Lazio cement top spot, Napoli go fifth

Lazio cement top spot, Napoli go fifth
(

Ten-man Lazio extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a smash-and-grab 1-0 win over Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. Andre Dias scored with Lazio's first chance of the game and the Biancoceleste defended their slender lead against an insistent but unfortunate Palermo.

Giuseppe Biava was sent off in the 77th minute but, even with a one-man advantage, the Rosaneri were unable to find a way through as Lazio held on for a win which restored their four-point lead over Inter Milan at the top of Serie A.

Napoli moved up to fourth thanks to Ezequiel Lavezzi's late strike which earned a 1-0 victory at Brescia. Coach Walter Mazzarri rested several key players ahead of the trip to Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday and Lavezzi's 77th-minute goal justified the decision.

Brescia struck the woodwork twice, but were unable to respond to Lavezzi's goal, and defeat left them just one point off the bottom of the table.

Sampdoria also left it late to grab a 1-0 victory over Cesena at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi to move onto the fringes of the top four. Giampaolo Pazzini's first goal in the league this season in the third minute of stoppage time earned the Blucerchiati three points after the home side had done most of the running. Cesena dropped into the bottom three as a result of the cruel, late defeat.

Cagliari struck twice in the second half to beat Bologna 2-0 and climb out of the relegation zone. Nene broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and Radja Nainggolan doubled his team's lead with 12 minutes remaining to lift the Sardinian outfit to 13th and leave Bologna second from bottom.

Parma also edged out of the drop zone with a goalless home draw against Chievo in a game which saw both sides reduced to ten men. Blerim Dzemaili was sent off five minutes into the second half for the hosts while the visitors lost Gelson Fernandes late in the contest. Parma, who have not won since 29 August, hit the woodwork in the second half but could not find the breakthrough and had to settle for a point.

Udinese continued their rise up the standings with a 2-0 triumph at a Bari side who are free-falling in the opposite direction. Alexis Sanchez scored one and set up the other for Mauricio Isla as the Friuli club moved to eighth. Paulo Barreto missed a penalty for Bari, who finished the weekend bottom of the pile after a fourth successive defeat.

Lazio cement top spot, Napoli go fifth

Lazio cement top spot, Napoli go fifth


Ten-man Lazio extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a smash-and-grab 1-0 win over Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. Andre Dias scored with Lazio's first chance of the game and the Biancoceleste defended their slender lead against an insistent but unfortunate Palermo.

Giuseppe Biava was sent off in the 77th minute but, even with a one-man advantage, the Rosaneri were unable to find a way through as Lazio held on for a win which restored their four-point lead over Inter Milan at the top of Serie A.

Napoli moved up to fourth thanks to Ezequiel Lavezzi's late strike which earned a 1-0 victory at Brescia. Coach Walter Mazzarri rested several key players ahead of the trip to Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday and Lavezzi's 77th-minute goal justified the decision.

Brescia struck the woodwork twice, but were unable to respond to Lavezzi's goal, and defeat left them just one point off the bottom of the table.

Sampdoria also left it late to grab a 1-0 victory over Cesena at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi to move onto the fringes of the top four. Giampaolo Pazzini's first goal in the league this season in the third minute of stoppage time earned the Blucerchiati three points after the home side had done most of the running. Cesena dropped into the bottom three as a result of the cruel, late defeat.

Cagliari struck twice in the second half to beat Bologna 2-0 and climb out of the relegation zone. Nene broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and Radja Nainggolan doubled his team's lead with 12 minutes remaining to lift the Sardinian outfit to 13th and leave Bologna second from bottom.

Parma also edged out of the drop zone with a goalless home draw against Chievo in a game which saw both sides reduced to ten men. Blerim Dzemaili was sent off five minutes into the second half for the hosts while the visitors lost Gelson Fernandes late in the contest. Parma, who have not won since 29 August, hit the woodwork in the second half but could not find the breakthrough and had to settle for a point.

Udinese continued their rise up the standings with a 2-0 triumph at a Bari side who are free-falling in the opposite direction. Alexis Sanchez scored one and set up the other for Mauricio Isla as the Friuli club moved to eighth. Paulo Barreto missed a penalty for Bari, who finished the weekend bottom of the pile after a fourth successive defeat.

Mazembe dominate in African final

Mazembe dominate in African final


A controversial goal set title holders TP Mazembe of Congo DR on the road to a 5-0 drubbing of 10-man Esperance from Tunisia Sunday in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final.

The North Africans claimed an Ngandu Kasongo header did not cross the line after 18 minutes but the protests were ignored by the Togolese referee, who sent off defender Mohamed Mansour soon after. Kasongo and Zambia-born Given Singuluma scored two goals each and Dioko Kaluyituka converted a penalty in Lubumbashi to render the mid-November return match virtually meaningless.

Mazembe attacked from the kick-off in hot conditions on a billiard-table smooth artificial surface at the 35,000-seat Kenya Stadium in the southern Congolese mining city. The defending champions were also taking no chances with leading African Champions League scorer Michael Eneramo, who had two 'minders' whenever he moved near the ball.

Esperance survived only 18 minutes before falling behind as a Kasongo header off a free kick put Mazembe ahead amid protests from Tunisian players that the ball did not cross the line. After Eneramo used his outstretched arm to score the goal that eliminated six-time champions Al-Ahly of Egypt in the semi-finals this month, the last thing African football needed was more controversy.

Not only were Esperance behind, but they struggled to contain a Mazembe team backed by a capacity crowd and committed seven fouls within 20 minutes of the match starting.

After a curling shot from midfielder and captain Oussama Darragi just missed the target midway through the half, Esperance were dealt another blow as Mansour was sent off. The match official spotted an off-the-ball infringement and flashed his red card to incense Esperance coach Faouzi Benzarti, coach of the 'Blood and Gold' when they won the competition for the only time 16 years ago.

Walid Hicheri went close to levelling with a header off a corner and at the other end the woodwork robbed the home team of a second goal as they continued to dominate possession.

Darragi was replaced by defender Zied Derbali nine minutes before the break as Esperance opted for damage limitation and Nigeria-born Eneramo inherited the captaincy. But packed defence from the North African could not prevent the defending champions increasing their lead in first-half stoppage time as leading club scorer Kaluyituka converted a penalty.

The Congolese midfielder claimed his seventh goal of the African campaign by sending goalkeeper Wassim Naouara the wrong way after Singuluma was fouled inside the area.

Esperance emerged from a lengthy half-time break to find themselves on the back foot again as Mazembe sought the additional goals that would make the 13 November second leg near Tunis academic.

A third goal arrived after 56 minutes courtesy of Singuluma, whose powerful near-post header gave the Tunisian goalkeeper no chance and the crowd began a victory party. Singuluma scored again just two minutes later, turning well to fire home a fourth goal, and Kasongo completed the rout 16 minutes from the end of a game Esperance will want to forget quickly.

Dortmund beat Mainz, Hoffenheim go third

Dortmund beat Mainz, Hoffenheim go third
(

Borussia Dortmund returned to the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday after a hard-earned 2-0 win at title-rivals Mainz with the winning goals coming from teenager Mario Goetze and striker Lucas Barrios.

Dark-horses Mainz had a penalty saved but were ultimately outgunned by Jurgen Klopp's young team in a tense, sell-out affair at Mainz's Bruchwegstadion.

"We implemented our tactics well against strong opponents and it was a good win for us," beamed Klopp. "However, we should have taken the lead earlier and the penalty save was a key moment in the game. After that, we had luck on our side."

With only a quarter of the season gone, Klopp said thoughts of Dortmund winning a seventh Bundesliga title have not even entered his head. "About the Bundesliga title, we are having exactly zero thoughts, " he said. The win gives Dortmund a one-point lead over Mainz, who drop to second, after ten league matches.

With the guests enjoying a few chances in the build up, Dortmund opened the scoring on 26 minutes when 18-year-old Goetze pounced on Mainz defender Niko Bungert's mistake and fired home.

Mainz battled to force the equaliser and were awarded a penalty by referee Michael Weiner on 47 minutes when Serbia defender Neven Subotic fouled Hungarian Adam Szalai in the penalty area. But Mainz midfielder Eugen Polanski had his shot saved by Dortmund captain Roman Weidenfeller and Borrusia cleared the danger.

Paraguay striker Barrios scored his fifth league goal of the season when he fired home from a tight angle on 67 minutes and although Mainz fought hard to get back in the game, they struggled against Dortmund's strong defence.

Schalke only non-movers
Later Hoffenheim went third in the Bundesliga as they hammered Hanover 96 4-0 with Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring twice.

On Saturday, Werder Bremen and Schalke both warmed-up in poor fashion for crunch UEFA Champions League clashes on Tuesday as they were both beaten at home.

Werder Bremen are at home to Dutch side FC Twente in Group A, but will face the new Dutch league leaders still reeling from a 3-2 defeat at home to Nuremberg.

Schalke - only side not to have changed position in the Bundesliga this weekend - face Hapoel Tel Aviv away in Group B, but they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Leverkusen - Die Konigsblauen's sixth defeat in 10 games - while Leverkusen are fourth in the table. Eintracht Frankfurt went fifth after their 3-1 win at ten-man St Pauli.

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko also netted twice in his side's 2-0 win over Stuttgart while Hamburg were upset 3-2 at Cologne as Slovenian striker Milivoje Novakovic scored a hat-trick.

Kaiserslautern beat Moenchengladbach 3-0 while defending German champions Bayern Munich are seventh in the table after a 4-2 win over Freiburg on Friday.

Rodriguez provides Reds relief

Rodriguez provides Reds relief


Maxi Rodriguez struck a late winner at Bolton as relieved Liverpool finally climbed out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone today. The Argentinian latched onto a brilliant Fernando Torres backheel to settle a competitive encounter at the Reebok Stadium four minutes from time.

Both sides created numerous chances in an evenly-matched contest but Liverpool left satisfied knowing their near month-long stay in the bottom three was over.

The match had looked like bringing more frustration for Liverpool and under-pressure boss Roy Hodgson as Sotirios Krygiakos twice went close and Torres squandered a good early opportunity.

The win drew them level on points with Bolton, who had been enjoying their best start for four years and were looking set for a seventh draw of the campaign. They might even have won it themselves had a late Kevin Davies glancing header fallen the right side of the post.

"It's just nice to be out of that bottom three, we've been in there a while so it's been difficult to look at the table," relieved Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports afterwards.

