IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE I'M A RISK-TAKER - PAUL POGBA BALLON D'OR - FIFA.com
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ISSUE 54, 31 OCTOBER 2014 ENGLISH EDITION
Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904
TROMSO
IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE PAUL POGBA BALLON D’OR RUSSIA 2018
I’M A WHO ARE THE WORLD CUP
RISK-TAKER FRONT-RUNNERS? EMBLEM UNVEILED
W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
6
Arctic ambitions North and South America
In the Norwegian city of Tromso, 344 kilometres Central America 10 members
inside the Arctic Circle, the harsh weather 35 members www.conmebol.com
conditions are not always an impediment to www.concacaf.com
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.
15 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.
23 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.” 14 Manchester United
Manager Louis van Gaal’s
philosophy is beginning to
37 Christian Gimenez
He once played for Boca Juniors alongside
Diego Maradona, but the Argentinian had
take root.
to travel to distant Switzerland to experience
the decisive moment in his career.
26 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.
Eivind H. Natvig / MOMENT / INSTITUTE
The number of teams taking part in the final competition has Qualified Qualified
been fixed at 24, to be apportioned among the confederations Costa Rica Brazil
as follows: Mexico Colombia
AFC: 5 Teams, CAF: 3 Teams, CONCACAF: 3,5 Teams*, USA
CONMEBOL: 2,5 Teams*, OFC: 1 Team, UEFA: 8 Teams,
Getty Images (3), FIFA
Host: Canada Play-off (Second Leg) 2 December 2014 Play-off (First Leg) 8 November 2014
Trinidad and Tobago – Ecuador Ecuador – Trinidad and Tobago
*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. Canada (Host)
2 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
Europe Africa Asia Oceania
54 members 54 members 46 members 11 members
www.uefa.com www.cafonline.com www.the-afc.com www.oceaniafootball.com
25 Russia
How the new World Cup emblem allowed
Moscow to shine at the Bolshoi Theatre.
18 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 Qualified Qualified Qualified
Germany Côte d’Ivoire Australia New Zealand
England Cameroon China PR
France Nigeria Japan
Norway Korea Republic
Sweden Thailand
Switzerland
Spain
+ Playoff Winner
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 3
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
J
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 corre-
spondent 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
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 host-
ing 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.”
Eivind H. Natvig / Moment / Institute
T
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
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 5
TROMSO 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 6 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
TROMSO T H E F I FA W E E K LY 7
TROMSO
Matchday in Tromso Home fans at the Alfheim Stadion.
L
ate on Sunday afternoon, Didier
Drogba scores a goal. It is a strike
including the world’s northernmost cathedral,
university and brewery. Now the place where The pitch nestles in a
typical of the Ivorian, headed with
full force from the near post, and is
sides like Chelsea and Galatasaray were once
defeated is again home to the northernmost residential area among
promptly replayed from every con-
ceivable angle on three huge televi-
top-flight football team in the world.
colourful wooden
sion screens – but nobody is Snow in June
watching. There is similarly little
interest in Angel di Maria’s sprints,
Tromso is located 344 kilometres within the
Arctic Circle, on a similar latitude to Barrow
houses.
Oscar’s tricks or Eden Hazard’s in northern Alaska and the Russian Polar Sea
dribbling skills. At Roger’s, perhaps port of Murmansk. Its Alfheim Stadion is the the shortest trip – 800 kilometres as the crow
the most northerly sports bar on most northerly stadium ever to have staged flies – while promotion rivals Fredrikstad
the planet, the world’s best footballers are batt- European games, but last year the continent’s faced a 1,300 kilometre trek to play their de-
ling it out in a top English Premier League en- leading sides were nowhere to be seen. In- cisive league clash.
counter between Chelsea and Manchester Uni- stead, the arena hosted Barum, Mjondalen Coach Steinar Nilsen was under significant
ted. But who cares about Di Maria, Oscar and and Ranheim from the first division – the sec- pressure when the first division season began
Hazard when Benny Lekstrom, Hans Norbye ond tier of Norway’s league system after the back in April, and although his budget was
and Jonas Johansen are all right here? Tippeligaen – after TIL were relegated last drastically lowered when Tromso were relegat-
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, 29-year-old season. Their demotion made life considera- ed, his targets were not. “The same thing hap-
Eivind H. Natvig / MOMENT / INSTITUTE
defender Johansen scored the winning goal bly easier for their traditional rivals, as al- pened to Mourinho once,” Nilsen said. “His
against Fredrikstad Fotballklubb to fire his though the Gulf Stream gives Tromso a com- transfer budget was halved and yet they still
team back into Norway’s top flight. Fans are paratively mild climate, it does occasionally told him he had to win the league.” Nilsen once
now singing “Tromso, Tromso!’ and ”Heia TIL!“ snow here in June. These problematic climate played for AC Milan and Napoli in Serie A, and
(”Go TIL!”) up on the stage at Roger’s, while the conditions mean that matches at the Alfheim captained the Tromso side that beat Chelsea
celebrations continue outside in the Stortorget, have been played on a heated artificial pitch 3-2 in the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. Up in
the central square in Arctic Norway’s largest since 2006. In addition to weather considera- the Alfheim Stadion’s VIP boxes hangs a
settlement. Tromso is the city where practical- tions, most visiting sides face an arduous framed picture showing Chelsea’s Italian star
ly everything is the most northerly of its kind, journey to northern Norway. Rosenborg have Gianluca Vialli battling through an Arctic
8 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
TROMSO
Poised for victory Supporters in the stands eagerly anticipate promotion.
