The FIFA Weekly Issue #26

ISSUE 26/2015, 3 JULY 2015

ENGLISH EDITION

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

GOLD CUP USA HUNGRY FOR TITLE SUCCESS BLATTER WOMEN’S FOOTBALL NEEDS FEMALE ROLE MODELS CAMEROON COTON SPORT TARGET LEAGUE TITLE CANADA 2015

A final steeped in tradition 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

Gold Cup Every two years, the best national teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean compete for the Gold Cup. The sight of less fancied sides pitting their wits against the region’s powerhouses makes the tournament an even greater spectacle. “There’s going to be a lot of entertainment this summer,” said USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Michael Lewis reports from the USA.

South America 10 members www.conmebol.com

K azakhstan Gerard Gohou cannot stop scoring.

The 26-year-old Ivorian striker’s efforts have given Kairat Almaty a good chance of lifting the championship trophy.

S epp Blatter “Female coaches, referees, officials and Executive Committee members should be given strategic responsibility,” the FIFA President says in his weekly column. “After all, women’s football needs role models – female ones.”

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Canada 2015 After Canada’s World Cup exit, 19-year-old Kadeisha Buchanan declared: “I need to take on a leadership role now.”

G ustavo Matosas The Uruguayan coach is much in demand in Mexico. In an interview with The FIFA Weekly he said: “Europe is copying South American football from the 1960s and 70s.”

37 A familiar final Our cover image was taken during the Women’s World Cup final in Frankfurt am Main on 17 July 2011.

The USA’s Heather O’Reilly is on the ball, keenly pursued by Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama.

Football’s DJ After discovering his flair for music relatively late in life, goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin now tours worldwide as a DJ.

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

imago (2), Getty Images (2)

Jonathan Paul Larsen / mauritius 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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Footballing siblings Why it pays to have an elder brother if you want to get ahead in football.

(Pictured: Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince)

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Cameroon Coton Sport are captivating crowds with their no-frills brand of attacking football. (Pictured: Hermelin Boukama Kaya)

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Every dream needs a kick-off.

Inspire her passion. Use your Visa Card to purchase tickets to the FIFA Women’s World Cup™.

UNCOVERED

The spice of life T

Mario Wagner / 2Agenten

here are plenty of reasons it would be great to see into the future. For one thing, many a betting fanatic could have plenty of fun with the kind of gift that would enable them to order a Ferrari in their favourite colour. They might, for example, have wagered that England’s women would score an own goal in their World Cup semi-final – and in stoppage time at that. Such fool­ hardy predictions would lead to a major windfall once they actually come true.

This prophetic punter might also have a flutter on Costa Rica topping their group at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as who believed the island nation could achieve such a thing against the likes of Italy, England and Uruguay?

While such flights of fancy are good fun, there would be no real benefit to knowing what awaits us next. After all, humanity has come a long way without this skill, while stories of outsiders springing surprises are among the most fascinating tales in sporting history.

With the CONCACAF Gold Cup set to start on 7 July, the USA and Mexico clear favourites to compete for the title. Nevertheless, the competition will also play host to unknown quantities such as Panama and Haiti – not to mention dark orses Costa Rica – who will be hoping to cause the kind of sensation Guadeloupe managed eight years ago. Å Alan Schweingruber

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CONCACAF GOLD CUP

OUT TO BEAT THE BIG

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istory tends to suggest that either the United States or Mexico will emerge victorious from the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. After all, one or other of the North American giants have lifted the trophy on 11 of the 12 occasions the competition has been staged. But the times they may be a-changing.

Their rivals are lining up title challenges of their own at the 13th biennial tournament, which kicks off on July 7 and culminates with the championship game in Philadelphia on 26 July.

Teams who feel they have a legitimate shot at glory and a chance to book a spot at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup include Costa Rica, revelations at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, and Panama, who just missed out on a trip to the global showpiece last year.

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Jarett Wickerham / Getty Images

The Gold Cup is not only an opportunity to gain prestige and glory – it also gives smaller international sides a chance to etch their names in history. Michael Lewis reports from New York City.

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BOYS

Gold Cup 2013 Costa Rica's Celso Borges delivers a corner during a match against the USA. T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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Panama not to be underestimated Panama have caused both the USA and Mexico trouble in previous Gold Cups, narrowly losing to the former in the 2005 and 2013 finals and twice defeating El Tri 2-1 within a 17-day span at the 2013 edition. Head coach Hernan Dario Gomez, a Colombian native, thinks his players have put the disappointment of failing to reach Brazil behind them. “We believe in ourselves and are professional,” he said. “We come here with the hope that we can give it our all in this tournament. The dream is to make it to the next World Cup.”

Success can be measured in many ways.

Winning the title is of out of reach for some sides for whom a place in the knockout stages would be considered an accomplishment.

Clinching a berth in the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the United States would be an achievement for all. Caribbean Cup champions Jamaica, 2014 Copa Centroamericana winners Costa Rica, guests Mexico and hosts USA are ensured of a place, but two more spots will be up for grabs in play-offs between the top Gold Cup finishers who have not already qualified.

Tony Meola, the first Gold Cup superstar The Gold Cup has come on in leaps and bounds since it made its debut in a more modest setup in Los Angeles in 1991. Eight countries competed for glory back then, with games alternating between the LA Coliseum and Rose Bowl. The USA emerged as champions, defeating Honduras in the final on penalties after a scoreless draw.

Goalkeeper Tony Meola, who made three penalty saves, was named player of the tournament.

The 2015 competition spans the USA from coast to coast. It will be contested by 12 teams in 14 venues and even includes a stopover in

Triumph in 2007 The USA celebrate winning the competition after beating Mexico 2-1 in the final.

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Canada for the first time, where Toronto will host a double header on 14 July.

Small unfancied sides have sprung some major surprises in recent years, none more so than Guadeloupe, a French Overseas Territory with a population of just 400,000 that is not a member of FIFA. In 2007, the Gwada Boys upset Canada 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Haiti to reach the quarter-finals, where they shocked Honduras 2-1. Only a narrow 1-0 loss to Mexico in the semis prevented the minnows from going all the way to the final. Two years later, Guadeloupe were at it again, turning over Panama 2-1 and Nicaragua 2-0 in the group stages before falling 5-1 to Costa Rica in the last eight. Although Guadeloupe will not be back this year, this could still be the most closely contested of the 13 editions of the tournament.

“There is no team you can underestimate,” said Klinsmann. “You’ve got to be on your toes and give everything you have. You always have to respect all the other nations. There’s going to be a lot of entertainment this summer.” El Salvadoran captain Andres Flores agreed: “You never know what’s going to happen. It’s going to be a very interesting tournament.” The top two teams from each group will reach the quar-

Tasos Katopodis / AFP / Getty Images

After reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil, Los Ticos coach Paulo Wanchope realises his team faces much greater expectations. “It will be a big challenge for us,” he said. “Everyone will now expect Costa Rica to play great football and win against any team.”

