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May 17
Taken from FIFA.com
An incredible Premier league season of twists and turns at both ends of the table ended in fitting circumstances as Manchester City claimed their first championship for 44 years almost wasting the opportunity .
Leading city rivals Manchester United by a significant goal difference before the final round of fixtures, Roberto Mancini’s side trailed 2-1 at home to relegation threatened Queens Park Rangers with mere minutes remaining as United secured victory at Sunderland.
But two quickfire goals in stoppage time from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero ensured the title was lifted at the Etihad Stadium ,a feat which seemed so unlikely when the Red Devils led by eight points several weeks ago.
Arsenal recovered from their dreadful star to the campaign to claim third and guaranteed UEFA Champions League qualification while Tottenahm Hotspur finished fourth but their participation in Europe’s elite club competition could be lost if Chelsea win this year’s edition on Saturday.
A 2-2 draw at Stoke City on the final day was not enough to save Bolton Wanders, who joined Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanders as the three to be relegated.
The revelations Papiss Cisse (Newcastle United ) Magpies manager Alan Pardew had already proved his eye for a striker at the beginning of the season when he signed Demba Ba; who bagged 14 goals before the turn of the year; on a free transfer. But he went one better in January with the purchase of Ba’s Senegal team-mate Cisse from Bundesliga side Freiburg. The latter has dazzled the premier League since returning from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations to make his debut , scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances as Newcastle neared a Champions League place
Clint Dempsey (Fulham ) After five seasons of consistent progress in England , Fulham and USA midfielder Clint Dempsey enjoyed the finest campaign of his career in 2011/12 . The stand-out performer of an attacking line-up ,the 29-year-old was a pillar of reliability for Martin Jol, scoring a best-ever 17 Premier League goals; including his 50th in the division; and playing all but six minutes of the Cottagers’ domestic fixtures before the final day.
Yaya Toure (Manchester City )Manchester City’s title triumph was undoubtedly built upon a collection of stars, but Yaya Toure shone brightest and was their catalyst to victory on many occasions. The Cote d’Ivory midfielder was deployed in several different ways by Mancini, who often used Toure in a defensive position before unleashing the 29-year-old further up the pitch to devastating effect; as shown perfectly by his double during City’s vital win at Newcastle last Sunday.
The number 44 years ago was the last time Manchester City were crowned champions of England, in 1967/68. It is fair to say that the Citizens have had their ups and downs since then, having been relegated to the third tier of English football as recently as 1998. But City are now on top again for just the third time in their history.
The memorable moments 23 October 2011: The icing on the championship cake for Machester City fans was their astonishing 6-1 victory at the home of eternal rivals Manchester United. The win at old Trafford announced City’s arrival as serious contenders and went a long way to deciding the destination of the title.
2 May 2012 : while Peter Crouch, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie have genuine claims for goal of the season , no strike sparked quite the same reactions as Papiss Cisse’s second against Chelsea. The dipping , swerving volley will live long in the memory of Newcastle and football fans alike .
2 May 2012 : For all the drama on the pitch throughout the 2011/12 season, football took a back seat when Bolton hosted Tottenham. Seven weeks earlier , Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba had suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie between the two teams, but the 24-year-old made a miraculous recovery and had tears in his eyes as the Reebok Stadium gave him a Standing ovation on his return
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May 12
Taken from FIFA.com
Part of an elite selection of players who have reached double figures for goals at the FIFA World Cup, top scorer at Mexico 1986 and his country’s second highest goalscorer of all time, few can rival the international experience of Gary Lineker.
The former England striker, who was never booked or sent off during his 16-year career, bagged 48 goals for the Three Lions ;second only to Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 – and was on target almost 300 times for clubs including Barcelona, Everton and Totenham Hotspur.
Now a successful football presenter on television, Lineker enjoys an ideal vantage point to view the game in England and abroad, FIFA.com met the 51-year-old to discus England’s chances of glory in Poland and Ukraine, his appreciation of Spain ,and the quality of the premier League.
FIFA.com : What are England’s chances at UEFA EURO 2012 ? Gary Lineker: I don’t think our expectations should be too high this time . We often overhype ourselves but I don’t think there’s that feeling around at the moment. we’ve seen a generation or really good players getting towards the end and we’ve got a generation of very young players that have shown a lot of promise, but in the middle of that; with the obvious exception of (Wayne ) Rooney – there aren’t that many world-class players. It’s going to be hard. But if we go there with less expectation and we play cagey ,get a good back four together and a couple of holding players ; a little bit like we did against Spain and regard ourselves as underdogs, you never know. We haven’t got much up front , and in the first two games we have no Rooney either ,but if we play that way and hit teams on the counter attack we could go somewhere.
Are lower expectations a better approach for England ? It might take the pressure off a bit if the expectancy levels are not so high . I think it’s very important that we get it tactically right. we can’t play too open because we’ll be beaten. Teams are quite clever and technical ,and we know that we’re not as technically efficient as some of the nations in the tournament so to have a chance we’ve got to be really cute.
Who do you think will win the tournament ? It’s hard to look beyond Spain, they play this brand of football where you know they are going to get 70 per cent possession in pretty much every game they play. I’ve never seen a team play like this, they have introduced this style of play that has moved the game on. Now we’re seeing teams trying to copy and emulate them, not just when they’ve got the ball but when they’ve not got the ball as well, with the work rate and closing down. I think it has taken the game forward and it’s so wonderful . Some people are trying to copy them and it’s great ,and if we get this kind of football emerging; which could be described as a return to the beautiful game – it’s a great thing. look at the last few World Cups, there has been a lot of fear and negativity, and all of a sudden we’re seeing a team that just play in opposition half and they try to keep the ball and enjoy it and express themselves, and it’s wonderful. Beyond Spain, Germany are re-emerging with some good players. Possibly Holland are the other team you would give a chance too, maybe France.
How have you rated the 2011/12 Premier League season ? I think in terms of excitement , it’s one of the best seasons. In terms of quality of football, perhaps we’ve had better eras but we’ve seen some extraordinary events this season ; some high-scoring , crazy games , the comeback of (Paul) Scholes, the miracle of (Fabrice ) Muamba. we’ve had a whole gamut of stories right across the board and we look like we’re going to get the most thrilling of finales possibly after arguably the biggest premier League game there has ever been. As is customary it is going to be tight at the bottom as well , so overall there’s always something to talk about.
Do you think the standard of the Premier League has decreased in recent years ? From our performances in Europe, you can tell we’re not quite as strong as we were. Chelsea are an exception and could still go all the way . But you look at Spain with five teams in the two semi-finals (UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League ) ,we’ve got one, who struggled to get there , and our big two Manchester Clubs were both knocked out of the Europa League . It suggests that we’re not strong as we were, and I think that’s probably a fair point .But these things go in cycles.
Has football changed in the way teams regard cup competitions ? It’s an interesting one. You should always judge yourself by your league position as that’s the fairest way of all, because cups can be hit and miss. look at Liverpool; there’s no way with their history they would like to judge themselves as just a cup side. They have been struggling badly in the league, but they have some silverware. Having said that, it’s been a long time since Liverpool had any success in the league. When Kenny ( Dalglish ) took over they were a long way from it and they still look quite a distance from challenging for a title . So it’s about slowly building a team, and you need your supporters behind you .Football is a fickle game . Everybody wanted Kenny in and then they have a bad run and there are calls to get him out. You look at the most consistently successful clubs in this country over the last 15 years and they are Manchester united and Arsenal. They are the teams who have stuck with good managers.
