Brazil 2014 RUSSIA FABIO CAPELLO ENERGISED BY

Transcrição

ISSUE 35, 20 JUNE 2014
ENGLISH EDITION
Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Since 1904
RUSSIA
FABIO CAPELLO ENERGISED
BY EXPECTATION
CROATIA
STAR SUPPORTER
DAVOR SUKER
CHILE
REWARDED FOR
ATTACKING INTENT
Brazil 2014
MAGICAL
MANAUS
W W W.FIFA.COM/ THEWEEKLY
CONTENTS
6
19
North and
Central America
35 members
www.concacaf.com
Rumble in the Jungle
Reserved friendliness, breathtaking nature and
thrilling football are just three things that set
Manaus apart during the World Cup. Our writer
Thomas Renggli sets out to investigate this
jungle metropolis and recounts the history of a
city in which there is no escaping the heat.
South America
10 members
www.conmebol.com
Sepp Blatter: A great attacking spectacle
The FIFA President waxes lyrical about the World
Cup’s goal-laden start and praises the coaches
for their readiness to take risks, all the while
convinced that “the best is yet to come!”
29
S napshots of Brazil
Our editorial team give their very personal
impressions of the World Cup, describing the
moments that have particularly moved and
inspired them so far.
30
“ I still want to be out there winning
matches”
Davor Suker still gets restless whenever he
watches a football match. In The FIFA Weekly
interview, the Croatian Football Federation
president discusses his time as a player and the
ambitions of the current national team.
14
Chile
Alexis Sanchez and his team
defeated Spain 2- 0 to send the
defending champions home.
Magical Manaus
On the cover this week we feature a
celebrating Brazilian. The euphoria in
Seleção country shows no signs of
abating.
World Cup 2014: Groups A-C
Group A
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2
T H E F I FA W E E K LY
Group B
Group C
Brazil
Spain
Colombia
Croatia
Netherlands
Greece
Mexico
Chile
Côte d’Ivoire
Cameroon
Australia
Japan
Getty Images
Guillaume Horcajuelo / EPA
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
Europe
54 members
www.uefa.com
Africa
54 members
www.cafonline.com
Asia
46 members
www.the-afc.com
Oceania
11 members
www.oceaniafootball.com
24
Russia
Despite a faltering start to
the World Cup, Russia coach
Fabio Capello is still confident
that his side can reach the
Round of 16.
14
Germany
Thomas Muller practically
defeated Portugal singlehandedly before Chancellor
Angela Merkel joined in the
post-match celebrations.
17
Nigeria
Stephen Keshi is renowned for
discipline and structure, and
after the Super Eagles'
opening 0-0 draw with Iran,
his side need those characteristics more than ever.
World Cup 2014: Groups D-H
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Uruguay
Switzerland
Argentina
Germany
Belgium
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Por tugal
Algeria
England
France
Iran
Ghana
Russia
Italy
Honduras
Nigeria
USA
Korea Republic
3
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UNCOVERED
Heart in the right place World Cup host city Manaus’ love of football is clear to see.
Lost in the footballing jungle
“R
I
F
A
umble in the Jungle!” Four group matches are being
played in the city of Manaus, located deep within the
Brazilian jungle, but what is this legendary city really all about? Thomas Renggli lost himself in the streets of
this special metropolis and experienced the immense
warmth of its people.
IFA President Sepp Blatter discusses the high temperatures in his weekly column, saying: “There was much
speculation that the unique conditions in Brazil could
put a damper on matches,” before adding: “Instead, we’re
seeing the exact opposite.”
F
nd then, of course, there is the matter of reigning
champions Spain, resigned to an early exit after just
two matches. The question now is: Who will be their
successors to football’s biggest crown? Å
Sarah Steiner
Ivan Canabrava / Reuters
abio Capello and his Russia team are under pressure, but
the Italian tactician still believes his side can progress.
We took a closer look at Russian football and spoke to
the national team’s successful coach.
n this week’s review of the World Cup camps, news that
Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher has woken from his coma spurred Germany on to a 4-0 win over
Portugal. Elsewhere, Chile have already qualified for the
Round of 16, Greece’s Theofanis Gekas is playing for the
last major contract of his career, and the Nigerian team
have their backs to the wall.
5
MANAUS
Jungle
football
No other World Cup host city has provoked
as much debate as Manaus, located deep in the
heart of the Amazon. Yet as we discovered on
a sweat-inducing trip to the rainforest,
it is impossible not to fall for this town’s charm.
6
imago
MANAUS
Water!
Italy's Daniele De Rossi
quenches his thirst
7
MANAUS
Cold shower
Wayne Rooney could not save England from
an opening match defeat in Manaus
A logical outcome
Playing football off Manaus’ Ponta
Negra beach
8
he experience of attending a
World Cup match in Manaus is
an odyssey unlike any other, and
is not one for the faint-hearted
or heat-averse football fan. Imagine playing the game in a sauna or a steel casting foundry and
you begin to get a feeling for the
temperatures involved. Even for
those not taking part out on the
pitch, a trip to the city is an
eye-opening adventure. The
landscape itself shifts the meaning of everyday life into a rather different sphere of significance, while the aeroplane’s descent upon
arrival is simply breathtaking: the Amazon
looks less like a river than it does a vast
ocean in the middle of the rainforest. Yet
even such stunning views were not enough to
silence the travelling England fans, who
blasted out a rendition of ‘Football’s coming
home’ on the plane’s final approach.
However, they were wise enough to pay
heed to the local guides, who warned visitors
of the domestic dangers with tales of
Wet hair
The briefest of respites
from World Cup fever
Barren Staples/Reuters, Guillermo Arias/Keystone, Pio Figueiroa (2)
T
Thomas Renggli, Manaus
MANAUS
bad-tempered crocodiles, poisonous spiders
and hungry piranhas, while strongly recommending a yellow fever vaccination.
The probability of catching malaria is also
significantly higher here than in the rest of
the country.
Yet those able to push aside thoughts of
an emergency visit to hospital – and those
not required to stifle Andrea Pirlo and Mario
Balotelli – they were lucky enough to discover a different, surprising side to the World
Cup, and indeed to Brazil itself. Compared to
the more sophisticated, headline-grabbing
attractions on the beach front in Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, the biggest settlement in the
Amazon with a population of two million,
appears to hail from another world entirely.
The city’s isolated location seems to shape
the character of its inhabitants and visitors
are met with a reserved friendliness that offers a stark contrast to the typical clichés of
loud, gaudy Brazilians. The pace of life is
slower, almost muted. The native Indian population is warm-hearted and shy in welcoming guests, as if they were trying to apologise
for the fact that life here is not a pulsating,
round-the-clock fiesta.
Andrea Pirlo
taught England
a lesson in
32-degree heat.
Authentic ‘rumble in the jungle’
It may not have been a boxing match, but England’s fixture against Italy was every bit as
much a ‘rumble in the jungle’ as Muhammad
Ali versus George Foreman was, only this time
it was Wayne Rooney and Co against Pirlo’s
Italy. Come the final whistle it was the 35-yearold Italian veteran with the flowing, unkempt
beard who was celebrating, having given a per-
formance that was a lesson both in economy of
effort and intelligence. In temperatures hovering around 32 degrees Celsius with 90 per cent
humidity, Pirlo dosed his energy carefully and
ran no further than he needed to, but was still
hugely influential. The next four teams to appear in Manaus; USA, Portugal, Honduras and
Switzerland, would be well advised to study his
display as an example of how to play football
in extreme conditions. It was telling that with
the English players long since flagging and
gasping for air as the game entered stoppage
time, Pirlo was still able to rifle in a free-kick
that cannoned off the crossbar. “A lot of our
players were suffering from cramp and that’s
something we’ll have to cope with,” said England manager Roy Hodgson of the physical toll
the game took on his squad.
Hodgson himself was rather more adept at
dealing with the heat. While his young attackers Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge expended their energy in the first
half through a mixture of interplay, cockiness
and carelessness, the 66-year-old sat in the
shade with statesmanlike composure, leaving
his assistants to tweak on-field matters from
the technical area.
Camping atmosphere
There is always a Brazilian
emblem to be seen somewhere
9
Water break
Italian captain Andrea Pirlo
cools off
Flags doubling as
sunshades
The streets of Manaus
10
Hodgson’s Italian counterpart Cesare Prandelli, who had prepared his troops for the stifling conditions by sending them to saunas in
Florence, was considerably more active on the
touchline before reaching his limit. “We had to
slow our rhythm down in order to get our
breath back,” said the coach. “Fortunately the
officials were wise enough to occasionally stop
the game for drink breaks. But playing football
in these conditions is crazy.” The heat was too
much even for the most hot-headed member of
the Italian ensemble, Mario Balotelli: “I’ve
played a lot of matches in hot weather but never when it’s been like this. If the climate were
the same everywhere they’d have to introduce
time-outs.”
In football there are no binding rules regarding the maximum temperatures in which
the game can be played, although fans old
enough to remember the ‘Heat battle of Lausanne’ at the 1954 World Cup would argue there
should be. Switzerland hosted Austria at La
Pontaise stadium and by the time the players
took to the pitch under a blazing sun, temperatures had soared to 40 degrees.
