The world’s best 32 gamers ready to compete for the FIFA Interactive World Cup

The world’s best 32 gamers ready to compete for the FIFA Interactive World Cup crown
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 21 April 2010
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On May 1, the world’s best 32 virtual football players will line up at Barcelona’s Port Olimpic as the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final returns to the same spot for the second year in succession. They will be competing to be crowned the FIFA Interactive World Champion 2010, which also comes with a prize of USD 20,000 and an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2010, where they will mingle with the world’s best footballers. After seven months of qualification, FIFA today announced the 32 grand finalists from 22 countries.

The FIWC10 Grand Final will complete the sixth edition of the world’s largest football gaming tournament after a gruelling season that has witnessed players from around the world take to EA SPORTS™ FIFA10 virtual pitch on PlayStation®3 at ten live qualifier events in countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Italy and Japan since November. This year has seen a continued growth in the number of contestants, with over 775,000 players competing in both the live qualifier events and the online qualification that has run from October 2009 through to March 2010.

“I am delighted to see the huge interest of fans from all over the world in this event, which keeps growing every year,” said FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer, who will attend the Grand Final in Barcelona. “I enjoyed last year’s final very much and I am looking forward to watching the best interactive players in the world face off once again to be crowned the FIFA Interactive world champion of 2010,” he added.
I enjoyed last year’s final very much and I am looking forward to watching the best interactive players in the world face off once again to be crowned the FIFA Interactive world champion of 2010.
FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer

This year’s Grand Final, which offers free admission to the general public, will take place alongside the beach in Barcelona and promises to be the biggest yet, with a full entertainment show to accompany the world-class display of virtual football. Former Dutch international Patrick Kluivert will attend and show off his virtual skills by taking part in an exhibition match on the main stage.

The public will also be able to enjoy the latest EA SPORTS gaming titles in the Gaming Lounge while also experiencing PlayStation’s latest next-generation entertainment products in the Entertainment Lounge.

Spain’s beach soccer star Ramiro Amarelle will be joined by a couple of his fellow countrymen in the beach soccer area, where attendees will be able to take part in mini tournaments run throughout the day. Completing the day’s entertainment extravaganza, Groove Armada’s Andy Cato will play a full DJ set at which spectators can join the newly crowned FIFA Interactive world champion in celebrating victory.

“With over 775,000 participants, we have set a new record for the FIWC 2010, which will culminate in the exciting Grand Final in Barcelona. This amazing number of gamers highlights the importance of the FIWC for football fans worldwide,” said Jon Rosenblatt, Senior Marketing Director Europe EA SPORTS. “FIFA 10 has proven to be the best football video game ever and it is great to see so many players from all over the world competing against each other on the PlayStation Network during the live qualifiers to claim the FIWC 2010 title on May 1.”

“The FIFA Interactive World Cup continues to go from strength to strength, growing each year at an enormous rate,” said Darren Carter, Vice President, Consumer Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “To have had over 775,000 participants clearly shows the passion of both the EA SPORTS FIFA 10 and PlayStation fans. These guys are a fantastic example of dedication and skill, something that will be in abundance at this season’s FIFA Interactive World Cup. I have no doubt that it is going to be the best final yet and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Barcelona in May.”

FIFA Statutes

FIFA Statutes

The FIFA Statutes and the accompanying regulations governing their implementation form the Constitution of football's international governing body. They provide the basic laws for world football, on which countless rules are set for competitions, transfers, doping issues and a host of other concerns.

Changes to the FIFA Statutes can only be made by the FIFA Congress and require a three-quarter majority of the associations present and eligible to vote.

The Statutes have undergone several thorough revisions during FIFA's history, giving FIFA a modern and comprehensive legal framework for its increasingly important work.

These Statutes were adopted at the 59th FIFA Congress in Nassau on 3 June 2009 and came into force on 2 August 2009.

Kahn: A festival of football

Kahn: A festival of football
(FIFA.com) Monday 19 April 2010

Oliver Kahn requires few words by way of introduction. The German footballing legend is a well-known and popular figure around the world. In the course of an illustrious goalkeeping career, the man nicknamed Titan achieved almost all there is to achieve. His honours collection includes medals as a FIFA World Cup™ runner-up, European champion, German champion, German cup winner, UEFA Champions League winner and Toyota Intercontinental Cup winner, to name but the most prestigious.

Kahn also received a welter of individual honours, including Best Player and Goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, World Goalkeeper of the Year (1999, 2001, 2002) and European Goalkeeper of the Year (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002), all testimony to his towering stature within the game.

After a 21-year career at the highest level, Kahn finally hung up his gloves in May 2008. Two years earlier, in the third-place play-off at the 2006 FIFA World Cup on home soil, the Titan had brought down the curtain on an international career for Germany spanning 86 matches, 49 of which he played as captain.

FIFA.com spoke exclusively to the former custodian about his new role as a TV studio expert, this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, and issues currently affecting the German team.

FIFA.com: Jens Lehmann, your long-term rival in the Germany goal, has announced his retirement at the end of the season. What was your reaction to the news?
Oliver Kahn: I picked up on it, as you do. It’s a logical decision. As an elite athlete, you’re always asking yourself how long you can maintain your current level of performance. The best time to stop is when people repeatedly say to you, ‘you’re basically still in great shape'.

Would you play in a Jens Lehmann farewell match?
Of course I would, why not? It was always put about that we were somehow bitter enemies. But we weren’t: we were sporting rivals, and that’s all there was to it.

Another major media debate in Germany concerns Kevin Kuranyi (who was ejected from the national team for disciplinary reasons). Should he be reinstated or not? What are the chances of that happening?
Joachim Low has a decent choice of strikers, including [Miroslav] Klose, [Lukas] Podolski, [Mario] Gomez, [Stefan] Kiessling, and on current form Kuranyi. But if you slavishly followed a philosophy of just picking form players, you’d be fielding a different national team every month. Low needs to consider this extremely carefully, because he'd have to cut one of his strikers out of the squad. And it’s not easy for a national coach to simply say, ‘go on then, I’ll take a player who’s not appeared for Germany for months now'.

By contrast, Germany have already settled on their goalkeeper. Rene Adler is officially the new No1. Is that the right decision, and was it announced at the right time? Four years ago, the decision to go with Lehmann rather than yourself wasn’t taken until just before the tournament…
I hope we’ll soon be back to the situation where we won’t be debating the timing of a decision, because we’ve finally found a man we can consistently trust, like you had with me, and like you have with [Edwin] van der Sar, [Iker] Casillas or [Petr] Cech, where you have a clearly-defined first-choice keeper.

I’d have taken the decision a lot earlier myself, just to settle it once and for all. We’ve somehow arrived at a situation where it’s regarded as sensible to delay this kind of call for as long as possible, but I reject that. A goalkeeper needs to emerge and continue developing before he can characterise an era. Obviously, Rene Adler mustn’t make any more mistakes, or the whole debate will reopen. But if he keeps making the saves we’re used to seeing from him, the debate will soon die down. And as it happens, this particular debate involves some very good candidates.
I’m not sure the Germany rearguard is totally bedded in yet, but there’s a solid foundation.
Former goalkeeper Kahn on the current German defence.

What’s the value in forming a unit with your defenders as soon as possible?
It's definitely important. You need to know how your defenders are likely to react in certain situations. You do need time to develop a complete understanding out on the field. Rene Adler has already featured in plenty of internationals, including crunch games like the meetings with Russia. I’m not sure the Germany rearguard is totally bedded in yet, but there’s a solid foundation.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ begins in less than two months. How much are you looking forward to the tournament, and what are your expectations?
For a footballer, there’s nothing bigger than the World Cup. It’s where the best national teams and the best players go head-to-head every four years. It’s a festival dedicated to football. It’s a magnificent experience. Even after you’ve finished playing, you’re still looking forward to it. It’s just fascinating to see how the drama unfolds at a World Cup. And there’s always a really special atmosphere in the host nation.

Would you like one last go at it? Does the thought cause a shiver to run down your spine?
Actually, I’m really pleased not to be out on the field any more. I’ve seen it all, and been through it all. I was at five or six major tournaments. That chapter’s closed for me.

Who do you rate as favourites for the Trophy, and do Germany have a chance?
At the end of the day, the favourites are always the same: Spain, Brazil, Italy, France, and Germany too. However, teams' form in the build-up to a World Cup tells you nothing whatsoever. Every World Cup develops its own, very powerful dynamic, based on who copes best and fastest with the climate, the conditions, and so on. So it’s very hard to say what might happen.

Are Germany on a par with Brazil, Argentina or Italy? Or are they not quite there yet?
We’re talking here about EURO [2008] runners-up Germany. I personally believe Germany are up there on a level with the other top teams. The Germans are in a position to beat the Brazilians or the Spanish – and vice-versa, obviously. Nothing’s ever ruled out at this level.

Germany’s 1-0 defeat to Argentina a few weeks ago has no bearing on that opinion. I’m thinking back to 2002, when we only qualified for the finals via the play-offs and hardly performed brilliantly in the build-up. And we went on to make the Final that year.

Some people reckon the role of the goalkeeper has changed dramatically in recent years. Just making saves isn’t enough – the keeper must also perform as a sort of 11th outfield player too. Would you agree? Was it easier as a keeper in the past?
I have to reject that completely. Even in my playing days, it was vital for the keeper to read the game and intervene, anticipating crosses, playing the ball on the floor, slowing down or speeding up the play as required. They’re the same challenges faced by keepers today. The only major change in recent decades was the rule preventing you picking the ball up from a back-pass, but we got used to that very quickly. In the final analysis, the demands and requirements are the same as ever.

Who do you regard as the best keeper?
The best keeper in my opinion is Gianluigi Buffon. He’s the most experienced, he’s won the World Cup, and he’s at a leading club. He has the stature and personality too, and he’s currently the best in terms of combining all the best attributes of a first-class goalkeeper.

