The FIFA Weekly Issue #40

ISSUE 40, 25 JULY 2014

ENGLISH EDITION

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

Philipp Lahm

THE PERFECTIONIST

SAN MARINO ROCK BOTTOM BUT RESOLUTE SEPP BLATTER NO CHANGE TO 32-TEAM WORLD CUP CARLES PUYOL SPAIN: NO NEED FOR A REVOLUTION W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY

CONTENTS

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North and Central America 35 members www.concacaf.com

The Perfectionist Philipp Lahm has announced his retirement from international football at the pinnacle of his career. The decision required both courage and maturity. We spoke to the 30-year-old World Cup winner and examine Lahm’s qualities in our profile.

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Ireland Consistency has proved elusive for Sligo Rovers in the new season. A surprise league defeat was followed by an unexpected victory away to Trondheim in Norway.

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Sepp Blatter The FIFA President explains why the world governing body is right to keep the World Cup as a 32-team tournament: “Thirty-two teams is the golden number. It guarantees high standards and relative competitiveness.”

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W illi Lemke’s Turning Point The UN Special Advisor fell in love with football in Hamburg. “Uwe Seeler played football on our small school playing field. I was inspired by that.”

South America 10 members www.conmebol.com

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Guatemala The league has received a boost from the return of Carlos Ruiz.

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Daniel Sommer

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

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 5 – 24 August 2014, Canada

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Youth Olympic Football Tournaments 14 – 27 August 2014, Nanjing

Getty Images (1), Reuters (1)

Carles Puyol The former world-class defender calls for a measured and cautious response to Spain’s World Cup debacle.

The perfectionist Photo shoot with Philipp Lahm: Our cover image was captured in Munich back in 2012.

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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Gunter Netzer Our columnist discusses what it takes for a smaller nation to become established at the top of the international game.

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imago (2), HO (1)

San Marino We report from the diminutive nation currently occupying last place in the FIFA World Ranking.

FIFA Club World Cup 10 – 20 December 2014, Morocco

Winner of the Quiz Cup draw Ilir Qorri and his wife Arjonela Q ypi from Tirana, Albania, on the day before the World Cup Final in Rio de Janeiro.

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UNCOVERED

The essence of football A child’s smile and a trophy on display at the San Marino Football Federation’s headquarters.

Small country, big heart

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hilipp Lahm is stepping down from his post after the high point of his international career. Germany’s softly-spoken World Cup winning captain now wants to concentrate on his leadership role at Bayern Munich. Our colleague Bernd Fisa posed Lahm some key questions in the wake of his retirement announcement.

t is already two weeks since a wonderful World Cup drew to a close. In his weekly column, FIFA President Sepp Blatter reiterates his view that 32 is the perfect number of teams for a World Cup. Å Perikles Monioudis

Andrea Pugiotto

nother incredibly successful defender and team leader, Spain’s Carles Puyol said farewell to his national side a year ago. Among other things, the former Barcelona star explains the frustration of having to give up football against his will.

orld champions Germany are now top of the 208 teams listed in FIFA’s world rankings, while San Marino sit at the foot of the table. Nicola Berger visited Europe’s smallest country to discover its immense love of football.

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PHILIPP L AHM

“NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO STOP” Philipp Lahm captained Germany to their World Cup triumph and has won the Champions League with Bayern.

Having achieved his professional goals, Lahm has nothing more to prove, neither to the rest of the world nor to himself.

And he is still only 30.

Pretty much every German child can reel off the names of four captains: Walter, Beckenbauer, Matthaus, and now Lahm. You have the world at your feet, but you’ve decided to retire from international football. How does it feel to be a living legend?

Philipp Lahm: Hmm, I’m definitely not there yet, but it’s nice to be in such exalted company.

In 2006 the world witnessed a “summer fairytale” and Germany were again dynamic and positive at the World Cup in South Africa four years later. A German news magazine has just run this on its title page: “We’re someone again… but who?” [A popular slogan after the 1954 World Cup triumph was “We’re someone again”.] How has football changed Germany?

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I don’t know whether the country has changed football or football has actually changed the country. I think the two go hand-in-hand.

I think my team and I have earned great respect and recognition. The affection is based on what we’ve achieved and our fair play.

1954, 1974 and 1990 are generally seen as turning points in Germany’s post-war history. What will 2014 ultimately stand for?

It’s taken 10 years to get there, but now you’ve not only won the World Cup, you also typify a new generation of players, Generation Lahm if you like. What are the hallmarks of this progressive brand of players?

If I was to take the team as the crucial factor in 2014, I’d say it stands for stability, a willingness to deliver and community spirit.

The team has boundless ability, the blend is good, and talented newcomers are waiting in the wings.

The world used to grudgingly admire the Germans, but has recently fallen in love with them. What’s your response to this wave of global affection?

We’ve definitely benefited from considerable investment in youth development in Germany over the last 10 to 15 years. Every Bundesliga club operates an elite academy, training has become more intense and professional and we have full-time, fully qualified coaches. Every German footballing generation has produced good players, but we’ve also caught up tactically in recent

Daniel Sommer

PHILIPP L AHM

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PHILIPP L AHM

Name Philipp Lahm Date and place of birth 11 November 1983, Munich Height 1.70 m Position Attacking defender Clubs Bayern Munich (since 1995) VfB Stuttgart (loan, 2003-05) Germany national team 113 appearances, 5 goals Major honours German Bundesliga champion (six times) German Cup winner (six times) 2012-13 Champions League winner 2014 World Cup winner

Pep Guardiola has described you as the most intelligent player he has ever managed. Can you score goals with intelligence?

And are you de facto smarter than the others?

That I don’t know, but I do know it’s an immense pleasure to talk about football in minute detail with Pep Guardiola. It’s a unique experience.

One magazine printed this: “His considered, composed play is based on utterly reliable technical skill and undeniably superb reading of the game.” Would you agree or disagree with the analysis?

I wouldn’t disagree and I also have nothing to add. I’d like to say thank you for this complete overestimation of my ability.

The Observer praised you last week as “a quiet leader standing on the brink of greatness” and rated you on a par with Lionel Messi. Why did it take so long for the footballing world to recognise your potential?

In the course of my career I’ve always had coaches who valued and supported me, and I also have the feeling the supporters like the way I play and approach the game.

I think I get plenty of recognition.

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During the World Cup pundits and commentators kept saying “he never makes mistakes”. When you played for Bayern against Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga last season you finished with 100 percent pass completion, with all 133 passes reaching their recipient. How do you achieve that?

It comes from feeling good and comfortable on the field. And you only get that if the coach and the team understand each other.

Tell us a secret: what are your weaknesses and how could you be “more perfect”?

I can reveal that as a left back I had difficulty defending well-struck crosses with my left foot. So I don’t play left back any more. As for my weaknesses as a right back and holding midfielder, I’m definitely not going to reveal anything. It’s up to my opponents to find out. (grins)

The only thing your fans would appreciate from time to time might be a goal. Why do you so rarely shoot?

Well, as a defensive midfielder and full-back you’re more likely to be providing goals than scoring them. It’s in the nature of the position, and it’s where I feel most comfortable, because I’ve never been much of a finisher.

You once said: “I was always one of the youngest. I can remember finals when I asked to be substituted because I couldn’t

physically keep up with opposing players, many of whom were almost a year older than me. But a year later I’d closed the gap.”

How hard did you have to work on yourself before becoming a world champion?

I’m certainly disciplined, but I also think football is based on talent and personality, and that’s basically a gift you inherit from your parents.

You’ve been a strong influence on the way Bayern play for many years now. How much Lahm is there in Low’s Germany?

A team can only be functional if the coach has a clear vision and then works with the team to implement it. You need players who are capable of doing their jobs, and correcting any errors, and this can only work if there’s a dialogue. Even the best system only works if it is capable of change.

