportunity to forget their problems. An unforgettable homecoming had also been organised for me in my hometown of Itaugua near Asuncion.
How difficult will it be to progress from a group containing Argentina, Uruguay and Jamaica this year in Chile? Although we know that we can even qualify for the knockout stages as the t hird-placed side, we’re not underestimating anyone. We obviously know Argentina and Uruguay’s strengths, but luckily Luis Suarez will be missing for La Celeste because of a ban. He scored against us in the final four years ago.
What kind of team are Paraguay in 2015?
I’m much obliged to Tata Martino, Gerardo Pelusso and Victor Genes and now I’m hoping to get on well with Diaz. I’m aware of how his playing and coaching careers have progressed and got a good impression of him from the two friendlies Paraguay have played in 2015.
Who will win the Copa America title and which new South American players will the world discover? As well as Argentina and Brazil I wouldn’t underestimate the Chileans; after all, they’ve got home advantage. We’ll try to be the surprise package at this tournament and perhaps do even better than that, as we did at the last Copa America. When it comes to players, you should make a note of my teammate Derlis Gonzalez, who performed well for Swiss side Basel and in the Champions League this season. Å Ivan Piris was speaking to Franco Nicolussi
We’re searching for a new identity with a new coach [Argentinian Ramon Diaz – editor’s note] and young players. We’re very strong in attack thanks to players like Roque Santa Cruz and Lucas Barrios, and then we’ve got footballers with plenty of potential like Raul Bobadilla, Derlis Gonzalez and Haedo Valdez. Above all we’ve just got to give it our all and demonstrate our special fighting spirit – the proverbial raza guaraní. We always play with great determination.
Ramon Diaz could be considered an unknown quantity, as this is his first stint as a national team coach… Paraguay have had many coaches during my four years as an international so far and I’ve learned something from each of them. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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First Love P l a c e : S a n a ’ a , Ye m e n Date: 21 November 2012 Time: 5.09 p.m. Photog rapher: Muhammed Muheisen
AP / Keystone 20
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FOOTBALL FOR HOPE
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PRESIDENTIAL NOTE
Take your seat in the Global Stadium FIFA’s digital platforms allow football fans across the globe to experience the FIFA Women’s World Cup at close quarters.
The future of football
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On the go The Women’s World Cup action can also be followed on smartphones.
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IFA has thrown open the doors of its Global Stadium for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, with fans worldwide invited to share their excitement and engage with friends, players, fellow fans and FIFA while following all the footballing action. FIFA.com editors will be at each of the six venues across Canada for all 52 matches, reporting in five languages. Fans are asked to select their tournament ‘Dream Team’, and have an exclusive chance to win a genuine match ball from a number of games. From the Round of 16, in another FIFA first, the ‘FIFA Live Your Goals Player of the Match’ will answer a fan’s question at the post-game press conference, posted via social media. There will also be a unique, ‘money can’t buy’ opportunity for the Final in Vancouver on 5 July, with further details to follow soon. Whether on FIFA.com, the FIFA app, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, FIFA will aim once again to share our unrivalled access to the tournament with the world, as new names become global stars or established stars sign off with a final flourish. A new microsite on FIFA.com will direct any girl or woman inspired by the tournament towards how they can get involved, supporting the FIFA Live Your Goals campaign. A social hub will curate messages of inspiration from across social media, from fans, players and coaches. During the tournament, FIFA will be using the global hashtags: #FIFAWWC and #LiveYourGoals. We also want fans to share how they are watching and enjoying the tournament, using the dedicated hashtag #myFIFAWWC. Å tfw
IFA is currently going through a difficult period. The fact that our organisation continues to function smoothly and provides football with a firm foundation at this time of crisis makes me all the prouder. The game never stands still; it moves forward. At the moment the best young players on the planet are in New Zealand at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. There, 24 participating teams from every continent u nderline just how broad the base of our sport has become and h ighlight the powerful impact of our development programmes. The calibre of the tournament can be seen from the list of former participants: exceptional players such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Michael Owen, Adriano, Sergio Aguero, James Rodriguez and Paul Pogba all left their mark on the competition. It is difficult to say which players from the current crop will make it to the very top one day, although many have already shown great promise. For instance, Ghana’s Yaw Yeboa, who was voted best player at the U-20 African Championship and has a contract with Manchester City; Austria’s Martin Rasner, who made his debut in his country’s second division two years ago; Colombia’s Jeison Lucumi, considered one of the brightest prospects in South America, and Ukraine’s Viktor Kovalenko, who scored five times in the group stage to top the scoring chart. The list of talented youngsters goes on and on. The African nations in particular have caused a stir in New Zealand, with all four teams (Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Senegal) reaching the Round of 16. Germany have travelled down under with six Bundesliga players in their ranks, and in Werder Bremen midfielder Levin Oztunali, the four-time world champions have a player who indirectly represents their glorious past: he is the grandson of Germany legend Uwe Seeler. Alongside the big names, newcomers have also shown positive signs. Despite being knocked out in the group stage, Myanmar demonstrated that there is great potential in the multi-ethnic southeast Asian country. Qatar caused a sensation with their triumph at the Asian U-19 Championship in 2014, while Panama cemented their reputation as a growing force in Central America. The U-20 World Cup represents the future of football and is the place where the stars of tomorrow can be seen. Dear readers, it would be well worth taking a look at the action in New Zealand over the next few days.