Asked what his charges need to do to win, Wanchope said, “We need to prepare well and have the confidence to go on and win it. We need to play game by game and get better and better. Then, when we get the chance to play against either Mexico or the USA, we will be even better prepared to win the tournament.”

CONCACAF GOLD CUP

ter-finals, as will the two third-placed sides that accrue the most points. The knockout rounds are set to take place in Baltimore, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chester.

“Everyone is eager to prove that it’s a very special tournament, one that is growing and is televised all over the world,” said Klinsmann.

“Our region is getting more attention overseas.

South America will look more towards this tournament too, because next year we’re going to be in the same pot at the Centennial Copa America.”

Klinsmann’s grand plan

Espinoza turns down Honduras Should the Americans prevail, they will qualify for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Russia because they also won the 2013 Gold Cup. If another team emerge victorious, a special playoff against the US will determine which goes to Russia.

Jeff Mitchell / FIFA via Getty Images

Guadeloupe inflicted the competition’s biggest upset to date.

Although Klinsmann’s side are tipped to win Group A, their seemingly eternal Gold Cup rivals Panama might contest top spot.

Honduras and Haiti will also vie for a place in the knockout round. Panama and the USA have enjoyed some classic encounters at the event, including the 2005 and 2013 finals. Los Canaleros are the only team to have defeated the Stars and Stripes on American soil in the group stage, by way of a 2-1 triumph in 2011.

“That was a difficult game,” recalled Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who was named top keeper at the 2005 and 2013 tournaments.

“It was very, very hard fought and very complicated.”

Asked why Panama match up so well with the USA, Penedo said, “We are a team that has fast and strong players. Maybe that’s why the games are so physical as well because the US also have this type of player.”

Honduras will be without midfielder Roger Espinoza, a two-time World Cup veteran and standout performer at the 2012 Olympic Games. Espinoza risked the ire of coach and fans by turning down his country, but explained his decision to MLSSoccer.com.

“I don’t feel 100 per cent physically, mentally,” he said. “The past few years have drained me for sure. I had surgery in 2014, hernia surgery in April right before I had to go to the World Cup. Being able to play in the World Cup and then come back with no vacation straight to pre-season in England has taken a toll on me. So I felt like if I’m not

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SA coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named 17 players who travelled to Brazil last year for the FIFA World Cup™ in his squad for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Continuity is key for the German as these 17 form the spine of an experienced USA squad intending to mount a successful defence of their continental title. “Our approach when putting together the squad was to win the Gold Cup,” said Klinsmann. “It’s a really important tournament for us and we will of course give everything to lift the trophy.” Another triumph would guarantee the USA’s place in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, the ‘warmup tournament’ for the World Cup in the same country the following year.

“Because victory in the Gold Cup means qualifying for the Confederations Cup, it’s really important to bring together our best players,” said Klinsmann. “This squad not only boasts plenty of quality, but also plenty of experience.”

The mere fact that the German establishes such strict criteria for selection underlines the importance of the Gold Cup, which has, historically, been little more than an afterthought for CONCACAF’s strongest teams, including Brazil 2014 participants Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Success on his mind USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann is counting on continuity.

There are 12 CONCACAF member associations taking part in this year’s tournament.

In the event that the USA do not win the competition, the victors will face the 2013 champions in a play-off for the right to advance to the 2017 Confederations Cup. Hosts this time around, Klinsmann’s side will rely on Seattle Sounders’ Clint Dempsey and Toronto’s Jozy Altidore up front, with Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan in goal. The defence will be a predominantly Bundesliga affair, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Tim Chandler, Hertha Berlin’s John Brooks and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Fabian Johnson expected to line up alongside Bolton Wanderers’ Tim Ream, who plies his trade in the English Championship. The midfield is likely to include Tottenham’s DeAndre Yedlin, Toronto’s Michael Bradley and New York City’s Mix Diskerud.

In total, 45 players from the MLS have been called into different Gold Cup squads, with Toronto, Real Salt Lake and Dallas each providing five players.

For his part, Klinsmann believes another USA triumph is possible: “We believe that we have a really good group of players. We can win this prestigious tournament.” tfw

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FIFA is committed to developing football for the benefit of all. Our mission is to: Develop the game FIFA’s primary objective is to develop the game of football in our 209 member associations. The FIFA World Cup™ gives us the resources we need to invest USD 550,000 per day in football development across the globe.

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CONCACAF GOLD CUP

going to be 100 per cent for the national team, I’d be lying to myself, my team-mates in Honduras and the whole country.”

Costa Rica keen to prove themselves Wanchope will not be taking anything for granted from Group B rivals El Salvador, Jamaica and Canada. He has called on his big guns from Europe in the shape of midfielder Bryan Ruiz of Fulham and forward Joel Campbell, who spent last season at Villarreal. “There is no time to relax,” said Wanchope. “We know it’s going to be even harder. All the games are going to be tough because of what we did in the World Cup. We know that. That will keep us working harder every day.”

“The Gold Cup is a chance for Jamaica to move forward and hopefully do something really special.”

Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Panama's Roman Torres celebrates after scoring against Mexico in July 2013.

Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images, imago, Marc Serota / Getty Images

Midfielder Jobi McAnuff

Canada are the only other side to have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup other than the USA and Mexico, but coach Benito Floro knows his team have their work cut out for them this year.

“We are going to play against three teams that are higher ranked than us so we need to show that we are growing and developing and that we are doing things in the right way,” he said.

Jamaica lost all three of their recent Copa America matches in Chile 1-0, but the Reggae Boyz have taken great heart from those performances. “We were not playing against any Mickey Mouse teams,” said midfielder Jobi McAnuff. “We were away from home and a lot of things went against us. Referees were tough the whole tournament. It’s a building block for Jamaican football to move forward with the Gold Cup and hopefully do something really special.”

Mexico have work to do El Salvador are a young side, rebuilding from a match-fixing scandal that saw 14 internationals receive lifetime bans. “If we can qualify for the semi-finals, that will be success for us,” said captain Flores. “After the hard time of a couple of years ago, now we’re trying to do better things. We’re going to look for success. We cannot lie to ourselves or to the fans. We have to be sincere with everybody we talk to. We’re going to work a lot and we’re going to be focused on what we want.”

Twelve bosses All of this year's Gold Cup coaches pose for a group photo in March 2015.

Guadeloupe This national side caused a sensation in 2007 by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.

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CONCACAF - GOLD - CUP

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MLS side New York Red Bulls have three players at the tournament – and they are all defenders. Left backs Roy Miller from Costa Rica and Kemar Lawrence of Jamaica are joined by Canadian centre-half Karl Ouimette.

“We have joked about who will be back in the Red Bull locker room first,” said Lawrence, speculating on which of the three teams may not reach the quarter-finals.

El Tri fill US stadiums with their huge fan base and are expected to ease past Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba in Group C. The Gold Cup marks a return to action for Mexico after their disappointing group stage exit at the Copa America in Chile. “We will try and win the upcoming tournament so that people are calmer and happier,” said coach Miguel Herrera. “We need to keep working in order to get the results we want so that we can continue to try and get to Russia.”

