The FIFA Weekly Issue #54

ISSUE 54, 31 OCTOBER 2014

ENGLISH EDITION

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

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IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE PAUL POGBA I’M A RISK-TAKER

BALLON D’OR WHO ARE THE FRONT-RUNNERS?

RUSSIA 2018 WORLD CUP EMBLEM UNVEILED 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

Arctic ambitions In the Norwegian city of Tromso, 344 kilometres inside the Arctic Circle, the harsh weather conditions are not always an impediment to attractive football. Sven Goldmann reports from the world’s northernmost top-flight club, a place where Chelsea were once defeated and where the sun disappears for two months each year.

South America 10 members www.conmebol.com

Kazakhstan Not even ten centimetres of snow can hold back Astana. The capital city’s top club beat Shakhter Karagandy 2-0 to move another step closer to their first championship title.

S epp Blatter Four years before the next World Cup, hosts Russia are clearly ambitious to succeed.

In his weekly column, the FIFA President says: “I strongly sense that hosting the World Cup is a matter close to the Russian heart.”

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Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal’s philosophy is beginning to take root.

Christian Gimenez He once played for Boca Juniors alongside Diego Maradona, but the Argentinian had to travel to distant Switzerland to experience the decisive moment in his career.

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Ballon d’Or Nominee for Women’s World Player of the Year and US record goal­scorer Abby Wambach is back in fine form this season.

In the Arctic Circle This week’s cover image was captured on 26 October 2014 at the Alfheim Stadium, where Tromso defeated Fredrikstad 1-0.

The number of teams taking part in the final competition has been fixed at 24, to be apportioned among the confederations as follows: AFC: 5 Teams, CAF: 3 Teams, CONCACAF: 3,5 Teams*, CONMEBOL: 2,5 Teams*, OFC: 1 Team, UEFA: 8 Teams, Host: Canada *The fourth-ranked team from the CONCACAF preliminary competition will compete in a play-off (home and away) against the third-ranked team from the CONMEBOL preliminary competition for a slot in the final competition.

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Qualified Costa Rica Mexico USA

Qualified Brazil Colombia

Play-off (Second Leg) 2 December 2014 Trinidad and Tobago – Ecuador

Play-off (First Leg) 8 November 2014 Ecuador – Trinidad and Tobago

Canada (Host)

Getty Images (3), FIFA

Eivind H. Natvig / MOMENT / INSTITUTE

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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Russia How the new World Cup emblem allowed Moscow to shine at the Bolshoi Theatre.

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Paul Pogba “My goal is to be the best player in the world,” says the Frenchman in an interview.

The FIFA Weekly Magazine App The FIFA Weekly Magazine is available in four languages as an e-Magazine and on your tablet every Friday. http://www.fifa.com/mobile

Qualified Germany England France Norway Sweden Switzerland Spain + Playoff Winner

Qualified Côte d’Ivoire Cameroon Nigeria

Qualified Australia China PR Japan Korea Republic Thailand

Qualified New Zealand

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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

Feel the Beauty

BE MOVED

THE NEW 4K LED TV

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

UNCOVERED

Nature’s breathtaking display The Northern Lights shimmer in the skies above Tromso.

Spotlights and shadows

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oy and elation abound at famous Norwegian club Tromso Idrettslag after the team won promotion back to the Tippeligaen, ensuring they will again be the most northerly top-flight side in world football next season. In doing so, Steinar Nilsen’s players defied not only the competition but also the harsh Arctic climate. Starting on page 6, our correspondent Sven Goldmann reports from Norway’s eighth-largest city where, despite the two months of complete darkness each year, the local football club are shining brightly once more.

T Eivind H. Natvig / Moment / Institute

he unveiling of the Official Emblem in Moscow marked the first milestone on the road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In his weekly column on page 23, FIFA President Sepp Blatter describes how this event whetted his appetite for the tournament in four years’ time: “In my opinion the logo embodies Russia’s heart and soul. I strongly sense that hosting the World Cup is a matter close to the Russian heart and that the people are determined to use the opportunity to present the nation as welcoming and open.”

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his year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala is also fast approaching, as world football’s very best will be crowned in Zurich on 12 January 2015. The names of the candidates for four of the event’s coveted awards were announced earlier this week. We cast an eye over the contenders from page 26 onwards. Å Tim Pfeifer

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Arctic ambitions

Although Tromso is completely shrouded in darkness for two months of the year, its football team are shining brightly once more. The FIFA Weekly joined Tromso Idrettslag’s promotion party.

Sven Goldmann (text) and Eivind H. Natvig (images), Tromso

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Matchday in Tromso Home fans at the Alfheim Stadion.

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including the world’s northernmost cathedral, university and brewery. Now the place where sides like Chelsea and Galatasaray were once defeated is again home to the northernmost top-flight football team in the world.

Snow in June Tromso is located 344 kilometres within the Arctic Circle, on a similar latitude to Barrow in northern Alaska and the Russian Polar Sea port of Murmansk. Its Alfheim Stadion is the most northerly stadium ever to have staged European games, but last year the continent’s leading sides were nowhere to be seen. Instead, the arena hosted Barum, Mjondalen and Ranheim from the first division – the second tier of Norway’s league system after the Tippeligaen – after TIL were relegated last season. Their demotion made life considerably easier for their traditional rivals, as although the Gulf Stream gives Tromso a comparatively mild climate, it does occasionally snow here in June. These problematic climate conditions mean that matches at the Alfheim have been played on a heated artificial pitch since 2006. In addition to weather considerations, most visiting sides face an arduous journey to northern Norway. Rosenborg have

The pitch nestles in a residential area among colourful wooden houses. the shortest trip – 800 kilometres as the crow flies – while promotion rivals Fredrikstad faced a 1,300 kilometre trek to play their decisive league clash.

Coach Steinar Nilsen was under significant pressure when the first division season began back in April, and although his budget was drastically lowered when Tromso were relegated, his targets were not. “The same thing happened to Mourinho once,” Nilsen said. “His transfer budget was halved and yet they still told him he had to win the league.” Nilsen once played for AC Milan and Napoli in Serie A, and captained the Tromso side that beat Chelsea 3-2 in the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. Up in the Alfheim Stadion’s VIP boxes hangs a framed picture showing Chelsea’s Italian star Gianluca Vialli battling through an Arctic

Eivind H. Natvig / MOMENT / INSTITUTE

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ate on Sunday afternoon, Didier Drogba scores a goal. It is a strike typical of the Ivorian, headed with full force from the near post, and is promptly replayed from every conceivable angle on three huge television screens – but nobody is watching. There is similarly little interest in Angel di Maria’s sprints, Oscar’s tricks or Eden Hazard’s dribbling skills. At Roger’s, perhaps the most northerly sports bar on the planet, the world’s best footballers are battling it out in a top English Premier League encounter between Chelsea and Manchester United. But who cares about Di Maria, Oscar and Hazard when Benny Lekstrom, Hans Norbye and Jonas Johansen are all right here?

Earlier on Sunday afternoon, 29-year-old defender Johansen scored the winning goal against Fredrikstad Fotballklubb to fire his team back into Norway’s top flight. Fans are now singing “Tromso, Tromso!’ and ”Heia TIL!“ (”Go TIL!”) up on the stage at Roger’s, while the celebrations continue outside in the Stortorget, the central square in Arctic Norway’s largest settlement. Tromso is the city where practically everything is the most northerly of its kind,

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Poised for victory Supporters in the stands eagerly anticipate promotion.