Austrian goalkeeper Kurt Schmied suffered
sunstroke in the first half but had to stay on be-
Bumper crop
Two street traders wait
for customers
Fabrice Coffrini/Afp, Bruno Kelly/Reuters, Reinaldo Coddou H./fotogloria, Pio Figueiroa
MANAUS
MANAUS
cause the rules at the time did not allow for substitutions. Schmied played on as if in a trance; a
staggering, glazed-eyed spectre powerless to stop
Switzerland scoring three goals in eight minutes.
It did not occur to anybody that the ailing
players might benefit from a drink break. Instead, Austria’s masseur took matters into his
own hands and stood behind the goal and tried
to keep Schmied cool by plying him with wet
sponges and water. It was not long before the
Swiss ran out of steam, allowing Austria to pull
level within four minutes. In the closing stages
Switzerland’s Roger Bocquet collapsed on the
pitch and the hosts eventually lost 7-5 in what
remains the highest-scoring World Cup match
in history. Such scenes are unlikely to be repeated over the next three and a half weeks,
jungle football or not.
Mystical location
“It’s always 40 degrees in Manaus, but heat is
a lot better than the cold,” said Quanita, a
worker stationed at the city airport who is
employed alongside her mother to aid foreign
tourists for the duration of the World Cup.
The 22-year-old helps escort visitors from the
arrivals hall to the bus station, despite the
Italy's sauna
visits prepared
them for
conditions in
Manaus.
straightforward route and clearly-visible signposts making her presence largely unnecessary. Yet Quanita fulfils her role with a
warmth that makes you want to stay and enjoy the city’s wild charm until the end of the
tournament, if not longer.
It was not always this way. During the
rubber boom towards the end of the 19th
century, Manaus was one of the wealthiest
cities in the world and had direct shipping
routes to Liverpool and New York. Today
Manaus can only be reached either by plane
or by boat, with no train lines or roads passing through here. The only paved street in
and out of the city leads to Venezuela. “We
live on an island here,” said Elder, a local office clerk. “I was born and raised in Manaus.
I’ve never been to Rio de Janeiro.” In conversation with the 26-year-old it becomes increasingly clear why the World Cup is being
hosted in such a mystical location. And as
visitors do not usually tend to get as far as
Manaus, the city began extending invitations for them to arrive. Tax breaks were offered to multinational companies, with Sony,
Samsung, Honda and Yamaha all opening
factories in Manaus as a result. That in turn
has given job security to the local population, as well as raising the standard of living.
Furthermore, duty-free shopping is available
in the city centre, even if the cost of basic
goods is higher than in the rest of the country due to Manaus’ remote location.
The opera house
Caruso only sang there in
Herzog's film Fitzcarraldo
11
Only eight countries have ever
lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
Yet over 200 have been
winners with FIFA.
As an organisation with 209 member
associations, our responsibilities do not end
with the FIFA World Cup™, but extend to
safeguarding the Laws of the Game, developing
football around the world and bringing hope to
those less privileged.
Our Football for Hope Centres are one example
of how we use the global power of football to
build a better future.
www.FIFA.com/aboutfifa
MANAUS
Michael Regan/The FA/via Getty Images
Manaus is not your typical football venue,
as many of the more intrepid visitors have discovered to their delight. No World Cup host
city is more exciting or surprising than this
jungle metropolis, where the dark waters of the
Negro river and the clearer waters of the Solimoes flow side by side to create one of the Amazon’s most majestic sights.
In the city’s heyday only the very best was
considered good enough for Manaus. The Teatro Amazonas, the opera house, stems from
that bygone period and would provide a stage
for only the greatest tenors to perform on. A
large part of the construction materials for
the building arrived from Europe, with the
tiles for the roof shipped in from Germany,
the cobblestone for the courtyard imported
from Portugal, while the metal handrails in
the gallery and the ceiling frescos are products of Italian craftsmanship. However, today
the building stands as a relic of a long-forgotten era. There is no longer any semblance of
an operatic atmosphere in the city; instead
the bustle of everyday life has taken over and
the streets are now filled with countless stalls
selling everything from bananas to jeans and
plastic toys.
English presence
The bumpy, weather-beaten pitch at the A rena
da Amazonia provided the platform for Pirlo’s
masterclass, much to the dismay of the thousands of sweltering English fans. They had
arrived, if the inscriptions on their flags were
anything to go by, from all corners of the British Isles: Birmingham, Wigan, Tranmere,
Lemington Spa and Ellesmere Port. Some
were rather more creative, with a Stoke contingent holding aloft a banner reading ‘Forgive me Delilah’ and ‘Stokies Here, Stokies
There’; a group from Wigston displaying a flag
reading ‘Where you’re smiling’, and some
Sheffield United supporters choosing ‘Blades
up the Amazon’.
Yet the weather seemed to affect those in
the stands as much as it did the players on the
pitch. Only once was a heartfelt version of ‘God
save the Queen’ heard throughout the 90 minutes, belted out after England had levelled the
score at 1-1. The only injury of the day had nothing to do with the heat, however: team physio
Gary Lewin celebrated England’s equaliser so
fervently that he dislocated his ankle and had
to be carried away on a stretcher.
Manaus will host two more group stage
matches: on Sunday USA face Portugal and on
Wednesday Switzerland take on Honduras.
Visitors will then leave the city as swiftly as
they arrived and the jungle will take over once
more, clawing back everything in its reach. The
The agony of cramp
Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini (l) and Claudio Marchisio help
England’s Raheem Sterling to stretch out
The only injury of
the day had
nothing to do
with the heat.
planned Transamazonica highway will almost
certainly be one of its victims and it is already
covered in undergrowth, having only been partially completed.
In the original ‘rumble in the Jungle’ on 30
October 1974, Ali knocked out Foreman in the
eighth round to regain the world title in Kin-
shasa. Just as he never agreed to a rematch,
England are unlikely to meet Italy again at Brazil 2014 as the only way the two former World
Cup winners can square off once more is in the
Final on 13 July in Rio. Another fixture b
etween
the two in Manaus is, regrettably, even more
improbable. Å
England’s group matches
Italy (lost 2-1), Uruguay (19 June),
Costa Rica (24 June)
13
NEWS FROM THE TR AINING CAMPS
Win it for Schumi
Sarah Steiner is an editor at
The FIFA Weekly
Some things are more important than football, even for a
side heading into a crucial
group-stage clash in the World Cup. With just
hours to go before their tournament opener
against Portugal, the German squad received
the welcome news that countryman Michael
Schumacher had awoken from a coma. The
seven-time Formula One world champion was
seriously injured last December while on a
skiing holiday and has spent most of the last
six months unconscious in a hospital in Grenoble. The 45-year-old has now been taken to
Switzerland where he will begin rehabilitation.
The German players were all overjoyed at the
announcement, and none more so than Lukas
Podolski: “What wonderful news! Get well soon
Schumi! I was absolutely delighted to hear the
info.” The team remains hopeful that Michael
might be well enough to tune in to one or two
of their matches in Brazil. “Winning would
certainly be one way of bringing a smile to his
face,” added the Polish-born striker.
The news spurred the team on as they ran out
4-0 winners over Portugal in Group G, the
so-called “Group of Death”. Three strikes
from Thomas Muller and a header by Mats
Hummels sealed maximum points for the
Germans in a game in which Cristiano Ronaldo & Co were unable to halt their opponent’s
ruthless attacking display.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel watched
the game from the stands before joining her
compatriots in the dressing room to celebrate,
her red and white clothing a close match for
the national team’s colours. A selfie of Podolski posing with the Chancellor soon found its
way onto the Internet as the celebrations
continued. A German footballing fairy tale
now appears well within their grasp.
Chile
The team slogan of “One country, one team,
one dream” underlines their intentions. Even
Germany’s rivals are convinced they can go
far this summer. Diego Maradona revealed
to Venezuelan television that Die Mannschaft was close to perfection, while fellow
Argentinian Lionel Messi said that it was the
best performance he had seen at the tournament so far. R&B singer Rihanna also expressed her admiration on Twitter: “Germany
is too real today.”
The buses used to ferry
national teams from one
place to another at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
are each adorned with upbeat slogans,
chosen by popular vote on the internet.
Chile’s fans went for “Chi, chi, chi! Le, le, le!
Viva Chile!”, words of encouragement that
spur the players on every time they step on
board. For a nation that knows the verses of
Pablo Neruda off by heart, it can hardly be
described as a thought-provoking piece of
poetry, but it has struck a chord with the
fans for whom it is the chant of choice, one
that reflects the down-to-earth, joyful
approach the Chile team is taking to this
World Cup.
Though quietly confident, the German squad
remains firmly focused on the task in hand:
“It’s a good start, but we mustn’t get carried
away,” said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.
Hat-trick hero Thomas Muller echoed his
sentiments: “We mustn’t act as if we’re the
superior force here. We’ll have to do this all
over again in our next match.”
There is a long way to go, but the future
looks brighter than it did this time last
week – both for the German national team
and Michael Schumacher. Å
Germany’s group matches
Portugal (4-0), Ghana (21 June), USA (26 June)
Football and politics “4-0 win!
Terrific start!! And here’s a selfie with
the Chancellor as promised!”
tweeted Lukas Podolski from the
dressing room.
14
Chanting Chileans
on the march
JordÍ Punti is a novelist and the
author of many football features
in the Spanish media.
