Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2017 i World Soccer

“As the plane lost height there was only silence” ANDY WOODWARD Former Crewe Alexandra defender who waived his right to anonymity and revealed that he had been sexually abused by a football coach as a child, an action that lead to more than 350 people alleging that they too were victims, with 98 English clubs linked to the allegations. ORLANDO CITY In a tribute to the 49 people killed in June’s shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the MLS club have installed seats in their new stadium which are designed in the Rainbow flag to represent the LGBT community. ATLETICO NACIONAL The Colombian club asked for Chapecoense to be awarded the Sudamericana Cup following the plane crash that killed 71 people, including 19 of the Brazilian side’s players and…

THE INSIDER Infantino’s 48-team problem Sometimes, it’s as if FIFA does not even want to help itself; as if once someone has their foot through the front door in Zurich, the drawbridge is pulled up and outsiders’ creativity is ignored. The issue has been aroused yet again in the wake of the confusion over how the world federation and its president, Gianni Infantino, intend to formulate an expansion of the World Cup finals. A host of arguments exist about why the World Cup should not merely be held at 32 teams but reduced in size, never mind expanded to 40 or 42 or 48. But those arguments are about the quality of the football rather than, sadly, about money and votes. So, if expansion is around the corner, once Qatar…

THE VOICE OF FOOTBALL The problem with Pep Pep Guardiola is an enigma. Those who defend him insist that, despite the failings and odd inconsistency of his Manchester City team – who are still, remember, in contention for the European Champions Cup – he has the plan to turn his team’s fortunes around and astonish us all. Which immediately poses the question of why he should have taken command of a City team so palpably in need of rebuilding, and one so heavily reliant on the opportunism of Sergio Aguero, whose sudden violent outburst against Chelsea had him sent off the field and suspended for weeks. In Kevin De Bruyne, the gifted Belgian, he has an attacker who can win any game but who has sometimes been deployed away from…

It was the 92nd minute, and Deportivo La Coruna and Real Madrid were drawing 2-2 in the Santiago Bernabeu when, high in the north stand, a chant began. “And Sergio Ramos scores a goal!” it ran. And those supporters were still singing it when Ramos did score a goal, leaping to head home the winner. Everyone ran to the corner and piled on, Marcelo standing back, alongside the mound of bodies, looking to the stands and beating his chest as if he was Tarzan. Further up the touchline, Zinedine Zidane was smiling a huge, incredulous smile. He’d only gone and done it again. A week earlier, Ramos had scored in the 90th minute to claim a draw in the Clasico against Barcelona. It had been a huge goal too, one…

1 CAN LILLE AVOID RELEGATION? It’s May 21, 2011, and Lille coach Rudi Garcia is basking in the glory of some impressive footballing achievements. Less than two weeks previously, the 47-year-old masterminded his side’s 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain to land the French Cup. Now, after a hardfought 2-2 draw with the same opponents, he has delivered Lille Olympique Sporting Club’s first French championship since 1954 with a game to spare. Lille’s side includes Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, Idrissa Gueye, Gervinho and Eden Hazard – hugely exciting talents who will all go on to play in England’s Premier League – and Garcia is rightly excited about just how far his dynamic young team can go and Lille’s overall ambitions for the future. Having posted an average home attendance of 16,426…

Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell was on the front cover of the January 1972 edition of World Soccer, but it was a Brazilian midfielder, who had played against Bell in the 1970 World Cup, that featured inside. Eric Batty penned a player portrait which noted: “When the Brazilian national squad toured Europe in the summer of 1968, they brought with them several young players who had come to the fore since the [World Cup] failure of 1966. Among them, and by repute a skilful and talented gaucher, Roberto Rivelino from Sao Paulo. “Rivelino was quick; decisive in his passing, exciting in his dribbling ability and an intelligent, constructive footballer with elegance and an instinct for creating the goal chance.” The Corinthians midfielder had been selected for that tour…

Atired and uninspiring format produced few surprises in the group stage of the Champions League as the continent’s “big beasts” had little difficulty in cruising through to the next phase. And there was little value in finishing top either, with Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all finishing second but none the worse for it when it came to the knockout draw. The exception were Paris Saint-Germain, who finished behind Arsenal and now face Barcelona. Arsenal’s reward for topping their group – for the first time since 2011 – is a meeting with Bayern. In seven of the eight groups, the two wealthiest sides went through, with the exception being Bayer Leverkusen, who triumphed at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur. That group was also the only one in which…