Germany’s prospects for the next few years look good, with talented younger players such as Mezut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Marko Marin, Holger Badstuber and Toni Kroos. Would you agree? If they can’t win in 2010, might 2014 in Brazil be a possibility?
Today’s young players are better developed with a wider range of skills, not just in Germany but everywhere. Players are supposed to have multiple abilities now, that’s definitely a change in philosophy. We hardly have any one-position specialists any more, or at least very few. For example, it’s not enough merely to be a good defender, you have to open up the play with a good pass or take free-kicks too.

You’ve spent a while now as a TV studio guest, and will do so at the FIFA World Cup. What’s it like, offering analysis instead of playing?
It was a big change at the start, because you’re still too close to playing. But the further away you get from that, the fewer problems you encounter, because you need to offer well-informed, neutral criticism, and that requires a certain distance. I needed a year before I found the necessary distance, but nowadays I have no problem with analysis and criticism.

You collected a huge array of honours as a player, including the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup, and the adidas Golden Ball as best player at the FIFA World Cup. Which do you value the most?
Being named World Goalkeeper of the Year was an incredibly satisfying confirmation, as was the best player award at the 2002 World Cup. No goalkeeper ever achieved that before me, and I’m especially proud of that.

Lafferty seals title for Rangers

Lafferty seals title for Rangers
(AFP) Sunday 25 April 2010
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A superb Kyle Lafferty goal sealed a second successive Scottish Premier League title for Rangers, and a record 53rd in all, as they ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday.

Celtic's 2-0 win away to Dundee United, their fifth in a row since Neil Lennon took charge, meant Rangers knew they still had work to do to claim the crown, but the often-maligned Lafferty scored a well-taken first-half goal that sparked scenes of jubilation amongst the travelling Rangers support.

Both sides had the ball in the net in the second-half but both Kenny Miller and Colin Nish had their efforts ruled out for infringements as Rangers held on to move 11 points clear with three games remaining. It is a ninth title in two spells at the club for manager Walter Smith and adds to the League Cup trophy the club collected earlier in the season.
Today the boys got over the line and looking back I don't think anybody could say they didn't deserve it.
Rangers manager Walter Smith

It is a ninth title in two spells at the club for manager Walter Smith and adds to the League Cup trophy the club collected earlier in the season. Smith said he was delighted for his players, who have lost only twice in the march to the title. "We have had to ask an awful lot of them season and you could see even today they have lost a little bit of the brightness they had in the early part of the season," Smith said. "They have been fantastic and from that point of view, plus the consistency they have achieved, they deserve enormous credit."

Smith's assistant Ally McCoist said he was relieved to finally clinch the title after a couple of missed opportunities. "My concern before the game was everyone kept telling us we had won the league when in fact we hadn't," McCoist said. "But today the boys got over the line and looking back I don't think anybody could say they didn't deserve it."

McCoist, who along with Smith and coach Kenny McDowall are working without contracts due to the financial situation at the club, said he hoped to be back in the Ibrox dugout next season. "That conversation will obviously will be for another day but I think the most important thing is the lads have delivered for themselves.

"A lot of questions have been asked of the players in difficult circumstances and they have answered them and I am so pleased for them. I am delighted for Kyle Lafferty as he has got the goal that effectively won the championship today," he said.

Before the game Rangers were dealt a blow when Madjid Bougherra was ruled out meaning Lee McCulloch partnered David Weir in the centre of defence.

Kenny Miller sent a snatched shot over the bar before slicing a volley over as he missed a couple of early opportunities. It was Lafferty that sparked the celebrations when he opened the scoring for the second weekend in succession to score his third in four games in the 17th minute. The Northern Ireland man controlled Miller's high ball and used his strength to brush off Darren McCormack and Chris Hogg before firing a powerful angled drive past Graeme Smith from the left of the penalty box.

Allan McGregor used his body to block a fierce dipping drive from Derek Riordan who tried his luck from 30 yards out. Rangers came close to a second when Weir knocked Thomson's corner back across goal but Edu's header from four yards out landed on the roof of the net.

Hibs were inches away from equalising when Paul Hanlon connected with Rankin's corner from the right but he flashed his header just wide of the left-hand post. And the home side came out fired up after the break and David Wotherspoon came close to curling his shot into the top corner after a neat back-heel from Rankin set him up.

Hibs were appealing for a penalty in the 60th minute when Riordan went down in the box following a challenge from Steven Whittaker but referee Willie Collum waved away his protests. Rangers then went on the attack and after Steven Naismith's low drive was saved Miller had the ball in the net after lobbing Smith from just inside the box but it was ruled out for offside.

Hibs looked determined not to witness another Rangers title party at Easter Road, as they did in 2005, and McGregor came to the rescue when he pulled off a magnificent save to prevent Riordan's arrowed volley from the edge of the box sneaking in. Substitute Nish thought he had equalised in the 85th minute when he volleyed past McGregor but the whistle had already gone for a foul by the striker on McCulloch as Rangers held on to clinch the championship.

Kamara and Keane tally
Earlier, Celtic secured second spot as goals from Diomansy Kamara and Robbie Keane secured a 2-0 win against Dundee United at Tannadice. Kamara opened the scoring with half an hour gone when the Senegalese striker latched on to a Marc-Antoine Fortune pass before curling a shot past Dusan Pernis.

Dundee United substitute Jennison Myrie-Williams was sent-off for picking up two bookings before Keane scored from the spot in the final seconds, after Pernis had fouled Aiden McGeady.

Ancelotti: Pressure is no problem

Ancelotti: Pressure is no problem
(AFP) Sunday 25 April 2010
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Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea's 7-0 demolition of Stoke on Sunday proves they can cope with the pressure of staying ahead of Manchester United in the title race.

Ancelotti's side returned to the top of the Premier League thanks to an imperious display at Stamford Bridge just 24 hours after United claimed pole position with a win over Tottenham. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson tried to pile pressure on the Blues after his team's victory by claiming the title was Chelsea's to lose, but Salomon Kalou's hat-trick, a Frank Lampard double and goals from Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda delivered the perfect response to the champions.
There was a little bit of pressure on us before the game but from the beginning the team was in form. We gave a fantastic performance.
Carlo Ancelotti after the easy win over Stoke

"I am happy because we played very well. It was an important game as we had to come back to the top of the table above Man Utd," Ancelotti said. "We played very well and showed good physical condition. There was a little bit of pressure on us before the game but from the beginning the team was in form. We gave a fantastic performance. The most important thing is the destiny of the title is in my hands. I don't feel any pressure now. I am calm and quiet because the title is in our hands."

Piling on the goals
Chelsea's ruthless rout left them one point ahead of United with just two games to go and also significantly improved the Blues' goal difference. Ancelotti's team now have a goal difference of 61 - eight better than United's, although the Chelsea manager insisted the result was more important for his players' morale than anything else.

"We don't need to send a message to other teams. This is a good message for us because after the defeat against Tottenham last week we needed a good reaction," Ancelotti said. "It is a good thing to have scored seven but I don't think it will be important to decide who wins the title. I think one team will arrive in first place without goal difference, but we have scored a lot of goals this season with a lot of attacking play.

"This is our philosophy. We want to attack and to use the quality of my players. With this ability you have to score. But I would have preferred to keep two or three goals for next week. I forgot to tell my players this," he laughed.

Sampdoria dent Roma's hopes

Sampdoria dent Roma's hopes
(AFP) Sunday 25 April 2010
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Giampaolo Pazzini scored a brace as Sampdoria stunned AS Roma 2-1 to deal a potentially fatal blow to the capital-based club's title hopes.

Samp came from behind after a torrid first half to score the shock win that sees Roma drop to second in Serie A, two points behind champions Inter Milan, who beat Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday.

Not only did the Genoa-based club end Roma's 24-match unbeaten run in the league but they also kept themselves in fourth and the crucial final Champions League qualification position, two points ahead of Palermo, who beat AC Milan 3-1 on Saturday.
We've fallen over and we need to get up. We're here because [Inter] dropped points along the way. They're very good, well done to them but also to us.
Roma manager Claudio Ranieri after the shock loss

"We have to keep going as if nothing has happened, we played the best first half of my time here," Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said bravely after. "We have to concentrate on ourselves, the title will be decided at the end in Verona [where Roma play their final game]. We've fallen over and we need to get up. We're here because [Inter] dropped points along the way. They're very good, well done to them but also to us."

Roma's first half performance was worthy of champions as time and again they carved Sampdoria open but the only surprise was that they managed just one meagre goal from their domination. The hosts were in blistering form from the off and French winger Jeremy Menez brought a save out of Marco Storari before Brazilian centre-half Juan sent an overhead bicycle kick from a corner just wide.

After Storari had saved from Simone Perrotta, captain Francesco Totti gave Roma a 14th-minute lead. Mirko Vucinic picked up the ball on the left and centred for Totti to glance a shot into the far corner.

And just five minutes later it was almost two as Vucinic released Totti in the inside left channel but his shot hit the near post. Storari saved again from Menez while Totti and Vucinic were both off target as Roma kept the pressure on until half-time.

Samp back after the break
But despite the one-way traffic of the first period, Sampdoria equalised soon after the restart as former Roma forward Antonio Cassano made space on the left and crossed to the back post where Pazzini's header found a gap between goalkeeper Julio Sergio's legs.

Roma were quickly back on the attack as Juan headed over from a corner but Sampdoria remained resolute. Midway through the half coach Claudio Ranieri sent on striker Luca Toni as a last desperate throw of the dice. Toni soon had an identical chance to Pazzini but this time Storari saved with his legs, before the on-loan Bayern Munich man had a strike ruled out for offside. And nine minutes from time Storari tipped over a rocket from John-Arne Riise.

But four minutes later Roma were hit with a sucker punch as Sampdoria countered and Daniele Manini crossed for Pazzini to sidefoot home his second.

Iaquinta double fires Juve, Livorno go down
Earlier Juventus kept alive their hopes of Europa League football next season with a routine 3-0 win at home to Bari. Vincenzo Iaquinta scored a brace in the second period, sandwiching an Alessandro Del Piero penalty.