Hemmed in between the Andes and the
Pacific Ocean, and weighed down by the
pressure exerted in a geographical and
football-related sense by neighbouring
Argentina, Chile is a small country whose
approach to the competition has not always
been founded on reality. Part of the reason
for that is the sense of expectation generated
by their run to the semi-finals in 1962, a
tournament they hosted and which ended for
them with defeat by the Brazil of Garrincha
and Vava. Since then qualification for the
world finals has always been seen as a heroic
act pointing to great victories when in actual
fact all that lay in wait was even greater
disappointment. Yet on this occasion, with
the recent experience of South Africa 2010
under their belts, Chile appear to be feeling
the pressure less. Four years ago, Marcelo
Bielsa steered them to the Round of 16, where
they once again fell to Brazil, this time 3-0.
Qualifying for the world finals for a second
time in a row has given La Roja some welcome stability as one of South America’s
mid-ranking teams.
Though there are several factors involved in
Chile’s new-found equilibrium, perhaps the
most important is the role played by coach
Jorge Sampaoli, an Argentinian like his
predecessor. An advocate of Bielsa’s attacking, possession-based game and a passionate
believer in football as a team sport, Sampaoli
is a forceful character who makes himself
heard and has transmitted his infectious
enthusiasm to his players. “When I came on
board I found a very hungry team,” he said
Instagram
Germany
Heading for the crossbar
Greece striker Gekas
is unlucky not to score.
Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
after his appointment. “It’s a very strong
group who have battled against adversity and
taken some criticism. They’re tough players.”
One way in which Sampaoli has made is mark
is in restoring playmaker Jorge Valdivia to
the national-team fold. One of five players
handed lengthy bans in the wake of a
much-publicised breach of discipline in 2011,
Valdivia marked his rehabilitation with
Chile’s second goal in the 3-1 defeat of
Australia in their Group B opener.
Sampaoli also deserves credit for shaping a
squad that strikes a happy balance between
well-known exiles and the leading lights on
the domestic scene. Chile have traditionally
exported quality players to Europe, only for
them to invariably fulfil secondary roles with
their clubs, while having to shoulder more
responsibility when returning to the national
side. The most obvious example is their
original boy wonder Alexis Sanchez, who
impressed at Barcelona last season without
ever emerging from the shadows cast by
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Andres Iniesta. In
the meantime, however, Sanchez has become
the focal point of the Chilean attack, scoring
goals in quantity and setting them up too.
His strike against Australia made him his
country’s fourth-highest scorer of all time,
with only Roja legends Marcelo Salas, Ivan
Zamorano and Carlos Caszely ahead of him.
Valdivia, now with Palmeiras, is another such
case, as are Juventus duo Mauricio Isla and
Arturo Vidal and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo of
Real Sociedad.
The only headache for Sampaoli is what has
been dubbed in Chile as “the Vidal soap
opera”. The midfielder only just made the
squad for Brazil 2014 after recovering from a
knee injury and his coach is anxious not to
overwork him. The Juve man started against
the Socceroos but was substituted after an
hour, a change greeted with a public display
of disgust by the player. Roja fans have no
such cause for complaint, however, sending
out their war cry of “Chi, chi, chi! Le, le, le!”
as they eye a place in the second round.
Should they make it, there is every chance
they will once again meet Brazil, their
eternal World Cup rivals. Å
Chile’s group matches
Australia (3-1), Spain (2-0), Netherlands (23 June)
Greece
Gekas out to make
amends
Sven Goldmann is a leading
football correspondent for the
Tagesspiegel newspaper in Berlin.
He is currently based in Brazil for
the World Cup.
During his time in the Bundesliga, Theofanis
Gekas once explained why he had no desire to
learn German, declaring: “I’m being paid to
score goals, not to speak.” Now aged 34, his
mastery of the former skill was sufficient for
Fernando Manuel Costa Santos to include
him in Greece’s World Cup squad.
Following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Colombia on
matchday three, Gekas had some explaining
to do at his team’s World Cup camp in the
north-eastern city of Aracaju. After all, it was
the Konyaspor striker who had the best
chance to change the run of play. With the
score at 2-0, the ball was floated in at the
perfect height for him to head into an open
goal. Instead, Gekas somehow steered the
ball onto the crossbar and was promptly
substituted just moments later. After the
game, Santos had no problems finding the
15
emirates.com
Tomorrow
brings us
all closer
To new people, new ideas and new states of mind.
Here’s to reaching all the places we’ve never been.
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words to describe his team’s performance,
grumbling: “It seemed some of the players
had forgotten what kind of competition they
were in.” Back in Aracaju, the missed opportunity in Belo Horizonte was surely top of
the post-match briefing.
Nigeria
A hard taskmaster
Alan Schweingruber is an editor
at The FIFA Weekly. He is currently
based in Brazil for the World Cup.
Anesh Debiky / Afp
Gekas’ unconventional playing style meant
that his inclusion in the national side was not
without controversy. Over 90 minutes, the
former Bundesliga player rarely attracts
attention by making spectacular darting
runs or creating opportunities for his teammates. He does not run much and dislikes
breaking a sweat. Teams only continue to
field such players if they have something
special, and in Gekas’ case, that something is
his ability to score goals.
A national coach needs the
backing of his employers to
build a team and achieve his long-term goals.
If he has a stable contract and is able to
combine charisma with success, he may well
remain at the helm for years. Vicente del
Bosque, who has been in charge of Spain
since 2008, is a prime example.
The attacker has played for five clubs over
the past two years, none of which are challenging for major silverware: Eintracht
Frankfurt, Samsunspor, Levante, Akhisar
Belediyespor and, most recently, Konyaspor.
The World Cup offers him the ideal stage to
showcase his skills and win the last major
contract of his career. Å
Del Bosque's fellow coach Stephen Keshi is
clearly the adventurous type, having
accepted an offer to take charge of the
Nigerian football team back in 2011 despite
the precarious nature of the position. The
Nigeria Football Federation had employed
six coaches in the space of just four years
- including big names such as Berti Vogts of
Germany and Lars Lagerback of Sweden –
prior to his appointment.
Greece’s group matches
Colombia (lost 3-0), Japan (19 June),
Côte d’Ivoire (24 June)
Keshi is not a man to shy away from conflict.
Disagreements of opinion with his superiors
have been a regular occurrence during his
tenure, so much so that the powers that be in
Nigeria wanted to fire him at one point, while
the coach himself has also threatened to
resign. Yet the former defender ensured his
place in Nigerian football folklore by leading
the country to glory at the 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations. That victory set the bar high. The
biggest nation in Africa - whose population of
approximately 160 million is three times
larger than England's - has now set its sights
firmly on World Cup success.
The Super Eagles certainly have a hard
taskmaster. Known for his emphasis on
discipline and structure, Keshi's decisions
often prove unpopular at first. When Elderson
Echiejile picked up a slight muscle injury
before the World Cup, Nigeria crossed its
fingers for a quick recovery. The coach,
though, decided to exclude the AS Monaco
man from his squad and call up Ejike Uzoenyi
instead. “We don’t have much time,” said
Keshi, who refused to entertain arguments
that the injury may have healed within a
fortnight. (Germany midfielder Sami Khedira,
who recovered from a cruciate ligament
injury in record time, would have probably
shrugged it off in under 48 hours.)
However, their hopes of World Cup glory
were dented by Monday's goalless draw
against Iran, a stalemate that leaves the
Super Eagles with a mountain to climb as
they look to qualify for the knockout stages.
But if anyone can do it, it is the man who
topped the group with Nigeria as a player at
the 1994 World Cup, only to be knocked out
by Italy in the second round. Å
Nigeria’s group matches
Iran (0-0), Bosnia-Herzegovina (21 June),
Argentina (25 June)
Determined
Stephen Keshi is focused on
leading Nigeria to glory.
17
T HE DEBAT E
Appetite for goals
Flying Dutchman Robin van Persie made the score 1–1 against Spain (5-1) with a superb diving header.
Perikles Monioudis
N
ot for the first time, the build-up to the
Opening Match at the World Cup was
marked by media grumbling about the
likelihood of a bore draw. It has become
near habitual for the first game at the
global showdown to end in a goalless
stalemate or a dour victory by only one goal.
Not so for the opening encounter at Brazil 2014.
Attack from the off
When the action started for real, the Sao
Paulo crowd was treated to four goals, three
18
by hosts Brazil and the opening goal of the
game from Croatia.
The following day a turbocharged Netherlands inflicted a 5–1 thrashing on world
champions Spain, and the Chileans defeated
Australia 3–1. Colombia and Costa Rica also
scored three against Greece and Uruguay respectively, with the French posting the same
tally against Honduras another day into the
tournament.
Germany's 4–0 triumph against Cristiano
Ronaldo and Co was yet another example of the
teams adopting full-on attack in their opening
games, aiming to book places in the knockout
stages at the earliest possible opportunity.
What next?
We may well see a different pattern in the
second round of matches, as suggested by
what happened to Brazil. Still on a high from
their opening day victory, the hosts ran out
against stubborn Mexico and their in-form,
acrobatic keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Neymar
and Co failed to breach the Mexican defence
as the match ended goalless.