Your former team, Tottenham Hotspur, have struggled since their manager Harry Redknapp was linked with the England post. Can you explain their loss of form? I’m not a great believer in coincidences and it seem to coincide with the time that he was being touted for the England job. I’ve played with managers who I knew were leaving. I played with Terry Venables when he was going to move upstairs ,I played with Bobby Robson in 1990 when we all knew he was leaving and it didn’t affect us in any way. I just think they’ve had a couple of bad results and lost confidence, I don’t think there’s anything more to it than that.
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May 4
Taken from FIFA.com
The most successful coach in the history of FC Barcelona has announced that he will head for the exit door come the end of this season . During his short but historic reign , the team’s displays under Pep Guardiola have earned them respect and admiration across the world .
What’s more, though he first came to prominence as the masterful midfield organizer of Johan Cruyff’s 1990 Dream Team, his achievements as Barca coach have surpassed even those of his mentor. Victorious in no fewer than 13 competitions since he took the helm, El Pep Team are now the club’s new benchmark in terms of silverware, success and style of play.
FIFA.com takes a look back at Guardiola’s time in charge of Los Azulgrana, picking out a number of the most memorable moments.
17 June 2008 : Guardiola is officially unveiled as the head coach of Barcelona, thus replacing the Dutchman Frank Rijkaard. The new supremo’s only previous experience in the dugout was his 361 days in charge of Barcelona B, who he guided to promotion into Spain’s segunda Division B.
19 December 2009 :Barca down Argentina’s Estudiantes de la Plata in extra time to win the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Lionel Messi’s 110th-minute clincher meant that the Catalan giants had won six from a possible six trophies in Guardiola’s first 18 months at the helm. Overcome with emotion , the coach could not help but shed a tear during the celebrations out on the pitch of Zayed Sports City.
26 April 2011 :Deep in the midst of a marathon series of clasicos against Real Madrid, spanning the Copa del Rey and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, the heightened tension and intense media hype caused even Guardiola to lose his habitual cool. “in this press conference room he’s the boss, he’s the master. Off the pitch he’s won everything all year, I award him his own personal Champions League for that (…) I don’t want to compete with him another moment here in this room, ” he said, on his Real counterpart Jose Mourinho, in arguably his most controversial outburst as Barca coach.
20 April 2011 : :Barcelona are beaten by Los Blancos in the final of the Copa del Rey, with Cristiano Ronaldo heading home the only goal of the game . It was, to date, the only defeat Los Azulgrana have suffered in a final during Guardiola’s reign. “Congratulations must go to Madrid, but I’m very happy with the way our fans behaved and how we played, ” he said after the reverse. “Now we’ll have to pick ourselves up again.”
28 May 2011 :Guardiola becomes the youngest coach to win the UEFA Champions League on two occasions , after the then 40-year-old supremo’s Barca side put in a splendid display to sink Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley. “In my time as a manager, it’s the best team we’ve faced, ” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards. “Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It’s not easy when you’ve been well beaten like that to think any other way . No one has given us a hiding like that . It’s a great moment for them . They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football.”
9 January 2012 : At the 2011 FIFA Balloon D’or Gala, Guardiola wins the FIFa World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award for the first time on the back of another incredible year, which featured victory in five of six competitions entered . “This is a great source of joy, but you don’t become a player or coach to win awards, ” he exclusively told FIFA.com at the event. “You do so to enjoy the game, to put a certain philosophy into practice and work with the players.”
27 April 2012 :Barcelona’s most successful coach tells his players that he will leave the club at the end of his season, having won fewer than 13 trophies in his nearly four-year tenure. Guardiola could yet add another piece of silverware to that tally come 25 May’s Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, with a triumph making it 14 from a possible 19 titles won . Guardiola’s legacy also goes far beyond trophies, with the coach giving first-team debuts to 22 youth products of Barca’s fabled cantera , compared to just 14 signings from elsewhere .
THE MAIN REASON WHY I HAVE TAKEN THIS DECISION IS BECAUSE FOUR YEARS IS MANY YEARS.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
Guardiola’s contract was due to expire at the end of June and he informed the players at training on Friday that he would not be extending his stay at the Camp Nou.
Guardiola explained that after giving ” everything ” he need time to rest : “I would like you to understand that this is not an easy decision for me. But I would like to explain my reasons for this decision.
“I have always wanted short-term contracts. four years is an eternity as Barca coach. In the month of October I announced to the president and to the sporting director that I thought my spell was coming to an end.
” The main reason why I have taken this decision is because four years is many years. I have given everything and I have nothing left and need to recharge my batteries .”
“The demands have been great and I have not been able to rest much. I have to recover and the only way I can do that is by distancing myself. otherwise, we would have ended up damaging each other. ”
“I know that I’m leaving the best place to work in . I am very satisfied with the result we have achieved. I have had the great privilege of coaching fantastic players. I want to thank them .”
Guardiola stepped up from Barca B to the first team in 2008 and has gone on to become the most successful coach in the club’s illustrious history.
He has led the Catalan club to two UEFA Champions League crowns ,three La Liga trophies, one Copa del Rey, three Supercopas, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
At a press conference, president Sandro Rosell said : “We have called you today to announce that Pep Guardiola will not continue in charge of the team next season. Thank you Pep for all the happiness you have brought us and for bringing a model of football that can never be questioned.”
Guardiola has operated on short-term deals throughout his tenure but had usually renewed before this stage of the season, prompting speculation he was ready to walk away.
His decision comes just days after Barca were eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea. that setback came just 72 hours after their hopes of retaining their La Liga crown were dashed following a 2-1 defeat at home to arch-rivals Real Madrid.
That loss left them seven points behind Jose Mourinho’s men with four games remaining and also ended their domestic dominance in Spain.
Immediate success Guardiola led Barca to the La Liga crown in his first season in charge after masterminding a squad overhaul which saw the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco leave and a greater emphasis placed on youth .
The results were immediate. Not only did Barca win the league; the highlight being a 6-2 thrashing of Real at the Bernabeu – but they also claimed the Copa del Rey and Champions League crowns .
The 2009/10 campaign kicked off with further success in Spanish Super Cup , UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup as Barca became the first club side to claim six trophies in one calendar year.
They failed to defend their Champions League crown after being eliminated by Maurinho- led Inter Milan at the semi-final stage but retained their La Liga title with a record points total of 99 .
With real hiring Mourinho with a view to ending Barca’s run of success, the 2010/11 season was supposed to pose new challenges for Guardiola.
But the former Spain midfielder , having signed David Villa to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, guided Barca to the league title once more and they backed that up by claiming the Champions League crown by defeating Manchester United at Wembly .
Cesc Fabregas joined from Arsenal in 2011 as Guardiola again placed his faith in products of the famed la Masia academy and while the free-flowing football remained, long winning runs were punctuated with surprise defeats.
The Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup were claimed , as was the FIFA Club World Cup, but La Liga setbacks against the likes of Getafe and Osasuna undermined their title challenge.
Barca have qualified for the final of the Copa del Rey ,in which they will meet Athletic Bilbao in what is set to be Guardiola’s final in charge. The 41-year-old is now expected to take a sabbatical from the game despite being linked with numerous jobs across Europe.
Rosell also announced that Guardiola’s assistant Tito Vilanova will become first-team coach for next season. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta felt promoting from within, as they did with Guardiola, was the best way forward . He said : ” We’ve always said that if the team needs,we look at home first . Who do we have here at home? Tito.’