Mexico have a history of firing coaches after disappointing results and Herrera acknowledged the heat is on. “I’m still the same, still with the same enthusiasm,” he said. “I’m enjoying the victories and the defeats. I know that if you do not get results and work hard, no one is immortal here.”

Los Chapines midfielder Marco Pappa said that “it would be really special for Guatemalan history” if his side were to book a spot in Copa America 2016, before going even further by insisting his team can win the competition.

Should they do so, it would “be a big thing. Guatemalans expect good results from the national team, especially when times are hard back home. So those kind of things can be a good thing, giving some happiness to my country. I hope we can do something special in this Gold Cup. I want to win the tournament.”

Daniel P. Derella / AP Photo

Final day 2009 USA face Mexico in East Rutherford. El Tri go on to win the match 5-0.

2006 holds the key to success Meanwhile Trinidad and Tobago are trying to rediscover the magic that propelled them to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. “I have confidence in this group of players that we can put things right,” said Soca Warriors coach Stephen Hart.

“Once everyone buys into what we need to do collectively in order to achieve what we want then it will go well for us. We would need to focus on our task and support each other.

We have the talent.”

Cuban midfielder Yenier Marquez will feature in a record eighth Gold Cup hoping the Leones del Caribe can repeat their 2013 achievement, when the little-fancied side reached the quarter-finals. “The first goal is to pass the group stage, which is already tough,” he said. “Once we’re past it, that’s when we’ll think about equalling or improving that mark. It would definitely be great to break down that wall and make it at least one round further.” Å

T HE T OUR N A MEN T

First held: 1963 (CONC AC A F Nations C up, renamed as Gold C up in 1991) Number of teams: 12 Defending champions: US A Mo s t suc c es s ful t eam: Mex ic o (9 - time winner s) Player with most Gold Cup caps: L andon Donovan (US A , 34 matc he s) Record goalscorer: L andon Donovan (18)

GOL D CUP 2015

Number of teams: 12 (out of 36 c ontender s) Host nation: US A and C anada (14 s tadiums) Opening match: 7 July 2015 Final: 26 July 2015 Group A: US A , Panama, Haiti, Honduras Group B: C os ta Ric a, El Salvador, Jamaic a, C anada Group C: Mex ic o, Guatemala, Tr inidad and Tobago, C uba

Gold Cup, Los Angeles The tournament gets a new name in 1991.

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TALK ING POIN T S

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Kazakhstan: Premier League

Ivo r i a n G o h o u i n j e c t s l i fe i nto t it l e r a c e Alan Schweingruber is a staff writer on The FIFA Weekly.

In Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth-largest country by area, the regular season is slowly reaching its conclusion. Four rounds of matches remain before the table is split in two, with the top six teams subsequently contesting play-offs to determine who wins the championship while the lower half of the Premier League battle it out to avoid relegation.

One team currently doing well are FK Aktobe, who hail from the city of the same name renowned for its stunning marble-and gold Nurgasyr mosque. The side are undisputed championship leaders even after securing a fortunate 1-1 draw

I N S I D E

against Zhetisu Taldyqorghan thanks to a one-man advantage and a stoppage-time equaliser.

This is becoming a regular occurrence for Aktobe, who topped the final standings at the end of the last regular season before letting their nerves show and losing out to capital city side FK Astana. But that frustrating second-place finish was a blip for the Red and Whites who have dominated Kazakh football’s recent past, winning the championship in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013, and could replace Irtysh Pavlodar as the country’s all-time most successful club this autumn.

Their upcoming duel with current second-placed side Kairat Almaty promises to be an interesting one; after all, the team from Kazakhstan’s largest city are enjoying more enviable form, having most recently posted a 2-0 win over Astana. What’s more, they have the league’s most prolific striker at their disposal – Gerard Gohou. At 26, the sharp-shooting Ivorian has already made a name for himself by finishing as top scorer in the Moroccan and Turkish champion-

ships, and now heads the Kazakh Premier League list with 18 goals to his name. To give an idea of just how impressive this figure is, the current runner-up in the list, Dusan Savic, has scored seven times so far this season. It is astonishing to think that Gohou has never received a call-up for the Côte d’Ivoire national team.

This ice hockey oriented country in Central Asia joined UEFA in 2002 with the aim of sharpening their skills against more experienced footballing nations. No Kazakh club has yet reached the group stages of the Champions League, although Astana will take another shot at this milestone when their qualifying campaign starts against Slovenian side Maribor in mid-July.

Shakhter Karagandy at least set tongues wagging during qualification two years ago by slaughtering a sheep on the pitch ahead of a crucial play-off match against Celtic, sparking heated debates among Europeans not used to such apparently strange rituals. In any event, it seemed to help as Karagandy went on to win that first-leg match 2-0. Å

HO

Prolific Gerard Gohou (left) has already scored 18 goals for Kairat Almaty this season.

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Cameroon: Elite One

Daouda K a m i lou is back

Dedicated support Coton Sport can count on a large fan base in Garoua.

Perikles Monioudis is chief editor of The FIFA Weekly.

After 20 matches in the 2015 Elite One (Ligue 1) campaign, Sport Football Club de Garoua have a healthy lead over the chasing pack. The Cotton Planters, hailing from this relatively obscure port city in Cameroon’s north, have steadily accumulated 43 points, with Duala-based competitors Botafogo FC (38), Les Astres (33), New Star (32) and Union Sportive (31) struggling to keep up.

While their rivals are based in an industrial heartland that is the largest city in Cameroon – not to mention Central Africa itself – Coton Sport continue to set the top-flight pace despite their humble surroundings.

Playing an uncomplicated brand of football, French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa is attempting to instil a winning mentality into his players – and it appears he is succeeding, with Coton well on their way to a third straight championship in 2015 to add to their record haul of 13 triumphs. The 45-year-old is prepared to name and shame those who fail to meet the club’s standards and has publicly described some of his side’s mistakes as “grotesque”. His criticism is constructive, though, serving to remind the team of what is required of them. And it is not just the players who draw his ire; refereeing decisions have also inspired the tactician to make some colourful comments.

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In mid-June, just after the midway point in the season, Coton were deprived of talented 22-year-old Cedric Djeugoue after the defender opted to join Moroccan club Ittihad Riadi de Tanger. Djeugoue’s exit was a blow, but what marks Da Rosa’s group of players out is that there are no stars. Although estimates put the total cost of the playing staff at around $700,000, the most valuable asset is the collective.

For the supporters – and Da Rosa himself – this is just as well, especially since cultured striker Daouda Kamilou caused a stir by returning to Garoua recently. Nicknamed the ‘nine’ in reference to his squad number and position, the Nigerian international is a

fans’ favourite from his first spell at the club between 2007 and 2009, when he won successive domestic doubles, was crowned top goalscorer in 2009 and helped Coton to

Coton Sport de Garoua are on course to defend their title.

Sudan, Kamilou is now back at his former stomping ground, hoping to pick up where he left off six years ago.