Best wishes, Sepp Blatter T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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JOEY SAPUTO
Long-term project Joey Sabuto was born in Canada but recently moved to Italy, from where his father emigrated to Montreal in the 1950s.
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BACK TO HIS ROOTS Joey Saputo, owner of the Montreal Impact, recently took over Italian club Bologna. Setting foot in the land of his forebears triggered powerful emotions, writes Franco Nicolussi.
Piero Martinello / fotogloria
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hen Joey Saputo took over Bologna last December, the founder of the Montreal Impact will doubtless have thought of his father, who emigrated from Italy to Canada in the aftermath of World War II. The Italian club’s acquisition meant a trip down memory lane for the Saputo family and in particular for Joey’s father Emanuele, or “Lino” as he is known, who followed his own father from an impoverished post-war Italy to Quebec in 1952, at the age of just 15. Lino’s life since then could have been lifted straight from the script of a Hollywood blockbuster. In an exclusive interview with “The FIFA Weekly” at Bologna’s training complex in Casteldebole, Joey, who celebrated his 50th birthday last September, relates the family history. “My grandfather’s dairy processing company was destroyed during the war. He initially wanted to emigrate to New York, but the USA had closed its borders and he eventually ended up in Montreal, where he stayed for the rest of his life. My mother is also an Italian expat. She’s originally from Treviso and emi-
JOEY SAPUTO
grated to North America with her family at the end of the 1950s. My parents met each other through their English teacher. Back then it was common practice for the Italians to meet regularly on Sundays, and my grandmothers already knew one another in any case.” Joey is the eldest of Lino’s children and has two siblings, a brother and a sister. An instant hit with Italian cheese The Saputo family endured a difficult start to life in Canada. Cheese-making was an extremely lucrative industry on Sicily before the war, but Joey’s grandfather was initially forced to take up bricklaying in Montreal in order to feed his eight children. In 1954, Joey’s father Lino convinced his dad to return to the profession he had pursued in Italy. He did so with almost immediate success – and not just among the numerous Italians living in Montreal. Dairy products such as cheese and mozzarella were exported to the USA and Argentina, and Lino rose to become one of Canada’s richest entrepreneurs.
HO, Mario Carlini / Iguana Press / Getty Images
In no time at all, B ologna were t ransformed into a competitive side that achieved promotion back to Serie A. The Saputo family differed from many other Italian emigrants in one crucial respect: sport in general, and football in particular, had never played a central role in their lives. Like most Canadians, Joey loved ice hockey and is a lifelong supporter of the Montreal Canadiens, but he knew next to nothing about football. That would all change at the beginning of the 1980s, when Saputo Inc. started to sponsor the Montreal Manic, then competing in the newly-founded NASL (North American Soccer League). Joey, who was 18 at the time, was responsible for establishing relations between club and company and quickly developed a passion for a sport that was barely known in North America. Just ten years later, however, the Montreal Manic were disbanded and Joey was called upon by the League to help promote football
Widely travelled Three generations of the Saputo family.
