After
the Colombia U-23 men's side secured their ticket to Rio de Janeiro by
defeating their USA counterparts in their inter-continental play-off
last month, all 28 slots at the Olympic Football Tournaments Rio 2016
have now been filled. The nations involved are surely waiting with
baited breath for the draw, to be held at the Maracana on 14 April 2016
and FIFA.com is here to guide you through the nuts and bolts of the draw process.
Hosts
Brazil will take the lead spot in Group A (men's) and Group E
(women's), with the men's teams allocated into four pots based on a
ranking built according to performances at the past five Olympic
Football Tournaments. The ranking is weighted so that recent
performances play a more prominent role, and a bonus is given to those
nations who finished their qualifying competition as continental
champions.
Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, who won an Olympic
bronze medal at Beijing 2008 and former Brazil captain Aline, who picked
up a silver medal at Athens 2004, will help with proceedings as draw
assistants.
THE DAY REPLAYED
– Mexico kept up their sizzling form to become the first CONCACAF side
through to the final Hexagonal round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA
World Cup Russia™. USA rebounded from their nightmare last week to rout
Guatemala while Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama all made strides. St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, sadly, became the first team eliminated
after a heavy loss to Trinidad and Tobago. FIFA.com wraps up all the Tuesday action in the New World. Match of the day USA 4-0 Guatemala Clint Dempsey 12, Geoff Cameron 35, Graham Zusi 46, Jozy Altidore 89 A dark cloud hung over the US national team in the build-up to Tuesday’s rematch with Guatemala. Having lost to Los Chapines
in an insipid performance on Friday at the Estadio Mateo Flores,
another defeat would have made the American road to Russia a rocky one.
But Jurgen Klinsmann’s men rebounded with the heart and grit they’re
known for, keeping their perfect qualifying record in Columbus, Ohio
intact. Pressuring the Central Americans from the opening whistle, Clint
Dempsey and Michael Bradley looked as inspired on Tuesday as they did
tired last week. The big result puts the Stars and Stripes back on
track, second in Group C behind Trinidad and Tobago on the road to the
Hexagonal.
Elsewhere Mexico saw off a spirited Canadian side at their Estadio Azteca to keep up their 100-per cent record and book passage from Group A through to the next round. Andres Guardado scored first from the spot to notch his 23rd goal for El Tri before Jesus Corona added a second – his second in as many games.
Hosts Honduras edged a frenetic and energetic contest with El Salvador in San Pedro Sula. The 2-0 result moves Los Catrachos off the foot of Group A and up to second, tied with Canada in the hunt for the one remaining spot in the section.
The big game in Group B
saw Costa Rica get the best of Jamaica 3-0 in San Jose. Celso Borges
and Bryan Ruiz scored in the first half and Johan Venegas added a third
late as Los Ticos strolled to the summit with a
three-point gap ahead of closest chasers Panama. Felipe Baloy struck
late as the host Panamanians edged out Haiti 1-0 to move into a
comfortable pocket in second spot ahead of Jamaica.
Trinidad and Tobago matched USA for form in Group C,
making easy meat of Caribbean neighbours St. Vincent and the Grenadines
in Port of Spain. Sheldon Bateau, Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino, Trevin
Caeser and veteran captain Kenwyne Jones scored the goals in a 6-0
drubbing that extends the Soca Warriors’ lead at the top of the section
to three points. Player of the day Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica) Costa Rica’s playmaker, a hero of the famous run to the
quarter-finals of Brazil 2014, was inspired against Jamaica. After
having a hand in Celso Borges’ opener, the elegant Portugal-based
schemer had his way with the Reggae Boyz, scoring the second and
orchestrating a comprehensive win against the CONCACAF Gold Cup
runners-up. The 3-0 result, largely down to Ruiz’s vision and
intelligence, makes Los Ticos a safe bet for a spot in the Hex. The number 6 – USA striker Clint Dempsey
– his country’s top-scorer in World Cup qualifying history – has now
scored six times against Guatemala. The combative Seattle Sounders
hit-man had a raft of chances on Friday in Guatemala City, but he
fluffed his lines time and again. Back on home soil, however, he showed
the kind of precision that’s made him second-top scorer in US national
team history, just eight goals behind legend Landon Donovan overall.
Dempsey’s early strike, a half-volley from just inside the box, set the
tone for a crucial American win.
Did you know? St. Vincent and the Grenadines have conceded 26 goals in Russia
2018 qualifying so far. On average that’s over three goals per game.
Coach Cornelius Huggins earlier in the campaign told FIFA.com:
“We need to focus a little bit on our defence.” It was the
understatement of the year. With no points in Group C and officially out
of contention, the islanders still have two games to play. What they said “The difference tonight was the collective, the team coming
together, and the willingness of every guy to forget about everything
else and just spill their guts on the field,” Michael Bradley uses frank language to describe USA’s turnaround in fortunes and form.
An
independent report by human rights expert and Harvard Kennedy School
Professor John Ruggie published today will help strengthen FIFA’s
institutional approach to human rights, including the ongoing
development of a “FIFA Human Rights Policy”. As part of its ongoing
efforts in this field, FIFA asked Prof. Ruggie to provide
recommendations to embed respect for human rights across its operations
and business relationships, based on his leading role in developing the
UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The report is now available on the Harvard Kennedy School website.
The future FIFA Human Rights Policy relating to all FIFA activities will
be publicly available and document how article 3 of the FIFA Statutes
is to be understood and what the organisation’s expectations vis–à-vis
its stakeholders are in respect to human rights. FIFA’s aim in the
medium term is, in accordance with international standards, to have in
place appropriate processes to assess potential human rights risks
connected to its activities coupled with mitigation or response
mechanisms.
“FIFA is fully committed to respecting human rights,” said FIFA
President Gianni Infantino. “I would like to thank Prof. Ruggie for his
work in producing this report, which, together with FIFA’s own analysis
and ongoing work, will guide the way forward. This is an ongoing process
and of course challenges remain, but FIFA is committed to playing its
part in ensuring respect for human rights and to being a leader among
international sports organisations in this important area.”