­ lizzard. The club’s director of football, Svein b Morten Johansen, was part of the side that faced Vialli and his team-mates that night, as he recalled: “They complained about the snow, but only after we took a 2-0 lead.”

Although these are certainly happy memories, they are of little help when it comes to the club’s current financial position. Tromso employ just seven staff and are grateful for the help provided by their various volunteers.

“Times are tough; we’ve got to bring Norwegian football back to its roots,” Johansen admitted, explaining that this means investing in youth, “like the Belgians and Swiss have done. And look at the progress the Icelandics have made – sensational! Why shouldn’t we do the same.

There are more people living in Arctic Norway than in all of Iceland.”

Floodlights at noon 72,000 people live in Tromso, and every year this total grows by 1,000 – a unique feat in the isolated North. The city is one of the world’s largest by area, more than twice the size of New York City at 2,588 square kilometres, but only a fraction of this space has been built upon. The city’s limits also encompass the island of Tromsoya, the mainland district of Tromsdalen and

an abundant landscape that includes reindeer grazing, uninhabited rocky islets and mountain peaks. All of this is surrounded by archipelagos, fjords and the Lyngen Alps, with peaks reaching almost 2,000 metres in places.

The best way to take in this remarkable panorama is to climb Tromso’s local mountain,

Blatter visits Nobel Peace Center FIFA President Blatter visited the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway to promote and share the successful implementation of the Handshake for Peace during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Blatter joined Director of the Nobel Peace Center Bente Erichsen and Norwegian Football Association (Norges Fotballforbund, NFF) President Yngve Hallen for a press conference. “The Handshake for Peace is more than just to speak about peace,” commented Blatter. “It is to bring people together, to connect people. The cooperation we have with you and your organisation, Handshake for Peace, is a confirmation of what we are doing together.”

the Storsteinen, which stands 421 metres above the North Atlantic. Its commanding views include the pointed outline of the Arctic Cathedral, whose unconventional architecture evokes images of ice, darkness and the aurora borealis.

Stretching out behind this is the 1,300-metre long bridge that has connected the island with the mainland since 1960. Climbing steeply upward on each side with a kink in the centre, the structure is vaguely reminiscent of a ski jump when viewed from the port. These port buildings draw the eye from the bridge to the city centre, beyond which the Alfheim Stadion is recognisable on a clear day.

The pitch that brought Chelsea and Galatasaray to their knees is nestled in a residential area among colourful wooden houses. The floodlights flickered into life at least an hour before TIL’s last home match of the season against close title rivals Fredrikstad, at around midday. Once the players returned to their dressing rooms after warming up, the artificial turf was watered, highlighting the creases at its edges. A white wooden house bearing an advertisement for the local savings bank stands behind one goal while a temporary structure serving as a family stand is positioned behind the other. Exactly 23 fans were T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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TROMSO gathered there by the time the match kicked off, with smaller family members taking full advantage of the ample space to run about and play. The main stand was bathed in sunshine thanks to both the time of kick-off and the time of year, as the sun is an uncommon guest during the northern Norwegian autumn before disappearing completely during the winter. Between 21 November and 21 January, Tromso lies entirely shrouded in darkness, with a small strip at the horizon providing the only reminder that daylight will one day return.

Benny Lekstrom, goalkeeper

Hans Norbye, defender

Johansen’s fine finish The sunlight faded with each passing minute, leaving the emerald green turf in full shadow before the game even began. The fans sang to keep themselves warm, creating a remarkable din in this otherwise peaceful corner of town.

What then happened scarcely half an hour into the match was later dubbed an “explosion of passion” by local newspaper Nordlys. Jonas Johansen became TIL’s promotion hero by skilfully curving the ball into the net from around 25 metres out, a strike that would not look out of place in Didier Drogba’s Premier League or Steinar Nilsen’s former home in Serie A. The scene was replayed over and over again during half-time on the huge video cube between the main stand and the little wooden house. This immense set of screens is not only Tromso’s concession to mod-

The players defy the Arctic conditions by completing a shirtless lap of honour.

Zdenek Ondrasek, striker 10

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Miika Koppinen, centre-back

Lasse Nielsen, defender

ern-day football, but also a promise that the club will once more play in the Tippeligaen and beyond. Steinar Nilsen experienced his team’s famous victory against Chelsea as a player in 1997 and was responsible for their unexpected comeback against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup as club coach in 2005. Nevertheless, he also appreciates the effort and daily work required on the pitch to maintain such a level. Born in Tromso, the former defender has consistently returned to his birthplace, even after five years in Italy. There must be something special about this city.

During the second half, Tromso were playing towards the goal in front of the family stand, where the lack of numbers somewhat limited the amount of vocal support the fans could provide. Despite this, it was enough to generate a cleared header off the line and all manner of other chances against a team that only occasionally looked capable of mounting a last-gasp challenge for promo-

Krysspress / Facebook

Jonas Johansen, midfielder

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We did it Still out on the pitch and looking forward to a Tippeligaen future.

tnt-graphics (Infografik)

torget outside Roger’s, the heroes celebrated on stage. Miika Koppinen was presented with a red-and-while TIL shirt with ’300’ printed on the back, before the master of ceremonies broke into a humorous song, one of

Daylight in Tromso over the course of a year

Jul y Aug ust Se pte mb e Oc r tob e No r vem be De r cem ber

End of October: around 7 hours of daylight

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Daytime

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Tromso

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Mayor and compere rolled into one For Koppinen, promotion is not the only reason this day is special. The 1-0 win over Fredrikstad also marked his 300th appearance for Tromso, deservedly making him the longest-serving player at the club. He was heartily applauded for this achievement inside the stadium, where fans with red-and-white paper streamers and colourful pyrotechnics celebrated their team’s return to the Tippeligaen

while the players bravely defied the Arctic conditions by completing a shirtless lap of honour.

Later that same day, at the promotion party in the now completely darkened Stor-

Jan uar y Feb rua ry Ma rch

tion. To safeguard his team’s lofty league position, Steinar Nilsen then prescribed some less than state-of-the-art tactics, setting up his side in what can only be described as a “back seven”. Benny Lekstrom, the northern Norwegian club’s Swedish goalkeeper, was troubled by only a single shot on goal and parried it clear despite having spent 90 minutes as a virtual spectator, leaving him more vulnerable to the unpleasant cold than the opposition. Lekstrom hails from Stockholm and, along with Finn Miika Koppinen and Zdenek Ondrasek from the Czech Republic, makes up the international contingent in a team otherwise entirely composed of Norwegians – another factor that sets Tromso apart in 21st century professional football.

Tromso

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Limited visibility Tromso against Chelsea in October 1997

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he biggest party in Tromso IL’s history was actually a rather small-scale affair, with exactly 6,438 paying spectators passing through the turnstiles on the evening of 23 October 1997. Chelsea were the visitors to the Alfheim Stadion, despite having expressed a preference to play in the less extreme temperatures of Oslo, which was not inside the Arctic Circle and where snowstorms were not on the forecast. Yet Tromso had insisted on home advantage and UEFA did not consider the forecasts severe enough to warrant a change of venue, so the first leg of the teams’ European Cup Winners’ Cup last sixteen tie went ahead in Tromso as scheduled. However, very little else went according to plan that evening.