It has to be flexible enough to accommodate individuals but rigid enough to instil a collective and coherent way of thinking in the team.

In 2011 you wrote in your biography “Der feine Unterschied” (The Subtle Difference): “Success is a question of maturity... Whether we collect a trophy in Poland and Ukraine or in Brazil will be decided by the question of whether we’ve achieved the required maturity. I’m personally already working on this maturity.” How mature are you now, as a person and player?

Daniel Sommer

years. Our success at the World Cup is down to the structures put in place by the German FA (DFB) in partnership with the clubs.

PHILIPP L AHM

You can always improve some aspect of your game as a player, but I do believe I’ve reached a pinnacle due to my experience and the quality of my decision-making. As a person I still regard myself as a young man with role models such as parents, family, friends and acquaintances. I can still pick things up from them.

You’ve said maturity means taking every chance on offer. How would this theory apply to everyday life?

I said that about my life as a player. It’s a quality you can’t illustrate with a specific example, because experienced, determined and theoretically mature teams miss chances and always need a little bit of luck. But they also have an unshakeable belief in their own ability, and this belief in your own strength takes years to mature.

Was there any moment in Brazil when you doubted your own maturity or even that of the team?

No, the task during that kind of tournament is to promote a belief in yourself and in the strength of the team. There’s no room for doubt.

Neither the one nor the other. I’m driven by a sense of responsibility for things being done well. That doesn’t exclude stating your position, taking the initiative and making decisions. It’s the same for everyone who accepts responsibility.

The captain’s armband was always important to you. If your teams were companies, you’d probably be CEO by now. Why does the leadership role matter so much to you?

And what are the trademark attributes of a modern manager?

What matters to me is stepping up to the plate and making a contribution to a successful enterprise. And if you accomplish that on an ongoing basis you become a kind of role model, capable of influencing the team, the coach and the club. That’s what I would call modern, if you like.

In public you’re a model of politeness and discipline. Do you shy away from conflict?

My attitude is that you should avoid conflicts that help no-one, and that demands discipline. But I’ve never had a problem clearly formulating my points of view, and never had a problem accepting compromise.

“Where do I rank winning the World Cup? Somewhere in the middle” How long were you thinking about stepping down after the World Cup? It came as a huge surprise to the footballing world. Did you know before arriving in Brazil that the 2014 World Cup would be your last major international outing?

Yes. I slowly but surely came to the decision in the course of last season. I knew I would retire from international football after the World Cup.

You accepted responsibility at a very young age and started exerting an influence. No one has forgotten your criticism of the Bayern management in November 2009, which earned you a hefty fine. Which do you enjoy more, exercising power or taking responsibility?

I’ve never believed in silver bullet solutions, but rather that people should always make concessions and move closer.

You accept as much responsibility off the field as on it. You’re involved in a number of humanitarian projects and you run your own charity foundation. Why do you do it?

Because I personally received so much support, from my family and my employer, Bayern Munich. So it’s a real pleasure to get involved and give something back.

I’m a footballer so it’s always important to me how I’m perceived on the field of play.

And if things fall into place on the field, you can certainly occasionally take a clear position on issues pertaining to society.

What have you taken away from Brazil? And don’t just say the trophy.

The people’s inspirational passion for football.

With the exception of winning the World Cup, what was your second best moment in ten years with the national team?

My first international, being called up for it, being out on the field for the first time and hearing the German national anthem.

Every young athlete dreams of representing his or her country, and it’s what you dream of as a kid.

In your first interview in Rio you were asked where you would rank winning the World Cup. You grinned and said: “Somewhere in the middle!” Is that symbolic of the new easy-going Lahm? Or was it the product of a personality who has achieved all there is to achieve and has nothing left to prove?

You could say that. We’d just won the World Cup so I was in the mood for a bit of a jest.

Why have you announced your retirement at this point in time? What about the fact you lack a winner’s medal from the Euro?

I’m happy and grateful that the end of my career in the national team coincides with winning the World Cup in Brazil. For me personally it’s simply the right time to stop.

Three years ago you set yourself the targets of winning the Champions League with Bayern and the World Cup with Germany.

You’ve hit those targets, so what now?

I don’t know yet. I’m only 30. I’m off on vacation now. And after that I’m looking forward to coming back to Bayern, because I still really enjoy playing football. Å Philipp Lahm was talking to Bernd Fisa

You’ve commented on a range of public and political topics, from gay players potentially coming out through to the political situation in Ukraine. How important is moral responsibility in your opinion?

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PHILIPP L AHM

A man of action Germany’s World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm surprised many with his retirement from international football. But the Bayern skipper is rarely driven to act on impulse, whether on or off the pitch.

Perikles Monioudis

The quiet leader Lahm’s current coach, Pep Guardiola, knows he is dealing with a rare talent who knows when to focus on defence while also proving useful in the centre of the pitch, and national coach Joachim Low shares this view. Die Mannschaft’s talismanic leader acts as a metronome setting the pace of play; he takes care of matters at the back while at the same time making sure his own strikers have a chance to score goals at the end of a move. Whether at rightback, left-back or in midfield – or even in his career as a footballer in general – Lahm always thinks far ahead.

It was at EURO 2004 in Portugal that the Bayern captain established his international reputation as a near-flawless defender. He cemented this status at his home World Cup in

2006, not least by scoring the tournament’s first goal in the Opening Match against Costa Rica. By the time EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland came around, he was already emerging as a leader even though he had to wait until then-captain Michael Ballack was forced to miss the 2010 World Cup in South Africa through injury before he could pull on the armband himself. Ahead of their semi-final against eventual champions Spain four years ago, Lahm said: “I really enjoy the role of captain. It’s a pleasure for me. Why would I give it up voluntarily?”

New frontiers Lahm’s retirement from international football neatly coincided with Germany’s World Cup triumph in Brazil. The Final marked the skipper’s

WORLD C UP C AP TAIN S

“Walk out there calmly and don’t look up.

The game is played on the pitch, so never look at the stands.”

Philipp Lahm is bidding farewell to international football after the greatest highlight of his career. A pillar of the Germany team, he will certainly be missed.

Taking such a major step requires courage, and time will tell whether the timing was right, but past experience suggests it is. World Cup history shows that many a victorious international captain might have preferred to step down at the height of his powers.

Varela to his team before the final match in 1950

Dominik Petermann Obdulio Varela (Uruguay) World champion 1950, fourth place 1954 Obdulio Varela was such an authoritative figure within the Uruguay squad that the youngest team members even addressed him formally, including Alcides Ghiggia, scorer of the goal that won the 1950 World Cup. Varela sought to recreate that experience in 1954, but further success eluded him and La Celeste finished in fourth place.

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Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images

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hen Philipp Lahm first began to make a name for himself, football fans everywhere asked themselves what potential this somewhat diminutive and slender young full-back might have.

The teenager went about his work confidently, already shielding the ball in the inimitable manner that still sets him apart as a player before playing it firmly, precisely and preferably forwards or setting off into midfield himself before sending the ball across the face of goal.

It is in Lahm’s nature to operate with a controlled forward momentum. His play is based on a level of ball control rarely seen among defenders nowadays, and it is these distinctive technical skills that have allowed the 30-yearold to play an ever more influential midfield role in recent years.

PHILIPP L AHM

Whether on the pitch or in his career, Lahm thinks far ahead.

Perfect technique Lahm in control at EURO 2004.

imago, Ben Radford/Getty Images, Allsport UK/Getty Images, Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Firing the World Cup into life In 2006, Lahm scored Germany’s first goal against Costa Rica in Munich.

113th international cap and gave him an opportunity to end his career on the highest of high notes.

