sports football: Desember 2010

Kamis, 30 Desember 2010

A message from President Blatter

A message from President Blatter

Dear friends of football,

The outstanding events of the year just gone by highlighted once again the social and cultural dimension of football. The first FIFA World Cup™ on African soil, which saw Spain emerge as new world champions, and the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, at which an African team reached the final for the first time, are just two examples of the universal power of our sport. At FIFA, we will therefore continue to pursue our goal of constantly developing football all over the world. The awarding of the 2018 FIFA World Cup to Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar means that our flagship tournament is charting new territories and, as FIFA President, it gives me great joy to see the FIFA World Cup spread to new geographical regions and cultures such as Eastern Europe and the Arabic world, thus furthering football’s development all over the world.

After such an eventful and exciting year, it is now time to focus our attention and efforts on the future. Football will continue to be at the core of our activities in 2011. The first highlight of the year will be the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on 10 January 2011.
FIFA’s and my personal mission for 2011 and the years that follow is clear: to show that 'football is more than just a game'. Through its social and cultural dimension, football connects people.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter

There will also be plenty of action at confederation level, including the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar from 7 January, the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA and the Copa America in Argentina. I am also looking forward to the second edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Sudan starting on 4 February, exclusively featuring players who play club football in their domestic leagues. The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Germany will undoubtedly be a highlight in the 2011 football calendar, followed by the Preliminary Draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil in Rio de Janeiro at the end of July.

In addition to the competitions, another key focus of 2011 will be football leadership. Before the FIFA presidential election at the FIFA Congress on 1 June 2011, I will attend the congresses of all six confederations. I look forward to meeting the representatives of the member associations there in person, addressing their concerns and, together, setting a strategic course for the future so that FIFA can support its members in an even more targeted and needs-based manner.

FIFA’s and my personal mission for 2011 and the years that follow is clear: to show that 'football is more than just a game'. Through its social and cultural dimension, football connects people. Football is a school of life.

I wish you all health and happiness in this new footballing year and I hope that you will support me in my mission. I thank you for your trust and confidence.

FIFA launches 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust for South Africa

FIFA launches 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust for South Africa

Following a meeting with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter today (13 December 2010) presented the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust at Soccer City in Johannesburg. This trust will support a wide range of public benefit initiatives in the areas of football development, education, health and humanitarian activities in South Africa. The trust forms part of FIFA’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™-related legacy programmes and delivers on FIFA’s pledge to ensure that South Africans will continue to benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The trust amounts to USD 100 million, USD 80 million of which is being allocated directly to social community projects. The remaining USD 20 million was already provided to the South African Football Association (SAFA) in the build-up to the event for preparations and for the construction of SAFA House. As a first project financed by the trust, FIFA purchased 35 of the team buses and a fleet of 52 cars, which were handed over to SAFA today for transport of their regional teams.

The trust will be administered by international auditing company Ernst and Young while the trustees, consisting of a representative each from FIFA, SAFA, the government and the private sector, will evaluate into which public-benefit projects the money is invested. All projects must be submitted to the trustees for review with one of the decisive conditions being that they must be for public benefit only.

The beneficiaries will be selected for projects within the following four areas:
• Football: administration, development, coordination or promotion of non-professional football.
• Education and development: provision of education by a school as defined in the South African Schools Act.
• Health care: provision of health care services to disadvantaged communities, including prevention of HIV infection and other preventative and education programmes.
• Humanitarian activities: community development for disadvantaged persons and anti-poverty initiatives.

“The trust is the latest piece in our mosaic of 2010 FIFA World Cup-related legacy activities for South Africa and the African continent. This is also a reward for South Africans for having been such great hosts. We have always said that the first FIFA World Cup on African soil should leave a lasting sports and social legacy once the tournament is over. This trust is yet another concrete achievement in this area,” said the FIFA President.

“We achieved our goals with regard to the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup event. Now remains the difficult but most important task of ensuring a lasting legacy and to build world-class national teams both at youth and senior level. The FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust which is being launched today is an important contribution to the achievement of that goal,” said President Jacob Zuma.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust adds to a series of legacy initiatives launched and implemented by FIFA since 2005, consisting of the 20 Football for Hope Centres, the Win in Africa with Africa initiative, the 11 for Health campaign as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup Ticket Fund. FIFA also supports the 1 GOAL: Education for All initiative co-chaired by Queen Rania of Jordan and the FIFA President.

Memorable moments in Arab football

Memorable moments in Arab football

Football lovers in the Arab world have been treated to a 2010 packed with incident, as FIFA.com now recaps with a look back over 12 memorable months.

The region enjoyed the brightest possible start to the year as Egypt secured the African crown for the third time in succession and seventh overall in January. The Pharaohs defended their CAF African Cup of Nations title thanks to a 1-0 win over Ghana in the final, Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy hitting the decider to cement his reputation as one of the most prominent players in the competition. Nagy did not start a single match in Angola but his feats as a super-sub helped the defending champions win all six of their outings to restate their pedigree as the dominant side on the continent.

Egypt also monopolised the individual accolades, with Nagy leaving as top scorer and named discovery of the tournament, veteran No1 Essam El Hadary declared best goalkeeper, Wael Gomaa chosen as best defender and Ahmed Fathy scooping the fair play prize. In fact, Egypt completed a clean sweep as Ahmed Hassan was voted player of the tournament, having earlier passed Hossam Hassan’s record of 170 caps for the Pharaohs. The midfielder can likewise pride himself on having been proclaimed CAF Best Africa-based Player for 2010 last week.

Egypt’s performance was reflected in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking too, and the team which ended 2009 in 24th spot climbed as high as tenth in February. It was only the second time an Arab side had ever reached the top ten, Morocco having blazed that trail in 1998, but even greater heights awaited four months later as Egypt broke new ground for an Arab nation by rising to ninth.

Fellow African team Algeria were the other major headline grabbers in 2010 as they carried the torch for the Arab world at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Despite a disappointing campaign that ended with elimination at the first hurdle and just a single point on the board, Les Fennecs (Desert Foxes) nonetheless radiated both youth and promise, not least during their meeting with England. Despite countless forays forward from Wayne Rooney and Co, Rabah Saadane’s men held firm to seal a famous draw.

In Asia, meanwhile, the year undoubtedly belonged to Kuwait, who ended their maiden West Asian Football Federation Championship campaign with the title courtesy of a 2-1 victory against holders Iran in the showpiece game. They also triumphed in the Gulf Cup of Nations, where they defeated Saudi Arabia in the final to win the competition for the tenth time in its 20th edition.

In the club game, results generally failed to match expectations at the highest level in both Africa and Asia. Disappointment beckoned for Esperance in the CAF Champions League as they slumped to a 6-1 aggregate reverse against Congo DR side TP Mazembe in the final – a result that denied the Tunisian outfit a fourth major African trophy. As for the AFC equivalent, Arab hopes were riding on Saudi Arabian clubs Al Hilal and Al Shabab, but both succumbed to 1-0 defeats at the last-four stage, losing to Iranian team Zob Ahan and Korea Republic contenders Seongnam respectively.

It was not all doom and gloom, however, as Arab sides experienced significant success in the cup competitions, with FUS Rabat leading the way by lifting the CAF Confederations Cup for the first time after a 3-2 win over Tunisian rivals Sfaxien in the final. Further to the east, Syrian outfit Al Ittihad claimed the seventh edition of the AFC Cup by seeing off Kuwaiti side Al Qadisiya 4-2 on penalties at the end of a 1-1 stalemate.

Despite those achievements on the pitch, the stand-out event of the year for Arab football took place in a Zurich conference centre as FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter revealed that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The announcement sparked widespread joy throughout the Arab world, with the diminutive peninsula in the Persian Gulf now set to become the first Arab state to organise world football’s premier tournament. Celebrations went on until dawn as euphoria rippled through the streets, but it was pride that dominated above all as revellers reflected on the impressive bid put together by Qatar, a small country with immense potential.

Share your memories of all these episodes and any others that lit up the football landscape in the Arab world by clicking on ‘Add your comment’ below.

