The FIFA Weekly Issue #35 by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

ISSUE 35, 20 JUNE 2014

ENGLISH EDITION

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

RUSSIA FABIO CAPELLO ENERGISED BY EXPECTATION CROATIA STAR SUPPORTER DAVOR SUKER CHILE REWARDED FOR ATTACKING INTENT

Brazil 2014

MAGICAL MANAUS W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY

CONTENTS

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North and Central America 35 members www.concacaf.com

Rumble in the Jungle Reserved friendliness, breathtaking nature and thrilling football are just three things that set Manaus apart during the World Cup. Our writer Thomas Renggli sets out to investigate this jungle metropolis and recounts the history of a city in which there is no escaping the heat.

South America 10 members www.conmebol.com

Sepp Blatter: A great attacking spectacle The FIFA President waxes lyrical about the World Cup’s goal-laden start and praises the coaches for their readiness to take risks, all the while convinced that “the best is yet to come!”

S napshots of Brazil Our editorial team give their very personal impressions of the World Cup, describing the moments that have particularly moved and inspired them so far.

“ I still want to be out there winning matches” Davor Suker still gets restless whenever he watches a football match. In The FIFA Weekly interview, the Croatian Football Federation president discusses his time as a player and the ambitions of the current national team.

Chile Alexis Sanchez and his team defeated Spain 2- 0 to send the defending champions home.

Magical Manaus On the cover this week we feature a celebrating Brazilian. The euphoria in Seleção country shows no signs of abating.

World Cup 2014: Groups A-C Group A

The FIFA Weekly Magazine App The FIFA Weekly, FIFA’s football magazine, is also available in five languages as an e-Magazine on your tablet every Friday.

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Group B

Group C

Brazil

Spain

Colombia

Croatia

Netherlands

Greece

Mexico

Chile

Côte d’Ivoire

Cameroon

Australia

Japan

Getty Images

Guillaume Horcajuelo / EPA

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

Russia Despite a faltering start to the World Cup, Russia coach Fabio Capello is still confident that his side can reach the Round of 16.

Germany Thomas Muller practically defeated Portugal singlehandedly before Chancellor Angela Merkel joined in the post-match celebrations.

Nigeria Stephen Keshi is renowned for discipline and structure, and after the Super Eagles' opening 0-0 draw with Iran, his side need those characteristics more than ever.

World Cup 2014: Groups D-H Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Uruguay

Switzerland

Argentina

Germany

Belgium

Costa Rica

Ecuador

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Por tugal

Algeria

England

France

Iran

Ghana

Russia

Italy

Honduras

Nigeria

USA

Korea Republic

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WELCOME TO

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Heart in the right place World Cup host city Manaus’ love of football is clear to see.

Lost in the footballing jungle

“R

umble in the Jungle!” Four group matches are being played in the city of Manaus, located deep within the Brazilian jungle, but what is this legendary city really all about? Thomas Renggli lost himself in the streets of this special metropolis and experienced the immense warmth of its people.

IFA President Sepp Blatter discusses the high temperatures in his weekly column, saying: “There was much speculation that the unique conditions in Brazil could put a damper on matches,” before adding: “Instead, we’re seeing the exact opposite.”

nd then, of course, there is the matter of reigning champions Spain, resigned to an early exit after just two matches. The question now is: Who will be their successors to football’s biggest crown? Å Sarah Steiner

Ivan Canabrava / Reuters

abio Capello and his Russia team are under pressure, but the Italian tactician still believes his side can progress. We took a closer look at Russian football and spoke to the national team’s successful coach.

n this week’s review of the World Cup camps, news that Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher has woken from his coma spurred Germany on to a 4-0 win over Portugal. Elsewhere, Chile have already qualified for the Round of 16, Greece’s Theofanis Gekas is playing for the last major contract of his career, and the Nigerian team have their backs to the wall.

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MANAUS

Jungle football

No other World Cup host city has provoked as much debate as Manaus, located deep in the heart of the Amazon. Yet as we discovered on a sweat-inducing trip to the rainforest, it is impossible not to fall for this townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charm.

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imago

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Water! Italy's Daniele De Rossi quenches his thirst T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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Cold shower Wayne Rooney could not save England from an opening match defeat in Manaus

A logical outcome Playing football off Manaus’ Ponta Negra beach

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he experience of attending a World Cup match in Manaus is an odyssey unlike any other, and is not one for the faint-hearted or heat-averse football fan. Imagine playing the game in a sauna or a steel casting foundry and you begin to get a feeling for the temperatures involved. Even for those not taking part out on the pitch, a trip to the city is an eye-opening adventure. The landscape itself shifts the meaning of everyday life into a rather different sphere of significance, while the aeroplane’s descent upon arrival is simply breathtaking: the Amazon looks less like a river than it does a vast ocean in the middle of the rainforest. Yet even such stunning views were not enough to silence the travelling England fans, who blasted out a rendition of ‘Football’s coming home’ on the plane’s final approach. However, they were wise enough to pay heed to the local guides, who warned visitors of the domestic dangers with tales of

Wet hair The briefest of respites from World Cup fever

Barren Staples/Reuters, Guillermo Arias/Keystone, Pio Figueiroa (2)

Thomas Renggli, Manaus

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bad-tempered crocodiles, poisonous spiders and hungry piranhas, while strongly recommending a yellow fever vaccination. The probability of catching malaria is also significantly higher here than in the rest of the country. Yet those able to push aside thoughts of an emergency visit to hospital – and those not required to stifle Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli – they were lucky enough to discover a different, surprising side to the World Cup, and indeed to Brazil itself. Compared to the more sophisticated, headline-grabbing attractions on the beach front in Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, the biggest settlement in the Amazon with a population of two million, appears to hail from another world entirely. The city’s isolated location seems to shape the character of its inhabitants and visitors are met with a reserved friendliness that offers a stark contrast to the typical clichés of loud, gaudy Brazilians. The pace of life is slower, almost muted. The native Indian population is warm-hearted and shy in welcoming guests, as if they were trying to apologise for the fact that life here is not a pulsating, round-the-clock fiesta.

Andrea Pirlo taught England a lesson in 32-degree heat.

Authentic ‘rumble in the jungle’ It may not have been a boxing match, but England’s fixture against Italy was every bit as much a ‘rumble in the jungle’ as Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman was, only this time it was Wayne Rooney and Co against Pirlo’s Italy. Come the final whistle it was the 35-yearold Italian veteran with the flowing, unkempt beard who was celebrating, having given a per-

formance that was a lesson both in economy of effort and intelligence. In temperatures hovering around 32 degrees Celsius with 90 per cent humidity, Pirlo dosed his energy carefully and ran no further than he needed to, but was still hugely influential. The next four teams to appear in Manaus; USA, Portugal, Honduras and Switzerland, would be well advised to study his display as an example of how to play football in extreme conditions. It was telling that with the English players long since flagging and gasping for air as the game entered stoppage time, Pirlo was still able to rifle in a free-kick that cannoned off the crossbar. “A lot of our players were suffering from cramp and that’s something we’ll have to cope with,” said England manager Roy Hodgson of the physical toll the game took on his squad. Hodgson himself was rather more adept at dealing with the heat. While his young attackers Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge expended their energy in the first half through a mixture of interplay, cockiness and carelessness, the 66-year-old sat in the shade with statesmanlike composure, leaving his assistants to tweak on-field matters from the technical area.