A third Cameroonian league winner’s medal beckons for the 27-year-old and his in-form team-mates this term. Coton had won four and lost one of their previous five matches before a 2-2 draw at 15th-placed Fovu de Baham on 28 July put them five points clear.

Moreover, Da Rosa’s men can focus all their efforts on the league campaign, having been knocked out of the CAF Champions League in the last 32 by DR Congo-based side SM Sanga Balende in early April. A 14th title is, therefore, a distinct possibility. Å

CAF Champions League final. Garoua were defeated by Egyptian side Al-Ahly on that occasion but left the pitch having won themselves a host of admirers. After spells playing in Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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C AN ADA 2015

“This is a positive era”

FIFA Technical Study Group member Sylvie Beliveau shares her views on the positive balance at the FIFA ­Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

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omen’s football is not only in excellent health, it continues to go from strength to strength. One need look no further for proof than the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, which has come on in leaps and bounds since China PR hosted the first event in 1991. Now in its seventh edition, the competition is experiencing great success, with Canada 2015 heralding a number of new developments, including the rise from 16 to 24 teams and the introduction of goal-line technology.

FIFA

Pooling expertise Representatives from FIFA’s Technical Study Group at Canada 2015.

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C AN ADA 2015

Perhaps no one is better placed to take the pulse of the tournament than Sylvie Beliveau, who has been devoted to the growth of the women’s game for over 20 years, and also hails from the host country. The former Canada coach led her side to the 1995 Women’s World Cup in Sweden, where she was the only woman at the reins of one of the contenders. Two decades on, eight sides kicked off at Canada 2015 with female coaches, while Beliveau herself has been observing the standard of the competition and the tactical trends as a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG).

The increase to 24 teams This change meant a rise in the number of groups to six plus an extra round – the Round of 16 – which made it possible for four of the teams finishing third across the six groups to still qualify. For some sides, the opportunity to play another game at World Cup level is a way of picking up priceless experience. The teams who benefited the most from the increase to 24 were the less experienced sides. They were able to increase their exposure and raise their profile both at home and within their confederations, which helps in terms of getting the support they need to prepare for competitions. The rise in the number of teams also meant an extra berth at the tournament for each confederation, which allows more teams to believe they can qualify for the World Cup, thus improving levels of motivation and the standard of the competition.

The less experienced teams The majority of the newcomers at this World Cup have performed well compared to more established sides. In particular, Cameroon, Switzerland and the Netherlands stood up well to Japan, as did Costa Rica against Brazil. We also have to look at the teams with limited experience. Colombia, for example, were playing in only their second World Cup and have less experience than the likes of Germany, USA or even Australia, but they improved considerably on their performance at their first World Cup in 2011. That’s why, when you increase to 24 teams, you have to accept that everyone deserves to be there, as long as you give them time. When you change a rule like that, you have to wait four or eight years to see the fruits of it.

The trends in the game It’s been interesting to see a whole variety of styles of play. Certain teams have a more ‘indi-

THE FINAL In a repeat of the same fixture four years ago, the USA and Japan will contest the Women’s World Cup final, which kicks off on 5 July 2015 at 16:00 local time. The showpiece will provide a fitting end to the tournament in Canada if it is anywhere near as exciting as its 2011 counterpart in the German city of Frankfurt am Main; Japan emerged victorious from a penalty shootout that year after a thrilling encounter ended 2-2 after extra time.

The second semi-final in Canada on 1 July ended in traumatic fashion for England, who played confidently from the start and had been searching for a winner in the closing stages of their match against a somewhat reserved Japanese side, but failed to create any major goalscoring opportunities. The game looked set to go to extra time until England defender Laura Bassett made a decisive error in the second minute of stoppage time. As the 31-year-old ­attempted to clear a Japanese cross, the ball bounced off the crossbar and into the net.

“I feel sorry for the player,” said Nadeshiko coach Norio Sasaki before attempting to console Bassett by adding, “but Yuki Ogimi was right behind her ready to pounce, so I don’t think it would have made a difference either way.”

England now face Germany in the match for third place, which kicks off on 4 July at 14:00 local time. The USA proved too strong for Silvia Neid’s side, who lost the other semi-final 2-0. sca

vidualistic’ style, such as Colombia or Cameroon, who have special players capable of making the difference, whereas for sides with greater experience a more collective approach has taken hold.

Another trend has been the ability of players to fulfil several different roles. There are more and more full-backs who are capable of playing in midfield or out on the wing, and that forces central defenders to become playmakers. They cannot just defend: they have to read the game, provide good passes and make good decisions. Japan were already masters of this versatility, with midfielders who can operate up front. However, it’s an especially new development for full-backs. Right now, there are several teams who, as soon as they gain possession in their own half, have full-backs who pour forward and are no longer in a defensive position when their side loses the ball. They move up to the halfway line and sometimes even higher.

We have seen an evolution of the game with teams that are able to play one- or twoball touches in tight spaces. Good teams have shown quality in the variety of their offensive play.

The goalkeepers It’s been impressive to see how much they have improved in terms of physicality, decision-making and their participation in play, both in defence and attack. This has probably been the

best competition ever in terms of the general standard of goalkeeping. Some of them have even been taking free-kicks far from goal, close to the touchline. That shows how much confidence they have, because the player then has to get back into position. Mentally too, it shows they are prepared to take that risk and make the effort.

The role of coaches Out of the 24 sides, eight had female coaches, including newcomers like Switzerland, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Thailand. The role of coach has evolved significantly since the first few World Cups. It’s obviously still the same job to an extent, but we’re talking about two different worlds. Nowadays you get a ‘big team behind the team’, and the coach has to manage that as well. If there are problems at staff level, it tends to have an impact on the standard of the players and the team. The challenge before was working without personnel, and trying to study opponents without the necessary tools.

Everything has now become accessible thanks to videos of games and detailed analysis, which every coach can get hold of to constantly study the opposition. The game becomes interesting as a result because a coach needs to be able to adapt during the match. Since you know your opponent inside-out, you have to be able to surprise, change and adapt to changes during the game – and that’s become an important factor.

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C AN ADA 2015

The road ahead A study of averages (age, size and number of selections) ­performed during the competition for each team shows that the teams qualified for the semi-finals are in the first row of the rankings (excluding Japan on the average sizes). ­A lthough it is obvious that no clear conclusions can be drawn from these statistics, we can still think that to be competitive at the highest level, you have to have players with plenty of experience, have played many international games, and have tall players (or as for Japan, size is made up for by exceptional technical qualities and a lot of mobility to avoid duels).

Commitment is crucial on the part of the federations to give the national teams the means to progress. The purpose of the federations is to deliver the best possible performance at the World Cup. To do this, they should provide additional resources for the preparation of their team, ensure there is sufficient time between the end of the championships and the start of the competition, and adapt to the reality of women’s football, with its mix of professional and amateurs.