"We know we haven't had a great start, but there's still a long way to go and with the league so tight, with a few wins we can certainly climb to the top half of the table."
It's just nice to be out of that bottom three, we've been in there a while so it's been difficult to look at the table.
Jamoe Carragher, Liverpool defender

Hodgson named the same Liverpool team for the third successive Premier League game as he attempted to instil the cohesion they have been lacking. It initially appeared to work as the Reds, hoping to build on last week's morale-boosting win over Blackburn, started confidently and created two early chances for Torres.

The first came after three minutes as Steven Gerrard swung in a corner but Torres could not keep his header on target. His next chance came just five minutes later but, despite netting last week's winner, the Spaniard still showed signs of the rustiness that has hampered him all season. Torres raced through on goal from a Gerrard pass but delayed a shot and then mis-kicked as he attempted to stab past Jussi Jaaskelainen from close range.

Bolton's first attempt on goal came when Stuart Holden blasted a free-kick at the wall from 25 yards. After that Bolton gave as good as they got and Jose Reina parried a vicious Holden volley from distance after the US international was teed up by Davies.

The hosts appealed for a penalty as Lee Chung-Yong cut inside from the left and went down under a challenge from Jamie Carragher but referee Martin Atkinson played on to few complaints. Liverpool attacked back but Cole scooped a long-range effort well over the bar and Gerrard did likewise from a free-kick.

Fabrice Muamba shot from long range for Bolton but his effort curved well away from goal. Torres set up Gerrard but the Reds skipper drove wide from the edge of the box.

Taylor tested Reina with two free-kicks just before the break but the Spaniard managed to smother both attempts and Carragher survived another penalty appeal after the faintest of touches with the hand. Krygiakos, goalscorer in two of the previous three league games, forced Jaaskelainen to save from a Gerrard cross in injury time.

Bolton made the early running in the second half and twice forced Liverpool to clear unconvincingly without creating a clear-cut chance. Gerrard tried to raise Liverpool's fading tempo with a powerful run and long ball for Torres, but a promising attack was ended as Muamba collided with Lucas. Gerrard found good space on the edge of the box but his shot was deflected into the air and claimed easily by Jaaskelainen.

Liverpool suffered a blow just after the hour as Cole was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by David Ngog. Krygiakos again went close when Gerrard picked him out from a corner but this time headed narrowly over. Krygiakos was then involved at the other end after bundling into Davies but Atkinson deemed the Bolton captain to have gone down too easily.

Liverpool might have been struggling to produce the intensity their fans demanded but pieced together a move of genuine quality as Rodriguez finally got into the game midway through the second half. Rodriguez sent Gerrard away down the left with a clever backheel and the captain whipped in a cross for Torres. Torres nodded back down for Rodriguez to attempt a spectacular overhead kick which went just inches over.

Bolton replied as in-form Johan Elmander, looking for his first home goal of the season after hitting five away, showed great control and drove just wide of the post. Zat Knight then headed over from the resulting corner and Davies also glanced a header wide from a free-kick as the Trotters enjoyed a strong spell.

But Liverpool roused themselves late on and carved Bolton open with a delightful move to set up the winner for Rodriguez. Torres was the creator as he nutmegged Gary Cahill with a clever backheel and Rodriguez raced through.The Argentinian showed great composure as he clipped the ball in off the body of Jaaskelainen.

Villarreal draw, Xavi declares war

Villarreal draw, Xavi declares war


Villarreal needed a stoppage time penalty from Giuseppe Rossi to salvage a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon on Sunday as they lost ground on Spanish league leaders Real Madrid.

A Diego Castro goal on 68 minutes looked set to condemn Villarreal to their first defeat since the opening day of the season, however, Italian international forward Rossi converted a spot-kick in the dying seconds for his sixth league goal of the season. Third-placed Villarreal extend their unbeaten league run to eight games but fall three points behind pacesetters Real Madrid and two behind Barcelona in second.

"We deserved to win when you look at the game as a whole," said Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido. "Sporting have a good coach and good players and it is never easy to win here."

In other matches, Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 at home to strugglers Almeria on Sunday and lie down in sixth ahead of next weekend's derby against leaders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Argentine Sergio "Kun" Aguero put Atletico in front on 33 minutes but compatriot Pablo Piatti levelled for the visitors on the stroke of half-time. Atletico had no response and the draw means the UEFA Europa League champions have taken four points from the last 12 in the league and lie nine points behind their next opponents Real Madrid.
We won't get into a war of words with (Jose) Mourinho we want a war on the pitch.
Xavi, Barcelona midfielder

Athletic Bilbao maintained their strong home form with a resounding 3-0 victory over Getafe tonight. The Basque side have now won three of their last four games at San Mames - the one defeat in that run coming against Barcelona - after Getafe were dispatched with ease. Defenders Andoni Iraola and Mikel San Jose had the hosts 2-0 up inside 12 minutes and substitute Igor Gabilondo rounded off the win seven minutes from time.

Deportivo La Coruna finally recorded their first win of the season and did it in style with a 3-0 home victory over Espanyol at the Riazor Stadium. Goals from Adrian Alvarez and centre-backs Alberto Lopo and Diego Colotto helped Depor move off the bottom of the table - with winless Real Zaragoza slumping to the foot of the table - with their maiden win.

Promoted Real Sociedad moved up to ninth in the table with a 2-1 win at stuggling Malaga who lie third from bottom. Racing Santander produced their best performance of the Primera Division season to beat Osasuna 4-1 this evening and move out of the bottom three. First-half goals from Kennedy Bakircioglu and Markus Rosenberg set the hosts on their way and, after Javad Nekounam had pulled one back from the spot, further strikes from Rosenberg and former Espanyol defender Marc Torrejon sealed the win. The Cantabrians had lost five of their opening eight matches and came into this match in 18th place.

The northerners had also lost 2-0 to Segunda Division Cordoba in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday and pressure was increasing on coach Miguel Angel Portugal ahead of this match. Nevertheless, Portugal claimed he was fully focused on this match and the coach will have been pleased with the reaction of his players. The win moved Racing up to 12th, one place above Osasuna.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Barcelona thrashed Sevilla 5-0 at the Camp Nou to stay within a point of leaders Real Madrid and midfielder Xavi Hernandez said the consistency of Real was pushing them on. "They (Real) are doing things very well and that stimulates us," said Xavi. "We won't get into a war of words with (Jose) Mourinho we want a war on the pitch."

Real are unbeaten under coach Jose Mourinho and came from behind to win 3-1 at Hercules and retain top spot in the Spanish first division. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late brace to make it 11 league goals for the season to top the goal-scoring charts four ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi. "I'm in great form and having a phenomenal run," said Ronaldo. "I am scoring goals and I'm happy because we are still leading the table."

A leap for Africa's unlikely conquerors

A leap for Africa's unlikely conquerors


Until their surprise triumphs over Egypt and Algeria respectively, both Niger and Central African Republic were relatively unknown quantities in world and African football. But if those wins weren’t enough for observers to take notice, then their meteoric climb up the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking should do the trick.

The 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results were shocking enough given that Niger and Central African Republic were considered to be punching above their weight by even daring to challenge the Egyptian giants and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ participants. But in the aftermath of the wins, both enjoyed giant bumps in October’s standings, with the Central African Republic leaping 60 places to 112th in the world – their highest position ever. Even more amazing for Les Fauves is that just two months ago they were in position 202, near the bottom of the world pecking order.

Now the 28th best-ranked team in Africa, Central African Republic are not total surprise packages, as they beat Equatorial Guinea to claim the CEMAC Cup in 2009 – a tournament contested by central African countries. In the semi-finals of that event, they defeated Gabon, a country, not so long ago, that commanded both respect and credibility in African football. Central African Republic are now top of Group D in AFCON qualifying with four points from two matches after they held the Atlas Lions of Morocco to a draw away from home last month. The Moroccans are second in the group (also on four points) but have scored fewer goals than CAR.

Mena make good
Like the Central African Republic, Niger have never graced the finals of a continental championship or a FIFA World Cup, but they have nonetheless been regarded as tricky opponents. Despite gutsy performances in patches, they have generally not been able to string together consistent results. But after their historic win over the Pharaohs, the Nigeriens are ranked 100 in the world, up 54 spots from the previous month. However, the Mena’s best ranking can be traced back to more than a decade ago in 1994 when they were ranked a heady 68 in the world after pushing Côte d'Ivoire uncomfortably far in USA 1994 qualifying.
Following our performance against Egypt, I think the guys are now starting to believe. Now we do not fear any team.
Niger coach Harouna Doula

But Niger coach, Harouna Doula, has been quietly rebuilding his side and creating a dangerous entity in Niamey. “We are gaining in confidence,” declared the coach. “Following our performance against Egypt, I think the guys are now starting to believe. Now we do not fear any team. I think we’re in a good period, and we expect more resources and preparation around this team to get as high as possible.”

Such brave talk may be dismissed as a gambit in some circles, especially for a side that had a shaky start to qualifying for the 2012 continental finals, to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. They were easily dispatched by South Africa 2-0 in Nelspruit in September, but their 1-0 home victory over Egypt moves them to second in the group behind Bafana Bafana.

Before conquering the Egyptians, Niger disappointed in qualifying for South Africa 2010, winning just one match out of six in the second round of the CAF preliminaries. Their lone victory was over an improving Ugandan team, but not much was expected of the Mena heading into qualifying for 2012. However, the emergence of France-based forward Moussa Maazou, who scored the winner against Egypt, has hopes high that the land-locked country will continue their upward trajectory.

A leap for Africa's unlikely conquerors

A leap for Africa's unlikely conquerors


Until their surprise triumphs over Egypt and Algeria respectively, both Niger and Central African Republic were relatively unknown quantities in world and African football. But if those wins weren’t enough for observers to take notice, then their meteoric climb up the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking should do the trick.

The 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results were shocking enough given that Niger and Central African Republic were considered to be punching above their weight by even daring to challenge the Egyptian giants and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ participants. But in the aftermath of the wins, both enjoyed giant bumps in October’s standings, with the Central African Republic leaping 60 places to 112th in the world – their highest position ever. Even more amazing for Les Fauves is that just two months ago they were in position 202, near the bottom of the world pecking order.

Now the 28th best-ranked team in Africa, Central African Republic are not total surprise packages, as they beat Equatorial Guinea to claim the CEMAC Cup in 2009 – a tournament contested by central African countries. In the semi-finals of that event, they defeated Gabon, a country, not so long ago, that commanded both respect and credibility in African football. Central African Republic are now top of Group D in AFCON qualifying with four points from two matches after they held the Atlas Lions of Morocco to a draw away from home last month. The Moroccans are second in the group (also on four points) but have scored fewer goals than CAR.