Camping atmosphere There is always a Brazilian emblem to be seen somewhere

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Water break Italian captain Andrea Pirlo cools off

Flags doubling as sunshades The streets of Manaus

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Hodgson’s Italian counterpart Cesare Prandelli, who had prepared his troops for the stifling conditions by sending them to saunas in Florence, was considerably more active on the touchline before reaching his limit. “We had to slow our rhythm down in order to get our breath back,” said the coach. “Fortunately the officials were wise enough to occasionally stop the game for drink breaks. But playing football in these conditions is crazy.” The heat was too much even for the most hot-headed member of the Italian ensemble, Mario Balotelli: “I’ve played a lot of matches in hot weather but never when it’s been like this. If the climate were the same everywhere they’d have to introduce time-outs.” In football there are no binding rules regarding the maximum temperatures in which the game can be played, although fans old enough to remember the ‘Heat battle of Lausanne’ at the 1954 World Cup would argue there should be. Switzerland hosted Austria at La Pontaise stadium and by the time the players took to the pitch under a blazing sun, temperatures had soared to 40 degrees. Austrian goalkeeper Kurt Schmied suffered sunstroke in the first half but had to stay on be-

Bumper crop Two street traders wait for customers

Fabrice Coffrini/Afp, Bruno Kelly/Reuters, Reinaldo Coddou H./fotogloria, Pio Figueiroa

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cause the rules at the time did not allow for substitutions. Schmied played on as if in a trance; a staggering, glazed-eyed spectre powerless to stop Switzerland scoring three goals in eight minutes. It did not occur to anybody that the ailing players might benefit from a drink break. Instead, Austria’s masseur took matters into his own hands and stood behind the goal and tried to keep Schmied cool by plying him with wet sponges and water. It was not long before the Swiss ran out of steam, allowing Austria to pull level within four minutes. In the closing stages Switzerland’s Roger Bocquet collapsed on the pitch and the hosts eventually lost 7-5 in what remains the highest-scoring World Cup match in history. Such scenes are unlikely to be repeated over the next three and a half weeks, jungle football or not. Mystical location “It’s always 40 degrees in Manaus, but heat is a lot better than the cold,” said Quanita, a worker stationed at the city airport who is employed alongside her mother to aid foreign tourists for the duration of the World Cup. The 22-year-old helps escort visitors from the arrivals hall to the bus station, despite the

Italy's sauna visits prepared them for conditions in Manaus.

straightforward route and clearly-visible signposts making her presence largely unnecessary. Yet Quanita fulfils her role with a warmth that makes you want to stay and enjoy the city’s wild charm until the end of the tournament, if not longer.

It was not always this way. During the rubber boom towards the end of the 19th century, Manaus was one of the wealthiest cities in the world and had direct shipping routes to Liverpool and New York. Today Manaus can only be reached either by plane or by boat, with no train lines or roads passing through here. The only paved street in and out of the city leads to Venezuela. “We live on an island here,” said Elder, a local office clerk. “I was born and raised in Manaus. I’ve never been to Rio de Janeiro.” In conversation with the 26-year-old it becomes increasingly clear why the World Cup is being hosted in such a mystical location. And as visitors do not usually tend to get as far as Manaus, the city began extending invitations for them to arrive. Tax breaks were offered to multinational companies, with Sony, Samsung, Honda and Yamaha all opening factories in Manaus as a result. That in turn has given job security to the local population, as well as raising the standard of living. Furthermore, duty-free shopping is available in the city centre, even if the cost of basic goods is higher than in the rest of the country due to Manaus’ remote location.

The opera house Caruso only sang there in Herzog's film Fitzcarraldo

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Only eight countries have ever lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

Yet over 200 have been winners with FIFA. As an organisation with 209 member associations, our responsibilities do not end with the FIFA World Cupâ&#x201E;˘, but extend to safeguarding the Laws of the Game, developing football around the world and bringing hope to those less privileged. Our Football for Hope Centres are one example of how we use the global power of football to build a better future. www.FIFA.com/aboutfifa

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Michael Regan/The FA/via Getty Images

Manaus is not your typical football venue, as many of the more intrepid visitors have discovered to their delight. No World Cup host city is more exciting or surprising than this jungle metropolis, where the dark waters of the Negro river and the clearer waters of the Solimoes flow side by side to create one of the Amazon’s most majestic sights. In the city’s heyday only the very best was considered good enough for Manaus. The Teatro Amazonas, the opera house, stems from that bygone period and would provide a stage for only the greatest tenors to perform on. A large part of the construction materials for the building arrived from Europe, with the tiles for the roof shipped in from Germany, the cobblestone for the courtyard imported from Portugal, while the metal handrails in the gallery and the ceiling frescos are products of Italian craftsmanship. However, today the building stands as a relic of a long-forgotten era. There is no longer any semblance of an operatic atmosphere in the city; instead the bustle of everyday life has taken over and the streets are now filled with countless stalls selling everything from bananas to jeans and plastic toys. English presence The bumpy, weather-beaten pitch at the A rena da Amazonia provided the platform for Pirlo’s masterclass, much to the dismay of the thousands of sweltering English fans. They had arrived, if the inscriptions on their flags were anything to go by, from all corners of the British Isles: Birmingham, Wigan, Tranmere, Lemington Spa and Ellesmere Port. Some were rather more creative, with a Stoke contingent holding aloft a banner reading ‘Forgive me Delilah’ and ‘Stokies Here, Stokies There’; a group from Wigston displaying a flag reading ‘Where you’re smiling’, and some Sheffield United supporters choosing ‘Blades up the Amazon’. Yet the weather seemed to affect those in the stands as much as it did the players on the pitch. Only once was a heartfelt version of ‘God save the Queen’ heard throughout the 90 minutes, belted out after England had levelled the score at 1-1. The only injury of the day had nothing to do with the heat, however: team physio Gary Lewin celebrated England’s equaliser so fervently that he dislocated his ankle and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Manaus will host two more group stage matches: on Sunday USA face Portugal and on Wednesday Switzerland take on Honduras. Visitors will then leave the city as swiftly as they arrived and the jungle will take over once more, clawing back everything in its reach. The

The agony of cramp Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini (l) and Claudio Marchisio help England’s Raheem Sterling to stretch out

The only injury of the day had nothing to do with the heat. planned Transamazonica highway will almost certainly be one of its victims and it is already covered in undergrowth, having only been partially completed. In the original ‘rumble in the Jungle’ on 30 October 1974, Ali knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the world title in Kin-

shasa. Just as he never agreed to a rematch, England are unlikely to meet Italy again at Brazil 2014 as the only way the two former World Cup winners can square off once more is in the Final on 13 July in Rio. Another fixture b etween the two in Manaus is, regrettably, even more improbable. Å

England’s group matches Italy (lost 2-1), Uruguay (19 June), Costa Rica (24 June) T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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Win it for Schumi Sarah Steiner is an editor at The FIFA Weekly

Some things are more important than football, even for a side heading into a crucial group-stage clash in the World Cup. With just hours to go before their tournament opener against Portugal, the German squad received the welcome news that countryman Michael Schumacher had awoken from a coma. The seven-time Formula One world champion was seriously injured last December while on a skiing holiday and has spent most of the last six months unconscious in a hospital in Grenoble. The 45-year-old has now been taken to Switzerland where he will begin rehabilitation. The German players were all overjoyed at the announcement, and none more so than Lukas Podolski: “What wonderful news! Get well soon Schumi! I was absolutely delighted to hear the info.” The team remains hopeful that Michael might be well enough to tune in to one or two of their matches in Brazil. “Winning would certainly be one way of bringing a smile to his face,” added the Polish-born striker. The news spurred the team on as they ran out 4-0 winners over Portugal in Group G, the so-called “Group of Death”. Three strikes from Thomas Muller and a header by Mats Hummels sealed maximum points for the Germans in a game in which Cristiano Ronaldo & Co were unable to halt their opponent’s ruthless attacking display.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel watched the game from the stands before joining her compatriots in the dressing room to celebrate, her red and white clothing a close match for the national team’s colours. A selfie of Podolski posing with the Chancellor soon found its way onto the Internet as the celebrations continued. A German footballing fairy tale now appears well within their grasp.

Chile

The team slogan of “One country, one team, one dream” underlines their intentions. Even Germany’s rivals are convinced they can go far this summer. Diego Maradona revealed to Venezuelan television that Die Mannschaft was close to perfection, while fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi said that it was the best performance he had seen at the tournament so far. R&B singer Rihanna also expressed her admiration on Twitter: “Germany is too real today.”

The buses used to ferry national teams from one place to another at the 2014 FIFA World Cup are each adorned with upbeat slogans, chosen by popular vote on the internet. Chile’s fans went for “Chi, chi, chi! Le, le, le! Viva Chile!”, words of encouragement that spur the players on every time they step on board. For a nation that knows the verses of Pablo Neruda off by heart, it can hardly be described as a thought-provoking piece of poetry, but it has struck a chord with the fans for whom it is the chant of choice, one that reflects the down-to-earth, joyful approach the Chile team is taking to this World Cup.