Although his retirement will have come as a shock to many, for Lahm there will have been no surprise at all. In the same way that he manages to shield the ball from the most persistent of opponents before turning on his heel to open up space for a fresh attack and begin another promising run forwards, so he has only now announced his decision to the world once he has won everything and set himself a fresh set of goals. Lahm is now keen to focus his efforts entirely on his playing career at Bayern. Many believe he will remain in football after hanging up his boots, perhaps in a strategic role that involves an element of everyday responsibility while providing ample possibilities for some-

“Play low, win big.”

Beckenbauer 1974

Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) World champion 1974, runner-up 1966, third place 1970 One of the only triumphant captains to end his World Cup career on a high note, the Kaiser led Germany to the European Championship title in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974. He had retired before the 1978 tournament in Argentina.

Dunga (Brazil) World champion 1994, runner-up 1998 Carlos Dunga, successor to A Seleção coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, guided Brazil to football’s biggest title at USA 1994. His attempt to repeat the success four years later at the age of 34 ended with defeat by France in the 1998 Final.

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PHILIPP L AHM

Captains together Michael Ballack and his successor embrace at EURO 2008.

That way The skipper directs his team at the 2010 World Cup.

one with the right knowledge and sense of purpose. After all, he is a man of action.

Players like Lahm and precursors such as Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Cafu or Roberto Carlos, who go about their business as a worldclass player and World Cup winning captain without arrogance or any trace of misplaced overexuberance will always have their voices heard. When quiet leaders speak in public, the world of football listens, and that same world should now bear in mind that Lahm has a new set of targets to pursue, even if they remain sporting targets for the time being. His plans for a life outside professional football could yet surprise us all, but one thing is certain – they won’t surprise him. Å

“When you win the World Cup, you become a legend.”

Fabio Cannavaro 2014

Diego Maradona (Argentina) World champion 1986, runner-up 1990 In 1986, Diego Maradona led his team to World Cup glory almost single-handedly. Despite similarly strong leadership four years later, the Albiceleste could ’only’ finish second. By USA 1994 his best days were behind him and he became embroiled in a doping scandal.

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Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) World champion 2006 Fabio Cannavaro was Italy’s victorious captain in Germany in 2006. Had he made the same decision as Lahm, he would have been spared the frustration of exiting the World Cup at the group stage four years later.

Sascha Schuermann/AFP, Joern Pollex/Getty Images, imago, Allsport UK/ Getty Images, Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

A dream fulfilled Philipp Lahm hoists the World Cup Trophy aloft in Rio in 2014.

FIFA MEDIA

Full coverage FIFA Digital in Rio de Janeiro

In the Heart of FIFA Digital According to Sepp Blatter, the match officials are the 33rd team at a World Cup. If that is the case, perhaps the 34th team is the multi-national FIFA Digital department involved in bringing world football’s governing body and the tournament to life on FIFA.com, the FIFA App as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

FIFA Digital hailed from 17 different countries, creating content around the clock as they brought fans closer to the action in Brazil. Among their tasks was the provision of tactical line-ups for the media, match reports on the final whistle for all 64 matches, specific content for blind and partially-sighted people and interviews with the biggest names in world football.

Stars of the global game including world champion Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain all shared their insights, while legends of the calibre of Thierry Henry and Lothar Matthaus were happy to reflect on the event. And in a sure sign that the FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, celebrities such as Sir Mick Jagger, Shakira and Kobe Bryant all shared their love of the beautiful game with Digital editors.

Thomas Schanze

At their central hub at the Forte do Copacabana, FIFA Digital adorned the walls with national flags and legendary figures of their countries and provided the platform for the world to #joinin with this remarkable World Cup. The work was intense and the hours long in the build-up and during the 32 day tournament, but it was a huge success. Indeed, Brazil 2014 proved to be the first mobile and social World Cup. FIFA’s digital Global Stadium, the social, online and mobile hub for the tournament, brought together fans from all over the world to follow the games live and engage with friends, supporters, players, coaches and celebrities. Attendance figures in the Global Stadium reached more than 1 billion after the Final, with fans coming from every country in the world.

FIFA’s new platforms also scored highly – the FIFA app became the biggest sports event app of all time and there was huge growth across all FIFA’s social networks – on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Content was produced and constantly updated 24/7 in six languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Portuguese) by a group which included web editors, social media editors, and videographers, plus photographers at each venue. The Rio newsroom produced stories drawing upon the mix of football cultures in a team whose sense of togetherness was symbolic of a FIFA World Cup and a reflection of the make-up of the Global Stadium concept.

One of the biggest fans of FIFA Digital’s work was the FIFA President who came in to personally thank the team. “The job you’ve done here is extraordinary,” he said. “It’s remarkable to think that in this [news]room you’re giving the public the opportunity to share this World Cup. I’m really proud of the job you’ve done.”

Perikles Monioudis MORE THAN ONE MILLION USERS I N F I F A’S G L O B A L S TA D I U M

Brazil 2014 was a World Cup of smartphones and social networks.

More than a million fans used FIFA’s official digital platform using the hashtag #JoinIn. With 28 million downloads, the official FIFA app quickly became the most successful sporting event app of all time. An incredible 451 million Facebook users were also provided with official FIFA content. FIFA’s number of Twitter followers exceeded 16 million during the tournament, with ten new users opting to follow FIFA every second on the day of the Opening Match alone.

Over the 31 days of the competition, the official FIFA World Cup Instagram app grew from 42,000 users to 800,000. (mat)

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The success of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ would not have been possible without our partners, sponsors and national supporters

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TALK ING POIN T S

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League of Ireland

Striking a blow for mediocrity Andreas Jaros is a freelance journalist based in Vienna.

There is no disputing that Ireland’s top flight has considerable scope to improve its status within Europe. It is all too easy to disregard the Airtricity League Premier Division as a mere trifle, a 12-club championship rated about as highly as those of Kazakhstan and Estonia. The competition offers little attraction for overseas players; there are no armadas carrying footballing talent across the Irish Sea when a single fishing boat would probably suffice.

I N S I D E

Despite all this, a cut of sirloin has just been discovered in this particular Irish stew.

Although barely acknowledged by the rest of Europe, Sligo Rovers pulled off an incredible coup last week by defeating erstwhile Champions League regulars Rosenborg – once the quintessential definition of “minnows” in Europe’s biggest club competition – 2-1 in the first leg of their second round Europa League qualifier. Such was the Irish Cup winners’ enthusiasm they even scored all three goals in Norway, with David Cawley slotting the ball into his own net ten minutes before the final whistle blew.

The triumph came as something of a surprise given that Rovers came into the match fresh from an embarrassing 1-0 defeat by university team UC Dublin in which they had no answer to a first-minute strike from the Students.

After that setback, Sligo manager John

Coleman responded admirably, saying: “We’ve lost five players in a week, but we’re not going to hide behind injuries.”

If Rovers have demonstrated one thing this season, it is that their only constant is inconsistency. Each victory is usually followed by a string of defeats until the team finally summons a draw. The Bit O’ Red have long since ceased to challenge for the league title and currently lie in fifth with a miserable 26 points from 19 games. They no longer have any chance of championship glory but neither are they in danger of being relegated. Way ahead of Sligo, Dundalk and Cork City are separated only by goal difference at the top of the table with 46 points each from 20 matches. Could this impressive first-leg Europa League performance (the return leg is scheduled for 24 July) herald an awakening not only for Sligo but for the entire Irish league? Å

Liga Nacional de Guatemala

Municipal capitalise on rivals’ false start Sven Goldmann is a leading football correspondent with the “Tagesspiegel” newspaper in Berlin.

Europa League coup Sligo Rovers (Evan McMillan pictured left) defeated Rosenborg 2-1.

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With 29 titles to their name, Municipal remain the most popular and just about the most successful of the capital’s two biggest clubs, but Comunicaciones are catching up and have won the past three championship titles. Los Cremas – the Whites – most recently lifted the Apertura trophy in May this year in fitting style, defeating their local rivals over two legs.

