Innehållsförteckning för January 2022 från World Soccer

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A report into the disorder at the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy has concluded that “ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs” could have caused death during the chaos at Wembley. Baroness Casey found that over 2,000 people accessed the stadium illegally due largely to 17 mass breaches of disabled access gates and fire doors, while a further 6,000 people would have stormed the ground if England had won the final. “We are genuinely lucky that there was not much more serious injury or worse,” said Casey. “I am clear that the primary responsibility for what went wrong at Wembley that day lies with those who lost control of their own behaviour.”…

However you look at it – tournament success, thrilling nights to remember, bald statistics, personal dignity – Gareth Southgate already stands high as one of the most admirable and accomplished managers in the history of the England national football team. The only thing missing is a trophy. Yet, as we enter the year of the 2022 World Cup, there are still many critics who prefer to doubt the credentials of Southgate. They say he is too cautious, and that his achievement of reaching the semi-final and final of the last two major tournaments was more about lucky pathways than high-class football. It seems to me absurd. Do people not remember the sterility of the Fabio Capello team, the waste of the golden generation under Sven-Goran Eriksson, the debacle of losing…

For Chelsea, and the Premier League title race, January looks a vital month, with games against Liverpool and Manchester City followed by a clash with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham. The assumption in the early weeks of the season was that it was Chelsea who would provide the main challenge to the defending champions Manchester City: a Champions League-winning team plus Romelu Lukaku seemed a winning formula. But although Chelsea have started well, it hasn’t quite worked out like that. There was a clear shift as soon as Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in January 2021. Chelsea conceded just 13 goals in 19 Premier League games under him last season as opposed to 23 in the first19. They became much better at combatting opposition set plays and, other than that freakish 5-2…

SEASON RANKINGS Cumulative votes through the season GOALKEEPERS Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) 9 Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) 5 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) 5 David Ospina (Napoli) 4 Ederson (Manchester City) 3 Alisson (Liverpool) 2 Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) 2 Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) 2 Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim) 1 Bono (Sevilla) 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) 1 Mark Flekken (Freiburg) 1 Alfred Gomis (Rennes) 1 Mike Maignan (Milan) 1 Maty Ryan (Real Sociedad) 1 DEFENDERS Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) 17 Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) 14 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) 10 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) 9 Marquinhos (PSG) 9 Ruben Dias (Manchester City) 8 Achraf Hakimi (PSG) 8 Reece James (Chelsea) 7 Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) 7 Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) 6 Thiago Silva (Chelsea) 5 David Alaba (Real Madrid) 4 Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) 4 Andy Robertson (Liverpool)…

The main boardroom at Malta’s National Stadium at Ta’ Qali is full of trophies. That would be expected in the home of many national associations, but there is some irony at this gleaming collection. The Malta Football Association (MFA) was founded in 1900, joined FIFA in1959 and made their competitive debut five years later, when the island secured independence from Britain, but the national team has not collected any senior trophies. Malta’s 3-0 win over Cyprus at Ta’ Qali in September 2021 was only their third-ever win in World Cup qualifying – and their first at home. Even the marvellous new football museum at Ta’ Qali celebrates close defeats amid a handful of memorable victories. Malta’s lack of success is harder to gauge when compared to similar sized European nations.…

What are Cameroon’s chances of winning the Africa Cup of Nations? Is there enough depth in the squad to go all the way? It’s going to be very hard for all the teams, without exception. Obviously, in order to have the goal of reaching the semi-finals or the final, we will have to work hard; we will have to be a very strong and very consistent team. As far as our chances go, the ambition will be to go as far as possible and to try to win the title. We know that we play at home and that the public will demand our presence in the final. We have to be very cool and work hard and make sure there are no mistakes along the way. As for the…

ALGERIA The holders will go into the tournament on the back of a run of 33 unbeaten matches at the end of the November World Cup qualifiers, not far off the record that Italy set in September. Success for Algeria in Egypt in 2019 was only their second in the Cup of Nations, and their first since winning on home soil in 1990, but was achieved in impressive fashion. Coach Djamel Belmadi has built a veritable “golden generation” for Algeria, rivalling the side that went to the World Cup in Spain in 1982 and beat West Germany. But he will know better than most the travails of trying to ensure consistent success in African football, and particularly in a tournament with as many potential pitfalls as in Cameroon. KEY PLAYER…