Though quietly confident, the German squad remains firmly focused on the task in hand: “It’s a good start, but we mustn’t get carried away,” said team manager Oliver Bierhoff. Hat-trick hero Thomas Muller echoed his sentiments: “We mustn’t act as if we’re the superior force here. We’ll have to do this all over again in our next match.” There is a long way to go, but the future looks brighter than it did this time last week – both for the German national team and Michael Schumacher. Å

Germany’s group matches Portugal (4-0), Ghana (21 June), USA (26 June)

Football and politics “4-0 win! Terrific start!! And here’s a selfie with the Chancellor as promised!” tweeted Lukas Podolski from the dressing room. 14

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Chanting Chileans on the march JordÍ Punti is a novelist and the author of many football features in the Spanish media.

Hemmed in between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, and weighed down by the pressure exerted in a geographical and football-related sense by neighbouring Argentina, Chile is a small country whose approach to the competition has not always been founded on reality. Part of the reason for that is the sense of expectation generated by their run to the semi-finals in 1962, a tournament they hosted and which ended for them with defeat by the Brazil of Garrincha and Vava. Since then qualification for the world finals has always been seen as a heroic act pointing to great victories when in actual fact all that lay in wait was even greater disappointment. Yet on this occasion, with the recent experience of South Africa 2010 under their belts, Chile appear to be feeling the pressure less. Four years ago, Marcelo Bielsa steered them to the Round of 16, where they once again fell to Brazil, this time 3-0. Qualifying for the world finals for a second time in a row has given La Roja some welcome stability as one of South America’s mid-ranking teams. Though there are several factors involved in Chile’s new-found equilibrium, perhaps the most important is the role played by coach Jorge Sampaoli, an Argentinian like his predecessor. An advocate of Bielsa’s attacking, possession-based game and a passionate believer in football as a team sport, Sampaoli is a forceful character who makes himself heard and has transmitted his infectious enthusiasm to his players. “When I came on board I found a very hungry team,” he said

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Germany

NEWS FROM THE TR AINING CAMPS

Heading for the crossbar Greece striker Gekas is unlucky not to score.

Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

after his appointment. “It’s a very strong group who have battled against adversity and taken some criticism. They’re tough players.” One way in which Sampaoli has made is mark is in restoring playmaker Jorge Valdivia to the national-team fold. One of five players handed lengthy bans in the wake of a much-publicised breach of discipline in 2011, Valdivia marked his rehabilitation with Chile’s second goal in the 3-1 defeat of Australia in their Group B opener. Sampaoli also deserves credit for shaping a squad that strikes a happy balance between well-known exiles and the leading lights on the domestic scene. Chile have traditionally exported quality players to Europe, only for them to invariably fulfil secondary roles with their clubs, while having to shoulder more responsibility when returning to the national side. The most obvious example is their original boy wonder Alexis Sanchez, who impressed at Barcelona last season without ever emerging from the shadows cast by Lionel Messi, Neymar and Andres Iniesta. In the meantime, however, Sanchez has become the focal point of the Chilean attack, scoring goals in quantity and setting them up too. His strike against Australia made him his country’s fourth-highest scorer of all time, with only Roja legends Marcelo Salas, Ivan Zamorano and Carlos Caszely ahead of him.

Valdivia, now with Palmeiras, is another such case, as are Juventus duo Mauricio Isla and Arturo Vidal and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo of Real Sociedad. The only headache for Sampaoli is what has been dubbed in Chile as “the Vidal soap opera”. The midfielder only just made the squad for Brazil 2014 after recovering from a knee injury and his coach is anxious not to overwork him. The Juve man started against the Socceroos but was substituted after an hour, a change greeted with a public display of disgust by the player. Roja fans have no such cause for complaint, however, sending out their war cry of “Chi, chi, chi! Le, le, le!” as they eye a place in the second round. Should they make it, there is every chance they will once again meet Brazil, their eternal World Cup rivals. Å

Chile’s group matches Australia (3-1), Spain (2-0), Netherlands (23 June)

Greece

Gekas out to make amends Sven Goldmann is a leading football correspondent for the Tagesspiegel newspaper in Berlin. He is currently based in Brazil for the World Cup.

During his time in the Bundesliga, Theofanis Gekas once explained why he had no desire to learn German, declaring: “I’m being paid to score goals, not to speak.” Now aged 34, his mastery of the former skill was sufficient for Fernando Manuel Costa Santos to include him in Greece’s World Cup squad. Following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Colombia on matchday three, Gekas had some explaining to do at his team’s World Cup camp in the north-eastern city of Aracaju. After all, it was the Konyaspor striker who had the best chance to change the run of play. With the score at 2-0, the ball was floated in at the perfect height for him to head into an open goal. Instead, Gekas somehow steered the ball onto the crossbar and was promptly substituted just moments later. After the game, Santos had no problems finding the T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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words to describe his team’s performance, grumbling: “It seemed some of the players had forgotten what kind of competition they were in.” Back in Aracaju, the missed opportunity in Belo Horizonte was surely top of the post-match briefing.

Nigeria

A hard taskmaster Alan Schweingruber is an editor at The FIFA Weekly. He is currently based in Brazil for the World Cup.

Anesh Debiky / Afp

Gekas’ unconventional playing style meant that his inclusion in the national side was not without controversy. Over 90 minutes, the former Bundesliga player rarely attracts attention by making spectacular darting runs or creating opportunities for his teammates. He does not run much and dislikes breaking a sweat. Teams only continue to field such players if they have something special, and in Gekas’ case, that something is his ability to score goals.

A national coach needs the backing of his employers to build a team and achieve his long-term goals. If he has a stable contract and is able to combine charisma with success, he may well remain at the helm for years. Vicente del Bosque, who has been in charge of Spain since 2008, is a prime example.

The attacker has played for five clubs over the past two years, none of which are challenging for major silverware: Eintracht Frankfurt, Samsunspor, Levante, Akhisar Belediyespor and, most recently, Konyaspor. The World Cup offers him the ideal stage to showcase his skills and win the last major contract of his career. Å

Del Bosque's fellow coach Stephen Keshi is clearly the adventurous type, having accepted an offer to take charge of the Nigerian football team back in 2011 despite the precarious nature of the position. The Nigeria Football Federation had employed six coaches in the space of just four years - including big names such as Berti Vogts of Germany and Lars Lagerback of Sweden – prior to his appointment.

Greece’s group matches Colombia (lost 3-0), Japan (19 June), Côte d’Ivoire (24 June)

Keshi is not a man to shy away from conflict. Disagreements of opinion with his superiors have been a regular occurrence during his tenure, so much so that the powers that be in Nigeria wanted to fire him at one point, while the coach himself has also threatened to resign. Yet the former defender ensured his place in Nigerian football folklore by leading the country to glory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. That victory set the bar high. The biggest nation in Africa - whose population of approximately 160 million is three times

larger than England's - has now set its sights firmly on World Cup success. The Super Eagles certainly have a hard taskmaster. Known for his emphasis on discipline and structure, Keshi's decisions often prove unpopular at first. When Elderson Echiejile picked up a slight muscle injury before the World Cup, Nigeria crossed its fingers for a quick recovery. The coach, though, decided to exclude the AS Monaco man from his squad and call up Ejike Uzoenyi instead. “We don’t have much time,” said Keshi, who refused to entertain arguments that the injury may have healed within a fortnight. (Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, who recovered from a cruciate ligament injury in record time, would have probably shrugged it off in under 48 hours.) However, their hopes of World Cup glory were dented by Monday's goalless draw against Iran, a stalemate that leaves the Super Eagles with a mountain to climb as they look to qualify for the knockout stages. But if anyone can do it, it is the man who topped the group with Nigeria as a player at the 1994 World Cup, only to be knocked out by Italy in the second round. Å

Nigeria’s group matches Iran (0-0), Bosnia-Herzegovina (21 June), Argentina (25 June)

Determined Stephen Keshi is focused on leading Nigeria to glory. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

T HE DEBAT E

Appetite for goals Flying Dutchman Robin van Persie made the score 1–1 against Spain (5-1) with a superb diving header.