Tagged as: 14 Titles, ballon d'Or, Copa del Rey, down Estudiantes de la Plata, Dream Team, FIFA World Coach of the year, FIFA.com, four years are many years, is leavin Barca, Jose Mourinho, most successful coach, Pep Guardiola, Real Madrid, Sandro Rosell, sink Manchester united in Wembley, Tito Vilanova new coach, UEFA champions League -
Apr 26
Taken from FIFA.com
Chelsea produced one of the greatest escapes in history of European football tonight as they survived the sending off of john Terry to win an astonishing UEFA Champions League semi-final against Barcelona .
On a night of unparalleled drama at the Nou Camp , Terry looked to have pressed the self-destruct button on the Blues’ hopes of glory on the continent when he saw red for kneeing Alexis Sanchez from behind . But the ten men were simply magnificent for the rest of the second leg, fighting back from goals by Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta with a stunning chip from Ramires before half-time .
And after surviving a Barca siege from start to finish that saw Lionel Messi miss a penalty , Fernando Torres came off the bench to score a stoppage-time breakaway goal as Chelsea avenged their 2009 defeat in the most dramatic manner possible.
“We all believed ,not many people did, but we believed as a team, ” jubilant Chelsea defender Ashley Cole said .”It’s hard, but we defended well as a team , got a bit lucky, and Petr (Cech) made some good saves. Three or four months ago no-one thought we had a chance but we always believed. You can’t beat that desire, fight and spirit you saw out there. ”
Reaching their second final came at a huge cost, with Terry’s red card and yellows for Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles ruling them out of the final. But they will worry about that in the morning after celebrating arguably the greatest result in the club’s history and one which may finally convince Roman Abramovich to make Roberto Di Matteo’s appointment as manager permanent .
Disaster struck for Chelsea as early as the sixth minute, Gary Cahill eventually forced off after slipping and pulling his hamstring, with Jose Bosingwa coming on and Ivanovic forced to move to centre-back. It was soon 1-1 on the injury front , Gerard Pique lasting just 26 minutes of his recall after failing to recover from a sickening collision with the backside of Victor Valdes that appeared to leave him briefly unconscious.
That failed to alter the pattern of a game which was a carbon copy of the first leg as Chelsea parked the bus once more. Messi rippled the side-netting inside three minutes and , after both sides injury woes,he should have opening the scoring in the 20th minute, firing a one-two with Cesc Fabregas against Petr Cech’s leg .
Fabregas also volleyed into the side-netting and Cech tipped over Javier Mascherano’s drive, but there was hope for Chelsea before Pique’s departure when Didier Drogba shrugged him off but could himself only find the side-setting from the tightest of angles.
The first sign of Chelsea’s discipline wavering came when John Obi Mikel was booked for chopping down Alexis Sanchez in the 32nd minute. And when they went to sleep three minutes later, they were behind, their failure to close down allowing Isaac Cuenca to square for Busquets to tap into a virtually unguarded net.
Terry sees red Then ,Terry simply gave the referee no choice , but to dismiss him less than two minutes later. Sanchez reacted to the swipe, and Terry initially refused to walk . But Cech made him listen to reason before picking the ball out his won net again two minutes before half time, Chelsea carved apart as Messi teed up Iniesta to stroke the ball home .
Chelsea looked dead and buried but , as at Stamford Bridge, they struck a dagger blow with their first shot on target in first-half stoppage-time. Frank Lampard was again the creator as Ramires burst through and floated a glorious finish over Valdes; moments after picking up a booking that would rule out of the final.
The cascade of noise that had filled the Nou Camp turned to silence at half-time , but they were soon cheering again after the restart when Drogba conceded a penalty. The referee adjudged the striker had tripped Fabregas and pointed to the spot , with Ivanovic cautioned for his protest .
Messi misses It looked certain Messi would end his Chelsea hoodoo but , incredibly ,he smashed his effort against the crossbar . Lampard was fortunate to escape punishment for a flare-up with Fabregas , Sanchez nodded substitute Daniel Alves cross wide, and Cech was booked for wasting time , having already been warmed before saving well again from Cuenca
Ivanovic almost capitalized after Drogba helped Chelsea win a rare corner, but he was warmed himself after going down theatrically, while Lampard was lucky to only see yellow for cutting down Fabregas after Messi was booked for tugging him back.
The visitors were hanging on and were given two lifelines in 60 seconds in the final minutes when Sanchez had a goal ruled out for offside and Messi hit the post from 20 yards. With time running out, Meireles was ruled out of the final after being booked for fouling Mascherano, who Cech saved from again in the final minute.
And then, in stoppage-time , a long clearance found substitute Torres with 50 yards of space in which to run. Unlike most of his Chelsea career, he made no mistake, rounding Valdes and slotting home to jubilant scenes .
BAYERN MUNICH DOWN REAL MADRID
Bayern Munich are set to meet Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final next month at Allianz Arena after defeating Real Madrid 3-1 on penalties after the Spaniards had won the tie 2-1 for a 3-3 aggregate scoreline.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scored the decisive spot-pick after Manuel Neuer had made two stunning saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka . David Alaba and Mario Gomez had sent Iker Casillas the wrong way to put Bayern in control of the shoot-out ,but Real were handed a lifeline as the Spanish captain saved from Toni Kroos and Phillip Lahm.
However ,after Sergio Ramos blasted his attempt over the bar, Schweinsteiger was calmness personified as he slammed the ball home to send Bayern into their second final in three years.
Real had erased their 2-1 deficit from the first leg within five minutes as Alaba was punished for handling Angel Di Maria’s shot and Ronaldo slotted home the resulting penalty. The visitors responded positively , though, and should have been level within minutes as Alaba nearly made amends for conceding the penalty with a brilliant run and cross. But ,somehow Arjen Robben scuffed the ball over the bar from only yards out.
Frank Ribery was then denied by a brilliant saving challenge from Sami Khedira after Casillas had spilled a Gomez shot from 20 yards , but only 15 minutes had passed when Roanldo doubled his tally and Real Madrid ‘s advantage on the evening as he raced on to a brilliant through-ball from Ozil and stroked the ball past Neuer from the edge of the area.
The tie was back on a knife-edge 12 minutes later though as Pepe was penalized for push on Gomez as he tried to get on the end of Kroos cross into the box . Robben had missed a significant penalty in the Bundesliga title decider against Borussia Dortmund a fortnight ago, but the former Real player stepped up again and his spot-kick just sneaked past Casillas who got a hand to the ball.
The chances continued to flow at both ends towards the end of an engrossing 45 minutes as firstly Karim Benzema’s curling effort floated just over the bar before Gomez was again found by Kroos, but the man who had scored 12 goals in his previous ten European appearances could not find a way past Casillas.
The Real captain was called into action again in the final action of the first-half as he palmed away Robben’s free-kick and the visitors came close again right at the start of the second period as Gomez’s header from Philipp Lahm’s cross crept inches wide.
Generally, though, both sides tightened up significantly in the second half and opportunities were far harder to come by at either end . Benzema brought a smart save from Neuer before the Frenchman wasted Real’s clearest opening after the break as he fired over from the edge of the area after being fed by Roanldo.
Deadlocked in extra time Gomez then had the chance to send Bayern into the final with five minutes remaining of normal time as Robben found him free inside the area, but he took too many touches and allowed the Real defence to recover and block his effort.
The home side regained the initiative at the start of extra time, but tiredness seemed to affect their decision making in the final third as Ronaldo dallied to allow Lahm to make a crucial last-ditch challenge before the break and Kaka did likewise when presented with the ball in the area with just eight minutes remaining .
