Innehållsförteckning för October 2019 från World Soccer

DENNIS SALANOVIC After Liechtenstein had conceded 46 goals without scoring in their previous 19 qualifiers for either the World Cup or the Euros, the 23-year-old netted a late equaliser to give his country an unlikely 1-1 draw away to Greece. ANGEL DI MARIA Scored twice against his old club as Paris Saint-Germain beat Real Madrid for the first time in 25 years, to secure a 3-0 home win in the Champions League. REZA GHOOCHANNEJHAD Became the first player in Eredivisie history to score four goals as a substitute. The Iranian came on in the 56th minute with his club PEC Zwolle trailing RKC Waalwijk 2-1 and helped them to a 6-2 victory. SERGIO RAMOS With Spain comfortably ahead in an eventual 4-0 victory over Faroe Islands, their captain – who…

Saudi-Qatar row shows no sign of ending The Club World Cup only has another 14 months to run – December this year and December next year – before it heads the way of the Confederations Cup. It will, however, be succeeded in time by Gianni Infantino’s revamp. With 24 teams. Then 32. Then 36… Originally the idea of a world club cup was proposed by CONMEBOL. In the late 1950s, envious of UEFA’s European Champions Cup and highly confident in the superiority of their own clubs – in the days when South American teams did not have to sell their teenagers to Europe – the confederation issued a challenge. Uruguay’s Penarol and Santos of Brazil were the continent’s initial flag-bearers before the clashes between different cultures, never mind different clubs,…

“I live day to day. I didn’t realise being a national team coach was so boring” Gustavo Matosas on resigning as boss of Costa Rica Rudi GUTENDORF (1926-2019) The holder of the world record for coaching more teams than anyone else – although even he himself could not decide on whether it was 54 or 55 teams – in 32 countries across five continents, Gutendorf’s career in the dugout spanned half a century and saw him lead nine clubs in his native Germany as well as 18 national sides, including Australia, China and Fiji. Born in Koblenz, he played for his home-town club, TuS Neuendorf, and found his way into coaching by accident. While convalescing in Davos after a lung infection, he heard that Blue Stars Zurich needed a coach.…

The prototype for a coach of an African national team used to be pretty standard. The grizzly, hardened local veteran; the cynical import whose options had largely run out elsewhere; or the young Frenchman seeking to make a name for himself. However, the success of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations winner opens the door for a new wave of leaders who have their feet planted firmly in both Africa and Europe. Belmadi is a member of a diaspora generation that is increasingly the bedrock of African football. Born in Europe to African parents, they are schooled in a professional structure, but with a feel and an empathy for the peculiarities of the continent. It was no accident that the 43-year-old from the suburbs of Paris – whose footballing education…

It is early days in the Primeira Liga but already the story of the Portuguese season is shaping up to be Famalicao, the newly promoted club whose victory away to Sporting in Lisbon confirmed their position at the top of the table after six matches. The club from the small town of Vila Nova de Famalicao, near Braga in northern Portugal, are back in the top flight for the first time for 25 years. They had previously spent six seasons in the Primeira Liga, the most recent season being 1993-94, after which they dropped down the divisions, falling as low as the regional fifth tier in 2008-09. With a stadium holding just 5,300 it would be easy to portray Famalicao as an all-too-rare fairytale in a modern game tarnished by…

With just six goals in five games, the Republic of Ireland are the lowestscoring group leaders so far. But despite their limitations, Mick McCarthy’s side are well placed to make it to next summer’s finals. They are making a habit of late equalisers, with David McGoldrick’s header salvaging a point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Dublin to maintain their unbeaten record. Another late header, from defender Shane Duffy, had previously earned a draw away to Denmark in June. The Republic’s qualifying campaign opened with laboured 1-0 wins in Gibraltar and at home to Georgia, and McCarthy’s men still have to travel to Switzerland and host Denmark, but qualification from one of the tightest groups is in their hands. They are in a three-way battle with the Swiss and…

The first goal on the road to Wembley 2021 and the Final of the Women’s European Championship was scored in the Middle East by a 21-year-old Floridian who is at college in California. Not very European you might think, but Keren Goor attended school and undertook army service in Israel – long regarded as being in Europe by football administrators – and it was in the Ramat Gan district of Tel Aviv that she scored Israel’s opening goal against Italy. The Azzurre eventually went on to win 3-2 in the first of nine openinground victories in the nine ties played by those European nations who reached this year’s Women’s World Cup. Those results suggest that qualifying shocks will be rare as the continent’s attention turns towards England and the Euro…

From the highs of 61,000 fans attending a Sydney derby in 2016 and the buzz over the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero four years earlier, to the deep troughs that have seen the demise of two expansion clubs after just two and three seasons respectively, the soap opera that is Australia’s A-League sets out on its 15th season with the clubs themselves now running the competition. After three years of political in-fighting with the clubs battling Football Federation Australia for control – fought mostly over securing a larger slice of the television money – the A-League simply cannot afford another year of stagnation. To that end, the league has expanded from 10 clubs to 11 this season, with a further team to be added in 12 months’ time. This year’s…