The fact that Comunicaciones have been dominating the six-monthly cycles of Aper-

NTB Scanpix / Ned Alley / Reuters

Although 12 teams officially contest the Liga Nacional de Guatemala, its trophy has rarely left the country’s capital, Guatemala City. To date, Comunicaciones Futbol Club and Club Social y Deportivo Municipal have amassed 57 domestic league titles between them. Both sides regularly contest Guatemala’s Superclasico or, as it is often dubbed, El Juego de Juegos – “the match to end all matches”.

tura, Clausura and Apertura so typical of Latin American leagues makes it all the more difficult to comprehend the difficulties the reigning champions encountered when the new Clausura season got underway last weekend. Comunicaciones looked set to seal a 2-1 away win against Halcones FC in Huehuetenango thanks to goals from Jonathan Marquez and Kendell Herrarte, only for Honduran defender Romel Murillo to grab an equaliser in the game’s closing stages.

Home again Carlos Ruiz is the best-paid footballer in Guatemala.

Peter Klaunzer / Keystone, HO

Municipal took full advantage of their arch-rivals’ stumble by delivering a strong performance of their own. Carlos Ruiz, Guatemala’s most highly-paid player since his return from MLS side Washington DC United, found the net twice in his team’s resounding 4-1 defeat of Xelaju Club Social y Deportivo. The victory was no mean feat considering their opponents from Quetzaltenango are the only club to have interrupted Comunicaciones and Municipal’s total dominance of Guatemalan football in recent years by winning the Apertura in 2012. Å

Swiss Super League

A wizard on the wing Thomas Renggli writes for The FIFA Weekly.

An artist, a magician, a footballing genius: since Tunisian wide man Yassine Chikhaoui made his debut for FC Zurich in 2007, he has consistently wowed spectators with his wonderful technique and sublime elegance on the ball. The common consensus among team-mates and opponents alike is: “When he’s fit, he’s the best player in the league.” The problem is that Chikhaoui has rarely been fully fit in the last seven years.

In fact, he has spent more time in physiotherapy sessions and hospitals than he has on the pitch, missing a total of 167 league matches and making just 87 appearances.

With his game time significantly reduced and his annual salary of around 1.4 million Swiss Francs no longer seeming like a worthwhile investment to his employers, Chikhaoui was set to leave the club when his contract expired in the summer.

However, his wonderful performance in the Cup final victory over arch-rivals Basel in April prompted a rethink from the powers that be at the club, who promptly offered him a three-year contract and made him captain. Coach Urs Meier said of the long-serving Tunisian: “Yassine is one of our

most senior players and as captain, he needs to take on a leading role.” Rather surprisingly for a man who previously ignored questions from journalists and shunned any interview offers that came his way, he has already assumed the media responsibilities associated with his new role. Speaking in a press conference ahead of Zurich’s season opener last weekend, he said: “It’s a great honour for me to captain this team. After seven years at the club, the time has come for me to take on this responsibility.” The winger’s words will be music to the ears of the Tunisian Football Federation, with the national team clearly standing a far greater chance of success if a fit and motivated Chikhaoui is in the side.

The 27-year-old wide man and his teammates have made the perfect start to their domestic campaign, following up a 1-0 win against city rivals Grasshoppers with a 2-1 victory over Thun to move into top spot after two games. Chikhaoui grabbed both goals against Thun, dribbling the ball over 50 metres before slotting home the second.

“When Yassine plays, he spurs us on,” said goalkeeper and vice-captain David da Costa.

The fact that the devout Muslim is currently observing the strict fasting rules of Ramadan makes his most recent performance all the more impressive. And once 28 July has passed and his energy reserves are no longer depleted, Chikhaoui could pose an even greater threat to any defender who crosses his path. Å

Offered a new contract at FC Zurich The Cup victory was a turning point for Chikhaoui.

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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 Cup™, 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

T HE DEBAT E

Thirty-two teams is enough, but the way places are allocated should be changed as follows: Europe 10, Oceania 1, Asia 5.5, Africa 5.5, North and Central America 4, South America 5, hosts 1. In principle I don’t think the hosts should be guaranteed a place either – it could create a sixth place for Asia and Africa instead.

Janos Balazs, Hungary

PRESIDENTIAL NOTE

be a stage for the world’s best players, and for me that means players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic must be there.

Sergei Kolesnikov, Ukraine

An increase makes no sense and would only fill the finals with unnecessary and often dull matches. The current format of 32 teams split into eight groups of four is ideal.

Marco Russo, Italy

There should be at least one participant from each confederation; after all, it is the WORLD Cup. It doesn’t really matter whether there are 32 teams or more than that, but the distribution of starting places should be more “balanced”.

There are two reasons why I think we should stick with 32 teams. If the number of countries is increased, it would make it more

Luna Lempérière, Switzerland

Of the current 32 World Cup teams, at least 20 are practically pre-confirmed: Brazil, Germany, Italy etc... In theory they can fail to qualify every now and again but this hardly ever happens. Then there are 20 to 30 countries who have a realistic chance of taking the other qualifying places. This field should be bigger and it would be easy enough to do this by expanding the eight groups of four to eight groups of five. 40 teams would then participate in the tournament, extending it by two or three days. The real revolution would be elimination, as suddenly almost everyone could dream of their team being part of a World Cup. Rupen Boyadjian, Armenia

“I don’t think the hosts should be guaranteed a place.” complicated to work out who makes it to the Round of 16, because the two top teams from each group would not qualify automatically.

An increase would also devalue the World Cup as a sporting event.

Thomas Sky, England

Expanding the number of competitors is a bad idea. 32 teams is enough, as this keeps the qualifiers exciting. I think UEFA are going down the wrong path. The new European Championship format with 24 teams means practically half of Europe will make it to the finals.

Tatiana Zueva, Russia

As a business economist I understand in principle the economic benefits of increasing the number of competitors. Nevertheless, the quality of the teams involved should be considered of greater importance than financial success and expansion into new markets.

Fabio Lenzlinger, Switzerland

The map has changed a great deal since the former Eastern Bloc was broken up and the countries of the former Yugoslavia re-established. That’s why it would be sensible to reflect this fact with a larger number of World Cup participants. Plus the World Cup should

Thirty-two is the maximum number of teams you can have and still guarantee a suitably competitive tournament.

Oliver Aegerter, Switzerland

A product of the highest quality

A

lmost two weeks have passed since the World Cup Final. But for me personally a sense of euphoria about the tournament is still ever-present. The entertainment, range of emotions, passion and drama served up by the event was an unbeatable combination. The action came thick and fast in the group stage, and the knockout ­stages could hardly have been more tense and ­exciting: eight of the 16 matches required extra time or penalties.

This serves to emphasise that we are right about the format of the tournament and the ­number of participating teams. It is understandable that certain confederations are appealing for the field to be expanded. But this would be the wrong route. If a product is already of the highest quality, you should not change it.

In terms of the size of the starting field at the World Cup finals, FIFA has always adapted to developments in the game. The field was expanded from 16 to 24 teams for the 1982 edition in Spain, and from 24 to 32 for the 1998 World Cup in France.

But a limit has been reached, because a further expansion of the field would require a longer ­tournament. And I place even more emphasis on the sporting dimension: 32 teams guarantees high standards and relative competitiveness. We can return at a later date to the possibility of re­ assessing the number of places awarded to each confederation.

Fundamentally the vision behind the World Cup must not be confined exclusively to the finals.

The qualifying tournament remains the foundation, with 820 matches offering every national association a chance to prove their team’s worth and guaranteeing action and entertainment as standard. But the value in qualifying will only be maintained if we keep the current format. Thirty-two teams remains the golden number for the World Cup finals.