Through its global activities in football, FIFA is touching the lives of
billions of people in a positive way through job creation,
infrastructure development, capacity building and the organisation of
competitions. With this global reach and impact on so many people also
comes a heightened responsibility to preserve the inherent dignity and
equal rights of each individual impacted by FIFA activities. Any adverse
effects to their human rights should be prevented and addressed
adequately.
“FIFA governs and supports a global network of over 200 national
football associations and is connected through its tournaments to
thousands of businesses. As for any international sports organisation
today, this kind of global footprint brings with it significant risks to
people’s basic dignity and welfare. And that reality demands a robust
and proactive response. FIFA is not solely responsible for solving these
problems where the actions of others are the primary cause. But it must
use its influence to address these human rights risks as determinedly
as it does to pursue its commercial interests,” said Prof. Ruggie.
“Existing global frameworks like the UNGPs as well as Prof. Ruggie’s
report also help define the scope of our responsibility,” said FIFA Head
of Sustainability Federico Addiechi. “As the governing body of the most
popular sport in the world, we have a responsibility in regard to human
rights and in terms of how we go about developing the game of football
and organising our competitions. Beyond that, FIFA is committed to using
its leverage to ensure respect for human rights.”
In recent months, FIFA has had constructive exchanges and meetings with
Prof. Ruggie and his team to support them in conducting a review of
FIFA’s policies and activities.
FIFA’s own initiative to proactively engage with Prof. Ruggie to review
its policies and practices from a human rights perspective builds upon
previous work initiated by FIFA to implement and integrate human rights
in its activities. The requirements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ bidding
and hosting process are currently being reviewed and in this process
FIFA received technical support from the United Nations Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well as further input from
Prof. Ruggie. In addition, FIFA has recently included an additional
article on human rights in the new FIFA Statutes as approved at the FIFA
Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016 (see article 3 of the draft
Statutes).
While FIFA is working on institutionalising human rights further, the
organisation will continue and reinforce the collaboration with
stakeholders and the ongoing actions linked to human rights. These
include the monitoring of discrimination at all FIFA World Cup
qualifying matches, the application of ethical standards on child
labour, forced labour and working conditions for the FIFA quality programme,
the setting-up of monitoring systems for decent working conditions at
FIFA World Cup construction sites in Russia and Qatar, and a programme
to promote and establish gender equality in football.
For further information concerning FIFA’s approach to human rights, please see our factsheet on the issue.
Faced with two of the era’s true greats, and with the 1954 FIFA World Cup™ Final just seconds away, this bank of photographers must have been tingling with anticipation.
Yet as their shutters clicked, capturing Ferenc Puskas and Fritz Walter
– the inspirational captains of Hungary and West Germany – few among
them would have dared predict the thrills and spills that lay in store.
And fewer still would have predicted the outcome.
No-one, after all, anticipated this final – remembered as arguably the greatest in World Cup history – becoming ‘Das Wunder von Bern’ (‘The Miracle of Bern’).
Instead, it was expected to represent the routine coronation of a
seemingly unstoppable Hungary team that, earlier in this same
competition, had hammered their Final opponents 8-3. Indeed, it was
later reported that, of the 40 journalists present and asked for a
prediction pre-match, only one had been brave or foolhardy enough to
predict a German win.
Nothing in the early stages suggested a
deviation from the expected script either, with Hungary racing into a
2-0 lead inside eight minutes. Puskas was the predictable source of the
opener, while Zsoltan Czibor rubbed salt in German wounds soon after by
capitalising on a mix-up between Werner Kohlmeyer and keeper Toni Turek.
Game over, it appeared.
But Sepp Herberger’s
team weren’t ready to succumb to the seemingly inevitable. Within a
couple of minutes, Max Morlock had halved the deficit and, amid steady
rain – known as ‘Fritz Walter weather’ due to the skipper’s preference
for such conditions – the now-famous German spirit slowly came to the
fore. Just 18 minutes were on the clock when Walter’s corner sailed over
the Hungarian defence to set up Helmut Rahn for the equaliser, and Rahn
himself became an instant hero when he capped the unlikeliest of
comebacks with a stunning late winner.
For the victors, and a nation still reeling from the Second World War
and its consequences, the win was transformative. "Suddenly Germany was
somebody again,” recalled Franz Beckenbauer. “For anybody who grew up
in the misery of the post-war years, Bern was an extraordinary
inspiration. The entire country regained its self-esteem."
Did you know? The FIFA World Football Museum
in Zurich boasts several unique items from the 1954 World Cup,
including the original goal net from the Final and a ticket for this
unforgettable match.
Dejan Lovren of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal
Thursday, 14 April 2016
LIVERPOOL,
ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Dejan Lovren of Liverpool celebrates scoring his
team's fourth goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final, second
leg match between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund at Anfield on April
14, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty
Images)
The
stage is now set for the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments
at Rio 2016, following Thursday’s draw at the Estadio Maracana’s
auditorium. The Olympic Football Tournaments will have a total of 58
matches, with 32 for the men, and 26 for the women. Thanks to FIFA.com, you can find out who plays who right here.
The draw revealed the identity of the teams standing in Brazil’s way as
they bid to win gold in both competitions. Drawn into Group E, the
women begin their campaign against China at the Estadio Olimpico in Rio
de Janeiro on 3 August, while the men kick off against South Africa at
the Estadio Mane Garrincha in Brasilia the following day.
"Today
is a very important day in our Olympic journey towards the 2016 Olympic
Games," said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of COB (Brazilian Olympic
Committee) and president of President of the Organising Committee for
the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games. The path of our National
teams are defined. As a former athlete, I don't like to talk about
medals, but I know that the fans are anxious about it. I want to
register my huge support for both of our National Teams, as a
Brazilian."