“We couldn’t recognise each other anymore.”

Football in a snowstorm Tromso beat Chelsea 3-2 in their European Cup Winners’ Cup match in October 1997. An irate Chelsea coach Ruud Gullit injured his foot after lashing out in frustration.

Sven Goldmann Extreme conditions Chelsea were unable to mount a comeback against the Norwegians.

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Back then Chelsea were not the continental heavyweights they are today, but were nevertheless an ambitious club aiming to recapture some of their past glory. Their Dutch player-manager Ruud Gullit had strengthened the team by signing Italians Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo, and won the FA Cup in 1996. In the first round of subsequent European matches Chelsea comfortably eased past Slovan Bratislava with two victories. Nobody was seriously expecting Tromso to present much of a problem in the Round of 16, as the Norwegians were fighting against relegation and Chelsea were second in the Premier League.

Yet upon disembarking the plane, Gullit and his players sensed the trip was not going to be as straight-forward as they had imagined.

Snow blew in their faces and the temperature was below freezing, a fact which made the decision of half the Chelsea team to contest the match in short-sleeved shirts all the more astonishing. “There was no way I could have done that,” Zola said later. “I’ve never been so cold playing football, and I wore gloves and everything else I could.”

The pitch had been cleared of snow prior to kick-off, but a strong wind was blowing and Chelsea were completely disoriented. Within minutes of the kick-off Tromso’s current coach Steinar Nilsen put the hosts ahead with a 30-yard drive.

The visitors’ keeper Ed de Goey might have done better both with that shot and the one that led to Tromso’s second goal, after the Dutchman let Frode Fermann’s strike slip through his frozen fingers. Chelsea went into the break 2-0 down, but the real drama was only just about to start.

Gary M. Priore / Allsport (2)

Gianfranco Zola, Chelsea

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Whatever the weather Promotion back to the top flight deserves a proper party.

Here’s to the fans Hot-blooded support is a must in the Arctic Circle cold.

many performed on the night. Tromso’s goalscoring hero Jonas Johansen improvised part of the melody of Frankie Valli’s now 50-year-old hit “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, his joy about the goal and promotion to the top flight evident to any passer by. Kitted out in jeans, an enormous silver and gold chain and a red club cap, the MC hugged all of the players, bouncing around the stage more exuberantly than any of the fans down below on the Stortorget. When asked to name this boisterous figure, TIL director of football Johansen simply replied: “That’s the mayor.”

On closer inspection, the huge gilded chain turned out to be the symbol of office for the city of Tromso, while a conversation with the energetic master of ceremonies reveals him to be Jens Johan Hjort, the city’s ’first citizen’. Hjort explained that it is both his duty as mayor and a great pleasure to oversee the promotion celebrations. “Do you know what? When I’m on foreign trips and I’m asked about Tromso, the first thing people ask is, ’Isn’t that the city with the football club that once beat Chelsea?’” He then placed a jester’s hat on midfielder Hans Norbye’s head before continuing his official duties by introducing the club’s coach and singing: “Steinar

“We need Europe!”

Jens Johan Hjort

is the boss!” Hjort believes his approach is entirely appropriate, given that “Tromso is world-renowned for two things: our beer and our football.”

Hjort once served as TIL’s president, he explains: “Did you know my first match in charge was the one against Chelsea?” Back then, the pitch was not synthetic, Johansen got an elbow to the face from Luca Vialli and Steinar Nilsen scored a goal that still circulates on the internet to this day. The mayor believes the club’s past glories should serve as an inspiration for the future and that Tromso should never forget that “the world’s greatest footballers cannot only be seen on television but also here in our stadium. To do that, we need the resources that come from European games. We need Europe!”

Manchester United’s match against Chelsea continues to flicker across the screens in what is probably the world’s northernmost sports bar. But again, who needs Di Maria, Oscar and Hazard when Benny Lekstrom, Hans Norbye and Jonas Johansen are right here? Å T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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Krysspress (2)

A blizzard descended on the Alfheim Stadion and when the players returned for the second half the ground was covered in a thick layer of snow. Volunteers used huge shovels in an effort to clear the pitch markings but they were fighting a losing battle; the match was interrupted twice for the penalty areas to be made visible to at least some extent. Consequently, there was very little football in the real sense of the term, as the ball repeatedly got stuck in the snow. It resembled the chaotic match between Germany and Poland at the 1974 World Cup when the teams met in the ’Frankfurt water fight’. “We couldn’t recognise each other anymore because of the falling snow,” said Zola. “Sometimes I could only see three metres in front of me.”

Despite their canary-yellow shirts, the Chelsea players were almost indistinguishable among the drifts of snow and Gullit’s efforts to persuade Polish referee Jacek Granat to abandon the game fell on deaf ears. Tromso were in control of the game and squandered chance after chance to extend their lead. Five minutes before the end Vialli pulled one back and shortly afterwards Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf was forced off the pitch with injury. Yet before his replacement could be brought on, Ole Martin Arst made it 3-1 to the hosts, leading to an irate reaction from Gullit on the touchline. “I’d never seen him so angry,” Zola recalled.

In frustration the coach lashed out at a spherical object he took to be a ball on the side of the pitch, only to injure his foot on painfully discovering the sphere was in fact made of concrete. In the final minute Vialli grabbed a second goal for the visitors but it was not enough to prevent a 3-2 defeat. Afterwards Gullit lambasted the encounter as “a farce that had nothing to do with football”.

Chelsea successfully exacted revenge a fortnight later in the return at Stamford Bridge with a 7-1 thrashing in which Vialli netted a hat-trick, leading Gullit to comment that “today you saw the real Chelsea and the real difference between the teams.” Chelsea progressed to the final in Stockholm where they beat Stuttgart 1-0, although Gullit was no longer involved: he had been dismissed a few months earlier and replaced by another player-manager, his friend Vialli.

Zola grabbed the winning goal, but even in Stockholm the shadow of Tromso still loomed.

Zola had only entered the fray shortly before scoring, having replaced Norwegian forward Tore-Andre Flo, who joined the club from Tromso the previous year.

TALK ING POIN T S

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English Premier League

The mood h a s c h a n ge d David Winner is a London-based author and journalist. His books on football include ’Brilliant Orange’ and ’Dennis Bergkamp: Stillness and Speed’.

Louis van Gaal is beginning to work his distinctive magic on Manchester United.

After a dismal start to the season, his team battled well to salvage a draw against a superior Chelsea side on Sunday and thereby set up an intriguing derby this weekend against Manchester City. Manuel ­Pellegrini’s City, meanwhile, seem to be sleep-walking through their title defence and lost again last time out, this time to West Ham United.

In the groove Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal.

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I N S I D E

United’s back line remains a mess, but new recruits Angel di Maria and Daley Blind are bedding in and against Chelsea, Van Gaal coaxed a terrific performance from last season’s misfit Marouane Fellaini, whose header led to Robin van Persie’s late equaliser. Moreover United, befuddled last year by the tactical confusions of David Moyes, are beginning to produce the kind of coherent patterns and movement that are Van Gaal’s trademark.