Mena make good
Like the Central African Republic, Niger have never graced the finals of a continental championship or a FIFA World Cup, but they have nonetheless been regarded as tricky opponents. Despite gutsy performances in patches, they have generally not been able to string together consistent results. But after their historic win over the Pharaohs, the Nigeriens are ranked 100 in the world, up 54 spots from the previous month. However, the Mena’s best ranking can be traced back to more than a decade ago in 1994 when they were ranked a heady 68 in the world after pushing Côte d'Ivoire uncomfortably far in USA 1994 qualifying.
Following our performance against Egypt, I think the guys are now starting to believe. Now we do not fear any team.
Niger coach Harouna Doula

But Niger coach, Harouna Doula, has been quietly rebuilding his side and creating a dangerous entity in Niamey. “We are gaining in confidence,” declared the coach. “Following our performance against Egypt, I think the guys are now starting to believe. Now we do not fear any team. I think we’re in a good period, and we expect more resources and preparation around this team to get as high as possible.”

Such brave talk may be dismissed as a gambit in some circles, especially for a side that had a shaky start to qualifying for the 2012 continental finals, to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. They were easily dispatched by South Africa 2-0 in Nelspruit in September, but their 1-0 home victory over Egypt moves them to second in the group behind Bafana Bafana.

Before conquering the Egyptians, Niger disappointed in qualifying for South Africa 2010, winning just one match out of six in the second round of the CAF preliminaries. Their lone victory was over an improving Ugandan team, but not much was expected of the Mena heading into qualifying for 2012. However, the emergence of France-based forward Moussa Maazou, who scored the winner against Egypt, has hopes high that the land-locked country will continue their upward trajectory.

Post Ex-Co press conference LIVE

Post Ex-Co press conference LIVE
(
FIFA.com will stream LIVE the press conference chaired by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, following the FIFA Executive Committee (Ex-Co) meeting in Zurich on 29 October at 3pm.

On the agenda for the meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee are such topics as reports and updates on the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups™ as well as the 2018 and 2022 world finals. Also on the table for discussion will be next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

Reports on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) meetings held in July and October 2010 as well as reports on all of the standing committee meetings held since the previous meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee held on 6-7 June 2010 in Johannesburg will be reviewed.

The things they say: Michel Hidalgo

The things they say: Michel Hidalgo

While he might not enjoy the accolades afforded to Aime Jacquet for winning football’s greatest prize, the FIFA World Cup™, Michel Hidalgo is without question one of the most endearing personalities to have managed the French team.

Coach of Les Bleus between 1976 and 1984, Hidalgo is credited with placing France squarely among the global elite. Qualification for the FIFA World Cup in 1978 and 1982 proved dress rehearsals for Hidalgo’s crowning glory - victory on home soil at the 1984 UEFA European Championship.

Hidalgo was himself a player of great stature and was rewarded in his career with three Ligue 1 titles, one at Reims (1955) and two at Monaco (1961, 1963). But it was his role as coach of the national team that secured him legendary status. Famous for his “magic square” midfield made up of Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, Jean Tigana and Bernard Genghini, Hidalgo moulded a trademark identity for his team.

Hidalgo will always hold a special place in the hearts of the French people, thanks in no small measure to his charming and determined personality. He will be remembered as much for his tears of triumph in 1984, as his outburst during Spain 1982 when a Kuwaiti Sheikh attempted to have a French goal overruled. A lesser-known anecdote is perhaps even more revealing of Hidalgo’s temperament. Subject to a kidnapping attempt prior to Argentina 1978, the diminutive coach showed such sang-froid that he even managed to disarm and see off his would-be abductors!

Heralded as a father figure to players and a hero to the fans, Hidalgo is also one of football’s great poets. When he waxes lyrical on the game, it evokes memories of how he made his players play. Quite simply, it is the stuff footballing dreams are made of, and in our regular column celebrating some of the game’s great orators, FIFA.com invites you to read some of his most memorable quotes.

“Intelligent play is more important than any instruction.”
On the importance of creative players.

“This French team lacks what we like to see in our football: sparkle and brilliance. Are those two qualities off limits now? My dream is of football that smiles and creates. Beauty and efficiency go hand in hand. I know that might sound silly, but it is what I believe in…”
In February 1994, on the subject of rebuilding the French team following their failure to qualify for USA '94.

“I have never talked results with my players. Never! I have always told them to focus on the game and the results will follow. I have been a player, a coach and a spectator and I have always thought that way. And I’m not worried if that sounds poetic or trite!”
Hidalgo’s philosophy, which became the trademark of the Platini generation.

“If we had had Jean-Pierre Papin up front, we would have won the World Cup in 1982!”
Hidalgo regrets despite having great midfielders, France lacked great strikers. And when a great striker came along, the great midfielders were gone.

“This qualification by the two French teams is a heartwarming result, but we shouldn’t get carried away. German football is still what it was 15 days ago - which is not the same thing as French football!”
In December 1980, following the qualification of Sochaux and Saint-Etienne at the expense of German clubs in European competition.

“I will continue to try to build this club. Billions have been made here. If you look at their following and their success, Marseille is one of the biggest clubs in France. And yet, it is all built on sand. There is nothing here!”
Commenting on his appointment as manager of Marseille in 1986.

“A No10 cannot be manufactured. His instinct is what counts. One playmaker will always add a certain quality to your game. When you have three of them playing together, your problems simply fade away!”
On the creative players in his “magic square”.

“I have had enough of this collective thinking. Football has become too complex today. We are killing the art! Where have imagination, instinct and flair gone? You hear coaches talk in figures, statistics and percentages. They are nothing but two-bit technicians!”
His analysis of the progressive disappearance of artistic players in favour of more workmanlike players.

“Watching the French team doesn’t bring me pleasure anymore and I do find that a shame. But I love the Les Bleus so much that I’m willing to forgive them…”
Hidalgo in 1992.

“Michel was a magic lantern; imagination personified…”
On Platini, his captain in 1984.

“Even Platini’s feet are intelligent!”
More fulsome praise for the same player.

“I built a team of strong and sturdy men. I ended up with a bunch of crying children.”
On France’s defeat in the epic 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final against West Germany.

“They say it’s a democratic system. I would call it a relative democracy. People cling to it. Structural change is a good thing, but it is just men who make the structures at the end of the day…”
In 1994, on the need for reorganisation of the French Football Federation following France’s loss to Bulgaria that saw them miss out on USA '94.

“To be a coach of France, you have to be in love with the French team. You have to believe in an aggressive game with a deft touch and then show that to the whole world. We are representing a nation, after all!”
Hidalgo’s view on the role of French coach.

“A coach who wins is like Louis XIV at Versailles with his Hall of Mirrors. A coach who loses is more like Louis XVI at the guillotine…”
A different perspective on the same job.

“Comparisons are always dangerous. We all know that [French female cyclist] Jeannie Longo rides faster than Fausto Coppi ever did…”
On comparison between generations.

“Today, we play with three defensive midfielders and one playmaker. I played with three playmakers and one defensive midfielder!”
While generations should not be compared, it seems styles of play can be contrasted.

“Our dream was to at least make the final. Which is completely stupid because there is nothing worse than losing in the final…”
On the 1984 European Championship, where France triumphed.

“One thing I don’t like is a player who is a good influence in the changing room. I prefer a player who performs on the pitch!”
The secret to his selection process.

“Big teams fall apart without creative players.”
Hidalgo, the fervent advocate of teams built around playmakers.

A history of drama in Africa’s club final

A history of drama in Africa’s club final

It was in 1997 that the current format of the CAF Champions League was introduced, a radical change for the competition from decades of straight two-legged knockout rounds. The advent of television coverage, a single sponsor for the tournament and a dividend for the participating teams was a giant leap for African football into the modern age.

More than a decade on, the competition remains the top prize for African clubs. Nonetheless, it is a gruelling affair, comprised of three preliminary knockout rounds, then a group phase of six matches, a two-legged semi-final and a two-legged final before the identity of the continent’s top club for the year is revealed.

Over the years, the pendulum of dominance has swung back and forward between the clubs from the Arabic-speaking countries of north Africa and their challengers from west and central Africa. In the last decade, there have been breakthroughs for Nigeria, who waited an interminable amount of time before they could claim a club as African champion, a run of dominance by Egypt’s Al Ahly and the revival of the legendary TP Mazembe Englebert, who are again in this year’s final. FIFA.com looks back over 13 years of the CAF Champions League and the finals that have decided the winner of the coveted title.

1997: Halilhodzic proves a good addition
Both Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Ghana’s Goldfields squeezed through to the final. Raja won their group by a single goal and Goldfields by a single point. The first leg of the final was played in Obuasi, and on a dusty surface, Lawrence Adjei managed the only goal after 78 minutes, an aggregate lead that Goldfields held right through 70 minutes of the return match in Casablanca before Abdelkrim Nazir equalised. The match went straight to penalties and Raja, who had appointed Franco-Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic to take charge of their side only months before, triumphed 5-4 in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.

1998: ASEC brings glory to Côte d'Ivoire
ASEC Abidjan had come close several times before in their quest for continental glory, notably just three years earlier when they looked to have the title sewn up only to falter at home to Orlando Pirates. This time they were able to dominate the final against Dynamos of Zimbabwe, drawing away 0-0 in Harare and waltzing to a 4-0 advantage at home before the hour mark with two goals from Vassanogo Kamara and one each from Donald-Olivier Sie and John Zaki. But Dynamos kept fighting and pulled two back to make for a pulsating final ten minutes.

1999: Fullone and Raja make it two
ASEC’s coach Luis Oscar Fullone moved to Raja straight after his success with the Ivorian club and became the first coach to win a major African title back-to-back with two different teams. Raja again needed penalties to take the title after a bruising two-legged affair with Esperance of Tunisia that produced no goals. Raja were rock solid in defence in the second leg away, especially after captain Abdellatif Jrindrou was sent off after just 11 minutes.

2000: Hearts of Oak grow large
Arguably one of the strangest incidents in African football came in Accra in the final’s second leg as Ghana’s Hearts of Oak took on Esperance, having secured a shock 2-1 lead from the first leg in Tunis. Hassen Gabsi’s goal inside the opening 20 minutes suddenly revived the hopes of ‘Blood and Gold’ but as they pushed forward in the final ten minutes, Hearts struck three times to win 5-2 on aggregate. The game was stopped in the closing stages as Esperance goalkeeper Chokri El Ouaer was caught playacting over a bleeding face in an effort to get the match cancelled. El Ouaer was later given a stiff suspension by the Confederation of African Football.