lizzard. The club’s director of football, Svein
b an abundant landscape that includes reindeer the Storsteinen, which stands 421 metres above
Morten Johansen, was part of the side that grazing, uninhabited rocky islets and mountain the North Atlantic. Its commanding views in-
faced Vialli and his team-mates that night, as peaks. All of this is surrounded by archipelagos, clude the pointed outline of the Arctic Cathe-
he recalled: “They complained about the snow, fjords and the Lyngen Alps, with peaks reaching dral, whose unconventional architecture evokes
but only after we took a 2-0 lead.” almost 2,000 metres in places. images of ice, darkness and the aurora borealis.
Although these are certainly happy memo- The best way to take in this remarkable Stretching out behind this is the 1,300-metre
ries, they are of little help when it comes to the panorama is to climb Tromso’s local mountain, long bridge that has connected the island with
club’s current financial position. Tromso em- the mainland since 1960. Climbing steeply up-
ploy just seven staff and are grateful for the ward on each side with a kink in the centre, the
help provided by their various volunteers. structure is vaguely reminiscent of a ski jump
“Times are tough; we’ve got to bring Norwegian Blatter visits when viewed from the port. These port build-
football back to its roots,” Johansen admitted, ings draw the eye from the bridge to the city
explaining that this means investing in youth,
Nobel Peace Center centre, beyond which the Alfheim Stadion is
“like the Belgians and Swiss have done. And FIFA President Blatter visited the Nobel Peace recognisable on a clear day.
look at the progress the Icelandics have made – Center in Oslo, Norway to promote and share The pitch that brought Chelsea and Gal-
sensational! Why shouldn’t we do the same. the successful implementation of the Handshake atasaray to their knees is nestled in a residen-
There are more people living in Arctic Norway for Peace during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. tial area among colourful wooden houses. The
than in all of Iceland.” Blatter joined Director of the Nobel Peace floodlights flickered into life at least an hour
Center Bente Erichsen and Norwegian Football before TIL’s last home match of the season
Floodlights at noon Association (Norges Fotballforbund, NFF) Presi- against close title rivals Fredrikstad, at around
72,000 people live in Tromso, and every year dent Yngve Hallen for a press conference. “The midday. Once the players returned to their
this total grows by 1,000 – a unique feat in the Handshake for Peace is more than just to speak dressing rooms after warming up, the artificial
isolated North. The city is one of the world’s about peace,” commented Blatter. “It is to bring turf was watered, highlighting the creases at
largest by area, more than twice the size of New people together, to connect people. The cooper- its edges. A white wooden house bearing an
York City at 2,588 square kilometres, but only a ation we have with you and your organisation, advertisement for the local savings bank
fraction of this space has been built upon. The Handshake for Peace, is a confirmation of what stands behind one goal while a temporary
city’s limits also encompass the island of Trom- we are doing together.” structure serving as a family stand is posi-
soya, the mainland district of Tromsdalen and tioned behind the other. Exactly 23 fans were
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 9
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. Be-
tween 21 November and 21 January, Tromso lies
entirely shrouded in darkness, with a small
strip at the horizon providing the only remind-
er that daylight will one day return.
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
Benny Lekstrom, goalkeeper Hans Norbye, defender the match was later dubbed an “explosion of
passion” by local newspaper Nordlys. Jonas Jo-
hansen became TIL’s promotion hero by skil-
fully 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.