>A message from President Blatter

Malouda sinks Bolton to end Chelsea slide

Malouda sinks Bolton to end Chelsea slide

It was ugly, scrappy and lucky, but Chelsea will not care one jot as they ended their worst Premier League run for more than a decade by beating Bolton Wanderers tonight. Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four, and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point. Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Despite his side having thrown away a five-point lead in the last two months, Ancelotti retained the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich ahead of tonight's game. The Russian would not have liked what he saw from his Caribbean retreat as the Blues struggled to string two passes together in a miserable first half at a sodden Stamford Bridge. They did not manage a single shot on target and of the two they did muster, one of them was a Drogba free-kick that embarrassingly screwed out for a throw-in.

Bolton were typically combative and John Terry needed to produce a desperate challenge to prevent Kevin Davies stealing in, while Matthew Taylor drilled wide after latching on to the recalled Jose Bosingwa's attempted clearance. Branislav Ivanovic was booked for felling Johan Elmander and Chelsea's frustration increased.

Taylor sent a sweet left-foot curler narrowly over as Bolton continued to look the more threatening, and there was more bad news for the home side when Drogba began limping. The striker played on as Chelsea began to wrest a semblance of control and Taylor was booked after clattering into Ramires.

But the home side were not even close to a goal before being booed off by some of their fans at half-time. They looked no better in the opening four minutes of the second half until, out of nowhere, Frank Lampard produced a wonderful defence-splitting pass for Drogba, whose finish hit the inside of the far post and was cleared to safety.

Chelsea suddenly looked a different side and Nicolas Anelka was flagged narrowly offside racing on to Ramires's through-ball, before they finally put together a sweeping passing move that ended with a tame Essien finish.

The pressure finally told in the 61st minute when Essien released Drogba down the right, and the striker squared for Malouda to tap home his first league goal since October.

The jubilant celebrations from both fans and players told their own story, but Chelsea's confidence remained fragile and Sam Ricketts blazed over from 12 yards as Bolton hit back. Sensing blood, visiting boss Owen Coyle withdrew Rodrigo Moreno - impressive on his full Premier League debut - for Ivan Klasnic after his side were awarded a free-kick. Gary Cahill - a reported January target for Chelsea - immediately headed Taylor's centre wide.

Bolton went even closer when Elmander's cross was met by a bullet header from Holden, forcing a wonderful tip over from Petr Cech. The goalkeeper made a hash of the resulting corner and was grateful to Drogba on the line for clearing the danger.

At the other end, Essien thought he had bundled the ball over the line in between Bolton's final two substitutions, but the flag had already gone up. Malouda was denied twice by Jussi Jaaskelainen late on, before Ancelotti ran down the clock by introducing Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira in the closing seconds.

>Euro duo rule the Ranking roos

Euro duo rule the Ranking roost

Newly crowned world champions Spain have ended 2010 proudly atop the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the third time in a row they have taken the Team of the Year title. Meanwhile, the Netherlands took the honours as the Best Mover of the Year, climbing to within just one place of the men in red.

FIFA.com assesses the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking form of the two South Africa 2010 finalists and reports on the year’s other movers and shakers.

Spain eye Brazil mark
Starting the year in top spot, Spain were replaced at the summit by Brazil between April and May. In claiming their maiden world title at South Africa 2010, La Roja returned to the top in style in July, remaining there for the rest of the year despite heavy defeats in subsequent friendly meetings with Argentina and Portugal. Top dogs for the third time in succession, Spain remain on course to match the six straight Team of the Year distinctions A Seleção earned between 1994 and 1999.

The Brazilians were also Team of the Year from 2002 to 2006. The other national sides to have received the accolade since the Ranking’s creation are Germany (in 1993), the Netherlands (2000), Honduras (2001) and Argentina (2007). In 2000 and 2001 the distinction was awarded to the side earning the highest number of points from their best seven matches of the year.

Two up, two down
There are two notable absentees from the teams that formed the top ten 12 months ago: Italy have dropped from fourth to 14th, while France have slipped from seventh to 18th. This is the sixth time that the Italians have failed to finish the year among the leading ten sides and the first since 2005. In contrast Les Bleus have only suffered this fate twice before, the previous occasion coming in 2008. This is also France’s second-lowest December ranking after the modest 19th place in which they saw out 1994.

Their places in the elite have now been taken by Uruguay and Egypt, who in the course of 2010 have risen from 20th and 24th respectively to seventh and ninth. Neither La Celeste nor the Pharaohs have previously found themselves in such a lofty position at a year’s end.

Riding high
The title of Best Mover of the Year is granted to the team earning the most points in a calendar year. The 2,376 points the Netherlands picked up in beating Brazil in the quarter-finals at South Africa was the main reason why they saw their overall Ranking haul for 2010 shoot up by 465 points. The only team to receive more points for a single win were Switzerland in beating Spain in the group phase.

The Dutch are the seventh European outfit to earn the accolade, the previous six being Croatia (in 1994 and 1998), Yugoslavia (1997), Slovenia (1999), Italy (2006) and Spain (2008). In 2009 Algeria and Brazil shared the title.

Joining the Oranje in the list of the top ten movers of the year are Montenegro (up 368 points to 25th place), Botswana (+316, 53rd), Germany (+312, 3rd), Cuba (+294, 62nd), Spain (+260, 1st), Central African Republic (+259, 111th), Niger (+257, 94th), Belarus (+254, 38th), and Argentina (+253, 5th).

Leonardo: There's no greater challenge

Leonardo: There's no greater challenge

Newly appointed Inter Milan coach Leonardo is looking forward to the challenge of reviving the European champions. The Brazilian, who guided arch-rivals AC Milan last season and spent much of his playing career with I Rossoneri, was unveiled by I Nerazzurri today, following the departure of Rafa Benitez.

"Inter is a powerful, fascinating and unexpected challenge," Leonardo told a press conference. "I arrive here at one of the biggest clubs in the world, in the most important year of its history, the year in which the team won everything (Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the FIFA Club World Cup, in addition to the UEFA Champions League).

"Inter is now a reality, the most important reality. I was looking for a dream, a big motivation, a great challenge. At the moment there is no challenge greater than Inter."

President Massimo Moratti is pleased with his choice. He said: "Leonardo forced me to be here today - to be honest it is the first time someone has asked me to be here. You can see that I'm very pleased with the choice.

"It is a choice that developed from the sense of respect I have always had for him, and the sense of respect everyone who has ever known him has for his ability to learn quickly, and to transmit affection and efficiency. I think he will be able to employ those abilities at our club, which, with the Club World Cup, has shown itself to still be ambitious.

"That doesn't mean we will rush the new coach or put pressure on him; it means we will follow our instincts and the affection we have towards our fans, and that should be useful in working towards some important targets."
I was looking for a dream, a big motivation, a great challenge. At the moment there is no challenge greater than Inter.
Leonardo

Inter are currently seventh in Serie A, 13 points behind pacesetters Milan, and Moratti has promised new faces in a bid to revive their quest for trophies. He continued: "Now Benitez has gone we will buy five players.

"I am convinced ours is a very strong group, and they have showed that recently. Even if some think they failed to show it some days ago in Abu Dhabi, they comfortably showed it just a few months ago, not thousands of years ago.

"Whether a signing will be actioned or not remains to be seen, but we will certainly be careful, and with the help of [director] Marco Branca we will make sure that those transfers happen, be it players joining or leaving.

"Undoubtedly Leonardo has had valuable experience, of managing a coach and understanding the club system, the team system, and therefore he has had a idea of the economics at a club, and what is best, objectively, for the club.

"We will do very well from a footballing perspective, but we must try to do very well from the economic perspective as well. I do not want to take away any enthusiasm with this, because enthusiasm is what a club thrives on and what I thrive on too."

Reina: Spain triumph made me proud

Reina: Spain triumph made me proud

Despite his seemingly eternal status as understudy to Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina is one of the inspirations of the Spain dressing room. The Liverpool goalkeeper embodies perhaps better than anyone the spirit of a national team that made the group ethic the cornerstone of its successes at UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

FIFA.com chatted to the extrovert custodian about his memories of South Africa 2010 – the subject of a book he has just written – Liverpool’s recent inconsistent form, the Spanish league and the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010.