2001: Ahly too bright for Sundowns
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns made it to their first final against an Al Ahly team beginning a revival in their fortunes under Portuguese coach Manuel Jose. A 1-1 draw in Pretoria set the scene for a tight return in Cairo, but it proved a match with one-sided dominance and a one-sided score. Surprisingly, Sundowns had most of the ball, but Ahly stung them three times on the counter attack and Khaled Bebo’s hat trick ensured a 4-1 aggregate victory.

2002: Raja denied a hat-trick
This was the year CAF introduced a semi-final round after the conclusion of the group phase, but there was a familiar look about the final as Raja took on Zamalek of Egypt. Raja were seeking to win the title for a third time in just six years, but they could only muster a scoreless draw at home. Taher Abdelhamid got the decisive strike of the tie just before half-time of the second leg for Zamalek to win by a lone goal.

2003: Nigeria finally break their duck
Nigeria, in just under 40 years of participation, had never before produced a winner in Africa’s top club competition. However, Enyimba always looked a likely breakthrough from the group phase. Goals from Emeka Nwanna and Ndidi Anumnu gave them a 2-0 home win in the first leg of the final against Ismaily. A teenage Hosni Abd Rabou gave the Egyptian club, whose only previous triumph had come in 1969, hopes of clawing back by converting a penalty in the 27th minute, but there were no further goals.

2004: Aiyegnuba the hero for Enyimba
Enyimba became the only side since TP Mazembe Englebert (in 1967 and 1968) to retain their title despite having sold off several of their key players after the previous year’s success. Proficiency in penalties proved key for the Nigerians as they beat Esperance in a shootout in the semi-final and then another Tunisian club, Etoile Sahel, in the final after a 3-3 aggregate draw. They took off goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in the last minute of the second leg in Abuja and replaced him with Dele Aiyenugba in a masterstroke by coach Okey Emordi. Aiyegnuba saved from Saber Ben Frej in the shoot-out to become an instant hero as Enyimba won 5-3 on penalties.

2005: Al Ahly start their run
With Manuel Jose back at the helm for a second stint at Al Ahly, they proved all-conquering in the competition, exemplified by their 3-0 aggregate win over Etoile Sahel in the final. For a second successive year, the Tunisians hosted the first leg of the final but were held to a goalless draw. Ahly dominated the return in Cairo in front of their delirious fans with goals from Mohamed Aboutrika, Osama Hosni and a last minute effort from star player Mohamed Barakat.

2006: A thrilling finish from Aboutrika
A riveting tie of high drama had the most extraordinary finish. Al Ahly were looking to retain their title but after former Enyimba star Joetex Frimpong got an all-important away goal for CS Sfaxien, the Egyptians went to Tunisia for the return game of the final precariously placed at 1-1. It was a tactical game, tight and uncompromising and looked headed for a goalless draw that would have given Sfaxien a shock triumph. That is, until Aboutrika popped up in stoppage time to drive home from the edge of the penalty area and crush home hearts.

2007: Etoile slow the party
Al Ahly were seeking a record-breaking third title on the trot and few would have bet against them after they drew 0-0 away in Sousse in the first leg of the final against Etoile Sahel. The return in Cairo was set for a massive celebration of their dominance of the club game on the continent, but they conceded just before half-time when Afoiuene Gharbi crashed home a brilliant long-range effort and suddenly had to contemplate the unthinkable. Defender Emad Al Nahhas equalised soon after half-time, but with Ahly pushing for a second goal to avoid defeat on the away goals rule, Amine Chermiti and Moussa Narry scored for Etoile. Their celebrations could be heard reverberating around an eerily silent, and stunned, stadium as they won 3-1 on the night and on aggregate.

2008: Ahly hold on for sixth star
Four finals in a row was a new feat to add to Al Ahly’s record books, and they topped it by winning a record sixth title, taking them above arch-rivals Zamalek on the competition’s roll of honour. However, their job was difficult against Coton Sport of Cameroon. Although they held a 2-0 lead going into the second leg in Garoua, and were first to score in the second leg, the Egyptians almost fell victim of one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of African football. Coton Sport threatened at times to engulf their opponents in a flood of goals but conjured up some horrible misses. They finally breached the Al Ahly goal on the stroke of half-time when Karim Abdoul scored and went 2-1 up in the 61st minute through Ousmaila Baba. But a last-minute penalty ensured a 2-2 draw and a 4-2 win overall for the history-making Ahly.

2009: The return of the crows
TP Mazembe Englebert’s victory was the first time the CAF Champions League final had been settled on the away goals rule. Known as The Crows, the club from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo were back at the top of the pile in African club football 41 years on from the last of their two previous titles. After losing 2-1 away in Owerri a week previously, a Victor Ezuruike own-goal in the second leg handed them victory as they edged out Heartland FC of Nigeria.

This year, Mazembe will try to defend their title against Esperance. The first leg of the final is on Sunday in Lubumbashi.

List of the winners of the African Champions League:
1965 – Oryx Douala (Cameroon)
1966 – Stade Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
1967 – TP Mazembe Englebert (Congo-Kinshasa)
1968 – TP Mazembe Englebert (Congo-Kinshasa)
1969 – Ismaily (Egypt)
1970 – Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
1971 – Canon Yaounde (Cameroon)
1972 – Hafia Conakry (Guinea)
1973 – Vita Club (Zaire)
1974 – CARA Brazzaville (Congo)
1975 – Hafia Conakry (Guinea)
1976 – Mouloudia Alger (Algeria)
1977 – Hafia Conakry (Guinea)
1978 – Canon Yaounde (Cameroon)
1979 – Union Douala (Cameroon)
1980 – Canon Yaounde (Cameroon)
1981 – JE Tizi Ouzou (Algeria)
1982 – Al Ahly (Egypt)
1983 – Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
1984 – Zamalek (Egypt)
1985 – Royal Armed Forces Rabat (Morocco)
1986 – Zamalek (Egypt)
1987 – Al Ahly (Egypt)
1988 – Entente Setif (Algeria)
1989 – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
1990 – JS Kabylie (Algeria)
1991 – Club Africain (Tunisia)
1992 – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
1993 – Zamalek (Egypt)
1994 – Esperance (Tunisia)
1995 – Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
1996 – Zamalek (Egypt)
1997 – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
1998 – ASEC Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
1999 – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
2000 – Hearts of Oak (Ghana)
2001 – Al Ahly (Egypt)
2002 – Zamalek (Egypt)
2003 – Enyimba (Nigeria)
2004 – Enyimba (Nigeria)
2005 – Al Ahly (Egypt)
2006 – Al Ahly (Egypt)
2007 – Etoile Sahel (Tunisia)
2008 – Al Ahly (Egypt)
2009 – TP Mazembe Englebert (DR Congo)

The tournament was known as the African Champions Cup until 1997.

Friendly fire for South Americans

Friendly fire for South Americans


Although UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers are currently dominating Planet Football, the rest of the globe is busy preparing for their respective continental championships or just keeping limber in advance of the start of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. FIFA.com takes a look at the international friendlies from this week as South America’s representatives had a couple of days to remember.

Match of the Day
Croatia 2-1 Norway
Goals: Mohammed Abdellaoue (NOR) 20’; Mario Mandzukic (CRO) 34’, Niko Kranjcar (CRO) 49’
The Croats edged their Scandinavian rivals in an unlikely contest of European high-flyers, both unbeaten in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. Croatia, who lead Group F, were only slightly the better of Norway, who are surprise toppers of Group H. Mohammed Abdellaoue opened the scoring for the hard-charging Norwegians, but the Balkan side righted the ship and muscled their way back into the contest in front of their home supporters in Zagreb. They drew level through Mario Mandzukic, who poked a Dario Srna free-kick home and got the winner by way of in-form Tottenham man Niko Kranjcar, who added to his two-goal haul against Israel at the weekend.

Elsewhere
The Far East saw a battle of Asian heavyweights as Japan and Korea Republic battled to a gritty 0-0 stalemate in Seoul. The Japanese, with Alberto Zaccheroni stalking the touchline for only his second game in charge, were unable to produce the kind of fireworks that saw them beat Argentina last week. Paraguay were too hot for New Zealand to handle in Wellington, with goals from Nelson Haedo Valdez and Osvaldo Martinez sealing a 2-0 win for the South Americans in a replay of their goalless draw at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Indonesia overcame a humiliating 7-1 loss to Uruguay, setting the record straight with a morale-boosting 3-0 win over minnows Maldives, while the Philippines hammered Macau 5-0 as Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong played out a 1-1 draw.

Uruguay kept up their winning ways with a 4-0 over China in driving wind and rain thanks to four goals in the last 20 minutes. Ecuador also helped to keep South America smiling, following a 2-0 win for Brazil on Monday in England, avoiding defeat against a rampaging Poland in the Canadian city of Montreal. Mexico-based ace Christian Benitez scored both goals against the UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts in the 2-2 draw. A lone second-half strike from Gabriel Torres lifted Panama to a 1-0 home victory over a Peru side hampered by the first-half dismissal of Carlos Zambrano.

Over in Muscat, Pedro Morales’ lone goal was enough to see Chile edge hosts Oman 1-0 while Kuwait came from a goal down to beat Vietnam 3-1 in Kuwait City, Yousef Nasser scoring twice. Saudi Arabia were beaten 2-0 by Lothar Matthaus’ Bulgaria, one of only three European sides in friendly action, with Dimitar Rangelov and Valeri Domovchiski getting the goals.

Angola were the only African side to taste victory when they beat hosts United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Abu Dhabi. Uzbekistan pulled off an impressive result on the road in Manama, topping Bahrain 4-2 while AFC Asian Cup holders Iraq pulled off a sharp 2-1 win over Qatar away from home in Doha.

CONCACAF action began on Monday with Jamaica bolstering their hope for success at the upcoming Caribbean Cup in Martinique with a 1-0 win over Caribbean powers Trinidad and Tobago, who are also participating in the competition. USA coach Bob Bradley made five changes from the side that drew with Poland last week, but the end result remained the same as the Stars and Stripes laboured to a 0-0 draw with Colombia on Tuesday, their first goalless draw for over two years.

Ten-man Venezuela secured a 2-2 draw in Mexico with Juan Arango grabbing a double while El Tri twice came from behind through Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos. A late winner from Josue Martinez gave Costa Rica a 2-1 victory over El Salvador in San Jose. Finally, Honduras showed impressive resolve to recover from their long haul to New Zealand on the weekend by winning 2-0 in Guatemala with a goal in each half.