Jonas Johansen, midfielder Miika Koppinen, centre-back
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. Never-
theless, he also appreciates the effort and
daily work required on the pitch to maintain
such a level. Born in Tromso, the former de-
fender has consistently returned to his birth-
place, 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 fam-
ily stand, where the lack of numbers some-
what limited the amount of vocal support
Krysspress / Facebook
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
Zdenek Ondrasek, striker Lasse Nielsen, defender of mounting a last-gasp challenge for promo-
10 T H E F I FA W E E K LYTROMSO
We did it Still out on the pitch and looking forward to a Tippeligaen future.
tion. To safeguard his team’s lofty league po- while the players bravely defied the Arctic torget outside Roger’s, the heroes celebrated
sition, Steinar Nilsen then prescribed some conditions by completing a shirtless lap of on stage. Miika Koppinen was presented
less than state-of-the-art tactics, setting up honour. with a red-and-while TIL shirt with ’300’
his side in what can only be described as a Later that same day, at the promotion printed on the back, before the master of cer-
“back seven”. Benny Lekstrom, the northern party in the now completely darkened Stor- emonies broke into a humorous song, one of
Norwegian club’s Swedish goalkeeper, was
troubled by only a single shot on goal and
parried it clear despite having spent 90 min-
utes as a virtual spectator, leaving him more
vulnerable to the unpleasant cold than the
Daylight in Tromso over the course of a year
Daytime
opposition. Lekstrom hails from Stockholm 24
and, along with Finn Miika Koppinen and 22
Zdenek Ondrasek from the Czech Republic, Tromso 20
18
makes up the international contingent in a 16
team otherwise entirely composed of Norwe- 14 End of October: around
gians – another factor that sets Tromso apart 12 7 hours of daylight
Arctic Circle
in 21st century professional football. 10
8
6
Mayor and compere rolled into one 4
For Koppinen, promotion is not the only rea- 2
son this day is special. The 1-0 win over Fre- 0
y
ry
rch
il
y
e
y
Oc r
De r
ber
ust
No r
e
be
drikstad also marked his 300th appearance
Ma
e
Jul
uar
Jun
Apr
rua
mb
tob
Ma
vem
cem
Aug
Jan
Feb
pte
Se
for Tromso, deservedly making him the long-
tnt-graphics (Infografik)
Tromso Tromso
est-serving player at the club. He was hearti-
ly applauded for this achievement inside the
stadium, where fans with red-and-white pa-
per streamers and colourful pyrotechnics cel- Winter Summer
ebrated their team’s return to the Tippeligaen
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 11TROMSO
T
he biggest party in Tromso IL’s history was
Limited visibility
Tromso against Chelsea actually a rather small-scale affair, with
in October 1997 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 ex-
pressed 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 fore-
casts severe enough to warrant a change of ven-
ue, so the first leg of the teams’ European Cup
Winners’ Cup last sixteen tie went ahead in Trom-
so as scheduled. However, very little else went
according to plan that evening.
“We couldn’t recognise
each other anymore.”
Gianfranco Zola, Chelsea
Back then Chelsea were not the continental
heavyweights they are today, but were neverthe-
less 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 Rob-
erto Di Matteo, and won the FA Cup in 1996. In
the first round of subsequent European matches
Chelsea comfortably eased past Slovan Bratisla-
Football in a snowstorm
Tromso beat Chelsea 3-2 in their European Cup Winners’ Cup
va with two victories. Nobody was seriously ex-
pecting 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.
match in October 1997. An irate Chelsea coach Ruud Gullit Yet upon disembarking the plane, Gullit
and his players sensed the trip was not going
injured his foot after lashing out in frustration. to be as straight-forward as they had imagined.
Sven Goldmann Snow blew in their faces and the temperature
was below freezing, a fact which made the de-
Extreme conditions
Chelsea were unable to cision of half the Chelsea team to contest the
mount a comeback match in short-sleeved shirts all the more as-
against the Norwegians. tonishing. “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 Chel-
sea were completely disoriented. Within minutes
of the kick-off Tromso’s current coach Steinar
Nilsen put the hosts ahead with a 30-yard drive.
Gary M. Priore / Allsport (2)
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.
12 T H E F I FA W E E K LYTROMSO
A blizzard descended on the Alfheim Stadi-
on and when the players returned for the sec-
ond 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. Conse-
quently, 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.” Whatever the weather Promotion back to the top flight deserves a proper party.
Despite their canary-yellow shirts, the Chel-
sea players were almost indistinguishable
among the drifts of snow and Gullit’s efforts to
persuade Polish referee Jacek Granat to aban-
don 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 short-
ly afterwards Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf
was forced off the pitch with injury. Yet before
his replacement could be brought on, Ole Mar-
tin 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 Here’s to the fans Hot-blooded support is a must in the Arctic Circle cold.
of the pitch, only to injure his foot on painfully
discovering the sphere was in fact made of con-
crete. In the final minute Vialli grabbed a sec-
ond goal for the visitors but it was not enough
to prevent a 3-2 defeat. Afterwards Gullit lam-
many performed on the night. Tromso’s
goalscoring hero Jonas Johansen improvised “We need Europe!”