FIFA.com: Aside from the friendly defeats to Argentina and Portugal it’s been an unforgettable 2010 for the national team.
Pepe Reina: Well, the World Cup was what counted for me. People should know that we’re going to do our very best to wear that world champions’ badge with pride over the next four years. We know we have even more responsibility on our shoulders now and even greater demands on us.

We also know we’ll be coming up against teams who’ll be much more motivated to beat Spain now. We haven’t exactly taken on easy sides in our friendlies. Argentina and Portugal at home are no pushovers, and there’s no denying they were heavy defeats and that we didn’t give a good account of ourselves. All the same, you also have to learn from these games.

What’s your biggest memory of beating the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup Final?
There are a lot of images and feelings that come to mind, but there is one funny thing that stands out. I really lived every moment of every game on the bench, especially when El Guaje (David Villa, the tournament top scorer) found the net. I was quicker on my feet than anyone and I always got there first for the goal celebrations. But that day my legs felt heavy for some reason and my team-mates were just flying by me when we ran off to the corner to celebrate Iniesta’s goal. Whenever I watch the pictures now I can’t help laughing. Those are the kinds of things you remember and cherish, and you feel proud at having taken part in something like that.

Another memorable moment was your embracing Iker Casillas just seconds after the final whistle. Can you explain why you did that?
Of course I can. You always have a special feeling for your fellow keepers, a fondness for them. It’s like a union thing I suppose, a mutual appreciation society. Casillas, Victor Valdes and I got on fantastically well during the World Cup in South Africa. It was brilliant. I think that helped Iker hit top form too.
Whenever I watch the pictures now I can’t help laughing. Those are the kinds of things you remember and cherish, and you feel proud at having taken part in something like that.
Pepe Reina on winning the FIFA World Cup

Turning to club football now, Liverpool seem to be improving after a bad start in the league. What are the team’s ambitions for the remainder of the season?
We’ve been going through a bad spell and I think our real goal now is to win every Sunday and to take it from there and keep on improving. I hope we can finish as high up the league as possible, but right now even we don’t know how high up that is. We don’t want to set targets or put extra pressure on ourselves either.

The team’s still coming together. We’ve got a new coach with new ideas and new players, and it’s not easy. You can’t make a team competitive overnight and we need to keep on growing. The club’s new owners are going to bring a lot of stability too, which is going to allow everyone to calm down. As for us, we’re just going to focus on the football, which is a step forward in itself.

Would the team be happy with a top-six finish?
I don’t think so, but it would be an improvement on last year, which would be something. Even so, my objective’s not for us to finish in the top six, but to be the champions, at least some time in the future. That’s what we have to aim for.

Though you still have a contract with Liverpool, there’s been talk of the club selling you because of its financial problems. Have you given any thought about going back to Spain?
Liverpool’s where I belong right now and I’m not thinking of going anywhere. England’s the most evenly balanced league there is these days and life is good here, despite the weather. We’re happy. My family is really settled, and that also tilts the scales a little.

When I renewed my contract last year I knew full well that the club was going through a tough patch, and I think my signing the extension was a gesture for the fans and the club itself. I’m very happy at Liverpool, but I also like to be competitive and achieve big things. So what I’m really looking for is for the club to start pushing for trophies again.

What’s your view of the Spanish league these days? Unlike the English Premier League, Real Madrid and Barcelona seem to be the only candidates for the title.
But that’s not because the other sides aren’t very good. I think the mid-table teams in La Liga would do fine in the Premiership. One thing that is true in England is that anyone can beat anyone, and that makes the championship a bit more open. It’s not just a two-horse race.

There are two Spanish nominees for the forthcoming FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010. Who would you give it to?
My favourite is Xavi Hernandez, and I think it’s between him and Iniesta. I’ve got a good feeling about it, and I think it’s going to be a Spanish player this year.

The year in numbers

The year in numbers

A memorable and historic FIFA World Cup™ provided the focal point for an eventful year in the beautiful game. Now, as 2010 draws to a close, FIFA.com reflects on some of its most eye-catching statistics and remarkable achievements.
8810

days as Manchester United manager was the Sir Matt Busby record broken by Sir Alex Ferguson on 19 December. In becoming the Red Devils’ longest-serving boss, the 68-year-old Scot added another distinction to a career in which he has overseen more than 2,000 matches and won 36 major trophies.
1283

appearances, 400 goals and 31 major trophies was the collective haul with which Raul and Guti departed Real Madrid in May after a combined total of 43 years with the club. Guti had spent a quarter of a century with Los Merengues, having joined the club’s youth team in 1985, while Raul had racked up more goals (323) and games (741) than anyone in the Spanish giants’ glittering history.
300

career goals was the landmark reached by Martin Palermo earlier this month. This milestone strike capped a memorable year for the 37-year-old in which he became the oldest Argentinian to score in a FIFA World Cup and established himself as Boca Juniors’ all-time leading scorer, breaking Roberto Cheero’s 72-year-old record.
99

points from a possible 114 was the record tally with which Barcelona finished their 20th championship-winning campaign in May. Pep Guardiola’s team ended the season without ever having conceded the lead at Camp Nou, having scored three or more in 50 per cent of their league matches and conceded just 24 goals for the club’s best defensive record since 1973/74. Incredibly, however, Barça have succeeded in improving on those standards this season, becoming the first side in La Liga history to accrue 43 points before Christmas.
58

goals in 54 Barcelona appearances is Lionel Messi’s amazing tally for 2010. The little Argentinian, whose prolific exploits over last season earned him the European Golden Shoe, ends this calendar year having provided more goals (42), assists (15) and dribbles (166) than anyone else in La Liga.
26

years of Istanbul domination came to an end in Turkey this year, with Bursaspor snatching the Super Lig title on a dramatic final day to become the first champions from outside the Bosphorus since Trabzonspor in 1984.
19

CAF Africa Cup of Nations matches without defeat was the record sequence established by Egypt en route to an unprecedented third successive continental title in January. The hero of the Pharaohs’ landmark triumph was Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagy, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer despite not starting a single match.
14

FIFA World Cup goals was the landmark reached by Miroslav Klose during South Africa 2010, leaving the Germany striker in joint-second place with Gerd Muller in the all-time standings and just one behind record-holder Ronaldo.
10

unanswered PSV goals handed Feyenoord the heaviest defeat of their 102-year history in October. The Rotterdam outfit, former European champions and traditionally one of the ‘big three’ in the Netherlands, conceded eight times in the second half to comfortably eclipse their previous worst reverse: an 8-2 loss to Ajax in September 1983.
8

nations have now won the FIFA World Cup after Spain joined this elite club in July. La Roja became the first team to win the global showpiece having lost their opening game, and the first from Europe to lift the Trophy outside their own continent.
7

years and 10 months have now passed since Jose Mourinho last lost a home league match. This incredible run was extended by another year after the Portuguese coach survived 2010 without his Inter Milan and Real Madrid teams being beaten on their own patch on league business. Inter’s 32-month unbeaten run in home Serie A matches came to an end in November, but you need to look back to February 2002 - and a 3-2 defeat for Porto by Beira Mar – for Mourinho’s last league loss.
6

clubs can now boast a European and domestic treble after Inter Milan became the latest to achieve this feat earlier this year. Previously, only Celtic (1967), Ajax (1972), PSV (1988), Manchester United (1999) and Barcelona (2009) had added Europe’s premier club trophy to a national league and cup double.
4

African Footballer of the Year awards, the latest of which he claimed earlier this month, have established Samuel Eto’o as his continent’s most decorated player. In surpassing Abedi Pele and George Weah, both of whom won Africa’s top award on three occasions, the Cameroonian capped a tremendous year in which he became the first player to win a European and domestic treble in successive seasons.
3

players – David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol – accounted for Spain’s entire haul of goals at South Africa 2010. Previously, no team had ever won the FIFA World Cup with fewer than four different goalscorers. La Roja’s overall tally of eight was also the lowest of any world champions in history.
1

team ended South Africa 2010 unbeaten: New Zealand. That unlikely statistic was sealed when the Netherlands’ 14-match winning streak in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and tournament proper came to an end in the Final.
0

defeats in over 30 matches in 2010 enabled Rosenborg to become the first team in Tippeligaen history to survive an entire campaign without losing. Over the past two years, the Trondheim outfit have lost just once in 60 league games.