Earlier this summer the former Ajax, Barcelona, Netherlands and Bayern Munich boss seemed set to make an enemy of the English press. He has never suffered fools gladly, and proved this when accosted by a BBC radio reporter just before winning the Old Trafford job. “Just tell us about Manchester United,” said the journalist. “What do you know about them?” Van Gaal cast the man a withering look and responded: “That’s a stupid question.”

Instead of taking offence, the English press as a whole seemed delighted by the challenge laid down and have been treating the Dutch master with respect and even affection. His press conferences are entertainments in themselves, in which he delights his interlocutors by giving candid assessments of his team’s failings while exuding total confidence that his ’philosophy’, his version of Dutch total football, will soon yield results. Most people believe him. Van Gaal’s team actually has fewer points now than that of Moyes at the same stage last season. But the mood has changed. Momentum is all. United may indeed be on the way back to being formidable. Å

Michael Regan / Getty Images

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Kazakhstan Premier League

A s t a n a’s s e a r c h fo r a t it l e Nicola Berger writes about football and lives in Zurich.

Ingenuity is often the greatest path to success when it comes to football in Kazakhstan.

When Kokshetau hosted Kyran Shymkent in Sunday’s top second-division fixture, the home side ran out wearing hats. It certainly looked a little odd, but what choice do you have when the temperature outside is double digits below freezing? The hats turned out to be a lucky charm. The home side won 3-1 and are now in pole position for promotion to Kazakhstan’s top flight.

FC Astana

The country’s Premier League teams scarcely have it any easier when it comes to the weather. After playing Villarreal in a Europa League play-off, Astana will have wanted to return to the balmier temperatures of Spain when they played Shakhter Karagandy on Sunday. The reason? The ten centimetres of snow on the pitch.

Last season’s league runners-up refused to be distracted by the conditions and won 2-0 thanks to a brace from Bulgarian striker and former Bayer Leverkusen player Atanas Kurdov. Two rounds before the end of the Championship schedule, Astana are in top spot and in control of their own fate. Their lead over the only chasing side, Kairat Almaty, might be only one point, but they have the chance to increase that margin if they can win their game in hand against defending champions Aktobe.

It would be a surprise if Astana were to slip up now. Former Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov has had his team performing superbly in recent weeks and with the best attack and most stable defence in the league, they have dominated opponents week after week. Kairat were dispatched 5-1 at the modern, $185 million Astana Arena, built in 2009, while Aktobe were destroyed by a six goals to one scoreline at the start of October.

As a result Astana’s search for a title could well come to an end this season. A league victory this year would be the club’s first ever title, and one the capital has been waiting for since 2006.

Back then, a side called Astana also triumphed, but they have no connection to the side on the

verge of domestic glory. The present side’s historical namesake lifted the trophy in 2006 and were a historic club that belonged to the Kazakhstan Premier League after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1992. The team have been playing in the lower divisions under the name Astana-64 since going bankrupt in 2009.

Five years ago, the now dominant Astana were founded from the merger of the Alma-Ata and Megasport teams. Like KHL ice hockey team Barys and cycling’s Astana Racing Team, the club is part of the Astana Presidential Sports Club, created by president Nursultan Nasarbayev with the aim of improving the country’s image.

This clumsy name hardly rolls off the tongue, but tongue twisters are just as much a part of Kazakhstan as the cold weather.

After all, the name of the capital has changed three times in the last 55 years.

Akmolinsk became Tselinograd in 1961, and by 1992 it was called Akmola. Astana has had its name since 1998. Å

Snowy conditions Astana (in yellow) beat Shakhter Karagandy 2-0.

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IN BRIEF

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he 90 minutes – or more, as is usually the case – that a coach spends on the touchline can occasionally be pleasant, particularly when the weather is cooperating and your team has a two or three-goal lead. In that situation, there are coaches who march up and down their technical areas with a studied expression on their faces to ensure they do not give the impression of disrespecting their opponents. Other bosses make themselves comfortable in the dugout while holding hushed conversations behind their hands with their assistants, perhaps asking them “What are you having for dinner tonight?” Then there are still others who have something to lose – like Uwe Rosler, for example. The German has been coaching second-tier English side Wigan Athletic for the past 11 months, but his team currently lie in the bottom third of the Championship table, and last Saturday the Latics faced a trip to league leaders Derby County. It goes without saying that Rosler dressed up smartly and watched restlessly from the touchline.

The real talking point was the robustness he first displayed during his time as a striker for Manchester City. The Wigan manager was completely taken out by Derby forward Johnny Russell as he followed through on a sliding tackle. The 45-year-old somersaulted like an American Football player before clambering to his feet and extending a hand to Russell. Applause rang around Pride Park, and Wigan went on to win the match 2-1. Å Alan Schweingruber

imago

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ao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni is a man accustomed to breaking records. His side’s 3-0 triumph over Goias meant the 41-yearold Brazilian became the first player to register 590 victories with a club as a professional, surpassing the achievements of legendary Welshman Ryan Giggs, who won 589 matches with record English champions Manchester United. The custodian, who has donned his gloves for Sao Paulo since 1992, is set to retire to the end of the season and will do so having set several other all-time bests, including the most appearances for a single club (1173) and the most as team captain (867). Furthermore, the set-piece specialist has so far scored 123 goals, a feat no other goalkeeper has ever accomplished.

By way of comparison, nimble-footed winger Giggs scored 168 goals in his career. However, Ceni was not overly enthusiastic to have reached his latest milestone: “When you get that far it also means that you’re getting old.” Å Tim Pfeifer

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ndriy Shevchenko always had a trick up his sleeve. The former star striker used to captivate Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan and Chelsea fans every time he worked his magic with the ball, but the world has only recently become aware of the Ukrainian’s flair for pickpocketing. The makers of the European Football Show on British TV channel BT Sport recently unearthed a video in which the footballer pinches a Ukrainian journalist’s wallet before returning it to his puzzled interrogator at the end of a short interview. When asked about the clip, studio guest Shevchenko simply shrugged his shoulders and said: “Growing up in Ukraine, you learn a lot of things. It’s one of the skills.” Without a hint of embarrassment, the 38-year-old then showed off his abilities once again, interrupting the show’s host James Richardson to ask “Has anyone got a few pounds? I’ve got to get home,” before producing the presenter’s wallet as he searched for it. Å Sarah Steiner T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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THE INTERVIEW

“I sometimes take risks that I shouldn’t” Frenchman Paul Pogba is widely considered to have a bright future ahead of him.

In an interview, the 21-year-old discusses his responsibilities on the pitch and reveals what he has learned from national coach Didier Deschamps.

Paul Pogba, do you see your Hyundai Young Player award from the 2014 World Cup as proof you are on the right track?

Paul Pogba: This is the path I need to follow in any case. Football is all about ­consistency. You can get to the summit very quickly and drop back down again just as quickly. This award is a very good thing to have, but I need to keep progressing and perform well in every game. I can’t predict the future, but I’ll do everything I can to win many more trophies. I’ll continue working hard. My goal is to be the best player in the world.

You have joined a select group of players to win this prize, including Michael Owen, ­Thomas Muller, Pele and Franz Beckenbauer.

What does it mean to you to see your name alongside such greats?

It’s not that I don’t feel like I belong in the same category – it’s just that I want to be even better than them (smiles). That’s one of my goals and winning this prize allows me to take another step.

Who do you see as currently better than you in your position?