After opening with a victory, coach Felipe
Scolari spoke of the importance of winning
the second group match, so as to make qualifying for the last sixteen a near certainty, but
for all their determined attacking efforts, A
Seleção came up short.
However, it is probably safe to assume the
teams will not suddenly abandon their appetite for attacking tactics. That would appear a
little unrealistic after the rip-roaring start to
the tournament. The show must go on! Å
The weekly debate.
Any thing you want to get off your
chest? Which topics do you want to
discuss? Send your suggestions to:
[email protected]
Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters
The Dutch thrashed
world champions Spain
5-1 and Germany beat
Portugal 4–0 as the
World Cup opened with
a glut of goals.
T HE DEBAT E
PRESIDENTIAL NOTE
In this issue, FIFA.com users share their
views on the World Cup’s opening week.
Applause for Chile! The way they approach
the game against the world champion team
like Spain.
SArbabAhmed, Pakistan
Awseome goal, awesome player and a team
that would not give up! We will be back in
2018 and teams will know they are in a
football match. Well done Australia you all
played the game!
skycrazy, Australia
I feel really sorry for the Aussies, they
should go through with the Dutch. First
half they really had the upper hand. Shame
they don’t have the brilliance of van Gaal as I
knew the second half would turn out to be
Orange. But, my dear Australians, you have
lost to the new world champions and you
made them run for their title. Hats off, shame
you’ll bow out. I hope a win over Spain will be
the icing on your cake and you are a force to
be reckoned with in 2018!
dutchy1975, Great Britain
“Congrats Chile
for the victory.”
Congrats Chile for the victory. But do not
take rest. Just because you qualified for the
next round does not mean everything is
achieved. Make sure you beat Holland in
order to avoid Brazil next round who are
poised to win the group.
steve201081, India
This is the end of a golden era and hopefully
this is a beginning of a new one as well. You
guys are true champions and I have staunch
faith in you and your teammates that you will
play the last match versus Australia full
heartedly with your head held high. People
start worrying and rumouring that tiki-taka
might vanish from the future Spanish squad
due to the change of Barcelona-based players
as well as their playing style. However, I
sincerely believe the new golden generation
will rise soon. I hope to witness a stronger
Spain national team in the Euro 2016. Last
but not least, thank you guys for all the hard
work, I will never forget the brilliant, splendid
and remarkable football La Roja have brought
us in the past few years and I wish all of you
the best of luck in your future life.
luckyfish81, Malaysia
Fennecs, follow the example set by Australia
- or Costa Rica or even Chile! Attack is the
best form of defence. Give everything! Be
yourselves! Play like you do in your own
leagues! We want to see football. We want to
see passion and spirit.
Even if you guys do not make it, you guys
have done Africa proud. You guys played
well and should be proud of yourselves.
Ghana will beat Germany and Portugal and
move on to the next round.
wahrane, France
“Attack is the best form
of defence.”
YeyeEagles, USA
A thrilling
attacking spectacle
J
ogo bonito! It’s the phrase that summed up
all our hopes and expectations in the
build-up to the World Cup. And now we’re
experiencing just that - the beautiful game
being played to perfection, with thrilling attacking, a wealth of variety, and the courage
to be creative.
There was much speculation that the high
temperatures and special conditions in Brazil
could put a damper on matches. Instead, we’re
seeing the exact opposite. Coaches are prepared to take risks and give their creative players free rein. The corset of strict tactical discipline has been left in the dressing room. In
contrast to four years ago in South Africa the
teams are not prepared to settle for draws. They
are playing to win with no conditions attached.
Robin van Persie’s diving header to level the
scores at 1-1 against Spain was worth the trip to
Brazil on its own. This is the kind of diving we
want to see – and only this kind.
This free-thinking attacking play is also
due in part to the composition of the teams and
developments in technique. Exceptional players such as Neymar, Messi, Van Persie, Robben
and Muller cannot be kept on a tight leash.
They represent an increasingly complete generation of players . Today’s goalscorers are not
simply out-and-out strikers. They shape the
play from attacking midfield positions.
The first 12 matches alone in Brazil yielded
41 goals, an average of 3.42 per game. If this
rhythm were to be maintained through to the
Final, the fans would be celebrating 219 times,
a new record!
The first week of the World Cup has exceeded all expectations. And the best thing of all is
that the climax is still to come. Viva Brazil!
Best wishes, Sepp Blatter
19
First Love
20
Place: Oran, Algeria
Date: 4 April 2013
Time: 6.28 p.m.
Nick Hannes / laif
21
FREE KICK
F I F A 11
Players with the most
World Cup appearances
A girl called Fifa
Thomas Renggli
Y
ou can open just about any door in Brazil
with just a few words of broken Portuguese. A Bom dia (good morning) at the
breakfast table will guarantee that the
day begins with a smile. You can go for
a shorter greeting and say Oi (hello) or,
when you raise a glass, Saude (cheers) is always
a good option. Finally, if in doubt, it never
hurts to say Obrigado (thank you).
You will never hear these linguistic icebreakers on the radio, however. Brazilian reporters have a tiny margin for error when it
comes to describing the course and intensity
of a football match. It is only a pass back to the
keeper or a throw-in taken by the defending
team that is transmitted at a normal tone.
With every metre that the ball comes closer to
goal, the volume of the commentator’s voice
builds like a crescendo. As the players edge
closer to the opposition penalty area, the power of his commentary borders on painful, and
when the ball hits the back of the net, it is time
to reach for the earplugs, or kill the volume on
the radio: Goooooooooool!!!
The intensity and rhythm of commentary
varies depending on nationality and the number of vowels to be found in team names. A
European commentator’s vocal chords may
manage to utter Bélgica, but the dam breaks
completely for Cooooostaaaaa Riiiiicaaaaa.
Still, perhaps that is appropriate. Who would
have thought the Central American minnows
would even score a goal at this World Cup?
It seems to be a great concern of Brazilian
parents to ensure that their sons can eventually become key protagonists in sporting theatre.
No commentator declines an opportunity to
flex his oral muscles on names like Marcelinho,
Paulinho, Ronaldinho and Robinho, nor to
make a disyllabic homage to their heroes: Zico,
Cafu and – last but not least – Pele. By contrast,
whoever gave current Brazil international Hulk
his name neglected his responsibilities somewhat. He evidently chose to make use of the
Brazilian right of complete freedom when it
comes to choosing a name, and what he came
up with is a reasonably common word, or at
least appears in a dictionary. Similarly, you will
find a man in Brazil who goes by the name of
Oceano Indico Pacifico – Indian Pacific Ocean.
For parents with a love of all things German,
the first name Müller is extremely popular
(although that might change during the course
of this tournament), and the most superstitious can even take a number. Um Dois Três is
actually a man’s name, not the title of a Brazilian children’s television programme.
As is often the case in Brazil in November,
a baby boom is anticipated as a consequence
of the carnival in the spring. Brazilians will
have nine months to use their imaginations
when choosing baby names, and if a recent
survey conducted on the Copacabana beach is
anything to go by, there could be many a newborn in Brazil with as unusual a football-inspired name as you are likely to find. The girl’s
name that appeared top of the list was none
other than Fifa. Å
The weekly column by our staff
writers
1
Lothar Matthaus: 25 appearances
Team: West Germany, Germany
Minutes played: 2047
World Cups: 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998
2
Paolo Maldini: 23 appearances
Team: Italy
World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002
3
Uwe Seeler: 21 appearances
Team: West Germany
World Cups: 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
Diego Maradona: 21 appearances
Team: Argentina
World Cups: 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994
Wladyslaw Zmuda, 21 appearances
Team: Poland
World Cups: 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986
6
Grzegorz Lato: 20 appearances
Team: Poland
World Cups: 1974, 1978, 1982
Cafu: 20 appearances
Team: Brazil
World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
8
Berti Vogts: 19 appearances
Team: West Germany
World Cups: 1970, 1974, 1978
Wolfgang Overath: 19 appearances
Team: West Germany
World Cups: 1966, 1970, 1974
Ronaldo: 19 appearances
Team: Brazil
World Cups: 1998, 2002, 2006
Miroslav Klose: 19 appearances
Team: Germany
World Cups: 2002, 2006, 2010
Source: FIFA
(FIFA World Cup, Milestones & Superlatives, Statistical Kit, 12/05/2014)
23
RUSSIA
Shouting for joy Alexander Kerzhakov celebrates his equaliser in Russia’s 1-1 group match draw with Korea Republic.
The sleeping giant
Thomas Renggli, Rio de Janeiro
W
ith 140 million inhabitants, nine time
zones and an even greater plethora of
ethnic groups, the nation sandwiched
between Western Europe and the Far
East is as diverse, unfathomable and
fascinating as an entire continent.
While Russia continues to stake its claim as a
global power, it is making similarly significant
strides in the world of sport. After the Olympic
Games in Sochi back in February, the next prestigious sporting event on the country’s agenda
is the 2018 FIFA World Cup. At “Russia House”
in Rio de Janeiro, the Russian Football Union
is showcasing its cultural and culinary assets.