The action gets under way on 3 August, with five
other cities aside from Rio staging games: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia,
Manaus, Salvador and Sao Paulo. Both finals will be played at the
Maracana, with the women going for gold on the 19th and the men doing
likewise a day later.
"Just under two years ago, Brazil hosted a
magical edition of the FIFA World Cup, and it will be glorious to see
these cities again at the centre of the football world this August,"
said Lydia Nsekera, deputy chairman of the Organising Committee for the
Olympic Football Tournaments, ExCo and IOC member "That is why I would
like to express my gratitude to the Host Cities for bringing to life the
legacy of that World Cup. There is no place for football like Brazil,
and I can't wait to see these six cities setting up a dream stage once
again for football fans from across the globe."
A clutch of
Brazilian sports stars lent a helping hand at the draw. The football
world was well represented thanks to the presence of Ronaldinho Gaucho,
the 2004 and 2005 FIFA World Player of the year and the winner of a
bronze medal at Beijing 2008, and centre-half Aline Pellegrino, who
skippered the Brazilian women’s team to silver at Athens 2004.
Accompanying
them were Janeth Arcain, a star of international basketball and a
silver and bronze medallist at Athens 1996 and Sydney 2000 respectively
and Maurren Maggi, who became the first Brazilian woman to land an
individual gold medal in winning the long jump at Beijing 2008 and who
also played football for Sao Paulo, the club closest to her heart. The
draw itself was conducted by Colin Smith, FIFA's Director of
Competitions.
The audience at the auditorium also included some
esteemed figures, with representatives from all 28 delegations in
attendance, as were Dunga and Oswaldo Alvarez, the respective coaches of
Brazil’s men’s and women’s teams. Also looking on was Carlos Restrepo,
who is in charge of the Colombian men’s team, who were the last side to
qualify for the Olympic tournaments, and Pia Sundhage, currently
Sweden’s women’s team boss, who oversaw USA’s gold-medal-winning
campaigns at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Silvia Neid, who led Germany
to bronze at Beijing 2008, was also present at the draw.
"All
three groups are even," Neid said. "Australia is the current champion of
Asia and eliminated Japan which shows their quality. Canada reached
the quarter-final at the Women's World Cup last year, both are tough
opponents with an athletic style and distinctive speed. In contrast,
Zimbabwe are an unknown quantity."
There is still time to buy tickets to see the Rio 2016 Olympic Football Tournaments live in person.
Showcasing
the global appeal of Futsal as well as the widespread interest in
hosting a FIFA competition, Member Associations from all across the
world have thrown their hat into the ring for a chance to host the FIFA
Futsal World Cup 2020 as the bidding process moves into its next phase.
A record 13 Member Associations have stepped forward, spanning
five Confederations, registering their interest in bringing the
tournament to their country in four years’ time. The full list features
Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Arab
Emirates and USA. The only continent not to have a nation in the running
is South America, who will be seeing the competition arrive on their
soil at Colombia 2016 – which kicks off in September.
Having expressed their intent, the Member Associations can
now expect to receive bid packs which include further information
regarding the bidding process and the requirements to host the event,
with the next step being them solidifying their commitment, with formal
declarations of interest needed by 6 May.
The 2020 tournament
will be the ninth edition of futsal’s premier competition, which has
thus far been played on four of the six confederations, since beginning
life at Netherlands 1989. A record 122 Member Associations competed for a
place at Colombia 2016, where the 24 top sides from across the globe
will fight for the title that Brazil won for a record fifth time in
Thailand four years ago.
Match between FIFA President Infatino and Bolivian President Morales teams
Thursday, 31 March 2016
Image
of the match between a team lead by FIFA President Gianni Infatino
('Amigos de Gianni') and the team lead by Bolivian President Evo
Morales, played in Cochabamba, Bolivia, on March 30, 2016. Photo: Andrés
Dorado Trigo (FBF - Press Department).
Cochabamba
was gripped by football fever as a squad captained by Bolivia’s
President Evo Morales welcomed on Thursday the team of FIFA President
Gianni Infantino and football greats Cafu, Fernando Hierro, Pablo Aimar,
Roberto Ayala, Faustino Asprilla, Martin Palermo, Jorge Sere, Demetrio
Angola, Julio Cesar Baldivieso, Nestor Clausen and Julio Zamora - the 'Amigos de Gianni' -
for a friendly match. Infantino’s side also featured the president of
the Bolivian Football Association (FBF), Rolando Lopez, and CONMEBOL
President Alejandro Dominguez.
Additionally, President Morales’
side comprised a wealth of Bolivian stars, including Marco Etcheverry,
Carlos Borja, Eduardo Jiguchi and Leonardo Fernandez. FIFA international
referee Raul Orozco was at the helm of the match, which ended in a 1-0
penalty kick shootout win for 'Amigos de Gianni', following a
goalless draw in front of an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 1,000
spectators at Cochabamba’s Aurora stadium - and to the eyes of thousands
of viewers who followed the action live on Bolivian television.
President
Infantino had started his visit to Bolivia on Wednesday evening when he
was welcomed by Rolando Lopez, president of the Bolivian Football
Association (FBF).
"We can’t change the past but we can influence
the future and by meeting each other on the pitch we are taking the
focus back to football as it should be. The fact that such a large group
of football idols came to Cochabamba and that we were able to play
against the team of President Morales is a great sign. I want to thank
them all," said President Infantino.
Off the pitch, the FIFA
President held talks with presidents Morales and Lopez, as well as with
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, on the current situation facing
Bolivia’s football and the plans of the new FBF administration.
Following the match, President Infantino departed for Colombia, the last stop of his South America trip.
Match between FIFA President Infatino and Bolivian President Morales teams
Thursday, 31 March 2016
Image
of the match between a team lead by FIFA President Gianni Infatino
('Amigos de Gianni') and the team lead by Bolivian President Evo
Morales, played in Cochabamba, Bolivia, on March 30, 2016. Photo: Andrés
Dorado Trigo (FBF - Press Department).