12,843 Attendance of November’s game between Notts County and Solihull Moors in England’s fifth tier – a new National League record. 8 Number of European clubs fined by UEFA for FFP breaches – Astana, CFR Cluj, CSKA Sofia, Mons Calpe, Porto, Real Betis, Santa Clara and Sporting. 30 Champions League goals for Kylian Mbappe – the youngest player, at the age of 22 years and 352 days, to hit the milestone. €40,000 Fine handed to Jude Bellingham by the German Football Association after his remarks about ref Felix Zwayer following Dortmund’s 3-2 Klassiker defeat to Bayern Munich. 9 Points deducted from Derby County for admitting breaches of EFL accounting rules, in addition to the12 they were already docked for entering administration. Fellow Championship side Reading were also deducted six points…

Africa When the draw for the group phase of the African World Cup qualifiers was made, it was immediately obvious that the heavyweight Group D clash between Cameroon and the Ivory Coast would be the highlight of the campaign, and so it proved the perfect cap to three months of frenetic action. A boisterous crowd at the newJapoma Stadium in Douala, which will be a focal point of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, watched in delight as Lyon’s Karl Toko Ekambi slammed home the ball midway through the first half for the game’s only goal to ensure top spot in the group for Cameroon. But it was the goalkeeping of Andre Onana, recently returned from a nine-month drug ban, that proved pivotal for the Indomitable Lions in a massive…

Copa Sudamericana Experience won the day as Athletico Paranaense beat fellow Brazilians Red Bull Bragantino 1-0 in Uruguay to claim the Copa Sudamericana, the continent’s Europa League equivalent. Bragantino, from upstate Sao Paulo, have come a long way since the tie-in with the global energy drinks company in 2019. They won promotion to Brazil’s first division where, in their second season, they have been performing far better than Athletico. Their focus on solid and rational management is shown by the fact that young Mauricio Barbieri is the longest-serving coach in the league. Unusually in Brazil, his team fields quick centre-backs in a high defensive line and seek to take the game to the opposition. From the southern city of Curitiba, Athletico Paranaense are not part of Brazil’s traditional elite. But,…

World Soccer has been the unrivalled authority on football around the world since 1960. Under Kelsey Media and my stewardship, we have continued to ensure the magazine remains true to the principles that have made it an institution of football journalism for over 60 years. Every issue has serious, hard-hitting opinions from the game’s most respected writers who offer their expert analysis on football’s burning issues. Our global correspondents cast the net far and wide to provide in-depth features and stunning imagery, often approaching big stories through the lens of those close to the scene to give you unprecedented access. We provide face-to-face interviews with the game’s biggest names: players, coaches, untapped talents and influential figures behind the scenes. We shine the spotlight on the talented youngsters tipped for the…

Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich1 1999 Champions League final, Nou Camp, Barcelona The1999 Champions League final was one of the most dramatic of all time – and Teddy Sheringham was right at the heart of it. After coming off the bench, he scored one goal and assisted another as Manchester United sealed an historic treble… We knew there wasn’t a lot between Bayern and us. We had drawn with them twice and they had already won the league and cup in Germany, so they were playing for the treble as well. We had our most influential player missing in Roy Keane. We had so many fantastic players, but without Keane we weren’t the same. He was our leader and driving force, as he showed against Juventus in the semi-final. We…

At the end of 2020, voting for theWorld Soccer awards was easy. Bayern Munich, spearheaded by the prolific Robert Lewandowski and expertly managed by Hansi Flick, made voting in the men’s categories straightforward, as did Lyon and their coach Jean-Luc Vasseur in the women’s categories, while Chelsea striker Pernille Harder won the inaugural Women’s Player of the Year award. This year, however, it was a bit more complicated – at least in the men’s awards – with the Champions League, Copa America and European Championship all throwing up contenders in the minds of our panel. Ultimately, voters felt that Lewandowski’s extraordinary goalscoring record made him a worthy winner, ahead of double European champion Jorginho, or Lionel Messi, who finally ended his long wait for a major international trophy. At the…

TROMSO IL Having already taken a leading role in the protests against the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Norwegian club made another statement highlighting their human rights concerns with their latest kit release. Designed in collaboration with Amnesty International, the new shirt is the first in the world to feature a QR code that, when scanned, will direct users to a website that details the working conditions in Qatar. Malcolm Bidali, a former migrant worker who was arrested in Qatar, helped promote the shirt. BRENTFORD The Premier League club have announced that they will be keeping this season’s home kit for another year. The practice of releasing new strips every season has been widely criticised, for its impact on both the environment and fans’ pockets. “Fans have told us that…

Traditionally, professional football stops around most of the planet while the World Cup is being staged. No one objects, largely because it’s generally close season in the northern hemisphere. Qatar 2022 will be different and difficult because it will not sit in the convenient European summer. The complications are clear from confirmation from the Premier League and the Football League of how next season’s schedule will be rearranged to squeeze in the historic first winter finals in the Gulf. England’s clubs provide a larger percentage of players to a World Cup than any other country, so it may be the only nation in which both the top two divisions are halted rather than just the primary competition. The Premier League season will start on August 6 – one or two…