The skies are blue and the sun continues to shine for Major League Soccer. Commissioner Don Garber’s annual “State of the League” address has reached the point where, every year, it sounds too good to be true. New teams are added, more spectators are turning up, the net worth of each team grows, and so on. But this is not just standard marketing talk; these are real achievements. In 2017, MLS will play its 22nd season. That is remarkable when compared to its predecessor, the North American Soccer League (NASL), home of the world-famous New York Cosmos, which lasted just 17 years before it disintegrated. While MLS has been able to benefit from the straggly roots put down by the NASL, those roots have been nourished by the US Soccer…

Kashima Antlers won their eighth J.League championship with a victory over Urawa Reds on away goals in the play-off Final. It was an extraordinary comeback for Kashima, who had won the First Stage of the tournament but wound up third, 15 points behind Urawa, in the overall table. However, play-off wins away to overall runners-up Kawasaki Frontale and then Urawa earned Kashima a first league crown since their three back-to-back titles from 2007 to 2009. “I started this season with the duty to deliver a title and am delighted to have accomplished it,” said Masatada Ishii, the former defender who played for Kashima in their first-ever J.League game, in 1993, and has been with the club as a player or coach for almost all of their 18 league and cup…

Shoma Doi is not a name with which many people will be familiar. But the Japanese midfi elder is worth remembering as a pub-quiz trivia question for the future as he was the player who converted the fi rst-ever penalty awarded as a result of video technology. Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai (another name worth remembering) took the decision to award Kashima Antlers the spot-kick after reviewing video footage in the Club World Cup semi-fi nal (page 76). Rightly or wrongly, the Club World Cup does not receive extensive global coverage. Even in South America, where traditionally the competition is taken most seriously, interest was lower than normal following Atletico Nacional’s failure to reach the Final. Similarly, the progress of host team Kashima, at the expense of continental champions from Africa…

“It’s a well-known brand. But we have two teams in New York and will not have a third” To see video footage of these goals, and many more that we have selected, scan the QR code using any free QR reader that can be downloaded to your smartphone. You can also see the videos by logging on to http://po.st/XoeiL1 1 MASULUKE OSCARINE Baroka v Orlando Pirates The goalkeeper makes his way upfield as Baroka are awarded a corner in the fifth minute of added time and proceeds to score a spectacular overhead kick and earn his team a 1-1 draw in the South African league. 2 FELIPE GALLEGOS Necaxa v America Exchanges passes with Jesus Isijara, who chips a superb ball over the America defence which he then dinks past…

HOW IT WORKS Every month, journalists from each member of the European Sports Media group select their first Xl based on the best individual performances from Europe’s top competitions. For details of how each ESM member voted, visit worldsoccer.com/esm11 SEASON RANKINGS Cumulative votes through the season…

Distances are vast in South America and travel links can be awkward, especially for those clubs outside the main centres – like Chapecoense, from the small town of Chapeco in the south of Brazil, whose team was all but wiped out as their plane crashed on approach to Medellin airport in the early hours of November 29. Logistical difficulties with conventional airlines meant that Bolivia-based LaMia, in their only operational aircraft, were carrying Chapecoense up to Colombia for the first leg of the Sudamericana Cup Final against Atletico Nacional. The flight took off from Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia – as local air-traffic controller Celia Castedo pointed out, going direct to Medellin would be at the very limit of the plane’s fuel capacity, contravening safety regulations. An investigation…

News that Trinidad & Tobago changed their coach in the middle of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign should be as startling as the revelation that “rain is wet” for those who are familiar with the two-island Caribbean republic. In the last 24 years, only once has a coach managed to survive an entire World Cup campaign with the Soca Warriors – and that was when Otto Pfister’s team crashed out against Guyana in the opening round of the 2010 series before most “Trinbagonians” realised the qualifiers were even underway. Everybody knew about coach Stephen Hart’s side, though. A Trinidadian by birth, Hart has spent most of his adult life in Canada, and he might look back and wonder if he has been a victim of his own success. In…