Real had claims for a third penalty of the evening turned down moments later as instead Esteban Granero was booked for going down under pressure from Neuer . And that decision was to prove vital as Ronaldo , Kaka and Ramos all failed from the spot to hand the German a place in the final on 19 May.
Tagged as: Barcelona, Bayern Munich down Real Madrid, Chelsea, dramatic shoot out, Drogba, Fabregas, FIFA.com, Granero, Iker Casillas Spanish Captain, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Lampard, Lionel Messi, mario Gomez, Mascherano, Real Madrid, Robben, Ronaldo, sergio Ramos, UEFA champions League, unparalleled drma in Nou Camp -
BRAZILIAN LEGEND RONALDO NAMES HIS ALL-TIME BRAZIL XI :TAFFAREL,CAFU,ALDAIR,LUCIO,ROBERTO CARLOS,JUNIOR,ZICO,RIVELINO,PELE,ROMARIO AND ME
Filed under UncategorizedApr 20Taken from FIFA.com
Ronaldo now 35 years of age ,there is little that has not already been said about Brazilian superstar Ronaldo . Indeed, the lethal goalgetter’s achievements speak volumes , with O Fenomeno the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history , the proud owner of two FIFA World Cup winner’s medals , a three-time FIFA world player and two-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Having overcome adversity aplenty – particularly in the form of series of long-term knee injuries; in order to write his name large in the annals of world football, the prolific former front-man is currently a member of the Management Board of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Local Organizing Commitee (LOC) .
Taking time out from his busy role, the man who plundered goals aplenty for the likes of PSV eindhoven , Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid spoke to FIFA.com on issues including his glittering career, the pressure on today’s Selecao and their chances of success in 2014 .
FIFA.com As part of the Brazil 2014 LOC, what are your expectations for the tournament ? Ronaldo :we’re very proud to be hosting the World Cup in Brazil. we’re going to have a great opportunity for growth, which is what’s most important for the population as a whole , because there’ll be huge investment in infrastructure, airports, motorways , hospitals and hotels. there’ll be a legacy that will remain for the rest of our lives, one that only a world Cup can provide.
How ready do you think A Selecao are for the tournament ? There’s been a generational overhaul in the national squad, which definitely isn’t playing its best football yet . And I think it’s going to take more time still for it to peak. But between now and 2014 there’s time to find a good level of consistency , competitiveness and become capable of being crowned champions .
Neymar, Alexandre Pato and Ganso would appear to be the standout players of this new Brazilian generation. What’s your verdict on this trio? they’re three very young and very talented Brazilians who are shining for their clubs. I think Neymar is the most gifted and ,at just 19 years of age, he’s already got incredible ability . He scores loads of goals and has won Brazil over. the international experience he had against Barcelona (In Santo’s 4-0 final defeat at the FIFA Club World Cup 2011 ) wasn’t a good one, but I’m sure It’ll have taught him a lot . Pato , for his part, has already proven his talent in Europe , While Ganso is also very good ; he just needs better luck with injuries.
Do you think there’s still room for experienced performers such as Ronaldinho or Kaka ? They’re important players, of course . In terms of their role out on the pitch , it’ll depend on their form and if they’re playing their best football once the World Cup comes around. But they’ve also got an important role off the pitch, and their experience will be vital in a squad of such young players.
Where would you rank the current Brazil side in global terms ? We’re not in the top three right now , but I do think we’re among the world’s top five national teams ,even though we’re not on fire at the moment. Making changes is never easy and these new young players need time to mature. There’s no need to panic, they must be given time to get good results.
If you had to pick out one player to tag as ‘the new Ronaldo’s who would it be? Leandro Damiao ,from International de Porto Alegre. He’s tall, strong , a very good goalscorer ,a threat in the air and skilful with both feet .He’ll l play a big part in 2014 .
Let’s look back at your own playing days. you played in Brazil,Spain and Italy ,so where would you say are the fans most passionate? I think that they’re all football-mad countries, though they enjoy the game in different ways, In Brazil the stadiums are very old and in a lot of them the fans have to stand, and support their team by jumping up and down and breaking a sweat . Aside from the heat, it’s not as formal as in Europe and the atmosphere’s more passionate. In Europe ,even though it’s colder, the spectators also really make their presence felt , particularly in big derbies, which are great spectacle.
Based on your own experience, how would you compare European and Brazilian club football ? The European game continues to be faster, more competitive and harder-fought than in Brazil ,where it’s still in our culture to play a slower and more controlled style of football. The game has changed everywhere and that’s something we’ve got to get to grips with. I think that the standard in Europe is better than anywhere else. however, I think that once the world Cup is over, and thanks to the new stadiums and improved infrastructure, this change will take place in Brazil too.
Of all the teams you’ve played for, which have remained closest to your heart ? I look back at my time at Real Madrid with a lot of affection, I think it was the best period of my career. I also really enjoyed it at Inter, I fell in love with the team and the city of Milan. But wherever I played I made a lot of friends and had a great time .
Looking back at your early career, how important was it for you to travel to USA 1994 at just 17 years of age ? It was very important . seeing players of the calibre of Romario and Bebeto up close had a real impact on my future. I was able to learn from them, look out for the small details, how they trained , how they found their focus. Romario used to boss me about ,getting me to fetch his boots and his coffee, as if I was a youth-team player . But he’d always treat me with respect, that was just the pecking order in the side .
By France 1998 you had made a starting berth your own, though the team went on to lose in the Final against the hosts. what feelings does that experience stir in you ? I’ve got very good memories of 1998. we had a spectacular World Cup until the Final, when we played really poorly against France. but I prefer to remember the atmosphere that day . I tried to play well in that match, we all did, but it’s very tough to play a World Cup Final against the host nation, particularly when (Zinedine) Zidane is enjoying an inspired evening . Later on when we team-mates he’d wind me up about that, but of course I got my own back in 2002, when we won the title and they went home after the first round .
Tell us more about your experience at Korea/Japan 2002 . I got injured and there were doubts as to whether I’d be ready in time. But as soon as I started playing our warm-up friendlies I knew we were going to have a great World Cup . We had a really top side , which was very solid, very united and ended up being very effective . That was the best Brazil team I played in ; we had quality to spare in every area. Moreover , it’s my greatest memory, because you simply can’t describe what it’s like to win a world Cup.
Coming back to the present day, which team do you like most at the moment ? I’m Merengue and I really like the way Madrid are playing , but you can’t ignore Barcelona , who have a fantastic team .They may not be the most spectacular, but they make everything look simple. Every single player in every are of the side knows what they have to do at any given time, then you’ve got their ability to keep hold of the ball and the way they patiently work their way towards the opposition goal. The great job that (Pep) Guardiola’s done shines through : it’s one of the best teams I’ve seen in my 35 years on the planet. It hurts to say that, since I’m Madrilista, but still think we can pip them to some titles this year.
When you see them play, does it make you to slip your boots on once more No ,no ! I enjoyed my time as a player and now I’m enjoying myself as a fan .
- Finally ,which players would be included in your all-time Brazil XI ? That’s a tough one ,but I’d go with Taffarel; Cafu, Aldair ,Lucio, Roberto CArlos ,Junior ,Zico ,Rivelino ;Pele, Romario and me , of course ! It’s a very attacking team ! everyone would be bombing forward !