In just four years’ time, the world’s largest
country will also be required to fulfil every
24
footballing need and field a team that can
challenge for the most important title in the
sport. The Sbornaya have not yet begun to
mount that challenge in Brazil, never finding
their rhythm against a persistent Korea Republic side and threatening to drift off course
after a crucial error from goalkeeper Igor
Akinfeev put them 1-0 down. Fortunately,
coach Fabio Capello proved he was up to the
task by bringing on Russia’s top scorer in
qualifying, Alexander Kerzhakov, in the 71st
minute. Just five minutes later, he scored the
equaliser. “Kerzhakov is a fantastic player,
and always good for a goal,” said Capello of
his substitute’s performance. “It wasn’t easy
for our team after conceding that goal, but
the players reacted well. In that respect, we
can be satisfied.”
The bottom line is that although Russia
scored a point, they will be well aware that they
need to improve considerably if they want to
avoid going home after the group stages as they
did in their past three appearances at the
World Cup finals in 1990, 1994 and 2002.
Ahead of the team’s matches against Belgium on Sunday and Algeria next Thursday,
Capello will be asking himself two major questions. Firstly, can he afford to leave his goalscorer on the substitutes’ bench? And secondly,
how can he best avoid further problems in
goal? Even before his critical mistake, Akinfeev was more risk than rock, letting practically every ball rebound off him. Capello has already had his fair share of experience with
error-prone goalkeepers during his spell as
England manager.
Felipe Dana / Keystone
Russia might be overshadowed by the favourites at this summer’s World
Cup, but their 1-1 draw with Korea Republic hinted at their potential.
RUSSIA
Wrapped up in national pride Russian fans in Cuiaba.
Alexey Filippov / Keystone
Understandably, the Italian was keen to
turn his mind to more positive matters in
Brazil, saying: “Our team are very technically adept and have a lot of quality. Creativity
and inspiration are our strengths.” Despite
his team’s faltering start, the Round of 16
remains the minimum target for Capello, in
no small part due to his side’s impressive performances in qualifying. After failing to
reach the World Cup finals in 2006 and 2010,
Russia qualified for Brazil as group winners,
consigning Portugal to the play-offs in the
process after a 1-0 home win in Moscow in
which Kerzhakov scored the only goal. “The
fact that we left one of the strongest European teams in our wake shows how much progress we’ve made,” Capello pointed out.
The rise of the Russian league
Russia’s domestic championship has laid the
foundation for the rise of the country’s national team – financially, logistically and structurally. In economic terms, the Russian Premier
League is already one of the top leagues worldwide. It is no coincidence that the Russian
Football Union is sending the only team to the
World Cup finals made up entirely of players
who ply their trade in their home country. Rubles and petrodollars have been flowing into
Russia’s domestic
championship has
laid the foundation
for the national
team’s rise.
Russian football at such a pace that even Europe’s biggest leagues can no longer keep up.
The balance of sporting power is still reminiscent of that of the former Soviet Union,
with CSKA Moscow sealing last season’s
championship title ahead of Zenit St. Petersburg, Lokomotiv Moscow and Dynamo Moscow. Of Russia’s old footballing powers, only
Spartak Moscow suffered a poor season, finishing in sixth place.
Russia’s new money aristocracy has made
this surge in fortunes possible. Now, as before,
state-controlled corporations play a major role:
Lokomotiv are funded by Russian Railways
(RZD), Zenit by Gazprom, Dynamo by VTB
Bank and Spartak by oil company Lukoil. Only
at former Red Army club CSKA has the ownership situation changed, with Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich initially providing financial support before Bashkir oil company Bashneft became their primary sponsor. Recent
reports have suggested the club is now financing itself, but there is plenty of room for interpretation in this statement, particularly as
present club owner Yevgeni Giner is a close
confidant of Abramovich.
Nevertheless, multi-billionaire Abramovich
is currently keeping out of Russian club football. He recently pumped approximately €150
million into the system via his National Football Academy, financing around 130 new football pitches and optimising the country’s youth
development programmes in the process, and
also helped to finance former Russia national
coach Guus Hiddink’s €5 million net salary.
Enticing fresh perspectives
In 2006, the Dutchman’s appointment triggered one of the most important turning
points in the history of Russian football, as
the sport turned away from homegrown
coaches and opened itself up to new systems
25
“The Russian people respect me”
Fabio Capello has won pretty much everything there is to win in club football. Now the
68-year-old Italian has set his sights on leading the Russian national team to success.
I have to deal with confidential matters,
I tend to consult a friend.
Name
Fabio Capello
Date and place of birth
18 June 1946, San Canzian
d’Isonzo, Italy
Clubs as a player
Ferrara, AS Roma, Juventus,
AC Milan
Teams as a coach
AC Milan, Real Madrid,
AS Roma, Juventus, England,
Russia
Major honours
Four Italian Serie A titles
(as a player), five Italian Serie
A titles, two Spanish La Liga
titles, one Champions League
title (as a coach)
How much do the Russian people respect
you?
A lot. I really appreciate their respect
and it makes me happy. I can also sense
the excitement at the prospect of Russia
hosting the 2018 World Cup.
What have you seen of Russia?
Russia is a very diverse country.
I’ve visited a lot of cities and I was very
impressed. The country is currently
u ndergoing development in many areas.
In a nutshell, what does the World Cup
mean to you?
Every World Cup is unique. It’s a
onderful competition. Success depends
w
on a wide range of factors: the physical
condition of the players, tactics, etc.
I believe that the players’ mentality is the
most important aspect, because if they’re
not 100 per cent ready to perform, tour
naments can be really tough going.
Just how important is it to prepare well?
Mr Capello, what do you think of the
Russian national team?
Fabio Capello: My squad is one of the
oldest at this World Cup, but in terms of
technical ability, I think it's really good. My
players also demonstrate a lot of creativity
on the pitch. They play good football.
You’ve been working in Russia for two years
now. What’s been your biggest challenge
so far?
At the time when I took up the post as
head coach of Russia, the fans were angry
with the players. The poor display at the
European Championship in Poland and
Ukraine had taken its toll. For me, one of
the biggest challenges was to convince the
supporters to look forward rather than
back. Ultimately, we’re trying to build
something here and we’ve been able to
accomplish that together over the course of
26
the last two years. We overcame a tough
qualifying group that included Portugal and
are now taking part in our first World Cup
finals since 2002.
There were other job offers on the table too.
What made you decide to choose Russia?
I wanted a new experience. The lan
guage, the country and the lifestyle are all
very exciting. That’s why I chose Russia.
How much of a challenge is it for you not
speaking Russian?
The language barrier can prove prob
lematic. I always work with interpreters at
the training camps, but some ideas are
quite difficult to convey. Sometimes you
really need to be able to find the right
words, to generate a good atmosphere, for
example. It helps having some players who
speak English and Spanish. But when
Good preparations are of the utmost
importance. It starts with the choice of
your World Cup base. It’s really important
for me to see and assess in advance the
pitches, the training facilities, the cities
and even the hotels.
Fabio Capello was speaking
to Alan Schweingruber
RUSSIA
Kirill Kudryavtsev / Afp
and ideas. No expense has been spared in the
pursuit of progress: with an salary of €8.29
million, Capello is the highest-paid coach at
this summer’s World Cup.
Capitalism caught up with Russian football long ago, but the Russian Football Union
has also aligned its domestic championship
with those in the West. Until 2010, the league
ran from March to November, but the system
has since been adjusted, and this year the title
was awarded in May for the second time. This
gives Russian clubs the same schedule as their
rivals from Europe’s top five leagues when entering European club competitions.
The issue of Russia’s relationship with
Ukraine is currently gripping world politics
and has also been a decisive factor in the country’s football history. During the Soviet era,
Dynamo Kiev was at the heart of the nation’s
footballing culture. A majority of the players
in the Soviet Union side that reached the final
of UEFA EURO 1988 hailed from Ukraine, with
only three Russians in the team.
Since then the balance of power has shifted, and Russia now outperforms its neighbour
on the football pitch. CSKA Moscow and Zenit
St. Petersburg caused a sensation by winning
the Europa League in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Russia’s national side almost pulled off
a major coup at EURO 2008 when exceptional
players such as Andrey Arshavin, Roman
avlyuchenko and Yury Zhirkov guided their
P
team to the semi-final with an almost Brazilian
flair. Only eventual champions Spain were able
to halt their progress in the competition.
In Brazil, Capello is relying on four players
who were part of that remarkable campaign:
Zhirkov, Ignashevich, Beresutskiy and Akinfeev. Despite this, many the country’s biggest
names are missing from the squad, and captain
Roman Shirokov was forced to miss the World
Cup after sustaining a knee injury in Russia’s
2-0 World Cup warm-up win against Morocco.
Nevertheless, Capello remains optimistic:
“When I took this job in 2012, people were frustrated about Russia’s exit from the European
Championship,” he explained. “It was very important to first work through this chapter before looking forward and starting completely
afresh. And we managed it.”
Language barriers
As part of this process of coming to terms
with the past, the Italian has also had to overcome linguistic barriers. As he does not speak
Russian, Capello communicates to his team in
the dressing room via an interpreter. “That’s
the biggest difficulty,” he says. “It’s difficult to
translate feelings and emotions.” Despite
these issues the 68-year-old, who won numerous trophies as a club coach with Real Madrid
and above all with AC Milan, appears to have
found a way to get through to his players.