Qualifying
for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is reaching its final throes in
Asia and just 12 nations from the world's most populous continent remain
in the hunt for a spot at the global extravaganza that will kick off in
just over two years' time.
Those 12 countries, namely Australia,
China PR, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan, are eagerly
anticipating the draw for Round 3 of World Cup qualifying in Asia, which
is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday 12 April, kicking off
at 16.30 local time (10.30 CEST).
The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of Thursday 7 April will
determine the six pots for the draw with Pot 1 having the teams ranked 1
and 2 in Asia (of the remaining teams), pot 2 the teams ranked 3 and 4
and so on until pot 6 containing the teams ranked 11 and 12. This means
the pots are as follows: Pot 1: Iran, Australia Pot 2: Korea Republic, Japan Pot 3: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan Pot 4: United Arab Emirates, China PR Pot 5: Qatar, Iraq Pot 6: Syria, Thailand
The 12 sides will be drawn into Groups A and B, with one side from each pot making up each group.
23
World Cup matches and six finals goals spanning five tournaments is the
vast level of experience that will lend a guiding hand to proceedings
on Tuesday, as Korea Republic hero Park Jisung will take to the stage to
help conduct the draw. "World Cup appearances are the dream of every
player and I know that all 12 squads will be determined to make it to
Russia in 2018," Park said.
The first matches in Round 3 will
take place in September 2016, with the group stage concluding a year
later. The top two teams in each group will progress automatically to
Russia 2018, with the two third-placed sides advancing to Round 4 for a
chance to reach the CONCACAF-Asian Zone play-off for a spot at the
global finals.
Welcome to FIFA.com’s
rolling round-up of the weekend’s action, where Wydad Casablanca
enjoyed a 2-0 win over the African champions, Schalke and Borussia
Dortmund battled to a 2-2 draw, Leicester City's march to the English
Premier League took another step forward and the OFC Champions League
started with several high scoring affairs.
Want to find out more from the globe’s top divisions? Check out our newLive Scores section for results, scorers and tables from right across the planet following its makeover. The Big Matches
Wydad Casablanca 2-0 TP Mazembe
Abdelatif Noussir (44), Reda El Hajaoui (66 pen)
John Toshack’s Moroccan league leaders hosted the continental champions as the second round of the CAF Champions League
got under way, with both separated from the group stages by no more
than two hours of football. Regulars were rested as Wydad saw their lead
slashed to just three points domestically – with fresh legs expected to
face the side from Congo DR, while Mazembe arrived having won two from
two in the fledgling Super Ligue back home. The Moroccans, who have not
appeared in the tournament since reaching the final in 2011, performed
well and defeated TP Mazembe 2-0. Schalke 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
Leroy Sane (51), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (66); Shinji Kagawa (49), Matthias Ginter (56)
While the opening period was a nervy one during the Rivierderby –
with only Sane's effort against the post getting pulses racing – after
the break it was all go. It took no time at all for Kagawa to open the
scoring in the most picturesque fashion, elegantly chipping Ralf
Fahrmann from the edge of the box, but Sane rifled home an equaliser
within two minutes after Roman Burki's parry. Dortmund were back in
front thanks to Ginter's free header inside the area, but Sokritis
Papastathopoulos hauled down Huntelaar, with the Dutchman levelling from
the penalty spot. Fahrmann had to be at his best to keep the scores
level, while Max Meyer spurned a glorious chance for the hosts at the
death, with a draw harming either sides' European and title aspirations
alike. The talking points The 16-day long OFC Champions League
saw its first round of games get going, with Tahiti’s Tefana earning a
convincing 6-1 win over Nadi, despite Mickael Roche’s bizarre own goal,
while Magenta sit just behind in Group C after a 2-0 win over Kiwi. On
Sunday, a Joao Moreira hat-trick helped Auckland City open their
campaign with a thumping win, as the reigning champions defeated Solomon
Warriors 4-0.
In the race for the Premier Plate in Australia's
A-League, Adelaide United claimed the regular season title, beating
Melbourne City 2-0 as Brisbane Roar slipped to a goalless draw at
Melbourne Victory. In Turkey, third-place Konyaspor defeated
second-place Fenerbahce 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Ali Camdali.
Besiktas maintain their narrow three-point lead in the league.
Leicester
City left Sunderland with the first of four wins they need to clinch
the English Premier League title - and a guaranteed UEFA Champions
League spot, as Jamie Vardy's second-half brace put them three points
closer to glory. Tottenham Hotspur kept pace as they saw off Manchester
United 3-0, all coming in six second-half minutes, denting Louis van
Gaal's side's European aspirations.Neither Arsenal or
West Ham United could put pressure on the sides above them as they
played out a pulsating 3-3 draw in the final London derby at the Boleyn
Ground. Manchester City edged West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Etihad
Stadium. Samir Nasri scored the winner.
In what has been a mixed
week for Real Madrid, they responded to their 2-0 loss at Wolfsburg in
the Champions League midweek by sweeping aside Eibar 4-0. Los Blancos’Clasico win
gave Atletico Madrid a glimmer of hope in the title race, and those
dreams were boosted even more when they travelled to Barcelona and
defeated Espanyol 3-1 to move second. The landscape for La Liga's title race changed dramatically by the end of the day as leaders Barcelona lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad, meaning Barça's lead at the top has been trimmed down to three points.
AC Milan and Juventus clashed as the hosts looked to salvage something from their season against the leaders. However, Juve were
too strong for Sinisa Mihajlovic's men in the end, despite Alex giving
Milan the lead early on. Goals from Mario Mandzukic and Paul Pogba gave
the holders all three points at the San Siro, while second-placed Napoli
kept the gap at six points, brushing off the loss of banned top-scorer
Gonzalo Higuain to beat ten-man Verona 3-0.
