Indholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2023 i World Soccer

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1 Manchester City and Argentina striker Julian Alvarez is the first player in history to win the World Cup, Champions League, league and domestic cup all in the same season. $6.07bn Value of Real Madrid, according to Forbes, making them the world’s most valuable football club. 6 Seasons that Hamburg will spend in Germany’s second tier following defeat in the promotion play-offs for the second campaign in a row. 354 Number of goals Karim Benzema scored during his Real Madrid career, placing him second in their all-time scoring charts. 1 Iran became the first winners of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, beating Uzbekistan1-0 in the final. 200 International caps won by Cristiano Ronaldo after playing and scoring in Portugal’s1-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win in Iceland in June.…

Shortly after the1994 World Cup, Jack Charlton said that he thought full-back was the most important position in football. When 4-4-2 met 4-4-2, he reasoned, the two centre-backs picked up the two opposing centre-forwards and the four midfielders cancelled each other out, leaving the four full-backs as the players with the time and space to affect the broader shape of the game. That is perhaps even truer now. Full-back is the player whose role has changed most since names began to be given to positions 150 years ago. Football now is a mature game and changes tend to be incremental, easier to identify in hindsight rather than at the time, but this season there has been a clear trend: the full-back who, rather than flying down the flank to overlap…

Aris Limassol is not exactly a household name. Few people outside of Cyprus may even have heard of the country’s brand-new champions. Yet on the island they are so popular that, when Yannick Gomis lashed in a match-winning penalty against Omonia Nicosia in the penultimate game of the season, even supporters of their opponents celebrated. It turned out to be a title-winning goal once their closest challengers and record champions APOEL lost to Aris’ city rivals Apollon a day later. Cue the kind of celebration most Aris supporters could never have imagined as recently as two years ago. “It was unbelievable,” croaks supporter Stelios Philippides. “Even in our dreams, we didn’t dream it. “You saw so many crying faces. A lot of the older generation, they know the club…

Many people have come up with wild and wonderful ideas at the pub. Most come to nothing, some get tested, and for Louis Perry, one creates a football club that makes it into the UEFA Europa Conference League. He moved to Gibraltar before the country at the tip of Spain had joined UEFA, having played for his county’s Under-18s team back in England and competed in some men’s football. After being unable to find a club to play for at his new home, Perry took matters into his own hands. As he explains to World Soccer: “My nan had a bar in Gibraltar called Bruno’s Bar & Restaurant at the time. I basically went to them and said: ‘I’m an expat, there’s loads of expats around, would you sponsor the…

Fans of the normally omnipotent Olympiakos, who have won19 Greek championships in the current millennium alone, will want to swiftly draw a veil over the horrendous events of 2022-23, a campaign of wall-to-wall chaos at the Piraeus outfit. At the same time as AEK Athens were celebrating only their second Hellenic Super League title in nearly three decades, the Olympiakos faithful were left bemoaning their club’s descent into comedy of errors territory this season, a mess symbolised by the four head coaches on the payroll; the 23 new signings; the revolving door to the first-team (47 players used); the star recruits (Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo and Croat full-back Sime Vrsaljko) who came, saw and promptly exited the scene; and the constant claims of a…

Manchester City’s deserved coronation as the new kings of European club football thrilled not only their fans but all the neutrals who had waited impatiently for a fresh name to be engraved among the old Champions League aristocracy. Victory then for a new name but victory also for the “new football,” a moment in the history of the game which sees nation states deploy unmatched financial muscle to conquering effect with more than mere football glory in mind. With a poignant coincidence, City celebrated the greatest success in their history on the weekend that immediately preceded the death of Silvio Berlusconi. His Milan piloted the concept of a club as one image-building piece of a corporate jigsaw back in the1980s. Some analysts, who delighted in the sight of City’s stars…

JOSE MOURINHO (Roma coach) “Pellegrini falls in box and given a yellow card; Ocampos did exactly the same thing and he doesn’t get one. It’s a scandal. VAR called the referee and shames Ocampos, but there’s no card given. Lamela – who, by the way, scored one of the penalties – deserved a second yellow but didn’t get it. And let’s not even talk about the big decisions. The injustice is shown by the fact Lamela should’ve had a second yellow, he didn’t, and he converted a penalty in the shootout. “Next year we won’t be playing the Champions League and that’s a good thing because we’re not made for it. And let’s hope that Taylor only officiates games in the Champions League and does the same bull**** there that…

The history of football is littered with examples of teams snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Borussia Dortmund threw away this year’s Bundesliga crown in spectacular fashion (more on page 62) while, in Premier League terms, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United and Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool sides spring to mind. Now, according to some, they have a new rival for the title of biggest chokers: Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Yet to dismiss the Gunners simply as that does not tell the full story. True, they did lack mental toughness during the run-in – how else can you explain the two-goal leads thrown away at Liverpool and West Ham, the 3-3 draw with bottom-placed Southampton or the meek1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest that handed Manchester City the title? But the fact that they…