Tagged as: Aldair, Ballond'Or, Barcelona, Brazil, Cafu, FIFA.com, Inter Milan, Italy, Junior, Kore/Japan 2002, Lucio, Pele, Real Madrid, Rivelino, Roberto Carlos, Romario, Ronaldo, Spain, Taffarel, World Cup Brazil 2014, Zico -
Apr 13
Taken from FIFA.com
Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan set a new international appearance record for men’s football in February when he represented his country for the 179th time . FIFA World met up with the durable Egyptian to discuss his career ,the recent tragedy in Port Said and the future of Egyptian football.
FIFA World : congratulations on becoming the World’s most-capped player. How have you managed to maintain your form and fitness over the years? Ahmed Hassan :Let me first say that I’m very proud of this record, not just for myself but for all of my countrymen, because it’s a great achievement for an Egyptian to be the world’s most-capped player. It wasn’t easy at all to reach this many caps and it took a lot of effort and perseverance in the face of many challenges.In fact , I never thought about winning so many caps when I set out on my football career. My dream was just to be a good footballer and play for Egypt. I was called up to the national team at 19 and I always did best to be available for selection. As the years passed, especially over the last three years , people drew my attention to the fact that I could become the most capped player in the world, so it became one of my targets. In a way, I was even quite late in accomplishing it because I picked up a serious knee injury in 2010. Fortunately, however, I managed to recover quickly and finally break the record.
You’ve known success and failure with Egypt, winning three consecutive CAF Africa Cup of Nations titles but failing to qualify, as title-holders, for the 2012 edition. How do you see future of the team? We’ve lived through one the best eras in Egyptian football and it is only natural for any team that has done so well for so many years to go through a rough patch. After being on top for all those years, we simply underestimate our opponents, but we have learnt our lesson well and we lernt it the hard way. Whoever is in charge of the team in the upcoming period has a very tough job ahead of them, especially after the recent decision to cancel the league and the overall instability of the country. It’s not going to be easy.
On the night you broke the caps record, you spoke a great deal about Egypt’s instability and the mixed emotions of breaking the record so soon after February’s Port Said stadium tragedy. How did the tragedy affect you personally ? It touched all of us in the football community. It’s depressing to see the sport that everybody loves become a source of such sadness but, ultimately, what happened was a result of fanaticism . I have to say that the media also played a large role by stirring up the fan’s aggression instead of attempting to calm things down. I’d like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the families of all the fans who passed away and I hope that this is the last tragedy, and that football returns to its role as a form of entertainment and source of happiness for all Egyptians.
You’ve played in Egypt ,Turkey and Belgium. what was your view of the fan culture in these countries ? Did you notice differences bet wen them? Nowadays in Egypt all the big teams like Al-Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaily and Al-Masry have their own groups of “ultras”. which is a great thing if they stick to supporting their teams within the reasonable and ethical limits. But once it crosses the line and turns aggressive or becomes a vehicle for something completely beyond football then it becomes unacceptable and can lead to disasters. All over the world, ultras support their clubs using organized cheering which can be very entertaining and this is what we as players like to see in the stands, but if they cause violence in the stadiums then no, we cannot tolerate that.
Following the events in Port Said , many players even announced their retirement from the game. How long will it take Egyptian football to recover from the tragedy ? It is not just about football. The whole country is currently suffering from a lack of ethics , as well as a general lack of security, and this is causing problems in all facets of life. It is going to take some time to recover. There is no doubt that football will bounce back but the whole country has to make it out of this dark tunnel. Stability will only returns when all members of the community , whether they be players, fans, referees, journalists or security staff, recognize their role, stick to it and respect the role of others.
Do you agree with the widely held belief in Egypt that last year’s political unrest contributed to the ailing fortunes of Egyptian football? It has definitely been a factor ,but it’s not the main reason. We’re all part of this country and anything that goes on affects us, so naturally our concentration levels drop and we cannot remain focused when such turmoil is happening at home. On top of that there’s the fact that we couldn’t play for a very long time with the league being suspended for almost four months. But, again, I don’t believe that was the only reason. We also got over-confident and just thought it was going to be easy to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. By the time we’d realized our mistake, after the first two matches against Sierra Leone and Niger, it was already too late.
You’re a huge idol in Egypt – have you ever considered getting involved in politics? No , I don’t want to get involved in politics . I’m just footballer and I’d like to stick to that. I’ve actually been asked to stand as a candidate for the parliamentary elections but I refused point blank. I’ve been contacted by a few people seeking my endorsement but I refused to get involved because I don’t want to take any political sides and I don’t want to influence people’s choices in any way. I believe people should choose who they vote for based on the candidates own work not because a famous star told them who to vote for.
Egypt are now coached by Bob Bradley, whose USA team eliminated Egypt from the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009. What is your impression of him so far ? Is his style different from an Egyptian coach? I don’t believe in classifying coaches or anybody else for that matter based on where they come from, Regardless of whether he is an Egyptian or an American , I think every coach wants his team to do well for his own sake, since it’s his reputation that is on the line. Bradley is a great coach and he has a vision , It is an extremely tough job to take on the Egyptian national team at this time and I sympathize with him, but he has been trying out new players and new strategies, which is a good thing for the team and for the future of Egyptian football.
What are Egypt’s chances of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil ? It’s going to be tough. In the current situation, it’s hard for players to stay in shape and find opportunities to practice and play meaningful games but it is still possible, as long as we don’t repeat our mistakes from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. We have to treat every game very seriously ,from the first match on, and never underestimate any opponent .
You are one of the few players to have crossed the divide between Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and Zamalek. Can you tell us what that was like ? I dealt with the matter professionally. This is my job and those are the biggest two clubs in Egypt, if not Africa, so it has been an honour to play for both. . I’ve never had any issues with Al-Ahly fans, so even after my move to Zamalek I was surprisingly never booed or treated with hostility by Al-Ahly’s fans, which really made it easy and demonstrated the respectful relationship I have with all Egyptians fans.
You are also one of the few Egyptians who have enjoyed a successful professional career in Europe. Why do you think other players have faced difficulties playing in Europe? What is the secret recipe for an Egyptian to have success in Europe ? Egyptian players unfortunately have not yet understood the meaning of professional football and that it is a job not just a game or a hobby. The mentality of Egyptian or Arab players in general is quite different, they still think of football as a pastime, unlike European players, who live and breathe football and change their whole life to adapt to their jobs as professional players. Once Egyptian players reach that level of professionalism, they will succeed for sure ,because we have many great talents, but that on its own is not enough. Mindset is also an extremely important part of a player’s career.
You could have stayed longer in Europe. What made you decide to return home ? I made a great name for myself in Turkey and Belgium and I played for ten years in Europe, so yes, I could have stayed longer, but I felt that I had accomplished all I could there and that it was time to return home to win titles here in Egypt and leave a legacy here in my home country. I also had personal reasons: I wanted to raise my children in their homeland amidst our own customs and traditions.
And now the inevitable question : when do you intend to hang up your boots? There will come a time when I will have to step off the pitch, of course, it’s a fact of life. But I haven’t decided when yet .I’ll retire only when I feel that I cannot or do not want to play football anymore. At that point, I’ll set some new goals for myself, most probably in coaching and sports media.
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Apr 6
Taken from FIFA.com
If APOEL Nicosia are to make it through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals they have pull off arguably the biggest upset in the tournament’s long history by overturning a 3-0 deficit against Real Madrid. While the chances are slim, FIFA.com looks back across a number of results that could inspire the Cypriots at the Santiago Bernabeu. It wouldn’t be the first time the Spaniards have slipped up .