“I’m even more handsome now than when I left! The last time that I took this microphone, it was to say that I didn’t know when my dream would end. I’m here again, still living the dream”Dani Alves announces his return to the Nou Camp “Amid the rumours, I’m telling you that I’m following the indications of the club’s doctors, undergoing tests and treatment and seeing my progress within 90 days. Always positive!”Sergio Aguero responds to rumours that he will be forced to retire by a heart condition IN EUROPE DANI ALVES became Barcelona’s first signing under new manager Xavi, returning to the club that he left in 2016 having terminated his contract at Sao Paulo in September. Manchester United appointed RALF RANGNICK as their interim manager until the end…

The lure of competing in a major tournament means there will be a bevy of new players on display at January’s Africa cup of Nations, as participating countries turn to the diaspora to beef up their squads for the tournament. It is no longer only on the dusty fields of Africa where the majority of international talent begin their journeys. As much as countries still seek their next stars on home soil, they now also actively search among the migrant communities in europe for readymade talent to bolster their chances. The French call them “Binationaux”, and players of African descent born and/or raised in europe are changing the face of the continent’s top tournament. For years now, countries that were former colonies of France and Portugal have taken advantage of…

1 Nayef AGUERD MOROCCO The 25-year-old central defender made a major impact in Ligue1 last season and has continued his outstanding performances at the back for Rennes this campaign. A product of the Mohamed VI academy in his home country, Aguerd missed out on a chance to sign for Valencia at 17, and later again at Malaga, but persevered and finally got his opportunity at Dijon. At 6ft 3ins tall, he has a commanding presence and is absolutely outstanding in the air. At Rennes his technical ability has been encouraged as well. He was still playing in Morocco when he won his first cap in 2016, but only over the last two years has he cemented his place in the national team line-up – playing every single minute of Morocco’s…

COMOROS A veritable fairy tale for the small island nation, whose colonial links with France mean they have a large migrant community in Marseille, which is where the coach and bulk of his players hail from. Comoros are one of the newest members of world football. They only joined FIFA in 2005 and first entered qualification for the Cup of Nations and World Cup in 2010. They didn’t win their first competitive international until 2016 – at their 21st attempt – when they beat Botswana 1-0 at home in the 2017 Cup of Nations preliminaries. In the five years since, their progress is remarkable and they reached their first AFCON finals after a qualifying campaign that saw them unbeaten until their last game in Egypt, by which time they had…

Of all the elite players to have been overshadowed by the astonishing achievements of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the last decade, few have remained as consistently prolific as Robert Lewandowski. He may have had to wait until beyond his 30th birthday, but the Poland marksman has now moved out of that shadow and established himself as the world’s best centre-forward. In 2020, he was rewarded for spearheading Bayern’s treble-winning outfit, recognised as the best player in the best team; the outstanding cog in an incredible machine. This year though, it’s been all about him. Other than their entirely predictable retention of the Bundesliga crown, the Bavarians failed to hit the heights of the previous season, and in doing so they proved just how much they rely on Lewandowski.…

Four of the players that helped Barca to last season’s treble feature in the top seven of this year’s Women’s World Player of the Year vote, with Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso finishing first and second on the podium respectively. It marks an incredible haul of honours for Putellas in 2021, who was crucial in Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign and subsequently became the first Spanish winner of the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and Women’s Ballon d’Or, as well as Spain Women’s Player of the Year. She’s registered over 55 goals and assists for club and country this calendar year, including a penalty in the Women’s Champions League final and a brace in the Copa de la Reina final, in which she was also named Player of the Match. The…

The celebrations were ecstatic. Dancing, singing, flag-waving, badge-kissing, players and staff jumping into each other’s arms and giving thanks to God. Through floods of tears Andisiwe Mgcoyi said: “I’m just so emotional because this is the one we wanted.” The Mamelodi Sundown Ladies striker was talking about the inaugural African Champions League, which the South African team had just won in Cairo, defeating Hasaacas Ladies, of Ghana, 2-0. Around the world, just as in the men’s game, federations are following UEFA in creating a women’s Champions League (with the exception of South America, where the Copa Libertadores Feminina began in 2009). The aim is to provide a platform and inspiration for women’s teams, leading to rising standards, interest and investment. The African competition began with 33 clubs drawn from the…

