Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2017 från World Soccer

So that was the season that was. In our review of the 2016-17 campaign, we have something for everybody: a record-breaking European title for Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid; another Golden Shoe for Lionel Messi; heavyweight champions (Juventus, Chelsea and Bayern Munich); returning heroes (Feyenoord); and first-time title-winners (Rijeka). Not to mention some up-and-coming coaches and surprise promotions. We will not be without football for long. There are plenty of international events this summer that merit attention There should be more than enough to keep your interest over the summer – and we will not be without football for long. There are plenty of international events this summer that merit serious attention. Next month, we’ll have analysis of England’s World Under-20 win and the European Under-21 championship. Plus we’ll also…

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 CUMMULATIVE VOTES THROUGH THE SEASON GOALKEEPERS Gianluigi BUFFON (Juventus) 25 Thibaut COURTOIS (Chelsea) 24 Jan OBLAK (Atletico Madrid) 13 Gianluigi DONNARUMMA (Milan) 9 David DE GEA (Manchester United) 7 Keylor NAVAS (Real Madrid) 6 Kasper SCHMEICHEL (Leicester City) 6 Samir HANDANOVIC (Internazionale) 3 Manuel NEUER (Bayern Munich) 3 Iker CASILLAS (Porto) 2 EDERSON (Benfica) 2 Simon MIGNOLET (Liverpool) 2 Marc-Andre TER STEGEN (Barcelona) 2 Diego ALVES (Valencia) 1 Willy CABALLERO (Manchester City) 1 Timo HORN (Cologne) 1 Brad JONES (Feyenoord) 1 Bernd LENO (Bayer Leverkusen) 1 Rui PATRICIO (Sporting) 1 Yann…

Football’s concussion problem will end up in court UEFA has now become the first of football’s continental confederations to address the sport’s concussion problem. Better late than never, one might say. Late it certainly is, but whether it represents any improvement in the sport’s attitude is questionable. UEFA is “seeking research proposals to study the risk of heading the ball among youth players in European football”. That statement exposes the limitation of UEFA’s interest only in youth players. Nor does the statement include the word “concussion”. If you want to be picky, you can separate long-term brain damage from the immediate effects of concussion. But the two, in football, are closely related. Studying one without the other would fail to make the key point that ball-to-head contact is no longer…

“We had the game stolen from us thanks to five scandalous decisions. It still sticks in my throat” Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge boycotts the recent Champions League Final Lionel Messi has won the ESM Golden Shoe, the annual prize for Europe’s top goalscorer, for the first time since 2013. The Barcelona star scored 37 league goals for his club and finished ahead of Sporting striker Bas Dost (34), Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (31) and Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich (30). The next best Spanish Liga scorer was Messi’s team-mate Luis Suarez (28).…

Wembley success masks Wenger’s problems Ah, the glorious uncertainties of football! Of which Arsenal’s triumph over ultrafavourites Chelsea in the Cup Final was a resplendent example. Arguably, it confirmed the besieged Arsene Wenger in office for another two seasons; a compliant and passive ownership and board would predictably do nothing less. Are they right? Is he worth it? Time will all too shortly tell, but my own view is that they are wrong. It is also legitimate to reflect on what that defeat tells us about Chelsea and the previously deified Antonio Conte. Though the first potentially traumatising Arsenal goal may have been fortuitous and controversial, as the game went on Arsenal, against all expectations, were the dominant team. And if the supremely gifted Alexis Sanchez was arguably the most…

Welcome to the era of Generation Z, with Real Madrid’s latest, recordextending 12th European crown, secured with the Champions League’s first backto- back double, altering the perspective on how to assess this version of an unparalleled success story. The failure of any other club to win the Champions prize more than one season at a time had created a fractured image of what was possible in the highpressured technical, tactical and physical modern game. Ajax and Bayern Munich stamped their status on the international game with hat-tricks in the 1970s. Before them, Benfica and Internazionale had their doubles as, later, did Bob Paisley’s Liverpool, Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest and the “Dutch masterpiece” created at Milan by Arrigo Sacchi. Madrid had set the example, of course, by winning the first five…

