Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2019 i World Soccer

On the face of it, we are in for one of the most predictable seasons ever. Last year, for the first time in all five major European leagues, the champions retained their titles – and few would bet against Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Barcelona celebrating again in nine months’ time. Yet for all the money that has distorted European club football in recent years, the game’s greatest attraction remains its unpredictability and capacity for surprise. Those surprises may well happen further down the football food chain over the coming months, but the game will be richer and more entertaining for them. We always try to reach the parts of the footballing world that Google can’t reach. This month, we visit San Marino, the lowest-ranked country in…

“These are not tears of fear. I respect the illness, I will face it, with chest puffed out, looking it in the eyes, the way I always have done”Sinisa Mihajlovic on being diagnosed with leukaemia Ismael BENNACER (Algeria) (Algeria) Will Arsenal regret letting the 21-year-old slip away? The midfielder was the official player of the tournament as Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and returned to Europe to complete a highprofile move to Milan from Empoli. Born in Arles in southern France to an Algerian mother and Moroccan father, he represented France at youth level before joining the growing band of players who have switched allegiances to Algeria. Scouted and signed by Arsenal at 18, he made one appearance for the north London club, as a sub…

“I can’t finish my career without playing for Boca” Daniele De Rossi IN EUROPE ANTOINE GRIEZMANN joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid for €120m. For all the summer’s transfers in Europe’s top five leagues, go to www.worldsoccer.com JOHN VAN’T SCHIP took over from Angelos Anastasiadis as coach of Greece. STEVE BRUCE left Sheffield Wednesday to become manager of Newcastle United. Scottish Championship side Dundee appointed ex-Scotland boss GORDON STRACHAN as technical director. CONCACAF AMERICO GALLEGO was appointed coach of Panama. Former USA international striker JOSH WOLFF will be the first ever coach of Austin FC, who are expected to join MLS in 2021. AFRICA Moroccan champions Wydad appointed Serbian coach ZORAN MANOJLOVIC as the replacement for Faouzi Benzarti. SEBASTIEN DESABRE returned to club football with Egypt’s Pyramids after leaving his post…

Zidane’s treatment of Gareth Bale is a mystery It has been reported that Real Madrid blocked a move to China for Welsh international attacker Gareth Bale. Jiangsu Suning are hardly a big name, but with an offer of over a million pounds a week you can hardly blame Bale for being interested. Still only 30 years old, he should have a good many effective seasons in front of him, yet it is understandable that he was ready, on such magnanimous terms, to plunge into what might be called “gilded obscurity”. To give Bale his due, he had been quite ready to stay at Real Madrid, and it remains somewhat strange that Zinedine Zidane is so anxious to get rid of him. Jonathan Barnett, who is Bale’s agent, accused Madrid manager…

• SP CAILUNGO Based in Borgo Maggiore and founded in 1974. Chairman is Paolo Rondelli, San Marino’s ambassador to the USA during George W Bush’s term in office. • SS COSMOS Based in Serravalle and founded in 1979, took their name from New York Cosmos. Chairman is Luca Della Balda. Four cup victories but only league title was in 2001. • FC DOMAGNO Formed in 1966, won eight Coppa Titanos and four Campionatos – the last in 2005. • SS FAETANO Founded in 1962 and won the league in its inaugural season, in 1986, but the last of their three titles was 20 years ago. • FC FIORENTINO Founded in 1974 as SS Montevito. Sole title was in 1992. Changed name in 2005. • SS FOLGORE FALCIANO Founded in 1972.…

The new season kicks off with English managers in charge of eight Premier League clubs, the most at the start of a campaign since 2004. From last season, Roy Hodgson, Eddie Howe and Sean Dyche are joined by new Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, Dean Smith and Chris Wilder from promoted Aston Villa and Sheffield United respectively, Graham Potter, recruited by Brighton & Hove Albion from Swansea City, and Steve Bruce, lured away from Sheffield Wednesday to fill the gap left by Rafa Benitez’s exit at Newcastle United. With Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers back in England at Leicester City, the total of British managers rises to nine, almost half of the Premier League. Most of the new breed of English managers reflect the changing nature of domestic football. Happy to be…

LAST 16 The decision to expand the field to 24 teams met with much scepticism, but the first knockout stage delivered a raft of upsets and thrilling contests to give the tournament a much-needed injection of excitement after a relatively sterile group phase. And this was despite Egypt being eliminated by a suddenly inspired South Africa, who tactically outfoxed the hosts by playing a high line, adding to their speed on the counter and generally outplaying the Pharaohs with a neat passing game. Thembinkosi Lorch’s late winner was as much as Stuart Baxter’s team deserved and left the neutrals wondering where this South African side had suddenly popped up from after losing two of their opening three games. Defensively they were strong too, as full-back Sifiso Hlanti kept Mohamed Salah…