The Euro 2020 qualifying campaign takes centre stage this month, as the final, crucial matches loom into view. The size of the finals tournament means there are unlikely to be many big-name casualties in the preliminaries – in contrast to the 2018 World Cup – but the return of Italy and Holland as serious contenders offers an opportunity to take an in-depth look at each group and the most exciting players that have emerged over the past year (page 27), Our cover star Eden Hazard (page 52) is one of a number of potential stars of next summer’s tournament. Certainly, the Belgium side which he leads and who look certain to qualify, will be among the favourites irrespective of what happens in the remaining qualifying matches. Next summer’s “pan-European” finals…

“You have to live with regrets in life. We were in discussions with Messi when we bought Fabregas because he was his friend” Arsene Wenger reveals Arsenal came close to signing a teenage Lionel Messi Erling HALAND Few teenagers have had more impressive Champions League debuts than the Norwegian striker, whose three goals for Red Bull Salzburg in their 6-2 thrashing of Genk set a host of new records. The 19-year-old became the youngest player in European club competition history to score a first-half hat-trick. He also became the first teen to score more than once on his Champions League debut since Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, against Fenerbahce, in 2004. Before his Champions League debut, Haland had notched 11 league goals in seven games for defending Austrian champions Salzburg –…

WINNERS CRISTIANO RONALDO Four goals for Portugal in their 5-1 victory over Lithuania made him the all-time leading goalscorer in European Championship qualifying games with 25. GUINEA-BISSAU Back-to-back victories over Sao Tome e Principe gave them their first World Cup qualifying wins since 1996. SEVILLA The team were early leaders of La Liga under former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui. LOSERS BRAZIL Suffered their first international defeat for 17 games when Peru beat them 1-0. UMARU BANGURA Fans attacked his home in Freetown after his injury-time penalty miss against Liberia saw Sierra Leone exit the World Cup. LIVERPOOL A 2-0 defeat at Napoli meant that Jurgen Klopp’s team became the first defending champions to lose their opening Champions League match of the following campaign since Milan in 1994.…

How many gifted kids did Newcastle miss because of Peter Beardsley? Peter Beardsley has been properly and all too belatedly punished for his misdemeanours. But what of Newcastle United, his club? A seven-month suspension for abusing black players will presumably mean a total future absence from the game, but Newcastle themselves cut an abysmally poor, even self-destructive, profile in this horrid affair. Beardsley’s offences go back at least 16 years, during which time he escaped any sanction, let alone dismissal, by the club. But in his bigoted behaviour he ensured that many a promising young footballer was demoralised and lost to the club. Newcastle were clearly their own saboteurs, losing who knows how many young players who could have contributed to their success “We regret the outcome,” stated the FA…

The repercussions from the match-fixing epidemic that Wilson Perumal instigated across Africa continue to deliver sanctions, with the former Nigeria player and coach the latest – and by far the most high profile – of those to be punished. The 52-year-old has been banned for life by FIFA for his involvement, when coach of Nigeria, in a concocted result against Argentina, in Abuja in June 2011. Referee Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger awarded two controversial penalties during the game, with Victor Obinna scoring for Nigeria in the 27th minute and Mauro Boselli on target for Argentina with the last kick of the match. So contrived were the match official’s efforts to ensure a consolation goal for Argentina in a 4-1 defeat that he added seven minutes of stoppage time to the…

In a special feature, we take a look at the qualifying groups and the standout performers so far KEY DATES 22.11.19 Play-off draw 30.11.19 Final tournament draw 26.03.20 Play-off semi-finals 31.03.20 Play-off finals 12.06.20 Opening game (Olimpico, Rome) 12.07.20 Final (Wembley, London) LIKELY PLAY-OFF TEAMS (based on current standings) Path A Switzerland, Holland, Iceland, Bulgaria/Israel/Hungary* Path B Bosnia, Austria, Wales, Bulgaria/Israel/Hungary* Path C Scotland, Norway, Serbia, Bulgaria/Israel/Hungary* Path D Georgia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Belarus *In the current scenario, a draw would decide which of Bulgaria, Israel or Hungary would fill the empty slot in Path C, which would compete in Path B and which would go into Path A…

The South American bid to stage the 2030 World Cup is based on the idea of celebrating the centenary of the tournament. With the inaugural version having been held in Uruguay in 1930, there is an undoubted romantic appeal in going back to the source. However, with only one city of note, Uruguay could not possibly stage a modern World Cup on its own. The obvious move, then, was to bring in Argentina as co-host. To widen the base of support, Chile and Paraguay have also been included in a campaign that has been up and running for a while. But now there is a rival South American bid for 2030 being discussed. Ecuador president Lenin Moreno is the man behind a tournament idea that would be shared with Colombia…