basted the encounter as “a farce that had noth- part of the melody of Frankie Valli’s now Jens Johan Hjort
ing to do with football”. 50-year-old hit “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”,
Chelsea successfully exacted revenge a fort- his joy about the goal and promotion to the
night later in the return at Stamford Bridge with top flight evident to any passer by. Kitted out is the boss!” Hjort believes his approach is
a 7-1 thrashing in which Vialli netted a hat-trick, in jeans, an enormous silver and gold chain entirely appropriate, given that “Tromso is
leading Gullit to comment that “today you saw the and a red club cap, the MC hugged all of the world-renowned for two things: our beer and
real Chelsea and the real difference between the players, bouncing around the stage more ex- our football.”
teams.” Chelsea progressed to the final in Stock- uberantly than any of the fans down below Hjort once served as TIL’s president, he ex-
holm where they beat Stuttgart 1-0, although on the Stortorget. When asked to name this plains: “Did you know my first match in charge
Gullit was no longer involved: he had been dis- boisterous figure, TIL director of football Jo- was the one against Chelsea?” Back then, the
missed a few months earlier and replaced by an- hansen simply replied: “That’s the mayor.” pitch was not synthetic, Johansen got an elbow
other player-manager, his friend Vialli. On closer inspection, the huge gilded to the face from Luca Vialli and Steinar Nilsen
Zola grabbed the winning goal, but even in chain turned out to be the symbol of office for scored a goal that still circulates on the inter-
Stockholm the shadow of Tromso still loomed. the city of Tromso, while a conversation with net to this day. The mayor believes the club’s
Zola had only entered the fray shortly before the energetic master of ceremonies reveals past glories should serve as an inspiration for
scoring, having replaced Norwegian forward him to be Jens Johan Hjort, the city’s ’first the future and that Tromso should never forget
Tore-Andre Flo, who joined the club from Trom- citizen’. Hjort explained that it is both his that “the world’s greatest footballers cannot
so the previous year. duty as mayor and a great pleasure to oversee only be seen on television but also here in our
the promotion celebrations. “Do you know stadium. To do that, we need the resources that
what? When I’m on foreign trips and I’m come from European games. We need Europe!”
asked about Tromso, the first thing people ask Manchester United’s match against Chelsea
is, ’Isn’t that the city with the football club continues to flicker across the screens in what
that once beat Chelsea?’” He then placed a is probably the world’s northernmost sports
Krysspress (2)
jester’s hat on midfielder Hans Norbye’s head bar. But again, who needs Di Maria, Oscar and
before continuing his official duties by intro- Hazard when Benny Lekstrom, Hans Norbye
ducing the club’s coach and singing: “Steinar and Jonas Johansen are right here? Å
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 13TALK ING POIN T S
O N T H E I N S I D E
English Premier League United’s back line remains a mess, but new Instead of taking offence, the English press
recruits Angel di Maria and Daley Blind are as a whole seemed delighted by the chal-
The mood bedding in and against Chelsea, Van Gaal lenge laid down and have been treating the
coaxed a terrific performance from last Dutch master with respect and even affec-
h a s c h a n ge d season’s misfit Marouane Fellaini, whose tion. His press conferences are entertain-
header led to Robin van Persie’s late equalis- ments in themselves, in which he delights
David Winner is a London-based er. Moreover United, befuddled last year by his interlocutors by giving candid assess-
author and journalist. His books the tactical confusions of David Moyes, are ments of his team’s failings while exuding
on football include ’Brilliant beginning to produce the kind of coherent total confidence that his ’philosophy’, his
Orange’ and ’Dennis Bergkamp: patterns and movement that are Van Gaal’s version of Dutch total football, will soon
Stillness and Speed’. trademark. yield results. Most people believe him. Van
Gaal’s team actually has fewer points now
Louis van Gaal is beginning to work his Earlier this summer the former Ajax, Barce- than that of Moyes at the same stage last
distinctive magic on Manchester United. lona, Netherlands and Bayern Munich boss season. But the mood has changed. Momen-
After a dismal start to the season, his team seemed set to make an enemy of the English tum is all. United may indeed be on the way
battled well to salvage a draw against a press. He has never suffered fools gladly, back to being formidable. Å
superior Chelsea side on Sunday and there- and proved this when accosted by a BBC
by set up an intriguing derby this weekend radio reporter just before winning the Old
against Manchester City. Manuel Trafford job. “Just tell us about Manchester
Pellegrini’s City, meanwhile, seem to be United,” said the journalist. “What do you
sleep-walking through their title defence know about them?” Van Gaal cast the man a
and lost again last time out, this time to withering look and responded: “That’s a
West Ham United. stupid question.”
Michael Regan / Getty Images
In the groove
Manchester
United manager
Louis Van Gaal.