Indian Ocean Island Games Hosts Mauritius were denied their first Indian Ocean Island Games title since 2003 as holders Reunion won an incredible shootout that saw the two keepers save eight out of the 10 penalties. Jean Michel Fontaine opened the scoring after 11 minutes for Reunion and though Adrien Francois levelled, Mauritius could not find a winner. Extra-time produced no further goals before Reunion’s Mathieu Pelops saved five successive spot-kicks. Mauritius’ Christopher Caserne also stopped three but could not take the game into sudden death as Bertrand Bador slotted home to take gold. The win was a fifth football title for Reunion at the multi-sport Games which also featured Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mayotte and Seychelles. The Games offer a rare international outing for two of the islands, as Reunion…

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS Played in Egypt Group A Jun 21 - Cairo Egypt 1 (Trezeguet 41) Zimbabwe 0 HT: 1-0. Att: 73,299. Ref: Alioum (Cam) Egypt: M El Shenawy - A Elmohamady, Alaa, Hegazi, Ashraf, Hamed, Elneny, Said (Warda 71), Trezeguet (Donga 81), Salah, M Mohsen (Soliman 60). Zimbabwe: Sibanda (Chipezeze 80) - Darikwa, Mudimu, Hadebe, Lunga, Musona (Chawapiwa 85), Munetsi, Nakamba, Billiat, Karuru, Mushekwi (E Rusike 81). Jun 22 - Cairo DR Congo 0 Uganda 2 (Kaddu 14, Okwi 48) HT: 0-1. Att: 1,083. Ref: Jiyed (Mor) DR Congo: Matampi - Mpeko, Luyindama, Tisserand, Masuaku, Bokadi, Elia, Mbemba (Maghoma 60), M’Poku (Bolingi 52), Bolasie (Assombalonga 71), Bakambu. Uganda: Onyango - Mugabi, Juuko, Wasswa, Walusimbi, Azira, Aucho, Abdu (Muleme 81), Miya (Awany 88), Okwi, Kaddu (Kyambadde 75). Jun 26…

Ahmad’s CAF is biggest basket case in football With apologies to Lewis Carroll, the never-ending stream of bizarre events within African football might well be termed “Ahmad Through the Looking Glass”. But who most resembles the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the Cheshire Cat and their fantastically gruesome colleagues is anyone’s guess. Right now, CAF is a basket case. This is the reason FIFA president Gianni Infantino decided to send in secretary-general Fatma Samoura to effectively take control. Africa’s confederation – and the game over which it sort of rules – has long been an administrative minefield. Never does an international tournament go by without at least one squad threatening a strike over non-payment of money or the accommodation chasm between foreign and home-based stars. The Africa Cup of Nations…

After 18 years at the same club, 36-year-old DANIELE DE ROSSI was expected to announce his retirement on leaving Roma at the end of last season. Instead, the midfielder chose to sign for Boca Juniors in Argentina. De Rossi was mobbed by crowds waiting at Buenos Aires airport to greet him. “The reception at the airport was incredible,” said the Italian. “I can’t thank you enough, other than by doing my job as seriously as I can.” Boca’s sporting director Nicolas Burdisso, who played with De Rossi at Roma between 2009 and 2014, was a key figure in facilitating the move. “This place stimulates me, and Nicolas was my guarantee,” added De Rossi. “He told me that they are professionals in Boca, and I believe him. He is my friend;…

For the worst league in Europe, San Marino’s Campionato reached a thrilling conclusion last season. Trailing 1-0 to holders and overwhelming favorites La Fiorita in the play-off Final, Tre Penne equalised in the seven minutes of injury time with a goal from Stefano Fraternali. As the club’s ultras, Tifosi Corretti Sambuca (TFC), used a loud hailer to broadcast support from a balcony on a building overlooking the Stadio Fonte Dell’Ovo, Tre Penne went on to win 3-1 and claim their place in this season’s Champions League preliminaries. That was on May 25. A month later, Tre Penne were out of the Champions League, beaten 1-0 by FC Santa Coloma of Andorra. Their exit was disappointing because, although the national team is one of the world’s weakest sides, Sammarinese clubs have…

Sometimes it’s good to dip a toe into other people’s football passion. On the night of Sunday June 23, the Balearic island of Mallorca was wrapped up in the biggest party it had known. But for once it was the locals, not the holidaymakers, who were letting their hair down. Just being a tourist in Palma that night, after RCD Mallorca had clinched their return to Spain’s top flight after six years in the wilderness, meant that sharing in the joy was a privilege. Over at the Estadi de Son Moix, a 23,000 full house – some of who had paid hundreds of euros on the black market to get a ticket – exploded into colour and celebration. The 3-0 defeat of Deportivo La Coruna in the Segunda Division play-off…

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, where else do you start a preview of a French league campaign than with current champions and media magnets Paris Saint-Germain? Despite winning last season’s Ligue 1 title at a canter – they finished 16 points clear of second-place Lille – once again PSG failed to establish themselves as a major European force; something that has been their Holy Grail ever since Qatari investors took over the capital club back in 2011. Additionally, they landed neither the French Cup nor the League Cup (both of which had been bagged the previous season), ended the campaign with both on and off-the-pitch scandals surrounding star player Neymar, and then discovered their Qatari president, Nasser Al Khelaifi, was being charged by a French judge…