“An increase would devalue the World Cup.” Best wishes, Sepp Blatter T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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First Love Place: Ja kar ta, Indonesia Date: 21 October 2011 Time: 4.06 p.m.

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Irwin Ferdiansyah / AP / Keystone

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IN BRIEF

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hile one captain, Philipp Lahm, ended his international career on a high after Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, another – England’s Steven Gerrard – stepped down after his team failed to meet their own targets at this summer’s tournament. Both skippers have played for their countries more than 100 times, with the Englishman’s tally of 114 one better than that of his counterpart, unless the German Football Association organise an final farewell game for their talismanic leader. Gerrard consulted his family and friends before announcing his retirement from the national team, opting to concentrate on Liverpool’s return to the Champions League rather than attempting to balance it with EURO 2016 qualification. The Reds midfielder explained: “There is a time when you’re a football player where you’ve got to make the right decision, when you’ve got to be selfish.” With only Peter Shilton and David Beckham winning more England caps during their careers, Gerrard’s announcement heralds the departure of another giant of the game. Å Perikles Monioudis

Europa Press / Getty Images

“W

hy are they all playing with a football in the swimming pool?” young Julian asked, observing the scene at the heaving hotel complex. His father took a large bite of his croque monsieur sandwich, chewed calmly and swallowed before replying: “It’s the latest fashion, son, it’s in fashion.” “But the real guys on television play on grass don’t they dad?” His father chewed slowly, swallowed and said: “Everyone thinks they’re a world champion son, everyone thinks they’re a world champion.” Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man in tight-fitting swimming shorts did a spectacular back-flip into the water, performing an overhead kick as the ball came his way. However, he struck it so powerfully that it flew over the heads of his friends and hit a woman swimming breast-stroke full in the face, giving her an instant nosebleed. When the man came up for air again he was met by a chorus of whistles. “And why does everyone think they’re a world champion dad?”Å Alan Schweingruber

H

e was the leading goalscorer at this summer’s World Cup, found the back of the net for his team in every game, and his spectacular volley against Uruguay was voted the most beautiful goal of the tournament in a FIFA.com survey; in short, 23-year-old Colombian James Rodriguez was one of Brazil’s greatest success stories. Now he has a gold-plated, € 120,000-a-week contract to add to his Golden Boot after Real Madrid signed the playmaker from Monaco for € 80 million, making him the fourth most expensive player in football history after Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. With a month still to go before the new season begins, excitement about the latest influx of talent has already reached fever pitch in Madrid. Forty-three thousand fans gathered at the Bernabeu to welcome their latest arrival, around a third of them sporting the shirts of Colombia’s national team. And the summer spending spree does not stop there: Los Blancos have also signed Germany’s Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich for a further € 30 million. Å Thomas Renggli

“W

hat’s left over from the World Cup?” The Brazilian woman repeated the question with a bemused look, but answered after a brief pause for thought and with a mischievous grin: “The tears of a nation.” The locals have digested the horror of the semi-final, but the pain lingers. And other nations are crying too. What about Mexico, Chile and C­ ­ osta Rica? And James Rodriguez? Arjen ­Robben’s inconsolable little boy also wept bitter tears. Others barely had time for regrets because the end came so swiftly and surprisingly. There is a fine line between joy and sorrow in football: sometimes you just need one inch-perfect cross, a touch on the chest and a sublime shot into the corner of the net just inches out of the keeper’s reach, and a triumph is sealed for all time. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, meanwhile, reminded her people: “Stand tall Brazil, let’s dust ourselves down and carry on.” The message is that a bright future awaits, and the World Cup will be back in four years’ time. Å Dominik Petermann T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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SAN MARINO

Peaceful Folgore’s match against Tre Penne in San Marino was no crowd-puller, with football fans preferring to watch Italian Serie A on television.

Minnows with a passion The San Marino national team are the whipping boys of world football, yet as we discovered on a visit to the microstate at the foot of Monte Titano, their barrage of defeats has not damaged morale.

Nicola Berger (text) and Andrea Pugiotto (photos), San Marino

A

s the crow flies, only 400 kilometres separate San Marino and Germany but when it comes to football the two nations could not be further apart: the former stand in 208th place in the FIFA Rankings, while the newly crowned world champions are top.

As a bodybuilder with his own gym, a bald head and no-nonsense expression, Damiano Vannucci would not look out of place in a Guy Ritchie film. And although the 36-year-old admits to occasionally conducting Google image searches of himself, he is not driven by narcissism; instead he is seeking confirmation of the extraordinary experiences he has had as a footballer over the last decade.

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On an overcast Saturday, Vannucci sits in the stands at Campo Montecchio, his hood partially covering his face as he watches his Folgore team-mates play against Tre Penne.

His frustration at being suspended for the game is tangible and is accentuated by the fact that the San Marino championship has reached its decisive phase: it is the first match of the play-offs.

League fixtures do not draw much of a crowd here, with perhaps 70 other spectators braving the rain alongside Vannucci. Locals prefer to watch the stars of the Serie A on television while the two million annual tourists opt to visit the majestic Monte Titano instead of watching minor league football.

Priceless souvenirs Vannucci’s playing career may have spanned almost 20 years but he shows no signs of fatigue or lack of motivation. Indeed, the right-footed defensive midfielder is a national star in his own right as San Marino’s mostcapped player, with several of his 69 international appearances available to watch on the internet. In his online searches, Vannucci encounters pictures of himself competing against some of the game’s biggest names: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carles Puyol and Robbie Keane. Sitting in his windowless gym he says: “I’ve played in front of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium. How many people can say that?”

When it is put to Vannucci that alongside being

SAN MARINO

an incredible experience to go up against the world’s best players, it must also be demoralising to suffer heavy defeats so regularly, such as the latest 8-0 thrashing by Ukraine, he grimaces and says: “Sometimes it is really tough.” It is made all the more difficult given that the ­players – all amateurs – have to go back to work the next day, regardless of the distances involved to return home.

Accustomed to defeat Yet as can be seen by the decorations on the wall in Vannucci’s gym - which is covered in shirts from Ibrahimovic, Puyol, Dejan Stankovic and Clarence Seedorf - the suffering does come with a silver lining. Souvenirs from global superstars are highly-sought after items among his colleagues in the national team and Vannucci was only able to obtain Ibrahimovic’s jersey after his fourth match against him ­because a team-mate had always previously ­beaten him to it.

Swapping shirts is not the only headache for San Marino’s players though. They are currently at the very bottom of the FIFA ranking in 208th place, level with Bhutan on zero points after recording 119 defeats in 123 matches.

The microstate, which lies approximately 20 kilometres from Rimini and has a population of 32,000 people, is no longer only famous for its picturesque scenery and rare postage stamps, but as the stage for thumping defeats out on the football pitch.

Whenever debates break out in Europe about the overcrowded international fixture calendar, countries like San Marino often bear the brunt of the critics’ ire. Many of them question why a nation that has 15 football clubs and five pitches should compete against the continent’s biggest teams during World Cup and European Championship qualification.

World’s oldest republic Such arguments carry no weight with Giorgio Crescentini, an old-fashioned, statesmanlike figure who has been president of the San Marino Football Association since 1985. The 67-year-old receives visitors in his plush offices on Via Montecchio, which were built at a cost of €1.8 million. Michel Platini attended the inauguration ceremony in 2008 and two years later Joseph S. Blatter also paid a visit.

On Crescentini’s presidential desk stands a replica of the World Cup trophy, which is as close as anyone here is ever likely to get to the real thing.

When asked why San Marino became a FIFA member in 1988 Crescentini gives a verbose reply, insisting it was his idea and that it was all about pride and football’s power to establish an identity. Such values are important in the world’s oldest republic, which has one of the most progressive constitutions in exist-

Frustrated Veteran midfielder Damiano Vannucci watches the game from the stands due to suspension.