I think there are lots of players still better than me, but it’s not up to me to worry about this sort of comparison. There are lots of midfielders I admire; Yaya Toure for example, who has a similar size and physique to me but more experience. We have more or less the same playing style, even if he’s a bit more attacking than me.

Do you sometimes wish you could press ‘pause’ and savour where your career has already taken you?

No, on the contrary. I’m able to savour it by winning awards like this one and winning trophies. That’s the way I am: I always want more. I’m a winner and I don’t like to lose.

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I always set myself new objectives and new challenges. That’s what makes me progress and I need to keep that mentality.

Has the World Cup changed you?

I’ve grown up and lived a childhood dream. The loss to Germany reinforced my desire to win a title with this France team, with my country.

Does knowing you have so much responsibility in your position at the age of 21 influence your way of playing?

To be the best, you need pressure. At the moment, players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are always under pressure.

Sometimes you see they’re not happy even when they score a goal. It’s that attitude which allows you to raise the level of your game and your ambition.

The France team has plenty of room for ­improvement. Can they win EURO 2016 in their own country?

I hope we’ll be at our best in two years.

Right now, we have a good dynamic. We’re progressing well and we need to continue in this direction. For now, we’ve managed to earn our place back in the hearts of the French public, and that will help us a lot.

What kind of relationship do you have with national coach Didier Deschamps?

I’ve made great progress with him. Didier Deschamps knows me very well and knows how to manage me. He helps me improve every day, in training and in matches. He stokes my desire to give my best. He always gives me good advice and he’s very honest with me. As a player, you really appreciate trust and encouragement from your coach.

What he tells me most is to “stay focused and keep things simple”, the way he used to do so well (smiles).

Which qualities and failings steered you towards the position you now play in?

I sometimes take risks that I shouldn’t.

I also need to be able to manage my game over the full 90 minutes. I mustn’t play solely by instinct. Those are the things I have to pay attention to in my position, because it’s in midfield that you control the play, get the most touches on the ball and where you can change the rhythm of a match. We’re the engine of the team to an extent and we can’t afford to fall short.

Is there a side to your personality that people don’t know about?

The people who know me know I’m someone who likes to laugh, make jokes and get the most out of life. We have a great life and a wonderful job. We’re able to walk, and eat and drink to our heart’s content, which isn’t the case for everyone. We can’t complain. I’m just happy and content with everything that happens to me. Å Paul Pogba was speaking to Pascal De Miramon

Name Paul Labile Pogba Date and place of birth 15 March 1993, Lagny-sur-Marne

Max Vadukul / AUGUST

Clubs 2007 – 2009 Le Havre 2011 – 2012 Manchester United since 2012 Juventus France national team 20 caps, 5 goals Major honours Two-time Italian champion

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First Love Place: Cartagena, Colombia Date: 5 May 2007 Time: 5.55 p.m.

Peter Dench Reportage / Getty Images

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XX. Monat 2013

English edition

The soul of Russia, the magic of the game.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904

Introducing the Official Emblem of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™

www.FIFA.com

www.FIFA.com/

T HE DEBAT E

PRESIDENTIAL NOTE

FIFA.com users react to the Official Emblem of the 2018 World Cup in Russia:

I really like the new logo! It reminds me of red birds getting ready to fly off into the skies, or like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

Vanzany, Malta

Unfortunately, the logo is very close to the one of the World Cup in Brazil. I was hoping for something different, something new. After all, they’re two very different countries!

Messi_Junior, Australia

I expected it to be quite like the previous logo visually, but I still waited for the unveiling very impatiently. I think it’s great, because it’s a good fit to Russia and heralds a new era – although I have to say my expectations were fulfilled in that it continues a wellknown theme. But that’s good too. crishelvet, Switzerland

The 2018 official emblem looks fantastic!

And I really like the way it’s so colourful!

297104, USA

The unveiling of the logo for the World Cup in Russia from space was so cool. I think it was a really great idea, it’s new and in keeping with the times. leo_jenny10, Pakistan

That’s pretty neat and the colour combina­ tion is fantastic! I can’t wait till 2018! Since the World Cup longing stays with all the football fans till the next World Cup finally begins! I keep my fingers crossed, that ­Germany will win again! crazy_4_FCBM, India

Can’t wait for the World Cup in Russia in 2018!! The countdown has begun. mari_5600, England

Can’t wait for the World Cup in Russia!

The countdown has begun.

I really liked the presentation in the Inter­ national Space Station! It was very funny and special. The emblem isn’t completely to my liking because the colours are a bit too garish for me, but I basically like the design a lot. silvio85, Portugal

There really are no limits if you love foot­ ball! The logo is a great fit to the next World Cup, because it combines the goal of winning the trophy with Russia’s tremendous passion for football. flieder_sunflower77, Germany

The colour combination in the new logo is fantastic!

The emblem unveiled in space (video): http://tinyurl.com/n56czvr

Close to the Russian heart

W

e celebrated the kick-off of the 2018 World Cup in Moscow this week with the presentation of the Official Emblem. In my opinion the logo embodies Russia’s heart and soul, and the overall design symbolises Russia as a major space power. This is why the unveiling of the emblem by three cosmonauts on board the International Space Station was such a wonderful piece of staging. It was a galactic moment as football conquered the cosmos!

I strongly sense that hosting the World Cup is a matter close to the Russian heart and that the people are determined to use the opportunity to present the nation as welcoming and open. Reconstruction of the Luzhniki Stadium, the venue for the opening match and the Final, is proceeding at full speed, and preparatory work at the other 11 stadiums is right on schedule. Head of state Vladimir Putin has guaranteed this as president of the World Cup Supervisory Board. He personally assured me and FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke of this at the board’s official meeting.

For this reason alone, threats of a boycott like those that did the rounds in the build-up to the Olympic Games in Sochi send out the wrong message. Boycotting major sporting events makes no sense. Change can only be effected through dialogue and communication.

Russia deserves a fair chance, and I am convinced the nation will take this chance.

Do svidaniya!

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

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Developing football everywhere and for all

Organising inspiring tournaments

Caring about society and the environment

For the Game. For the World.

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

Touch the world FIFA’s aim is to touch the world through its international football competitions and events, uniting and inspiring people everywhere.

FIFA.com

Build a better future Football is much more than just a game. Its universal appeal gives it a unique power and reach which must be managed carefully. FIFA believes it has a duty to society that goes beyond football.

R U S S I A 2018

Emblem unveiled Projection on the façade of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, 29 October 2014.

“The emblem blends unique attributes of the FIFA World Cup and of Russia as host nation. It unites magic and dreams, as the FIFA World Cup will do for millions of fans in 2018.”

LOC

FIFA President Blatter

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/ T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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BALL ON D’OR

The final straight With the race for the Ballon d’Or 2014 set to go down to the wire, we look at some of the leading candidates.

Present incumbent 29-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

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trip to Zurich is worthwhile any time of year, but especially so around the Christmas period when snow flutters in the air and festive lights hang in the streets. Visitors with time to spontaneously extend their visit to Switzerland’s largest city can even witness the fireworks display at the end of the year. With so much to see and do, surely nobody would still be thinking about football?

Of course, that is a rhetorical question, as any true fan always has their mind on the game, regardless of whether the season has ended or if it is a holiday period. And while spectators across the globe may enviously eye England’s Premier League around Christmas time, when fixtures are traditionally held on Boxing Day, they at least have the consolation that another special occasion is just around the corner: the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014.