Player of the day
Emad Mohammed was the hero for Iraq with both goals in their win over Qatar on the road in Doha. As the Gulf side get set to defend their Asian Cup crown in a little under three months’ time, the striker proved himself every inch the difference at the Khalifa Stadium, scoring a classy winner in the 57th minute, following on from his 11th-minute opener. Plying his club trade for Cairo giants Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League, the diminutive 28-year-old – Iraq’s player of the year in 2000 – is in the kind of form that will please coach Wolfgang Sidka when Asia’s football extravaganza kicks off, also in Doha, in early January.

The stat
11 - the number of goals that Uruguay, semi-finalists at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, have scored in their last two friendlies. Last week’s 7-1 thumping of Indonesia was followed up with a 4-0 win over China on the road as the Celeste averaged a goal every 12 minutes in their last two outings. The feat is even more impressive considering the South Americans failed to get goals from their top scorer, talisman and South Africa 2010’s best player Diego Forlan, who missed the trip to Jakarta and played only an hour of the win in China.

What they said
"The depth is growing. Football is in great shape [in New Zealand] and it's great to be part of it,” New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert was far from dismayed by his side’s loss to Paraguay at home.

Bilic: Croatia will peak in Brazil

Bilic: Croatia will peak in Brazil


In the cool and collected world of international coaching, it is fair to say Slaven Bilic cuts an unusually animated figure. While many of his fellow strategists prefer to keep their emotions in check, the Croatia boss gives his feelings free rein, thus underlining his fierce passion for the job and the beautiful game as a whole.

Hugely popular with the Croatian players and supporters alike, the former West Ham and Everton centre-back spoke fully and frankly in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com. He touched on topics including his passion for the job, Croatia’s agonising defeat to Turkey at UEFA EURO 2008 and subsequent failure to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, plus his high hopes for Brazil 2014.

FIFA.com: Slaven, when watching you stalk the dugout, the first word that springs to mind is ‘passionate’. Is that an apt description of your personality?
Slaven Bilic: Of course. I was full of fire and passion as a child, as a player and now as a coach. You can’t dedicate your whole life to a sport if you’re not crazy about it. Sometimes I think I’m unusual but then I look at everyone else doing the same things and I think ‘either I’m normal or they’re all crazy too!’ (Laughs) But I really enjoy myself. People think that being a national-team coach is a part-time job but I do it 24/7. I spend all my team reading, speaking to my players, analysing opponents. It’s an ideal situation: doing something you love and being able to support your family at the same time.

Listening to you evokes memories of that defeat against Turkey at EURO 2008, when you were visibly distraught by their equaliser in the dying seconds of extra time. Do you think your emotions get the better of you at times?
Ah, that game! Firstly I was angry with the referee because I hadn’t been able to make a substitution. Then I spoke to my players and tried to convince them we still had just as good a chance of winning (on penalties) as the Turkish team. But they were so downbeat and deeply in shock that I simply wasn’t able to lift their spirits. I don’t know if anybody could have to be honest, we were all so devastated.
Given how young our team are, I still don’t think we’ve even come close to hitting our peak, which will happen in Brazil (in 2014). Within two years we’re going to be in an enviable position and in four years’ time even more so.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic

Let us turn to the current crop of Croatian players. Do you think your players are ready to hit the heights once more?
They should be. I thought that would happen on the way to the 2010 World Cup but we fell short. Now, given how young our team are, I still don’t think we’ve even come close to hitting our peak, which will happen in Brazil (in 2014). Of course there’ll be changes, people will come in and others will make way. But within two years we’re going to be in an enviable position and in four years’ time even more so.

Your team have certainly started EURO 2012 qualifying on the right foot…
We’re happy with the situation we’re in. We’re currently top of our group (Editors’ note: at time of publication Croatia were a point behind section leaders Greece with a game in hand) and have a good chance of qualifying. If you compare this group to those we were drawn in prior to the previous EURO and World Cup then this one seems easier on paper. But it’d be stupid of us to get carried away, because our group’s not just about us, Greece and Israel. There’s Lithuania and Georgia to contend with too. We’ll have to work hard.

Teams from the Balkans have fallen just short at vital moments at recent tournaments. What do you think is behind this trend?
People have been saying it’s a mental thing but I’m not sure. For example, it’s been said that we weren’t strong enough mentally in that game against Turkey, whereas in fact they just got a slice of luck in the last minute and scored from a rebound. It’s tricky, something like that happens and you say ‘that wouldn’t happen to Italy’, but then you see the way they were beaten by Slovakia at the World Cup. Or you think that wouldn’t happen to a German team, and then you remember the way Bayern [Munich] were beaten by Manchester [United] when conceding those two late goals (in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final). There’s a psychological factor, but luck plays a big part too.

Would you agree that the last truly great Croatia side was the one you were a part of at France 1998? What set that team apart?
We had real character in that side but, again on the subject of luck, we had a better team at EURO ’96 and lost (2-1) against Germany in the semi-finals. And we played better in that match than in our 3-0 win over them (in the quarter-finals at France 1998), a game in which they were all over us in the first half without being able to score. I think what set us apart was our personalities. We weren’t playing for the best clubs in the world but we were important players for our teams, we shouldered responsibility. We were all big characters, we were friends and we were leaders on and off the pitch.
The good thing about Croatia is that, however much money they have or whichever club they play for, the players love their country and always want to turn out for the national team.
Slaven Bilic

Would it be possible to recreate that with the current squad?
Not exactly, because every generation is different. But the good thing about Croatia is that, however much money they have or whichever club they play for, the players love their country and always want to turn out for the national team. That’s a big advantage for us.

A lot of coaches claim not to pay attention to the media, but do you read the papers?
Of course I read them, but not every day. I’m not obsessed, nor is it the first thing I do in the morning. I prefer to chat with my friends, enjoy myself or spend time with my kids. But I’m not scared of the press, in fact I thrive on criticism when it’s constructive. Croatia is a small country and I know who’s behind every comment I read. My secret for not letting it get to me is something I call my ‘circles’. I’m the boss. Then around me I have a circle made up of [Robert] Prosinecki, [Aljosa] Asanovic, other former players and my public relations manager. Then I have another consisting of my brother and a group of deep thinkers, another made up of coaches, my family etc. If the circles are strong, then nobody can break them.

It still must be tough, however, particularly in a country like Croatia where fans and journalists alike are so passionate about the national team…
They’re crazy! (Laughs) The stress levels are incredible, sometimes I think I’d have to endure less pressure if I joined Real Madrid. It’s purely because I’m coaching my own country, and what a country it is! But I can’t complain, everybody goes through the same thing. I’m going to finish off with an anecdote. A few days ago I went to buy a pizza and, while I was waiting, I bumped into a friend I hadn’t seen for years and who was working at that restaurant as a delivery guy. He came up to me and asked if I could give him a job, telling me that he couldn't stand the pressure, how he had to get things delivered in 30 minutes, jump red lights, deal with furious clients and so on. That’s when you realise how lucky you are to have a wonderful job like this.

Two members of the FIFA Executive Committee provisionally suspended

Two members of the FIFA Executive Committee provisionally suspended


The FIFA Ethics Committee, under the chairmanship of Claudio Sulser, decided today, 20 October 2010, to provisionally suspend, with immediate effect, the members of the FIFA Executive Committee Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from taking part in any football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) after examining their cases in relation to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™. After hearing Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, the Ethics Committee considered that a provisional suspension was required while the investigation continues, taking into account the gravity of the case and the likelihood that a breach of the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA Disciplinary Code has been committed.

Furthermore, the Ethics Committee examined the cases of four officials – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee – also in relation to an alleged breach of the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA Disciplinary Code linked to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™. The committee also decided to suspend these four officials provisionally from taking part in any football-related activity.

FIFA opened proceedings against the two Executive Committee members on 18 October 2010 and requested the Ethics Committee to conduct an independent, in-depth investigation into the matter. The Ethics Committee will meet again in mid-November 2010 in order to take a final decision on the matter after gathering more information and evidence on the six cases.

"The decision to provisionally suspend these officials is fully justified and should not be put in question. The evidence that has been presented to us today has led us to take this provisional measure, as we considered that the conditions were definitely met to take this decision and we deem that it is crucial to protect the integrity of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process. We are determined to have zero tolerance for any breach of the Code of Ethics," said the chairman of the Ethics Committee, Claudio Sulser.

Finally, and again at the request of FIFA, the Ethics Committee decided to open an investigation into alleged agreements between member associations and their Bid Committees in relation to the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup™ bidding process, something which would also be a violation of the Bid Registration document and the Code of Ethics. A decision on this case will also be taken by the Ethics Committee at its meeting in mid-November, following a thorough investigation.

Blatter made honorary member of DFB

Blatter made honorary member of DFB


A great honour has been bestowed on Joseph S. Blatter, with the FIFA President being named an honorary member of the German Football Association during the DFB general assembly. Blatter received the award from DFB president Dr Theo Zwanziger during a ceremony at the Philharmonic Hall in Essen.

Zwanziger paid tribute to Blatter, calling him a "a unique figure in world football and sport in general, someone who does not see football as mere competition with no value". The DFB president said Blatter's presence was a great honour, adding: "We want to thank you for everything that you have done for football, and we would like to express this gratitude by making you an honorary member of the German Football Association."

"This award has special significance for me, and I am delighted and honoured to be here in Essen," said the FIFA President. "I was very touched by the warm welcome and the kind words of the DFB president."

A number of high-ranking guests from the worlds of politics and sport, including federal chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, attended the opening of the 40th DFB general assembly, the main theme of which was 'Football is the future – emotionally, socially and sustainably'.

"We have a lot of important decisions to make over the next two days concerning the future of German football," Zwanziger continued. "But at the same time the DFB general assembly should also be about building bridges between two major events the country has been tasked with hosting. One of them, the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, has already taken place, with the second set for next year: the FIFA Women's World Cup," he added.

Chancellor Merkel, for her part, cannot wait for the 2011 event, saying: "I was in South Africa last summer and was very impressed by the football itself and by the atmosphere in the stadiums. Now I'm really looking forward to the incredible football tournament that will be taking place next year in Germany."

Flu claim top spot from stuttering Cruzeiro

Flu claim top spot from stuttering Cruzeiro


Fluminense twice came from a goal down to claim a point away to Atletico Paranaense which took them to the top of Serie A with seven games of the season to go.