Team-talk Folgore discuss tactics in the changing room.

All to play for Fans watch the play-off match between Cosmos and Faetano.

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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

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

SAN MARINO

ence: compulsory education was introduced in 1691 and the death penalty abolished in 1865.

The locals in the nine districts that make up the country are proud of the fact that shaking hands still means something here.

“Everyone said we were crazy but we haven’t been deterred,” said Crescentini, who gleefully reels off the country’s footballing highlights over the years: a friendly victory over Lichtenstein, a draw against Latvia and the fastest-ever goal in World Cup history, qualifying matches included. Davide Gualteri was the scorer in November 1993 when San Marino faced England, finding the net after just 8.3 seconds. That they went on to lose 7-1 does not diminish Crescentini’s enthusiasm. “It’s one of the ironies in the history of the world game that that record was set by little San Marino against the motherland of football.”

“We have a project” That may be the case but reliving past glories will only go so far. With that in mind, Crescentini insists San Marino also have clear ob­ jectives in sight: “For me it’s important that we continue to represent our country as best we can. I’d also love for us to win a competitive game soon.”

That was the brief given to new national team coach Pier-Angelo Manzaroli when he took over last October, succeeding Giampaolo Mazza, whose tenure ended following a run of 75 defeats in 76 matches. Manzaroli is a logistics expert who now spends his evenings drilling the country’s players on tactical variations.

Despite the obvious drawbacks of leading a team from such a small nation, Manzaroli has discovered a way of turning that to his advantage: he intends to hold training sessions twice a week in order to hone different aspects of the game. “We have a project,” he said.

The size of the challenge facing Manzaroli becomes increasingly apparent with a glance at the San Marino Calcio squad, which does not include a single San Marino native. The Serravalle-based club play in Italy’s third tier, the Lega Pro Prima Divisione - formerly known as Serie C - and finished second bottom in 15th place in the 2013/14 season. Manzaroli said of the situation that “the relationship between the national association and the club is strained,” while Vannucci was more forthright on the matter: “We’re just not good enough, we’re dilettanti, amateurs. San Marino Calcio are on a different level.”

That will not be enough to prevent Vannucci and Co continuing to give their all for the most unsuccessful national team in the world. Vannucci is currently studying for his coaching badges and is undecided how long he will continue playing, but is adamant that the wall at his gym still has room for a few more souvenirs. Å

Elbow grease Members of the Folgore side pay a visit to the team physio after the match.

Passionate leader Giorgio Crescentini, president of the San Marino FA, at the association headquarters.

“For me it’s important that we continue to represent our country as best we can. I’d also love for us to win a competitive game soon.”

Giorgio Crescentini

SAN MARINO Population: 32,742 Language: Italian FIFA Member: Since 1988 Registered players: 1,586 FIFA projects: Through its GOAL initiative, FIFA helps its members implement projects aimed at developing football across the world.

In 2013 FIFA supported the San Marino FA with $500,000 USD to renovate the infrastructure at the Stadio di Serravalle. Furthermore, FIFA contributes $250,000 USD annually towards development activities such as youth football and refereeing.

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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F I F A ’ S 11

The World Cup’s oldest players

Time to leave Lun Peaks

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years old Faryd Mondragon (Colombia) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Brazil 2014

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years old Roger Milla (Cameroon) Position. Striker World Cup: USA 1994

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years old Pat Jennings (Northern Ireland), Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Mexico 1986

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years old Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Germany 2006

Peter Shilton (England) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Italy 1990

Dino Zoff (Italy) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Spain 1982

Lev Yashin (USSR) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Mexico 1970

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years old Angel Labruna (Argentina) Position: Striker World Cup: Sweden 1958

Jim Leighton (Scotland) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: Italy 1990

David James (England) Position: Goalkeeper World Cup: South Africa 2010

Stanley Matthews (England) Position: Right-wing World Cup: Switzerland 1954

Alan Schweingruber

T

he small Central European town of Lun Peaks was a popular tourist destination.

Despite its somewhat conservative tendencies, it was nonetheless a pleasant place to visit. Travis, a carpenter and football fan from the USA, quickly felt at home here.

Barely a year after making the voyage across the Atlantic, however, Travis returned to his home in Colorado. This despite the fact that everything you could wish for was right on your doorstep in Lun Peaks, whether it be the natural world, politics, friends and even football. The city’s only regional newspaper reported on football every day, even when FC Lun Peaks weren’t in action. Pictures of the club’s players were often prominently displayed in its pages, and if the team pulled off a particularly memorable victory, the coach was honoured with his very own feature. Everyone in Lun Peaks was up to speed on football matters.

There was always something going on in the town. Indeed, the local radio station had recently opted to change its coverage, broadcasting the regional news at the very top of its current affairs slot. Listeners were therefore immediately informed of the most important local developments, such as the eternal traffic problems caused by the roundabout to the south of the town.

It took some time for Travis to realise that this policy had its drawbacks. Although well informed about the missing cat in the neighbourhood and the preferences of the city council, people were told little about Barack Obama’s most recent appeal to Russia or global refugee issues.

On 16 June 2014, the day that USA beat Ghana in their opening group match of the World Cup in Brazil, Travis took the decision to leave Lun Peaks.

Never before had the United States witnessed a ’Soccerfest’ of such vast proportions.

The world’s press was full of photos of the game, Travis was sent countless selfies from his friends back home and even the White House made its pride felt in the Twittersphere.

Nonetheless, the picturesque Central European town was only aware of one thing that day: the weather was dull as FC Lun Peaks began pre-season training. Å

The weekly column by our staff writers

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

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Name Carles Puyol Place and date of birth 13 April 1978, Pobla de Segur Clubs played for Barcelona Spain national team 100 caps, 3 goals Six-time La Liga champion, Two-time Copa del Rey champion, Three-time Champions League winner, 2010 World Cup winner, 2008 European champion

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Braschler/Fischer

Major honours

THE INTERVIEW

“It’s frustrating when your body doesn’t respond” The recent successes of Barcelona and the Spain national team are inextricably linked with one man: Carles Puyol. The former centre-back spoke to The FIFA Weekly about the apparent end of a golden era in Spain.

How would you explain Spain’s poor performance at Brazil 2014, where they unwittingly provided one of the biggest surprises of the tournament?

Carles Puyol: That elimination was hard

to take as we had high hopes. In my case, having to watch it from afar was even worse, as you can’t help the team and just feel powerless. Small details made all the difference. In the opening game against the Netherlands, we could so easily have gone two up, but then they went and made it 1-1, which affected us. They were the better team after the break, but if we’d scored that [second] goal, it would’ve been a whole different story. When you suffer such a heavy defeat (5-1), it’s always hard to pick yourself up for the next game. Then we were unable to beat Chile, a team that have been playing well for a long time now.

Did the team lack motivation?

I don’t see it as a problem of motivation – for many of the squad this might be their last World Cup – and what could be more motivating than playing a World Cup in Brazil? No-one wants to win more than the players, but sometimes things don’t work out as you’d like. Added to that, some players came into the tournament carrying injuries, others after a very tiring season, and that takes its toll in the end.

With everything indicating the end of an era, how do think “La Roja” should go forward from here?

I’m not a big fan of revolutions. People nearly always call for them when a team that’s triumphed a great deal goes a year without winning anything. For me, however, the experience gained in previous victories is important. The rebuilding should be done in a

measured way, without undoing what has already been accomplished. As we say in Catalan, you need to use seny (common sense).

Had the team passed their peak?

We have great players and, while some of them may have taken part in their last major competition, we should let them and the coach discuss the future, and not make rash decisions in the heat of the moment. I still believe that the current crop is very good and that there’ll be top quality players in the years to come. Right now we have to be strong, look to the future and learn from our mistakes.

On a personal level you also marked the end of an era when you retired from football last May. How did you arrive at that decision?