They are sixth and six points clear of eigth-placed Genoa with three to play, meaning they are virtually assured of European football next season. After a dire season, Juve coach Alberto Zaccheroni claimed his side had benefitted from having free mid-weeks to train properly, and for having their preferred forward combination.

"I've been saying the same things for months and I've been accused of making excuses, but Diego is better when Iaquinta plays," he said. "We've managed to find fluidity in training and I hope we continue in this way."

Livorno became the first club to be relegated this season despite a 3-1 win at home to Catania as Bologna's 2-1 home success against Parma left Livorno 10 points from safety with just three to play. Siena are all but mathematically down after their 4-1 defeat at Udinese.

AFC Champions League preview

AFC Champions League preview
(FIFA.com) Monday 26 April 2010
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The 2010 AFC Champions League group stage reaches its denouement this week with ten teams battling for the remaining five places in the round of 16. The picture in the east is relatively clear with only one spot remaining to be fillled. Beijing Guoan entertains Kawasaki Frontale in the knowledge that a draw at home is enough to take them through from Group E.

The situation is much less clear in the west where four spots remain to be decided, with two former finalists among the group. Two-time winners Al Ittihad of Group B, can seal their progression with a win at the already-qualified Zob Ahan, while 2007 runners-up Sepahan need just a point against the eliminated Al Ain to secure their place in Group C’s top two.

The match
Beijing Guoan - Kawasaki Frontale
Having failed to progress beyond the group stage over the past two years, Beijing face Kawasaki, who are themselves aiming to make history by reaching the knockout phase for the first time. With fellow C-league participants Shandong Luneng, Changchun Yatai and Henan Jianye already out, the Chinese champions have the added pressure of being the nation’s last hope. In order to prepare for the continental decider, coach Hong Yuanshuo rested several first-choice players in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Henan in the domestic competition.

Leading Kawasaki by a point, Beijing requires just a draw at home to advance while the Japanese face a must-win scenario. Despite the uphill task, coach Tsutomu Takahata’s outfit will be buoyed by their recent brilliant form which has seen them pull off a 3-0 home win over Seongnam Ilhwa a fortnight ago, before routing Vissel Kobe in Saturday’s J.League fixture by an identical scoreline. The visitors, however, have to make do without ace-striker Jong Tae-Se while the hosts will be missing the services of suspended Darko Matic.

The other headliners
Al Ittihad and Bunyodkor are left contending for Group B’s remaining place, however it is the second-placed Saudis who have destiny in their own hands with a win against Zob Ahan enough to propel them through. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Bunyodkor, for their part, must defeat Al Wahda and hope Ittihad slip up if they are to progress. The Uzbeks’ worries, are not helped by their lacklustre form recently, drawing against Qyzylqum Zarafshon 1-1 in Saturday’s Oliy Liga outing.

The race for Group D’s second spot looks well poised with three teams still very much in the hunt. It is a straightforward task for the second-placed Al Sadd, who can maintain their position behind Al Hilal with a home win over Al Ahli. However, any slip up is likely to benefit Mes Kerman, who lost 2-1 recently to Saipa in the Iranian Pro-League competition. Even bottom side Al Ahli have a sliver of hope but need to win handsomely over Al Sadd and rely on Al Hilal defeating the Iranians.

Group C remains delicately balanced with a solitary point separating the three contenders. Leaders Pakhtakor travel to Al Shabab and can ensure qualification with either a win or a draw. Even a defeat could see them through should Sepahan lose to Al Ain.

For second-placed Iranians Sepahan, a single point in the closing game could stamp their ticket into the next phase. A recent 2-0 triumph over Rah Ahan put them within a point of winning their second Iranian league title with three rounds to spare and the Esfahan-based outfits must now have hopes of a domestic and Asian double.

Player to watch
Kengo Nakamura was sidelined in their first-leg meeting with Beijing through injury and his influence was sorely missed with Kawasaki losing 3-1 at home. The Japan playmaker has excelled since his return two weeks ago, playing a key role in wins against Seongnam and Kobe.

What they said
"We had suffered in the early stages but we have since learnt from the defeats. We must maintain our momentum and get the three points against Beijing Guoan to qualify for the round of 16." Kawasaki Frontale coach Tsutomu Takahata

2010 AFC Champions League Matchday 6 fixtures
27-28 April
Group A: Al Ahli (KSA)-Al Gharafa (QAT); Al Jazira (UAE)-Esteghlal (IRN)
Group B: Zob Ahan (IRN)-Al Ittihad; Bunyodkor (UZB)-Al Wahda (UAE)
Group C: Al Ain (UAE)-Sepahan (IRN); Al Shabab (KSA)-Pakhtakor (UZB)
Group D: Al Sadd (QAT)-Al Ahli (UAE); Mes Kerman (IRN)-Al Hilal (KSA)
Group E: Seongnam Ilhwa (KOR)-Melbourne Victory (AUS); Beijing Guoan (CHN)-Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Group F: Kashima Antlers (JPN)-Jeonbuk Motors (KOR); Persipura Jayapura (IDN)-Changchun Yatai (CHN)
Group G: Henan Jianye (CHN)-Gamba Osaka (JPN); Suwon Bluewings (KOR)-Armed Forces (SIN)
Group H: Adelaide United (AUS)-Shandong Luneng (CHN); Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN)-Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Rooney dismisses fitness concerns

Rooney dismisses fitness concerns
(AFP) Monday 26 April 2010

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney won the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year award at a ceremony on Sunday and then declared his readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Rooney, currently out of action with a groin injury, is widely regarded as being central to England's chances of winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup later this year.

"I'm good," the 24-year-old Rooney told guests at the PFA dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London. "I'm disappointed to miss a couple of games. Hopefully I will play before the season finishes."

Asked if he'd be fit in time for South Africa, Rooney replied: "No problems for the World Cup." Rooney dismissed suggestions England could not win the FIFA World Cup, which starts in June, without him: "We've got a lot of great players. If I get injured, so be it." He added: "Watching games is very frustrating."

Rooney, asked what would constitute a successful FIFA World Cup for England, said: "Success would be to win the trophy. We prepared well and hopefully we can bring the trophy back home." England have won the FIFA World Cup just once, in 1966 when they triumphed on home soil.

Reigning champions United trail Chelsea by one point in the English Premier League title race with two games remaining and may need a favour from arch rivals Liverpool if they are to overtake the London club. "I'm sure Liverpool will want to beat Chelsea," Rooney said. "They are a proud club and they are still aiming to qualify for Europe."

Asked what had made the difference to a season where he has already scored 34 goals, Rooney replied: "The manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) is playing me in a more central position up front which I've been asking him to do for a few years now and the service has got better.
It's a great feeling to win the player of the year award because it's voted for by the players.
Manchester United Wayne Rooney

"It's a great feeling to win the player of the year award because it's voted for by the players," said Rooney. "It's something I'm really proud of and it's a great honour. I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win the young player of the year. I saw the players winning the main one and it's something I've aimed for since."

Rooney, the first Englishman to win the award since Steven Gerrard in 2006, paid tribute to the influence Ferguson has had on his career. "Sir Alex is a great manager who has really brought me on as a player since I joined United," he said.

Rooney topped a poll of his fellow professionals in England to ensure the senior award stayed at Old Trafford after Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo's double in 2007 and 2008 was followed by United and Wales star Ryan Giggs's success last year. Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal and Spain midfielder, was third with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba the runner-up.

Aston Villa and England midfielder James Milner won the young player of the year award. "I've been moved into the middle and that suits me as it helps me influence the game a bit more," said Milner, hoping to secure a place in England manager Fabio Capello's FIFA World Cup squad.

Former South Africa international Lucas Radebe, who played in England's Leeds United, won the PFA special merit award for his community work in both countries. "I'm very proud to get such a great award. Sport can change the world - football has played such a big part in lifting my community," said Radebe.

The PFA's Premier League team of the year contains four United players with Arsenal (Fabregas and Thomas Vermaelen), Chelsea (Drogba and Branislav Ivanovic) and Aston Villa (Milner and Richard Dunne) supplying two each.

PFA Premier League team of the year:
Joe Hart (Man City/Birmingham); Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Patrice Evra (Man Utd); Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), James Milner (Aston Villa), Darren Fletcher (Man Utd), Antonio Valencia (Man Utd); Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

European leagues review

European leagues review
(FIFA.com) Sunday 25 April 2010
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As the top two in England, France and Spain all won, the leaders going into the weekend in Germany and Italy slipped up. With silverware being seized in Greece and Scotland, FIFA.com reviews the latest developments.

Premier League: Front two make no mistakes
As in all the top leagues except France, the hunt for honours in England has come down to a two-horse race. Chelsea and Manchester United were a point apart going into the weekend, and the gap was maintained after Sir Alex Ferguson's side beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 and Carlo Ancelotti's leaders Chelsea hammered Stoke City 7-0.

Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by sixth-placed Manchester City but still made sure of third place and a Champions League berth. City slipped a spot due to Aston Villa’s 1-0 triumph over arch-rivals Birmingham City. Liverpool beat Burnley 4-0, sending the promoted side down and remaining in the hunt for Europe themselves.

Top three: Chelsea (80 points), Manchester United (79), Arsenal (72)
Bottom three: Hull City (28), Burnley (27), Portsmouth (16)
Leading scorers: Wayne Rooney (26 goals), Didier Drogba (25), Darren Bent (24)
Weekend stat: 1 – After a single season in the top flight, Burnley were relegated from the Premier League at the weekend.

Bundesliga: Schalke pull level with Bayern
Possibly distracted by their Champions League semi-final second leg away to Lyon, Bayern dropped points in the Bundesliga. The league leaders were held 1-1 away to Borussia Monchengladbach and now top the standings on goal difference alone from Schalke, who struck late to win 1-0 at Hertha Berlin.