In Russia, when
Rostov visited Anzhi it was top against bottom, however, there was
nothing to separate the sides as the match ended goalless and CSKA took
advantage to go top on Saturday with a thumping 7-1 win against Mordovia
Saransk.
Lyon sit second in France, level with Monaco on 55
points, following a 2-0 win at Montpellier thanks to a first-half brace
from youngster Maxwell Cornet. The principality side missed the chance
to move clear as Leonardo Jardim’s side slipped to a 4-1 defeat at
Lille, with Nice's 3-0 win over Rennes moving them to within two points
of third.
The race for European places in Germany continues to
produce twists and turns as four points separates five sides vying for
third. Hertha Berlin missed the chance to steal an early march when they
drew at home to bottom side Hannover, but neither Borussia
Monchengladbach or Mainz could make them pay the following day, with a
defeat and point against Ingolstdt and Wolfsburg respectively. That left
Bayer Leverkusen the chance to move to within a point of the Champions
League spot with a win over Cologne - duly doing so with a 2-0 triumph,
and Schalke ruing their dropped points in the Ruhr derby.
In
Scotland, Aberdeen missed their chance to cut Celtic's lead to two
points after they fell 2-1 at third-place Hearts. Juanma scored a goal
in each half to give the hosts all three points. The Bhoys took full
advantage with a 2-1 against Motherwell, which stretched their lead at
the summit of Scotland's top flight to eight points. There was late
drama in Belgium where Club Brugge defeated Gent 2-0.
Al Ahly
managed a strong start in Tanzania against Young Africans in their CAF
Champions League second qualifying round first leg clash with a 1-1
draw, as they look to reach the group stages for the first time since
lifting the title in 2013. As the big weekend in Africa continued, 2014
champions ES Setif travelled to last year’s semi-finalists Al Merreikh
and crucial away goals in a 2-2 draw.
Real Salt Lake edged
Colorado Rapids 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain derby with Joao Plata
producing the only goal of the game. In Qatar, champions Al Rayyan saw
the 'Qatari Clasico' snatched from their grasp as Al Sadd
struck twice in the closing minutes to secure a 2-2 draw, while the
Bucharest derby in Romania helped neither Steaua or Dinamo's title
aspirations after a 1-1 draw.
Ecuador's top two teams met on
Sunday as Barcelona edged Independiente in a five-goal thriller. Andi
Cicero's own goal had Barcelona up 3-1 with five minutes to play,
but Independiente made for an exciting finish after Jonny Uchuari's
87th-minute strike made it 3-2. The hosts managed to hold on to retain
their top spot in the Primera A, while Independiente dropped to fourth
after Emelec and El Nacional both recorded wins to go second and third
in the table respectively.
Excitement
is reaching fever pitch in this year’s UEFA Champions League
quarter-finals, with no team yet certain of a place in the last four.
Only Wolfsburg managed to gain a two-goal advantage in the first leg –
but with Real Madrid as opponents and a return leg at the Santiago
Bernabeu still to come, last season’s Bundesliga runners-up will need to
exceed expectations all over again. FIFA.com looks ahead to this week’s matches and sets out all the key facts.
The fixtures Tuesday 12 April Real Madrid – Wolfsburg (0-2)
Manchester City – Paris Saint-Germain (2-2) Wednesday 13 April Benfica – Bayern Munich (0-1)
Atletico Madrid – Barcelona (1-2) Match of the day Real Madrid – Wolfsburg,Santiago Bernabeu, 20:45 (CET)
When
the quarter-final draw was made, Wolfsburg were a team many of Europe’s
biggest and most established clubs would happily have been drawn
against. While Real Madrid are unlikely to have been too concerned when
they were first paired with the club from Germany’s Motor City, their
anxiety is mounting after the first leg. The side currently placed
eighth in the Bundesliga subjected Los Blancos’ superstars to a 2-0 defeat they were powerless to prevent, a result the Spanish press greeted with disbelief.
While
a two-goal first-leg lead would usually be considered comfortable, the
prospect of an away match at the Santiago Bernabeu means Wolfsburg have
no room for complacency. Real Madrid are fired up heading into Tuesday’s
encounter, perhaps also spurred on by recent results in the Primera
Division, where an uncharacteristic slip from Barcelona has revived
their hopes of successfully challenging for the league title.
“It
will be a perfect, magical night,” said Cristiano Ronaldo, while coach
Zinedine Zidane shared his spirit of optimism, saying: “We know what we
need to do. Although we’re two goals down, we can achieve great things
at the Bernabeu. We want to make the fans proud.” Immediately after last
week’s shock first-leg loss, captain Sergio Ramos declared: “The
fightback begins today.” The time has come to turn these strong words
into action. In the spotlight Elsewhere, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid contested a hard-fought first leg at the Camp Nou, with Barça
ultimately emerging 2-1 winners after Fernando Torres saw red for two
yellow-card offences. With six other Atletico players as well as
Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano and Luis Suarez also
working their way into the referee’s book, the match generated more
yellow cards than any other UEFA Champions League game this season. Atleti
will sense an opportunity in the wake of the Catalan outfit's shock 1-0
Liga defeat by bogey team Real Sociedad on Saturday evening, and with
coach Diego Simeone’s side requiring just a 1-0 win to take them through
to the last four, Luis Enrique and his players must prepare for another
tough evening. Player to watch
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a player who does not shy away from making big
statements. He was recently said to have remarked that his life
contained enough excitement to make ten (!) films. A movie entitled
‘Zlatan wins the UEFA Champions League’ would certainly make fascinating
viewing given his long and frustrating relationship with Europe’s
biggest club competition up to now.
The Swede has reached the
quarter-finals on eight occasions, losing seven times – more than any
other player in the history of the competition. To improve this record,
the 34-year-old will need to deliver as flawless a display as possible
in Manchester and avoid missing a penalty as he did in the first leg. A
real blockbuster could be on the cards if he succeeds. Did you know?