2022 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS EUROPE SECTION • 13 finals places available Group A Nov 11 – Baku Azerbaijan1 (Salahli 82) luxembourg 3 (Rodrigues 67, 90+1, S. Thill 78) Ht: 0-0. ref: Schuttengruber (Aut) azerbaijan: Mahammadaliyev – Mustafazade, Krivotsyuk, Medvedev, Qarayev, Makhmudov, Ozobic (Akhmedzade 68), Salahli (Abdullayev 83), Mutallimov, Sheydaev (Dadachov 68), Emreli (Alasgarov 83). Sent off: Mutallimov 21. luxembourg: Schon – Carlson, Chanot, Pinto, Jans (Bohnert 72), O. Thill (Olesen 88), Barreiro, Martins Pereira, Borges Sanches (Deville 57), Sinani (S. Thill 72), Rodrigues. Nov 11 – Dublin republic of ireland 0 Portugal 0 Ht: 0-0. ref: Gil Manzano (Spa) republic of ireland: Bazunu – Coleman, Duffy, Egan, Doherty, Cullen, Hendrick (Hourihane 78), Stevens (McClean 78), Robinson, McGrath (Idah 61), Ogbene (Keane 90+1). Portugal: Patricio – Semedo, Pepe,…

“Sad to see that in 2021, in France as well as in England, for some, Black people have neither names nor distinct faces”Chelsea and Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy responds to media outlets using his picture in stories about Benjamin Mendy, who has been accused and charged with six counts of rape A government-sanctioned, fan-led review of English football has made 47 recommendations to address concerns over governance of the game. The review, which was chaired by former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP, highlighted the European Super League proposal as evidence of the existential threat that many in the game currently face. “While that threat has receded – for now – the dangers facing many clubs across the country are very real,” wrote Crouch. “Football clubs are not ordinary businesses. They…

“We wish to state categorically that the allegations are frivolous, baseless and lack merit…we call on the South African FA to responsibly accept defeat”Ghana’s FA responds to calls from South Africa to replay their 2022 World Cup qualifier Spotlight on the players and coaches making waves (Red Bull Salzburg) For the second year in a row, the January transfer window rolls around with a Red Bull Salzburg player at the top of the shopping lists of Europe’s best clubs. In 2021 it was Dominik Szoboszlai, who joined RB Leipzig for €25 million; this time it looks set to be their young forward, Karim Adeyemi. Unsurprisingly, Salzburg ended 2021 with a comfortable lead at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga, with Adeyemi scoring 11 goals in 16 league games, but more…

FIT & PROPER PEOPLE By Martin Calladine and James Cave (Pitch Publishing, £12.99) In 2019, an app called OwnaFC hit the market promising football fans the chance to buy and run their own club. Just a few months later it collapsed, leaving customers hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket. Fit and Proper People tells the story of the business that was supposed to revolutionise the game, the people who lost out and the consequences suffered by those who tried to hold OwnaFC to account. TAXI FOR KIEV By Steve Deponeo (Pitch Publishing, £16.99) Taxi for Kiev: Six Strangers, Six Borders, Six Days is the true and uncensored story of six lads from very different backgrounds who had never met before but found kinship in a common goal: to…

The Gambia’s coach believes that lesser known stars could stand out in January’s tournament in Cameroon The big stars of previous AFCONs have not always been the ones that you predict. Everyone in Europe will expect the big names like Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to be the stars, but that isn’t always the case. Milan’s Ismael Bennacer was still playing for Empoli when he was Player of the Tournament in Algeria’s 2019 win. When Cameroon won back-toback AFCONs in 2000 and 2002, their star man Samuel Eto’o won neither the best player nor top scorer awards. Ivory Coast had to wait until 2015 to win, when all-time record scorer Didier Drogba had retired. Sometimes a new star can emerge alongside one of the big players, and that…

In many ways, the 2021 final between established powerhouses of the Brazilian game symbolised a new dawn in South American football: here were two emerging super-clubs, with mammoth revenue streams, vast fan bases and astute financial management, contesting the continental crown, further cementing Brazil’s domination, playing at the refurbished Estadio Centenario in front of well-heeled fans and a global TV audience. The Copa Libertadores and its final carry the romance of a spectacle in its purest form. They epitomise the madness and mayhem of the continent’s game, one of the last bastions of unchecked football passion, but times are changing. In 2018, the final was shifted to Madrid because every single cliché about Argentinian football turned out to be true – chaos ruled. “We live it as a scam,” wrote…