14 T H E F I FA W E E K LYKazakhstan Premier League Last season’s league runners-up refused to be verge of domestic glory. The present side’s
distracted by the conditions and won 2-0 historical namesake lifted the trophy in 2006
A s t a n a’s s e a r c h thanks to a brace from Bulgarian striker and and were a historic club that belonged to the
former Bayer Leverkusen player Atanas Kazakhstan Premier League after the fall of
fo r a t it l e Kurdov. Two rounds before the end of the the Soviet Union in 1992. The team have been
Championship schedule, Astana are in top playing in the lower divisions under the name
Nicola Berger writes about spot and in control of their own fate. Their Astana-64 since going bankrupt in 2009.
football and lives in Zurich. lead over the only chasing side, Kairat Al-
maty, might be only one point, but they have Five years ago, the now dominant Astana
Ingenuity is often the greatest the chance to increase that margin if they were founded from the merger of the Al-
path to success when it comes can win their game in hand against defending ma-Ata and Megasport teams. Like KHL ice
to football in Kazakhstan. champions Aktobe. hockey team Barys and cycling’s Astana
When Kokshetau hosted Kyran Shymkent in Racing Team, the club is part of the Astana
Sunday’s top second-division fixture, the It would be a surprise if Astana were to slip Presidential Sports Club, created by presi-
home side ran out wearing hats. It certainly up now. Former Bulgaria coach Stanimir dent Nursultan Nasarbayev with the aim of
looked a little odd, but what choice do you Stoilov has had his team performing superbly improving the country’s image.
have when the temperature outside is double in recent weeks and with the best attack and
digits below freezing? The hats turned out to most stable defence in the league, they have This clumsy name hardly rolls off the
be a lucky charm. The home side won 3-1 and dominated opponents week after week. Kairat tongue, but tongue twisters are just as much
are now in pole position for promotion to were dispatched 5-1 at the modern, $185 a part of Kazakhstan as the cold weather.
Kazakhstan’s top flight. million Astana Arena, built in 2009, while After all, the name of the capital has
Aktobe were destroyed by a six goals to one changed three times in the last 55 years.
The country’s Premier League teams scarcely scoreline at the start of October. Akmolinsk became Tselinograd in 1961, and
have it any easier when it comes to the by 1992 it was called Akmola. Astana has
weather. After playing Villarreal in a Europa As a result Astana’s search for a title could well had its name since 1998. Å
League play-off, Astana will have wanted to come to an end this season. A league victory
return to the balmier temperatures of Spain this year would be the club’s first ever title, and
when they played Shakhter Karagandy on one the capital has been waiting for since 2006.
Sunday. The reason? The ten centimetres of Back then, a side called Astana also triumphed,
snow on the pitch. but they have no connection to the side on the
Snowy
conditions
FC Astana
Astana (in yellow)
beat Shakhter
Karagandy 2-0.
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 15Connecting every fan
of the game
Make new friends and discover shared passions
in the Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge.
#AllTimeGreats Hello Tomorrow
youtube.com/emiratesIN BRIEF
T
he 90 minutes – or more, as is usually the case – that a coach spends on the touchline can occasionally be pleasant, particularly when the weath-
er 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
S A
ao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni is a man accustomed to break- ndriy Shevchenko always had a trick up his sleeve. The former
ing records. His side’s 3-0 triumph over Goias meant the 41-year- star striker used to captivate Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan and Chel-
old Brazilian became the first player to register 590 victories with sea fans every time he worked his magic with the ball, but the
a club as a professional, surpassing the achievements of legendary world has only recently become aware of the Ukrainian’s flair for
Welshman Ryan Giggs, who won 589 matches with record English pickpocketing. The makers of the European Football Show on Brit-
champions Manchester United. The custodian, who has donned his ish TV channel BT Sport recently unearthed a video in which the
gloves for Sao Paulo since 1992, is set to retire to the end of the footballer pinches a Ukrainian journalist’s wallet before returning
season and will do so having set several other all-time bests, includ- it to his puzzled interrogator at the end of a short interview. When
ing the most appearances for a single club (1173) and the most as asked about the clip, studio guest Shevchenko simply shrugged his
team captain (867). Furthermore, the set-piece specialist has so far shoulders and said: “Growing up in Ukraine, you learn a lot of
scored 123 goals, a feat no other goalkeeper has ever accomplished. things. It’s one of the skills.” Without a hint of embarrassment, the
By way of comparison, nimble-footed winger Giggs scored 168 goals 38-year-old then showed off his abilities once again, interrupting
in his career. However, Ceni was not overly enthusiastic to have the show’s host James Richardson to ask “Has anyone got a few
reached his latest milestone: “When you get that far it also means pounds? I’ve got to get home,” before producing the presenter’s
that you’re getting old.” Å wallet as he searched for it. Å
imago
Tim Pfeifer Sarah Steiner
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 17THE 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 I always set myself new objectives and new Which qualities and failings steered you
Player award from the 2014 World Cup as challenges. That’s what makes me progress towards the position you now play in?
proof you are on the right track? and I need to keep that mentality. I sometimes take risks that I shouldn’t.