Stade Saputo The Montreal Impact’s home games are well attended.
Keen observers Bologna’s general manager Claudio Fenucci (l.) and club owner Joey Saputo. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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JOEY SAPUTO
in Quebec. “I was able to convince my father at a difficult family meeting that, given our terrific experience as sponsors, it was now time to take matters a step further,” he says. “In 1993, I founded the Montreal Impact. The name Impact was chosen because it is spelt the same way in English and in French and also has the same meaning. That way, we were able to sell ourselves to both major language groups.” The first 15 years of the Saputo family’s management of the club were something of a rollercoaster ride. In 1998, Saputo Inc. was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, making the company’s simultaneous ownership of the Impact impossible. A few years later, Joey eventually resumed control of the club as a private citizen and, as its only remaining sponsor, relaunched it as a non-profit organisation. The turning point came in 2008, when Joey left the family business after 20 years in order to fully devote his attention exclusively to the Impact. Reaching for the stars The first step was to build a new stadium in Montreal’s Olympic Park. The 20,801-capacity “Stade Saputo” staged its inaugural game on 19 May 2008 – a goalless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps. It wasn’t long before the Impact clinched their first major piece of silverware by winning the Canadian Championship. Four years later, Joey managed to secure a franchise for the MLS (Major League Soccer),
ern Conference three seasons ago, the Impact haven’t quite hit the heights of their performances in the Canadian Championship, which they won again in 2013 and 2014. They even reached the final of the CONCACAF Champions League at the end of April, only to be beaten by Mexican outfit Club America. Long-term objectives at Bologna “Sporting achievements are obviously important, but I want to stress that we’ve had an academy with a youth department for eight to 21-year-olds since 2010 and that our stadium is always full – something I’m particularly proud of, as it shows that the people of Quebec relate to the club,” explains Joey. “We’re also determined to unearth and develop future Canadian internationals. The last 22 years have been an incredible experience. The Impact means everything to me.” Joey and his wife Carmie have four sons aged between nine and 19 (Luca, Simone, Joey Jr. and Jesse) who, along with their cousins, have been tasked with continuing the renowned family’s legacy. As it happens, it was Joey’s father Lino who at the end of last year persuaded him to return to the country where it all began. Saputo had already established contacts with a number of Italian clubs, hoping to forge partnerships with a view to transferring young Canadian hopefuls to Italy in order to gain experience. He was taken by surprise, however, when Andrew Nestor, owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, invited him to
New York in August 2014 to discuss a business proposal. “I had no intention of taking over an Italian club, but when Nestor told me about Bologna I was hooked straight away,” he says. “The history of the club and the fact that they’ve won seven championships, even though the last one came in the year I was born, the strategic location and good size of the city, as well as the arguments put forward by Di Vaio, who played there for four years, convinced me to purchase a minority stake of 20 per cent. I know Italian football is currently in crisis, but I’m convinced that it will recover and I want to be there when it returns to the pinnacle of the European and global game. If we utilise the stadium better and improve marketing and sponsoring, we can be just as successful here as we were with the Impact.” “Business is business” By October, Bologna had already expressed its great appreciation at having someone like Saputo on the club’s board, and so everyone was all the more delighted when Joey took full control of the club when several investors suddenly opted to sell their stakes. In no time at all, a team that had been threatened by bankruptcy was transformed into a competitive side that achieved promotion back to Serie A via the play-offs on 9 June. “It’s something I would only have been able to do in Italy,” grins Joey. “I immediately thought of my father and how he left Sicily to
“My grandfather i nitially wanted to emigrate to New York, but the USA had closed its borders.” the highest professional division in Canadian and US football. The club went on to sign two players from Italy’s Serie A, AC Milan’s Alessandro Nesta and Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio, with whom Joey quickly established a relationship that has lasted to this day. Since joining the MLS East26
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In safe hands Joey Saputo (l.) and president Joe Tacopina.