12 milestones for 2010

12 milestones for 2010

With the new year approaching fast, the time has come to cast a reflective eye on 2010 and take stock of a momentous 12 months.

The historic 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ was surely the highlight of the year, with football's most celebrated tournament taking place in Africa for the first time. Yet, as FIFA.com reveals in picking out its 12 highlights of the year, 2010 served up many other magical moments and notable landmarks.

1. Egypt conquer Africa again, 31 January. A 1-0 victory over Ghana in the final gave the Pharoahs their third consecutive CAF African Cup of Nations title. In doing so they joined Iran, Mexico and Argentina as the only other national teams to have been crowned continental champions three times in a row. Only Argentina and Uruguay with 14 and Brazil with eight have won more regional titles than the Egyptians, who have seven to their name, more than any other side in Africa.

2. Comoros open their new HQ, 4 March. The opening of the new headquarters of the Comoros Football Association is a fine example of the support the Goal Programme can give in helping member associations around the world to develop the game. Comoros, which joined FIFA in 2005 and has a population of 650,000 spread across its islands, were just one of the recipients of the 84 Goal projects implemented in 2010, with a total of $33,600,000 having been invested in them. Since the programme’s launch in 1999, no fewer than 504 Goal projects have been rolled out, with the overall budget totalling $210,600,000.

3. Inter Milan end Barcelona’s reign, 28 April. Coach Jose Mourinho pulled the strings as I Nerazzurri halted Barça’s regal progress in the UEFA Champions League, knocking out the holders in an unforgettable semi-final tie. The Portuguese strategist earned effusive praise for his side’s defensive masterclass before orchestrating Inter’s defeat of Bayern Munich in the final in Madrid. In collecting their third European title and their first since 1965, the Italians also earned a place at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010, which they would win in style.

4. The 2006 finalists go home early, 24 June. A 3-2 defeat at the hands of Slovakia consigned defending champions Italy to an ignominious first-round exit at South Africa 2010. Suffering the same fate two days earlier were France, the side the Italians beat to become world champions at Germany 2006. Having collected nine wins between them four years earlier, the two European giants failed to muster a single victory in South Africa.

5. Spain win their first FIFA World Cup, 11 July. After arriving at South Africa 2010 as firm favourites, Spain proceeded to lose their opening group game to unfancied Switzerland, raising old fears as to their ability to compete on the biggest stage of all. “The important thing after losing that game was to stay cool and stick to our beliefs,” Andres Iniesta, the hero of the Final against the Netherlands, later commented. In winning their next six games en route to their maiden world title, the richly gifted Spanish set footballing standards for other teams to follow.

6. Mandela attends the Closing Ceremony, 11 July. The presence of Nelson Mandela at the Closing Ceremony of South Africa 2010 set the seal on what was an emotional and unforgettable FIFA World Cup, the first to be held in Africa. Mandela’s cart ride across the pitch in the company of his wife triggered tears around the world, as a heartfelt tribute was paid to one of the most important figures of recent world history.

7. The semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, 29 July. Germany, Colombia, Nigeria and Korea Republic created history when they lined up in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, the first time teams from four different confederations had reached this stage. The Nigerians created another landmark when they became the first African side to reach the final of a FIFA women’s tournament.

8. Kenya opens its Football for Hope Centre, 4 September. With the exception of its predecessors in South Africa, the Football for Hope Centre in Mathare, Kenya, is the first such complex to be opened in Africa. Further centres were later unveiled in Namibia and Mali as part of 20 Centres for 2010, the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup South Africa. The chief objective of the initiative is to promote public health, education and social development through football.

9. Transfer Matching System comes into effect, 1 October. Following two years of trials, the Transfer Matching System became mandatory. The system is designed to centralise international transfers and make them quicker, smoother and more transparent. “The most important thing is that it increases the transparency of individual transactions and helps us to tackle issues such as the fight against money laundering and the protection of minors in transfers,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter on its introduction.

10. Birthdays for two legends, 23 and 30 October. Regarded by many as the two greatest players in the history of the game, Pele and Diego Maradona both celebrated landmark birthdays in October, O Rei turning 70 and El Diez 50. Earlier in the year the Argentinian legend took part in his fifth FIFA World Cup, his first as a coach. As fate would have it, Argentina’s opening game at South Africa 2010 came against Nigeria, the team that provided the opposition in Maradona’s last appearance as a player 16 years earlier.

11. 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts named, 2 December. The eyes of the world were fixed on Zurich earlier this month, when the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup finals were announced. In opening the two envelopes to reveal the names of the respective winners, Russia and Qatar, the FIFA President triggered scenes of jubilation and joy as the victorious bid teams celebrated their success.

12. TP Mazembe stun the world, 14 December. Despite their surprise win over Mexico’s Pachuca in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010, few people gave TP Mazembe of Congo DR much hope of repeating the trick against Copa Libertadores champions SC Internacional. Defying all expectations, however, The Crows downed the Brazilians 2-0 to become the first African team to reach the final of the competition. Not even defeat to Inter Milan in the final could take the gloss off their ground-breaking performance.

Selasa, 21 Desember 2010

FIFA launches 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust for South Africa

Spain skipper Iker Casillas

Casillas: I want to keep on winning
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Two years on from holding the European Championship trophy aloft, Spain skipper Iker Casillas was at it again in July, hoisting the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy skywards as La Roja became world champions for the first time.

FIFA.com had the privilege of chatting to Spain’s undisputed No1 about that historic achievement in South Africa, the future objectives of the national team and his ambitions with Real Madrid.

FIFA.com: Iker, the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 will be awarded shortly. Who’s your favourite to win it?
Iker Casillas: I think it’s only fair that it should go to a Spanish player. They’ve been in vogue for the last two years now. World Cup performances always go a long way to deciding it and if a Spanish player doesn’t get it this year, then I just don’t know.

Your name was on the short list but no goalkeeper has ever won the award. Why do you think that is?
An outfield player is always more likely to win awards than a goalkeeper, and I understand that in football it’s moves, passes, goals and interplay that counts. I don’t know, maybe we’re the black sheep of football (laughs). We’re the odd ones out.

In winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, Spain conceded fewer goals than anyone. You’d be a deserving winner.
Well, we all played our part, the men at the back too. It’s very important you stay solid and stop the opposition creating chances.
I’m so pleased to have made millions of people happy with these historic achievements.
Spain captain Iker Casillas

Spain’s midfielders and forwards have received a lot of praise but the defenders have just as much quality.
They’ve got a lot of talent and they’re also a mix of younger and older players who combine really well. I think the important thing is that they all help each other.

In attack, David Villa came up just short in his bid to win the adidas Golden Shoe in South Africa...
Yes, and mainly because he missed that penalty in the match against Honduras. He’s a great player, though. He scored five goals in all, some very important goals too, and made a big contribution for Spain. El Guaje (The Kid) did a great job for La Roja and we have a lot to thank him for.

You’ve hardly stopped since the 2007/08 season. As well as playing for Real Madrid in every competition, you’ve also had UEFA EURO 2008, the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup. Don’t you feel tired?
It’s definitely tough to keep going because I’ve only had very short holidays in the last three years. But as long as you get 15 to 20 days off, you can give your mind a break and then you’re ready to get back out there. This is a great job to do and sometimes you get privileges and sometimes you have to make sacrifices, for want of a better word. Next year should be a bit calmer hopefully.

In what way has being a European and world champion made your life different?
It changes you because people know you wherever you go and come up and say nice things to you in the street. I’m so pleased to have made millions of people happy with these historic achievements.

It must be an amazing feeling to be captain of the Spain team.
Yes, it is. It’s a pleasure to skipper this side because we’ve got some great players and because I’ve been lucky enough to play a part in this glorious chapter. It wasn’t so great before (laughs). We had one disappointment after another and really suffered. Sometimes things change – and they’ve changed for us now.

What are your most vivid memories of South Africa 2010?
Being together as a team, the atmosphere and the bad times we went through after losing to Switzerland. Everyone said we were favourites to win and we took a lot of criticism. But we kept quiet, stayed focused and slowly started making our way. There are a lot of trophies to win in the world of football but none of them like this one.