In the chase for places in Europe, the teams from third to sixth all won. Werder Bremen edged out Cologne 1-0 in stoppage time, Bayer Leverkusen beat Hannover 3-0, Borussia Dortmund won 3-2 away to Nuremberg, and Stuttgart saw off Bochum 2-0. By contrast, UEFA Europa League semi-finalists Hamburg crashed 5-1 to mid-table Hoffenheim and are unlikely to play continental football next term.

Top three: Bayern, Schalke (both 64 points), Bremen (57)
Bottom three: Bochum (28), Hannover (27), Hertha Berlin (23)
Leading scorers: Stefan Kiessling (21 goals), Edin Dzeko (20), Lucas Barrios, Kevin Kuranyi (both 18)
Weekend stat: 6 – Hamburg’s 5-1 drubbing was their heaviest defeat for almost six years.

La Liga: Grim struggle continues
There was no change at the top as Barcelona beat Xerez 3-1 and Real Madrid won 2-1 away to Zaragoza. With four rounds remaining, the perennial rivals are separated by just a point.

Third-placed Valencia stayed on course for the Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna, helped by Mallorca’s 1-1 home draw with struggling Malaga. Sevilla lost 4-3 away to Getafe, spurning the chance to dislodge Mallorca from fourth. Villarreal beat Santander 2-1 and may yet have a say in the destination of the Champions League qualifying spot.

Top three: Barcelona (87 points), Real Madrid (86), Valencia (62)
Bottom three: Tenerife, Valladolid (both 32), Xerez (27)
Leading scorers: Lionel Messi (27 goals), Gonzalo Higuain (25), David Villa (21)
Weekend stat: 7 – After coming on as a substitute, Real Madrid superstar Kaka needed just seven minutes to net his side’s winner, completing a stunning return from a six-week groin-related lay-off.

Serie A: Glee for Inter as Roma choke
Champions Inter Milan disposed of relegation fodder Atalanta 3-1, and ended the weekend back in the first place they lost three weeks ago. I Nerazzurri profited from Roma’s calamitous home defeat by fourth-placed Sampdoria, for whom Giampaolo Pazzini struck a second-half brace to seal a 2-1 win.

Third-placed AC Milan’s flickering title hopes were finally extinguished in a 3-1 defeat by fifth-placed Palermo. Juventus beat Bari 3-0 and overtook Napoli, who were held to a goalless draw by Cagliari. Juve thus kept alive their hopes of a shot at the Champions League next term. Livorno are definitely down, and Siena are all but mathematically certain to join them after a 4-1 defeat to Udinese. The men from Tuscany are nine points adrift of safety with just three games left.

Top three: Inter Milan (73 points), Roma (71), AC Milan (64)
Bottom three: Atalanta (34), Siena (30), Livorno (29)
Leading scorers: Antonio di Natale (25 goals), Diego Milito (20), Fabrizio Miccoli, Giampaolo Pazzini (both 17)
Weekend stat: 7 – Despite a 3-1 defeat of Catania, their seventh win of the season, bottom club Livorno were relegated to Serie B.

Ligue 1: Marseille keep rivals at bay
Marseille boast a comfortable five-point advantage over their pursuers, taking a giant stride towards the title with a 1-0 win against lowly Saint-Etienne.

With four rounds still to play, the only potential danger to OM comes from Auxerre, who kept up the chase with a 3-0 win away to Toulouse. Lille beat Le Mans 2-1 and Montpellier drew 0-0 with Nancy, but the erstwhile title contenders are now ten and 11 points respectively off the leaders. Champions Bordeaux are in grave danger of missing out on Europe altogether after slumping to a tenth defeat of the season, a 1-0 reverse away to Lorient.

Top three: Marseille (71 points), Auxerre (66), Lille (61)
Bottom three: Le Mans (28), Boulogne-sur-Mer (27), Grenoble (16)
Leading scorers: Kevin Gameiro, Mamadou Niang (both 15 goals), Nene (14)
Weekend stat: 12 – OM’s charge to the title looks unstoppable: they are unbeaten in their last 12 league games, and have won ten of them.

Elsewhere
In Greece, Panathinaikos added the cup to the league title they wrapped up last weekend. The men from Athens beat Aris Saloniki 1-0 to seal cup glory for the 17th time, and also complete an eighth domestic double.

Glasgow giants Rangers became champions of Scotland for the 53rd time, comfortably retaining the trophy they won last season. A 1-0 success against Hibernian meant Rangers coasted to the title with three games to spare.

In Portugal, the inevitable was delayed for another week at least, as Benfica trounced Olhanense 5-0 and Sporting Braga beat Naval de Maio 4-0. With two games left, the famous Lisbon outfit are six points clear and require just a point to be mathematically certain of the crown.

Deco: We can go a long way

Deco: We can go a long way
(FIFA.com) Monday 26 April 2010

One of the highlights of December's Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, though perhaps less so for the teams involved, was the emergence of a mouthwatering section containing Brazil, Portugal, Côte d’Ivoire and Korea DPR.

The prospect of 25 June’s clash between A Seleção and A Selecção das Quinas in Durban in particular sparked a huge amount of column inches, thanks to the countries’ historical connection, recent encounters between the two teams and the clutch of Brazilian-born stars turning out in Portuguese colours.

Anderson Luis de Souza, better known as Deco, is one such player, a man inextricably caught up in the Brazil versus Portugal debate throughout his career. Born in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Sao Paulo state, the midfielder arrived on Portuguese shores at the age of 20 in 1997 and stayed until 2004.

It was in March 2003 that he was controversially called up by compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari to play his first game for Portugal: a friendly against none other than Brazil. Underlining the strength of character that has marked his hugely successful career, Deco joined the fray as a substitute and scored the winner in a 2-1 success.

In addition to that baptism of fire, Deco started another Portuguese victory over the country of his birth, a 2-0 friendly win in London in February 2007 that inflicted Dunga’s first defeat as Brazil coach. Yet there has been despair as well as joy in these encounters, and the Chelsea midfielder will remember well a humbling 6-2 mauling in Brasilia in November 2008.

All in all, FIFA.com could barely have picked a better person to comment on the teams’ South Africa 2010 showdown, and assess Portugal’s chances of emulating their run to the last four at Germany 2006.

FIFA.com: Deco, you were part of the Portugal team that reached the last four at the FIFA World Cup four years ago. What do you remember about that tournament?
Deco: The World Cup is something else. It’s the biggest thing a national team player can aspire to: there’s nothing to compare to it. I put in some good performances but that competition was also a bit of a struggle, as I took a knock early on in the tournament that prevented me from finding my best form. But I do remember it being an excellent World Cup for us. We played well in the semi-final and only just lost to France. In the end the only goal went to them and we missed out on reaching the final. In general terms it was an excellent World Cup.

What are the main differences between the squad that travelled to Germany 2006 and the one that will go to South Africa 2010, both in terms of the players and the respective coaches: Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlos Queiroz?
A lot of the players in the Portugal squad in 2006 are no longer part of the set-up, so we’ve got a lot of players who’ll be playing in their first major competition. I think that the quality is just as high, though we don’t have the same level of experience we had in 2006. The same could be said about our dugout: Felipão (Scolari) had already won the World Cup with Brazil and led Portugal at [UEFA] EURO 2004, while this will be Queiroz’s first big competition at the helm. But he’s an excellent coach who’ll have a very good squad of players at his disposal. That’s why I think we’ve got all the necessary ingredients to be successful.
I’m Brazilian but I took the nationality of a country where I spent many years and which gave me everything. That’s all there is to it.
Deco on his allegiances

Do think Portugal are among the favourites?
No, because the favourites are those national teams with a World Cup pedigree, something that Portugal, who have never won the Trophy, don’t have. So, we can’t be considered among the favourites. That said, we do have a team boasting plenty of quality, with great players and which can go a long way at the finals.

Given the talented players that Portugal have had over the years, what has prevented them winning major titles at senior international level?
Listen, it’s not easy to win the World Cup. After all, there’s a good reason why so few countries have done it so far. There are great teams that have never won a World Cup, because often the difference can be made by tiny details, like having a bit of luck at a decisive moment. It’s hard to put your finger on.

There has been a lot of talk this season about Real Madrid’s alleged dependence on Cristiano Ronaldo, but the same be said of Portugal?
We won several games without Cristiano and equally we’ve won games with him on the field. Nowadays you just don’t get big teams depending on just one player. Manchester United have done very well since Ronaldo left, Madrid have won games without him, as have Portugal. Of course you notice the absence of any great player, there’s no doubt about that, but the Portuguese national side isn’t dependent on him. It’s only natural that teams want their best players available and miss them when they’re not. That being the case, given he’s one of the world’s best players, he is important to us.

The Brazil-Portugal game is packed with sub-plots regarding Brazilian-born players now turning out for Portugal. As a veteran of this debate, will the experience of having played against A Seleção on three occasions prove useful?
It’s an interesting experience, no doubt about it, but a friendly is totally different to a game at the World Cup. It’s good that I’ve already gone through that experience and already know what it means to play against Brazil, the difference that it makes. But the World Cup is still a different story. Anyway, we mustn’t think that there’s any negative feeling, on the contrary. I’m Brazilian but I took the nationality of a country where I spent many years and which gave me everything. That’s all there is to it. At the end of the day, it’s just another big game. To be honest, at the moment I think our opening game is our biggest challenge. If we can win our opener against Côte d’Ivoire, we’ve got a great chance of progressing. Whichever team loses that match will find it very difficult to reach the next round.

As you say, Portugal kick off against Côte d’Ivoire and round off their group-stage campaign against Brazil, currently second in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Then in the Round of 16, a Group G side could find themselves up against the team at the top of that Ranking: Spain. What is the feeling in the camp at the prospect of facing so many big names in a short space of time?
We’re not worried about anybody. If that’s who we have to play, we’ll just get on with it. If you go to the World Cup thinking about who you’re going to play and trying to pick your opponents then you’d be better off staying at home.