GROUP A The unadulterated adulation for Mohamed Salah made for an arena sound rarely heard anywhere in the world as the Cairo International Stadium came out of mothballs to host group games. The noise behind Egypt, playing in front of capacity crowds again with the security restrictions lifted, propelled the team on as they won all three of their matches, albeit without overwhelming conviction. The opener against Zimbabwe was settled by Trezeguet’s smart finish but there were chances for the southern Africans to cause an upset, even if they had missed training on the eve of the game in a sit-down protest over money. Egypt also beat DR Congo and Uganda, who were surprise runners-up. A shock 2-0 win over the Congolese, followed by a fortunate draw with Zimbabwe was…

Southeast Asia After Qatar 2022, it is assumed the next Asian World Cup will be in China, with India an outside bet. Yet there is a region that is home to over 600 million people, connects those two massive countries and loves football more than either. In the space of a few days in late June, the possibility emerged of two bids from Southeast Asia. Both are still long shots, but if all goes to plan then the Final of a tropical 2034 World Cup could be beaming around the planet from Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi or Kuala Lumpur. There has long been talk among some of the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members of possible bids before, but these have been between two or three nations before…

EUROPE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Preliminary round Played in Pristina, Kosovo Semi-finals Jun 25: Feronikeli (Kos) 1 Lincoln Red Imps (Gib) 0; Tre Penne (SaM) 0 FC Santa Coloma (And) 1. Final Jun 28: Feronikeli 2 FC Santa Coloma 1. Feronikeli qualified for the 1st qualifying round (the 3 other participating teams enter the Europa League in the 2nd qualifying round) 1st qualifying round 1st legs - Jul 9/10; 2nd legs - Jul 16/17 Ararat-Armenia (Arm) v AIK (Swe) 2-1, 1-3 (agg 3-4); Astana (Kaz) v CFR Cluj (Rom) 1-0, 1-3 (agg 2-3); BATE Borisov (Bls) v Piast Gliwice (Pol) 1-1, 2-1 (agg 3-2); Dundalk (RoI) v Riga FC (Lat) 0-0, 0-0 (aet) (agg 0-0, Dundalk 5-4 on pens); F91 Dudelange (Lux) v Valletta (Mlt) 2-2, 1-1 (agg 3-3, Valletta on…

Cynical Algeria deserved their victory The Final of the Africa Cup of Nations was a disgrace, a game settled by a freakish second-minute goal and then systematically spoiled by Algeria. In a grim sense, that made it the perfect climax for the competition, bringing together two key themes of the previous month: that Algeria were the best side in Egypt, and that they suffered some weird insecurity that meant that whenever they felt under the slightest pressure they fell back to grappling, moaning and time-wasting. The 1-0 scoreline was in general keeping with the competition as well. The 52 matches in this year’s finals yielded just 102 goals, an average of 1.96 per game – the lowest scoring AFCON since 2002. Back then, atrocious pitches in Mali were blamed, but…

HERVE RENARD will be in charge of Saudi Arabia for their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign after quitting as coach of Morocco following defeat by Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations. “Happy to start a new adventure in Saudi Arabia on a new continent,” the 50-year-old Frenchman tweeted. The Saudi Football Federation confirmed the appointment, with its boss Yasser Almisehal saying: “The choice was made on a great name, capable of bringing something extra to Saudi football”. An AFCON winner with Zambia and Ivory Coast, Renard also steered Morocco to the 2018 World Cup finals. Saudi Arabia will play Uzbekistan, Palestine, Yemen and Singapore in their opening-round World Cup qualifying group. They begin against Yemen on September 10.…

MARCO TURA Elected president of the Sammarinese association (FSGC) in January 2017 but not universally popular as he used to be a ref rather than a player. FRANCO VARRELLA Part of Arrigo Sacchi’s back-room team for Italy in the 1994 World Cup and became the first foreign coach of San Marino’s beleaguered national team in January 2018. LUCA MANCINI President of ailing San Marino Calcio, who just survived in Italy’s Serie D last season but are plagued by financial problems. NICOLA NANNI San Marino’s great hope, the teenager made his senior debut against Moldova in 2018 and is on the books of Serie B side Crotone. MASSIMO BONINI Winner of the European Cup and three Serie A titles with Juventus but ignored requests to play for Italy at senior level.…

Euro Under-19s Barely a month after triumphing in the Euro Under-21 Championship, Spain added the continental under-19 title to their growing collection of honours, beating Portugal 2-0 in the Final in Yerevan’s Republican stadium. The victory was Spain’s eighth success at this level and continuity has been key to their triumphs. The latest win was overseen by coach Santi, the former Atletico Madrid defender, who was in charge of the side that beat England on penalties in the Under-17 Final in Croatia two years ago. Many of the players from that squad, including Borussia Dortmund’s Sergio Gomez, Barcelona pair Abel Ruiz and Juan Miranda, and two-goal Final hero Ferran Torres of Valencia, formed the backbone of the team that triumphed in Armenia. Torres went into the tournament on the back…