Were you disappointed by the way the Netherlands played in the Final?
No, not at all. The Netherlands had a fantastic tournament and they played great football. The thing is, they came up against a Spain team that really knew how to control possession and they had to try to stop that some way. That was their way of going about it, but it didn’t work out for them.

Aside from Spain’s success, what else stands out for you from the World Cup?
Germany. I think they’re a very strong side and they’ve got some good young players. They came into the tournament strong and played so well against tough teams like England and Argentina. They’re going to have a lot of success in a couple of years.

And who disappointed you in South Africa?
France, because of the way they went out, and Italy for getting knocked out in the group phase. The fact that the two finalists from 2006 went home so early just goes to show how quickly things can change in football. And it can happen to anyone too.
I want to keep on winning everything. Our first objective now is to go and retain our European title.
Iker Casillas

You’ve won everything now with the national team and your club. What challenges do you still have to meet?
I want to keep on winning everything. Our first objective now is to go and retain our European title.

Let’s talk about Real Madrid now. Eighteen months ago, after you’d been knocked out in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League again, you said that Madrid needed to bring in some competitive players to succeed in Europe. Do you have them now?
Well, we’ve got competitive players and they’re young ones too with a lot of ambition and a desire to get things right. They’re brash and they want to have fun. We’re in a great situation right now and let’s see how we can do in the competition this time. The desire’s certainly there.

You’re a home-grown player and it’s obviously affected you more directly, but how has the team reacted to the departures of Raul and Guti?
It was sad on a personal level because they’ve given a lot to Madrid, and I’d been with them for over ten years. They’ve decided to take another path, though, and you have to respect that and wish them the very best. They know Real Madrid will always be their home and that the doors will always be open for them.

Do you see yourself as the club icon now?
Well, only because I’ve spent more time here than any other member of the squad. I’ve been at Madrid for nearly 20 years now, and if anyone wants to see me as some kind of symbol who represents the values of the club, then that’s fine. There are a lot of influential players here who can play that role, though.

Finally, what’s the worst thing about being a professional footballer?
I don’t think there’s anything unpleasant about it; maybe the fact that the people close to you suffer whenever you come in for criticism. It might not affect you, but it can be hurtful for the people you love.

Finland stun San Marino

Finland stun San Marino

It was one-way traffic in Helsinki tonight as Finland defeated San Marino 8-0 to pick up their first points of their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign. Mikael Forssell helped himself to a hat-trick as the hosts ran over fellow Group E strugglers San Marino.

Kasper Hamalainen, Mika Vayrynen, Jari Litmanen and substitute Roni Porokara also netted in a one-sided Group E clash - with seven of the goals coming in the space of 30 second-half minutes.

Roman Eremenko, Alexei Eremenko and Vayrynen all threatened in the first half - but 38 minutes had passed when Vayrynen made the first breakthrough, converting Hamalainen's cross from close range. It was 2-0 in the 48th minute, with Hamalainen heading in a Roman Eremenko cross. The second goal signalled the opening of the floodgates as hosts Finland went on to score six goals in less than 30 minutes. Forssell got his first in the 51st minute with a left-footed effort from 18 yards and the Hannover striker made it 4-0 from close range when he found space to round off Niklas Moisander's cross.

Hamalainen got his second and his country's fifth goal in the 67th minute, finishing emphatically after good work by Veli Lampi. Veteran Litmanen blasted in the sixth from the penalty spot in the 71st minute after defender Nicola Albani had brought down Forssell. It was seven a little more than two minutes later when Porokara, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, finished convincingly after Roman Eremenko had created the chance. And Forssell fittingly rounded off the scoring in the 78th minute, his hat-trick goal proving too hot for exposed San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini.

Despite tonights impressive performance, Olli Huttunen's team still face an uphill task to qualify for the UEFA EURO 2012 - they are still six points behind second-placed Hungary.

Messi sinks Brazil, Spain slump in Lisbon

Messi sinks Brazil, Spain slump in Lisbon

Argentina set the record straight against Brazil on Wednesday evening, beating their arch rivals for the first time in five years. Elsewhere Spain slumped to a shock 4-0 defeat in Portugal and France outclassed England to earn a notable 2-1 win at Wembley.

Meanwhile Italy and Germany were held to respective draws against Romania and Sweden after fielding much-changed line-ups. FIFA.com reports on those matches and more on a busy day of international action.

Match of the day
Argentina 1-0 Brazil
Goal: Lionel Messi 90
Sergio Batista celebrated his recent confirmation as Argentina boss by overseeing the country’s first victory over Brazil in six attempts, a barren run stretching back over five years. Argentina’s matchwinner in Qatar was Lionel Messi, who did his standing with Albiceleste fans a power of good by scoring the only goal of the game in stoppage time. Linking up to great effect with Javier Pastore throughout the match, the Barcelona man had already gone close on a couple of occasions when a cute one-two with Ezequiel Lavezzi near the halfway line had him bearing down on the Auriverde rearguard once more. Evading the attentions of two back-tracking defenders, the fleet-footed Messi fashioned some space for himself on the left side of the box before placing a precise cross-shot into the back of the net. Messi’s star turn overshadowed a fine first-half display by Brazilian prodigy Neymar, while playmaker Ronaldinho, who acquitted himself well on his return to A Seleção, went close with a well-aimed free-kick.

The other matches
Laurent Blanc’s France continued their renaissance by strolling to a 2-1 win over a depleted and strangely lethargic England side at Wembley. With Yoann Gourcuff and Samir Nasri directing operations in midfield, Les Bleus looked well-balanced in all departments, with Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena firing the goals that gave Blanc’s increasingly impressive side a deserved win. And although substitute Peter Crouch pulled a goal back for the hosts only a minute after coming on, the French rarely looked troubled.

Joachim Low’s experimental Germany side played out a goalless draw in Sweden in a low-key encounter that will have offered him few conclusions, while a makeshift Italy team drew 1-1 with a visibly motivated Romania in Klagenfurt, Austria. Fielding four uncapped and three recalled players, the Italians turned in a disjointed first-half performance but recovered after the break, with Fabio Quagliarella hitting their equaliser.

Helder Postiga struck a brace as Portugal crushed Spain 4-0 in Lisbon, giving them a measure of revenge for their South Africa 2010 elimination at the hands of the world champions.

Falling some way short of their best form, the Netherlands had to apply themselves to overcome Guus Hiddink’s stubborn Turkey side in Amsterdam, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scoring the only goal of the night. Meanwhile, Alexander Frei proved his worth to Switzerland’s once again by firing both their goals in a 2-2 draw with Ukraine.

Belgium’s teenage sensation Romelu Lukaku hit a double of his own in a powerhouse display as Belgium brushed aside Russia 2-0, and China continued their recent progress by scoring late on to see off Latvia 1-0.

Another side putting some good results together are Bosnia-Herzegovina, who nosed past Slovakia 3-2. Egypt cruised to a 3-0 win over Australia, while fellow north Africans Morocco came within an ace of beating Northern Ireland in Belfast, with Marouane Chamakh giving the visitors the lead before the men in green hit back with a late Rory Patterson penalty. And there was no joy for Côte d'Ivoire in Poland as Robert Lewandoski scored twice to help consign the Elephants to a 3-1 reverse.

Hong Kong could be excused for seeing double against Paraguay as Roque Santa Cruz, Nestor Ortigoza and Cristian Riveros all scored twice to see the South Americans ease to a 7-0 victory. USA enjoyed a profitable trip to South Africa, returning home with a 1-0 win under their belts, and Greece and Georgia also won on the road, collecting respective 2-1 wins in Austria and Slovenia.

Also on the day’s card were two UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying matches. A Niko Kranjcar double helped Croatia dispose of Malta 3-0 and move to the top of Group F, while Finland collected their first points in Group E by racking up eight goals without reply against San Marino, with Mikael Forssell scoring a hat-trick.

Goal of the day
England 0-1 France (Karim Benzema 16)
Picking up possession on the left edge of the penalty box, Karim Benzema shook off the attentions of his marker by playing a neat one-two with Florent Malouda before rifling the Chelsea man’s return pass just inside Ben Foster’s right-hand post.