At club level, do you see yourself eventually returning to Brazilian or Portuguese football?
I’m going to go back and live in Brazil for personal reasons, because my family’s there and I’ve been in Europe for 13 years now. I’ve got a huge amount of affection for Portugal and the city of Porto in particular, where I’ve got a house, but I was born in Brazil and my family is there, as is my social project the Deco Institute, in Indaiatuba. I want to go back and that’s what I’ll do when my Chelsea contract runs out in 2011. And if I’m fit enough to do a job for a Brazilian team then I’ll come back and play to

Referees medically assessed in Zurich

Referees medically assessed in Zurich
(FIFA.com) Monday 15 March 2010

From 25 February to 6 March, all 90 match officials selected for officiating at FIFA's flagship event in June in South Africa, were carefully examined by a standardised assessment.

The referee plays a key role in football matches. His vigilance, concentration and authority on the pitch ensure the respect of the players and adherence – or enforcement of the Laws of the Game. In order to fulfil his duty, the referee has to be mentally and physically fit, as much as the players he is to supervise. An elite referee covers the same distance and has to meet similar physical demands as a midfielder.

In 2006, FIFA introduced a standardised and football-specific pre-competition medical assessment (PCMA) for the players at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. The PCMA had been developed by F-MARC. Since this year, the PCMA is also mandatory for the referees. The objective of the PCMA, just as for players, is to detect risk factors with a focus on underlying heart disease predisposing for sudden cardiac death.

To ensure consistent quality and to set a signal on behalf of FIFA stressing the importance of caring for the match officials, all 90 referees including the assistant referees, were summoned to Zurich to be examined at the Schulthess Clinic, which was the first FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence to be inaugurated back in 2005.

The assessment consisted of history taking and general physical examination, blood investigations, orthopaedic examination, 12-lead-resting ECG, echocardiography and an exercise test.

Prof. Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Alfred Mueller, MD, Dr Astrid Junge, PhD, Head of Research F-MARC, and Mario Bizzini, F-MARC, chief physiotherapist for the referees implement F-MARC's philosophy of prevention and education at the Centre.

Testing times for female officials

Testing times for female officials
(FIFA.com) Thursday 18 March 2010
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The present calendar year will be a particularly intense period for women’s football, featuring as it does a host of major events sure to provide stiff challenges for players, coaches and match officials alike. Furthermore, for the latter group, each competition held over the following months will include continual evaluation of their capabilities with a view to officiating at the biggest test of all: the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™.

There are currently 579 women across the globe who have received FIFA approval to referee during 2010. “There’s been very good progress made and the number of female referees and assistant referees has increased every year since the first women's list in 1995. So much so that we now have enough female referees to cover every competition and match around the world,” Sonia Denoncourt, senior manager and head of women refereeing of FIFA’s Refereeing Department, told FIFA.com. “We’ve got the numbers, so our main priority now is to continue to improve standards and quality.”

The finishing straight for those aiming to be selected for Germany 2011 began intensively just a few days ago at the 17th edition of the prestigious Algarve Cup. Forty-two female referees and assistants attended this national-team invitational tournament in Portugal and an accompanying workshop, where they were tested on their knowledge of the Laws of the Game, their level of English and their physical fitness.

“The fitness test is always very stressful because nobody wants to have to head for home early,” said Denoncourt. “For the second year in a row all the candidates passed the test comfortably, so we are very happy. What's more, the tournament was a success from a refereeing point of view and enables us to lay very good foundations for the showpiece in Germany.”

Nor is there much difference between the physical demands required from the female officials in comparison to their male counterparts. “The women have to do a series of six 40-metre sprints in less than 6.6 seconds per sprint, while the men need to do the same in 6.2 seconds,” she added. The second part of the test is 20 times 150-metres in (35 seconds for women, 30 seconds for men) with short recovery in between.

Before Germany 2011, hopefuls will need to keep their nerve at three further high-profile women’s competitions: the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010, the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010. Their performances at these events will be evaluated by the referee department and the referee committee members as they continue to mould the officiating team for the tournament, as well their displays during regional qualifiers for Germany 2011.
We’ve got the numbers, so our main priority now is to continue to improve standards and quality.
Sonia Denoncourt, senior manager and head of women refereeing of FIFA’s Refereeing Department.

The preparatory period for these hopefuls began back in 2008, with FIFA’s Refereeing Department working hard with the candidates on four specific areas, following a model also used for male officials.

The Technical Aspect concerns knowledge of rules and regulations, with officials’ ability to correctly apply this knowledge strengthened and tested by practical training sessions and video analysis of matches.

The Physical Aspect designs training plans for the referees, following their progress and monitoring their heart rates, all in close collaboration with medical staff who keep a watchful eye on the women’s health and help them improve their condition via information and advice.

The Mental Aspect is the newest in terms of its application to referee preparation. The women must be ready to face the pressure that their role and level of responsibility demands, which is why experts work with them to develop individual strategies designed to increase their mental strength and help them handle tension, stress and adverse situations without it affecting the professional performance or private life.

In February this year a new website tailored towards female match officials was launched, giving them a platform to keep in touch with each other as well as contacting their instructors and sharing any of their doubts, worries or experiences.

Next year the candidates will once again assemble in the Algarve for another seminar, when doubtless the stakes will be even higher given Germany 2011 will be just around the corner. For now, all this promising group of officials can do is keep up their hard work, do their best in every game and hope to stay in contention for a spot at next summer’s competition, set to take place between 26 June and 17 July 2011.

Standing Committees

Standing Committees

FIFA's General Secretary is assisted in his or her work by more than 25 standing committees and by two judicial bodies, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and the FIFA Appeal Committee. The committees serve a crucial function, as they take decisions concerning the organisation of competitions and the development of football in general. The decisions made by the committees are ratified by the Executive Committee. (Art. 34 to 54 of the Statutes).
Committees and Judicial Bodies
Executive Committee Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup
Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup (TM) Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women's World Cups
Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee Committee for Club Football
Organising Committee for the FIFA Club World Cup Referees Committee
Technical and Development Committee Medical Committee
Players' Status Committee Emergency Committee
Legal Committee Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility
Media Committee Associations Committee
Football Committee Marketing and Television Advisory Board
Strategic Committee Disciplinary Committee
Appeal Committee Ethics Committee
Finance Committee Goal Bureau
Stadium and Security Committee FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre
Dispute Resolution Chamber Goal Development Officers
FIFA Club Task Force Internal Audit Committee
Doping Control Sub-Committee Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup (TM)
Bureau 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (TM) Organising Committee for the FIFA Confederations Cup
Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup

FIFA Master - International Master (MAS) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport

FIFA Master - International Master (MAS) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport

The FIFA Master - International Master (MAS) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport is a unique Sports Master programme, initiated by FIFA, coordinated by the CIES (International Center for sports Studies) and taught by three prestigious European Universities: De Montfort University (Leicester, UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan, IT) and Neuchâtel University (Neuchâtel, CH).

Every year, from late September to early July, a truly international group, approximately 30 postgraduates from over 20 nationalities, is selected among candidates coming from all over the world to participate in this full-time course. Students will attend exciting classes covering all major issues that sports organisations face today. They will hear from qualified professionals and academics and have the opportunity to visit prestigious sporting locations.

To download to brochure of the FIFA Master, please click on the right link.

For further details and in order to apply please click on the link on the right to fifamaster.org.

Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics

* FIFA Disciplinary Code
* Code of Ethics

On 6 October 2004, the FIFA Executive Committee approved a Code of Ethics drawn up by the Committee for Ethics and Fair Play in accordance with Art. 7 of the FIFA, thereby fulfilling an obligation stated in the new FIFA Statutes that took effect on 1 January 2004.

On 15 September 2006, the Executive Committee approved the revision of the Code of Ethics. This revision was prompted by a decision of the FIFA Congress passed in Munich in June 2006, requiring the creation of a new and independent Ethics Committee to constitute FIFA's third judicial body.

Players' Agents List

Players' Agents List

* Players' Agents List
* Players' Agents Regulations
* Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players

Please note: Information on newly-licensed players' agents is accepted only through the relevant Member Association. Information sent directly by e-mail cannot be accepted

Players' agents have not been licensed by FIFA since 2001. Players' agents are licensed directly by each association. Therefore, there is no such thing as a FIFA players' agent. The following list refers to the players' agents who have obtained a license from the respective and competent member association.

FIFA Statutes

FIFA Statutes

The FIFA Statutes and the accompanying regulations governing their implementation form the Constitution of football's international governing body. They provide the basic laws for world football, on which countless rules are set for competitions, transfers, doping issues and a host of other concerns.

Changes to the FIFA Statutes can only be made by the FIFA Congress and require a three-quarter majority of the associations present and eligible to vote.

The Statutes have undergone several thorough revisions during FIFA's history, giving FIFA a modern and comprehensive legal framework for its increasingly important work.

These Statutes were adopted at the 59th FIFA Congress in Nassau on 3 June 2009 and came into force on 2 August 2009.

Who is your country's key player?

Who is your country's key player?
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 30 March 2010
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FIFA recognises 207 men’s national teams from all corners of the globe. No matter which one of them you support, FIFA.com would like to hear who your nation’s most important player is.

Is he a long established member of the side or a newcomer into it? An attacking player, as is usually the case, or a goalkeeper, defender or defensive midfielder?

Perhaps it’s an obvious choice; maybe it’s not. Whatever the case, be sure to share your opinion with countless fellow fans the world over.

Simply click ‘Add your comment’ to join the discussion, remembering to keep your comments clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.

Gilberto Silva: Brazil are ready

Gilberto Silva: Brazil are ready
(FIFA.com) Monday 29 March 2010

Despite a career that has featured triumph at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, English Premier League and FA Cup, plus victory in the 2007 Copa America and FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, A Seleção stalwart Gilberto Silva has not been immune to criticism in recent years. Yet it is the simplicity with which he plays the game, a quality that means his contribution in central midfield is often underestimated, that makes him such a vital cog in Dunga’s Auriverde machine.