Perikles Monioudis

ot for the first time, the build-up to the Opening Match at the World Cup was marked by media grumbling about the likelihood of a bore draw. It has become near habitual for the first game at the global showdown to end in a goalless stalemate or a dour victory by only one goal. Not so for the opening encounter at Brazil 2014. Attack from the off When the action started for real, the Sao Paulo crowd was treated to four goals, three

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by hosts Brazil and the opening goal of the game from Croatia. The following day a turbocharged Netherlands inflicted a 5–1 thrashing on world champions Spain, and the Chileans defeated Australia 3–1. Colombia and Costa Rica also scored three against Greece and Uruguay respectively, with the French posting the same tally against Honduras another day into the tournament. Germany's 4–0 triumph against Cristiano Ronaldo and Co was yet another example of the teams adopting full-on attack in their opening games, aiming to book places in the knockout stages at the earliest possible opportunity. What next? We may well see a different pattern in the second round of matches, as suggested by what happened to Brazil. Still on a high from their opening day victory, the hosts ran out against stubborn Mexico and their in-form, acrobatic keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Neymar and Co failed to breach the Mexican defence as the match ended goalless. After opening with a victory, coach Felipe

Scolari spoke of the importance of winning the second group match, so as to make qualifying for the last sixteen a near certainty, but for all their determined attacking efforts, A Seleção came up short. However, it is probably safe to assume the teams will not suddenly abandon their appetite for attacking tactics. That would appear a little unrealistic after the rip-roaring start to the tournament. The show must go on! Å

The weekly debate. Any thing you want to get off your chest? Which topics do you want to discuss? Send your suggestions to: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org

Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters

The Dutch thrashed world champions Spain 5-1 and Germany beat Portugal 4–0 as the World Cup opened with a glut of goals.

T HE DEBAT E

PRESIDENTIAL NOTE

In this issue, FIFA.com users share their views on the World Cup’s opening week.

Applause for Chile! The way they approach the game against the world champion team like Spain. SArbabAhmed, Pakistan

Awseome goal, awesome player and a team that would not give up! We will be back in 2018 and teams will know they are in a football match. Well done Australia you all played the game! skycrazy, Australia

I feel really sorry for the Aussies, they should go through with the Dutch. First half they really had the upper hand. Shame they don’t have the brilliance of van Gaal as I knew the second half would turn out to be Orange. But, my dear Australians, you have lost to the new world champions and you made them run for their title. Hats off, shame you’ll bow out. I hope a win over Spain will be the icing on your cake and you are a force to be reckoned with in 2018! dutchy1975, Great Britain

“Congrats Chile for the victory.” Congrats Chile for the victory. But do not take rest. Just because you qualified for the next round does not mean everything is achieved. Make sure you beat Holland in order to avoid Brazil next round who are poised to win the group. steve201081, India

This is the end of a golden era and hopefully this is a beginning of a new one as well. You guys are true champions and I have staunch faith in you and your teammates that you will play the last match versus Australia full heartedly with your head held high. People start worrying and rumouring that tiki-taka might vanish from the future Spanish squad due to the change of Barcelona-based players as well as their playing style. However, I sincerely believe the new golden generation will rise soon. I hope to witness a stronger Spain national team in the Euro 2016. Last but not least, thank you guys for all the hard work, I will never forget the brilliant, splendid and remarkable football La Roja have brought us in the past few years and I wish all of you the best of luck in your future life. luckyfish81, Malaysia

Fennecs, follow the example set by Australia - or Costa Rica or even Chile! Attack is the best form of defence. Give everything! Be yourselves! Play like you do in your own leagues! We want to see football. We want to see passion and spirit.

Even if you guys do not make it, you guys have done Africa proud. You guys played well and should be proud of yourselves. Ghana will beat Germany and Portugal and move on to the next round.

wahrane, France

“Attack is the best form of defence.”

YeyeEagles, USA

A thrilling attacking spectacle

ogo bonito! It’s the phrase that summed up all our hopes and expectations in the build-up to the World Cup. And now we’re experiencing just that - the beautiful game being played to perfection, with thrilling attacking, a wealth of variety, and the courage to be creative. There was much speculation that the high temperatures and special conditions in Brazil could put a damper on matches. Instead, we’re seeing the exact opposite. Coaches are prepared to take risks and give their creative players free rein. The corset of strict tactical discipline has been left in the dressing room. In contrast to four years ago in South Africa the teams are not prepared to settle for draws. They are playing to win with no conditions attached. Robin van Persie’s diving header to level the scores at 1-1 against Spain was worth the trip to Brazil on its own. This is the kind of diving we want to see – and only this kind. This free-thinking attacking play is also due in part to the composition of the teams and developments in technique. Exceptional players such as Neymar, Messi, Van Persie, Robben and Muller cannot be kept on a tight leash. They represent an increasingly complete generation of players . Today’s goalscorers are not simply out-and-out strikers. They shape the play from attacking midfield positions. The first 12 matches alone in Brazil yielded 41 goals, an average of 3.42 per game. If this rhythm were to be maintained through to the Final, the fans would be celebrating 219 times, a new record! The first week of the World Cup has exceeded all expectations. And the best thing of all is that the climax is still to come. Viva Brazil!

Best wishes, Sepp Blatter T H E F I FA W E E K LY

First Love

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Place: Oran, Algeria Date: 4 April 2013 Time: 6.28 p.m.

Nick Hannes / laif

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FREE KICK

F I F A 11

Players with the most World Cup appearances

A girl called Fifa Thomas Renggli

ou can open just about any door in Brazil with just a few words of broken Portuguese. A Bom dia (good morning) at the breakfast table will guarantee that the day begins with a smile. You can go for a shorter greeting and say Oi (hello) or, when you raise a glass, Saude (cheers) is always a good option. Finally, if in doubt, it never hurts to say Obrigado (thank you). You will never hear these linguistic icebreakers on the radio, however. Brazilian reporters have a tiny margin for error when it comes to describing the course and intensity of a football match. It is only a pass back to the keeper or a throw-in taken by the defending team that is transmitted at a normal tone. With every metre that the ball comes closer to goal, the volume of the commentator’s voice builds like a crescendo. As the players edge closer to the opposition penalty area, the power of his commentary borders on painful, and when the ball hits the back of the net, it is time to reach for the earplugs, or kill the volume on the radio: Goooooooooool!!! The intensity and rhythm of commentary varies depending on nationality and the number of vowels to be found in team names. A European commentator’s vocal chords may manage to utter Bélgica, but the dam breaks completely for Cooooostaaaaa Riiiiicaaaaa. Still, perhaps that is appropriate. Who would have thought the Central American minnows would even score a goal at this World Cup? It seems to be a great concern of Brazilian parents to ensure that their sons can eventually become key protagonists in sporting theatre. No commentator declines an opportunity to flex his oral muscles on names like Marcelinho, Paulinho, Ronaldinho and Robinho, nor to make a disyllabic homage to their heroes: Zico,

Cafu and – last but not least – Pele. By contrast, whoever gave current Brazil international Hulk his name neglected his responsibilities somewhat. He evidently chose to make use of the Brazilian right of complete freedom when it comes to choosing a name, and what he came up with is a reasonably common word, or at least appears in a dictionary. Similarly, you will find a man in Brazil who goes by the name of Oceano Indico Pacifico – Indian Pacific Ocean. For parents with a love of all things German, the first name Müller is extremely popular (although that might change during the course of this tournament), and the most superstitious can even take a number. Um Dois Três is actually a man’s name, not the title of a Brazilian children’s television programme. As is often the case in Brazil in November, a baby boom is anticipated as a consequence of the carnival in the spring. Brazilians will have nine months to use their imaginations when choosing baby names, and if a recent survey conducted on the Copacabana beach is anything to go by, there could be many a newborn in Brazil with as unusual a football-inspired name as you are likely to find. The girl’s name that appeared top of the list was none other than Fifa. Å

The weekly column by our staff writers

Lothar Matthaus: 25 appearances Team: West Germany, Germany Minutes played: 2047 World Cups: 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998

Paolo Maldini: 23 appearances Team: Italy Minutes played: 2217 World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002

Uwe Seeler: 21 appearances Team: West Germany Minutes played: 1980 World Cups: 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970

Diego Maradona: 21 appearances Team: Argentina Minutes played: 1938 World Cups: 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994

Wladyslaw Zmuda, 21 appearances Team: Poland Minutes played: 1807 World Cups: 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986

Grzegorz Lato: 20 appearances Team: Poland Minutes played: 1800 World Cups: 1974, 1978, 1982

Cafu: 20 appearances Team: Brazil Minutes played: 1638 World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006

Berti Vogts: 19 appearances Team: West Germany Minutes played: 1770 World Cups: 1970, 1974, 1978

Wolfgang Overath: 19 appearances Team: West Germany Minutes played: 1764 World Cups: 1966, 1970, 1974

Ronaldo: 19 appearances Team: Brazil Minutes played: 1623 World Cups: 1998, 2002, 2006

Miroslav Klose: 19 appearances Team: Germany Minutes played: 1511 World Cups: 2002, 2006, 2010

Source: FIFA (FIFA World Cup, Milestones & Superlatives, Statistical Kit, 12/05/2014) T H E F I FA W E E K LY

RUSSIA

Shouting for joy Alexander Kerzhakov celebrates his equaliser in Russia’s 1-1 group match draw with Korea Republic.