In an all-too-rare instance of the Bundesliga title race going to the wire, Bayern Munich somehow found a way to rack up their11th straight championship shield, overcoming the odds to edge out a flummoxed Borussia Dortmund. For Dortmund, in fine form for most of 2023, this was the most bitter of pills to swallow. Two points clear at the top of the table going into their final fixture – a home clash against mid-table Mainz – the Schwarz-Gelben were overwhelming favourites to claim a first domestic crown since 2012. The expectancy and euphoria had been building in this part of the Ruhr all week. But just when the party was about to get started, the Westfalen crew suffered a first-half meltdown, not only culpable of conceding two sloppy goals, but…

After three years without a single trophy – an eternity for Portugal’s biggest club – Benfica won the top domestic prize in 2022-23, playing some scintillating football along the way under Roger Schmidt, who becomes the first German manager to coach a team to the Portuguese league title. Although the Eagles only clinched the triumph on the final weekend of the season, it was a thoroughly deserved victory as they topped the table from start to finish. Indeed, at one stage it appeared Benfica could do something truly special this season. With a ten-point domestic lead, a seemingly winnable Champions League quarter-final against Internazionale on the horizon, and all the strongest European teams in the other side of the draw, fans were daring to dream of a magical double. An…

The first football World Cup of either gender to be held in Australasia will prove a useful barometer of how far the women’s game has climbed in sport’s hierarchy. For decades Australians have been staying up late or waking early to follow events on the other side of the globe. Now, those positions are reversed and the big question is: how many will watch? The television companies gave their answer, much to the annoyance of FIFA whose decision to uncouple broadcast rights from the men’s competition was unfortunately timed. The governing body’s president, Gianni Infantino, even threatened a blackout after western Europe’s major outlets offered derisory sums for coverage. Deals were eventually struck, but at levels that were only a fraction of those paid to cover the men’s World Cup.…

Spain andJapan will be heavily favoured to emerge from this group despite both having question marks over them. In Spain’s case the big issue is how the well-publicised dispute between more than a dozen senior players and the federation affects the squad. Effectively, though very much not explicitly, the players wanted coach Jorge Vilda removed, arguing he had failed to get the best from a talented group. Fifteen players subsequently wrote to the Spanish federation making themselves unavailable for selection. However, federation chief Luis Rubiales backed Vilda despite the former youth coach overseeing a succession of somewhat disappointing tournaments. The dispute lasted for more than nine months, before – with the team producing reasonable results including a defeat of the United States, and the World Cup looming – many of…

1 Jill ROORD (NETHERLANDS) In the absence of the nation’s all-time record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema – out since December after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in a Champions League game for Arsenal – the Dutch will need their goals from elsewhere, and one of the main threats will be a midfielder. Roord averages a goal every three games at club level and one every four for the national team. She shoots well from the edge of the penalty box, arrives late to score inside the area and is extremely good in the air. Began at Twente before spending two seasons apiece at Bayern Munich and Arsenal. Joined Wolfsburg in 2021 and played an important role in their progression to the Champions League final this term. Closing in on 90 caps…

Review In the end, Luka Modric stood in disbelief, stunned by Dani Carvajal’s cheeky Panenka. He had run until the very last moment of another gruelling 120 minutes, covering every inch of grass and above all distributing play with his quintessential gossamer touches and visionary passes. Split by a month-long winter World Cup, the European season had been long and this was the 37-year-old’s second extra-time in just four days. Still, he ran and then some more, showing remarkable stamina. Yet, Croatia’s golden generation was to remain without a prize in international football. Croatia were the team that lit up the third edition of the UEFA Nations League finals. They craved a crown for their golden generation, a group of players that had long eclipsed their predecessors who masterminded a…

Review The mythical status that Cairo giants Al Ahly enjoy in African football was taken up another notch with their unexpected success in this year’s African Champions League, which came against the odds but extended their record number of wins. Victory over Wydad Casablanca – and revenge for defeat in last year’s disputed final – came after a lacklustre early campaign, where they suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the group phase and finished second in the standings but then rose triumphantly through the knockout stages to be crowned continental champions yet again. The 3-2 aggregate win over the holders marked an11th time Al Ahly have won Africa’s top club competition, now more than double the number of victories of their closest challengers TP Mazembe and Zamalek…

Review Football in Australia operates in a perpetual state of flux, so perhaps it is no surprise that during a campaign when the national team equalled their best-ever showing at a World Cup, the domestic competition was engulfed in yet another existential crisis. With the country riding the crest of the Socceroos wave in late November, the talk was of the A-League being the beneficiary. Instead, just a week after Argentina lifted the trophy, the APL (the umbrella group that runs the competition), announced the hugely controversial sale of the end-of-season Grand Final to Sydney for a three-year period. While the domestic game undoubtedly needs the money provided, the A-League (and its predecessor, the NSL) has built a long tradition of awarding hosting rights to the team that earns it,…