French football is basking in the warm afterglow of a season where two significant things happened: the Paris Saint-Germain hegemony finally came to an end, after four seasons of the capital city club running away with the Ligue 1 title; and the performances of Monaco and Lyon, in reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League respectively, showed that the domestic game is in far better general health than it has been for a long time. Neutrals were delighted to witness the emergence of Monaco as champions – and arguably the most exciting side in Europe PSG’s Europe-obsessed Qatari owners got rid of Laurent Blanc at the end of last term because they had limped out of the Champions League to a not-particularly strong Manchester City. This was…

In the end, there was no drama, no twist and no doubt. A season that for much of the year had been defined by late goals was eventually decided by a very early one. In the end it came down to the last day, but just one minute and 37 seconds had gone when Isco’s pass found Cristiano Ronaldo running through. He went past Malaga keeper Carlos Kameni and rolled in the goal that set Real Madrid on their way to a first league title in five years. Madrid had known that a draw would be enough and now they were leading. Soon the surprise news came through that Barcelona were losing 1-0 at home to Eibar. Then it was 2-0. Eventually, they came back to win 4-2, but with…

The re-organisation of this year’s Libertadores Cup opened up extra slots for Brazilian and Argentinian sides – and the effects were clear from the group phase, played between the start of March and the end of May. All eight groups were topped by teams from the continent’s big two: Atletico Mineiro, Santos, Palmeiras, Gremio and Botafogo from Brazil, and an Argentinian trio of River Plate, Lanus and San Lorenzo. All of which makes it even more astonishing that Flamengo failed to reach the last 16, after the Rio club had invested heavily and were among the tournament favourites. After recent frustrations in the competition, the club’s fans were convinced that this would be their year. And they went home happy from their three home games, all of which were won.…

“What Zidane has done with Real has been spectacular, but there are things I don’t understand. I don’t know why I was banished from the team” Portuguese centre-back Pepe gives the background to his decision to quit Real Madrid for Paris Saint-Germain England won their first world youth title, overcoming Venezuela 1-0 in the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea. In his country’s first appearance in the Final of a global tournament since the 1966 World Cup, Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s firsthalf goal was enough for victory after Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman saved a second-half penalty. “This is the reward for some incredible work, some incredible sacrifices, and I do not think you can get a better feeling than what that felt like at the end of the game…

“My daughter’s face has changed colour – it looks like she’s been living in a cave” city’s spanish forward nolito reflects on his first year in Manchester 1 MARIO MANDZUKIC Juventus v Real Madrid A fantastic team goal where the ball doesn’t hit the ground for the last four touches before he volleys into the far corner. 2 JESUS CORONA Mexico v Republic of Ireland Cuts inside Daryl Horgan and curls a shot into the far corner, following a superb pass by teammate Javier Hernandez. 3 LAUTARO MARTINEZ Argentina U20s v Guinea U20s Controls the ball on his chest, on the edge of the area, before turning and shooting into the top corner. 4 DAMIAN TOLEDO Deportivo Moron v Patronato Scores with an overhead kick from a corner in an…

“They are not particularly physical and can be naive” High-profile Chinese Super League import Carlos Tevez pours scorn on the standard of players there How important is the Confederations Cup? It is a meeting of the continental champions. There will be three European teams and the other confederations will each have one representative. This is what is going to happen; for these teams it is going to be cumbersome. Joachim Low didn’t only criticise the calendar, but also the expansion to a 48-team World Cup... I also think that the Confederations Cup is too quick a competition. You have three games in seven days. That is different from the World Cup and the European Championship, where you have a first round and then the knock-out phase. The scheduling is different.…

Eight years after he founded his Academy and entered a team in the third tier of Romanian football, Gheorghe Hagi’s club are Liga 1 champions. Viitorul Constanta will enter the qualifying stage of next season’s Champions League. When the former Barcelona and Real Madrid great first told people about his plans to start a football revolution in Romania, not even he believed success would happen so quickly. A 1-0 win over CFR Cluj on the last day of the season made sure Viitorul were champions after a fierce title race against local powerhouse FCSB – the club formerly known as Steaua. Standing on the pitch, and in a trembling voice, Hagi said: “I’ve never thought this was possible. We are living historical moments and we should enjoy, we deserve to…