The top-ranked team in Africa are among the list of those in the field for the finals of the 2017 African Nations Cup who have yet to win the trophy. Senegal came desperately close in 2002, when they lost on post-match penalties to Cameroon, but they have not been back to a Final since and will be hoping that a strong squad of attacking players will give them a decent crack at honours some 15 years later. Their place as the best African side in the FIFA rankings at the end of 2016 puts them among the favourites for the tournament in Gabon, although this is a competition that has a myriad of potential candidates for the winners’ podium come the first weekend of February. Half of the 2017 field…

There were five hours until kick-off yet the stadium was already packed. The only available spaces were saved for the president and his entourage. Outside, thousands of frustrated spectators searched for a means of entry before heading for one of the three fan parks set up to meet the huge demand. Inside, two of the powerhouses of African football prepared for another Final. This, though, was a West African showdown with a difference. The players were female. The climax of the 2016 Africa Women Nations Cup, the 12th edition of the competition, was the most eagerly awaited event of the year in Cameroon. The progress of Les Lionesses had stopped the nation. All that remained was for the team to defeat Nigeria’s Super Falcons and reverse the result of the…

In contrast to the same old faces in the Champions League group stage, the Europa League produced several upsets, as well as some fine performances from sides who will now have every confidence of competing with the Champions League rejects who join the knockout stage. Chief among the surprise packages were Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva, who had knocked Olympiakos out in the Champions League qualifiers and given Celtic a fright before losing 5-4 on aggregate. After winning their first Israeli title for 40 years, the team from southern Israel stunned Internazionale both home and away. First, they triumphed 2-0 at San Siro in their opening group game to record their first European win in 19 years. Then, in the return, they won 3-2 with an injury-time goal from former…

Throughout history, there have been teams that come from nowhere to enjoy a great tournament and then disappear just as quickly as they appeared. The Greece team that won Euro 2004 is a perfect example, but it also happened with Senegal and Turkey in 2002, and Bulgaria in 1994. And after the World Cup in Brazil, Costa Rica looked set to be the next “one-tournament wonder”. Having failed to even reach South Africa 2010, the Ticos had spent 24 years without advancing to the second stage of a World Cup finals before their march to the last eight in 2014. Yet after the first two rounds of the final CONCACAF qualifiers in November, it looks as if the region may have a new power – and one which is here…

THE WORLDWIDE VIEW Time to stop the 10 v 11 nonsense If you’d just shelled out £1,000 for a ringside seat at a title fight, how would you feel if your man was found guilty of a low punch in the second round and forced to continue the fight with one of his arms strapped to his side? Obviously boxing would never allow such a preposterous rule, yet this is, in effect, what football does regularly when a player is redcarded, as the rules demand that his team must soldier on with only 10 players. And that makes as much sense as a onearmed boxer. Particularly if the punishment comes early. Suddenly, the contest is fatally distorted as 11 versus 10 is no longer a fair game. Chances are quite…

“he thinks he’s Buffon. I want him to leave as quickly as possible, though I don’t know who will want him” EUROPE GARETH SOUTHGATE was appointed permanent England manager on a four-year deal. MARKKU KANERVA became coach of Finland following Hans Backe’s departure. SERGIO CONCEICAO replaced Rene Girard as coach of Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes. Former Chelsea and Italy striker GIANFRANCO ZOLA was appointed manager of English second-tier side Birmingham City. ian Cathro left Scottish Premiership side Hearts for English third-tier club MK Dons. MICHAEL VAN PRAAG was reelected as president of the Royal Netherlands Football Association for a third term. Former USSR international Seilda Baishakov was elected president of the Football Federation of Kazakhstan for a four-year term. Poyet takes Chinese option Sacked by Spanish side Real Betis, Uruguayan…

Atletico Nacional’s all-conquering year ended with a whimper in Japan after a shock 3-0 loss to Kashima Antlers pulled the plug on a highly anticipated showdown with European champions Real Madrid in the Club World Cup. Dumped into the ignominy of the thirdplace play-off after a dominant year in the domestic Colombian calendar and on the South American stage, Nacional came down to earth against the only invited club at the seven-team world championship. The manner of Nacional’s premature exit was utterly unexpected. Previously, no one had even come close to threatening a side that, in an 83-game season, had mopped up the domestic league, won a first Libertadores Cup title for 27 years and then triumphed in the Colombian Cup. Indeed, just a few weeks ago, they stood on…