The Saudi Pro League season ended on the final day of May with two Portuguese personalities dominating the headlines. Nuno Espirito Santo won his first league title as head coach of Al Ittihad with a game to go, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr had to make do with second. Review For Al Ittihad it was redemption for the disaster of last season when they let a16-point lead over Al Hilal slip to end up in second. It wasn’t the first time they’d thrown away their chances since winning their last title in 2009, leading to the start of a suspicion of a mental block. Enter Nuno last July, eight months after being shown the door by Tottenham Hotspur. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss has instilled steel in the Tigers,…

Better late than never. Given how the end of the 2022-23 season coincided with the scheduling of our print deadlines, this was the earliest opportunity to extensively review the European domestic season. Nonetheless, we hope this bumper edition lives up to expectations in its analysis of the past campaign, including special reports from all three UEFA club showpiece finales, reviews of 35 domestic European leagues and our exclusive take on the most captivating and interesting stories of the 2022-23 season. But that’s not all. Given the deadline of this souvenir edition, it gave us scope to also provide comprehensive wrap-ups of various other tournaments such as the UEFA and CONCACAF Nations League finals; the African, CONCACAF and OFC Champions League campaigns; and the domestic seasons in Mexico and Australia; not…

Sportswashing; a word of its time. Every time I hear it spat out in disgust or read a furious diatribe about its iniquities, my memory takes me back – oddly – to a conversation years ago with Oscar Washington Tabarez. Uruguay’s long-serving, long-suffering “professor” was talking tactics and his team’s inadequacies in “transition.” Then he paused, almost caught the word in mid-air, and sighed: “We used to call it ‘counter-attack’.” This, then, is the linguistic era of sportswashing. But, if the term is only about five years old then the concept is anything but new and nor is the accompanying moral maze One of the great strengths and mesmeric attractions of football is the evolution not only of the game out on the pitch but the language that surrounds it.…

Two years ago, reports in the Barcelona newspaper Sport revealed Lionel Messi was planning a move to Inter Miami and Major League Soccer in 2023. It was part of a mapping out of the end of a playing career that would include remaining at the Camp Nou for two more seasons, before moving to MLS and then becoming a Barca club ambassador on retiring. When Messi shocked the football world by instead leaving Barcelona and moving to Paris Saint-Germain, it appeared the whole plan was up in the air. Messi had congratulated Inter Miami owner David Beckham on the founding of the club in 2018, commenting: “I wanted to wish you all the best in this new project and in this new role for you. And who knows, maybe in…

It was an incredible fairy-tale ending to a rollercoaster afternoon of unrelenting and thrilling drama on the final day of the Belgian league season. In the 94th minute, Toby Alderweireld, a veteran of the Belgian game back at his hometown club Antwerp, delivered the coup de grace to opponents Genk and fellow title rivals Union Saint-Gilloise. His goal almost defied his team’s blue-collar style. With perfect timing, he steered his shot into the top left corner and the ball rippled the net with a crushing finality, signalling the end of a long 66-year wait: for the first time since1957 Antwerp were champions of Belgium again. Cue delirium. Alderweireld sprinted across the pitch towards the away fans, followed by coach Mark van Bommel, the rest of the team and staff members.…

As Celtic captain Callum McGregor lifted the Scottish Cup after a 3-1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park, he was reminded by Celtic supporters, holding up a big banner, that that’s now “115 Trophies” and counting. It was their 41st Scottish Cup, to go alongside the 53 league titles and 21 League Cups, and, most significantly, it completed a world-record eighth treble. For Ange Postecoglou it was his final game, lured away by Tottenham Hotspur (more on page 76). Yet, while managers may come and go, McGregor remains the heartbeat of Celtic. The Scotland midfielder is the symbol of the current desire and future ambition, with the 29-year-old now possessing a remarkable 20 winners’ medals and playing part in five trebles. “We have delivered something special to the…

Despite familiar champions Galatasaray storming to a record 23rd league title, the 2022-23 Turkish Super Lig season was like no other. First, there was chaos and heartbreak across the country itself. Less than four months before citizens voted in momentous presidential elections, an earthquake hit Turkey’s southeast in February, leaving the nation, and the wider world, in shock. The former Ghana winger Christian Atsu, then playing for Hatayspor, was among thousands who tragically lost their lives. The tears and tributes poured in, and the league halted mid-season. In one sense, the campaign’s completion was a story. After the earthquake the football hiatus lasted three weeks, with the action resuming before March. But for the league, there were still challenges. Two affected top-flight sides, Hatayspor – with their damaged stadium becoming…