On the evening of 12 January 2015, FIFA and the magazine France Football will honour the world’s best male and female players, as well as the best coaches. Among others, there are also prizes for the best goal of the year, the Puskas Award, and a Fair Play Award. Indeed, 26

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the Kongresshaus on the banks of Lake Zurich will house some of the biggest names in world football for the night.

It will without doubt be an enthralling event, and the 2014 World Cup will have a major influence on proceedings. Cristiano Ronaldo, the current Ballon d’Or holder, has been in a stonishing form for Real Madrid, scoring ­ 16 goals in the first nine league games this season. Furthermore, the Portuguese attacker could still become the all-time highest scorer in Champions League history this year. However, how will the judging panel (captains and coaches from the men’s national teams plus selected

How much of an influence will the World Cup have on the vote?

media representatives) view Portugal’s mediocre display at the World Cup in Brazil? The same goes for Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta, who had a disappointing tournament with Spain.

The same cannot be said for Manuel Neuer, who kept Germany in the competition in June and went on to win the title. He is widely considered to be the best goalkeeper in the world and would be the first custodian to beat an outfield player to the award. The competition is fierce, with several big names rounding out the shortlist, such as four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez, who shone in Brazil. You can find a full list of the players and coaches nominated for the awards in the box at the end of this article. The final three-candidate shortlists for each prize will be announced on 1 December.

Abby Wambach returns In the women’s awards, the top three contenders 12 months ago are once again in the running for this year’s Ballon d’Or: 2013 winner Nadine Angerer, Abby Wambach and Marta. In 2014 Angerer won the Algarve Cup for the second time with Germany, after doing so in 2006,

Alexander Hassenstein / FIFA via Getty Images

Alan Schweingruber and Perikles Monioudis

BALL ON D’OR

and helped the side to reach the 2015 World Cup without dropping a point over the course of ten qualifying matches. Having been crowned world champion twice already in 2003 and 2007, she is now eager to complete a World Cup hat-trick.

Wambach, USA’s leading all-time scorer, went home empty-handed after last year’s ceremony but has had another superb campaign and already has her sights set on glory at the World Cup in Canada, keen to add that title to her trophy cabinet too. Like Angerer and Wambach, Marta is also a previous winner of the Women’s World Player of the Year award – on no less than five occasions. The Brazilian’s longevity is impressive: after first winning the honour in 2006, Marta, renowned for her legendary fast-paced dribbling ability, is still among the global elite eight years later.

Yet that trio face serious competition this time around. French international Louisa Necib helped Olympique Lyon to the 2014 league championship and was also outstanding for the national team. The playmaker, who has won the French league title seven times and the Champions League twice, is now well on her way to sealing a place as one of the world’s finest players.

Lotta Schelin, her team-mate at club level, has already reached that level etc . The Swede, shortlisted for the Women’s World Player of the Year

Women’s shortlist In the Top 10: Louisa Necib (France and Olympique Lyon), Aya Miyama (Japan and Okayama Yunogo Belle), Lotta Schelin (Sweden and Olympique Lyon).

Marta, Wambach and Angerer face serious competition this time around.

imago (4), Getty Images (2)

award for the third time, made a significant contribution to her country’s success with 12 goals in World Cup qualifying, with the Scandinavians winning all ten of their games Defender Nilla Fischer has likewise had an exceptional year, winning both the league and Champions League trophies with Wolfsburg in 2014.

Pia Sundhage in the running Reigning world champions Japan have two representatives on the ten-player shortlist: Nahomi Kawasumi, who caused a sensation with her goals in the USA, and national team captain Aya Miyama. Spain striker Veronica Boquete and Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler have also been nominated. The former was voted Player of the Year by fans in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League and also helped her country reach the finals of a World Cup for the first time ever.

Men’s shortlist The competition is also fierce among the 23 men’s candidates: Angel Di Maria (Argentina and Manchester United), Karim Benzema (France and Real Madrid), James Rodriguez (Colombia and Real Madrid).

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BALL ON D’OR

Meanwhile, Kessler captained Wolfsburg to the German title as well as Champions League glory.

In the ten-strong World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football shortlist, there was no room for Germany’s Silvia Neid, who took the honour last year. However, Ralf Kellermann (Ger­many / VfL Wolfsburg) and Pia Sundhage (Sweden / Swedish national team) were both included again, after finishing in the top three in 2013. Nevertheless, all candidates still have a chance of winning at this point, including Norio Sasaki (Japan / Japanese national team), Maren Meinert (Germany / Germany U-20s) and Laura Harvey (England / Seattle Reign FC).

A trip to Zurich is always worthwhile, even in January, when the festive period is over and everyday life has resumed in cities everywhere else. Å

Shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2014 (in alphabetical order) FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2014 Nadine Angerer (Germany), Veronica Boquete (Spain), Nilla Fischer (Sweden), Nahomi Kawasumi (Japan), Nadine Kessler (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Aya Miyama (Japan), Louisa Necib (France), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Abby Wambach (USA) FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football 2014 Philippe Bergeroo (France / France national team), Peter Dedevbo (Nigeria / Nigeria U-20 national team), Laura Harvey (England / Seattle Reign FC), Ralf Kellermann (Germany / VfL Wolfsburg), Maren Meinert (Germany / Germany U-20 national team), Norio Sasaki (Japan / Japan national team), Pia Sundhage (Sweden / Sweden national team), Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan / Japan U-17 national team), Jorge Vilda (Spain / Spain U-17 national team and U-19 national team), Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany / Switzerland national team)

World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan U-17 team), Laura Harvey (Seattle Reign FC), Peter Dedevbo (Nigeria U-20 team).

imago, Getty Images (5)

FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 Gareth Bale (Wales), Karim Benzema (France), Diego Costa (Spain), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Angel Di Maria (Argentina), Mario Goetze (Germany), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Toni Kroos (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Mueller (Germany), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Paul Pogba (France), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), James Rodriguez (Colombia), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire) FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football 2014 Carlo Ancelotti (Italy / Real Madrid CF), Antonio Conte (Italy / Juventus FC / Italy national team), Pep Guardiola (Spain / FC Bayern Munich), Juergen Klinsmann (Germany / USA national team), Joachim Loew (Germany / Germany national team), Jose Mourinho (Portugal / Chelsea FC), Manuel Pellegrini (Chile / ­ Manchester City FC), Alejandro Sabella (Argentina / Argentina national team), Diego Simeone (Argentina / Atlético Madrid), Louis van Gaal (Netherlands / ­ Netherlands national team / Manchester United FC) To view profiles of all the candidates and for more information about the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 visit: http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/index.html

World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football Diego Simeone (front) led Atletico Madrid to the Spanish league title, and is joined on the shortlist by Jose Mourinho (Chelsea) and Louis van Gaal (Netherlands and Manchester United).

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MIRROR IMAGE

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Duisburg, Germany

1981

imago

A pulse check for 33-year-old Bernard Dietz in his final year as a Germany international.

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MIRROR IMAGE

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Teresopolis, Brazil

2014

Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

A medical for 30-year-old Dante shortly before the World Cup on home soil.

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Football is a brotherhood. It’s peace.

© 2014 Visa. All rights reserved.