The raised profile of women’s football Canada played their first World Cup match on 6 June 1995, and exactly 20 years later they played their first match of the current tournament. Canada played their second game of the 2015 edition on 11 June, but by 11 June 1995 they had already finished their debut campaign, with matches on 6, 8 and 10 June. That’s one example, but it goes for all the teams. Before, we used to play at a World Cup to justify our existence and we still had no profile at all. Now, women’s football has earned its place. The players deserve their rest days, while goal-line technology has also been introduced in the women’s game. That shows that things have progressed. This is a positive era, but there is still some instability and lessons to be learned. Å

Hope for the future At just 19 years old, Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan performed strongly at this summer’s tournament. “I think I can do even more,” she said after her nation’s quarter-final defeat by England. “I know I have to start taking on a leadership role now.”

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t is hard to keep smiling when your dreams are dashed. Just ask the 54,000 people who had flocked to Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium on Saturday 27 June to cheer on their home heroes in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, only for their hopes to be thwarted by the rock-like English back-line.

Kadeisha Buchanan was in tears when the final whistle was blown in Canada’s 2-1 defeat, but she soon snapped out of it when her mind turned to the shape of things to come. “I know that I have to start taking on a leadership role now,” she said.

“I have been playing in this team for three years and I think I can do even more. There are a number of us in the team who are both young and experienced.”

A Sinclair in defence Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon and Jessie Fleming are other examples, but none of them display quite the maturity of Buchanan, who brought roars from the crowd every time she made a tackle and strode forward with the ball against England. Buchanan was thrown up front late on and did her utmost to grab an equaliser that would have put the Canadians back on track to reach the final. That is something she would have loved to achieve personally, but also for the sake of the older members

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C AN ADA 2015

Born leader At 19, Kadeisha Buchanan is already considered a key player.

Mike Hewitt / FIFA via Getty Images

of the squad, who have contributed so much to football in the country and may yet hang up their boots without tasting glory.

“I know that playing alongside the likes of Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi and Erin McLeod won’t last forever,” said ­Buchanan, whom Canucks coach John Herdman has described as his “Christine Sinclair in defence”. “I learn something every day, in every match, every training session and every moment I spend alongside them,” the 19-year-old continued. “They are up there among the best in this sport and by training with the best, I become a better defender.”

Mission accomplished This desire to constantly improve could yet be rewarded at the end of the tournament with the Hyundai Young Player Award, for which Buchanan is a serious contender despite being knocked out in the quarter-finals. “When I think about the support we’ve received and how sad the people who had cheered us on were at the end of the match, I tell myself that at least we’ve accomplished this mission.” These thoughts tallied with those of her captain Sinclair, who delivered a rousing speech in the dressing room after Canada’s quarter-final loss. Å Julien Sebbah, Vancouver

Round of 16 · 20 – 23 June Match 37 China PR Match 38 USA Match 39 Germany Match 40 France Match 41 Brazil Match 42 Japan Match 43 Norway Match 44 Canada

Cameroon Colombia Sweden Korea Republic Australia Netherlands England Switzerland

1:0 2:0 4:1 3:0 0:1 2:1 1:2 1:0

Quarter-finals · 26 / 27 June China PR Match 45 Match 46 Germany Match 47 Australia Match 48 England

USA France Japan Canada

0:1 6:5 o.p.

0:1 2:1

Semi-finals · 30 June / 1 July USA Match 49 Match 50 Japan

Germany England

2:0 2:1

Match for third place · 4 July Germany Match 51

England

Final · 5 July Match 52

Japan

USA

For all the latest news from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, visit http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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First Love P l a c e : S i c i l y, I t a l y Date: 24 June 2015 T i m e : 7. 0 6 p . m .

Photog rapher: Nicolò Minerbi

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fotogloria

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F IFA WORLD C UP 2018

PRESIDENTIAL NOTE

St. Petersburg all set for the Preliminary Draw

Responsibility for women

T St. Petersburg The Konstantin Palace will welcome 2000 guests on 25 July.

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n Saturday 25 July 2015, the curtain will rise on the first official event of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. More than just defining the course of the qualifying phase of the tournament, the Prelimi­ nary Draw in St. Petersburg will represent a first taste of Russian culture for football fans all over the world through performances by traditional and modern artistic acts from the world’s largest country.

“The staging of the Preliminary Draw means the official begin­ ning of the countdown to the World Cup in Russia, which is eagerly anticipated by the people in our country,” said Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman Vitaly Mutko. “We began preparations for this draw almost a year ago, and today I can con­ fidently announce that Russia is ready to shine as hosts of this ­prestigious event.”

The Konstantin Palace, which is currently an official location for top government meetings, international forums and congresses, will welcome 2,000 expected guests. Besides representatives from around 140 member associations, football icons, leading sports officials, ­renowned artists and celebrities will attend the event. About 700 media representatives from every continent are set to cover the events on-site.

“St. Petersburg will be the perfect setting to celebrate the sym­ bolic first steps on the long path to the FIFA World Cup finals, with more than 840 matches to be played until we know which teams will join Russia at the finals,” said FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

“It means more than 30 months of excitement, thrills and drama for football fans across all six confederations, as the first qualifying matches already played have certainly shown. Bhutan and Guam were just two great examples.” Å

he final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ on Sunday marks the end of a top-quality and groundbreaking tournament.

The expansion of the number of participating nations to 24 for the first time was a resounding success. Of the competition debu­ tants, the Netherlands, Cameroon and Switzerland all reached the Round of 16, while teams such as Costa Rica and Nigeria showed that competing on the international scene at the highest level only aids sporting development. In the group stage, the Nigerians put in strong performances against Sweden, Australia and USA, and almost took a point off the latter in a 1-0 defeat.

Over the course of the tournament it has become clear that the gap at the top is closing. France, one of the title favourites, were elim­ inated in the quarter-finals. Norway and Sweden, former world and European champions respectively, were knocked out in the last 16.

Development continues apace, and the future has already begun.

Over the weekend of the final, 600 delegates – both male and female – from all member associations will meet in Vancouver for the tradi­ tional Women’s Football Symposium, where they can discuss issues, share experiences and find ways of making sure progress continues to be made. Key factors are undoubtedly FIFA’s development pro­ grammes, the improving of structures within national associations and continual discourse.

The meeting in Vancouver will be the first symposium since the introduction of the Task Force for Women’s Football and the creation of ten underlying principles (see FIFA.com) to ensure the continued development of the women’s game. For me, one of the principal points is for women to have responsibility at all operative levels: as coaches, referees, officials and members of executive committees in all associations. Women’s football needs role models – female ones.

RIA Novosti

Media Department

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

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SUCCESSFUL SIBLINGS

Nike

Siblings y a w e h t show 24

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SUCCESSFUL SIBLINGS

It pays to have an elder sibling.

You’ll become a better player than without, writes Ben Lyttleton.