Algeria have broken records with their consistency since taking the last Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt in 2019, but it is again an open field when the continental championship finally kicks off in Cameroon on January 6. The continent has rarely been dominated by one country over an extended period of time; Egypt won three AFCON titles in a row from 2006 to 2010, while also failing to qualify for two World Cups in the process. Algeria’s long unbeaten run going into the tournament is no guarantee of success. Djamel Belmadi’s side might have gone 33 games without defeat, up to the conclusion of November’s World Cup qualifiers, but their recent displays were not overwhelmingly convincing and the vagaries of tournament play are such that they will be…

CAMEROON Home advantage is always handy in these tournaments, although the last hosts to win were Egypt in 2006 – and even they needed a penalty shootout to ensure success. Cameroon have plodded through since their surprise Cup of Nations triumph in Gabon in 2017, when they were not fancied and, truth be told, rode a wave of some good fortune before taking the trophy. This generation is far removed from the all-conquering teams of the 1980s or the era of Samuel Eto’o, when they were back-to-back winners in 2000 and 2002. But there is the hope they can build momentum and provide a credible challenge for the title. KEY PLAYER Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has never been consistent in making himself available for Cameroon but, with possible World Cup qualification…

MAKING OF MESSI As Messi mania swept football, World Soccer was there every step of the way, and this special 100-page bookazine tracks Leo’s amazing journey with club and country. Single issue: £7.99 (print) or £6.99 (digital) shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/list/publication/g/WSP GREATEST RIVALRIES From Rome to Cairo, Glasgow to Buenos Aires, Milan to Shanghai and Moscow to Rio de Janeiro, this edition showcases some of the biggest rivalries in football. Single issue: £7.99 (print) or £6.99 (digital) shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/list/publication/g/WSP FACE TO FACE This issue features a collection of interviews with footballing icons, including Maradona, Kaka, Zidane, Xavi, Ronaldo, Cruyff, Sacchi, Pele, Klinsmann, Shearer and Wenger. Single issue: £7.99 (print) or £6.99 (digital) shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/list/publication/g/WSP HISTORY OF THE EUROS Published specifically to coincide with the European Championship’s 60th anniversary, World Soccer chronicles the history of the…

Asia History was always going to be made in the AFC Champions League final on November 23 as Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and South Korea’s Pohang Steelers met in Riyadh. These were the only two teams that had won three Asian titles and one of them was going to make it four. As most expected, that team was Al Hilal, who won 2-0 to send 50,000 or so fans at the King Fahd International Stadium not only happy but also free from stress after a comfortable victory. With the final taking place on home turf and Pohang’s poor domestic form going into the final (the team had lost seven of their previous nine league games), Hilal were always favourites. The 17-time Saudi champions, who had won the Champions League…

It’s quicker and easier to complete online at worldsoccer.com/survey ABOUT YOU AND WORLD SOCCER 1. What is your gender? ⁕ Male ⁕ Female ⁕ I’d prefer not to say ⁕ Other (please specify) 2. What age are you? ⁕ 14-19 ⁕ 20-29 ⁕ 30-39 ⁕ 40-49 ⁕ 50-59 ⁕ 60-69 ⁕ 70+ 3. Where do you reside? ⁕ United Kingdom ⁕ Europe ⁕ North America ⁕ Central America/Caribbean ⁕ South America ⁕ Africa ⁕ Asia ⁕ Australia/Oceania 4. What social media channels do you use? (tick all that apply) ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter ⁕ Instagram ⁕ YouTube ⁕ TikTok ⁕ Pinterest ⁕ Reddit ⁕ None (I don’t use social media) 5. Do you currently follow World Soccer on social media on any of the following channels? (tick all that apply) ⁕ Facebook ⁕…

EUROPE 2021-22 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Group stage Group A Nov 24 – Manchester Manchester City 2 (Sterling 63, Jesus 76) Paris saint-Germain1 (Mbappe 50) Ht: 0-0. ref: Orsato (Ita) Nov 24 – Brugge Club brugge 0 rb leipzig 5 (Nkunku12, 90+3, Forsberg17 pen, 45+1, Silva 26) Ht: 0-4. ref: Massa (Ita) Dec 7 – Leipzig rb leipzig 2 (Szoboszlai 24, A. Silva 71) Manchester City1 (Mahrez 76) Ht: 1-0. ref: Scharer (Sui) Dec 7 – Paris PsG 4 (Mbappe 2, 7, Messi 38, 76 pen) Club brugge1 (Rits 68) Ht: 3-0. ref: Gil Manzano (Spa) Final standings Group B Nov 24 – Liverpool liverpool 2 (Thiago 52, Salah 70) Porto 0 Ht: 0-0. ref: Zwayer (Ger) Nov 24 – Madrid atletico Madrid 0 Milan1 (Messias 87) Ht: 0-0. ref: Vincic…