2022 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS AFRICA SECTION (5 finals places available) 1st round 1st legs Sep 4 - Bujumbura Burundi 1 (Amissi 81) Tanzania 1 (Msuva 85) HT: 0-0. Ref: Ntale (Tog) Sep 4 - Djibouti Djibouti 2 (Mahabeh pen 45+4, Hamza 74) Eswatini 1 (S Mamba 56) HT: 1-0. Ref: Belakhouas (Tun) Sep 4 - Asmara Eritrea 1 (Suleiman 65) Namibia 2 (Shalulile 50, E Tesfay og 58) HT: 0-0. Ref: Moussa (Ngr) Sep 4 - Bahir Dar Ethiopia 0 Lesotho 0 Ref: Maarouf (Egy) Sep 4 - Paynesville Liberia 3 (Terrence Tisdell pen 18, Sangare pen 82, S Johnson 88) Sierra Leone 1 (Quee 56) HT: 1-0. Ref: Houngnandande (Ben) Sep 4 - Belle Vue Maurel Mauritius 0 Mozambique 1 (Telinho 10) HT: 0-1. Ref: Gatogato (Brd) Sep 4…

“If that takes place, we won’t be sending any more players to the national team” Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness threatens drastic action if Germany replace keeper Manuel Neuer with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called on Iran to allow female fans to attend the country’s first home game of the 2022 World Cup qualifying competition, against Cambodia on October 10 “We need to have women attending,” says Infantino. “We have been assured that as of the next international game of Iran…women will be allowed to enter football stadiums. This is something very important – in 40 years this has not happened, with a couple of exceptions.” Infantino’s comments followed the death of Sahar Khodayari, who was arrested for trying to go to a match disguised as…

Low’s time has been and gone Arsene Wenger learned the hard way that even the most admired and respected manager can stay in a job too long. In fact, the more admiration and respect they earn, the more likely they are to stay when they should depart with honour. For Wenger and his suffering final years at Arsenal, now read Joachim Low fighting against the tide as national coach of Germany. Low’s 13th year in charge is proving more than just unlucky; it appears to be a monumental mistake when he could have left for an invigorating new challenge as the main man at Real Madrid. Few in history can match an international record that has seen Low win the World Cup in 2014, lose in the Final of Euro…

“Winning the cup was the trigger. It was a secondary competition and it put Champions League qualification at risk” Marcelino believes he was sacked by Valencia owner Peter Lim for winning the Spanish Cup IN EUROPE Former Spain under-21 coach ALBERT CELADES replaced Marcelino in charge of Valencia. His most recent position was as an assistant to Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid. QUIQUE SANCHEZ FLORES returned to manage Watford for a second time after Javi Gracia was sacked with the side bottom of the Premier League. Former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper OLIVER KAHN will join the club’s board in January and eventually replace the chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, in December 2021. AFRICA RENE WEILER replaced Martin Lasarte as coach of Egypt’s Al Ahly. HOSSAM EL BADRY, who led Al Ahly…

Until a few weeks ago, not many people in Spain had heard of Ansu Fati, the 16-year-old winger from Guinea-Bissau who has enjoyed an extraordinary rise since making his Barcelona debut in August. In September, aged 16 years and 321 days, he became the youngest player to appear for Barca in the Champions League. He had made his first-team debut the previous month, coming off the bench against Real Betis, and a week later he scored his first goal, against Osasuna, again as a substitute. He made his first senior start against Valencia, scoring a second-minute goal and also providing an assist, and then played an hour in a goalless draw at Borussia Dortmund. “There’s going to be a lot of hype with Ansu – a lot,” said Barcelona coach…

Newly arrived in Serie A, Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku must be wondering to himself about the mindset of some Italian fans, and indeed commentators. In only his second game since joining inter from Manchester United, the 26-year-old was subjected to racist abuse away at Cagliari as he stepped up to take what turned out to be a match-winning penalty in a 2-1 victory. The next day, Lukaku aired his frustration on Instagram, writing: “Many players in the last month have suffered from racial abuse. I did too yesterday. “Ladies and gentlemen it is 2019 and instead of going forward we’re going backwards.” He spoke of the “shame” of racial discrimination, calling on “football federations all over the world to react strongly on all cases of discrimination”. Yet, the following Monday,…

You were Mykhaylo Formenko’s assistant at Euro 2016. How did you approach that first coaching assignment? It was my first experience. I joined his technical staff just before the tournament. It was a good experience, being on the staff and learning from those that are in competition with you. Formenko was a conservative coach. How did you set about building the team after Euro 2016? The team plays with my views and ideas. We tried to develop the players to play the way we do today. We try to control the possession, build the game and play attractive football. In the last three years Ukrainian players have been improving. We have changed the mentality of the national team, you know, to really develop and display all their technical qualities on…

AUG 20, 2007 Plays the first of three games for Belgium at the Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, against Tunisia. NOV 24, 2007 Makes his debut for Lille, coming on as a sub against Nancy. SEP 20, 2008 A goal against Auxerre makes him the youngest scorer in Lille’s history. NOV 18, 2008 Makes his international debut, as a sub against Luxembourg, and becomes the eighth-youngest to play for Belgium. JUL 30, 2009 Gets his first goal in continental club competition, against Serbia’s Sevojno in the Europa League. MAY 14, 2011 Wins the French Cup as Lille beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Final. MAY 21, 2011 Lille clinch the Ligue 1 title with a 2-2 draw away to PSG. SEP 14, 2011 Makes his Champions League debut in a…