Charged with screening his defence, winning the ball back and supplying Brazil’s creative talents, the 33-year-old Panathinaikos star’s excellence in that role, allied to the experience garnered at two editions of world football’s biggest event, could prove vital to the Canarinha’s bid for a sixth global crown come South Africa 2010. FIFA.com spoke to the midfielder on a range of issues including his midfield partner Felipe Melo, his playing philosophy and a possible return to former club Atletico Mineiro.

FIFA.com: Gilberto, your starting place in the Seleção side went virtually unquestioned since Korea/Japan 2002, that is until this FIFA World Cup qualifying phase just past. What do you think happened?
Gilberto Silva: Listen, I’m a player who always tries to keep the game simple, but that’s not always what the fans are looking for. To be honest though, I don’t let it bother me. It doesn’t matter to me if whoever’s giving me a score out of ten in the paper doesn’t notice my contribution. When they give me grief, I think back to the start of my career when I was breaking into the Seleção and everybody doubted what I’d be able to bring to the team. I see that as an extra motivating factor, although of course sometimes it gets on my nerves. Especially as it’s my own country we’re talking about, because outside Brazil I’m incredibly well-respected and people value what I do.

However, it seems that victory at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 proved crucial in silencing the critics. Did everything really change after your performances in South Africa?
Yes, the Confederations Cup was very important. Some people questioned what I was doing there, because I’d not been playing much at Arsenal. Some couldn’t comprehend how I was first-choice for the national team while I wasn’t starting for my club. Anyhow, I tried to react positively to the criticism and it only made me work even harder in South Africa.

Did Brazil boss Dunga ever take you to one side to talk about the pressure you were under and what you were going through at club level?
Dunga’s a coach who is always very open with us. And anyway, I was perfectly aware that not being first-choice at Arsenal wasn’t doing my cause any good, which is why I looked to change clubs. As things stood, with me spending a lot of games on the bench, I knew that my place in the Seleção could be in danger. Deciding to make the switch to Greek football was important for me and I don’t regret it. Even though it’s a less high-profile league [than the English Premiership], I knew that I needed to be playing every week. But, above all that, Dunga was always very open and he would have been totally free to tell me he thought I shouldn’t be playing [for Brazil].

At the moment, not only are you a starter but you are also a key leadership figure within the squad, correct?
The great thing is that the leadership role came about naturally, without anyone having to force the issue. The lads who break into the national squad now tend to look to those who know the situation best, like me, Lucio or Kaka, for example. There’s no doubt that it’s a big responsibility but it’s a good type of responsibility. It’s also good to know we have that role.

Unlike Lucio, however, it seems that you are not much of a talker on the pitch...
I am, I really am. Even so, I think that the role us leaders in the squad have goes over and above footballing matters. The personal side counts too. Once a game is over, you find yourself dealing with each player’s emotions: talking to them, cheering them up, even telling them off if need be. Especially when you’re involved in a month-long tournament, which seems like such a long time but which passes really quickly. I think that it has to do with the way I am: I try to be everybody’s friend and respect people’s differences. Just as I mentioned that I try to keep things simple when I’m playing, I try to do the same in life too.

This will be your third FIFA World Cup finals. What did you learn from each of the two previous editions?
The two situations were very different. In 2002 players like Cafu, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos were our leading men, and I was fortunate enough to win a place in the team and play all the way through to the Final. Then in 2006, with more experience under my belt, I didn’t begin the tournament as a first-choice starter but I was back in the team by the end. Appearing at that World Cup was important, even though I didn’t play in all the games. In any case, I’ve experienced both sides of the coin, with victory in 2002 and our loss in Germany, which was hugely frustrating. I think that experience is valuable.

Your experience should also prove valuable to your central midfield partner Felipe Melo, who only broke into the national squad just over a year ago.
The partnership Felipe and I have today is really important. He’s the same age (26) as I was when I broke into the national squad in 2002: he’s a young player and one who’s more suited to pushing on and joining the attack. I think that we form a well-balanced midfield duo. Felipe has earned his place in the team. People normally act quite shy when they first get called up to the Seleção, but he was very calm from the beginning and things went really well. He seized his chance. And that’s what the Brazilian national team is like: you’ve got to be ready whenever the opportunity arises because you may only get one chance. That’s what happened to me when I went to the 2002 World Cup. It’s hard enough getting into the Seleção, but staying there is even tougher.

Do you feel that Felipe Melo, a midfielder who is keen to push forward as well as carrying out his defensive duties, is a good example of what is expected in that position nowadays?
That’s the way it’s worked out. To be honest, particularly in Europe, that’s been key for every midfielder, even attacking ones - everybody has both offensive and defensive duties. But even in a team with as much quality as the Seleção, I don’t think we can have midfielders flying forward at every opportunity. Football is like being in a band: everybody has their part to play. One might focus on scoring goals, another on stopping them. That’s how Brazil have found the ideal blend, because each player carries out their role with distinction.

What is your verdict on the group Brazil have been drawn in at South Africa 2010? Given your time in the English game, you will already know many of the players you will take on in Group G.
If you compare it to England or Spain’s groups, for example, I think it’s justified to call ours “the Group of Death”, but this team’s already lived through a lot of adversity and is ready to face this situation. I know a lot of the Portuguese players and particularly the Ivorians, who I played alongside at Arsenal. In fact, Kolo Toure and [Emmanuel] Eboue have been giving me loads of stick, joking around and saying that Côte d’Ivoire are going to beat Brazil. (Laughs) But of course they respect us, that’s just what it’s like at the World Cup: everybody wants to beat Brazil.

There has been a wave of Brazilian players returning to their homeland. Is there a chance that you could one day go back to Atletico Mineiro?
(Chuckles) Well, I’ve got a year and a half left on my contract with Panathinaikos, but after that who knows? I’ve always had a lot of affection for Atletico and I still follow their results. I’ve got a lot of respect for the fans and the people at the club and they respect me too. But you can’t force these things, we’ll see what happens once my contract runs out.

Who were your childhood heroes?

Who were your childhood heroes?
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 6 April 2010
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FIFA.com wants you to take a trip down memory lane and tell us who your footballing heroes were during childhood.

Perhaps you strived to emulate him while kicking a ball about with your friends, or had his posters adorn you bedroom wall. Maybe you were simply just a big fan.

Whatever the case, be sure to share your thoughts with countless fellow supporters the world over. Please remember that we’re not discussing your current idols but your first ones.

Simply click ‘Add your comment’ to join the discussion, remembering to keep your comments clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.

Diverse debuts and a delicacy

Diverse debuts and a delicacy
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 7 April 2010
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While one teenager enjoyed a dream start to his career in Italy, another’s debut took just seconds to turn into a nightmare in Brazil. With Manchester City, Ajax and Lionel Messi all dazzling, FIFA.com takes a look at the numbers behind this past week’s stories.
199

seconds was the period in which Manchester City scored the first three goals in their 6-1 victory away to Burnley on Saturday. Emmanuel Adebayor hit the first just past the three-minute mark and, after Craig Bellamy added number two, Carlos Tevez made it 3-0 on six minutes and 20 seconds. Patrick Vieira and Adebayor, with his second, ensured Roberto Mancini’s team carried a 5-0 lead in at the break – an all-time Premier League record for an away side. Vincent Kompany increased City’s cushion on 57 minutes – helping them to the fastest-ever six-goal advantage in the competition’s history in the process – before Steven Fletcher’s consolation ensured a 6-1 final score. The result moved City into fourth, the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot, and left Burnley with just one point from a possible 27, seven from a possible 60, and winless in the top flight since 31 October.
115

kilograms of chocolate was what it took to one Catalonian bakery to make one special Easter gift: a lifesize sculpture of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. But while the design was 1.69m tall, like the Argentinian superstar, it was considerably heavier – the reigning FIFA World Player weighs just 67 kilograms. Messi responded in emphatic style last night, scoring all Barça’s goals in a 4-1 victory over Arsenal that took them into the last four of the UEFA Champions League for an unparalleled seventh time and into the semi-finals of a European competition for a record-equalling 26th time, alongside arch-rivals Real Madrid. In doing so, the 22-year-old became only the sixth player to score four goals in a Champions League game after AC Milan’s Marco van Basten, Simone Inzaghi of Lazio, Monaco forward Dado Prso, Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy and another Rossoneri representative in Andriy Shevchenko.
39

minutes into his professional debut is all Genoa’s Richmond Boakye required to score his first goal on Saturday. The 17-year-old only made the substitutes’ bench against Livorno because of an injury to Robert Acquafresca, but when another forward, David Suazo, limped off on 12 minutes, Rossoblu coach Gian Piero Gasperini had no qualms about throwing on the Ghanaian. Boakye swiftly began to terrorise the visitors’ defence with his explosive pace and, after almost curling the ball home on the stroke of half-time, he broke the deadlock six minutes after the restart, chesting down a chip forward by Giandomenico Mesto and firing home from close range. It looked enough to secure Genoa a first win in four attempts, until Francesco Tavano scored Livorno’s first away goal in 410 minutes to salvage a point.
15

seconds into his Santo Andre debut is all it took Richard to receive the joint-second-fastest red card in Brazilian football history on Saturday. The 21-year-old forward and Rio Claro wing-back Neno collided into a challenge, exchanged shoves and were both consequently sent off. The Campeonato Paulista match finished 1-1. The quickest-ever sending off in the country occurred just last year, when Cruzeiro’s Ze Carlos was dismissed just 12 seconds into a 3-0 defeat by arch-rivals Atletico Mineiro.
10

successive victories have thrown Ajax an Eredivisie title lifeline. A 2-0 loss at Utrecht in December left the Amsterdam giants nine points off the pace, but their latest win, 1-0 away to ADO Den Haag on Sunday, kept them four points behind leaders Twente with four rounds remaining. In pocketing maximum points from their last ten outings, Martin Jol’s team have, incredibly, scored 33 goals and conceded just two. Encouragingly for Ajax, while they have what appears an easy run-in, Steve McClaren’s team must face defending champions AZ and Rotterdam heavyweights Feyenoord, both of whom are fighting for the last UEFA Europa League qualification place.