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he build-up to Germany’s Group D game against Ghana at the FIFA World Cup 2010 in Johannesburg began in earnest six weeks earlier, on a pitch over 5,600 miles away in North London. Kevin-Prince Boateng was playing for Portsmouth at Wembley, in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. Just before half-time, Boateng fouled Michael Ballack; it was a challenge that ruled Ballack, then the Germany captain, out of the World Cup. The German players, among them Kevin-Prince’s half-brother Jerome, were upset. Kevin-Prince played for Ghana and now Germany would not be at their strongest. As if there was not enough pressure in facing your family on the biggest stage of all, the angst caused by the Ballack saga intensified the fall-out.

Jerome was more nervous than usual ahead of the Ghana game.

He shook hands beforehand with Kevin-Prince, who wished him good luck. Jerome did not believe him. “It is not a normal game when you play against your brother,” he later told the New York Times. Germany won 1-0 and four years later, the same teams, and the same brothers, faced off in a 2-2 draw in Fortaleza, Brazil. This time, Kevin-Prince was subbed off in the second half.

The Boatengs (l-r) Kevin Prince, George, who now breeds dogs, and Jerome.

Competitive element from childhood “Even if the one-on-one interactions on the pitch are limited in football, you would be motivated in a way that you wouldn’t normally be against anyone else,” says Professor Frank Sulloway, author of Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives. “When siblings leave the field after competing against each other, they have a conscious idea of how they performed in relation to their sibling. The competitive element from childhood kicks in, and if you had a good day and your brother a bad one, that is the ideal.”

The Boatengs’ case was always slightly different. Kevin-Prince was older than Jerome, though the eldest brother, George, was arguably the most talented. They shared a father, Prince, with whom Jerome lived in Wilmersdorf, near West Berlin’s main shopping boulevard; the others grew up with their mother in Wedding, in a poorer neighbourhood. The trio would meet most weekends to play football.

Though Prince would train each of them with left- and right-footed exercises from a young age, the Boatengs are as much products of their environment as their genes: George would get into fights as a teenager and admits to being a bad role model for Kevin-Prince. Jerome looked up to Kevin-Prince too, but to the relief of his mother, Martina, did not replicate his issues with authority.

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SUCCESSFUL SIBLINGS

Kevin-Prince, a dynamic playmaker, was dropped from the Germany U-21 squad just before it won the 2009 European Championship for, as German Football Association (DFB) sports director Matthias Sammer put it, “a lack of discipline”. It was then that KevinPrince switched nationalities to Ghana, where Prince was born.

Prince just wanted “the better team” to win when Germany faced Ghana in both World Cup matches.

Being a younger sibling The Boatengs are not the only siblings who currently play for different countries. Steve Mandanda and Parfait Mandanda are both international goalkeepers for France and Congo DR respectively; Paul Pogba plays for Les Bleus and his twin brothers Florentin and Matthias for Guinea; Granit Xhaka represents Switzerland while Taulant is with Albania.

For all the outfield pairs of siblings, one pattern is apparent: the younger sibling plays for the higher-ranked nation. The same was almost true in the Suarez family: Luis Suarez plays for Barcelona and Uruguay, while his older brother Paolo, who spent seven years at Isidro Metapan, was called up to play for El Salvador in 2012 – though he never made it onto the pitch. Luis has often referred to his big brother as the role model who kept him out of trouble before he met his future wife at 15.

“Sibling influence in sport is about three phenomena,” explains Ben Oakley, a former Olympic coach and author of “Podium: What Shapes a Sporting Champion”. “First, the potential impact of siblings as role models. Second, the advantage of having a skilled, motivated 26

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training partner 24/7. And third, the influence of being a younger sibling on [having] goals, both in practice and competition.” Oakley points to an academic research team from Canada and Australia that investigated siblings’ characteristics, taken from 229 athletes at different performance levels. It shows that at senior international level, 67 per cent were later-born compared to first-born (24 per cent) or only children (9 per cent). His conclusion? Elder siblings, often unknowingly, contribute to their younger siblings’ success.

In the case of the Vidigal family, having brothers – and sisters – made a huge impact. Ten of the 12 siblings were born in Angola in the late-1960s and early-1970s, shortly before the Angolan civil war broke out. In 1975, the Vidigals moved to Elvas, Antelejo, in the southern part of Portugal, where they had family.

“Coming to a new country with nothing in your hands is not easy, and we had a hard time,” says Luis Vidigal, who spent the first two years of his life in Angola’s south-western city Sa da Bandeira, now called Lubango. “I still talk about my early days with my older brothers: there’s this fruity flavour to life there which I still remember.”

His parents, Deolinda and Victor, taught the children about the relationship between Angola and Portugal and their place within it.

“It was important for us to know that these countries are inseparable brothers and that we should feel at home in both of them”, explains Luis. “For most of us, Angola was the land that saw us born, and made us citizens, while Portugal was the land that raised us. It was also the ambition of our family to represent one of the nations in a football sense.”

Privat

And this was before Toni and Jorge arrived... (l-r) Beto, Lito, Tita, Mena, Luis, Rosa and Balbina Vidigal.

SUCCESSFUL SIBLINGS

The eldest brother, Lito, was the first to play for Elvas CAD, the local team. In 1993-94, Luis, Toni and Beto Vidigal played in the same midfield. Filipe, another brother, also went on to play for Elvas. There were also four Vidigal sisters, three of whom played for Elvenses, the women’s top-flight team. When Lito was called up to play for Angola in 1996, the family felt immense pride and was supportive of his decision to represent the land of his birth. Lito played for Angola in the 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso.

Luis, three years younger, was by then playing for Sporting Lisbon. As reward for his role in helping Sporting win its first Portuguese league title for 18 years, in 1999-2000, he moved to Serie A side Napoli and played for Portugal at UEFA’s Euro 2000 tournament. “It was the best moment of my career, and I was part of one of the best Portugal teams in history,” he says of the team that reached the semi-final. “I always identified myself with both countries, and I had the support of Lito and all my siblings, which made everything easier.”

The youngest sibling is likely to take more risks on and off the pitch.

Twitter, Andreas Meier / freshfocus, Privat

The Vidigal story does not quite end there. Lito went on to become a coach, and signed Luis to play for Estrela Amadora in 2008. Luis describes the experience as “complex and unique, but we never confused the sentimental with the professional … he is an excellent coach.” Lito then coached the Angola national side, and in 2011, he called up his youngest brother, Filipe, to the team. He was coach of Portuguese top-flight side Belenenses before leaving his position in March. Filipe was the only brother born in Elvas, and was the only one to play in the Angolan league.

“This sums up the history of our family,” says Luis. “It’s a privilege for all of us to belong to two countries; they will always be hand in hand and the ties that bind them are the same that sustain us as individuals and as a family.”

Dividends of the older brother The youngest sibling, like Filipe, is likely to take more risks on and off the pitch. One academic study looked at over 700 athletes with at least one brother who had played major league baseball – including Dom and Joe DiMaggio – and concluded that the younger siblings would make braver decisions in terms of base-stealing, hitting home runs and being struck by pitches while 'guarding the plate’.

The equivalent would also be true in football, says Professor Sulloway, who conducted the study. He is mindful that the sample of elite footballers representing different countries is a small one and therefore likely to include only those whose older siblings did offer expertise and time in those formative years. “It’s a small sample but the anecdotal evidence can still be compelling.”