Oscar Arias Nobel Peace Laureate

FREE KICK

F I F A ’ S 11

World Cups with the most newcomers since 1950

Every dog has its day Tim Pfeifer

“E

ven a wise man will grow attached to a dog when he is well bred,” the famous poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said. That much proved to be true in Argentina in a recent league match between Club Atletico Belgrano and Quilmes Atletico Club when a black dog ran on to the pitch near the end of the first half and headed towards Leonel Bontempo. The home team’s left-back took the pitch invasion in his stride and petted the uninvited guest, much to its delight, before the dog obliging left the field in the arms of midfielder Jonathan Zacaria.

By way of contrast, the stray that entered the pitch a few days later in a Brazilian regional cup game between Sao Paulo RS and Farroupilha was considerably less amenable and merely ran around aimlessly between the players. With hosts Sao Paulo 2-1 down at the time, midfielder Eduardo Mandai seized the initiative by picking the intruder up and carrying him to the touchline. That did not go down at all well with the dog, which showed its displeasure by biting Mandai on the hand. However, ’Dudu’, as the Sao Paulo No11 is also known, was undeterred and continued playing despite the wound. He even went on to score the winner in the final minute with a wonderful curling effort into the top corner to give Sao Paulo a 3-2 victory and a place in the semi-finals.

Given his side’s triumph, Dudu was quick to forgive his attacker and posted a picture of himself with the dog on Twitter, accompanied by the comment “lucky bite”. Sao Paulo fans will now be hoping that Mandai and his teammates play with plenty more bite of their own in the next round. Å

The weekly column by our staff writers

1

6 World Cup newcomers Germany 2006 Best newcomer: Ukraine

2

5 World Cup newcomers Spain 1982 Best newcomers: Algeria, Cameroon

3

4 World Cup newcomers South Korea / Japan 2002 Best newcomer: Senegal

4 World Cup newcomers France 1998 Best newcomer: Croatia

4 World Cup newcomers Germany 1974 Best newcomer: German DR

6

3 World Cup newcomers USA 1994 Best newcomers: Saudi Arabia, Nigeria

3 World Cup newcomers Italy 1990 Best newcomer: Republic of Ireland

3 World Cup newcomers Mexico 1986 Best newcomer: Denmark

3 World Cup newcomers Mexico 1970 Best newcomers: El Salvador, Israel, Morocco

3 World Cup newcomers Sweden 1958 Best newcomers: Northern Ireland, Soviet Union, Wales

3 World Cup newcomers Switzerland 1954 Best newcomer: Turkey

Source: FIFA (FIFA Documentation, Statistical Kit, Milestones & Superlatives, 29.09.2014) T H E F I FA W E E K LY

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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 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 46 48 49 50 51 52 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

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

Change in ranking Points

Germany Argentina Colombia Belgium Netherlands Brazil France Uruguay Portugal Spain

0 0 0 1 -1 0 2 -1 2 -2

1669 1565 1420 1388 1375 1307 1191 1184 1175 1119

Italy Switzerland Chile Croatia Algeria Costa Rica Mexico Greece Ukraine England Romania Czech Republic USA Slovakia Côte d’Ivoire Bosnia and Herzegovina Ecuador Iceland Austria Russia Tunisia Denmark Cape Verde Islands Wales Ghana Slovenia Scotland Egypt Sweden Cameroon Senegal Nigeria Northern Ireland Poland Israel Turkey Serbia Albania Trinidad and Tobago Hungary Iran Japan Togo Peru Guinea Panama South Africa Mali Bulgaria Congo DR Republic of Ireland Congo Finland Montenegro Uzbekistan Korea Republic Gabon Norway Honduras Antigua and Barbuda Burkina Faso Guatemala Libya Jordan Armenia Paraguay Sierra Leone

2 -2 -1 5 5 -1 -1 -4 5 -2 5 6 -6 16 -3 -1 -6 6 10 -7 0 -5 8 -5 -2 17 -8 23 -7 2 -5 -5 28 26 19 -8 -12 -3 37 4 -7 -4 73 -7 -7 -1 10 1 -13 13 1 -14 2 -21 -7 -3 16 8 -13 10 -23 -15 -5 -5 -23 -16 -2

1064 1063 1060 1002 989 974 954 946 920 919 876 870 862 861 842 837 826 816 810 792 780 763 716 715 685 683 674 658 646 637 635 632 625 621 615 614 614 604 598 561 560 559 559 558 552 546 542 533 532 521 519 512 510 504 498 496 487 481 480 478 469 466 440 434 432 423 421

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Ranking 05 / 2014

06 / 2014

07 / 2014

08 / 2014

09 / 2014

10 / 2014

1 -40 -80 -120 -160 -200

78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 88 88 88 92 93 94 95 96 97 97 99 99 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 113 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 126 128 129 130 131 132 132 134 134 136 137 138 138 140 141 142 143 144

Top spot

Biggest climber

Zambia United Arab Emirates Dominican Republic Iraq El Salvador Oman Uganda Venezuela Benin Angola Estonia China PR Morocco Qatar Lithuania Haiti Australia Rwanda Cyprus Mozambique Saudi Arabia FYR Macedonia Latvia Zimbabwe Botswana Bolivia Bahrain St Vincent and the Grenadines Belarus Sudan Palestine Malawi Tanzania Ethiopia Cuba Namibia Jamaica St Kitts and Nevis Kenya Georgia Lesotho Moldova Kuwait Niger Canada Liberia Lebanon Equatorial Guinea Azerbaijan Luxembourg Burundi Philippines Guinea-Bissau New Zealand Kazakhstan Aruba Tajikistan Afghanistan Vietnam Myanmar Turkmenistan St Lucia Mauritania Chad Maldives Madagascar Central African Republic

10 -6 27 9 -10 -7 -5 -19 -8 14 -7 9 -1 8 11 26 -10 -2 -11 12 -15 13 0 -9 -11 -9 0 1 -17 26 -6 -11 5 21 10 0 -13 2 -5 -7 -3 -14 4 -14 -2 3 -3 -11 -31 1 2 5 0 -13 -5 -3 2 1 6 6 3 -15 0 3 3 3 -7

Biggest faller

418 413 405 393 392 391 389 388 375 373 369 369 369 369 364 360 359 356 348 341 341 340 340 330 323 310 308 302 301 298 297 292 291 289 286 284 284 279 273 271 266 262 261 258 251 249 246 238 233 233 232 229 226 225 218 218 214 214 208 207 197 197 195 194 183 180 178

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

-8 15 1 2 -2 1 1 1 -16 15 17 -2 -1 -2 -2 -1 -12 2 1 -4 -7 -4 -4 -2 2 -2 1 -2 2 2 2 5 3 6 4 2 -13 -7 11 2 14 -1 -8 -10 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -5 -5 0 2 -3 1 1 -4 0 0 0 0 0

176 172 171 168 167 158 154 148 142 141 136 134 129 129 119 119 115 111 109 103 102 100 99 90 90 86 81 80 80 76 72 68 66 62 61 53 53 51 51 49 46 43 42 39 37 33 32 30 29 26 26 26 20 15 13 11 10 9 8 8 6 6 2 0 0

NET ZER KNOWS!

What makes Pep Guardiola better than other coaches?

Question from Ulf Meier, Berlin

With consummate ease Gunter Netzer juggles for the cameras.

imago

P

ep Guardiola’s methods are a further development of the miracle worked by Johan Cruyff in the Eighties and Nineties. The Dutchman was obsessed with the idea of dominating opponents by permanently retaining possession. I rate Cruyff’s work highly; his playing philosophy was inspired.