If Wolfsburg were to navigate their way past Real Madrid, it would end
Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive run at this stage of the tournament. The
Portuguese superstar has never been beaten in a UEFA Champions League
quarter-final, reaching the last four with Manchester United in 2007,
2008 and 2009 and with Madrid every year from 2011 to 2015. Los Blancos
will also be spurred on by the opportunity to equal Barcelona’s record
of six successive semi-final appearances set between 2008 and 2013. The stat
2 –German teams have only recorded two away wins
against Benfica in 20 European encounters. Nevertheless, Bayern will
take heart from the fact that they recorded the first of these victories
when they won 3-1 on Portuguese soil on 5 December 1995. What they said "Anything can happen at the Bernabeu, including things we can’t
yet imagine. We’re not absolute beginners heading to Madrid with sweaty
palms. We just need to find the right answers."
Former world-class striker and Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs
QUEM GOSTA DE FUTEBOL, E CONHECE JOAQUIM ALENCAR !
Gente,vamos
da um grito de socorro,e colocar na direçao da faf,quem entende de
futebol,e gosta do mesmo,tenha conhecimento com os comandantes do
futebol brasileiro,e tirar o futebol do amazonas do otracismo,essa
pessoa tem nome,JOAQUIM ALENCAR,com ele na direçao da FAF,ai
sim!voltaremos a ter estadios cheios,e jogadores e clubes com vontade de
retorna a era do futebol grandioso,que o amazonense. Joaquim confesso que desconheço
as regras da FAF em relação a eleição de seus diretores(de Presidente
aos demais diretores), mas vc deve conhecer. O que pode ser feito tem
que ser dentro do que for permitido legalmente. Só sei que uma das
formas para mobilizar a mudança da atual diretoria, seria através da
mobilização do povo amazonense que hoje é um eterno frustrado em relação
ao futebol amazonense. Agora mesmo vimos o Princesa perder para o
Chapecóense. Vimos o Nacional perder para o REMO. Há muitos anos que não
temos o prazer de ver nosso futebol na vitrine dos Campeonatos
Nacionais, como vimos na era do Tri Campeão do Norte o nosso querido e
SAUDOSO SÃO RAIMUNDO. Enfim, antes ainda tínhamos o privilégio de
disputar a hegemonia do futebol do Norte, com os times Paraenses. Hoje,
estamos atrás do Acre, de Rondonia, de Roraima e Amapá. Não chegamos nem
a ameaçar o futebol Paraense, que sempre mantém um time na série A ou B
do futebol brasileiro. Joaquim Alencar, prezado amigo, uma das formas
para tentarmos resgatar o nosso futebol é mudando a direção da FAF e eu,
assim como todos os que querem o bem do nosso futebol, acredito assim
desejam. Acho que o primeiro passo é CLAMARMOS por isso, e uma das
formas de clamarmos, até pra avaliar se é isso mesmo que o povo
Amazonense deseja, é aferirmos, através de um Abaixo-Assinado. Esse
poderia ser lançado por você nas redes sociais. Agora não basta lançar
um abaixo assinado pedindo o soerguimento do nosso futebol, temos que,
antes de fazê-lo, mostrar com dados que só você tem, o por quê que o
nosso futebol precisa ser soerguido. Tenho certeza que esse abaixo
assinado terá a adesão de todos os Amazonenses que querem ver o nosso
futebol voltar a ser o que já foi perante o futebol brasileiro. Na
sequência, tens que verificar junto ao Ministério Público o andamento do
pedido de intervenção e a posição em que se encontra. Te garanto que
após isso, você saindo candidato a Presidência da FAF, terá o apôio das
direções dos times locais e galgará ao posto de Presidente da FAF para
libertar o futebol Amazonense do ostracismo em que se encontra, da mesma
forma como Deus fez com os Hebreus para libertá-los da sana assassina
dos Egípcios usando o MOISÉS. E você seria o MOISÉS para a salvação e
redenção do nosso futebol. Tenho dito.
Segundo
envolvidos na negociação do acordo, os delatores afirmam que até 2008
os valores doados legalmente para PT e outros partidos, como PSDB, eram
similares.A delação da Andrade Gutierrez engloba ainda pagamento de
propinas relacionadas a obras executadas em estádios da Copa do Mundo de
2014, como Maracanã, Mané Garrincha e Arena Amazonas, e atinge não só o
PT mas também o PMDB –informações antecipadas conforme publicou a Folha
de S. Paulo em novembro de 2015 .Ao todo, 11 executivos da construtora
prestaram depoimentos no Rio, Curitiba e Brasília, que já foram
encaminhados para o ministro Teori Zavascki homologar a delação.
Segundo
envolvidos na negociação do acordo, os delatores afirmam que até 2008
os valores doados legalmente para PT e outros partidos, como PSDB, eram
similares.A delação da Andrade Gutierrez engloba ainda pagamento de
propinas relacionadas a obras executadas em estádios da Copa do Mundo de
2014, como Maracanã, Mané Garrincha e Arena Amazonas, e atinge não só o
PT mas também o PMDB –informações antecipadas conforme publicou a Folha
de S. Paulo em novembro de 2015 .Ao todo, 11 executivos da construtora
prestaram depoimentos no Rio, Curitiba e Brasília, que já foram
encaminhados para o ministro Teori Zavascki homologar a delação.
Afranio BragaEu
fui ao jogo Fast 0 x 0 Cosmos. Eu espero que a Arena Amazônia também
seja palco de grandes partidas, quem sabe um dos confrontos do Brasil
nas Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo Rússia 2018.
Rogerio SouzaAmigo,
esse foi um jogo inesquecível e tive a satisfação de participar. Em
1980, além desse jogo, também teve o jogo contra a seleção da Polônia,
só faltou mesmo ganhar o Estadual. Chegamos perto mas infelizmente não
aconteceu.
PROJETO DE:JOAQUIM ALENCAR.REALIZAÇÃO:JOAQUIM ALENCAR,JOÃO TORRES E MANUEL MUNIZ.