PEP GUARDIOLA (Manchester City manager) “I feel tired, calm, satisfied. ‘Be patient,’ I said to the players at half-time. It was written in the stars. After the World Cup, the team made a step forward so we were there. It wasn’t our best performance. Next season? I don’t have any energy to think about it. Now we need a break.” ILKAY GUNDOGAN (Manchester City captain) “We weren’t at our best in the first half. We knew we had to do better in the second. It was probably a 50-50 game. We feel very fortunate it was for us. Everyone was talking about the treble so the pressure was there but this team is built to handle the pressure in the best possible way.” RODRI (Manchester City’s match winner) “It’s a…

The Europa Conference League often provided a shining light in what was, at times, an incredibly testing season for West Ham United. They even had more wins in continental competition this term than they did in the Premier League – a first for any English club – with the most special victory of all coming on an historic night at the Fortuna Arena in Prague. Some have mocked the competition since its formation two years ago, yet the clubs competing in it have done so wholeheartedly. The Europa Conference League has brought Jose Mourinho to tears and seen clubs enter new territory for their nations, with the emotion it inspires being fully displayed by both Fiorentina and West Ham when they booked their places in this year’s final, especially as…

At times during the 2022-23 La Liga campaign – and especially since the turn of the year – there has been more noise off the pitch than on it and, even as we enter the summer months, dark clouds still hang over Spanish football. The Caso Negreira scandal, which surfaced in February but remains under investigation, could still have major ramifications for Barcelona, while the racist abuse suffered by Real Madrid forward ViniciusJunior overshadowed the final weeks of the campaign. Even Barca’s title-clinching victory over city rivals Espanyol in May was marred by home supporters invading the pitch and chasing the newly-crowned champions down the tunnel, while the debate over whether the away side had “provoked” their rivals by gleefully dancing around the centre circle rumbles on between both sets…

A partnership of coach Christophe Galtier and ideological spearhead Luis Campos signalled “the end of bling-bling” at Paris Saint-Germain, according to club president Nasser Al Khelaifi last summer. Instead, another underwhelming title mirrored Mauricio Pochettino’s stale side of last term amid an increasingly toxic atmosphere. However, after the most frustrating campaign of the Qatari era, hope remains for the Campos project. With a skillset of unearthing cost-effective talent and helping mid-sized clubs over-perform, Campos’ appointment made little sense to a behemoth like PSG, and the ensuing laboured transfer business left a shallow squad. Campos’ appointment of former Lille colleague Galtier proved equally misguided. Although an adaptable coach, Galtier was out of his depth at the elite level, his team swatted aside by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last16, with…

At half-time in the Champions League final it seemed that Wolfsburg were going to spring an upset. A combination of smart pressing, sharp counter-attacking, strong defence and ruthless finishing had put the Germans 2-0 up against Barcelona. But within five minutes of the break it all unravelled, as Patri Guijarro scored twice in 108 seconds to draw the favourites level. Fridolina Rolfo’s subsequent winner followed a comedy of errors but was no surprise; the match xG was 4.6 to 0.7 in Barca’s favour. In their third successive final, the Catalan club had won back the crown they lost to Lyon last year. This win, said the competition’s Player of the Season Aitana Bonmati, was “special” because two years ago, when they beat Chelsea 4-0 in Gothenburg, COVID-19 restrictions meant the…

Tommaso BALDANZI Empoli In a sentence An intuitive playmaker of great technical class and personality, the talented Empoli tyro stepped up to provide much of the inspiration for the Azzurrini’s silver medal in Argentina. What they say “He has something extra in his football DNA, but we have to be calm because in Italy we’re good at burning out talent like his” Paolo Zanetti, Empoli’s head coach “He always was a prodigy. All he needed was to believe in himself. When you watched him play, you quickly understood that he could win a game for you at any moment” Empoli youth team coach Antonio Busce The story so far The 2022-23 campaign turned out to be particularly rewarding for Baldanzi who, apart from shining at the Under-20 World Cup, also…

Good performances by the host nation are important for the success of a World Cup, but there is trepidation in the Land of the Long White Cloud after a dreadful run of results. New Zealand are the weakest country to host a Women’s World Cup. Being Oceania’s strongest nation they regularly qualify, but are yet to win a match at the finals in15 attempts. That they might achieve, having beaten Group A rivals the Philippines as recently as September, in California, but the margin was only 2-1 and the Asian debutants have improved while the Football Ferns have regressed. Since that match they have played ten matches, losing eight and winning none. They went 561 minutes without a goal between Olivia Chance’s strike against South Korea in November and Hannah…

With three teams ranked inside the world’s top14, including the reigning European and Asian champions, this is one of the most competitive groups – with the exception of Haiti, who could hardly have feared a tougher baptism. England averaged eight goals a game in qualifying, Denmark five and China almost four. With goal difference a potential progression factor, nobody is likely to take pity on the Caribbean debutants. When the group was drawn England were the clear favourites, but Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses have since suffered a debilitating run of injuries. All teams evolve but the England XI that lines up against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 could look very different to the one that started the Euros final a year prior. Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead have…