Gianfilippo Oggioni / AP Photo
Joey Saputo
JOEY SAPUTO
Name Joseph “Joey” Saputo Date and place of birth 25 September 1964, Montreal (Canada) Clubs owned The Montreal Impact, Canada Bologna, Italy
Piero Martinello / fotogloria
Success! Saputo helped guide Bologna back into the top flight after just one season in Serie B.
emigrate to Canada. Business is business, but in this instance I’m also pouring my heart and soul into this Italian adventure. The wonderful reception we received from the people of Bologna convinced me that it was the right decision and that we must make every effort to live up to everyone’s expectations. Now that we've been promoted, the priority is to build a competitive team which will enable Bologna to replicate the famous achievements of yesteryear.” Saputo is among a mere handful of people to own two football clubs on different continents. He commutes between the two cities on a regular basis in order to attend matches and in recent months has appointed big names such as Claudio Fenucci (formerly of AS Roma) and Pantaleo Corvino (who spent years at AC Fiorentina) to Bologna’s executive board. He has also named Di Vaio as ‘club manager’ of the Italian outfit. Proud parents return home Unsurprisingly, Joey’s return to Italy has met with approval from his family. “I’m delighted
to witness my family’s increased sense of belonging to Italy,” he says. “My parents came to the reception at the stadium in February and were very proud. My children are happy and are already demanding new signings.” Saputo laughs, before adding: “Luckily they aren’t expecting me to buy Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.” Å
The Fath brothers’ ambitious plans In Edmonton, host city for the Opening Match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, brothers Tom and Dave Fath have ambitious plans for their club. FC Edmonton currently play in the North American Soccer League (NASL) against teams such as New York Cosmos and Fort Lauderdale Strikers and play derbies against Ottawa Fury from the Canadian capital. In early 2010 the Faths hired experienced coaches to tempt players from across the country and further afield in South America and Europe. FC Edmonton made their NASL debut in April 2011, posting a 2-1 win over the Strikers and going on to reach the play-offs. Despite this bright start, the Eddies ended the next campaign at the foot of the table. The 61-time Canadian international Colin Miller subsequently took over as coach and has so far steered his team to lower mid-table during the current season. mpe
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SPOTLIGHT ON
GENER AL INFORMATION Country: China PR FIFA Trigramme: CHN Continent: Asia Capital: Beijing
GEOGR APHIC INFORMATION
Keeping it concise Perikles Monioudis
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t has long been common practice in the build-up to important matches for head coaches to give a press conference the day before the encounter. After answering the media’s questions, the coach normally proceeds to lead his side’s final training session, which the press are allowed to watch for 15 minutes. Ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ final against Argentina, Germany tactician Joachim Low and Bastian Schweinsteiger appeared before journalists in the depths of the Maracana stadium. From there, they went to the team’s final training session in the iconic, charming Vasco Da Gama stadium, where the media were given a quarter of an hour to watch. They witnessed Low, as if by way of entertainment, fire off a couple of long-range volleys into an empty goal. At the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ currently being played in Canada, China coach Hao Wei likewise observes the pre-match ritual of press conference and final training session, as do his coaching colleagues from other nations. The difference is that Hao Wei is extremely concise. He is not taciturn; he is merely there to give information, and does so in short sentences before waiting for the next question, which he also answers succinctly. One journalist inquired whether he intended to set his team up to play on the counter-attack. The friendly but poker-faced 38-year-old replied briefly, giving his translator one of the easier tasks of her career: “A
modern team must be able to master more than one playing style.” On to the next question: “To what extent does playing in front of a capacity crowd affect you?” “Everyone wants to win,” comes the reply. “The players play better in front of a large crowd.” And so it continues: “You have tough opponents in your group. Will you reach the next round?” “We’re confident and we have the quality to get there.” “What do you make of the fact that two opposition players in particular are fit again?” “I’m not interested in who will play for the opposition because we are ready.” Wei, ever polite, finishes, stands up and heads toward the artificial pitch in the stadium next door. It is a rare sight to see a full squad of 23 players warming up and being put through their paces, before they split into two groups and play keep-ball in a confined space. Wei watches on with his arms folded. At this point he does not have much to say. Å
Surface area: 9,571,302 km² Highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m Neighbouring seas and oceans: Pacific Ocean
MEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 79th World Cup: 1 Appearance 2002 Best performance: Group stage
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 16th World Cup: 6 Appearances 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 Best performance: Runners-up, 1999
L ATES T RESULTS Men’s: China PR - Tunisia 1:1 31 March 2015 Women’s: China PR - Canada - 0:1 6 June 2015
FIFA INVES TMENTS The weekly column by our staff writers
Since 2002: $ 3,777,500 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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U -20 WORLD CUP
Euphoria, elegance and tears
Home match New Zealand ahead of their 5-1 win over Myanmar.