Player of the day
Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored for the fifth consecutive match for his country, matching Johan Neeskens’ achievement in 1974. The Schalke 04 front man still has some way to go to catch up with Noud van Melis, who made eight straight goalscoring appearances for the Dutch between 1950 and 1952.

The stat
6 - The number of defeats England have suffered since Fabio Capello took over as coach. In 33 games the Italian has also presided over 22 wins and five draws.

What they said
“Thank God we’ve got a player like Leo. He can win games single-handed,” Argentina captain Javier Mascherano.

Have your say
Can France climb their way back into the top ten of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking?

Women's football journalists benefit in Dakar

Women's football journalists benefit in Dakar
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Under the African sky and with temperatures around 30 degrees, AFP and FIFA welcomed women’s football journalists from all over the continent to Dakar for the first half of a two-part training programme. The objective of the initiative, which unfolded between 24 and 28 November, was to improve the participants’ reporting skills and enhance their standing within the media ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™, which will begin next June.

Five groups with a total of around 100 people received a largely theoretical training session, which will be followed by a hands-on practical one early in 2011, in either Dakar or Nairobi, all of it being held in three languages. The participants were all women and members of the African Women Sports Reporters Union (AWSRU), representing a total of 23 countries.

In the conference room in Dakar, the instructors - sports journalists working for the international news agency AFP, and seconded to the non-profit-making AFP Foundation – presented the programme’s schedule in co-operation with FIFA, aiming to build on the ‘Win in Africa with Africa’ initiative, which was launched before the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. At that time already almost 250 African reporters and photographers were trained by the AFP Foundation in conjunction with FIFA.

““FIFA is very happy to continue the co-operation with the AFP Foundation to train African sports journalists,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. “With projects like this, the ‘Win in Africa with Africa’ programme is made even more sustainable. With a view towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany in 2011 – the flagship competition in the women’s game – the actual seminars are dedicated to women’s football, which is why exclusively female sports journalists have been invited.”
FIFA is very happy to continue the co-operation with the AFP Foundation to train African sports journalists. With projects like this, the ‘Win in Africa with Africa’ programme is made even more sustainable.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter

The participants in the Senegalese capital were asked to introduce themselves and talk about their experiences, expectations and wishes. Some girls just wanted to “hear a little bit about football”, while others had clearer ambitions: “To become the first female reporter in my media, then a sports analyst, and eventually the best female sports journalist in the world.”

A Togolese girl outlined her struggle to popularise women’s football: “I am the only woman in my editorial office, and neither I nor women’s football are taken seriously enough. With this course I hope to get more experience and more knowledge to show what a great thing women’s football is. It’s my responsibility as a journalist to make it more popular. It starts with us.”

The second day of the course was dedicated to the history and organisation of football, as well as to its rules and tactics. When the instructors talked about the sport’s history, the participants listened intently, from time to time nodding confirmatively when a famous player was mentioned. Afterwards, when tactics were discussed, it became clear that there were some real experts among the participants, while in the afternoon there was engaging debate about the current and the future situation of women’s football. The following day the journalists watched a football game on video and wrote a report on it, receiving feedback from the instructors.

Ultimately, the programme proved extremely beneficial to the participants, who will now look forward to its second instalment.

Eto'o crowned African king

Eto'o crowned African king

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o was named African Footballer of the Year for a record fourth time at the annual CAF awards ceremony in Cairo on Monday. The 29-year-old native of central town Nkon finished ahead of first-time finalist Asamoah Gyan of Ghana and former winner Didier Drogba of Côte d'Ivoire in a poll among national coaches on the continent.

Eto'o, who won the most prestigious African football individual honour three years in a row from 2003, was voted the best player at the FIFA Club World Cup won by his Italian team Inter Milan last Saturday. The Cameroonian scored a clinical, close-range second goal in a 3-0 triumph over TP Mazembe from Democratic Republic of Congo, the first African club to reach the final of the competition.

Inter are now champions of the world, Europe and Italy and the goals of former Real Madrid, Real Mallorca and Barcelona star Eto'o have played a pivotal role in those successes. However, he had meagre success as captain of the Cameroon Indomitable Lions this year with the team making a meek quarter-final exit from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

The leading all-time scorer in this competition scored once against Zambia and Tunisia, but the Lions suffered a shock group loss to Gabon and defending champions Egypt outclassed them in the first knockout round.

Cameron then fared disastrously at the first FIFA World Cup™ hosted by Africa last June, losing all three group matches under the leadership of Eto'o and were the first country eliminated from the competition.

TP Mazembe, the four-time CAF African Champions League winners who stunned Internacional of Brazil 2-0 in the United Arab Emirates last week before finishing runners-up to Inter Milan, were named Club of the Year. Milovan Rajevac, the humble Serb coach who made 2010 such a memorable year for Ghana, took the Coach of the Year award. He resigned after the FIFA World Cup to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad Jeddah.

Other award winners included Al-Ahly and Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan (Africa-based Player) and Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah (Most Promising Talent) while Ghana were predictably named best national team.

Emilio BUTRAGUENO

Emilio BUTRAGUENO

During his playing days, Emilio Butragueno epitomised the values of a bygone age. Unassuming, industrious and a gentleman on and off the field of play, the former Real Madrid and Spain striker always let his football speak for him during a glittering career, scoring freely and with a minimum of fuss for club and country.

A Merengue through and through, Butragueno honed his razor-sharp finishing skills in the youth sides at Real Madrid before graduating to the first team in 1984. Acquiring the nickname of El Buitre (The Vulture), he went on to spearhead a fabled quintet of home-grown players that also included Rafael Martin Vazquez, Michel, Miguel Pardeza and Manolo Sanchis.

Together they became known as La Quinta del Buitre (The Vulture’s Cohort), and together they would inspire the club in one of the most trophy-laden passages in its history. Along with his sidekicks, Butragueno won six league titles, two Spanish Cups, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Cups and a Spanish League Cup, and, just for good measure, ended the 1990/91 season as the top scorer in La Liga. To his eternal regret, however, he would never get his hands on the European Cup.

After 11 years with Los Blancos, he wound down his career in Mexico with Atletico Celaya before retiring from the game in 1998. Embarking on another career, he took an MA in Sports Management in the USA, followed by an MBA, and returned to the Santiago Bernabeu to become Director of Football during Florentino Perez’s first spell as President of Real Madrid.

A directorial role
Following Perez back to the club last year, he is now its Director of Institutional Relations, a post in which he brings the same qualities to bear as those that made him such a success on the pitch. “I have a lot of different things to do in my job,” he told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “My wife always said that when I retired I’d have more time for my family, but the fact is that I’ve got even less now.”

Aside from his distinguished association with the Madrid giants, Butragueno is also fondly remembered for the legend he forged in the red shirt of Spain, for whom he scored 26 goals in 69 appearances.

“I made my debut for Spain in a 3-0 win over Wales and scored one of the goals,” he said, recalling the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ qualifying match that marked his introduction to international football. “It came from a breakaway right at the end of the game, from a pass by (Rafael) Gordillo. To make your international debut is a magical experience. There’s no greater honour for a player than to represent your country and, if you’re lucky enough, to play in a World Cup. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

The hero of Queretaro
Famed for his elusive dribbling and innate ability to find the back of the net, Butragueno had the good fortune to appear in not one but two FIFA World Cup finals, making his name in the first of them, Mexico 1986.

“That was the high point of my career and what most people remember me for,” he explained. “We got through to the Round of 16, where we came up against Denmark, who were one of the best teams around back then, one of the favourites. They were the better side in the first half, but we got back into a game thanks to an error on their part.

“They took the initiative again but we just hit them on the counter,” he continued. “I scored four goals, which was unheard of and something I’d never envisaged doing in a World Cup. It was more than I could ever have dreamed of.”

The Spanish striker finished the tournament as joint-second top scorer, thanks in no small part to that famous quadruple: “I felt a bit strange. I wasn’t a great goalscorer but I got lucky that day and won two penalties. I just saw it as a one-off. I swapped jerseys with Michael Laudrup at the end, and I’ve still got his shirt at home. My father, who was in the stands with my future wife, was ecstatic. He was over the moon but I was pretty relaxed about it.”