Argentina surprised a few at the 2019 finals, drawing with Japan and Scotland and restricting England to a1-0 win. A big part of their relative success was veteran goalkeeper Vanina Correa, who, though 40 during these finals, is still very much involved. Now the captain, Correa believes Argentina are a stronger side this time around with more players benefiting from experience abroad. Notably there are players plying their trade in Spain, Mexico and Brazil, including the recalled Estefania Banini of Atletico Madrid, Flamengo’s muchtravelled Sole Jaimes and Madrid CFF’s Florencia Bonsegundo. Head coach German Portanova has also been trying to persuade Celtic forward Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, eligible for Sri Lanka, Australia, Italy and Argentina, to throw in her lot with La Albiceleste. The first target is to win a match, something…

With analysis and predictions ahead of the 2023-24 campaigns in England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain – plus loads more – you won’t miss a beat ahead of kick-off. Plus, don’t miss our Saudi Pro League spotlight, Jude Bellingham player biography, Silvio Berlusconi special tribute and CONCACAF Gold Cup review, including the final match report, best XI of the tournament, team-by-team analysis and every squad list. Print £6.99 | Digital £4.99 ORDER NOW shop.kelsey.co.uk/WSC23 Or Call: 01959 543 747 Youmay have missed… SAVE 10% when you spend £25 or more VOUCHERCODE: WSCSHOP23 shop.kelsey.co.uk/WSC23 +44 (0) 1959 543 747 Offers subject to availability. Prices for goods delivered to destinations outside of the UK may be higher…

Review The United States won the second edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, with B.J. Callaghan’s side dismissing their two closest rivals – and joint co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup – without conceding a single goal over two matches in Paradise, Nevada. Winning the title was a major feather in the cap for Callaghan, who was in his first senior role as head coach and only took charge on an interim basis at the end of May. Callaghan was a replacement for Anthony Hudson, who was also only a temporary stand-in for Gregg Berhalter after the latter stood down as the US Soccer Federation investigated a decades-old allegation of a domestic abuse incident. Callaghan’s first game in charge was a potentially daunting semi-final with old rivals Mexico, which proved…

Review The United States’ interruption of Mexico’s dominance of the CONCACAF Champions League lasted just one season as Club Leon triumphed over Los Angeles FC in the 2023 final. It was Leon’s first major continental title, and they became the14th Mexican club to have lifted the CCL or its predecessor, the CONCACAF Champions Cup. It meant Mexican teams have now won17 of the last 18 editions of the competition. Leon went into the first leg of the final having not played for almost a month, but a behind-closed-doors friendly against Costa Rican side Herediano, who agreed to set up similarly to LAFC, helped them prepare. And it worked. Coached by 38-year-old Argentine Nicolas Larcamon, Leon secured a 2-1 lead in the first leg at the Estadio Leon, their energetic home…

Vancouver Whitecaps defeated CF Montreal 2-1 in the Canadian Championship final to win the competition in back-to-back seasons for the first time, capping off what has been a memorable campaign. No League1 Canada team had ever beaten a professional club in the history of the Canadian Championship before this season, and it seemed as though that record would continue when Vaughan Azzurri and Laval were beaten by Montreal and Forge respectively on the same day. Yet, TSS Rovers went on to beat Canadian Premier League (CPL) side Valour in the preliminary round, writing their name in the record books in the process. They were spurred on by Matteo Polisi, their attacking midfielder and captain in his first game since returning after departing CPL outfit Pacific. The 25-year-old scored twice to…

Andres Iniesta described leaving Vissel Kobe as “one of the hardest decisions of my career” when announcing his departure from the J. League club at aspeciallyarranged press conference on May 25. The great Spanish playmaker, now 39, had been restricted to just 38 minutes of league action – three appearances from the bench – since the start of the new Japanese season and recognised he was no longer a big part of coach Takayuki Yoshida’s plans. But he has also vowed to carry on playing elsewhere if he can. Iniesta’s grand finale came on June 6 against Barcelona, with his former side visiting the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo for a friendly against Vissel. The new Spanish champions won 2-0 but ensured that their former hero got the send-off he…

2023-24 campaign kicks off The 2022-23 season has barely come to an end, yet the new campaign is already on the horizon. The Austrian, Swiss and Polish top flights lead the way, kicking off on the weekend of July 22-23, with the Belgian Pro League following a week later and the Scottish Premiership on the first weekend of August, as well as the English Football League. Meanwhile, the first qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League and Conference League commence on July11-13. Community Shield With Manchester City winning both the league title and the FA Cup, this year’s Community Shield will see them take on Premier League runners-up Arsenal. The last time the two sides met in this competition was in 2014, when Mikel Arteta started in a 3-0 win…