Gianni Infantino concluyó el jueves 31 de marzo en Bogotá su primera visita a Sudamérica como Presidente de la FIFA.
En
la capital colombiana, el Presidente Infantino analizó con su homólogo
de la Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, Ramón Jesurún, materias relativas
al proceso de reforma de la FIFA y a los preparativos para la Copa
Mundial de Futsal de la FIFA Colombia 2016. También aprovechó la
oportunidad para felicitar a la selección colombiana que recientemente
obtuvo la clasificación para el torneo de fútbol masculino de los Juegos
Olímpicos.
Tras su llegada, el Presidente de la FIFA se reunió
con el Presidente de Colombia Juan Manuel Santos. “Estoy convencido de
que Colombia realizará una vez más un fantástico torneo de la FIFA. La
hospitalidad y pasión del pueblo colombiano va a darle un marco
extraordinario a la Copa Mundial de Futsal. La Federación Colombiana
bajo la presidencia de Ramón Jesurún ha estado realizando un
extraordinario trabajo para promover el desarrollo integral del fútbol
en todas las áreas”, aseguró Infantino.
El Presidente de la FIFA
también se encontró con el seleccionador de Colombia, el argentino José
Néstor Pekerman, y con el legendario entrenador colombiano Francisco Pacho Matuurana.
“A
través de mi visita a Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia y Colombia he notado
un compromiso genuino de las asociaciones miembro para progresar después
de una época difícil y servir al fútbol con honestidad en línea con las
actuales reformas. La pasión única de los aficionados sudamericanos
debe servir como obligación para dar lo mejor al fútbol,” agregó
Infantino.
“If my determination to restore football’s reputation was already very strong, it is now even stronger.
I welcome any investigation conducted into this matter.
For the sake of transparency and clarity, it is essential that all elements of this dossier are disclosed, as UEFA has done.
Based on these documents, it is clear that all contractual matters were conducted properly by UEFA.
Should I be required to contribute to bringing further clarification on the matter, I will of course gladly do so.
It is in my interest and in the interest of football that everything should come to light.”
France
have undergone several transformations since the disappointment of the
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, with first Laurent Blanc and then
Didier Deschamps taking over in the dugout and overseeing a raft of
changes. Prompted by form, suspensions, injuries, retirements from the
international scene and the emergence of new faces, these changes have
come in central defence, midfield and up front.
One man who has stayed put throughout it all, however, is Hugo Lloris. The captain of LesBleus since
November 2010, the 29-year-old goalkeeper represents continuity in a
revitalised line-up that reached the quarter-finals at Brazil 2014, but
which is now aiming even higher at UEFA EURO 2016, to be played on
French soil.
Discussing his position, responsibilities and ambitions, the Tottenham keeper spoke at length to FIFA.com. FIFA.com: What made you want to become a goalkeeper? Hugo Lloris: It’s funny because it came
naturally, before I’d even watched a game on TV or in the flesh. I was
more into tennis when I was young, but I sometimes played on a little
pitch next to my club, with two chairs as a goal. I was immediately
attracted to the idea of keeping goal. And when I started to play
football for a club, I began to really take an interest in goalkeepers,
like Peter Schmeichel and Fabien Barthez. It appealed to me because of
the responsibilities it involved, which made me feel different. I didn’t
do it to stand out, but because I wanted to be useful in some way and
help my team. Do you think you could have been an outfield player? It actually gave it a go when I was about seven or eight
because I wanted to try something else. I started to push further up the
pitch, to play rush keeper. We played on little seven-a-side pitches
and I’d bring the ball out with my feet and try with my left to lob the
opposing keeper with my clearances. I then tried playing up front, and I
really enjoyed it. But then when I signed for OGC Nice, Dominique
Baratelli persuaded me to go back into goal. I was ten, and that’s when
things started to get serious for me. When did you realise that you could make it as a professional goalkeeper? I always struck a balance between my schoolwork and football.
Though football was in the back of my mind, I put school first right
through to my A levels. I got my chance with Nice when I was 18, first
in the League Cup, then in the French Cup and finally in the league. It
all started very early and quickly for me, and I was already pretty
mature and had things clear in my head. Barthez said that goalkeepers don’t get the recognition they deserve. Do you agree with him? Maybe it was different in his day, but I don’t think that’s the
case any more, thanks in no small part to Fabien, who changed
goalkeeping because he really liked to play the ball. Modern football is
very challenging for goalkeepers because they have the job of starting
moves now. It’s a responsibility that I’m aware of every day at
Tottenham, because we like to build from the back and we avoid hitting
long balls, which means I have to be alert when I’m making decisions and
taking risks. Goalkeepers have to be players at heart now. Coaches
demand nothing less. It’s an 11-a-side sport, not ten-a-side, and
keepers play their part. Which of your goalkeeping peers do you admire? There’s [Gianluigi] Buffon, who’s a living legend and a role
model when it comes to longevity and consistency. He’s developed his
game over time, and at 38 he’s seen several generations of players come
and go, as well as different styles of play. He’s handled it all
brilliantly. Another keeper I like a lot is David De Gea, who’s been
excellent with Manchester United, and then there’s Manuel Neuer and
Thibaut Courtois, of course, who need no introduction. There are a lot
of very good keepers around who are great examples for the coming
generations. Didier Deschamps was an outstanding leader for LesBleus. Has he proved an inspiration for you as captain? He’s the national team coach now, so he has to take a different
approach these days, though he’s always been a leader. It’s good to
take things from everyone and then find your own way, one you’re
comfortable with. Deschamps was a fantastic captain, like Michel Platini
and others before him. They’re leaders who were greats in their day and
it’s because of them that winning is an obligation when you play for
France. Did you always want to be a captain? Not when I was young, no. A goalkeeper has to be a little bit
of a captain and has to take responsibilities in the penalty area and
even in their own half of the pitch, where they have to command their
defensive line. If you look at my career, I was a captain with the youth
team at Lyon and with Tottenham, and I’ve been France captain for a
while now. I must have something that coaches sense and appreciate,
though it’s not something I’ve made a point of looking for. There are
definitely a few criteria that are important, like setting an example on
the pitch and with my performances. I’ve become something of a veteran
now in relation to the younger players, even though I’m still only 29. There
are quite a lot of new faces in the France team, especially in attack,
where there’s no lack of talent. As a senior member of the side, what do
you demand of them? Football and society are changing and we can’t all think the
same way about certain things. When I started out, social media and all
the things that come with it didn’t exist. Relationships were
straightforward, face to face, over a coffee or in a restaurant. I
accept that it’s a part of our everyday lives now, but it shouldn’t have
too much influence over how we interact with each other. We have to be
very careful because all sorts of media like to cover it. Aside from
communication, we also have a duty to be responsible and to perform when
we play for the national team. It’s not getting the call to LesBleus that’s the hardest thing, but to stay there. France
have done well when hosting major competitions in the past, like in
1984 and 1998, though being the home side is not always easy, as we saw
with Brazil in 2014. Is it an advantage for you be on home soil at UEFA
EURO 2016 or does it put extra pressure on you? There is pressure, for sure, but you have to turn it into
something positive. It’s going to be a privilege for us to wear the
France shirt in front of our fans in a major competition like the EUROs.