Battling it out Germany’s Marc Stendera (l) takes on Kevin Lopez of Honduras.
While Brazil shine with their free-flowing football at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Fiji’s young side have been eliminated – but are still being celebrated in their small South Pacific homeland.
Fiji record first-ever win The Brazilians are enjoying their stay in New Zealand so far, radiating enthusiasm whenever they step onto the pitch. Jean Carlos’s substitute appearance was particularly symbolic not only because his carefree 30
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FIFA U-20 World Cup 30 May – 20 June 2015 KNOCKOUT S TAGE Quarter-finals Match 45 Match 46 Match 47 Match 48
· 14. June Brazil Mali USA Uzbekistan
Portugal Germany Serbia Senegal
Semi-finals · 17. June Match 49 Winner of Match 45 Match 50 Winner of Match 47
Winner of Match 48 Winner of Match 46
3rd Place Play-off · 20. June Match 51 Loser of Match 49
Loser of Match 50
Finale · 20. June Match 52 Winner of Match 49
Winner of Match 50
Tom Dulat / FIFA via Getty Images
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t was the match against Korea DPR on 7 June and Brazil, leading title contenders for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, had been toiling in vain for some time. Then on came Jean Carlos to net his team’s decisive second goal and turn the game around. “My job was to score,” he said afterwards. Brazil’s star striker was full of determination after being forced to watch from the bench as his team-mates were frustrated by Korea DPR’s deep and tightly packed defence for the first 45 minutes. Jean Carlos is under contract with Real Madrid, although he has only featured for the club’s U-19 side so far. Knowing that this promising youngster has played futsal since childhood, coach Rogerio Micale knew exactly how best to motivate his substitute. “He said to me that we should play as if it were futsal,” the 19-year-old told reporters after Brazil’s 3-0 win, “and whenever there’s the space to shoot, I should do it. So that’s what I did. I love futsal, you know,” he added, beaming.
U -20 WORLD CUP
“It’s the realisation of an amazing dream. We’re so incredibly proud.” Fiji goalkeeper Misiwane Nairube
Brazilian style “A Seleção” beat Korea DPR 3-0.
playing style was successful but also because it provided entertainment. “For me football is an attacking game,” Rogerio Micale explained. “I love technically adept play and offensive moves made up of many short passes, and I’ve been trying to pass that on to my players ever since I became coach,” said the 46-year-old, who only took charge of A Seleção a few weeks before the start of the tournament. Meanwhile, although South Pacific island nation Fiji have been eliminated from the competition, they left their mark on the group stage. Coach Frank Farina’s charges defeated Honduras 3-0 to celebrate their homeland’s first-ever win at a FIFA tournament, a result that momentarily prompted the team to dream of a last-16 berth. Who could have imagined that before Group F got underway in New Zealand? One glance into the changing room at Christchurch Stadium after that fateful clash was sufficient to understand the magnitude of the diminutive nation’s performance. Seemingly unable to believe what they had just accomplished, the Fijians huddled around their captain, Jale Dreloa, crying tears of joy, singing and dancing. The young debutants were probably not yet aware that they had finally played their way into the hearts of the world’s football fans – and deservedly so given their courageous and confident performance. Argentina heading home early The result was another giant leap in Fiji’s progress after their previous significant achievement of scoring a consolation goal in their 8-1 thrashing by Germany. “We’re so incredibly proud of this win – it’s the realisation of an amazing dream,” exclaimed a visibly emotional Misiwane Nairube. “We didn’t really expect it. Tonight we left the pitch as winners, having given great pleasure to all the people watching us back home.”
Selfie Germany midfielder Julian Brandt poses with some young fans.