And if there is one thing he knows very well
from his own experience, it is this: as long as
he keeps bringing on the right substitutes,
his communication skills will never be called
into question. In football, goals are worth
more than any words. Å
Russia’s group matches
Korea Republic (drew 1-1), Belgium (22 June),
Algeria (26 June)
Stretching in
Sao Paulo
Capello guides
Russia through
their training.
27
EVERY GASP
EVERY SCREAM
EVERY ROAR
EVERY DIVE
EVERY BALL
E V E RY PAS S
EVERY CHANCE
EVERY STRIKE
E V E R Y B E AU T I F U L D E TA I L
SHALL BE SEEN
SHALL BE HEARD
S H A L L B E FE LT
Feel the Beauty
BE MOVED
THE NEW 4K LED TV
“SONY” and “make.believe” are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
MY WORLD CUP
T
he final whistle that sealed defending champions Spain’s 2-0 defeat by Chile signalled not only the end of their second group match at the 2014
World Cup in Brazil but also the end of an era for a Spanish side that has captivated the world with its tiki-taka style for years. What lies ahead for
La Roja after their premature exit at the World Cup group stage? There was no immediate answer to this question as American referee Mark Geiger
concluded the game after six minutes of injury time, but one thing was immediately clear: this year’s World Cup Trophy will be lifted by another
nation. Given that the names on the Spanish team’s shirts will likely change over the coming months, the final whistle also marked the beginning of
a new era for a new-look Spanish national team and perhaps a new interpretation of tiki-taka – but certainly heralded a new world champion. Å
Perikles Monioudis
Andres Kudacki/Keystone
“M
essi” collects a loose ball and sets off on
a mazy dribble. “Ronaldo” chases him
down from behind, closely followed by
“Muller”. A second “Messi” enters the fray. He
knocks the first “Messi” off the ball and claims
possession. “Müller” slide tackles the pair of
them and “Ronaldo” starts crying, as he’s taken a knock. This could end in a brawl, and
there’s not a referee in sight.
There is loud encouragement from the
touchlines: “Yay!! Muller!” “Muller” turns with
a confused look on his face. It’s not like he’s
normally the recipient of praise. And surely
that was a foul? “Ronaldo” is still weeping
buckets, at which point the fathers of the superstar wannabes finally appreciate the gravity of the situation. They drag themselves
away from the live coverage of Germany v
Portugal and smartphones are returned to
pockets. Mini-Muller gets a telling-off, and
little “Ronaldo” words of consolation.
When dads ignore their lads in favour of the
stars, you know it must be the World Cup. Å
Sarah Steiner
T
he World Cup can occasionally feel like a
fashion show, but it's not necessarily the
football stars who are on the catwalk. Fans
have long since developed a tendency to act
like supermodels. At this edition, ostentatious
loyalty and devotion to the colours have become a sport in which everyone takes part, and
there is seemingly very little in the way of quality control. Every evening on Rua Ronald de
Carvalho in Rio, not far from the legendary
Copacabana, one can marvel at a parade of
uninhibited showoffs. Robust young fellows
strut their stuff in XXL replica shirts bearing
the name of lithe and diminutive Argentinian
idol Lionel Messi. They meet young Brazilian
maidens sporting a Neymar look. The fashionconscious fan community shares the sheer joy
of wearing the right kit. And since 2006, if not
even before, this role-playing has been a central part of the World Cup experience: anyone
can be Messi for an afternoon. The grass roots
have rediscovered stars. It may be winter, but
it’s carnival time in Rio. Å
Roland Zorn
T
he hottest football parties in Rio de Janeiro
take place in what passes for the coldest
time of the year, with the sun on your face,
sand between your toes and Sugarloaf Mountain on the horizon. It is the dream World Cup
on the beach of dreams. A fast-moving vendor
sells Caipirinhas, while the Dutch visitors
hail Robben, Van Persie and the joys of beer.
Vuvuzelas are banned but singing at the top of
your lungs is not. The wave of enthusiasm
sweeps everyone along. There are no grey areas,
only vast expanses of yellow. The Brazilians
celebrate Neymar, the rebirth of Jogo Bonito
and, rather prematurely, a sixth world crown.
The words to the national anthems are displayed on giant screens, The Girl From Ipanema is playing on loop, and the Japanese ref
whistles at just the right time. The Copacabana makes you happy. Being at the World Cup
on the world’s most famous beach is like a
kid’s birthday party, karaoke and a carnival
rolled into one. A more enjoyable time to be a
fan will be in the next life. Å
Thomas Renggli
29
Name
Davor Suker
1 January 1968, Osijek, Yugoslavia
Position
Striker
Height
1.83m
Clubs played for
1984–1989 Osijek
1989–1991 Dinamo Zagreb
1991–1996 Sevilla
1996–1999 Real Madrid
1999–2000 Arsenal
2000–2001 West Ham United
2001–2003 1860 Munich
International career
1990–1991 Yugoslavia
1992–2002 Croatia
Selected honours
Igor Kralj / Keystone
1996 UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament
1997 La Liga (Real Madrid)
1998 Champions League (Real Madrid)
1998 World Cup adidas Golden Boot
1998 Ballon d’Or, 2nd place
2004 Named in the FIFA 100
30
THE INTERVIEW
“I still want to be out there
winning matches”
Croatian Football Federation President Davor Suker was part of
the exceptional team that finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France.
The FIFA Weekly asked the 46-year-old former world-class striker
about retirement and the state of Croatian football today.
Mr Suker, you are currently the President of
the Croatian Football Federation. What’s your
team’s approach for this World Cup?
Davor Suker: Our national team is made
up of players who enjoy playing football.
We want to savour the World Cup, with its
excellent infrastructure and organisation,
and intend to play beautiful football.
We’re proud to be able to take part in the
World Cup, and we’re proud of all our fans
who appreciate attractive football. Croatia is
a sporting nation. Being here is vital for our
game and also important for keeping Croatian football up there with the best in the
world.
Your team were right in it until you went 3-1
down against Brazil in the opening match.
What did we have to lose? The only way
we could win was by giving the best possible
account of ourselves. The matches against
Cameroon (4-0) and Mexico will both be like
finals for us. My players will give 150 per cent.
The same could be said of you when you were
a player. At the 1998 World Cup, Croatia
finished third and you won the adidas Golden
Boot. What do you make of Croatia’s current
internationals?
Although my generation achieved our
country’s best World Cup result to date,
I hope the current team goes just as far,
if not further. We have some very talented
players and a good coach in Niko Kovac,
all of which means we have excellent potential in this tournament. Back in 1998 – that
golden year of Croatian football – players like
Modric, Rakitic, Srna and Mandzukic were
probably watching us play, and now they’re
here themselves. It’s so great to have players
of that calibre in our team and to be a part of
Croatian footballing history here with them.
That’s the history lesson, but how is everyday
life for you? What does a world-class striker
like you miss most about football after retirement?
Whenever I watch a match, I long to be
part of it. I want to make my mark on the
game and be out there on the pitch, winning
matches. I’ve always been a huge football fan,
but today I sit in the stands in the President’s
chair or in a directors’ box. These days I help
football in a different way. I promote it and
work hard for the U-15, U-17, U-19 teams and
so on to ensure they reach European Championships and World Cups.
And you’ve been been a success so far.
We’re very proud of the fact that our U-17
side has qualified for the World Cup and
European Championships and our U-18 and
U-20 teams have qualified for the World Cup.
We’re investing in our young players and
organising lots of matches for them. We don’t
have a large infrastructure but the EU, UEFA
and FIFA give us plenty of support, and I
thank FIFA for that. Infrastructure projects
are our next big priority.
national side to ensure players and teams
receive the right support as they develop.
Is that also true of the women’s teams?
Yes. We’re currently investing in the U-17,
U-19 and senior women’s teams. We’ve also
got new headquarters and we’re planning a
training facility for our national sides. UEFA
and FIFA are providing invaluable assistance
with that. After that, we’ll build four regional
camps across Croatia.
From a completely neutral and purely sporting
perspective, is there a team at this World Cup
you would particularly love to be part of?
(laughs) I’d play for my country. I’d even
pay to be able to get out on the pitch with the
lads here!
Davor Suker was speaking to
Perikles Monioudis in Sao Paulo
And structural changes too.
Yes. Attendances in our ten-team league
have doubled compared to the previous
16-team league. I’d advise every country with
a population of between five and ten million
to reduce its league to ten teams.
What other critical areas have you identified?
It’s very important to teach teamwork,
and continuity is vital too. We’ve got specialists working with us on every transition from
U-17, U-19, U-21, all the way up to the senior
Croatia’s group matches
Brazil (lost 3-1), Cameroon (4-0),
Mexico (23 June)
31
MIRROR IMAGE
T
H
E
N
Adidas football boots with screw-in studs
1954 World Cup
Adidas
“The Miracle of Bern”: West Germany defeated clear favourites Hungary 3-2 in the World Cup Final.
The German players had significantly greater stability on the muddy pitch thanks
to their state-of-the-art football boots. Pictured above is the left boot of captain Fritz Walter.