Having ground out a 0-0 draw at Spartak Moscow, Real would have been confident of putting the Russians to the sword back in Madrid during the 1990/91 quarter-finals .That confidence would have only been bolstered once Emilio Butragueno had struck on nine minutes, considering it was Los Blancos’ 22nd goal of the tournament.
That lead didn’t last long, though ,and Real were behind before half -time . The likes of Hugo Sanchez had no reply and the final word went to Valeri Chmarov ,who gave the Muscovites a 3-1 win and a ticket to the semis.
Second-r0und defeats to Swiss side Grasshoppers and Standard League are both notable, but Real’s biggest-ever upset came in 1962 ; during their noted European supremacy – at the hands of another Belgian side, Anderlecht.
Fielding the likes Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, all expected Real in the second round, but a 3-3 draw saw the dominant force in world football booed off the pitch by the Bernabeu fans .The Spaniards were sufficiently blunter in the second leg and with a play-off looking on the cards Jozef Jurion struck to put the five-time champions out , a feat that has seen him known as ‘Mr Europe’ ever since.
The final has seen its surprises too. while giant-killings at the ultimate stage are exceptionally rare, the likes of Hamburg dominating tournament favorites Juventus ; who boasted six Italian FIFA world Cup winners, Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek – in 1983 was one. another came when Celtic’s Lisbon Lions’ stunned Angelo Moratti’s expensively assembled Inter Milan side in 1967 . The biggest, though, was undoubtedly when Steaua Bucharest beat Barcelona in 1986 .
Steaua surprise Barca were yet to win a European Cup, but the Catalans still dwarfed their Romanian opponents, who had largely failed to impress en route to the final . A resolute defensive display in Seville saw the underdogs frustrate Terry Venables’ side for two hours, taking the game to penalties. Helmut Duckadan then stole the show with a monumental performance ; saving all four spot-tickets he faced – which saw the trophy go to eastern Europe for the first time .
Barcelona have had trouble with eastern European sides since then too. A 2-1 win saw Rubin Kazan silence the Camp Nou in 2009 , but Dynamo Kiev pulled off an ev- en great shock 12 years earlier by putting seven past the Catalans without replay across two games , with Andriy Shevchenko scoring three in Spain. The results were terminal, seeing the likes of Luis Figo and Rivaldo finish bottom of their group.
However ,in the competition’s first year as the Champions League in 1992, they stumbled again, as CSKA Moscow produced one of the cup’s biggest upsets by knocking the then holders out in the second round. Finishing 1-1 in Moscow , it was expected Johan Cruyff’s side would cruise in the Camp Nou . At 2-0 up and nearing the interval it looked a formality, until 15 minutes of play stunned the Catalans .
A goal from Yevgeni Bushmanov just before half -time provided hope , and then two goals before the hour – capped off by Dmitri Karsakov’s cheeky flick ; left the Camp Nou hung in a stony silence. Hristo Stoichkov ,Michael Laudrup and Pep Guardiola left the field with their heads hung low in what remains the last time the holders were eliminated before Christmas.
It was a failure matched by Liverpool, who fell at the first hurdle in 1979 after having defended their title earlier that year . A 2-1 win over Dianmo Tbillsi left Kenny Dalglish and Co in a precarious position for their trip to Georgia , but it wasn’t to be a close-run thing. The Reds were thumped 3-0, with a sumptuous second following a dazzling 50-yard run by Georgi Chilaia to set up Ramaz Shengelia’s chipped finish .
End of an Era Ajax arguably suffered even greater ignominy ,as they were eliminated in their first tie of 1973 by CSKA Sofia after having won three consecutive titles. Cruyff may have left for Barcelona ,but they still had the likes of Johnny Rep, Ruud Krol and johann Neeskens in their ranks.
They had beaten the Bulgarians 6-1 the season before, but an unconvincing 1-0 win in Amsterdam set up a nervy trip away. CSKA took the game to extra time and, four minutes from a penalty shoot-out, Stefan Mihailov struck to effectively end the club’s period of Total Football.
Inter Milan have suffered a few first-tie exits themselves .Swedish sides have caused the most trouble, with Malmo beating them 1-0 in the preliminaries of 1989, and then Helsinborg repeating the feat in the third qualifying round for 2000/01.
A fine left-footed volley from Mikael Hansson left Inter with a 1-0 scoring to overturn in the San Siro, but they were still expected to beat Helsingborg Comfortably. They struggled until a last-minute penalty looked to have given them a lifeline. However ,Sven Andersson turned Alvaro Recoba’s effort round the post to see the Swede crowned ‘San Siro Sven’ by their fans.
Another Italian side was the end of one of the European Cup’s greatest upsets in just the tournament’s fourth instalment. John Charles and /Gianpiero Boniperti’s Juventus had cantered to the 1958 Serie A title, but came unstuck in spectacular fashion against Wiener Sport-Club.
A routine 3-1 win in Turin saw Juve travel to Austria expecting easy passage, but they were stunned 7-0, with Josef Hameri getting four, and recorded a monumental scalp . “Their passes went into the void, players stumbled across their own feet, combinations didn’t work out, ” said WSC’s Walter Horak. “They were committed, but once the goals poured in, they lost their will.’
Artmedia avalanche Celtic may have handed out an upset back in the 1960s ,but they were well and truly on the end of one against Artmedia Bratislava in 2005. The Slovakian outfit had won their first national title and hosted the Scottish giants in the second qualifying round having scraped past Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan after extra time.
The Old firm side were promptly spanked 5-0 by minnows in Slovakia. After the game manager Gordon Strachan was frank : “I have been a manager for eight years and a player for 25 years and this is out-and -out the worst football night I have ever had. disappointment would be way down my list of adjectives.”
Led by Vladimir Weiss; who would later take the Slovakian national team to the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – Artmedia won the tie 5-4 and became Slovakia’s second-ever side to reach the group stage. They are also one of only two teams ever to do so by negotiating the entire qualifying round, the other being Liverpool that same year.
In the mid-90s Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan were a dominant force. While they may have been beginning to wane, they were still champions and had been to four of the last six finals when Roenborg knocked out the giants in 1996 .Needing just a draw at the San Siro to qualify from their group ;and having won 4-1 in Norway – few expected a surprise. Harland Brattbak defied the odds, though, claiming a goal and an assist against a nervy home side to win 2-1 and reach the quarter-finals
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Mar 30
Taken From FIFA. com
Sometimes , the figures tell only a half the story. In the case of Valentino Mazzola, they relate an even cruder fraction, the Torino legend having earned himself a place in the pantheon of Italian football in the space of seven short seasons and 12 international appearances. Revered in the same hushed tones as Giuseppe Meazza and Silvio Piola, Mazzola’s reputation is even more remarkable given that achieved immortality despite never appearing in FIFA World Cup due to the Second World War.
Mazzola’s was a talent of the purest kind. Captain of the Grande Torino side that excelled in the 1940s and provided the backbone of the Italy team, he could take up any position on the pitch and still perform to the same rarefied standard . “If I had to choose one indispensable player for my team, I wouldn’t choose Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Michael Platini or diego Maradona ; I’d only go for those players after choosing Mazzola, ” commented former Juventus President Giampiero Boniperti.
Nine years before Manchester United lost eight players in the Munich Air disaster, however, Mazzola’s life was ended in similarly tragic circumstances.Torino’s superlative array of international star was wiped out in the Superga catastrophe on 4 May 1949, with Mazzola one of 18 players killed that day. Taken from the game in his prime, his impact has nonetheless never been forgotten ,and his son Sandro later went on to bring even more honour to the family name
Long road to the top Hailing from a humble background, Valentino lost his own father at a young age and had to leave school at 11 to work as a baker’s boy, before finding a job in a factory three years later. His only contact with football at the time was the box of milk he would juggle with his feet on his way to and from work ,though he later joined modest local side Tresoldi. At the age of 18, he was then spotted by a neighbour , who managed to find him employment as a mechanic at the Alfa Romeo plant in Arese, and he soon made his debut for the company’s football team in the third division.