And Guardiola is not just any old coach merely dutifully continuing this legacy. For years now, the Bayern boss has worked with a meticulousness I have never seen in any ­other coach, seeking to expand and modernise Cruyff’s work in his own way.

Appointing Guardiola was one of the best transfers Bayern Munich have ever made. Even at the very start of his tenure, it was exciting to see the effects of his philosophy on a squad comprised predominantly of German players. I must admit to surprise at how quickly his system became embedded within that team. A process like that can take as long as a year, but Guardiola managed it within three to six months. That’s remarkable.

I don’t think outdated training methods exist in professional football nowadays; a coach simply cannot afford not to keep on top of the latest developments. The only difference is that with expertise and talent, Guardiola manages to bring together every component a world-class team needs to create apparent perfection. Combined with his philosophy, this makes him the best coach currently working in world football. 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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TURNING POINT

“I want to help footballers” Diego Maradona was his ­team-mate and the legendary Bombonera was his stage, but it was Swiss football that provided the greatest springboard for Christian ‘Jimmy’ Gimenez.

RDB / Blicksport / Sven Thomann

B

oca Juniors is a legendary club. I played for them at the age of 20 alongside Kily Gonzalez, Juan Veron, Claudio Caniggia and Diego Maradona. I never encountered another player like Diego on the pitch: his vision and technique were unique, and even in the autumn of his career he still had explosive acceleration. He was quicker than anyone over the first two metres.

Nevertheless, it was not in this incredible footballing setting that I experienced the pivotal moment in my career, but in Switzerland.

In January 1997, I took part in a trial for Lugano – then a Swiss top-flight side – and although the feedback from the club’s officials was basically positive, I did not receive a firm offer. I waited around for a month while living in a hotel, and ultimately returned to Argentina empty-handed. Six months later I tried again and was finally rewarded with a contract, but Lugano had since been relegated from the first division. Instead of playing in the legendary Bombonera before crowds of more than 50.000, I was playing in Kriens, Baden or Locarno in front of a couple of hundred spectators in stadiums that would have been too small for Boca to even train in.

Despite all this, Lugano became a crucial springboard for me. I love football. My entire life revolves around this wonderful sport and my motto is: “Do everything you can to succeed, but expect nothing.” Talent, passion and skill alone are not enough to sustain a career – you need willpower, discipline and luck more than anything else.

But back to Lugano. Under the guidance of our coach Roberto Morinini and with my compatriots Julio Hernan Rossi and Sergio Bastida, we stormed back into the top flight and sparked

Name Christian Gimenez Date and place of birth 13 November 1974, Buenos Aires, Argentina Position Striker (Selected) clubs played for 1991–1995 Club Atletico San Miguel 1995–1996 Boca Juniors 1997–2001 Lugano 2001–2005 FC Basel 2005–2006 Marseille 2009 FC Locarno 2010 Chacarita Juniors

genuine football fever in a city where ice hockey is usually the number one sport. My professional journey took me from Lugano to Basel, where I enjoyed the greatest successes of my career. One year I remember particularly well is 2002 when we won the double, sealing our first championship title in 22 years and our first cup triumph for 27 years.

Nowadays, one of my main roles is as a ­players’ adviser. I deliberately avoid the term ‘agent’ as I want to help both young footballers and established professionals ensure that they do not lose their way in this business and make the wrong decisions. Towards the end of my career, I had some bad experiences of my own as a result of dubious business practices.

I live in Tigre, a city north of Buenos Aires.

I chose a house right next to a golf course

­ ecause I thought I would take up golf after my b playing career ended, but it never happened because I still play football with friends every weekend. I’ll be able to take up golf when I’m 70, or perhaps even later! Å As told to Thomas Renggli

IN MEMORY OF KL AS INGESSON In our previous issue, we featured Klas Ingesson in this column. The Swedish IF Elfsborg coach passed away on 29 October from multiple myeloma, a bone marrow disease. He was 46 years old.

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instinct takes over

#predatorinstinct

adidas.com/predator

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

A ghost town, three stars and beaten only by Hungary – test your knowledge!

1

Hungary’s Golden Team remained unbeaten for 49 matches, the 1954 World Cup Final excepted.

Which global star went 49 matches unbeaten with his national team?

Incidentally: he only lost one match – a World Cup meeting with Hungary...

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

Chief Editor: Perikles Monioudis Staff Writers: Alan Schweingruber, Sarah Steiner, Tim Pfeifer

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This long-serving stalwart is pictured at what major sporting event?

Art Direction: Catharina Clajus

A I E U

Picture Editor: Peggy Knotz Production: Hans-Peter Frei Layout: Richie Krönert (Lead), Tobias Benz, Marianne Bolliger-Crittin, Susanne Egli, Alissa Rosskopf

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Highland Games Trojan chariot race Tour de France Olympic Games

Naturally, there are four host cities for the Final of each of these four World Cups.

Which of the four cities does not exist?

Proof Reader: Nena Morf, Kristina Rotach Contributors: Sérgio Xavier Filho, Luigi Garlando, Sven Goldmann, Hanspeter Kuenzler, Jordi Punti, Thomas Renggli, David Winner, Roland Zorn Contributors to this Issue: Nicola Berger, Pascal De Miramon, Andreas Wilhelm Editorial Assistant: Honey Thaljieh

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4

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Which shirt bears exactly three stars?

Project Management: Bernd Fisa, Christian Schaub Translation: Sportstranslations Limited www.sportstranslations.com Printer: Zofinger Tagblatt AG www.ztonline.ch 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.

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

Send your answer by 5 November 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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L A S T W E E K’S P O L L R E S U LT S

T HIS WEEK’S POLL

Which of the current leaders in 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying have surprised you most?

38+26+12963 6%

3%

Which of the last six editions has been the best FIFA World Cup?

6%

38%

9%

12%

26%

≠ ≠ ≠ ≠

Algeria

Cape Verde Gabon

≠ ≠ ≠

· Brazil 2014 · South Africa 2010 · Germany 2006 · Korea / Japan 2002 · France 1998 · USA 1994

Cameroon Tunisia Ghana

Cast your votes at: fifa.com/newscentre

South Africa

“In Ronaldo and Bale they have two players who could be in the Olympic 100 metres final.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers on Real Madrid

300 27 5 caps was the amazing milestone

goals in 32 appearances

goals were scored by

reached and then passed by

have seen Bradley

Nice midfielder Carlos

Christie Rampone as she led

Wright-Phillips

Eduardo in his team’s 7-2

USA to victory at the

equal the Major

win away to Guingamp. The

CONCACAF Women’s Champion-

League Soccer single-season

25-year-old, on loan from

ship. The evergreen 39-year-old,

scoring record. The former

Porto, duly made history as the

who already held the world record

Manchester City and Plymouth

first Nice player to score five in a

among active players, became just

Argyle player also became the first

single Ligue 1 game since the

the second person – after former

Englishman and the first New York Red

legendary Just Fontaine in

team-mate Kristine Lilly – to

Bulls (formerly MetroStars) player to top

1950.

reach the triple-century.

the US top flight’s scoring chart.

Getty Images (2), AFP, Reuters

WEEK IN NUMBERS