The sleeping giant Thomas Renggli, Rio de Janeiro

ith 140 million inhabitants, nine time zones and an even greater plethora of ethnic groups, the nation sandwiched between Western Europe and the Far East is as diverse, unfathomable and fascinating as an entire continent. While Russia continues to stake its claim as a global power, it is making similarly significant strides in the world of sport. After the Olympic Games in Sochi back in February, the next prestigious sporting event on the country’s agenda is the 2018 FIFA World Cup. At “Russia House” in Rio de Janeiro, the Russian Football Union is showcasing its cultural and culinary assets. In just four years’ time, the world’s largest country will also be required to fulfil every 24

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footballing need and field a team that can challenge for the most important title in the sport. The Sbornaya have not yet begun to mount that challenge in Brazil, never finding their rhythm against a persistent Korea Republic side and threatening to drift off course after a crucial error from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev put them 1-0 down. Fortunately, coach Fabio Capello proved he was up to the task by bringing on Russia’s top scorer in qualifying, Alexander Kerzhakov, in the 71st minute. Just five minutes later, he scored the equaliser. “Kerzhakov is a fantastic player, and always good for a goal,” said Capello of his substitute’s performance. “It wasn’t easy for our team after conceding that goal, but the players reacted well. In that respect, we can be satisfied.”

The bottom line is that although Russia scored a point, they will be well aware that they need to improve considerably if they want to avoid going home after the group stages as they did in their past three appearances at the World Cup finals in 1990, 1994 and 2002. Ahead of the team’s matches against Belgium on Sunday and Algeria next Thursday, Capello will be asking himself two major questions. Firstly, can he afford to leave his goalscorer on the substitutes’ bench? And secondly, how can he best avoid further problems in goal? Even before his critical mistake, Akinfeev was more risk than rock, letting practically every ball rebound off him. Capello has already had his fair share of experience with error-prone goalkeepers during his spell as England manager.

Felipe Dana / Keystone

Russia might be overshadowed by the favourites at this summer’s World Cup, but their 1-1 draw with Korea Republic hinted at their potential.

RUSSIA

Wrapped up in national pride Russian fans in Cuiaba.

Alexey Filippov / Keystone

Understandably, the Italian was keen to turn his mind to more positive matters in Brazil, saying: “Our team are very technically adept and have a lot of quality. Creativity and inspiration are our strengths.” Despite his team’s faltering start, the Round of 16 remains the minimum target for Capello, in no small part due to his side’s impressive performances in qualifying. After failing to reach the World Cup finals in 2006 and 2010, Russia qualified for Brazil as group winners, consigning Portugal to the play-offs in the process after a 1-0 home win in Moscow in which Kerzhakov scored the only goal. “The fact that we left one of the strongest European teams in our wake shows how much progress we’ve made,” Capello pointed out. The rise of the Russian league Russia’s domestic championship has laid the foundation for the rise of the country’s national team – financially, logistically and structurally. In economic terms, the Russian Premier League is already one of the top leagues worldwide. It is no coincidence that the Russian Football Union is sending the only team to the World Cup finals made up entirely of players who ply their trade in their home country. Rubles and petrodollars have been flowing into

Russia’s domestic championship has laid the foundation for the national team’s rise. Russian football at such a pace that even Europe’s biggest leagues can no longer keep up. The balance of sporting power is still reminiscent of that of the former Soviet Union, with CSKA Moscow sealing last season’s championship title ahead of Zenit St. Petersburg, Lokomotiv Moscow and Dynamo Moscow. Of Russia’s old footballing powers, only Spartak Moscow suffered a poor season, finishing in sixth place. Russia’s new money aristocracy has made this surge in fortunes possible. Now, as before, state-controlled corporations play a major role:

Lokomotiv are funded by Russian Railways (RZD), Zenit by Gazprom, Dynamo by VTB Bank and Spartak by oil company Lukoil. Only at former Red Army club CSKA has the ownership situation changed, with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich initially providing financial support before Bashkir oil company Bashneft became their primary sponsor. Recent reports have suggested the club is now financing itself, but there is plenty of room for interpretation in this statement, particularly as present club owner Yevgeni Giner is a close confidant of Abramovich. Nevertheless, multi-billionaire Abramovich is currently keeping out of Russian club football. He recently pumped approximately €150 million into the system via his National Football Academy, financing around 130 new football pitches and optimising the country’s youth development programmes in the process, and also helped to finance former Russia national coach Guus Hiddink’s €5 million net salary. Enticing fresh perspectives In 2006, the Dutchman’s appointment triggered one of the most important turning points in the history of Russian football, as the sport turned away from homegrown coaches and opened itself up to new systems T H E F I FA W E E K LY

“The Russian people respect me” Fabio Capello has won pretty much everything there is to win in club football. Now the 68-year-old Italian has set his sights on leading the Russian national team to success. I have to deal with confidential matters, I tend to consult a friend. Name Fabio Capello Date and place of birth 18 June 1946, San Canzian d’Isonzo, Italy Clubs as a player Ferrara, AS Roma, Juventus, AC Milan Teams as a coach AC Milan, Real Madrid, AS Roma, Juventus, England, Russia Major honours Four Italian Serie A titles (as a player), five Italian Serie A titles, two Spanish La Liga titles, one Champions League title (as a coach)

How much do the Russian people respect you? A lot. I really appreciate their respect and it makes me happy. I can also sense the excitement at the prospect of Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup.

What have you seen of Russia? Russia is a very diverse country. I’ve visited a lot of cities and I was very impressed. The country is currently u ndergoing development in many areas.

In a nutshell, what does the World Cup mean to you? Every World Cup is unique. It’s a onderful competition. Success depends w on a wide range of factors: the physical condition of the players, tactics, etc. I believe that the players’ mentality is the most important aspect, because if they’re not 100 per cent ready to perform, tour naments can be really tough going.

Just how important is it to prepare well?

Mr Capello, what do you think of the Russian national team? Fabio Capello: My squad is one of the oldest at this World Cup, but in terms of technical ability, I think it's really good. My players also demonstrate a lot of creativity on the pitch. They play good football.

You’ve been working in Russia for two years now. What’s been your biggest challenge so far? At the time when I took up the post as head coach of Russia, the fans were angry with the players. The poor display at the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine had taken its toll. For me, one of the biggest challenges was to convince the supporters to look forward rather than back. Ultimately, we’re trying to build something here and we’ve been able to accomplish that together over the course of

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the last two years. We overcame a tough qualifying group that included Portugal and are now taking part in our first World Cup finals since 2002.

There were other job offers on the table too. What made you decide to choose Russia? I wanted a new experience. The lan guage, the country and the lifestyle are all very exciting. That’s why I chose Russia.