You t h f oo t b all in Oc e ania T h e F I FA U -20 Wo r l d C u p m a y b e i n f u l l s w i n g , b u t t o u r n a m e n t h o s t s N e w Z e a l a n d a l s o s t a g e d a F I FA y o u t h c o a c h i n g w o r k s h o p i n A u c k l a n d t o f o c u s o n t h e f u t u r e o f t h e g a m e i n O c e a n i a . Re p resentatives from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Cale d o n i a , N e w Z e a l a n d , Pa p u a N e w G u i n e a , S a m o a , S o l o m o n I s l a n d s , Ta h i t i , To n g a a n d Va n u a t u a l l t o o k p a r t i n t h e 11 - d a y c o u r s e , w h i c h w a s c o n d u c t e d b y t h e O F C ’s Te c h n i c a l D e p a r t m e n t a n d c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e U -20 Wo r l d C u p ’s l e g a c y a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of youth football in general. “Even if we are not at the top of f o o t b a l l p y r a m i d , t h e g a m e i s g r o w i n g i n O c e a n i a ,” s a i d O F C t e c h n i c a l d i r e c t o r P a t r i c k J a c q u e m e t . “ We n o w h a v e s p e c i f i c a n d sustainable football programmes in all our member associations and the results of Fiji and New Zealand during this tournament h i g h l i g h t t h e p r o g r e s s w e a r e m a k i n g .” t f w
One prominent team forced to book their flights home after the group stage is Argentina. La Albiceleste began their campaign as the competition’s most successful team with six U-20 World Cup titles and were among the main title contenders. Å tfw T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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MIRROR IMAGE
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Evening Standard / Getty Images
Arsenal centre forward Frank Stapleton is given a shower by his physio.
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Liverpool Ladies winger Gemma Davison takes part in the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’.
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NET ZER KNOWS!
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Does beach soccer have a future?
“It’s impossible to keep up with them. Due to the rivalry between the two players and the fact that one is always trying to out-do the other, I can’t see anyone else getting the better of them in the near future.” Diego Forlan on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
“The feeling was just indescribable, it was a dream come true. I always played the game as a young kid and was always in awe of the stars on the cover. When I finally made it on there myself, it really was something special.” David Alaba on being on the cover of EA SPORTS' FIFA game for the third time in a row Pre-game rituals Netzer and comedian Marty Feldman before an exhibition match in 1972.
imago
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f you look at the figures from the last few Beach Soccer World Cups it is clear to see that the sport is booming at the moment, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Rightly so in my opinion, as beach soccer played at a high level is a wonderful game. I’m often asked if it’s possible to compare beach soccer to the 11-a-side game on grass. My answer is that it is; after all you have two teams playing with one ball trying to score in one of the two goals. The difference is that beach soccer requires a different skill set. The ball doesn’t roll and you don’t have much time to anticipate what might happen. What sets beach soccer apart when it’s played well is that it’s a precise and direct game. In my playing days we occasionally spent our free time before international matches or European Cup fixtures at the beach. Although we were all fit, we quickly noticed how tiring playing on sand could be. It was interesting to see members of our squad who were normally outstanding players struggle on an unfamiliar surface. Others were able to adapt well.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming Beach Soccer World Cup in July and am intrigued to see whether Russia can once again fend off Brazil to defend their title. Å
What have you always wanted to know about football? Ask Gunter Netzer: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org
“Neymar will be the best player in the world before too long. I think he can help Brazil win the World Cup again.” Roberto Carlos on Neymar
“I wanted to help the girls. I told them I was tingling all over and that I had butterflies in my stomach. Then some of them said: ‘I’m happy you’ve said that - I feel the same way,’ and suddenly everybody started laughing.” Videos, photos, news: all the latest on the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Norway captain Trine Ronning following the 4-0 victory over Thailand at the Women's World Cup T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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FIFA PARTNER
TURNING POINT
“We turned the football world upsidedown” Karun Gurung, a restaurant owner in Thimphu, was part of the Bhutan side that reached the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifying.