In September you begin a new phase of your career in Barcelona’s Technical Department.

How will you tackle this new role?

Many people have told me I could be a coach, but it doesn’t appeal. Ideally I’d be playing, but those days are over. You need to find your niche, and in the end you need to be involved with what you know. Barcelona have given me this opportunity, for which I’m very grateful. Initially there will be a period of learning where I won’t be taking big decisions, but I’ll face up to it with the same determination and anticipation I showed during my playing days. Over time, I hope I can use everything football has taught me over the last 19 years. Å Carles Puyol was talking to Elisa Revuelta

Over the previous two seasons, I’d really tried everything. I had surgery twice, tried lots of different treatments, but my knee had had enough. Although it was very difficult, I knew retirement was the correct decision.

Was the decision driven by reason?

It’s frustrating to see part of your body not responding – even more so given the way I am, and the way I like to train and always give 100 per cent. You experience sadness, anger and powerlessness… you really want to do something but you can’t. In the end, however, you have to be honest with yourself and those around you. I’m paying the price for all the exertion, all the injections over the last two years and forcing the knee to the limit. Right now I’m undergoing a new type of treatment, but it’s not with a view to playing once more. It’s just to have a normal life again as, at the moment, even walking down a flight of stairs is difficult.

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MIRROR IMAGE

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Altona, Hamburg, Germany

1937

Schirner Sportfoto / DPA / Keystone

German international Ernst Lehner leaps over a wheelbarrow appropriated for training ahead of his side’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden.

Germany won the match 5-0 on 21 November that year.

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MIRROR IMAGE

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Athletic Arena, Schladming, Austria

2014

Martin Huber / APA / Keystone

Red Bull Salzburg at their pre-season training camp, proving that single jumps are a thing of the past.

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FIFA WORLD R ANKING Rank Team

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 53 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 67 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

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Germany Argentina Netherlands Colombia Belgium Uruguay Brazil Spain Switzerland France Portugal Chile Greece Italy USA Costa Rica Croatia Mexico Bosnia and Herzegovina England Ecuador Ukraine Russia Algeria Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Scotland Romania Sweden Venezuela Serbia Turkey Panama Nigeria Czech Republic Egypt Slovenia Hungary Ghana Honduras Armenia Tunisia Austria Wales Japan Slovakia Iceland Paraguay Iran Montenegro Guinea Uzbekistan Norway Cameroon Finland Korea Republic Jordan Burkina Faso Peru Mali Poland Senegal Libya Sierra Leone United Arab Emirates South Africa Albania Israel Oman Republic of Ireland Bolivia Bulgaria Azerbaijan FYR Macedonia Cape Verde Islands Australia Zambia

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

Change in ranking Points

1 3 12 4 6 1 -4 -7 -3 7

1724 1606 1496 1492 1401 1330 1241 1229 1216 1202

-7 2 -1 -5 -2 12 1 2 2 -10 5 -6 -4 -2 -2 -3 0 1 3 10 -1 3 -2 10 -1 0 -12 9 -1 -7 -3 6 -1 -3 1 3 5 2 -6 1 1 7 2 3 6 1 6 2 -14 -3 8 12 1 -10 7 -1 -1 8 10 0 -4 6 10 6 -36 -14 -1

1148 1098 1091 1056 989 986 955 930 917 911 901 898 897 872 850 807 734 733 724 720 717 714 684 664 646 645 644 642 642 637 635 621 614 606 604 588 570 566 563 559 555 523 520 520 508 501 500 495 487 483 478 476 471 469 466 450 444 444 443 440 429 425 410 406 401 397 396

Ranking 02 / 2014

03 / 2014

04 / 2014

05 / 2014

06 / 2014

07 / 2014

1 -41 -83 -125 -167 -209

78 79 79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 89 91 92 93 94 95 96 96 98 99 99 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 115 117 118 119 120 121 121 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 129 131 131 133 134 135 136 136 138 139 140 140 142 143 144

Top spot

Biggest climber

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

12 -2 14 1 3 -2 -13 9 14 -1 0 1 15 -4 6 -4 9 13 -12 0 1 -7 13 -4 -1 6 2 5 7 8 11 7 -3 -9 2 -40 4 5 1 -12 -8 6 -25 1 -53 -3 2 6 2 -3 1 1 -6 8 5 4 -7 -2 4 -2 -1 3 3 -6 2 1 5

Biggest faller

384 377 377 376 375 373 369 362 361 358 357 356 356 354 345 344 342 339 338 338 334 332 332 330 325 314 312 288 287 281 278 276 273 270 264 262 257 256 256 253 250 249 245 234 234 233 232 230 222 220 218 217 217 213 213 208 204 203 199 199 195 193 183 183 182 179 176

145 146 147 148 149 150 151 151 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 167 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 175 177 178 178 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 190 192 192 192 192 196 197 198 199 200 200 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 208

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

2 -6 -1 0 2 -18 2 3 4 1 1 2 -8 2 14 -1 -9 1 4 0 -1 0 -5 2 1 -2 -10 2 2 4 1 5 -5 1 -2 3 26 -1 -1 -13 -1 -1 3 0 -2 5 -1 -6 0 0 0 0 1 2 -3 -10 -2 -1 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

171 169 163 161 152 146 144 144 141 140 136 134 128 124 123 122 117 114 103 102 100 99 93 93 92 87 85 84 83 79 78 78 72 71 71 70 66 64 63 61 56 43 38 31 29 28 28 26 26 26 26 21 18 16 14 13 13 11 8 7 6 5 1 0 0

NET ZER KNOWS!

THE OBJEC T

Will a small nation be able to establish itself in international football?

Perikles Monioudis

Question from Anthony Tattersall, Austin (USA)

I

Family outing Gunter Netzer with his wife Elvira and daughter Alana in 1988.

adolph press

T

he World Cup is usually won by a country from a select group of four to six nations.

Occasionally an extra space opens up because favourites get knocked out early. The refreshing performances by Costa Rica and Colombia in Brazil enhanced the tournament enormously but I don’t think a small footballing nation can establish itself at the top of the world game. They simply don’t have the experience, the strength in depth or the sustainability.

To underline that point I always like to use an example from the 1990 World Cup. Cameroon took everyone by surprise with their free-flowing football and beautiful goals, and even beat teams like Argentina en route the quarter-finals. After that the general consensus was that it was only a matter of time before an African team won the World Cup, but nobody is saying that nowadays and there are reasons for that. A good crop of players can be successful and leave their mark on a tournament, but in order for a nation to establish

itself it’s the subsequent period that’s important. Who will fill the void when the good players get older? Can there be a seamless transition? Can they take advantage of the upswing?

At the moment Belgium have an outstanding young team and there’s no shame in being eliminated in the World Cup quarter-finals by Argentina. The side will now grow and gain more experience and I can see them reaching a final in the next four to eight years. But I think the title will probably stay among the usual suspects. Å

t is said that when it comes to penalties, the taker has more to lose than the goalkeeper because he is generally expected to score.

Yet he also has to choose where to shoot: low, high or at medium height, with power or precision? Should he be cocky with a chip down the centre after the keeper has dived to one of the corners?

By comparison the men between the posts have a relatively passive role, but they still try to guess where the ball will go by looking at the position of the taker’s knees, feet or back.

Perhaps he will aim for the last spot he looked at? No, that would be too easy.

The heavily scaled-down Paul Onduer watercolour pictured above is called ‘Penalty’, and featured on the front cover of a French football magazine in 1955. It depicts a muscular player about to take a spot-kick and another ready to make a save in goal, while the referee, with the whistle in his mouth having signalled that the penalty can be taken, appears to be making his way towards the goal.

The custodian, much like a left-handed ice hockey goalkeeper, has one hand raised as if to catch the ball, while the other hand appears to be grasping some unseen object, almost as if he were holding an ice hockey stick.