Invincibles: the word adorned the outside of Celtic Park on May 27 when Brendan Rodgers’ side returned home after their 2-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park. Tom Rogic’s winner had not just secured the treble – adding to the Premiership and League Cup – it sealed Celtic’s unbeaten domestic record. No Scottish side had ever done that. Not even Jock Stein’s Celtic, whose 1967 European Cup success against Internazionale had offered inspiration for Rodgers’ players. The Glasgow club celebrated the 50th anniversary of that epic day in Lisbon with singer Rod Stewart and 13,000 fans lauding the remaining members of the team at the city’s Hydro Arena. The “Lisbon Lions”, as they were dubbed, were the first northern European side to lift the trophy. A team…

While Manchester United have played many matches in difficult circumstances, the context of their Europa League showdown with Ajax was uniquely awful, coming less than two days after a terrorist bombing in their home city left 22 people dead and 59 injured. But the Final was there to be played as proof of defiance; that life must and will go on. And United illustrated the point by keeping admirably clear heads to win far more comfortably in the end than the 2-0 scoreline might suggest. For United, the match represented more than it needed, never mind access to the Champions League which had escaped them in the Premier League. For Ajax, who were probably as surprised as anyone that they were back on a great European stage, the context had…

Just as the vast majority of Bundesliga watchers predicted, Bayern Munich proved the only runner in a one-horse race. Champions-elect by Christmas and cruising to a record-breaking fifth consecutive title, they ended up 15 points clear of runners-up RB Leipzig. Under new coach Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern were not always as convincing as they would have liked; not nearly as fluent, sophisticated and flexible as they had been in the previous three years when Pep Guardiola was calling the shots. Yet still they were good enough to sweep all before them, registering only two losses (1-0 defeats at Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim), winning 25 of their 34 games, scoring more than anyone else (89) and boasting the best rearguard in the country (22 conceded). The term procession more or less sums…

Ultimately it came down to a tale of two goalkeepers: Katarzyna Kiedrzynek of challengers Paris Saint-Germain and Sarah Bouhaddi of defending champions Lyon. They had both kept clean sheets for 120 minutes of the Women’s Champions League Final. Both then made a save each in the first 14 penalties of the subsequent shoot-out. With the score at the Cardiff City Stadium tied at 6-6, and volunteers looking thin on the ground, Kiedrzynek swapped roles, but the Pole shanked her kick horribly wide. Kiedrzynek collapsed to the ground, but then had to haul herself up to stand between the sticks as Bouhaddi also traded positions. The French No1 struck the ball confidently past the deflated Kiedrzynek, then turned to run towards her team-mates who joyously engulfed her. Forty yards away another…

T he Confederations Cup offers Russia’s 2018 World Cup organisers the chance of a “dry run” ahead of next year’s finals – as well as the opportunity for further problems to be highlighted. The tournament takes place across four venues: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi. There are, however, concerns about the Zenit Arena in Saint Petersburg, which will host the opening game and Final. The pitch has been relaid for a second time after it cut up badly during the two league games that Zenit have hosted since its opening. Other concerns for the organisers include security and poor advance ticket sales. THE TEAMS European champions PORTUGAL have dropped Eder and Renato Sanches, but included new Manchester City signing Bernardo Silva, who missed last summer’s finals through injury. Hosts…

When it comes to talk of sleeping giants in football, China and India may hog the headlines but Indonesia has underachieved more than most. This year’s Liga One season is the first official domestic league season in Indonesia since 2014, a gap of three years during which political infighting, interference, corruption – which involved the FA’s chief spending time in prison on corruption charges and still being allowed to hold office – rebel leagues, rebel federations and rebel national teams all came to a head. In 2015 even the previously indifferent and indulgent FIFA stepped in to impose a ban that would last for 12 months. The build-up to the 2017 season was, therefore, filled with excitement – which was only heightened when a number of clubs went shopping for…

DIRK KUYT The retiring former Liverpool man ended his 19-year career with a hat-trick to secure Feyenoord’s first Dutch title in 18 years. STUTTGART FANS With an average of 50,692 the Bundesliga second-tier side’s average was higher than the champions of England, France, Italy and Holland. PER MERTESACKER The German defender was outstanding in his first full game for over a year as he captained Arsenal to an FA Cup Final win over Chelsea. COPENHAGEN While celebrating their Danish Cup success, Copenhagen players took the trophy into the stands and presented it to one of their disabled supporters. NILE RANGER The 25-year-old, who plays for English third-tier side Southend United, was jailed for eight months for conspiracy to defraud by obtaining bank details and transferring money. The former England under-19…