For both Jerome Boateng and Luis Vidigal, the cultural benefits of enjoying dual nationality outweigh any of the game’s competitive and familial demands. Boateng has a tattoo on his right forearm that reads Agyenim, meaning “The Great One” in Ashanti-Twi, his father’s Ghanaian dialect. It is also his middle name. He loves Ghanaian music and Prince says his easy movement is part of his African heritage.

“My father’s legacy is the education and values that made us the family we are today,” explains Vidigal with pride. “My three children are children of both Angola and Portugal. National identity becomes even more important when you have two nationalities. The world is now smaller, and the boundaries between borders are narrower. This is today’s world. And our choices make us all very proud.” Å

The Pogba, Xhaka and Suarez brothers Mathias, Paul and Florentin Pogba (top, l-r); Granit and Taulant Xhaka (middle, l-r); Luis – with son Benjamin – and Paolo Suarez (bottom, l-r).

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GENER AL INFORMATION Country: Latvia FIFA Trigramme: LVA Continent: Europe Capital: Riga

Onwards and upwards

GEOGR APHIC INFORMATION Surface area: 64,589 km²

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Mario Wagner / 2Agenten

I

t is a curious fact that football statistics tend to take a back seat as soon as a match becomes a really absorbing contest. Paradoxically, this is also the precise moment when the coaching staff have to get to grips with the facts and figures at their disposal and start applying the tools required to achieve success.

Are we better off playing short corners instead of long ones? Are we attacking too much down the right-hand side?

These types of question all too often elicit an overly intuitive response. The ability to read the game and influence it tactically is vital in professional football, but in the world of highly advanced tactical analysis, statistics rarely lie.

FIFA has collated all kinds of data on the games and teams involved at the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™. If, for example, you were to compare the players’ age, height and international appearances, you would soon discover that the teams that reached the semi-finals of the competition also lead the way in the aforementioned categories. There is, as always, an exception to the rule: the Japanese national team’s outstanding technical ability compensates for the lack of height in the side.

It would be foolish to draw any firm conclusions from such statistics, as the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) is quick to point out.

Even so, they would appear to suggest that a team needs tall players with ample international experience in order to be able to compete successfully at the highest level.

Having a squad of players who meet the above criteria is not enough, however. Women’s teams need a whole range of resources to help them develop, with the ultimate aim of representing their country and showcasing women’s football to the best of their ability at the World Cup finals. For one thing, it is key that the players are given enough time to prepare between the end of their clubs’ domestic campaign and the start of the tournament.

According to the TSG, football associations should not lose sight of the fact that women’s national squads are made up of players from both the amateur and professional leagues. Many women who play the game at the highest level and represent their countries with the eyes of the world upon them are unable to dedicate themselves fully to professional football – even if their footballing abilities would appear to suggest otherwise.

So, short corners or long ones? Are we still attacking too much down the right wing? Hardly any of the issues in men’s or women’s football are solved by intuitive thinking these days.

With the Women’s World Cup coming to an end, more hard work is just around the corner. Å

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MEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 82nd World Cup: No appearances

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FIFA Ranking: 103rd World Cup: No appearances

L ATES T RESULTS Men’s: Latvia - Netherlands 0:2 12 June 2015 Women’s: Latvia - Lithuania 1:1 9 April 2015

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THE INTERVIEW

“Europe is copying South American football from the 1960s and 70s” Uruguayan coach Gustavo Matosas is very much in demand among Mexican clubs, having taken Club Leon from the second tier to a domestic double before coaching Club America to victory in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Gustavo Matosas, you have just been appointed as head coach at Atlas, your fourth post in Mexico.

Gustavo Matosas: I feel very at home in Mexico; it has become my second home after my beloved Uruguay. I first had success with Club Leon before moving to Club America and winning the Champions League – and now I’m at Atlas. The board called me; their project appealed to me straight away so we were soon able to agree upon a one-year contract.

What made Atlas your preference? After all, if you had stayed at Club America you would have been able to compete alongside Barcelona at the FIFA Club World Cup. Here I can bring in the desired reinforcements in the transfer market. That wasn’t the case at America, but despite my departure we parted on the best possible terms. We simply held different views when it came to strengthening the squad for the coming season.

Argentinian Dario Benedetto scored a hat-trick against Montreal Impact in the second leg of the Champions League final. Do you think he’ll make it into the national side?

Dario is quick off the mark, hard to catch and can shoot with incredible power, plus he’s strong in the air. Although I think Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has numerous options in that position, Benedetto is proving that he deserves his chance at international level – and I’ve no doubt that he’ll get one.

You are credited with discovering Edinson Cavani. Can you explain why he is currently experiencing such difficulties at Paris Saint-Germain?

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I saw him at a youth team training session and invited him to train with the first team at Danubio. He was 17 years old at that point and unbelievably lively, ready to take big risks to get a goal. His willpower and commitment were exemplary. He always stayed out on the pitch for another 20 or 30 minutes after training, shooting at goal from every angle.

His consistency and hard work mean he has become a very good player. To answer your question, I think he struggles with the tighter, quicker football played in Ligue 1. It’s quite different to Italy’s Serie A, where he played for Palermo and Napoli.

What do you think of Luis Suarez?

Suarez is a classic goalscorer who can fire the ball home almost at will. The difference between him and other good strikers is that Suarez can create chances himself and is only partly dependent on the team’s collective efforts. Suarez lives to score goals and his performance against Juventus in the Champions League final was magnificent. While there’s no doubt the bite in the 2014 World Cup was a mistake, he paid the price for it. He’s enjoying his football so much at the moment that there is no need for another repeat of that incident.

Why have European teams triumphed at the last three World Cups?

The reason is simple: European football has copied the South American model of the 1960s and 70s to great effect.

What do you mean by that?

Nowadays in Europe they play the ball in a way South American sides no longer do. European teams create goalscoring opportunities

with great enthusiasm, just as we used to do here until local coaches decided to Europeanize their squads by placing much greater emphasis on physical size, power and aerial strength rather than skill, dribbling and creativity. It really is a case of the footballing world being turned upside down.

Do you remember your father’s playing career?

Roberto won the Uruguayan championship with Penarol five times and also lifted the Copa Libertadores trophy twice.

My dad was a much better footballer than I was. He was my idol, my inspiration and my role model. Whereas I never had the opportunity to play at a World Cup, my father finished fourth with the national side in 1970.