“Everyone had told me that there is one thing that is important in Cameroon – and that’s football” You were appointed coach of Cameroon in March. How has the journey been so far? There was a lot of work to do because we had to renew the team. We needed young players. The last months I watched players all around Europe. I think we changed a lot. The mentality has changed and we have enjoyed good results. We qualified for the African Cup of Nations, and the qualifiers for the World Cup in Russia began two months ago. We drew twice: a very good draw in Algeria and a poor draw against Zambia. But, OK, that can happen. I am happy with what has happened in the last eight months.…

Kasper DOLBERG Age 19 (06.10.97), Ajax (Hol) & Denmark In a sentence The latest in a long line of classy Scandinavians at Ajax, the teenager is enjoying a remarkable first season in Amsterdam, proving himself to be both an effective goalscorer and an elegant force of nature. What they say. Gery Vink, Ajax youth-team coach: “He has huge potential. I’ve often said to myself that he’s the new Ibrahimovic.” Former Feyenoord and Holland playmaker Wim Van Hanegem: “Dolberg is a really good striker and I’ve been saying it for a while. He has a good feel for the game and because of that, makes his teammates play even better.” Celta Vigo and Denmark midfielder Daniel Wass: “He has incredible qualities. He poses enormous problems to a defence and looks like…

Cristiano Ronaldo hailed “the perfect end” to a trophy-laden 2016 after his hat-trick sealed the Club World Cup title for Real Madrid as they came from behind to beat Kashima Antlers. The new World Player of the Year scored from the penalty spot and then twice more in extra-time as a tiring Madrid finally got the better of the Japanese underdogs 4-2 in Yokohama. Kashima qualified for the tournament as the host nation’s champions and had not been expected to progress to the Final. However, they beat African and South American opposition on their way to a showdown with the European champions. Madrid’s victory completed a clean sweep of trophies for Ronaldo, following victory in the Champions League, Euro 2016 and the European Super Cup. And the intercontinental triumph in…

They scored the most goals, conceded the fewest, topped the table from the ninth to the 16th round, and again from the 19th to the end, and, in finishing nine points ahead of their closest challengers, Palmeiras were emphatic winners of the 2016 Brazilian championship. The team with its roots in Sao Paulo’s Italian community had not won the league since 1994, and spent 2003 and 2013 in the second division. So this title was confirmation of the return of a giant. The outgoing president, millionaire Paulo Nobre, had loaned money to the club on favourable terms and they completely rebuilt their stadium, which by popular consensus is the best of Brazil’s new grounds. With the crowds flocking in, they were the only club in the top flight with an…

Zimbabwe’s appearance at the African Nations Cup in Gabon was always going to be a difficult proposition for the cash-strapped, isolated country. But help is on hand from overseas. And in the United Kingdom, Team Zimbabwe UK (TZUK) is trying to assist, both on and off the pitch The initiative was formed to support Zimbabwean athletes at the 2012 Olympics, but is increasingly focused on football. Led by chief executive Marshall Gore, the project is trawling the Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK looking for talent. “Some of our players could easily play in the Premier League back in Zimbabwe,” says TZUK’s senior team manager Kelvin Mushambe. Forty five players of Zimbabwean descent aged 23 or under have been found playing football at semiprofessional standard or higher, and a side captained…

EUROPE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Group A Sep13 Basle (swi) 1 (Steffen 80) Ludogorets (Bul) 1 (Jonathan Cafu 45) HT: 0-1. att: 30,852. Ref: Kulbakov (Bls) Sep13 paris saint-germain (fra) 1 (Cavani 1) arsenal (eng) 1 (Sanchez 78) hT: 1-0. att: 46,440. Ref: Kassai (Hun) Sent off: Verratti (PSG) 90+3; Giroud (Arsenal) 90+3 Sep 28 arsenal 2 (Walcott 7, 26) Basle 0 hT: 2-0. att: 59,993. Ref: Makkelie (Hol) Sep 28 ludogorets 1 (Natanael 16) paris saint-germain 3 (Matuidi 41, Cavani 56, 60) hT: 1-1. att: 17,155. Ref: Kralovec (CzR) Oct19 arsenal 6 (Sanchez 13, Walcott 42, Oxlade-Chamberlain 47, Ozil 56, 83, 87) ludogorets 0 hT: 2-0. att: 59,944. Ref: Dias (Por) Oct19 paris saint-germain 3 (Di Maria 40, Lucas Moura 62, Cavani pen 90+3) Basle 0 hT: 1-0. att: 46,488.…