The Rio de Janeiro side fell behind when Paulo Baier gave Atletico a 62nd-minute lead but Marquinho levelled seven minutes later. Wagner Diniz restored the home side's advantage with seven minutes to go but Flu refused to fold and equalised again through a Conca penalty in the 87th minute.

The point took Fluminense above Cruzeiro on goal difference as the latter lost 4-3 at home to Atletico Mineiro. Manoel Obina's hat-trick inside the first 30 minutes put Atletico in control with Gilberto pulling one back for Cruzeiro (36). Rever made it 4-1 before Thiago Ribeiro gave Cruzeiro hope with a late double.

A goal from Bruno Cesar midway through the first half was enough to earn Corinthians victory in the Sao Paulo derby against Palmeiras, a result which took them a point behind Cruzeiro.

Santos lost ground as they suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at home to bottom side Gremio Prudente. Santos led 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Keirrison and Durval but a second-half double from Wesley pulled the visitors level and Gilmar's 55th-minute penalty gave them the lead which they managed to hold onto despite the dismissals of Leonardo and Boaventura.

Honours were even in the Porto Alegre derby between Gremio and Internacional, with the former as hosts overcoming the sending-off of Fabio Rochemback in the 64th minute to earn a 2-2 draw.

In Sunday's other matches, Ceara beat Sao Paulo 2-0, Vasco da Gama and Flamengo drew 1-1 and Goias were 1-0 victors over Avai.

Wenger impressed by mature Gunners

Wenger impressed by mature Gunners


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels his Gunners team are finally showing they are mature enough to end their long wait for a trophy.

Wenger's youthful squad have not picked up any silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2005. But their 3-0 victory at Manchester City on Sunday - their first win in ten matches against title rivals Chelsea, Manchester United and City - could prove to be a watershed moment.

They have long been criticised for their lack of success, with Wenger regularly insisting their potential would eventually be rewarded. But the Frenchman thinks that the manner of the victory at Eastlands shows his players are coming of age.

He said: "I'm very pleased because they looked like they have matured. We've matured in the sense of negotiating the difficulties of the game in an intelligent way. That means not getting a red card, keeping the ball well, being patient when it was needed. Collectively we completely dominated the game.
I'm very pleased because they looked like they have matured. We've matured in the sense of negotiating the difficulties of the game in an intelligent way.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

"I hope this will give us the belief and the confidence to transfer into other games. I can't explain (the run against City, Chelsea and United) but it is true. And in some games we were close to winning in the end and just lost. For example we lost 2-0 at Chelsea and when you watched it again it was difficult to understand how we lost the game but the fact that they took two good chances."

Samir Nasri has been crucial to Arsenal climbing to second in the table, with seven goals in seven matches. At the age of 23, Wenger thinks the French midfielder has taken his game to another level.

He added: "He is becoming more efficient and I think he's become stronger physically and you judge a player on his numbers. He got a goal and an assist and that's what you want from a player with a lot of talent like he has. He's a complete player because he can run with the ball, he's quick and he's a clinical finisher now. At 23 your career starts at the top level."

Wenger is delighted with the form of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and has hinted the Pole might remain his first choice even when Manuel Almunia returns from an elbow injury. He said: "He shows what we see in training. In our job you have to be steady and fight against opinions but it's easier for you when you know the player has the talent and I believe that he has the talent.

"I will never say definitely whether he will stay number one because you always want the freedom to change when it's needed. At the moment his performances, you can't fault him at all."

Mancini remains optimistic
Despite seeing his side slip to a second defeat of the season, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini maintains he has never been more confident about his team's prospects. He said: "They showed that they are one of the best teams in the Premier League. I'm very proud of my players because they played very well. If it was 11 against 11 we would have won this game."

Mancini will hope that Carlos Tevez can recover from a thigh injury to feature at Wolves on Saturday. After Dedryck Boyata was sent off after four minutes, Nasri opened the scoring and Cesc Fabregas also had a penalty saved by Joe Hart. But goals from Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner completed the victory for Arsenal.

Scottish coach has Cranes flying right

Scottish coach has Cranes flying right


It has been more than three decades since the Cranes of Uganda have made an appearance in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, but a storming start to the 2012 qualifiers is offering real hope of a return for the once-proud national team.

Scottish coach Bobby Williamson has engineered a solid beginning to their qualifying group, with a 3-0 home win over Angola to start the campaign in September, followed by a potentially priceless draw away against neighbours, and long-standing rivals, Kenya last month. It means there is now a growing expectation the Cranes will stay atop Group J and qualify for the 2012 finals, 32 years after their last appearance, when they finished as continental runners-up to Ghana in 1978.

“I think there is a good chance,” Williamson told FIFA.com regarding his side’s hopes of reaching the finals again. “Everybody expects it. For the last few tournaments, Uganda have been very, very close, sometimes just missing out on goal difference, so the potential is there. I don’t think we’ll waltz in, but we have given ourselves a good grounding. If you had said before the qualifiers that we’d have four points from our opening two matches, a lot of people would have been pleased with that.”
The qualifiers are stretched over a long period and there is little room to afford any slips. But we’ll be as well prepared as we usually are.
Williamson on the long campaign to 2012

The coach is on his first international assignment after a career in Scotland with Kilmarnock and Hibernian, and then in England at Plymouth Argyle and Chester City. Williamson took the Uganda job just over two years ago, completing their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying schedule and since steadily seeing the Cranes climb the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. His ambitions are now set on helping the Ugandans to the 2012 Nations Cup, to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and then to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a tournament for which Uganda have never previously qualified.

But Williamson insists there is much work to be done ahead of consecutive matches against the group’s surprise packages, Guinea-Bissau, in March and June. “Guinea Bissau are not the whipping boys that some suggested they might be,” Williamson said. “I spoke to the Kenya coach, who told me of their potential. They play on an artificial turf and that is also going to be factor for our players to contend with."

An eye on the domestic
The 49-year-old Williamson, a former striker with West Bromwich Albion, has the same dilemma more and more of his contemporaries across the African continent have to deal with, in that he infrequently has an opportunity to work with his full squad.

It is a double-edged sword, for Uganda have more players based at overseas club than at anytime before, which ensures they are more competitive, fitter and better exposed to the disciplines of the modern game but that they are rarely under Williamson’s charge. For example, in the impressive three-goal roasting of Angola the goals came from Scotland-based David Obua, China-based Andrew Mwesigwa and Geoffrey Sserunkuma, who plays in South Africa. Williamson says he does what he can to develop the game in Uganda. “I’m much better acquainted with the local players and have had much more to do with them in my time here,” he explained.

In late November Williamson will take his Uganda team to Tanzania for the regional East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup, a further opportunity to work with up-and-coming talent. “I’ve worked with the locals in the last two tournaments and that has helped me a lot.”

Williamson said his priority was to keep winning and “keep the feel good factor high”, but he said he realises there is still a long haul ahead of him and the Cranes. “The qualifiers are stretched over a long period and there is little room to afford any slips. But we’ll be well prepared as we usually are.”

Galaxy seal Western Conference title


Former England captain David Beckham scored a key goal for Los Angeles Galaxy as they secured Major League Soccer's Western Conference title with a 2-1 home win over FC Dallas.

The Galaxy needed just a point to seal top spot in their final regular season game but fell behind to Atiba Harris' goal in the 22nd minute. However, Beckham levelled the scores 11 minutes later when he latched on to good work from team-mate Landon Donovan.

Juninho then gave Galaxy the lead in the first minute of the second half to ensure they entered the play-offs as the Western Conference's top seeds. They will face the Seattle Sounders in the Western semi-finals, with the point lifting them above MLS Cup holders Real Salt Lake, who must settle for second and will face Dallas in the play-offs.

In the East, the Columbus Crew rounded off their regular-season campaign with a 3-1 home win over the Philadelphia Union, leaving the Ohio side a point behind the New York Red Bulls in the final table. A 14th-minute penalty from Guillermo Barros Schelotto set the Crew on the road to victory, and they will now take on the Colorado Rapids in the postseason.

The Red Bulls will go up against the San Jose Earthquakes in the other play-off match-up.

European Leagues review

European Leagues review


The leaders in England and Italy marched clear as the leadership changed hands in Germany. With Real Madrid consolidating top spot in Spain in considerable style and Rennes’ grip on pole position in France loosening, FIFA.com reviews the weekend’s developments across Europe.

Premier League: Chelsea go clear, Arsenal win at Eastlands
Chelsea saw off struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 to cement top spot, with seven wins from nine games so far. West Bromwich Albion beat Fulham 2-1 and are the best of the promoted clubs in sixth. In the biggest clash of the weekend, ten-man Manchester City slipped to fourth after losing 3-0 at home to Arsenal, a result which sent the Gunners second.

Javier Hernandez scored a brace as Manchester United went third with a 2-1 win away to Stoke City. Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 in a battle of troubled teams, though the Reds’ second win of the season was not enough to lift them out of the drop zone.

Top three: Chelsea (22 points), Arsenal, Manchester United (both 17)
Bottom three: Liverpool (9 points), Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United (both 6)
Leading scorers: Florent Malouda, Carlos Tevez (both 7 goals), Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Drogba (both 6)
Weekend stat: 2 – Chelsea appear in ominous form: the west London side have both the best attack and best defence in the league, with 25 goals for and just two against.

La Liga: Messi shines, Ronaldo dazzles
Cristiano Ronaldo contributed four goals as Real Madrid dismissed lowly Racing Santander 6-1 to retain pole position. Their two nearest challengers also won: Villarreal beat Atletico Madrid 2-0, and Lionel Messi scored both goals as Barcelona overcame tailenders Zaragoza.

Fourth-placed Valencia lost for the second time in succession, falling 2-1 at home to Mallorca. It rained goals in Seville, where the sixth-placed hosts ultimately beat tenth-placed Athletic Bilbao 4-3. In tonight's fixture, Real Sociedad, in 16th, entertain 19th-placed Deportivo.

Top three: Real Madrid (20 points), Villarreal, Barcelona (both 19)
Bottom three: Racing Santander (7 points), Deportivo (4), Zaragoza (3)
Leading scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (9 goals), Fernando Llorente (6), Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Nilmar, Giuseppe Rossi (all 5)
Weekend stat: 3 – In the Sevilla-Bilbao goal-fest, three players netted two apiece: Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute for the home team, and Fernando Llorente for the visitors.