Spain’s run came to an end in a penalty-shootout with Belgium in the next round, and when The Vulture returned to the big stage four years later at Italy 1990, Yugoslavia dashed their hopes in the last 16. “I didn’t play well that day,” he said ruefully. “I would have liked to have done more to help the team. I had a header but put it against the post.”

Respect for coaches
Never one to lose his cool despite such crushing disappointments, Butragueno was never sent off during his 12 years at the top and picked up only five yellow cards in all that time.

“I’m a great believer in players just focusing on how they can help their team and nothing else,” he said. “And as I saw it, I wasn’t going to achieve that by fighting with the opposing team or the referee. My aim was to use my wit and invention to win games.” It was an aim he achieved on a regular basis.

The tact and restraint he once showed on the pitch are the hallmarks of the work he now performs in representing his beloved Real Madrid. Still a passionate supporter of the team, Butragueno has also tried his hand at commentating, providing expert analysis on Spain games with his customary good grace and elegance.

One place where The Vulture is unlikely to land, however, is the coaches’ dugout. “Never,” he replied in emphatic fashion. “It’s a fascinating job but a cruel one. And it’s a challenge day in day out, one that demands standards few other occupations have to meet. I have every respect for the coach’s job, in fact more and more so because I can see how difficult it is.”

Butragueno’s love for the game remains undiminished, and he still enjoys slipping on his boots and recreating the glory days. No doubt he will be doing so again in a charity game or two over the Christmas period. But should opposing defenders lose their concentration for a split second, charity is the very last thing they can expect from El Buitre.

Stunning goals abound in 2010

Stunning goals abound in 2010

There is no doubt that the turn of the year can imbue football supporters with fresh hope, perhaps that their teams can resurrect their fortunes after shaky starts or even continue the momentum of a title push. The period can also have an impact on players’ mindsets, including the setting of new objectives for themselves and their clubs, and maybe even a switch in the upcoming transfer window.

And in the case of ten players in particular - Arjen Robben, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Hamit Altintop, Kumi Yokoyama, Lionel Messi, Linus Hallenius, Matthew Burrows, Neymar, Samir Nasri and Siphiwe Tshabalala - the date 10 January 2011 will be written in bold print in their diaries. Each of the above has a goal in the running for the FIFA Puskas Award 2010 and, with the online voting by FIFA.com users already closed, all they can do now is wait until the winner is announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich.

By the close of voting on 13 December, more than a million votes had been registered for this year’s prestigious prize. It will be the second edition of an honour first won by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, thanks to his long-range thunderbolt for Manchester United against Porto in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Among the varying strikes selected by the FIFA Football Committee are the outrageous and acrobatic finishes by Burrows and Hallenius, from Northern Ireland and Sweden respectively, as well as mazy and explosive dribbles from Messi, Nasri, Neymar and Japan’s Yokoyama – the only women’s player in the running. The Committee also found room for two fierce yet pinpoint drives from distance by Van Bronckhorst and Tshabalala, both at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, as well as a stunning solo effort from Robben for Bayern Munich which combined pace, skill and composure in front of goal.

And though voting may have closed, that does not mean you can no longer enjoy this stunning array of top-quality strikes. Simply click on the link to the FIFA Puskas Award on the right-hand side to watch these 2010 classics again and again, as well as taking the opportunity to have your say on which strike you appreciate most and why.

Hutchinson, Canada’s Dutch master

It’s been a big year for Atiba Hutchinson. Moving on from the comfort of perennial champions FC Copenhagen, where he picked up the Danish top flight’s best player award after five seasons with the club, the versatile and rangy Canadian has not missed a beat since a summer move to the Lowlands and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. He has helped the 21-times Dutch champions to a first-place finish in their UEFA Europa League group and first place in the Eredivisie with a four-point cushion as the Christmas break approaches.

“I’m finding my form,” the 27-year-old Ontario native of Trinidadian extraction told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “I’m at a good age right now, when the little things you pick up along the way really begin to show through, and you have more composure.”

Hutchinson’s fine form has not gone unnoticed at home. Last week he was voted Canada’s player of the year for 2010, edging out such veterans and long-time standouts as Dwayne De Rosario, Paul Stalteri and Julien de Guzman. “It’s a proud feeling to accomplish something for your country and to be recognised,” added the midfielder, as soft-spoken off the pitch as he is courageous and influential on it. “It’s a big award and I’m thrilled about it.”
We have a lot of variety and versatility in the team at the moment. We are gelling more and more, and every year it gets a little better.
Hutchinson on the Canadian national team

The player’s performances in a Canada jersey have been no less impressive than those over in Europe, where he has been since making his debut with Osters of Sweden at the tender age of 19. He took part in his second FIFA U-20 World Cup in UAE in 2003 and that same year made his senior team bow while still a teenager. Relying on his athleticism, raw speed and power in those early days, Hutchinson has gone on to establish himself as a true team leader for the Canucks, playing in four CONCACAF Gold Cups and picking up his 50th cap this year. “He has worked hard,” said Canadian national team coach Stephen Hart, one of Hutchinson’s biggest advocates. “He always answers the call to represent his country.”

The player’s versatility on the pitch is one of the main reasons he’s prospered through the years, landing now in one of Europe’s top leagues. “I’ve been playing right back for the last three or four games,” he said with a half-laugh. He is far more comfortable in a central midfield role with the freedom to push up into attack, or even as a withdrawn striker. “I played there [defence] a few times when I was a kid back in Canada, so it’s not the most familiar position for me. But I’m just happy to be out on the field and doing my part.

“The game in Holland compared to Sweden or Denmark is much more about possession, speed of play and expressing yourself,” he went on. “That’s what I love about the game, and I hope to do more of it when I get back into my usual position.”

Canada keen for Gold
While Hutchinson’s star is very much on the rise overseas, Canada’s fortunes have been less of a success story in recent years. “We need to make it back to the World Cup,” he sighed. “A lot of people back home are anxious to see us get back there as we’ve not done it since 1986.” Last time out, in qualifying for South Africa 2010, Hutchinson and his cohorts failed to even reach the final regional preliminary stage, losing out to Mexico and Honduras in August of 2008.

And although it’s been a long and agonising wait to get back and set things right on the road to a World Cup, Hutchinson is eager to take things one step at a time. “First there’s the Gold Cup to think about,” he said, slamming the breaks like a model professional. “We have a lot of variety and versatility in the team at the moment. We are gelling more and more, and every year it gets a little better. This tournament is our complete focus right now,” he added about the biannual North, Central American and Caribbean Cup of Nations which kicks off this summer in the United States.

“We can’t make the same old mistakes; we need to be focused and ready to fight,” he concluded, with steel in his voice. “We need to make sure we do everything we can.”

Hutchinson, Canada’s Dutch master

Muller: An incredible year

Muller: An incredible year

No-one succeeded in making a more explosive entrance on to the international footballing scene in 2010 than Thomas Muller. The 21-year-old earned regular status at Bayern Munich right at the start of his first full season as a pro, starring in a campaign which culminated in a domestic double and runners-up spot in the UEFA Champions League, where the Bavarians fell to Inter Milan.

The versatile forward also broke into the Germany squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, where his extraordinary ascent reached its zenith. He and his Germany team-mates finished third, and the player himself picked up two individual honours, the Hyundai Best Young Player award and the adidas Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer. Speaking exclusively to FIFA.com, Muller looked back on a remarkable and eventful 12 months.

FIFA.com: You were ceremonially presented with the adidas Golden Boot a few days ago. How does that feel?
Thomas Muller: Obviously, it feels fantastic. I’ll always look back on this award with positive feelings. It's worth a great deal in world football. So few players win the Golden Boot, especially because it's only on offer every four years. It's a massive honour, and just amazing that it's me who won it.

One of the previous winners is Gerd Muller, who coached you in the Bayern reserves. Was he a role model for you?
I’m too young to have seen him play, and I think I’m a very different player than he was. He’s obviously a role model simply in terms of finishing, although I’m not looking at the number of goals he scored and putting myself under pressure, because I’ll never get close to his total. He’s basically a good friend, and he’s been part of my life and career for three or four years. We see each other regularly on Champions League away trips and catch up with the latest news.