How much of a challenge is it for you not speaking Russian? The language barrier can prove prob lematic. I always work with interpreters at the training camps, but some ideas are quite difficult to convey. Sometimes you really need to be able to find the right words, to generate a good atmosphere, for example. It helps having some players who speak English and Spanish. But when

Good preparations are of the utmost importance. It starts with the choice of your World Cup base. It’s really important for me to see and assess in advance the pitches, the training facilities, the cities and even the hotels. Fabio Capello was speaking to Alan Schweingruber

RUSSIA

Kirill Kudryavtsev / Afp

and ideas. No expense has been spared in the pursuit of progress: with an salary of €8.29 million, Capello is the highest-paid coach at this summer’s World Cup. Capitalism caught up with Russian football long ago, but the Russian Football Union has also aligned its domestic championship with those in the West. Until 2010, the league ran from March to November, but the system has since been adjusted, and this year the title was awarded in May for the second time. This gives Russian clubs the same schedule as their rivals from Europe’s top five leagues when entering European club competitions. The issue of Russia’s relationship with Ukraine is currently gripping world politics and has also been a decisive factor in the country’s football history. During the Soviet era, Dynamo Kiev was at the heart of the nation’s footballing culture. A majority of the players in the Soviet Union side that reached the final of UEFA EURO 1988 hailed from Ukraine, with only three Russians in the team. Since then the balance of power has shifted, and Russia now outperforms its neighbour on the football pitch. CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg caused a sensation by winning the Europa League in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Russia’s national side almost pulled off a major coup at EURO 2008 when exceptional players such as Andrey Arshavin, Roman

avlyuchenko and Yury Zhirkov guided their P team to the semi-final with an almost Brazilian flair. Only eventual champions Spain were able to halt their progress in the competition. In Brazil, Capello is relying on four players who were part of that remarkable campaign: Zhirkov, Ignashevich, Beresutskiy and Akinfeev. Despite this, many the country’s biggest names are missing from the squad, and captain Roman Shirokov was forced to miss the World Cup after sustaining a knee injury in Russia’s 2-0 World Cup warm-up win against Morocco. Nevertheless, Capello remains optimistic: “When I took this job in 2012, people were frustrated about Russia’s exit from the European Championship,” he explained. “It was very important to first work through this chapter before looking forward and starting completely afresh. And we managed it.” Language barriers As part of this process of coming to terms with the past, the Italian has also had to overcome linguistic barriers. As he does not speak Russian, Capello communicates to his team in the dressing room via an interpreter. “That’s the biggest difficulty,” he says. “It’s difficult to translate feelings and emotions.” Despite these issues the 68-year-old, who won numerous trophies as a club coach with Real Madrid and above all with AC Milan, appears to have

found a way to get through to his players. And if there is one thing he knows very well from his own experience, it is this: as long as he keeps bringing on the right substitutes, his communication skills will never be called into question. In football, goals are worth more than any words. Å

Russia’s group matches Korea Republic (drew 1-1), Belgium (22 June), Algeria (26 June)

Stretching in Sao Paulo Capello guides Russia through their training. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

EVERY GASP EVERY SCREAM EVERY ROAR EVERY DIVE EVERY BALL E V E RY PAS S EVERY CHANCE EVERY STRIKE E V E R Y B E AU T I F U L D E TA I L SHALL BE SEEN SHALL BE HEARD S H A L L B E FE LT

Feel the Beauty

BE MOVED

THE NEW 4K LED TV

“SONY” and “make.believe” are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

MY WORLD CUP

he final whistle that sealed defending champions Spain’s 2-0 defeat by Chile signalled not only the end of their second group match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but also the end of an era for a Spanish side that has captivated the world with its tiki-taka style for years. What lies ahead for La Roja after their premature exit at the World Cup group stage? There was no immediate answer to this question as American referee Mark Geiger concluded the game after six minutes of injury time, but one thing was immediately clear: this year’s World Cup Trophy will be lifted by another nation. Given that the names on the Spanish team’s shirts will likely change over the coming months, the final whistle also marked the beginning of a new era for a new-look Spanish national team and perhaps a new interpretation of tiki-taka – but certainly heralded a new world champion. Å Perikles Monioudis

Andres Kudacki/Keystone

“M

essi” collects a loose ball and sets off on a mazy dribble. “Ronaldo” chases him down from behind, closely followed by “Muller”. A second “Messi” enters the fray. He knocks the first “Messi” off the ball and claims possession. “Müller” slide tackles the pair of them and “Ronaldo” starts crying, as he’s taken a knock. This could end in a brawl, and there’s not a referee in sight. There is loud encouragement from the touchlines: “Yay!! Muller!” “Muller” turns with a confused look on his face. It’s not like he’s normally the recipient of praise. And surely that was a foul? “Ronaldo” is still weeping buckets, at which point the fathers of the superstar wannabes finally appreciate the gravity of the situation. They drag themselves away from the live coverage of Germany v Portugal and smartphones are returned to pockets. Mini-Muller gets a telling-off, and little “Ronaldo” words of consolation. When dads ignore their lads in favour of the stars, you know it must be the World Cup. Å Sarah Steiner

he World Cup can occasionally feel like a fashion show, but it's not necessarily the football stars who are on the catwalk. Fans have long since developed a tendency to act like supermodels. At this edition, ostentatious loyalty and devotion to the colours have become a sport in which everyone takes part, and there is seemingly very little in the way of quality control. Every evening on Rua Ronald de Carvalho in Rio, not far from the legendary Copacabana, one can marvel at a parade of uninhibited showoffs. Robust young fellows strut their stuff in XXL replica shirts bearing the name of lithe and diminutive Argentinian idol Lionel Messi. They meet young Brazilian maidens sporting a Neymar look. The fashionconscious fan community shares the sheer joy of wearing the right kit. And since 2006, if not even before, this role-playing has been a central part of the World Cup experience: anyone can be Messi for an afternoon. The grass roots have rediscovered stars. It may be winter, but it’s carnival time in Rio. Å Roland Zorn

he hottest football parties in Rio de Janeiro take place in what passes for the coldest time of the year, with the sun on your face, sand between your toes and Sugarloaf Mountain on the horizon. It is the dream World Cup on the beach of dreams. A fast-moving vendor sells Caipirinhas, while the Dutch visitors hail Robben, Van Persie and the joys of beer. Vuvuzelas are banned but singing at the top of your lungs is not. The wave of enthusiasm sweeps everyone along. There are no grey areas, only vast expanses of yellow. The Brazilians celebrate Neymar, the rebirth of Jogo Bonito and, rather prematurely, a sixth world crown. The words to the national anthems are displayed on giant screens, The Girl From Ipanema is playing on loop, and the Japanese ref whistles at just the right time. The Copacabana makes you happy. Being at the World Cup on the world’s most famous beach is like a kid’s birthday party, karaoke and a carnival rolled into one. A more enjoyable time to be a fan will be in the next life. Å Thomas Renggli T H E F I FA W E E K LY

Name Davor Suker Date and place of birth 1 January 1968, Osijek, Yugoslavia Position Striker Height 1.83m Clubs played for 1984–1989 Osijek 1989–1991 Dinamo Zagreb 1991–1996 Sevilla 1996–1999 Real Madrid 1999–2000 Arsenal 2000–2001 West Ham United 2001–2003 1860 Munich International career 1990–1991 Yugoslavia 1992–2002 Croatia Selected honours

Igor Kralj / Keystone

1996 UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 1997 La Liga (Real Madrid) 1998 Champions League (Real Madrid) 1998 World Cup adidas Golden Boot 1998 Ballon d’Or, 2nd place 2004 Named in the FIFA 100

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THE INTERVIEW

“I still want to be out there winning matches” Croatian Football Federation President Davor Suker was part of the exceptional team that finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France. The FIFA Weekly asked the 46-year-old former world-class striker about retirement and the state of Croatian football today.

Mr Suker, you are currently the President of the Croatian Football Federation. What’s your team’s approach for this World Cup? Davor Suker: Our national team is made

up of players who enjoy playing football. We want to savour the World Cup, with its excellent infrastructure and organisation, and intend to play beautiful football. We’re proud to be able to take part in the World Cup, and we’re proud of all our fans who appreciate attractive football. Croatia is a sporting nation. Being here is vital for our game and also important for keeping Croatian football up there with the best in the world.

Your team were right in it until you went 3-1 down against Brazil in the opening match. What did we have to lose? The only way we could win was by giving the best possible account of ourselves. The matches against Cameroon (4-0) and Mexico will both be like finals for us. My players will give 150 per cent.