Lagerback: No limits for Nigeria

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Lagerback: No limits for Nigeria
(African Football Media) Wednesday 7 April 2010

Lars Lagerback is Nigeria’s 23rd expatriate coach since Englishman John Finch in 1949, but he is the first Scandinavian to handle the Super Eagles. Always considered something of a long-shot to get the post ahead of former England bosses, Sven Goran-Eriksson and Glenn Hoddle, the Swede apparently dazzled his interviewers to be picked ahead of a strong field of candidates this past February.

An impressed President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu, hailed Lagerback as Nigeria’s own ‘Special One,’ declaring that “the coach’s bearing and sure-footedness will impart the right mentality and new spirit on our players.” In this exclusive interview with FIFA.com, coach Lagerback shares his thoughts, impressions and expectations surrounding his first-ever adventure in Africa.

FIFA.com: Congratulations on your appointment as coach of Nigeria. How has it been so far working with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)?
Lars Lagerback: Thank you. I have really been impressed with the hospitality I have received here. I have also met many very positive people. It has been a fantastic time with some kind words for me and also some tough words. The Nigeria Football Federation has really done a good job by planning for friendly matches and ensuring that the team is busy which will help me also make quick assessment of the players. I think we can do something, but of course I wish we had more time for preparations.

Nigerian football is going through some trying times. Could you say this is a difficult position to take over right now?
No team could be said not to have problems. The basic thing for a team is to have good individual skills, and I can tell you sincerely that from the number of matches of the Super Eagles that I have watched, it is evidently clear that Nigerian players have the basic ingredients required in football.

So, the next thing to consider is the attitude of the players themselves. That is - are they ready to work 100 per cent for the team? Are they ready to work from their hearts? What does it mean for them to play in the national team of their country? And also would they play the way everybody expects and also do their best to lift the team all the time? If they can do that as well as have the required individual skills, such players will always have the chance to play many matches for the Super Eagles under me.
I would like to work with Kanu because for me Kanu is a kind of a legend. I can remember when I led

Both the public and the press have accused Nigerian players of not being committed to the national team. How do you plan to motivate these same players for the big task ahead?
It is important for a player to be proud of wearing his country’s shirt at the World Cup or any other competitions. What I will like to do now is to speak with many of the players and try to explain to them the joy and importance of playing for the team in the first place. I need to tell them that even if they make so much money in football playing for clubs in Europe, when it comes to the national team you must be proud of playing for your country. So I will try to motivate them and explain that to them as best as I can. But if I find out that a player doesn’t want to do his best for the team, he shouldn't be in my squad.

Do you already have an idea who some of players are you will pick for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa?
I watched some of the games Nigeria played in Angola during the African Nations Cup, and I also watched some other video tapes involving the team. So I believe I know much about the team already. Although it is early to say who and who among the players I would like to work with, but I think the factors I would consider in picking my players are who among them are most skilful and the best players of the lot. I will also beam my searchlight on the local league in Nigeria and the rest of the world to also get the best players for the World Cup. I will then draw a shortlist and from this I will try to pick the best possible squad for the World Cup.

As a coach you can’t promise any player that he will play in the World Cup. Some players may even not play a minute in the World Cup. So you can imagine going for pre-camp in three to four weeks, hopefully four weeks right up to the finals, and you don’t have one minute playing time - either you were finally dropped or the other players are doing well and you don’t want to change a winning team during the competition. That could be really tough. So, this is one of the situations in football and players have to prepare for that.
I can make an appreciable impact with the Super Eagles despite the short time between when I took up this job and the World Cup. It is true that the time before the World Cup is short, but you have to find a way out.

It is important for me that a player understands the basic needs or facts in football and what is the most important thing is what they have to do both on and off the pitch. You can use some statistics to show them that. For instance, if you are a winger and you have 50 crosses in a match and only one is good, then there is a problem. So if you want to play for me as a winger in the Super Eagles and only one of the 50 crosses you played is good, that means you are not good enough to play for me. That means you have to focus and practice more before you can have a chance in my team.

Would skipper Nwankwo Kanu have a role to play in your team?
I would like to work with Kanu because for me he is a kind of a legend. I can remember when I led Sweden to play against Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup, he was a fantastic player. But everybody is getting older by the day so sometimes you do not qualify any more. But before answering your question on whether Kanu will be in my World Cup squad like any other player who wishes to be part of the squad, I need to see Kanu and other players to decide. I would like to see them, meet them and also talk to them. When I have seen them, I can now answer your question on Kanu. But for me he has been a fantastic footballer, maybe one of the best in Nigerian history.

What formation do you plan for Nigeria to play?
As a coach I have my own philosophy, but mainly for me is to combine the individual skills we have in the squad. First, you have to know the players you will pick for the tournament before you determine the formation to adopt. We have played 4-5-1, 4-4-2 because in my opinion when you meet very good teams, and Sweden is also one of the best teams in my opinion, you have to be realistic in choosing the systems that will give you the best chance of winning. That is my aim with the Super Eagles. I have to wait and study the team first before knowing what pattern or system would be the best.

Will Nigeria have a successful FIFA World Cup?
If I did not think so, I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. I can make an appreciable impact with the Super Eagles despite the short time between when I took up this job and the World Cup. It is true that the time before the World Cup is short, but you have to find a way out, pick your squad and when it comes to the training camp exercise, I hope I will have at least three weeks to work with the players. In three weeks, you can do a lot. I am very hopeful.

The NFF have set a semi-final target for you at the FIFA World Cup. Is this a realistic target?
Nigeria have a great chance to do well in the World Cup. Even the time I coached a small country like Sweden, I have always had the ambition and the belief that we can win matches and do well. If you don't believe that you can win matches in a tournament as a team and as a coach, then you don't deserve to be at the competition. Playing football at this level is all about winning. I think there is a realistic chance for Nigeria to go a long way in the World Cup in South Africa.

Nkufo: An oldie but goldie

Nkufo: An oldie but goldie
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 7 April 2010

Blaise Nkufo has come a long way in his 17-year professional career, both literally and metaphorically. Following a nomadic first decade that took in spells at nine different clubs, he has had just one sporting home for the last for seven seasons: Twente Enschede.

Following sojourns in Switzerland, Qatar and Germany, the striker switched to the Dutch top flight in 2003 where he finally put down roots. Since his transfer from Bundesliga side Hannover 96, the Kinshasa-born (DR Congo) front man has not just become a crowd favourite with the current Eredivisie leaders, he has also created history as the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

“In Switzerland, people often didn’t recognise my true potential. Then when I went to the German 2nd division, the move was misinterpreted. That was primarily a springboard to get to the Bundesliga, which was my objective. Finally, I moved to the Netherlands, where my performances are properly appreciated,” said Nkufo in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

Success over adversity
His early years were also somewhat challenging. Nkufo was born in May 1975 in the former Zaire. When he was just seven, he and his family were forced to flee from the country's unrest, making a new life in Switzerland.

There things would improve dramatically for Nkufo. In Lausanne, he completed his Matura, the highest available school-leaving certificate in Switzerland, and at 20, he obtained a Swiss passport, enabling him to wear the Helvetian national shirt.
He’s impressed upon us his main tactical and technical objectives and his motto is quite simple: in football, you must act and not react.
Nkufo on Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld

The striker made his debut for Switzerland back in September 2000 but left the national fold just two years later following differences of opinion with then coach Kobi Kuhn. Nkufo’s sabbatical from the Nati lasted more than five years, causing him to miss the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, where his peers reached the Round of 16.

Twente turned the tide
“Twente helped me after my difficult time with the national team. I worked hard and I came back,” he says, now able to smile at those testing years at the turn of the millennium.

In August 2007, Nkufo was recalled by Kuhn and quickly becoming a valued member of the Swiss squad. However, he would miss UEFA EURO 2008 when injury denied him the opportunity to shine in front of his home fans. Now, the powerfully built marksman has his sights set on the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa – what would be the first major tournament of his protracted career.

Only further injury heartbreak seems capable of keeping Nkufo away from this year’s global showdown. His performances at club level have been exceptional for several years and, under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, this father of two is enjoying a sustained run in the national team, for whom he has now won 29 caps.

Mutual respect
The celebrated former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich coach has already shown his faith in the attributes of his oldest squad member. The striker was deployed in all ten qualifying games for the finals in South Africa, contributing five goals towards the successful campaign.

“Nkufo has class and really adds something. He’s not what you would call distrustfu,l but he is cautious. He’s not brash either,” said Hitzfeld on taking up the Nati coaching reins.

And Hitzfeld’s appreciation is reciprocated by the player, as he told FIFA.com: “He’s impressed upon us his main tactical and technical objectives and his motto is quite simple: in football, you must act and not react. He gives new players a chance and wants to increase competition for places to improve the balance of the team. He’s also made it clear that selection for the national team is dependent on performances for your club.”

Icon in the Netherlands
On current form, Nkufo will have few concerns about his place in the Swiss squad. The striker has been outstanding for a number of years and been instrumental in his club’s success at domestic and international levels.

The current league season could not be progressing much better for the Swiss player and his team-mates. With four games remaining, Twente are four points clear of Ajax and well placed to claim their first silverware since 2001 (Dutch Cup) and first championship since 1926, when Twente Enschede were still known as Sportclub Enschede.

Nkufo’s own tally for the season stands at 11 goals in 28 games, the latest coming in last weekend’s 2-0 away win over VVV Venlo. The 34-year-old has netted 112 times in total for his club and last August surpassed former Dutch international Jan Jeuring as Twente’s all-time leading goalscorer.

USA calling
When the FIFA World Cup is over, Nkufo is set to leave the Dutch capital for the USA in one final change of club. He signed a contract with Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders in March this year, which will see him join such footballing giants as goalkeeper Kasey Keller and midfielder Freddie Ljungberg for his last great adventure.