Namzay Kumutha
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uring preparations for our two-legged tie against Sri Lanka in 2018 World Cup Russia qualifying, we constantly told ourselves to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. We prepared well for the matches and won both the first leg away and the return fixture at home. Bhutan of all teams, bottom of the FIFA World Ranking at the time and supposedly the worst team on the planet, had won! Our triumph was more than just a victory though. I’m aware that my team-mates and I turned the football world upside-down at that moment. The second leg was unbelievable and it was the happiest moment of my footballing career so far. As soon as we started training for the two matches I realised the team could make history. And now here I am, on top of the world, with two wins from two games. When we arrived at the stadium ahead of the second leg the gates had been closed an hour before kick-off because there wasn’t any room left inside. We could hear the crowd chanting and in addition to the 25,000 spectators inside the stadium there was a similar number following the game right outside. It was at that moment that I realised our small country was ready for professional football and that we should take advantage of this success to spread our sport across the whole nation to people who had supported us wholeheartedly. In Thimphu the streets became a see of yellow and orange flags. After winning the
game us players walked from the stadium to our hotel and chatted to the fans we met on the way. There were happy faces wherever we looked. Media outlets from all corners of the country arrived to tell the story of the world’s lowest ranked team winning two games and reaching the next round of World Cup qualifying. For me it’s a huge honour to be part of this team. At 29, I’m one of the more experienced players. I don’t earn my living playing football but from my small restaurant in Thimphu. I’m certain our success can be the springboard to professionalising the game in Bhutan and I’m proud to be one of the key figures in that development. Å As told to Emanuele Giulianelli
Name Karun Gurung Date and place of birth 9 June 1986, Dagapela, Bhutan Position Midfield Clubs played for 2004–2011 Druk Star 2012–2013 Thimphu City 2014 Druk United Since 2015 FC Tertons National team Bhutan 41 caps
In Turning Point, personalities reflect on a decisive moment in their lives. T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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MEN’S WORLD R ANKING
Germany (unchanged) France (9th, up 2) Switzerland (11th, down 2) 44 Madagascar, Namibia (6 matches each) Madagascar (up 122 points) Madagascar (up 37 ranks) Rwanda (down 128 points) Maldives (down 38 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
1 Germany
0 1775
55 Egypt
-4
596
109 Canada
2 Belgium
1 1509
56 Congo DR
-2
591
110 Benin
3 Argentina
-1 1496
57 Turkey
-5
590
4 Colombia
0 1435
58 Korea Republic
-1
587
5 Brazil
0 1392
59 Gabon
-4
6 Netherlands
0 1378
60 Republic of Ireland
2
7 Portugal
0 1229
61 Peru
8 Uruguay
0 1183
9 France
Last updated: 4 June 2015 +/- Points
Rank Team
+/- Points
6
290
162 Malaysia
4
121
-16
289
164 Hong Kong
5
118
111 Botswana
-7
285
165 Yemen
3
117
112 St Vincent and the Grenadines
-2
279
166 Bangladesh
3
116
583
113 Madagascar
37
278
167 Puerto Rico
0
114
581
114 St Kitts and Nevis
-2
275
168 Dominica
-3
112
2
546
115 Azerbaijan
1
272
169 New Caledonia
6
111
62 Bulgaria
5
537
116 Dominican Republic
2
257
170 Pakistan
3
106
2 1164