Bundesliga: Mainz reclaim top spot
Fast-starting Mainz travelled to fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen and won 1-0, reclaiming the driving seat thanks to Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 home draw with Hoffenheim. Hannover continued their bright start to the campaign with a 2-1 home win over Cologne. In the wake of their third defeat on the bounce, the Rhineland side dismissed coach Zvonimir Soldo.

Resurgent Werder Bremen moved up to eighth with a 4-1 win away to relegation-haunted Borussia Monchengladbach and have now gone four games undefeated. Champions Bayern Munich remain mired in mid-table after a goalless stalemate away to sixth-placed Hamburg.

Top three: Mainz (24 points), Borussia Dortmund (22), Hannover (16)
Bottom three: Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach (both 6 points), Cologne (5)
Leading scorers: Papiss Cisse (8 goals), Theofanis Gekas (7), Grafite (6)
Weekend stat: 8 – Nine games into the campaign, Bayern are the least prolific team in the division with just eight goals so far.

Serie A: Lazio extend lead
On Matchday 8 in Italy, Lazio beat struggling Cagliari 2-1 and extended their lead at the summit. Second-placed Inter Milan were held 1-1 by Sampdoria and are now four points off the men from the capital. Juventus played out a goalless draw away to 16th-placed Bologna and missed the chance to go third.

Chievo edged promoted Cesena 2-1 and leapfrogged Juve to go fourth. Fiorentina advanced to 15th and eased the relegation pressure with a 2-1 win at home to Bari, who slipped to 18th. Tonight's game sees sixth-placed Napoli entertain third-placed AC Milan.

Top three: Lazio (19 points), Inter (15), AC Milan (14)
Bottom three: Bari (8 points), Cagliari, Parma (both 7)
Leading scorers: Samuel Eto'o (7 goals), Edinson Cavani (6), Marco di Vaio, Alessandro Matri (both 5)
Weekend stat: 4 – Leaders Lazio won for the fourth time on the bounce to keep their rivals safely at bay.

Ligue 1: Rennes taste defeat for the first time
On Matchday 10, leaders Rennes lost for the first time this term when visitors Montpellier won 1-0 to go sixth. Reigning champions Marseille went second with a 3-1 success away to Lille, while third-placed Saint-Etienne lost ground in a 1-1 draw with ninth-placed Caen. Newcomers Brest beat Bordeaux 2-0 and are now a creditable fourth.

Paris Saint-Germain tumbled to seventh after a 3-2 defeat at home to 15th-placed Auxerre, which was the relegation-threatened visitors’ second win of the campaign. Bottom club Arles-Avignon will take heart from a 1-1 draw with Lyon, although the latter are a shadow of their former selves at present and lie 14th.

Top three: Rennes (19 points), Marseille, Saint-Etienne (both 18)
Bottom three: Monaco, Lens (both 9 points), Arles-Avignon (2)
Leading scorers: Dimitri Payet (8 goals), Youssef El-Arabi, Nene (both 6)
Weekend stat: 1 – Rennes were undefeated in their first nine games, but Joris Steve Marveaux's solitary strike for Montpellier condemned the Breton outfit to their first defeat.

Elsewhere
In Serbia, Partizan travelled to bitter local rivals Crvena Zvezda and won 1-0, displacing their opponents at the top of the SuperLiga. Meanwhile in Russia, the goalless draw between CSKA Moscow and Rubin Kazan, in third and second respectively, helped only leaders Zenit.

In Scotland, the 389th Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers finished 3-1 to the latter, who now lead the SPL by three points from their arch-rivals. In the Dutch Eredivisie, leaders PSV met fallen giants Feyenoord and rattled up double figures in an astonishing 10-0 romp.

Champions Bursaspor remain top of the pile in Turkey after demolishing Ankaragucu 5-1 away from home, while Istanbul pair Fenerbahce and Galatasaray took points off each other in a scoreless draw.

Bilic: Croatia will peak in Brazil

Bilic: Croatia will peak in Brazil
(

In the cool and collected world of international coaching, it is fair to say Slaven Bilic cuts an unusually animated figure. While many of his fellow strategists prefer to keep their emotions in check, the Croatia boss gives his feelings free rein, thus underlining his fierce passion for the job and the beautiful game as a whole.

Hugely popular with the Croatian players and supporters alike, the former West Ham and Everton centre-back spoke fully and frankly in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com. He touched on topics including his passion for the job, Croatia’s agonising defeat to Turkey at UEFA EURO 2008 and subsequent failure to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, plus his high hopes for Brazil 2014.

FIFA.com: Slaven, when watching you stalk the dugout, the first word that springs to mind is ‘passionate’. Is that an apt description of your personality?
Slaven Bilic: Of course. I was full of fire and passion as a child, as a player and now as a coach. You can’t dedicate your whole life to a sport if you’re not crazy about it. Sometimes I think I’m unusual but then I look at everyone else doing the same things and I think ‘either I’m normal or they’re all crazy too!’ (Laughs) But I really enjoy myself. People think that being a national-team coach is a part-time job but I do it 24/7. I spend all my team reading, speaking to my players, analysing opponents. It’s an ideal situation: doing something you love and being able to support your family at the same time.

Listening to you evokes memories of that defeat against Turkey at EURO 2008, when you were visibly distraught by their equaliser in the dying seconds of extra time. Do you think your emotions get the better of you at times?
Ah, that game! Firstly I was angry with the referee because I hadn’t been able to make a substitution. Then I spoke to my players and tried to convince them we still had just as good a chance of winning (on penalties) as the Turkish team. But they were so downbeat and deeply in shock that I simply wasn’t able to lift their spirits. I don’t know if anybody could have to be honest, we were all so devastated.
Given how young our team are, I still don’t think we’ve even come close to hitting our peak, which will happen in Brazil (in 2014). Within two years we’re going to be in an enviable position and in four years’ time even more so.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic

Let us turn to the current crop of Croatian players. Do you think your players are ready to hit the heights once more?
They should be. I thought that would happen on the way to the 2010 World Cup but we fell short. Now, given how young our team are, I still don’t think we’ve even come close to hitting our peak, which will happen in Brazil (in 2014). Of course there’ll be changes, people will come in and others will make way. But within two years we’re going to be in an enviable position and in four years’ time even more so.

Your team have certainly started EURO 2012 qualifying on the right foot…
We’re happy with the situation we’re in. We’re currently top of our group (Editors’ note: at time of publication Croatia were a point behind section leaders Greece with a game in hand) and have a good chance of qualifying. If you compare this group to those we were drawn in prior to the previous EURO and World Cup then this one seems easier on paper. But it’d be stupid of us to get carried away, because our group’s not just about us, Greece and Israel. There’s Lithuania and Georgia to contend with too. We’ll have to work hard.

Teams from the Balkans have fallen just short at vital moments at recent tournaments. What do you think is behind this trend?
People have been saying it’s a mental thing but I’m not sure. For example, it’s been said that we weren’t strong enough mentally in that game against Turkey, whereas in fact they just got a slice of luck in the last minute and scored from a rebound. It’s tricky, something like that happens and you say ‘that wouldn’t happen to Italy’, but then you see the way they were beaten by Slovakia at the World Cup. Or you think that wouldn’t happen to a German team, and then you remember the way Bayern [Munich] were beaten by Manchester [United] when conceding those two late goals (in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final). There’s a psychological factor, but luck plays a big part too.

Would you agree that the last truly great Croatia side was the one you were a part of at France 1998? What set that team apart?
We had real character in that side but, again on the subject of luck, we had a better team at EURO ’96 and lost (2-1) against Germany in the semi-finals. And we played better in that match than in our 3-0 win over them (in the quarter-finals at France 1998), a game in which they were all over us in the first half without being able to score. I think what set us apart was our personalities. We weren’t playing for the best clubs in the world but we were important players for our teams, we shouldered responsibility. We were all big characters, we were friends and we were leaders on and off the pitch.
The good thing about Croatia is that, however much money they have or whichever club they play for, the players love their country and always want to turn out for the national team.
Slaven Bilic

Would it be possible to recreate that with the current squad?
Not exactly, because every generation is different. But the good thing about Croatia is that, however much money they have or whichever club they play for, the players love their country and always want to turn out for the national team. That’s a big advantage for us.

A lot of coaches claim not to pay attention to the media, but do you read the papers?
Of course I read them, but not every day. I’m not obsessed, nor is it the first thing I do in the morning. I prefer to chat with my friends, enjoy myself or spend time with my kids. But I’m not scared of the press, in fact I thrive on criticism when it’s constructive. Croatia is a small country and I know who’s behind every comment I read. My secret for not letting it get to me is something I call my ‘circles’. I’m the boss. Then around me I have a circle made up of [Robert] Prosinecki, [Aljosa] Asanovic, other former players and my public relations manager. Then I have another consisting of my brother and a group of deep thinkers, another made up of coaches, my family etc. If the circles are strong, then nobody can break them.

It still must be tough, however, particularly in a country like Croatia where fans and journalists alike are so passionate about the national team…
They’re crazy! (Laughs) The stress levels are incredible, sometimes I think I’d have to endure less pressure if I joined Real Madrid. It’s purely because I’m coaching my own country, and what a country it is! But I can’t complain, everybody goes through the same thing. I’m going to finish off with an anecdote. A few days ago I went to buy a pizza and, while I was waiting, I bumped into a friend I hadn’t seen for years and who was working at that restaurant as a delivery guy. He came up to me and asked if I could give him a job, telling me that he couldn't stand the pressure, how he had to get things delivered in 30 minutes, jump red lights, deal with furious clients and so on. That’s when you realise how lucky you are to have a wonderful job like this.

Croatia and Russia climb into top ten

Croatia and Russia climb into top ten


Spain and the Netherlands, the two 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finalists, continue to lead the way at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Brazil (3rd) and Germany (4th) have traded places just behind them, while both Croatia (9th) and Russia (10th) have climbed into the top ten on the backs of victories in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. The races to reach the AFC and CONCACAF continental championships are now also under way, which made for significant movement in this edition of the world ranking.

A total of nine teams are currently in their highest-ever position in the history of the world ranking: Slovenia (15th), Burkina Faso (37th), Belarus (42nd), Armenia (60th), Botswana (79th), Azerbaijan (91st), the Central African Republic (112th) and the Philippines (152nd), as well as Montenegro (26th), who have continued their ascent and once again grabbed the headlines by defeating Switzerland and drawing with star-studded England.

Several teams made incredible climbs of at least 20 places over the last month, including Guinea (47th, up 34), Armenia (60th, up 45), Libya (81st, up 26), Guyana (98th, up 22) and Niger (100th, up 54). The Central African Republic (112th) have even jumped 60 places after emerging from a three-and-a-half-year absence that had seen them rooted to the foot of the ranking with no points to their name just two months ago. They marked their return to international football with victory over north African powers Algeria.