A year later, Mazzola was called up for military service, and once again fate intervened to given him a push in the right direction. Legend has it that his talents caught the eyes of a Venezia-supporting officer while performing wonders for the team of the marine commandos. recommended by the officer, he made the trio to Venice and showed up for a trial with the club in bare feet, preferring to leave his boots at home so as not to wear them out.
Venezia coach Giuseppe Girani quickly fell under the youngster’s spell and Mazzola signed his first professional contract on 1 January 1940. He made his Serie A debut in a 1-0 loss to Lazio on 31 March the same year and was soon wearing the captain’s armband . A natural leader, he may not have looked the most physically impressive of players, but he made his influence felt on all four corners of the pitch once the whistle blew, combining bursts of speed worthy of a sprinter with the stamina of a long-distance runner . A rock at the back thanks to his perfectly timed tackles, Mazzola was just as effective in midfield and it was by no means unusual for him to take up three separate positions during the same game, though he eventually took up a regular spot as a left-sided attacking midfielder , with fellow provocateur Ezio Loik operating on the right .
Glory years Two years later, In july 1942 , Torino paid 1.25m Lira to bring Mazzola on board . It was a record transfer fee for the time , but for club president Ferruccio Novo who also swooped for Loik ; it would soon begin to look like the best bit of business of his entire career. He and his new signing formed a strong bond, with Mazzola naming his second son after Novo, while on the pitch Torino became the first Italian side to win a league-and -cup double in Mazzola’s maiden season . The newcomer contested every match as Torino racked up a series of commanding victories, beating Juventus 5-1, AC Milan 5-0 and his former employers Venezia 4-0
Il Granata (The Clarets ) reigned supreme domestically between 1942 and 1949 and were equally accomplished in Europe, where they played a number of friendly games in the period before organized continental competitions . Meanwhile, Mazzola seemed to improve with every passing year, even finishing top scorer in 1947 after notching 29 goals in 38 appearances.
“He earned twice as much as his team-mates because that’s how they wanted it”, explained Novo. Indeed, far from the type of player prone to wowing supporters with momentary displays of magic, he was a tireless worker who covered incredible distances each game, setting example for colleagues who felt compelled to match his efforts.
Because of his untimely death, Mazzola’s experience of international football was limited to a dozen friendly outings. Called up for the first time for a 4-0 win over Croatia on 5 April 1942 , he opened his scoring account for la Nationale two weeks later as they swept aside Spain by the same margin. Just as he was finding his feet, however, international football was forced to take a back seat to the conflict increasingly ravaging Europe, and he would have to wait another three years to wear his country’s colours again.
Mazzola’s finest Italy appearance was generally judged by observers at the time to be his very last, as he starred in a 3-1 defeat of Spain on 27 March 1949 ,reaching the same level of excellence he regularly displayed for Torino . Overall, he plundered four goals in nine wins, a draw and two defeats, but those modest statistics do nothing to reflect the sheer magnitude of his ability.
Tragic ending A few weeks later, on 3 May , Mazzola was expected to sit out Torino’s trip to Lisbon to take on Benfica in a friendly match, suffering from a throat infection, he nonetheless insisted on making the voyage, not least since the occasion represented a testimonial match for his friend Francisco Ferreira.
The journey back ended in tragedy as the three-engine Fiat G212 airliner carrying 31 players, officials , journalists and crew members crashed into the wall of the Basilica of Superga. There were no survivors and, with that, the era of the great Torino side was over.
Italy was in shock , and half a million people turned out to attend the funerals on 6 May, while Torino were named champions four games from the end of the season following a proposal by their fellow Serie A clubs.
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Mar 22
Taken from FIFA.com
On 25 January 2010 , the name of Salvador Cabanas dominated the world’s sporting headlines , yet for the most distressing of reasons. A star at Mexican giants Club America and widely expected to make Paraguay’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the profile striker was shot in the head following a disagreement in a bar.
While Cabanas continues to go through the final stages of the recovery process, with the player currently rating himself at “around 80 per cent ” ,the 31-year old spoke to FIFA.com on a range of issues including his imminent return, his feelings towards Mexico and his desire to represent Paraguay at Brazil 2014 .
FIFA.com :Salvador, first of all we’d like to congratulate you on your comeback. In doing so you’ve managed to inspire many people, and not just those in the game… Salvador Cabanas :Thanks very much ! To tell you the truth I feel very good and very happy. I’m just trying to do the right things to get myself back to 100 per cent and back on the pitch as quickly as possible. That’s what I want more than anything .
How often have you dreamed of this moment over the last two years ? So often and for such a long time . And it’s incredible to be ending up doing it at the club where I started my career. They’re giving me the opportunity to be here, they opened the doors to me so I could come and train and complete my recovery, and I couldn’t be more grateful to them.
How did your return to 12 de Octubre com about ? I’m good friends with the club’s president ,which made agreeing to come here very simple. My team-mates are youngsters who, until not that long ago ,used to watch me play . They tell me they’re excited (to have me here) and that they admire me, which really means a lot . Feeling like this will help me complete my recovery , so fingers crossed I can do that soon.
Presumably , your new team’s goals revolve around promotion to the top flight, but what are your individual objectives ? That’s right, the goal of the club’s board and coaching staff is promotion to the Primera Division and of course that’s what I want too. I’m finding all this really exciting. Football is my life and it’s giving me another chance. I’m feeling fine and achieving that feat would be a really big deal.
Your coach is none other than Rolando Chilavert, the brother of former Paraguay keeper Jose Luis Chilavert . How important is it that you’ve already worked under Rolando during your previous spell at 12 de Octubre ? Very important. It’s good to be here with him at this time, as he’s someone who knows me so well . That’s why I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, both to Ronaldo and his entire coaching staff ,for giving me this chance.
Have you been given any specific medical advice with regard to playing professionally again ? I have to be careful not to head balls that are hit very hard, because I’ve still got the bullet lodged in my head. That’s why I keep working towards my full recovery, as I want to be 100 per cent again to be able to enjoy myself and give it everything I’ve got.
Not long ago you stated that one of your aims was to force your way back into Paraguay contention. Though we’re aware you have to take things step by step, could you see yourself being involved at Brazil 2014 ? Yes ,of course. Why not ? It’s going to depend on me. The national team’s always on my mind and in my heart, and I’ll do everything in my power to be able to pull on those colours again. I must admit that I’ve not seen many of their matches recently, but I know the team’s doing really well. The coach (Francisco Arce ) has a lot to do with that; he’s a great professional. The most important thing is that the leads work hard and give their all out on the pitch.
Have you been following the performances of the Albirroja strikers over the past two years ? What’s your verdict on their displays ? Yes ,of course. I know the players well but I wouldn’t like to pick out any individual over and above the others. If they ‘re in the national team it’s for a good reason, and you have to let them get on with their job in peace.
How would you describe the way you’ve recovered ? Would “miraculous ” be going too far ? I’ve always been a believer, throughout my whole life . And this has given me proof, as very few people survive what happened to me . But here I am, still standing and with my family alongside me, which is the most important thing of all . Only those who’ve been through something like this know how much moments like this mean .