32
MIRROR IMAGE
N
O
W
Adidas adizero f50 Messi football boot
2014 World Cup
Adidas
Lightweight: this boot, styled to complement the colours of Argentina’s kit,
weighs just 165 grams and bears the name of four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
33
FIFA WORLD R ANKING
Rank Team
34
→ http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/index.html
Change in ranking Points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Spain
Germany
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Switzerland
Uruguay
Colombia
Italy
England
0
0
1
-1
2
2
-1
-3
0
1
1485
1300
1242
1189
1175
1149
1147
1137
1104
1090
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
23
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
52
54
55
56
57
57
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
Belgium
Greece
USA
Chile
Netherlands
Ukraine
France
Croatia
Russia
Mexico
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Algeria
Denmark
Côte d'Ivoire
Slovenia
Ecuador
Scotland
Costa Rica
Romania
Serbia
Panama
Sweden
Honduras
Czech Republic
Turkey
Egypt
Ghana
Armenia
Cape Verde Islands
Venezuela
Wales
Austria
Iran
Nigeria
Peru
Japan
Hungary
Tunisia
Slovakia
Paraguay
Montenegro
Iceland
Guinea
Sierra Leone
Norway
Cameroon
Mali
Korea Republic
Uzbekistan
Burkina Faso
Finland
Australia
Jordan
Libya
South Africa
Albania
Bolivia
El Salvador
Poland
Republic of Ireland
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
Haiti
Senegal
Israel
Zambia
Morocco
1
-2
1
-1
0
1
-1
2
-1
-1
4
3
0
-2
4
2
-5
6
3
0
4
-7
-3
2
4
-12
1
-5
3
1
6
-2
-6
0
-3
1
-2
1
-3
5
3
6
-1
17
0
-6
2
-2
-6
1
-9
-3
1
-2
0
4
1
1
3
-4
3
-5
4
-11
3
3
-1
1074
1064
1035
1026
981
915
913
903
893
882
873
858
809
809
800
791
786
762
761
745
743
741
731
724
722
715
704
682
674
672
644
643
641
640
627
626
624
612
591
575
574
566
566
565
562
558
547
547
539
538
532
526
510
498
496
495
483
481
474
473
470
460
452
451
444
441
439
Ranking 01 / 2014
02 / 2014
03 / 2014
04 / 2014
05 / 2014
06 / 2014
1
-41
-83
-125
-167
-209
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
90
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
110
112
113
114
115
116
116
118
119
120
120
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
134
136
137
137
139
140
140
142
143
144
Top spot Biggest climber Bulgaria
Oman
FYR Macedonia
Jamaica
Belarus
Azerbaijan
Congo DR
Congo
Uganda
Benin
Togo
Gabon
Northern Ireland
Saudi Arabia
Botswana
Angola
Palestine
Cuba
Georgia
New Zealand
Estonia
Zimbabwe
Qatar
Moldova
Equatorial Guinea
China PR
Iraq
Central African Republic
Lithuania
Ethiopia
Kenya
Latvia
Bahrain
Canada
Niger
Tanzania
Namibia
Kuwait
Liberia
Rwanda
Mozambique
Luxembourg
Sudan
Aruba
Malawi
Vietnam
Kazakhstan
Lebanon
Tajikistan
Guatemala
Burundi
Philippines
Afghanistan
Dominican Republic
Malta
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Guinea-Bissau
Chad
Suriname
Mauritania
St Lucia
Lesotho
New Caledonia
Syria
Cyprus
Turkmenistan
Grenada
-5
3
0
0
1
2
4
7
0
10
1
-2
-6
-15
-1
1
71
-5
7
14
-5
-1
-5
-2
11
-7
-4
1
-2
-6
-2
0
-5
0
-10
9
6
-7
3
15
-4
-7
-3
35
0
-7
-6
-11
-5
-3
-3
11
-2
-5
-4
-7
50
31
-5
2
-4
2
-2
-6
-12
13
-8
Biggest faller
425
420
419
411
397
396
395
393
390
386
383
382
381
381
375
364
358
354
349
347
343
340
339
334
333
331
329
321
319
317
296
293
289
289
284
283
277
276
271
271
269
267
254
254
247
242
241
233
229
226
221
217
215
212
204
203
201
201
197
196
196
194
190
190
189
183
182
144
146
147
148
149
149
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
164
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
176
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
190
192
192
192
195
196
196
198
198
200
201
202
202
204
205
206
207
207
207
Madagascar
Korea DPR
Maldives
Gambia
Kyrgyzstan
Thailand
Antigua and Barbuda
Belize
Malaysia
India
Singapore
Guyana
Indonesia
Puerto Rico
Myanmar
St Kitts and Nevis
Tahiti
Liechtenstein
Hong Kong
Pakistan
Nepal
Montserrat
Bangladesh
Laos
Dominica
Barbados
Faroe Islands
São Tomé e Príncipe
Swaziland
Comoros
Bermuda
Nicaragua
Chinese Taipei
Guam
Sri Lanka
Solomon Islands
Seychelles
Curaçao
Yemen
Mauritius
South Sudan
Bahamas
Mongolia
Fiji
Samoa
Cambodia
Vanuatu
Brunei Darussalam
Timor-Leste
Tonga
US Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Papua New Guinea
British Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Andorra
Eritrea
Somalia
Macau
Djibouti
Cook Islands
Anguilla
Bhutan
San Marino
Turks and Caicos Islands
45
-9
6
-14
-3
-6
-9
-8
-8
-7
-8
-5
-5
-9
14
-7
-4
-12
-5
-5
-5
22
-5
5
-6
-9
-7
-5
5
10
-6
-8
-6
-7
-6
-8
-5
-5
-4
-4
16
0
0
-6
-6
0
-10
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
182
175
171
166
163
163
158
152
149
144
141
137
135
134
133
124
122
118
112
102
102
99
98
97
93
92
89
86
85
84
83
78
78
77
73
70
66
65
61
57
47
40
35
34
32
28
28
26
26
26
23
21
21
18
18
16
11
8
8
6
5
3
0
0
0
Name
TURNING POINT
David da Costa
“Football is
80 per cent
mental – the
rest is talent”
19 April 1986, Zurich
Position
Goalkeeper
Clubs
2005–2008 FC Zurich U-21
2007–2008 Chiasso
2008–2009 Concordia Basel
2009–2010 Chiasso, Wohlen
2010–2012 Thun
since 2012 FC Zurich
Swiss Portuguese goalkeeper
David da Costa progressed
from being a rough diamond
to establishing himself as
goalkeeper at the top-flight
club he has supported since
childhood.
Maurice Haas / 13 Photo
I
identify much more strongly with my employer than the average employee. As a
child, I was a dedicated FC Zurich fan and
hardly ever missed a home game. The idea
of being able to play for the club at the
highest level was just a dream for me, but
I got there in the end. I’m proud of that, and
the fans are proud of me. In that respect, my
background brings added pressure, as I don’t
ever want to disappoint them. I know exactly
how the fans feel, so I take time for them and
try to sign every autograph and pose for every
photograph I can, because it wasn’t so long ago
that I was in their position. I’ve still got autographs at home from players and coaches that
I ended up working with.
Despite having a deep connection with the
fans, I’ve had to try to distance myself from
them. At the end of the day, I’m a professional
– and therefore a role model. But I’m a direct
person and I like to speak my mind, and that
has occasionally got me into trouble.
There have been several turning points in
my career. One key moment was my first move,
which took me from FC Zurich to Chiasso in
the Challenge League. I really didn’t want to
leave, but my agent gave me the kick up the
backside I needed. My family also encouraged
me to take the leap, and I’ve been grateful to
them for it ever since. As soon as you move
away, you realise how good you had it at home.
That applies to everything from cooking,
washing and vacuuming your own flat, all the
way to the football itself. I realised that talent
alone wouldn’t guarantee me a successful
career. My former goalkeeping coach Stefan
Knutti always said: “80 per cent is mental,
20 per cent is talent”. I had to give up a lot of
things such as partying, going out and eating
unhealthy food. Afterwards I realised that I’d
been making all kinds of mistakes and wasn’t
as disciplined and consistent as a professional
should be. Today I know how little it takes to
put an end to your whole career.
I played for Switzerland at youth level, but
back then the coach didn’t see me as a potential professional; instead he saw a player who
was too easily distracted. My dream is to play
for a national team one day, whether that be
Switzerland or Portugal. And since winning
the Swiss Cup [in 2014], I know dreams can
come true. I want to keep improving, and as a
goalkeeper you are able do that.
Another turning point in my career was
my appearance for FC Wohlen in the spring of
2010. We were about to play a match against
Thun and we barely had 11 players fit enough
to start the game. The coach initially wanted
to play me up front, but then the first-choice
keeper picked up an injury, so I got to go in
goal. I had a fantastic game that secured me a
contract with Thun – my first Super League
club.
The third turning point in my life has to
be meeting my wife, Daniela. We met back
in 2006, and became parents to a son a year
ago. Nelio has changed my life all over again.
Nowadays, I go to bed at 11pm instead of 1am,
and after matches my active recovery involves
walking my son in his pushchair. My appetite
for parties has lessened a little too. After
winning the Swiss Championship in 2007 we
partied until 9am the next morning, but after
winning the Cup this season I was at home
by 6.30pm… Å
Adapted by Thomas Renggli
In Turning Point, personalities reflect
on a decisive moment in their lives.