2022-23 UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE Finals Semi-Finals Jun 14 – Rotterdam Netherlands 2 (Malen 34, Lang 90+6) Croatia 4 (Kramaric 55 pen, Pasalic 72, Petkovic 98, Modric 116 pen) AET Netherlands: Bijlow – Dumfries (Lang 85), Geertruida, Van Dijk, Ake (Malacia 106); Wieffer (Wijnaldum 75), DeJong; Malen (Bergwijn 75), Koopmeiners, Simons (Weghorst 64); Gakpo (De Roon106). Croatia: Livakovic – Juranovic (Stanisic 79), Sutalo (Petkovic 91), Vida, Perisic; Modric (Barisic 119), Brozovic, Kovacic (Majer 85); Pasalic, Kramaric (Erlic 90), Ivanusec (Vlasic 78). Jun 15 – Enschede Spain 2 (Yeremy 3,Joselu 88) Italy 1 (Immobile11 pen) Spain: Simon – Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba; Rodri, Merino (Fabian 74); Rodrigo (Asensio 46), Gavi (Canales 68), Yeremy (Fati 74); Morata (Joselu 84). Italy: Donnarumma – Toloi, Bonucci (Darmian 46), Acerbi; Di Lorenzo, Frattesi (Verratti 76),…

“In my opinion if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, for the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top five league in the world”Cristiano Ronaldo on the rise of the Saudi Pro League ◼ SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Pro League ready for take-off Saudi Arabia’s domestic league is ready to make an enormous statement this summer with the addition of a number of high-profile players. After Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at the end of 2022, this summer he has been joined by his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema, while another France international, N’Golo Kante, will play alongside Benzema at Al Ittihad. While all three arrived in the Middle East as free agents, Portugal international Ruben Neves arrived at Al Hilal…

POTTER, HOPCUTT AND A DESK IN EAST LONDON By George Mallett (Pitch Publishing, £16.99) Potter, Hopcutt and a Desk in East London charts the improbable rise of Ostersunds FK from the Swedish fourth division to the Europa League. Looking for a distraction from their mundane office lives, two childhood York City fans are drawn in by the ascent of two men with loose connections to their hometown club, OFK manager Graham Potter and midfielder Jamie Hopcutt. This is both an ode to the underdog and an invigorating reminder of the power of football fandom to help provide the perfect escape. 1992: THE BIRTH Of MODERN fOOTBALL By Rob Fletcher (Pitch Publishing, £16.99) 1992: The Birth of Modern Football recalls the crucial events that brought football into a new age. From the…

“Ninety-nine per cent of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars”The late Gordon McQueen on leaving Leeds for Manchester United in1978 “I have already said before that I’d stay. I have only decided to play at PSG next season. Many things can happen in a year, especially at a club like PSG”Kylian Mbappe speaking to Téléfoot on his PSG future IN EUROPE Ukraine named former striker SERHIY REBROV as their new head coach, while Liechtenstein hired KONRAD FUNFSTUCK. Liverpool appointed JORG SCHMADTKE as new sporting director. Bournemouth hired ANDONI IRAOLA after sacking Gary O’Neil and Tottenham appointed ANGE POSTECOGLOU as their new manager, with BRENDAN RODGERS returning to Celtic as his replacement. Rodgers’ former club Leicester City hired ENZO MARESCA, and elsewhere in the Championship…

The following article contains details and images that some readers may find upsetting On May 20, the Cuscatlan Stadium in El Salvador became the site of one of the most deadly football-related tragedies in Central American history. A match between Alianza and FAS, two of the country’s most popular teams, turned deadly when a violent stampede resulted in12 fatalities and left around 500 people needing medical attention. The match was the 2023 Primera Division Clausura quarter-final play-off between the country’s two most successful teams. Between them, Alianza and FAS have won the last six titles and 36 overall. Although it’s not considered the biggest derby in the country, the rivalry between the two teams is fierce and the match generated huge expectation. However, the excitement quickly turned into horror. With…

Since being relegated from Ligue1 in 2009, it has not been smooth sailing for Le Havre. Based in the Normandy port city some 200km northwest of Paris, France’s oldest club still in existence had to get used to second division purgatory. Coaches such as ex-USA boss Bob Bradley and former Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Rangers manager Paul Le Guen had failed in recent seasons in their attempts to return Le Havre to the top flight. Prior to this campaign, the closest Le Havre had come to ending this exile came in 2017-18, when they lost on penalties to Ajaccio in a play-off semi-final that was marred by violence both on and off the pitch. As the setting for some of Claude Monet’s most famous paintings, continually falling short of promotion…

Shock, terror, dignity…and football. Despite the occupation of part of its territory and the ongoing aggression of Russia, a fully-fledged championship was completed in Ukraine. “The 2022-23 season has become a real challenge for the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL),” said Andriy Pavelko, president of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF). “Matches were played when the war was raging in the country. But it will forever go down in world football history as an example of the true courage of all who took part in it.” There is not the slightest bit of exaggeration in his words. The war was gaining momentum and it seemed that the new season would not happen in Ukraine as 26 professional clubs, including top-flight sides Mariupol and Desna, announced they could not compete. But the country’s…