The same could be said of you when you were a player. At the 1998 World Cup, Croatia finished third and you won the adidas Golden Boot. What do you make of Croatia’s current internationals? Although my generation achieved our country’s best World Cup result to date, I hope the current team goes just as far, if not further. We have some very talented players and a good coach in Niko Kovac, all of which means we have excellent potential in this tournament. Back in 1998 – that golden year of Croatian football – players like Modric, Rakitic, Srna and Mandzukic were probably watching us play, and now they’re here themselves. It’s so great to have players of that calibre in our team and to be a part of

Croatian footballing history here with them.

That’s the history lesson, but how is everyday life for you? What does a world-class striker like you miss most about football after retirement? Whenever I watch a match, I long to be part of it. I want to make my mark on the game and be out there on the pitch, winning matches. I’ve always been a huge football fan, but today I sit in the stands in the President’s chair or in a directors’ box. These days I help football in a different way. I promote it and work hard for the U-15, U-17, U-19 teams and so on to ensure they reach European Championships and World Cups.

And you’ve been been a success so far. We’re very proud of the fact that our U-17 side has qualified for the World Cup and European Championships and our U-18 and U-20 teams have qualified for the World Cup. We’re investing in our young players and organising lots of matches for them. We don’t have a large infrastructure but the EU, UEFA and FIFA give us plenty of support, and I thank FIFA for that. Infrastructure projects are our next big priority.

national side to ensure players and teams receive the right support as they develop.

Is that also true of the women’s teams? Yes. We’re currently investing in the U-17, U-19 and senior women’s teams. We’ve also got new headquarters and we’re planning a training facility for our national sides. UEFA and FIFA are providing invaluable assistance with that. After that, we’ll build four regional camps across Croatia.

From a completely neutral and purely sporting perspective, is there a team at this World Cup you would particularly love to be part of? (laughs) I’d play for my country. I’d even pay to be able to get out on the pitch with the lads here! Davor Suker was speaking to Perikles Monioudis in Sao Paulo

And structural changes too. Yes. Attendances in our ten-team league have doubled compared to the previous 16-team league. I’d advise every country with a population of between five and ten million to reduce its league to ten teams.

What other critical areas have you identified? It’s very important to teach teamwork, and continuity is vital too. We’ve got specialists working with us on every transition from U-17, U-19, U-21, all the way up to the senior

Croatia’s group matches Brazil (lost 3-1), Cameroon (4-0), Mexico (23 June) T H E F I FA W E E K LY

MIRROR IMAGE

Adidas football boots with screw-in studs

1954 World Cup

Adidas

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Miracle of Bernâ&#x20AC;?: West Germany defeated clear favourites Hungary 3-2 in the World Cup Final. The German players had significantly greater stability on the muddy pitch thanks to their state-of-the-art football boots. Pictured above is the left boot of captain Fritz Walter.

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MIRROR IMAGE

Adidas adizero f50 Messi football boot

2014 World Cup

Adidas

Lightweight: this boot, styled to complement the colours of Argentinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kit, weighs just 165 grams and bears the name of four-time Ballon dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Or winner Lionel Messi.

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FIFA WORLD R ANKING Rank Team

→ http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/index.html

Change in ranking Points

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Spain Germany Brazil Portugal Argentina Switzerland Uruguay Colombia Italy England

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Belgium Greece USA Chile Netherlands Ukraine France Croatia Russia Mexico Bosnia-Herzegovina Algeria Denmark Côte d'Ivoire Slovenia Ecuador Scotland Costa Rica Romania Serbia Panama Sweden Honduras Czech Republic Turkey Egypt Ghana Armenia Cape Verde Islands Venezuela Wales Austria Iran Nigeria Peru Japan Hungary Tunisia Slovakia Paraguay Montenegro Iceland Guinea Sierra Leone Norway Cameroon Mali Korea Republic Uzbekistan Burkina Faso Finland Australia Jordan Libya South Africa Albania Bolivia El Salvador Poland Republic of Ireland Trinidad and Tobago United Arab Emirates Haiti Senegal Israel Zambia Morocco

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Ranking 01 / 2014

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Top spot

Biggest climber

Bulgaria Oman FYR Macedonia Jamaica Belarus Azerbaijan Congo DR Congo Uganda Benin Togo Gabon Northern Ireland Saudi Arabia Botswana Angola Palestine Cuba Georgia New Zealand Estonia Zimbabwe Qatar Moldova Equatorial Guinea China PR Iraq Central African Republic Lithuania Ethiopia Kenya Latvia Bahrain Canada Niger Tanzania Namibia Kuwait Liberia Rwanda Mozambique Luxembourg Sudan Aruba Malawi Vietnam Kazakhstan Lebanon Tajikistan Guatemala Burundi Philippines Afghanistan Dominican Republic Malta St Vincent and the Grenadines Guinea-Bissau Chad Suriname Mauritania St Lucia Lesotho New Caledonia Syria Cyprus Turkmenistan Grenada

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Biggest faller

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Madagascar Korea DPR Maldives Gambia Kyrgyzstan Thailand Antigua and Barbuda Belize Malaysia India Singapore Guyana Indonesia Puerto Rico Myanmar St Kitts and Nevis Tahiti Liechtenstein Hong Kong Pakistan Nepal Montserrat Bangladesh Laos Dominica Barbados Faroe Islands São Tomé e Príncipe Swaziland Comoros Bermuda Nicaragua Chinese Taipei Guam Sri Lanka Solomon Islands Seychelles Curaçao Yemen Mauritius South Sudan Bahamas Mongolia Fiji Samoa Cambodia Vanuatu Brunei Darussalam Timor-Leste Tonga US Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Papua New Guinea British Virgin Islands American Samoa Andorra Eritrea Somalia Macau Djibouti Cook Islands Anguilla Bhutan San Marino Turks and Caicos Islands

45 -9 6 -14 -3 -6 -9 -8 -8 -7 -8 -5 -5 -9 14 -7 -4 -12 -5 -5 -5 22 -5 5 -6 -9 -7 -5 5 10 -6 -8 -6 -7 -6 -8 -5 -5 -4 -4 16 0 0 -6 -6 0 -10 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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Name

TURNING POINT

David da Costa

“Football is 80 per cent mental – the rest is talent”

Date and place of birth 19 April 1986, Zurich Position Goalkeeper Clubs 2005–2008 FC Zurich U-21 2007–2008 Chiasso 2008–2009 Concordia Basel 2009–2010 Chiasso, Wohlen 2010–2012 Thun since 2012 FC Zurich

Swiss Portuguese goalkeeper David da Costa progressed from being a rough diamond to establishing himself as goalkeeper at the top-flight club he has supported since childhood.

Maurice Haas / 13 Photo

identify much more strongly with my employer than the average employee. As a child, I was a dedicated FC Zurich fan and hardly ever missed a home game. The idea of being able to play for the club at the highest level was just a dream for me, but I got there in the end. I’m proud of that, and the fans are proud of me. In that respect, my background brings added pressure, as I don’t ever want to disappoint them. I know exactly how the fans feel, so I take time for them and try to sign every autograph and pose for every photograph I can, because it wasn’t so long ago that I was in their position. I’ve still got autographs at home from players and coaches that I ended up working with. Despite having a deep connection with the fans, I’ve had to try to distance myself from them. At the end of the day, I’m a professional – and therefore a role model. But I’m a direct person and I like to speak my mind, and that has occasionally got me into trouble. There have been several turning points in my career. One key moment was my first move, which took me from FC Zurich to Chiasso in the Challenge League. I really didn’t want to leave, but my agent gave me the kick up the backside I needed. My family also encouraged me to take the leap, and I’ve been grateful to them for it ever since. As soon as you move away, you realise how good you had it at home. That applies to everything from cooking, washing and vacuuming your own flat, all the way to the football itself. I realised that talent alone wouldn’t guarantee me a successful career. My former goalkeeping coach Stefan Knutti always said: “80 per cent is mental, 20 per cent is talent”. I had to give up a lot of things such as partying, going out and eating

unhealthy food. Afterwards I realised that I’d been making all kinds of mistakes and wasn’t as disciplined and consistent as a professional should be. Today I know how little it takes to put an end to your whole career. I played for Switzerland at youth level, but back then the coach didn’t see me as a potential professional; instead he saw a player who was too easily distracted. My dream is to play for a national team one day, whether that be Switzerland or Portugal. And since winning the Swiss Cup [in 2014], I know dreams can come true. I want to keep improving, and as a goalkeeper you are able do that. Another turning point in my career was my appearance for FC Wohlen in the spring of 2010. We were about to play a match against Thun and we barely had 11 players fit enough to start the game. The coach initially wanted to play me up front, but then the first-choice keeper picked up an injury, so I got to go in goal. I had a fantastic game that secured me a contract with Thun – my first Super League club.