It’s a big deal for us, and we have to make the absolute most of it. We
need to enjoy it and entertain the people of France too and give
ourselves hope. It’s always an advantage to have the fans on your side.
I’ve played in some big competitions, in South Africa in 2010, Ukraine
in 2012 and Brazil in 2014, and we’ve always felt there was something
missing, even though we had supporters who made the trip. It’ll be
different this time. France fans can be great fans, and it’s up to us to
show lots of positive energy on the pitch.
Reds, runs, teamwork and a wunderkind feature in FIFA.com’s latest stats review, along with a rapid treble.
30 league
goals in a season is what Gonzalo Higuain became the first man in
Napoli history – and first Serie A player since Luca Toni in 2005/06 –
to conquer on Sunday. The France-born Argentina striker marked his 100th
appearance in the Italian top flight with his 65th goal, a thunderous
half-volley against Udinese which left him with more than double his
nearest rivals in the Capocannoniere race. It also moved
Higuain level with Benfica’s Jonas in the European Golden Shoe battle,
and closer to the 36-goal record for a Serie A campaign, set by Torino’s
Gino Rossetti in 1928/29. The 28-year-old’s quest to realise those
targets took huge blows, however, when he was sent off in a 3-1 loss and
subsequently punished with a four-match ban. Napoli have now failed to
beat Udinese away in nine years since a Marcelo Zalayeta-inspired 5-0
triumph.
16 years and 67 days was the age at which
Dusan Vlahovic became the youngest scorer in Partizan’s 70-year-plus
history on Sunday. So highly did coach Ivan Tomic rate the towering
striker that he handed him the club’s prestigious No9 shirt – previously
worn by Stjepan Bobek, Marko Valok, Milan Galic, Savo Milosevic and
Mateja Kezman – before even including him in his squad for a match.
Vlahovic was sent on for the start of the second half with Partizan
trailing 2-0 at home to Radnik Surdulica, and he took just eight minutes
– to the second – to head home the first goal of a career that promises
many. Sasa Ilic, a 38-year-old who made his Partizan debut three years
and three months before Vlahovic was born, then netted a quick-fire
brace to capture the Belgrade Behemoths a 3-2 victory that kept them
second in the Serbian SuperLiga standings.
10 players
were involved – without possession being relinquished – in Kawasaki
Frontale’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Kashima Antlers on Sunday. Yuto
Takeoka started the move with a free-kick inside his own half, and
following 17 passes Elsinho – the last outfield player in blue and black
involved – headed home the equaliser. It ensured Yahiro Kazama’s side
preserved the only undefeated record in the 2016 J.League.
8 years and 101 days had passed since a Real Madrid coach
last avoided defeat in his first league game against Barcelona until
Zinedine Zidane stopped the rot on Saturday. Since Julio Baptista’s
swerving half-volley gave Bernd Schuster victory in the first Clásico of
his tenure, defeats had befallen Juande Ramos (2-0), Manuel Pellegrini
(1-0), Jose Mourinho (5-0), Carlo Ancelotti (2-1) and Rafa Benitez
(4-0). The 21st red card of Sergio Ramos’s career – and fourth in the
fixture – left Real at a numerical disadvantage late on, but Cristiano
Ronaldo struck to snatch a 2-1 win that denied Barcelona extending their
record unbeaten run in all competitions to 40 matches. It was the
31-year-old Portuguese’s tenth goal in his last nine appearances at Camp
Nou, while Lionel Messi has not scored in his last five games against
Real – his longest drought.
8 years without the Hungarian top-tier title going to the
capital is what Ferencvaros ended on Sunday – an astonishing statistic
considering that when ‘The Green Eagles’ last conquered the country in
2003/04, clubs from Budapest had won 95 of 102 seasons. Ferencvaros
extended their record of league crowns to 29 with six matches still to
play – and despite losing to Debrecen for the first time in seven games
in all competitions – due to MTK’s loss to Paksi.
Quick hits 50 appearances in UEFA club competitions was what David Alaba reached against Benfica – despite being only 23.
13 minutes is all Carlos Munoz required to bag a
hat-trick which ultimately earned Santiago Wanderers a 5-4 win over
Universidad Chile. Wanderers’ last four games have averaged 5.5 goals.
8 straight draws is that Olympic Muremera have recorded in the Burundian Premier League – all 0-0 or 1-1.
7 goals is what Shakhtar Donetsk beat Metalist Kharkiv by at the weekend for their biggest-ever win in the fixture.
4 Italian coaches have now served under Roman
Abramovich at Chelsea after he confirmed Antonio Conte would be taking
over at Stamford Bridge.