On the face of it, Union Berlin, who have clinched their first-ever Champions League spot via a fourth-place Bundesliga finish, are the antithesis of a typical participant in European football’s leading competition. With only four seasons of experience in the German top flight and shorn of big financial backing, the club from the Kopenick district of Berlin is, in most facets, a small-scale operation. They play at the tiniest ground in the league (the 22,012-capacity Alte Forsterei); their annual budget is a mere €52m and, in a bargain-basement squad, they have no star names whatsoever. While so many of Germany’s biggest clubs forgot their lines in 2022-23, Union were almost word-perfect. In a remarkable campaign, they spent virtually the entire season in the top-four and even topped the standings for…

Jose Mourinho has a habit of making these things about Jose Mourinho, but let’s begin with the winners. Sevilla extended their remarkable record in the Europa League, winning the trophy for a record seventh time, all of them since 2006. They have never lost in a final, and Spanish teams have now won their last18 European finals against non-Spanish opposition. La Liga may be in decline but it has not gone yet. Perhaps most of all, this was a victory for their 62-year-old coachJose Luis Mendilibar, whose only other title had been the Segunda Division with Real Valladolid in 2006-07. He replaced Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla in March and oversaw a remarkable uptick in fortunes with just three defeats in17 games. As in Seville the previous year, this game was…

VINCENZO ITALIANO (Fiorentina coach) “The second goal was a goal that often can be avoided, but when you play in a final and it’s the last minute you are not as switched on, you no longer read the game as well as you did at the beginning. Our opponents took advantage of that and scored. “I am sorry because we played another great match. But the winner is the one that makes fewer mistakes. “The players must be proud because not everyone can have such a great season and get to two finals. With the journey in the cups we had a sensational second half of the season.” CRISTIANO BIRAGHI (Fiorentina captain) “It’s so bad to lose like this; finding the words to describe the bad feeling we have inside…

Hands up if you saw it coming. Against all the odds, this has been a successful Italian season, dominated by two generally unexpected events. Firstly, there was Napoli’s utterly dominant, utterly feel good Serie A title win, arguably the most compelling of Europe’s top five champions. Secondly, three Italian clubs – Inter, Roma and Fiorentina – made it to the respective finals of all three UEFA club competitions, recording results not seen since the early ’90s despite all losing in the finales. Just12 months ago, Italy was struggling to come to terms with its failure to qualify for the Qatar World Cup while – with the exception of Europa Conference League winners Roma – all the other Italian clubs had failed to make even a single UEFA competition semi-final. This…

Feyenoord are back on top after winning the Eredivisie title for the first time since 2017 – only their second win in the past 24 years. Their 16th national title was fully deserved. The Rotterdam club sealed the deal with two games to spare, winning 25 matches and losing only twice. In the end they had as even-point cushion over closest rivals PSV. The early signs of Feyenoord’s comeback were shown last season when they reached the final of the European Conference League, which they lost1-0 to Roma. However, coach Arne Slot had to rebuild a completely new team after no fewer than seven of that starting line-up departed, including key players Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Luis Sinisterra (Leeds United) and Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth). But the 44-year-old coach had a…

Where does guiding the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup rank in your achievements as a coach? The achievement of qualification was a team effort between our players and staff. Everything we do, we do together as a team. I think that has been one of the key factors in our development. Of course, I take a lot of pride in being part of this amazing achievement and it is a career highlight for me, but it would not have been possible without the hard work and support of our players and staff. Having coached your native Netherlands at the European Championship in 2009 and South Africa at the Olympics in 2016, is the World Cup now the complete set? Yes, you can see it like that. My history…

A strong group with upset possibilities. Hosts australia and olympic champions Canada will expect to qualify but nigeria’s low ranking is not reflective of their ability, while the Republic of Ireland’s potential was underlined when they lost only 2-0 and 1-0 away to the US in april. Australia should avoid a shock exit. after reaching the olympic semi-finals in 2021, Tony Gustavsson embarked upon a period of experimentation designed to increase squad depth. This led to a drop in results and growing criticism, exacerbated by a quarter-final exit at the asian Cup. But just as this was reaching a crescendo, results turned around with notable wins in Denmark and England among a run of eight in nine matches boosting belief. Besides Sam Kerr, one of the game’s most lethal strikers,…

The strongest group based on the FIFA world rankings and a tough one for debutants Portugal and Vietnam. The US and the Netherlands contested the final in 2019 and, while there are reasons to argue neither are as strong this time out, they would be expected to qualify comfortably. The United States have had a patchy four years as world champions, coming third in the Olympics then losing to England, Spain and Germany late last year as Vlatko Andonovski sought to renew a team that was veteran-heavy. Improved form in 2023 suggests they may peak at the right time. However, the loss to injury of Mallory Swanson has upset attacking plans, while the recall of Julie Ertz, who quit playing for18 months to become a mum, reflects the inability of…