Hero Lloris hailed after win

Hero Lloris hailed after win
(AFP) Wednesday 7 April 2010
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Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris drew praise from both his coach Claude Puel and Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc after a crucial late save sealed Lyon's path to the Champions League semi-finals.

Lyon led 3-2 on aggregate with three minutes to play of Wednesday's second leg here when the France international produced a stunning one-handed stop to prevent Wendel from scoring with a header that would have sent his side through on the away goals rule.

It followed on from his fine showing in Lyon's 3-1 first-leg victory last week and Puel conceded that his team were indebted to the 23-year-old. "The match was decided by details that went in our favour. Hugo saved the match point," he said. Asked if his goalkeeper had been Lyon's hero, Puel replied: "Yes. He's been performing well since the start of the season. He's at his level, which is phenomenal."
In the second half we were more balanced and got the ball out better, even though we didn't make lots of chances. Despite the difficulty we were very solid and courageous, without being able to really go for it.
Lyon coach Claude Puel after the second leg against Bordeaux

A Marouane Chamakh goal on the stroke of half-time had put Bordeaux within touching distance of the last four for the first time since 1985 and Blanc identified Lloris as a key factor in their aggregate defeat. "We know him," Blanc said. "Lloris confirmed again that he has lots of talent and he's part of an experienced team. His personal experience, over the two matches, played a big part in Lyon's qualification."

Blanc admitted in his post-match press conference that Bordeaux had ultimately been made to pay for an uncharacteristically error-strewn defensive showing in their 3-1 first-leg defeat at the Stade Gerland. "If we have regrets, it's from the first leg," he said. "In the second leg, as I told the players, they played the match I expected from them.

"We had planned for certain scenarios. The one thing we didn't get was the second goal. But in the content of the match, we did exactly what we planned to do. Over the two legs, it's in the first leg that the regrets are the biggest," he said.

Lining up for Bayern
Puel's side will face Bayern Munich in what will be the club's first ever Champions League semi-final after three previous failures at the quarter-final stage. The seven-time French champions held strong amid Bordeaux's increasingly desperate late surges and Puel congratulated his charges for gathering themselves after temporarily losing their way in the first half.

"We started well but bit by bit we dropped back too much and conceded too much ground," he said. "We couldn't carry the ball out of defence, we lost the ball too quickly and conceded just before half-time, which hurt us.

"But in the second half we were more balanced and got the ball out better, even though we didn't make lots of chances. Despite the difficulty we were very solid and courageous, without being able to really go for it," he continued.

Looking ahead to the tie against Louis van Gaal's Bayern side, which will take place on April 21 and 27, Puel said he anticipated two open games. "If they've beaten Manchester (United), we know that going to Manchester is hard," he said. "We know German football, what their players are like, their clubs, the national team. It will be hard. They have players coming back like (Franck) Ribery and (Arjen) Robben but we have good players too. Both teams will have their chances."

UEFA Champions League review

UEFA Champions League review
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 7 April 2010
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There were twists and turns aplenty as Bayern Munich made their way through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League at the expense of Manchester United, the Bundesliga giants going down 3-2 at Old Trafford but advancing on away goals after last week’s 2-1 home success.

Louis van Gaal’s side will now face Lyon in the last four as the Rhone outfit also progressed despite a second-leg reverse, losing 1-0 at Bordeaux in the wake of a 3-1 triumph over the French champions last time out.

The second semi-final will be contested between Inter Milan and Barcelona, with no English club present in the final quartet for the first time since 2003.

The results
Manchester United 3-2 Bayern Munich (4-4 on aggregate, Bayern win on away goals)
Goals: Darron Gibson 3, Nani 7, 41; Ivica Olic 43, Arjen Robben 74

Bordeaux 1-0 Lyon (Lyon win 3-2 on aggregate)
Goal: Marouane Chamakh 45

Goal of the night
Manchester United-Bayern Munich (Nani, 41)

Brazilian full-back Rafael picked out Antonio Valencia with a quick throw-in and, after dinking the ball past Martin Demichelis with a sublime piece of skill, the Ecuadorian winger fired a low ball into the area that Wayne Rooney opted not to attack. With the Bayern defence utterly bamboozled, Nani arrived at the far post and found the net with a ferocious right-footed effort.

The key moments
Pre-match drama
The evening kicked off with an early surprise at Old Trafford, where Rooney was announced among the United starters just six days after suffering a seemingly serious ankle injury in the first leg. Disappointed by the performance of his charges in Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson also made waves by leaving Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov on the bench and both Ji-Sung Park and Gary Neville in the stands. It was therefore with a rejigged first XI that United took to the field and the changes bore fruit with barely three minutes gone. Rafael broke down the right before finding Rooney, who freed Gibson with a pinpoint pass and watched as his young Irish team-mate blasted beyond Hans-Jorg Butt from outside the area. Four minutes later, Valencia fired in a low cross for Nani to convert via an outrageous flick with his trailing leg. Butt was left helpless and Van Gaal stood stunned on the touchline as Old Trafford roared with delight. Bayern had yet to have their say however.

Friends reunited
With both teams knowing each other inside out, Bordeaux and Lyon contested a tight encounter at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, where set-pieces frequently stalled the flow of the action. Galvanised by the experience of their coach, Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux refused to rush into the match and instead built pressure slowly, coming close when an Alou Diarra shot from 35 metres out crashed against the crossbar a minute shy of the interval. The hosts still had time to take the lead before the break, though, and it was Marouane Chamakh who put them ahead from a Benoit Tremoulinas centre, which had already been given a touch on its way by Jaroslav Plasil. Blanc’s men carved out more promising openings after the restart but were unable to trouble Hugo Lloris, meaning the Lyon No1 and his colleagues met the final whistle able to celebrate their first ever semi-final berth.

Bubble burst
Euphoric at 3-0 up, United were soon found guilty of losing focus, with Ivica Olic quick to punish them at the back. The instinctive predator held off Michael Carrick to collect Thomas Muller’s headed ball into the area and followed up with a shot across Edwin van der Sar that finished up inside the far post from the acutest of angles. That ratcheted up the suspense at Old Trafford and the home side were hit again when Rafael, 19, picked up his second yellow card of the night. With 55 minutes gone, Rooney also withdrew from the game, having contributed all he could. United immediately struggled without their talisman, and both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery began finding even more space on the flanks as Sir Alex’s troops retreated deeper and deeper. A quarter of an hour from the end, the tie finally swung in the visitors’ favour following a Ribery corner directed towards the edge of the area, where Robben unleashed a superb left-footed volley that sped beyond Van der Sar’s reach and low into the corner. Sent reeling by that blow, the hosts had nothing left to give.

FIFA World Cup™ contenders
Rooney is England’s closest equivalent to Barcelona star Lionel Messi, with his very presence on the pitch boosting team-mates and tying up at least one or two worried defenders. England are not the same side without Rooney in their ranks and nor are United, as the Premier League champions found to their cost this evening. That said, the Red Devils nonetheless boast another undeniable talent in Nani, and the Portuguese international displayed both technique and finishing prowess to suggest he could well combine to devastating effect with Cristiano Ronaldo this summer. The duel between Robben and Patrice Evra also prompted thoughts about South Africa, and it was the Dutch international who won that contest, impressing just as Wesley Sneijder had for Inter 24 hours earlier. For his part, Lyon’s Lloris showed once again that he is France’s most talented goalkeeper as he played a

Robben eager to take on United

Robben eager to take on United
(AFP) Tuesday 6 April 2010
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Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben believes he is fit enough to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in their UEFA Champions League showdown on Wednesday after recovering from a calf injury.

He missed Bayern's 2-1 victory over United in their Champions League quarter-final first leg last week after picking up the problem in Bayern's 2-1 loss to Stuttgart on 27 March but he has resumed training and told reporters ahead of the contest that he is hopeful of playing.
It is all about the manager's decision but I think I can be ready. I think United will be favourites but I think we can go and have a really good game - we are ready to go.
Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben

"I am here today so that is a good sign," he said. "I have been doing some training sessions and I feel good, but we will have to wait and see after the last training session. I'm ready, I'm here and I didn't travel just to be in the stadium.

"The injury came at a bad time, like all injuries, but I am really glad to be here playing tomorrow," he went on. "It is all about the manager's decision but I think I can be ready. I think United will be favourites but I think we can go and have a really good game - we are ready to go."

Bayern's chances of beating United to advance to the last four of the competition for the first time since 2001 - the year they last won the Champions League - have been boosted by the news that Wayne Rooney is unlikely to feature for Sir Alex Ferguson's men.

Rooney is recovering from the minor ankle ligament tear he suffered in the first leg and is a doubt for the encounter. Yet despite the loss of a player who has scored 34 goals this term, Bayern captain Mark van Bommel is not taking United lightly - and he claims that not only are United still the favourites for the competition, he would actually like to see the England international on the pitch and playing on Wednesday evening.

Rooney blow
"I hope that he will play but Manchester United do not consist just of Wayne Rooney, they have a lot of other very good players. "We will give it our best shot, with or without Wayne Rooney. I am hoping personally that he can play because it's important for the people watching and for the Champions League overall. I don't know what the situation is, I just hope it is a good match overall," he added. "We are leading 2-1 but I think United are still the favourites. On the one hand they are at home and I think they are the favourites along with Barcelona to win the title."

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal agrees with his captain that regardless of the current scoreline, United will remain favourites to win the Champions League for as long as they are in it. "Yes," was his short but simple answer when asked if Ferguson's side are still the likely winners but that does not mean he is entirely without hope for his side, particularly as they take a one-goal advantage into the second leg.

"We have lots of confidence and we come here with 19 fit players and that is a great situation to be in," the Dutchman went on. "United are a top team, they have a great squad with experienced players. I think the atmosphere will be super, it always is when you play in England. They have an away goal so that makes it tough but I'm sure we will be challenging tomorrow."