The third turning point in my life has to be meeting my wife, Daniela. We met back in 2006, and became parents to a son a year ago. Nelio has changed my life all over again. Nowadays, I go to bed at 11pm instead of 1am, and after matches my active recovery involves walking my son in his pushchair. My appetite for parties has lessened a little too. After winning the Swiss Championship in 2007 we partied until 9am the next morning, but after winning the Cup this season I was at home by 6.30pm… Å Adapted by Thomas Renggli

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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THE SOUND OF FOOTBALL

THE OBJEC T

Perikles Monioudis

F A Seleção of songs Hanspeter Kuenzler Home alone with an empty fridge and no samba football on any channel anywhere? There’s only one solution: Brazilian music!

Sion Ap Tomos

n a country where being obsessed with football is the norm it’s no surprise that a disproportionately large number of musicians have dedicated a song or two to the first true love of their lives, football. Helpfully enough Brazilian music website Vagalume has compiled a rather fine and tuneful Seleção of such tunes. Fluency in Portuguese is by no means a prerequisite for getting the most out of the website. A first exploratory scan of the contents indicates a multifaceted, broad-based and dynamic musical panorama, entirely representative of Brazil’s diverse cultural scene. At one end of the spectrum we have seasoned duo Caju & Castanha from Recife, performers of the Embolada style

for some 40 years now. Accompanied only by tambourines they declaim their texts, often improvised, sometimes satirical, sometimes a social critique but always witty, in a form of rap reminiscent of Jamaican reggae MCs or West African Griots. Their football-themed contribution is called Futebol No Inferno and covers among other things the weighty topics of heaven and hell. By way of a contrast we turn to Band Skank. The Belo Horizonte four-piece initially came together with the aim of combining the dancehall reggae that was all the rage at the time with Brazilian melodies, but mutated into a classy indie rock band in the British tradition and have already featured at European and American rock festivals. É Uma Partida de Futebol is an exhilarating all-electric amalgam of calypso, ska and rock. The listener is continually surprised by the delicate

blends and nods to other genres. Chico Buarque, master of subtle chansons, combines smooth bossa nova with tinkling jazz piano in the anthemic O Futebol, comparing a footballer’s job with the work of a painter or composer. And eccentric “Brasil-Britpop” band Pullovers draw parallels between football and flirting in their eminently cheerful ditty Futebol de óculos. And should you feel in the mood for a singalong, a button on the left of the screen labelled Hinos de Futebol links to the official anthems of the biggest Brazilian clubs. Æ

ootball has not always been the socially-accepted, widely-supported sport it is today. In Germany, for example, there used to be no shortage of sceptics who described the game as “uncultured oafishness with the feet” and viewed it as the “English disease”. They would have readily have banned it by law, their belief being that youngsters were better off spending their time performing synchronised gymnastics exercises. The concept of individual e xpression in sport did not enter the minds of football’s detractors. At the time, sport meant imitating the moves of a gymnastics instructor and obeying his orders. Even in England football was not without its critics. The FIFA Collection houses the caricature pictured above, which is from the cover illustration of the magazine L’Assiette au Beurre in 1902. It depicts two French p layers, with one saying to the other: “Stupid fool, dirty lout – that’s how the poet Kipling describes anyone who plays the uncouth game of football. He’ll never be president of Racing.” Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865 and moved to England as a five-year-old. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 37 years later and his most famous work, The Jungle Book, is still read by children the world over today. Kipling was not given to snobbishness – he declined a knighthood – but even for him football was a step too far. He would certainly not have wanted to preside over Racing Club de France, as the Parisian outfit founded in 1882 was called at the time. In that era the only sports considered worthy of playing required the use of hands. It is therefore somewhat ironic that the R acing Club rugby team, one of a variety of sports now offered at the club, has long been more successful that its football team. Å

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FIFA QUIZ CUP

14 goals conceded in two World Cup appearances and a team with no goals against – test your knowledge!

President: Joseph S. Blatter

One keeper made just two World Cup appearances and conceded 14 goals – but still ended up a world champion. Who coached his team? S

Secretary General: Jérôme Valcke Director of Communications and Public Affairs: Walter De Gregorio Chief Editor: Perikles Monioudis Staff Writers: Thomas Renggli (Author), Alan Schweingruber, Sarah Steiner Art Direction: Catharina Clajus

What’s in the picture?

Picture Editor: Peggy Knotz, Andreas Wilhelm

A I O E

Production: Hans-Peter Frei Layout: Richie Krönert (Lead), Marianne Bolliger-Crittin, Susanne Egli, Mirijam Ziegler

Foundation stone of the Home of FIFA in Zurich World Cup trophy Wall of a VIP box at the Maracana Fair Play trophy

Which nation never conceded a goal (except in penalty shoot-outs) at a World Cup?

Proof Reader: Nena Morf, Kristina Rotach Contributors: Sérgio Xavier Filho, Luigi Garlando, Sven Goldmann, Hanspeter Kuenzler, Jordi Punti, David Winner, Roland Zorn Contributors to this Issue: Lucia Clemens (Picture), Alissa Rosskopf

Which country is a previous Word Cup winner?

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D G N O

Kingdom north of … Republic east of … Island south of … Union west of …

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The answer to last week’s Quiz Cup was PASS Detailed answers on www.fifa.com/theweekly Inspiration and implementation: cus

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A S K T H E W E E K LY

T HIS WEEK’S POLL

Which two Group H teams will qualify for the Round of 16?

Defending champions Spain’s 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands and their early exit were the first major surprises of this World Cup. Has a reigning champion ever lost at a World Cup by such a high margin?

Stefan Lehmann, Kusnacht, Switzerland

At this summer's World Cup, there is no group more open than that of Belgium, Algeria, Russia and Korea Republic. Who are your favourites, and which two teams do you think will progress? Email your predictions to: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org

L A S T W E E K’S P O L L R E S U LT S

Which teams will qualify from Group D?

55 % 26 %

Costa Rica and one other Italy and England Italy and Uruguay

19 %

WEEK IN NUMBERS

140

The number of international caps won by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who has so far

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa’s

been unable to add to that tally

favourite number. Not only does it

at the World Cup due to an

adorn the back of his shirt, it is also

ankle injury. He is now back in

the date of his maiden World Cup

training and hoping to regain

appearance (13 June 2014). In the

his starting berth, which

group game against Brazil he

appears more than likely

made a string of extraordinary

according to his stand-in

have been the victory he was after, but

saves to keep the World Cup hosts

Salvatore Sirigu: “We have to

the Italian was nevertheless satisfied

at bay, while his birthday is on 13

be realistic. There is no

with his players’ efforts: “My team’s

July - the day of the Final. No

competition for places

reaction to going behind was really

prizes for guessing what he

between Gigi and me. He’s

good. That was the best birthday present

would like as a present.

more than a player.”

they could have given me.”

Russia coach Fabio Capello turned 68 on the day of his side’s 1-1 group stage draw with South Korea. It may not

Getty Images

No. It was also only the fifth time the reigning champions have begun the tournament with a defeat after Italy’s 3-2 loss to Sweden in 1950, 1-0 losses for Argentina against Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in 1990, and France’s 1-0 defeat by Senegal in 2002. The last time Spain conceded five or more goals in a match was exactly 51 years ago when Scotland beat them 6-2 in a Madrid friendly on 13 June 1963. The only time Spain lost by a higher margin at the World Cup was in Brazil in 1950, when the Iberians were defeated 6-1 by the hosts. (thr)