World Soccer Presents As Messi mania swept football, we were there every step of the way to track Leo’s epic journey. We assess the most famous teams the world has ever seen, and explain what made them so iconic. Print £7.99 This special edition showcases some of the biggest rivalries in football from across the globe. CR7’s incredible journey from young starlet to all-time top scorer in men’s international football. A look at the European Cup years (1955-1992) and the iconic stars that graced the tournament. A collection of interviews including Kaka, Ronaldo, Cruyff, Sacchi, Xavi, Pele, Klinsmann and Wenger. Celebrating the history of our award winners, such as Platini, Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. A record of the finals, teams and players from the Champions League era (1992-2022). Coinciding…

Update The last nine places at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals will be decided in September’s final round of fixtures with several former champions still waiting to make sure of their place in the 24-team field. Ghana could have secured their berth after the penultimate round in June but were held away by a plucky Madagascar, while the Democratic Republic of Congo fired themselves back into contention with an impressive win in Gabon, spoiling the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to international football. Sudan and Congo last had their Cup of Nations successes more than a half century ago, and after home losses look unlikely to make a tilt for another title when the finals are played in the Ivory Coast between January13 and February11. But there is already…

If someone had said, before the start of the Clausura 2023 tournament, that Tigres would become LigaMX champions for the eighth time in their history, nobody would have been surprised. Owned by CEMEX – a huge multinational cement company – the club from the state of Nuevo Leon has become a kind of Mexican Manchester City in recent years, spending fortunes on renowned signings and winning five titles from 2015 to date. Review However, just one month before the end of the regular season, thinking about another title seemed like an absolute pipe dream. The team looked clueless, they had fired their second coach of the season, and had lost five of their last six games, the last one at home against Mazatlan, the worst team in the league. What…

Review The end result may have been predictable but the latest edition of the Oceania Football Confederation’s Champions League was anything but. Holders Auckland City retained the title they won a year ago on home soil, but a record11th success only came after one of the tournament’s most memorable finals with Fijian champions Suva taking the Kiwi side to extra-time before eventually going down 4-2. The OFC’s decision to shift the fortnight-long tournament to Vanuatu proved a success with bumper crowds and the home side, Ifira Black Bird, delighting local supporters by qualifying from a tough group. The part-timers from Ifira made a desultory debut in Group B, going down 2-0 to 2010 champions Hekari United from Papua New Guinea. But PNG’s champions then lost to New Caledonia’s representatives Tiga…

Seven long years have passed since FIFA begrudgingly admitted any new members, and another four years are likely to pass before those membership criteria are tested again by the Melanesian island of Bougainville. That is when politicians in the autonomous province of Papua New Guinea are aiming to split from PNG, after securing backing for independence in a non-binding referendum four years ago. With a population of around 300,000, Bougainville has a playing base and even an annual tournament, the Nesta Cup, but football remains sclerotic. “The structure is still very weak,” says Marcos Gusmao, the Brazilian who coached PNG until last year and has visited Bougainville. A decade ago, plans for a $1.2 million academy on the island were approved by the Autonomous Bougainville Government, which reportedly promised to…

EUROPE 2022-23 FA CUP Final Jun 3 – Wembley Manchester City 2 (Gundogan1, 51) Manchester United 1 (Fernandes 33 pen) Manchester City: Ortega – Walker (Laporte 90+5), Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; B. Silva, De Bruyne (Foden 76), Gundogan, Grealish (Ake 89); Haaland. Manchester United: De Gea – Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof (McTominay 83), Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Fernandes, Eriksen (Garnacho 62), Sancho (Weghorst 78); Rashford. 2022-23 SCOTTISH CUP Final Jun 3 – Glasgow Celtic 3 (Furuhashi 38, Abada 65,Jota 90+1) Inverness CT1 (Mackay 84) Celtic: Hart – Johnston, Iwata, Starfelt, Taylor; O'Riley (Turnbull 76), McGregor, Hatate (Haksabanovic 76); Jota (Forrest 90+2), Furuhashi (Oh Hyeon-Gyu 59), Maeda (Abada 46). Inverness CT: Ridgers – Duffy, Devine (Delaney 75), Deas, Harper; Carson, Allardice (MacGregor 81), Welsh; Henderson (Mackay 68), Shaw (Doran 81), Mckay (Samuels 75).…

Haaland hits the heights Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is the first Premier League European Golden Shoe winner since Liverpool’s Luis Suarez jointly won the prize with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo on 31 goals in 2013-14. The Norwegian’s record-breaking 36 Premier League goals set a new season high for the league and, with the exception of Robert Lewandowski’s 41 goals for Bayern Munich in 2020-21, is the highest tally for a Golden Shoe winner since Lionel Messi netted 37 times for Barcelona in 2016-17. As in former years, the award winner is decided on points using the UEFA coefficient ranking system, which rewards players in the most competitive leagues. Hence marksmen from the “big five” leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) benefit from a points multiplier of two. The…