Julio Montero Castillo and Pablo Forlan [fathers of current players Paolo Montero and Diego Forlan – editor’s note] also played back then, and it’s clear that they taught their sons very well. Å Gustavo Matosas was speaking to Massimo Franchi

Name Gustavo Cristian Matosas Paidon Date and place of birth 25 May 1967, Buenos Aires, Argentina Position Midfield Clubs played for (selection) 1985–1988 Penarol 1988–1990 Malaga 1990–1992 San Lorenzo 1993 Sao Paulo 1994–1995 Real Valladolid 1996–1997 Goias 1998 Rampla Juniors 1999–2000 Tianjin Teda 2001 Querétaro FC

Omar Martinez / Mexsport

Clubs coached (selection) 2010 Danubio 2011 Queretaro 2012 Club Leon 2014–2015 Club America since 2015 Atlas Uruguay national team 7 caps, 1 goal

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MIRROR IMAGE

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1946

Walter Bellamy / Express / Getty Images

Members of Derby County’s FA Cup winning side rest in a hotel.

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Youngsters in the common room at the Aspire Soccer Academy pass the time on their smartphones.

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THE ART OF FOOTBALL

Squaring the circle Ronald Düker

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“It is a day of joy and great ­s atisfaction. The return of Carlos Tevez in an extraordinary moment of his career is fantastic news for all fans of Boca Juniors.”

Boca president Daniel Angelici on signing Argentinian international Carlos Tevez.

A photo of Hampden Park, Glasgow, taken in around 1906.

Bob Thomas / Popperfoto / Getty Images

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he simplest way to describe the world’s most beautiful ball game is that the aim is to put the round thing into the rectangular object. A goal is scored when the sphere enters the opponents’ angular frame of posts and crossbar; and the team with the most goals at the final whistle has won the match. Thus, football is essentially a matter of squaring the circle.

Quite the opposite problem is encountered when it comes to constructing a football stadium, however: a rectangular pitch flanked by stands for the spectators has to fit into the centre of what is generally a rounded external structure, making things very complicated indeed. Architects have been devising new variations on the theme ever since 1867, when the world’s first football stadium, Hampden Park, opened in Glasgow.

The Colosseum in Rome serves as the aesthetic archetype for every subsequent stadium. The coherence of internal and external form derived organically from the layout of the land: the area on which the gladiators fought one another and wild animals in Roman times was elliptical in shape, and the external structure surrounding it at a height of 50 metres also formed an ellipse. Viewed from the outside, the Colosseum is not unlike a rugby ball or a slightly deflated football in appearance.

Paradoxically, structures that more or less resembled the shape of a ball were only really practicable as football venues as long as they were used to host other sports besides the beautiful game. Berlin’s

Olympic Stadium and the Letzigrund in Zurich both boast an attractively rounded external shape because a running track encircles the rectangular pitch within, dictating the shape of the silhouette without. It would thus be logical to assume that more recently-built football stadia – whose stands descend virtually to the edge of the pitch – would ditch any concept of curves and assume the appearance of ugly, functional boxes.

Thankfully that is not the case. At the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazi™, football fans from around the globe had the opportunity to admire Rio de Janeiro’s elegant Estadio do Maracana, whose stands slope gently down to the field of play, yet fail to detract from the overall interior impression of an attractive shallow bowl. Other even more modern arenas, such as Munich’s Allianz Arena designed

by Herzog & de Meuron, have come up with a different method of squaring the circle: the architectural structure hugs the pitch almost like an inflatable cushion, with the stands as close to the action as they could possibly be. And then there are the audaciously playful stadium concepts designed more recently still by the likes of Zaha Hadid.

Fitting a rectangle into a round object? It is certainly a tough proposition, but it has produced extremely attractive results from time to time. In fact, that also holds true for the game of football itself: or has anyone ever claimed that putting a spherical ball into an angular frame was a simple affair? Å

“We don’t want to just compete with the best, we want to beat the best, so now it is a case of taking further steps. Most of our players are young, and it is a heartbreaking ­m oment for them, but sometimes you learn from these experiences.”

Alen Stajcic, coach of the Australian women’s national team, after their quarter-final defeat by Japan.

“I’m currently in charge until the Olympics, but perhaps it would be good if a younger coach came in after that, one who is 20 or 30-plus years closer in age to the team than I am.”

Germany U-21 coach Horst Hrubesch after the UEFA European U-21 Championship.

Marcus Sorg, 49, is tipped to replace him.

“I’m very happy that I can play two more games with this team.

I hope that scoring this goal can take me to the next step.”

Mana Iwabuchi, who scored the winning goal for Japan against Australia.

“I’ve never played at the Olympic Games, so it would be incredible to go to Rio.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 33, is hoping for a place in Sweden’s squad after their U-21 team secured Olympic qualification.

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TURNING POINT

“I had the courage to write music” As Ruslan Nigmatullin approached the end of his goalkeeping career he discovered a new talent. Now the Russian travels the world performing as a DJ.

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here was a moment when it became clear to me that my football career was coming to an end and that forced me to start thinking about my future. Back in 2005, when I first decided to hang up my gloves, I tried my hand with IT companies and also considered becoming a football agent.

I had some success in those fields but they didn’t really satisfy me, so I decided to start playing again. I did so until November 2009, which was when my contract with Israeli club Maccabi Ahi Nazareth expired. I returned to Moscow after that and experienced a turning point in my life: I found the courage to write music.

I instantly felt very clearly that music was something that could satisfy me completely. It’s played an important role in my life ever since I learned to play the classical guitar, which was even before I became a footballer. Music accompanied me throughout my football career too.

I picked up knowledge about life as a DJ from the music world and also began writing a couple of my own tracks. Different radio stations in Russia played some of my music

and some songs even topped the charts. In the end I signed a contract with a big record label, Warner Music..

Working as a DJ is obviously very different to being a footballer, which had been a big part of my life. I’ve always wanted to reach a very high level in everything I do.

Nobody is guaranteed success, and I can’t say I’ve always been successful either, but I set myself the target of making a name for myself in the music industry.

Signing a contract with a major label was a bit like signing on for a big football club. As a footballer I always especially enjoyed the fact that I could travel, discover new places and meet people. My life as a DJ has given me the opportunity to visit almost 500 cities all over the world, from Vladivostok to New York. And wherever I go, I meet my fans. Å Ruslan Nigmatullin was speaking to Emanuele Giulianelli

Name Ruslan Karimovich Nigmatullin Date and place of birth 7 October 1974, Kazan, Soviet Union Position Goalkeeper Clubs 1992–1994 Kamaz Naberezhnye Chelny 1995–1996 Spartak Moscow 1997–2001 Lokomotiv Moscow 2002 Hellas Verona 2002 CSKA Moscow 2003–2005 Salernitana Calcio 2008 SKA Rostov 2008 Lokomotiv Moscow reserves 2009 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Major honours 1995 and 1996 Russian champion with Spartak Moscow 2000 and 2001 Russian Cup winner with Lokomotiv Moscow National team Russia 24 caps

In Turning Point, personalities reflect on a decisive moment in their lives.

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

37

MEN’S WORLD R ANKING

Germany (unchanged) 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

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

PUZZLE

Published weekly by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

President Joseph S. Blatter

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T H E F I FA W E E K LY

Puzzles courtesy: opensky.ca/sudoku

Publisher FIFA, FIFA-Strasse 20, PO box, CH-8044 Zurich Phone +41-(0)43-222 7777, Fax +41-(0)43-222 7878

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