Paul Pogba: This is the path I need to I also need to be able to manage my game
follow in any case. Football is all about Has the World Cup changed you? over the full 90 minutes. I mustn’t play solely
consistency. You can get to the summit very I’ve grown up and lived a childhood by instinct. Those are the things I have to pay
quickly and drop back down again just as dream. The loss to Germany reinforced my attention to in my position, because it’s in
quickly. This award is a very good thing to desire to win a title with this France team, midfield that you control the play, get the
have, but I need to keep progressing and with my country. most touches on the ball and where you can
perform well in every game. I can’t predict change the rhythm of a match. We’re the
the future, but I’ll do everything I can to win Does knowing you have so much responsibility engine of the team to an extent and we can’t
many more trophies. I’ll continue working in your position at the age of 21 influence your afford to fall short.
hard. My goal is to be the best player in way of playing?
the world. To be the best, you need pressure. At the Is there a side to your personality that people
moment, players like Cristiano Ronaldo and don’t know about?
You have joined a select group of players Lionel Messi are always under pressure. The people who know me know I’m
to win this prize, including Michael Owen, Sometimes you see they’re not happy even someone who likes to laugh, make jokes and
Thomas Muller, Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. when they score a goal. It’s that attitude get the most out of life. We have a great life
What does it mean to you to see your name which allows you to raise the level of your and a wonderful job. We’re able to walk,
alongside such greats? game and your ambition. and eat and drink to our heart’s content,
It’s not that I don’t feel like I belong in which isn’t the case for everyone. We can’t
the same category – it’s just that I want to be The France team has plenty of room for complain. I’m just happy and content with
even better than them (smiles). That’s one of improvement. Can they win EURO 2016 in everything that happens to me. Å
my goals and winning this prize allows me their own country?
to take another step. I hope we’ll be at our best in two years. Paul Pogba was speaking to
Right now, we have a good dynamic. We’re Pascal De Miramon
Who do you see as currently better than you progressing well and we need to continue in
in your position? this direction. For now, we’ve managed to
I think there are lots of players still better earn our place back in the hearts of the
than me, but it’s not up to me to worry about French public, and that will help us a lot.
this sort of comparison. There are lots of
midfielders I admire; Yaya Toure for example, What kind of relationship do you have with
who has a similar size and physique to me but national coach Didier Deschamps?
more experience. We have more or less the I’ve made great progress with him. Didier
same playing style, even if he’s a bit more Deschamps knows me very well and knows
attacking than me. how to manage me. He helps me improve
every day, in training and in matches. He
Do you sometimes wish you could press stokes my desire to give my best. He always
‘pause’ and savour where your career has gives me good advice and he’s very honest
already taken you? with me. As a player, you really appreciate
No, on the contrary. I’m able to savour it trust and encouragement from your coach.
by winning awards like this one and winning What he tells me most is to “stay focused
trophies. That’s the way I am: I always want and keep things simple”, the way he used
more. I’m a winner and I don’t like to lose. to do so well (smiles).
18 T H E F I FA W E E K LYName
Paul Labile Pogba
Date and place of birth
15 March 1993,
Lagny-sur-Marne
Clubs
2007 – 2009 Le Havre
2011 – 2012 Manchester United
since 2012 Juventus
Max Vadukul / AUGUST
France national team
20 caps, 5 goals
Major honours
Two-time Italian champion
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 1920 T H E F I FA W E E K LY
First Love
Place: Cartagena, Colombia
Date: 5 May 2007
Time: 5.55 p.m.
Peter Dench Reportage / Getty Images T H E F I FA W E E K LY 21XX. 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 Unfortunately, the logo is very close to the
red birds getting ready to fly off into the skies, one of the World Cup in Brazil. I was hoping
or like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. for something different, something new. After
Vanzany, Malta 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 Close to the
unveiling very impatiently. I think it’s great,
Russian heart
because it’s a good fit to Russia and heralds a
new era – although I have to say my expecta- Can’t wait for the
W
tions were fulfilled in that it continues a well- e celebrated the kick-off of the 2018 World
known theme. But that’s good too.
crishelvet, Switzerland World Cup in Russia! Cup in Moscow this week with the pres-
entation of the Official Emblem. In my
opinion the logo embodies Russia’s heart and
The 2018 official emblem looks fantastic!
And I really like the way it’s so colourful!