35
© 2014 adidas AG. adidas, the 3-Bars logo and the 3-Stripes mark are registered trademarks of the adidas Group.
get ready
for the battle
#allin or nothing
Make a choice at adidas.com/allin
THE SOUND OF FOOTBALL
THE OBJEC T
Perikles Monioudis
F
A Seleção of songs
Hanspeter Kuenzler
Home alone with an empty
fridge and no samba football
on any channel anywhere?
There’s only one solution:
Brazilian music!
Sion Ap Tomos
I
n a country where being obsessed with football is the
norm it’s no surprise that a
disproportionately large number of musicians have dedicated a song or two to the first
true love of their lives, football.
Helpfully enough Brazilian music website Vagalume has compiled a rather fine and tuneful
Seleção of such tunes.
Fluency in Portuguese is by
no means a prerequisite for
getting the most out of the
website. A first exploratory
scan of the contents indicates
a multifaceted, broad-based
and dynamic musical panorama, entirely representative of
Brazil’s diverse cultural scene.
At one end of the spectrum
we have seasoned duo Caju &
Castanha from Recife, performers of the Embolada style
for some 40 years now. Accompanied only by tambourines
they declaim their texts, often
improvised, sometimes satirical, sometimes a social critique
but always witty, in a form of
rap reminiscent of Jamaican
reggae MCs or West African
Griots. Their football-themed
contribution is called Futebol
No Inferno and covers among
other things the weighty topics of heaven and hell.
By way of a contrast we
turn to Band Skank. The Belo
Horizonte four-piece initially
came together with the aim of
combining the dancehall reggae that was all the rage at the
time with Brazilian melodies,
but mutated into a classy indie
rock band in the British tradition and have already featured
at European and American
rock festivals. É Uma Partida
de Futebol is an exhilarating
all-electric amalgam of calypso, ska and rock.
The listener is continually
surprised by the delicate
blends and nods to other genres. Chico Buarque, master of
subtle chansons, combines
smooth bossa nova with tinkling jazz piano in the anthemic O Futebol, comparing a
footballer’s job with the work
of a painter or composer. And
eccentric “Brasil-Britpop” band
Pullovers draw parallels between football and flirting in
their eminently cheerful ditty
Futebol de óculos.
And should you feel in the
mood for a singalong, a button
on the left of the screen labelled Hinos de Futebol links
to the official anthems of the
biggest Brazilian clubs. Æ
ootball has not always been the socially-accepted, widely-supported sport it is today.
In Germany, for example, there used to be
no shortage of sceptics who described the
game as “uncultured oafishness with the feet”
and viewed it as the “English disease”. They
would have readily have banned it by law, their
belief being that youngsters were better off
spending their time performing synchronised
gymnastics exercises. The concept of individual e
xpression in sport did not enter the
minds of football’s detractors. At the time,
sport meant imitating the moves of a gymnastics instructor and obeying his orders.
Even in England football was not without
its critics. The FIFA Collection houses the
caricature pictured above, which is from the
cover illustration of the magazine L’Assiette au
Beurre in 1902. It depicts two French p
layers,
with one saying to the other: “Stupid fool,
dirty lout – that’s how the poet Kipling describes anyone who plays the uncouth game of
football. He’ll never be president of Racing.”
Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865
and moved to England as a five-year-old.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature
37 years later and his most famous work, The
Jungle Book, is still read by children the world
over today.
Kipling was not given to snobbishness – he
declined a knighthood – but even for him football was a step too far. He would certainly not
have wanted to preside over Racing Club de
France, as the Parisian outfit founded in 1882
was called at the time.
In that era the only sports considered
worthy of playing required the use of hands.
It is therefore somewhat ironic that the R
acing
Club rugby team, one of a variety of sports
now offered at the club, has long been more
successful that its football team. Å
http://tinyurl.com/pf6ohrx
37
© 2014 Visa. All rights reserved. Shrek © 2014 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.
The FIFA World Cup™
is where all of us want to be.
The FIFA Weekly
Published weekly by the
Fédération Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA)
Internet:
www.fifa.com/theweekly
Publisher:
FIFA, FIFA-Strasse 20,
PO box, CH-8044 Zurich
Tel. +41-(0)43-222 7777
Fax +41-(0)43-222 7878
FIFA QUIZ CUP
14 goals conceded in two World Cup appearances and a team with
no goals against – test your knowledge!
1
President:
Joseph S. Blatter
One keeper made just two World Cup appearances and conceded 14 goals – but still ended up a
world champion. Who coached his team?
S
K
W
B
Secretary General:
Jérôme Valcke
Director of Communications
and Public Affairs:
Walter De Gregorio
Chief Editor:
Perikles Monioudis
Staff Writers:
Thomas Renggli (Author),
Alan Schweingruber, Sarah Steiner
Art Direction:
Catharina Clajus
2
What’s in the picture?
Picture Editor:
Peggy Knotz, Andreas Wilhelm
A
I
O
E
Production:
Hans-Peter Frei
Layout:
Richie Krönert (Lead),
Marianne Bolliger-Crittin,
Susanne Egli, Mirijam Ziegler
3
Foundation stone of the Home of FIFA in Zurich
World Cup trophy
Wall of a VIP box at the Maracana
Fair Play trophy
Which nation never conceded a goal (except in penalty shoot-outs) at a World Cup?
Proof Reader:
Nena Morf, Kristina Rotach
Contributors:
Sérgio Xavier Filho, Luigi Garlando,
Sven Goldmann, Hanspeter Kuenzler,
Jordi Punti, David Winner,
Roland Zorn
Contributors to this Issue:
Lucia Clemens (Picture),
Alissa Rosskopf
E
4
G
L
N
Which country is a previous Word Cup winner?
Editorial Assistant:
Honey Thaljieh
Project Management:
Bernd Fisa, Christian Schaub
Translation:
Sportstranslations Limited
www.sportstranslations.com
Printer:
Zofinger Tagblatt AG
www.ztonline.ch
D
G
N
O
Kingdom north of …
Republic east of …
Island south of …
Union west of …
Contact:
[email protected]
Reproduction of photos or
articles in whole or in part is only
permitted with prior editorial
approval and if attributed
“The FIFA Weekly, © FIFA 2014”.
The editor and staff are not obliged
to publish unsolicited manuscripts
and photos. FIFA and the FIFA logo
are registered trademarks of FIFA.
Made and printed in Switzerland.
Any views expressed in
The FIFA Weekly do not
necessarily reflect those of FIFA.
The answer to last week’s Quiz Cup was PASS
Detailed answers on www.fifa.com/theweekly
Inspiration and implementation: cus
Send your answers by 25 June 2014 to [email protected]
Correct solutions to all quizzes published from 13 June 2014 onwards will go into a draw in January 2015 for a trip
for two to the FIFA Ballon d’Or on 12 January 2015.
Before sending in answers, all participants must read and accept the competition terms and conditions and the rules,
which can be found at:
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/af-magazine/fifaweekly/02/20/51/99/en_rules_20140613_english_neutral.pdf
39
A S K T H E W E E K LY
T HIS WEEK’S POLL
Which two Group H teams will
qualify for the Round of 16?
Defending champions Spain’s 5-1
defeat by the Netherlands and their
early exit were the first major
surprises of this World Cup. Has a
reigning champion ever lost at a
World Cup by such a high margin?
Stefan Lehmann, Kusnacht,
Switzerland
13
At this summer's World Cup, there is no group more open than that of Belgium, Algeria, Russia
and Korea Republic. Who are your favourites, and which two teams do you think will progress?
Email your predictions to: [email protected]
L A S T W E E K’S P O L L R E S U LT S
Which teams will qualify from Group D?
55 %
26 %
Costa Rica and one other
Italy and England
Italy and Uruguay
19 %
WEEK IN NUMBERS
140
The number of international
caps won by Italy goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon, who has so far
68
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa’s
been unable to add to that tally
favourite number. Not only does it
at the World Cup due to an
adorn the back of his shirt, it is also
ankle injury. He is now back in
the date of his maiden World Cup
training and hoping to regain
appearance (13 June 2014). In the
his starting berth, which
group game against Brazil he
appears more than likely
made a string of extraordinary
according to his stand-in
have been the victory he was after, but
saves to keep the World Cup hosts
Salvatore Sirigu: “We have to
the Italian was nevertheless satisfied
at bay, while his birthday is on 13
be realistic. There is no
with his players’ efforts: “My team’s
July - the day of the Final. No
competition for places
reaction to going behind was really
prizes for guessing what he
between Gigi and me. He’s
good. That was the best birthday present
would like as a present.
more than a player.”
they could have given me.”
Russia coach Fabio Capello turned 68
on the day of his side’s 1-1 group stage
draw with South Korea. It may not
Getty Images
No. It was also only the fifth time
the reigning champions have begun
the tournament with a defeat after
Italy’s 3-2 loss to Sweden in 1950,
1-0 losses for Argentina against
Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in
1990, and France’s 1-0 defeat by
Senegal in 2002. The last time
Spain conceded five or more goals
in a match was exactly 51 years ago
when Scotland beat them 6-2 in a
Madrid friendly on 13 June 1963.
The only time Spain lost by a higher
margin at the World Cup was in
Brazil in 1950, when the Iberians
were defeated 6-1 by the hosts. (thr)

Brazil 2014 RUSSIA FABIO CAPELLO ENERGISED BY

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