A total of 156 “A” international matches – 80 continental qualifiers and 76 friendly matches – have been taken into account for the October edition of the world ranking, which brings the total number of matches evaluated in 2010 to 641.

Two members of the FIFA Executive Committee provisionally suspended

Two members of the FIFA Executive Committee provisionally suspended


The FIFA Ethics Committee, under the chairmanship of Claudio Sulser, decided today, 20 October 2010, to provisionally suspend, with immediate effect, the members of the FIFA Executive Committee Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from taking part in any football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) after examining their cases in relation to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™. After hearing Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, the Ethics Committee considered that a provisional suspension was required while the investigation continues, taking into account the gravity of the case and the likelihood that a breach of the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA Disciplinary Code has been committed.

Furthermore, the Ethics Committee examined the cases of four officials – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee – also in relation to an alleged breach of the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Code of Ethics and the FIFA Disciplinary Code linked to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™. The committee also decided to suspend these four officials provisionally from taking part in any football-related activity.

FIFA opened proceedings against the two Executive Committee members on 18 October 2010 and requested the Ethics Committee to conduct an independent, in-depth investigation into the matter. The Ethics Committee will meet again in mid-November 2010 in order to take a final decision on the matter after gathering more information and evidence on the six cases.

"The decision to provisionally suspend these officials is fully justified and should not be put in question. The evidence that has been presented to us today has led us to take this provisional measure, as we considered that the conditions were definitely met to take this decision and we deem that it is crucial to protect the integrity of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process. We are determined to have zero tolerance for any breach of the Code of Ethics," said the chairman of the Ethics Committee, Claudio Sulser.

Finally, and again at the request of FIFA, the Ethics Committee decided to open an investigation into alleged agreements between member associations and their Bid Committees in relation to the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup™ bidding process, something which would also be a violation of the Bid Registration document and the Code of Ethics. A decision on this case will also be taken by the Ethics Committee at its meeting in mid-November, following a thorough investigation.

Fergie vows to end Rooney saga

Fergie vows to end Rooney saga


Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he has a meeting with Manchester United chief executive David Gill at 10am (UK time) today to discuss Wayne Rooney's outspoken attack against the club.

Rooney confirmed his intention to quit Old Trafford in a statement on Wednesday evening, claiming a lack of investment in the first-team squad was the prime reason for his decision. Ferguson has dismissed a suggestion that he might suspend the 24-year-old, who missed Wednesday's 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over Bursaspor with an ankle injury.

But Rooney's comments have created a stir the United boss is anxious to sort out. "We don't want it to become a saga. We have the team to consider," he said. "We will put it to bed tomorrow (Thursday).

"I have not read all the statement but we will consider it tomorrow. David Gill and I have a meeting at 10am tomorrow morning. David has spoken to the owners tonight (Wednesday), which is important.

"It is really important for us to put it to bed. I am manager of a club that is trying to win a game on Sunday against Stoke City. That is the most important thing. The rest is a bagatelle."
It is really important for us to put it (Rooney's future) to bed.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Ferguson did show signs of being rattled by four days of intense debate around Rooney's career, which first erupted on Sunday morning. "I am not going on with this all night. Stop it now," he said. "It is a European game. You have had plenty yesterday. There has been plenty tonight. I am concentrating on the game. Failing that, forget it." Asked about the possibility of suspending Rooney, he replied: "What kind of imagination have you got?"

Ferguson is clearly not convinced Rooney is making the right decision. "Sometimes you look in a field and see a cow," he said. "You think it is a better cow than the one you see in your field. It never really works out that way. Some players like to think the world is better somewhere else. It never really works."

So many questions have been asked of United's fortunes that Ferguson himself could be forgiven for having doubts. After watching his side triumph thanks to Nani's sixth-minute effort, Ferguson insists he has none. "To maintain the success at any club is not a certainty," he said.

"I always believe a four-year cycle is the most you can achieve. Very few teams can go beyond that. Last season we almost did it. We were one point short of winning the league. But we realised some time ago that Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were not going to last forever. Therefore our policy is to develop footballers in the place."

Future planning
He then recounted a story from United's last period of relative decline after 2004, which involved Rooney himself, and included the departures of star names Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy. "A player said to me Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were not good enough and he wasn't prepared to wait," said Ferguson.

"That is the problem with potential. People don't identify potential. We are very good at it. I have identified it all my life. I know potential. I know where it can be developed and how to develop it. I have faith in it.

"That is what this club is about. When you see Manchester United at the moment, with 14 players under 22, you don't see the Manchester United for years ahead. We will invest in signature players when the time is ready. We were not ready this summer."

Apart from one exception, which is thought to be David Villa, who left Valencia for Barcelona. "There was one player we would have liked to get, but he chose another club," said Ferguson. "Some players don't want to leave their country. But Manchester United is a big attraction for any player.

"In terms of the future of Manchester United, there are a lot of things in my favour. If I told you how many agents phoned me in a week, saying a player would love to play for us - and I am not just talking about run-of-the-mill players - it would amaze you.

"We still have that fantastic romance, and respect from everyone. But we will be OK. I have every confidence. The structure of the club is good. We have the right staff, the right manager, a brilliant chief executive. There is not a thing wrong with Manchester United. We will carry on."

It all rather overshadowed Bursaspor coach Ertugrul Saglam. "We wanted to perform to the best of our ability but I don't think we played very well," he said. "I don't believe United played as well as they would have liked either, so it has not been a very eventful evening. Maybe not on the pitch. Off it is a quite different story."

Favourites to the fore

Favourites to the fore


Lyon matched the feats of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid on Wednesday by racking up their third win from three games in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The evening’s most spectacular entertainment came at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, where Inter Milan and visitors Tottenham Hotspur served up a feast of goals in a rollercoaster encounter before Inter finally ran out 4-3 winners.

As for Barcelona, they were made to work hard for a 2-0 victory against Copenhagen that took them top of their group, which is also where Manchester United sit in their section following a relatively comfortable 1-0 home defeat of Bursaspor.

The big game
Barcelona 2-0 Copenhagen
Goals: Lionel Messi 19 90+2

Up against the Group D leaders, Barcelona quickly settled into their trademark one-touch style, with some delightful combinations being engineered between Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi. Not for the first time, the diminutive Argentinian forward then made the difference for his side thanks to a blistering strike from 20 metres out that whistled into the top corner. That goal was all Barça had to show for their dominance at half-time though. Most guilty of failing to bury his chances was David Villa, who cracked one effort against the crossbar but is yet to fully find his feet with his new club, or rediscover his sparkling goalscoring form from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Seemingly in awe of their opponents before the break, Copenhagen nonetheless began crafting openings and connected with the woodwork themselves through Senegalese striker Dame N'Doye. He and his colleagues were ultimately left wondering what might have been as Messi sealed the result from point-blank range in added time, leaving the Catalan club looking more than ever reliant on his input.

The other games
Reigning European champions Inter flirted with disaster after having given themselves the perfect platform against Tottenham. The game could hardly have started better for Rafael Benitez’s men as they hit three goals inside the opening 14 minutes, a punishing spell for the English outfit in which they also lost goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to a red card. Samuel Eto’o was running the match in the opening 45 minutes and helped himself to a pair of assists in addition to his two strikes. Those goals took him to the top of the scoring charts on six, but as soon as Inter took their foot off the pedal their ten-man rivals surged back into contention. Exciting young Welsh talent Gareth Bale spearheaded the fightback, plundering a hat-trick that left Benitez longing for the final whistle. Despite the dramatic finish, the Nerazzurri held on to move three points clear in Group A. Elsewhere in the pool, Twente and Werder Bremen played out a 1-1 draw after former Twente man Marko Arnautovic levelled for the German club.

In Group B, Lyon continued their perfect start courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over a Benfica side that were down to ten players for the entire second half following Nicolas Gaitan’s dismissal. Jimmy Briand and Lisandro Lopez buried the goals for the French contenders to move them another big step closer to qualification. Over in Germany, meanwhile, 33-year-old Raul harked back to his glory days with a double for Schalke in their 3-1 defeat of Hapoel Tel-Aviv. The former Spanish international now boasts 69 goals from 135 outings at this level.

A cracking Nani shot from distance proved enough for Manchester United to see off Bursaspor on home soil as their visitors never once threatened to prevent them from taking pole position in Group C. In contrast, there was action at both ends in Glasgow, but most of it came from American midfielder Maurice Edu, who gave Rangers a first-half lead via a powerful header only to nod past his own goalkeeper during a spell of Valencia pressure after the restart. The 1-1 draw between the two sides leaves their return encounter in Spain looking crucial in the race to finish second in the section.

The second match in Group D proved largely uneventful as Panathinaikos and Rubin Kazan were made to settle for a goalless stalemate that suited neither party. Hosts Panathinaikos had to wait until added time to finally look threatening but were still unable to make the breakthrough.

The stat
2,000 – United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was toasting his 2,000th match as a manger on Wednesday. Having kicked off his career with a 17-game spell at modest Scottish outfit East Stirlingshire, Sir Alex went on to oversee 169 fixtures with St Mirren and 459 with Aberdeen, not to mention ten with the Scottish national team, before commencing his long and distinguished reign at Old Trafford. The Bursaspor win was his 1,345th encounter in charge of the Red Devils.

Goal of the night
Inter Milan 4-3 Tottenham (Javier Zanetti 2)

The game was less than two minutes old when holders Inter stunned their visitors with a flowing collective move kicked off by captain Javier Zanetti. The Argentinian veteran found Philippe Coutinho on the left and his team-mate then picked out Samuel Eto’o, who released a superbly weighted pass into the area for Zanetti to run on to. Meeting the ball perfectly, the veteran opened his body and lifted an unstoppable shot over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the far corner to become the oldest goalscorer in the history of the competition at 37 and 71 days. The previous benchmark was set by current France coach Laurent Blanc, who found the net in a 3-2 win for Manchester United against Olympiacos at the age of 36 and 338 days on 23 October 2002.

Next fixtures
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Group A: Tottenham-Inter Milan, Werder Bremen-Twente
Group B: Benfica-Lyon, Hapoel Tel-Aviv-Schalke
Group C: Bursaspor-Manchester United, Valencia-Rangers
Group D: Copenhagen-Barcelona, Rubin Kazan-Panathinaikos

Have your say
How many goals will Inter and Tottenham muster between them when they meet again in London?