The countdown has soul, and the overall design symbolises Russia
as a major space power. This is why the unveil-
297104, USA
The unveiling of the logo for the World Cup
begun. ing of the emblem by three cosmonauts on
board the International Space Station was such
a wonderful piece of staging. It was a galactic
in Russia from space was so cool. I think it moment as football conquered the cosmos!
was a really great idea, it’s new and in keeping I strongly sense that hosting the World Cup
with the times. is a matter close to the Russian heart and that
leo_jenny10, Pakistan I really liked the presentation in the Inter the people are determined to use the opportu-
national Space Station! It was very funny and nity to present the nation as welcoming and
That’s pretty neat and the colour combina special. The emblem isn’t completely to my open. Reconstruction of the Luzhniki Stadium,
tion is fantastic! I can’t wait till 2018! Since liking because the colours are a bit too garish the venue for the opening match and the Final,
the World Cup longing stays with all the for me, but I basically like the design a lot. is proceeding at full speed, and preparatory
football fans till the next World Cup finally silvio85, Portugal work at the other 11 stadiums is right on sched-
begins! I keep my fingers crossed, that ule. Head of state Vladimir Putin has guaran-
Germany will win again! There really are no limits if you love foot teed this as president of the World Cup Super-
crazy_4_FCBM, India ball! The logo is a great fit to the next World visory Board. He personally assured me and
Cup, because it combines the goal of winning FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke of this
Can’t wait for the World Cup in Russia in the trophy with Russia’s tremendous passion at the board’s official meeting.
2018!! The countdown has begun. for football. For this reason alone, threats of a boycott
mari_5600, England flieder_sunflower77, Germany 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 ef-
fected through dialogue and communication.
Russia deserves a fair chance, and I am
convinced the nation will take this chance.
Do svidaniya!
The colour combination in the new
logo is fantastic!
The emblem unveiled in space (video):
http://tinyurl.com/n56czvr Best wishes, Sepp Blatter
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 23Developing 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 Build a better future
FIFA’s primary objective is to develop the game of football Football is much more than just a game. Its universal appeal
in our 209 member associations. The FIFA World Cup™ gives gives it a unique power and reach which must be managed
us the resources we need to invest USD 550,000 per day in carefully. FIFA believes it has a duty to society that goes
football development across the globe. beyond football.
Touch the world
FIFA’s aim is to touch the world through its international
football competitions and events, uniting and inspiring
people everywhere.
FIFA.comR 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.”
FIFA President Blatter
LOC
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 25BALL 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.
Alan Schweingruber and Perikles Monioudis
A
trip to Zurich is worthwhile any time of the Kongresshaus on the banks of Lake Zurich media representatives) view Portugal’s medio-
year, but especially so around the will house some of the biggest names in world cre display at the World Cup in Brazil? The same
Christmas period when snow flutters in football for the night. goes for Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta, who
the air and festive lights hang in the It will without doubt be an enthralling had a disappointing tournament with Spain.
streets. Visitors with time to spontane- event, and the 2014 World Cup will have a major The same cannot be said for Manuel Neuer,
ously extend their visit to Switzerland’s influence on proceedings. Cristiano Ronaldo, who kept Germany in the competition in June
largest city can even witness the fireworks dis- the current Ballon d’Or holder, has been in and went on to win the title. He is widely con-
play at the end of the year. With so much to see a stonishing form for Real Madrid, scoring
sidered to be the best goalkeeper in the world
and do, surely nobody would still be thinking 16 goals in the first nine league games this sea- and would be the first custodian to beat an out-
about football? son. Furthermore, the Portuguese attacker field player to the award. The competition is
Of course, that is a rhetorical question, as could still become the all-time highest scorer in fierce, with several big names rounding out the
any true fan always has their mind on the Champions League history this year. However, shortlist, such as four-time World Player of the
game, regardless of whether the season has how will the judging panel (captains and coach- Year Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez, who
ended or if it is a holiday period. And while es from the men’s national teams plus selected shone in Brazil. You can find a full list of the
spectators across the globe may enviously eye players and coaches nominated for the awards
England’s Premier League around Christmas in the box at the end of this article. The final
Alexander Hassenstein / FIFA via Getty Images
time, when fixtures are traditionally held on
Boxing Day, they at least have the consolation
that another special occasion is just around the
How much of an three-candidate shortlists for each prize will be
announced on 1 December.
corner: the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014.