63 Australia
1
532
117 Niger
2
251
171 US Virgin Islands
3
104
10 Spain
0 1147
64 Norway
6
528
118 Palestine
23
242
172 Chad
-20
100
11 Switzerland
-2 1146
65 Jamaica
9
524
119 Zimbabwe
4
238
173 Turkmenistan
-14
99
12 Romania
0 1115
66 Burkina Faso
0
520
119 Libya
-7
238
174 Guam
2
97
13 Italy
0 1101
67 Trinidad and Tobago
-2
519
121 Syria
4
234
175 Laos
3
94
14 Costa Rica
1 1056
68 Zambia
-8
517
122 Lesotho
-1
226
176 Mauritius
9
90
15 England
-1 1051
69 South Africa
-10
515
123 Kenya
-6
220
177 Kyrgyzstan
-24
89
16 Czech Republic
2 1036
70 Montenegro
5
513
124 Moldova
-4
219
178 Maldives
-38
86
17 Slovakia
2 1012
18 Croatia
-1
71 Uganda
0
504
125 Kuwait
1
218
178 Cambodia
1
86
992
72 Venezuela
-3
497
126 Bermuda
2
217
178 Chinese Taipei
1
86
19 Chile
-3
989
73 United Arab Emirates
-5
496
127 Vietnam
-3
215
181 Montserrat
-9
74
20 Austria
5
946
74 Uzbekistan
-2
479
127 Tanzania
-20
215
182 Tahiti
3
71 70
21 Algeria
-1
941
75 Honduras
1
462
129 Thailand
13
207
183 Nepal
-2
22 Wales
-1
929
76 Haiti
3
442
129 Liechtenstein
-2
207
184 Brunei Darussalam
-2
69
23 Mexico
-1
926
77 Togo
3
438
131 Luxembourg
6
201
185 Macau
-2
66
24 Côte d’Ivoire
-1
916
78 Finland
0
410
132 Barbados
-2
196
186 Sri Lanka
2
64
25 Greece
-1
899
79 China PR
3
409
133 Kazakhstan
1
195
187 Seychelles
2
60
26 Russia
1
833
80 Belarus
3
400
134 Burundi
-12
194
188 São Tomé e Príncipe
2
58
27 USA
1
823
81 Mozambique
5
391
135 Lebanon
9
188
189 Cayman Islands
2
48
28 Scotland
2
818
82 Latvia
3
390
136 St Lucia
-5
186
190 Comoros
-5
44
29 Tunisia
2
808
83 Sierra Leone
5
387
137 Philippines
0
183
190 Solomon Islands
2
44
29 Denmark
0
808
84 Armenia
-7
383
138 New Zealand
6
180
192 San Marino
2
40
31 Ecuador
3
806
85 Paraguay
-4
382
139 Georgia
0
173
193 Turks and Caicos Islands
-10
33
32 Bosnia and Herzegovina
0
802
86 Iraq
0
381
139 Tajikistan
4
173
194 British Virgin Islands
4
29
32 Poland
3
802
87 Cyprus
9
377
141 Central African Republic
3
161
195 Fiji
1
28
34 Ghana
-8
800
88 Angola
1
374
141 India
6
161
196 Bahamas
2
26
35 Ukraine
-2
784
89 Bolivia
3
371
143 Myanmar
15
160
197 South Sudan
-4
24
36 Senegal
0
782
89 El Salvador
-5
371
144 Curaçao
4
159
198 Samoa
-2
21
37 Iceland
1
769
91 Estonia
2
370
145 Malta
4
154
199 Mongolia
1
19
38 Cape Verde Islands
-1
746
92 Morocco
-2
369
146 Timor-Leste
5
151
200 Vanuatu
-5
17
39 Sweden
0
737
93 Guatemala
40 Israel
6
725
94 Rwanda
-3
348
146 Korea DPR
10
151
200 Tonga
1
17
-21
346
148 Liberia
-16
149
202 Papua New Guinea
0
13
-20
146
203 American Samoa
0
12
5
141
204 Andorra
0
8
41 Iran
-1
717
95 Malawi
2
345
149 Mauritania
42 Hungary
1
685
96 Lithuania
4
341
150 Suriname
43 Nigeria
2
681
97 Qatar
2
334
151 Aruba
-15
138
204 Eritrea
0
8
44 Northern Ireland
-2
676
98 Saudi Arabia
-3
329
151 Afghanistan
-16
138
206 Somalia
0
6
45 Guinea
-4
673
99 Ethiopia
2
324
151 Nicaragua
3
138
207 Djibouti
0
4
45 Serbia
-1
673
100 FYR Macedonia
5
321
154 Singapore
8
136
207 Cook Islands
0
4
47 Congo
2
666
101 Oman
-4
319
155 Guinea-Bissau
-23
131
209 Anguilla
0
2
48 Slovenia
-1
653
102 Faroe Islands
0
318
155 Indonesia
4
131
49 Cameroon
-1
641
103 Jordan
0
316
155 Belize
4
131
50 Equatorial Guinea
11
635
104 Antigua and Barbuda
2
313
158 Guyana
5
129
51 Albania
6
624
105 Namibia
9
303
159 Bhutan
4
128
52 Japan
-2
623
106 Bahrain
2
299
160 Gambia
-3
124
52 Mali
4
623
107 Cuba
2
295
160 Grenada
11
124
54 Panama
-1
597
108 Sudan
3
292
162 Swaziland
14
121
38
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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PUZZLE
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