What have you learned from this experience ? How has it changed you as a person ? What I’ve always done is enjoy time with my family, both my wife and with my children, and I continue to live that way. But I would like thank all the Paraguayans who prayed for me and for my recovery. As a footballer you give certain things to people ,and now they’ve responded with their thoughts and prayers. That’s something very beautiful.
What kind memories does Mexico stir for you now? Though that was where the unfortunate incident occurred, you also enjoyed a lot of success there didn’t you ? I’ve got really great memories. I spent a long time there and I experience some wonderful things . Jaguares opened so many doors for me and then came my time at America, a club which gave me everything. Not to mention all the friends I made there. I’ve only got the very best memories of Mexico.
Would you play there again if the chance arose ? Of course, I’d love to ! I’m going to put in all the effort needed to complete my recovery and achieve as many objectives as possible. I was fortunate enough to be the subject of a tribute at America recently, where I was able to look back at some marvellous moments and be among friends. So there’s not much more I can add on the subject, just that I’ll be eternally grateful to America.
One final question, when you score your first competitive goal at 12 de Octubre, who will you dedicate it too ? My first goal will be for my parents , my wife, my children and for (libertad president ) Horacio Cartes, a man I have huge appreciation for. To be honest though, I’ve still not really imagined how that goal might be, but one thing is for certain: once I’ve made my debut, the goals will soon start to flow.
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OLIVER KAHN :I’M STILL ASSOCIATED WITH BAYERN ,WITH AN ERA OF MORE THAN 14 YEARS WHICH I WAS ABLE TO SHAPE , AND I’M THANKFUL FOR THAT
Filed under UncategorizedMar 16Taken From FIFA.com
Oliver Kahn requires little by way of introduction . The goalkeeper was one of the all-time greats , as illustrated by his enviable medal collection. . Over the course of a distinguished career , he was a FIFA World Cup runner-up , a European champion , a UEFA League and Intercontinental Cup winner, and serial holder of the German championship and cup.
Kahn Collected a host of personal awards too : Best Player and Best Goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA world Cup , World Goalkeeper of the year in 1999, 2001 and 2002, and European Goalkeeper of the year on four consecutive occasions from 1999 onwards.
Even now, four years after finally hanging up his gloves, the former Germany skipper remains instantly recognizable and popular. After a professional career spanning 21 years and including 86 appearances for Germany, 49 of them as captain, Kahn retired from the game in May 2008. In a departure from the path favored by many of his contemporaries, he chose to withdraw almost completely from the business of football, filling his time totally unrelated pursuits such as studying for an MBA. However, the 42 year-old not entirely sever his ties with the game, appearing from time to time as a TV co-commentator and scouting for goalkeeping talent in Japan.
FIFA.com spoke exclusively to the larger -than life personality about his plans for the future, this summer’s UEFA European Championship, and hot footballing topics in Germany, Europe and the world.
FIFA.com : You’ve given countless interviews in the past , and this isn’t the first time you’ve talked to FIFA.com either. You’ve answered almost every imaginable question, so let’s start by asking whether there’s anything you’ve never been asked, or whether there’s something you’re desperate to get off your chest ? Oliver Kahn : (laughs) I’m not the kind of guy who feels the need to divulge information all the time, and who defines himself only as a public figure, so I’m delighted there are still plenty of things people don’t know about me. Obviously ,the world actually does know a lot about me, but I’d say that’s normal after 20 years as a professional footballer . a lot of things are bound to come to light in that time.
We’ve not actually heard a great deal from or about you recently, Are you enjoying that, or do you miss the spotlight ? The decision to appear much less in public was a deliberate one . I’m looking for challenges in completely different areas . I completed my MBA last year, I set up the Oliver Kahn foundation, I started an internet platform, and parallel with my job as a colour commentator, I’m producing a special TV programme in Asia .
Last January , Lionel Messi won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the third time in a row. Is he truly the best player in the world at the moment ? Messi is undoubtedly a gifted footballer, like Maradona and Pele, and he’s playing for the best club side in the world at the moment. He’s successful and he’s winning trophies, so it’s only logical that he’ll be voted the best player in the world.
There were no Germans in the top ten. What’s your view on that ? If you look at how Germany have been playing, you’d have to say one or two of the players deserve a place higher up the final ranking. However, the main influence on votes such as those are whether you’ve won major honours. If Germany finish as European champions, and Real Madrid or Bayern Munich win the Champions League , I’m sure we’ll see German players nearer the top of the list.
At the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala, the spotlight fell on Brazil’s Neymar, another up-and-coming youngster who also collected the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of the year. however, he’s decided not to move to Europe for the time being, because he’s settled in his home country . What’s your view on that ? I’m not in a position to offer advice to player from this distance, but maybe it’ll turn out to be a very smart decision. Why should he leave home and go somewhere where he might feel terrible ? Why not stay at home? He should stay where he’s happy and enjoys his football.
Turning to the Champions League, your former club Bayern are desperate to make the final at their own stadium. Can they do it ? Obviously , it’s an additional motivation factor. Bayern are always favourites to win the Bundesliga, and they have quality . But to win the Champions League you need tremendous passion, extraordinary desire, and a bit of luck too.
What’s your assessment of Manuel Neuer, your first long-term successor in goal for Bayern, who joined Munich last summer ? He’s finding out how difficult it can be if you only have one or two saves to make in an entire match. You have to be 100 per cent alert and totally focused the whole time ,But Newer is a goalkeeper who could come to characterize an era at Bayern.
Turning to the German national team, can Germany win EURO 2012 ? The current team played fast and furious attacking football last year . they’re interpreting coach Joachim Low’s system to perfection, and they’ve come on well both technically and tactically. If they can combine that with the required desire and discipline, they could certainly finish as European champions .
Germany Currently boast something approaching and embarrassment of riches when it comes to talented youngsters, with the likes of Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, Andre Schurrle and Holgerf Badstuber. Are you surprised at the sheer quantity of talent coming through ? I’m not surprised, because at the end of the day, it’s the logical consequence of significant structural changes and improvements in German football’s approach to you development . Coaching and development efforts are now based on a clear philosophy. These new structures have produce a host of talented youngsters, so players like Gotze, Reus and so on come as no surprise . However, no-one should think it will happen automatically from now on . As always, later generations may not be as good, which is completely normal .But if you have sound coaching methods, you increase the probability of producing exceptional talent.
Should Goetze and his ilk consider moving abroad at some point ? It wouldn’t have done me much good. I’m still totally associated with Bayern, with an era of more than 14 years which I was able to shape, and I’m thankful for that, because I lined up alongside some magnificent players. I think it was much more valuable than ending up playing for eight clubs, so that when you look back, you’re never quite sure who you played for when. I don’t regard that as something worth striving for , especially with the Bundisliga becoming an ever more attractive league.
Are Spain still the team to beat, or do you think they had their best years over EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup ? Spain have steadily come on, little by little, step by step. We all thought the process would end at some point and they’d have had their fill. But over and over again, they’re treating it as a massive challenge to shift up yet another gear . And Spanish youth development hasn’t stood still either.
What do you think of the suggestion from some quarters that Spain and Germany could dominated world football for years to come ? Statements like that are totally disrespectful to other nations. The other countries could explode at any time. At this level, nuances generally make the difference between victory and defeat.
Many fans would like to see Oliver Kahn return to Bayern as a member of the management team . what’s your message to them ? I Have so many other activities at the moment, so I’m looking for a way back into football. There are other things and challenges away from the game. But obviously , I remain an interested observer of the club.