On the evening of 12 January 2015, FIFA
influence will the Abby Wambach returns
In the women’s awards, the top three contend-
and the magazine France Football will honour
the world’s best male and female players, as
well as the best coaches. Among others, there
World Cup have ers 12 months ago are once again in the run-
ning for this year’s Ballon d’Or: 2013 winner
Nadine Angerer, Abby Wambach and Marta. In
are also prizes for the best goal of the year, the
Puskas Award, and a Fair Play Award. Indeed,
on the vote? 2014 Angerer won the Algarve Cup for the sec-
ond time with Germany, after doing so in 2006,
26 T H E F I FA W E E K LYBALL 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 cer-
emony 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 Wam-
bach, 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 lon-
gevity is impressive: after first winning the
honour in 2006, Marta, renowned for her leg-
endary 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 cham-
pionship and was also outstanding for the na-
tional team. The playmaker, who has won the
French league title seven times and the Champi-
ons League twice, is now well on her way to seal-
ing a place as one of the world’s finest players. Women’s shortlist
Lotta Schelin, her team-mate at club level, has In the Top 10: Louisa Necib (France and Olympique Lyon),
already reached that level etc . The Swede, short- Aya Miyama (Japan and Okayama Yunogo Belle), Lotta Schelin (Sweden and Olympique Lyon).
listed for the Women’s World Player of the Year
Marta, Wambach
and Angerer face
serious competition
this time around.
award for the third time, made a significant con-
tribution 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 rep-
resentatives on the ten-player shortlist: Nahomi
Kawasumi, who caused a sensation with her
goals in the USA, and national team captain Aya
imago (4), Getty Images (2)
Miyama. Spain striker Veronica Boquete and
Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler have also
been nominated. The former was voted Player of Men’s shortlist
the Year by fans in the USA’s National Women’s The competition is also fierce among the 23 men’s candidates: Angel Di Maria (Argentina and Manchester
Soccer League and also helped her country reach United), Karim Benzema (France and Real Madrid), James Rodriguez (Colombia and Real Madrid).
the finals of a World Cup for the first time ever.
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 27BALL 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), World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football
Abby Wambach (USA)
Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan U-17 team), Laura Harvey (Seattle Reign FC),
FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Peter Dedevbo (Nigeria U-20 team).
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)
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 /
imago, Getty Images (5)
Atlético Madrid), Louis van Gaal (Netherlands /
Netherlands national team / Manchester United FC)
World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football
To view profiles of all the candidates and for more Diego Simeone (front) led Atletico Madrid to the Spanish league title, and is joined on the shortlist by
information about the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 visit: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea) and Louis van Gaal (Netherlands and Manchester United).
http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/index.html
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 29MIRROR IMAGE
T H E N
Duisburg, Germany
1981
A pulse check for 33-year-old Bernard Dietz in his final year as a Germany international.
imago
30 T H E F I FA W E E K LYMIRROR IMAGE
N O W
Teresopolis, Brazil
2014
A medical for 30-year-old Dante shortly before the World Cup on home soil.
Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 31Football is a
brotherhood. It’s peace.
Oscar Arias
Nobel Peace Laureate
© 2014 Visa. All rights reserved.FREE KICK F I F A ’ S 11
World Cups with
the most newcomers
since 1950
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
Every dog
4 World Cup newcomers
France 1998
Best newcomer: Croatia
has its day
4 World Cup newcomers
Germany 1974
Best newcomer: German DR
6 3 World Cup newcomers
USA 1994
Best newcomers:
Saudi Arabia, Nigeria
Tim Pfeifer
3 World Cup newcomers
“E ven a wise man will grow attached to a
dog when he is well bred,” the famous
poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once
Given his side’s triumph, Dudu was quick to
forgive his attacker and posted a picture of
himself with the dog on Twitter, accompanied
Italy 1990
Best newcomer: Republic of Ireland
said. That much proved to be true in Argentina by the comment “lucky bite”. Sao Paulo fans 3 World Cup newcomers
in a recent league match between Club Atletico will now be hoping that Mandai and his team- Mexico 1986
Belgrano and Quilmes Atletico Club when a mates play with plenty more bite of their own Best newcomer: Denmark
black dog ran on to the pitch near the end of in the next round. Å
the first half and headed towards Leonel Bon- 3 World Cup newcomers
tempo. The home team’s left-back took the Mexico 1970
pitch invasion in his stride and petted the un- Best newcomers:
invited guest, much to its delight, before the El Salvador, Israel, Morocco
dog obliging left the field in the arms of mid-
fielder Jonathan Zacaria. 3 World Cup newcomers
By way of contrast, the stray that entered Sweden 1958
the pitch a few days later in a Brazilian region- Best newcomers:
al cup game between Sao Paulo RS and Far- Northern Ireland, Soviet Union, Wales
roupilha was considerably less amenable and
merely ran around aimlessly between the play- 3 World Cup newcomers
ers. With hosts Sao Paulo 2-1 down at the time, Switzerland 1954
midfielder Eduardo Mandai seized the initia- Best newcomer: Turkey
tive 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 displeas-
ure 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 Source: FIFA
into the top corner to give Sao Paulo a 3-2 vic- The weekly column by our staff (FIFA Documentation, Statistical Kit,
tory and a place in the semi-finals. writers Milestones & Superlatives, 29.09.2014)
T H E F I FA W E E K LY 33You can also read