The taker is finishing his run-up and his standing leg is about to land next to the ball before shooting with his right foot. Where will he aim?

Despite the varied forms of artistic exaggeration surrounding the game, football always remains the same. Incidentally, the penalty was well struck and the ball went to the goalkeeper’s right and into the net. Å

What have you always wanted to know about football? Ask Gunter Netzer: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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The FIFA World Cup™ is where all of us want to be.

TURNING POINT

“I was inspired by Uwe Seeler” Willi Lemke, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace, on the day he fell in love with the game.

Olaf Ballnus / Agentur Focus

I

discovered my love for football as a little boy aged just eight or nine. It was in Hamburg back in the fifties. Uwe Seeler and the Hamburg team played a match on our school playground watched by a crowd of maybe 500 or 600. You’d never see a top player on a school playground nowadays, but they were still doing it back then.

Uwe Seeler signed an autograph for me out there in the school yard. I was completely fascinated by the game, the atmosphere and especially by Seeler. He was a real inspiration. I desperately wanted to join a football club so I signed up with Dulsberger SC Stern-Pfeil, where I played for a year.

I scored two goals in my very first game but almost managed to get myself sent off. I had my head in the clouds because I’d scored twice, I was consumed by euphoria, and when someone else clattered into me I gave him a volley of abuse. The ref said: “Another word from you and you’re off!”

I have to say it was a nasty shock. I’d scored two goals and it was the best day of my life, and I didn’t dare risk ruining it all. I suddenly felt anxious and had to pull myself together.

There’s a very fine line between success and failure sometimes. But it taught me a lesson.

Wilfried, I said to myself – I wasn’t yet known to everyone as Willi – you have to get a grip on yourself. That’s what I learnt out there on the pitch on the day I scored my first two goals.

And what I learned there and then has stayed with me ever since.

But back to Uwe Seeler. We’ve become friends as the decades have rolled by. We always embrace warmly when we meet.

Willi Lemke on a UN mission in Kikuyu, Kenya.

I always loved Seeler, because he’s never let his feet leave the ground. He never followed the money to Italy. We developed a close relationship for a variety of reasons when I was Werder Bremen general manager and he was still with Hamburg. He must have said to himself at some point: “I’m staying in Hamburg, this is my manor, my home, with my wife and kids, all my grandchildren and everything I have.” He was always my role model. Å As told to Perikles Monioudis

Name Wilfried “Willi” Lemke Date and place of birth 19 August 1946, Ponitz (East Holstein) Career highlights 2007-present: United Nations Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace 1999–2007: Bremen State Senator for Education and Commerce 2007-8: Bremen State Senator for Home Affairs and Sport 1981–99; Werder Bremen General Manager (European Cup Winners’ Cup winners, Twice German Championship winners, Three time German Cup winners) 2005-present: Werder Bremen supervisory board chairman

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

T H E F I FA W E E K LY

37

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The FIFA Weekly Published weekly by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Internet: www.fifa.com/theweekly Publisher: FIFA, FIFA-Strasse 20, PO box, CH-8044 Zurich Tel. +41-(0)43-222 7777 Fax +41-(0)43-222 7878

FIFA QUIZ CUP

Youthful champions, marathon men and sundown at the Final – test your knowledge!

Who played longest at the 2014 World Cup, finishing with the most minutes on the field?

1

President: Joseph S. Blatter Secretary General: Jérôme Valcke Director of Communications and Public Affairs: Walter De Gregorio

C

F

H

M

Chief Editor: Perikles Monioudis Staff Writers: Thomas Renggli (Author), Alan Schweingruber, Sarah Steiner

2

This is an extract from what?

Art Direction: Catharina Clajus Picture Editor: Peggy Knotz

O Ticket A Ball

I Memorial plaque at the Maracana E FIFA logo for the Final

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

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Manuel, Mats, Mesut and other future world stars prior to a final in 2009. How old was the oldest player in the team for this final?

Proof Reader: Nena Morf, Kristina Rotach

N 20 R 22

Contributors: Sérgio Xavier Filho, Luigi Garlando, Sven Goldmann, Hanspeter Kuenzler, Jordi Punti, David Winner, Roland Zorn Contributors to this Issue: Nicola Berger, Andreas Jaros, Dominik Petermann, Elisa Revuelta, Alissa Rosskopf, Andreas Wilhelm Editorial Assistant: Honey Thaljieh Project Management: Bernd Fisa, Christian Schaub

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P 21 T 23

TV showed this shot of the sunset after 50 minutes of the World Cup Final, but where was the camera?

O Near Manuel E Near Sergio

T Near Vladimir, Sepp & Angela S Not in the Maracana

Translation: Sportstranslations Limited www.sportstranslations.com Printer: Zofinger Tagblatt AG www.ztonline.ch

Imago (2), Getty Images (5), HO (3)

Contact: feedback-theweekly@fifa.org Reproduction of photos or articles in whole or in part is only permitted with prior editorial approval and if attributed “The FIFA Weekly, © FIFA 2014”.

The editor and staff are not obliged to publish unsolicited manuscripts and photos. FIFA and the FIFA logo are registered trademarks of FIFA. Made and printed in Switzerland.

Any views expressed in The FIFA Weekly do not necessarily reflect those of FIFA.

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

Send your answer by 30 July 2014 to feedback-theweekly@fifa.org.

Correct solutions to all quizzes published from 13 June 2014 onwards will go into a draw in January 2015 for a trip for two to the FIFA Ballon d’Or on 12 January 2015.

Before sending in answers, all participants must read and accept the competition terms and conditions and the rules, which can be found at: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/af-magazine/fifaweekly/02/20/51/99/en_rules_20140613_english_neutral.pdf T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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A S K T H E W E E K LY

T HIS WEEK’S POLL

Can James Rodriguez succeed at Real Madrid?

Was Nicola Rizzoli the first Italian to officiate a World Cup Final?

Bernd Sorg, Dusseldorf, Germany No. It was the third time an Italian referee had been chosen to oversee a World Cup Final, after Sergio Gonella in 1978 and Pierluigi Collina in 2002. ­R izzoli's appearance in 2014 means Italy are now second in the list of countries to provide referees for the Final after England, whose officials have led games on four previous occasions. Brazil and France have each provided two representatives to arbitrate the greatest match in football. (thr)

He took Colombia to the World Cup quarter-finals and won the Golden Boot for his six goals. Now James Rodriguez is moving from Monaco to Madrid. Can the 23-year-old establish himself in La Liga? Have your say at www.fifa.com/newscenter

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

Which style of football did you most enjoy at the 2014 World Cup?

42% � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Germany 33% � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Netherlands 17% � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Another team 8% � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Costa Rica 0% � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Nigeria

discover he is a goalkeeper.

4

countries over the past few days. In Bangladesh,

ment. The 26-year-old will

After Avine felled Ademil-

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi lifted their second domestic

probably be best remembered

son in the penalty box,

trophy, while Tafea FC defended their title in Vanuatu.

for the last of these efforts, a

Tricolor’s spotkick special-

In the Gran Final of the Dominican Republic’s Liga

short-range strike aimed

ist abandoned his goal and

Major, Moca emerged victorious for the third time,

straight at Germany goalkeeper

fired the ball into the top

while in Laos, Hoang Anh Attapeu also tasted champi-

Manuel Neuer in extra time of

left-hand corner.

onship success.

the quarter-finals.

41

Rogerio Ceni was 41 years old when he scored for Sao Paulo against Bahia this week, an achievement that becomes all the more impressive when you

25

France’s Karim Benzema took 25 shots on goal during this summer’s World Cup, more

Four teams sealed championship titles in their home

than anyone else at the tourna-

Getty Images (3), Pedro Castillo / Real Madrid via Getty Images, HO

WEEK IN NUMBERS