“I am afraid of what comes and I need your help. I’m not ready to say it’s over” Francesco Totti addresses supporters after playing his last game for roma It was impossible not to feel sorry for Vinicius Junior as he played his first few minutes as a senior professional. A crowd of well over 40,000 were in Rio’s Maracana stadium to see Flamengo take on Atletico Mineiro in the opening game of the Brazilian championship, a few days before a crunch Libertadores Cup game. Yet all this was overshadowed by the hope that Vinicius, one of the stars of the recent South American Under-17 Championship, would come off the bench to make his first-team debut. As the teams were announced, his name and photo were greeted by the loudest…

Eastern promise for 2030 A wind of change is blowing through Asian football. Maybe not fast enough for some people’s liking, but blowing all the same. Once upon a time Qatar’s prospective hosting of the World Cup in 2022 was seen as a standardbearer for a takeover of the game by the fabulously rich mixture of Sheikhs, Emirs and their assorted royal families. Now it looks as if the opposite may be the case; that Qatar 2022 will, instead, mark an end to the rule of the Gulf. Of course, the Emiratis and Qataris may continue to invest in western European clubs, TV channels and broadcasting rights, but the power game is shifting to the Far East. A hint was offered after the elections to FIFA Council from the Asian…

“The Argentina shirt should demand from us absolute commitment” New national coach Jorge Sampaoli lays down back-to-basic ground rules “He was a mega athlete. To hear of his passing at such a young age is truly awful” twente general manager John Van halst pays tribute to the late Ivorian midfielder cheick tiote, who used to play for the dutch side IN EUROPE PETER BOSZ left Ajax after steering the Dutch club to the 2017 Europa League Final and replaced Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund. Schalke chose 31-year-old DOMENICO TEDESCO of second-tier Erzgebirge Aue to take over from Markus Weinzierl. LEONID SLUTSKY, who coached Russia at Euro 2016 and won three Russian titles with CSKA Moscow, was appointed manager of Hull City, replacing MARCO SILVA who joined Watford. Porto named SERGIO…

When Rapid Vienna began the season with a 5-0 victory over SV Ried, their fans thought it might be the start of a title-winning campaign to celebrate the completion of their new stadium. Little did they know that, by the end of the season, that result would have more relevance in the fight against relegation than at the top of the table. Instead of ending their nine-year wait for a league title, Rapid employed three coaches, fired their sporting director and at one point endured a club record nine-match winless run as they limped home in fifth place. They did, however, reach the Austrian Cup Final, where they produced one of their best performances of the season, only to lose to a late goal against double winners Red Bull Salzburg.…

After Leicester City’s miraculous title success in 2016, normal service has been resumed in the Premier League. Chelsea, after spending heavily last summer and recruiting a new manager, won their second title in three years at a canter as the top six pulled away from the rest of the league. Much of Chelsea’s success can be attributed to the hiring of Antonio Conte. The former Italy coach took over a disillusioned squad that had finished 10th the previous season, 31 points behind champions Leicester, following the sacking of Jose Mourinho midway through the campaign. Conte’s energy and commitment quickly translated to the players, who were reinvigorated by a new tactical structure, which played to the strengths of several key signings. Chelsea’s failure to qualify for Europe left them free to…

In the end, Juventus wrapped up the domestic season with the sort of clinical efficiency that has marked their triumphal progress all season long. In the space of just four days in May, they lifted both the Italian Cup and their 33rd Serie A title. At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, it took them just 25 minutes to score twice against Lazio in the Cup Final to put the game to bed and win 2-0. Four days later, they were equally effective, leading relegation battlers Crotone 2-0 after 39 minutes of a game that they eventually won 3-0 to secure a recordbreaking sixth consecutive title. To a large extent, Juve finished their domestic season in cruise control, keeping their powder dry for the Champions League Final appointment with Real Madrid.…

French Guiana will make their first and possibly last appearance when they take part in July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA. Once one of the world’s most inactive sides, the French overseas department succeeded in qualifying for the 2017 Caribbean Cup, which doubled up as a Gold Cup qualifier, and now face Canada and Honduras in Houston, on July 7 and 11 respectively, before meeting Costa Rica in Frisco, Texas, on July 14. And that, literally, could be the end. At issue is the lack of transport links between the capital, Cayenne, and the rest of the Caribbean. “Playing in the Caribbean Cup is very expensive for us and we have some voices who say we should go with CONMEBOL as we are in South America,” says Ligue de…