If it wasn’t Muller, who were your favourite players as a kid?
I’ve never had role models; I’ve always been too much of my own character. I’ve always been aware that the way I play doesn’t really come out of the textbook, unlike some other players. But obviously, you do scrutinise the greats like Zidane, Ronaldo and nowadays Messi to see what you can learn and how you might improve. But I’ve never had one single idol, and I do think it’s better if you work on establishing your own identity.
I’ve never had role models; I’ve always been too much of my own character. I’ve always been aware that the way I play doesn’t really come out of the textbook.
Thomas Muller

You’ve had an extraordinary and eventful year. How would you personally sum up 2010?
Such a lot has happened, starting with the team trophies we won at club level, and then what we achieved as a national team. It's been an almost unbelievable first year as a professional with so many memorable events, so it’s not especially easy to recall particular moments. And we’re a long way into the new season too. Football moves on so quickly, you have to adapt and re-orientate all the time. But yes, it’s been an incredible year.

Oliver Kahn’s famous mantra was "keep going, keep going", and true to that spirit, the challenges just keep on coming for you. Do you not sometimes wish you had a metaphorical pause button on your career?
I don’t think you can really take it all in until after you stop playing, when you might finally have time to watch it all again on video. It's the mid-season break [in Germany] now, but to be honest, the Bundesliga is still in my thoughts. We at Bayern have a lot of catching up to do, so you can’t honestly switch off. So hopefully, the time for thought and reflection will come later.

You followed up a superb season with Bayern by starring at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Were you surprised to be part of it in the first place?
Actually, I wasn’t that surprised. The position on the right of midfield was more or less open compared to some of the other positions, so I obviously had my hopes, especially with the way I was playing in the Bundesliga. I scored a lot of goals, so I was quite optimistic. Naturally, I was delighted to win the battle for that position, but I was in very good form at the right time, so I made it hard for the coach to ignore me. The task now is to defend my position. I got lucky in that I hit form at just the right time. And looking back at the World Cup, it’s not something anyone could have predicted. It was a story which unfolded as it went. I was on a roll, and I had my share of luck too.

The FIFA World Cup was a triumph for you, finishing third with Germany and winning two individual awards.
No one could have predicted that. I went there hoping we’d succeed as a team – we were certainly convinced we could. Picking up two individual awards was fantastic for me personally, but it’s already history, because events move so fast in football. But I’ll never forget it, and no-one can take it away from me now.

The FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich takes place in January. You made it to the preliminary shortlist for the World Player award. What’s your reaction to that?
I never thought I’d make it on to the list. Once again, I was lucky; I was in the right place at the right time. But it’s basically a huge honour to be mentioned in the same breath as such senior and brilliant players.

Was there any particular moment last year that you will treasure?
It's incredibly hard to pick out a single moment. It's hard to say whether it was better to play at the World Cup or in the Champions League final, or whether winning the double was the best of the lot. I just enjoyed all of the big moments, and I think that was the main thing. It was all terrific, both professionally and privately.

It's going to be a hard year to beat. What do you hope to achieve in 2011?
As a team, our biggest challenge is to repeat last year’s success. We want trophies, but it’s not looking great in the Bundesliga for now. On the one hand, we had a few problems at the start, and on the other, Borussia Dortmund have taken far more points than you would have expected. But we have to be ready to pounce if Dortmund ever wobble. The season’s far from over as there’s still half the programme to play, so we’ve not given up hope. Our priority is to recover our league form and our rhythm, although we’re in much better shape in the other competitions.

And how does Thomas Muller escape the pressure and relax?
I come home to my wife, my dog, my family and friends, and that takes me to another world. Then I’m Thomas Muller the person and not the footballer. Remembering the essentials and returning to them is very important.

Almeyda, the lionheart of River Plate

Almeyda, the lionheart of River Plate

The story of how veteran Matias Almeyda came out of retirement to star for River Plate in Argentina's 2010 Apertura is a truly inspirational one.

Thirty-seven is an age when the vast majority of footballers have already turned their hands to alternative occupations, going into coaching, taking a more relaxing seat upstairs in an executive role or representing their fellow professionals.

Evergreen midfielder Matias Almeyda is no ordinary 37-year-old, however, and he celebrated his birthday on Tuesday by signing a six-month extension to his contract with River Plate, the latest port of call in a distinguished career full of landmarks.

The first of those was his 1997 transfer from River Plate to Sevilla for over $9 million, then an Argentinian record. From there the hard-working Almeyda went on to earn the adulation of the tifosi at Lazio, Parma and Inter Milan, to name but three of his clubs, and also represented his country at two FIFA World Cup™ finals: France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002.

What is perhaps less well-known is that Almeyda had to battle with depression after retiring in 2005. Gradually feeling his way back into football, he then signed up for the Showbol veterans football tournament before making an unexpected return to the top flight with Los Millonarios.

Uncertain times
“My idea was to do some farming, and I didn’t think I was going to have a hard time dealing with retirement,” said Almeyda, explaining the personal problems he endured after giving up the game. “I was wrong, though. When you stop playing your dreams evaporate. I went through a phase when I only ever went out to pick my children up from school. I suffered panic attacks and there were times when I felt like I was going to die.”

The turning point came when his eldest daughter drew a picture of him at school, a picture that took his nickname of El León (The Lion) as its theme. “It was a sad and tired lion, who spent the whole day lying down,” he explained.

The depiction prompted him to go into therapy and embark on the long road to recovery. Returning to the game with Norwegian side Lyn Oslo and making his appearances in Showbol, he then got a helping hand from Uruguayan legend Enzo Francescoli, who set up a trial for him at River.

El Pelado, to use another of Almeyda’s nicknames, made the grade and quickly became the leader of a side struggling to find its way. His first game back came against Chacarita Juniors in August 2009, Almeyda receiving a caution moments after coming on as a late substitute. “I thought they were going to send me off in every game, but it was the most beautiful day of my career,” he recalled. “I was bursting with happiness.”

A dream return
The battle-hardened midfielder has come a long way since then, and is now the captain and heartbeat of the River line-up. Performing as a linchpin in the recently completed Apertura season, he lent balance to the side and won unstinting praise from his team-mates as well as the fans and journalists. His influence in the team was such that River won just one of the six games their skipper missed during the course of the campaign.

“It wasn’t easy to come back four years after retiring,” he said. “But thanks to my experience and commitment I’m able to read moves quicker than anyone and play passes in a tight situation. I’ve always had an edge in terms of fitness.”

What makes Almeyda’s show-stopping comeback all the more remarkable is the fact that Diego Buonanotte, Roberto Pereyra, Erik Lamela and Rogelio Funes Mori, to name but a few of his current team-mates, were only four when he made his First Division debut.

“I wish there were more Almeydas in the game,” commented Angel Cappa, his coach at River at the start of the season. “He’s moved me on a personal level in every one of his games. He’ll make a perfect coach for River one day.”

Those sentiments have been echoed by Juan Jose Lopez, Cappa’s successor on the Millonarios’s bench: “I hope he stays with us. He’s an essential figure on the pitch and in the dressing room.”

But what does El León have to say to that? “I’ll stay on for another six months because I’m really enjoying myself and feel I’m useful to the team,” replied the man himself. “You could say I’ve been born again, but this phase will come to an end in July. I won’t be suffering this time, though. I’ve got my head straight and I’ll be ready. I want to be a coach and live and breathe football. It’s what I like doing more than anything.”

Italy loses a footballing visionary

Italy loses a footballing visionary

Italy is today mourning the loss of its best-loved coach, Enzo Bearzot, who has died at the age of 83 in Milan.

A FIFA World Cup™ winner with La Nazionale at Spain 1982, Bearzot held a firm set of principles throughout his eminent coaching career, the most important of which was that “football is a game first and foremost”.

Those principles served him well during his glorious spell in charge of the Italy team, which began in 1975 when he was appointed its “technical commissioner”, a title that ill-suited a coach that put human values before all else.

Bearzot inherited a team suffering an identity crisis, one that had come to a head with a disastrous display at the 1974 FIFA World Cup Germany. During his 11-year tenure, however, he restored Italian fortunes, presiding over 51 wins and 28 draws in a total of 104 matches.

In his playing days Bearzot was a wholehearted defensive midfielder who won a single cap in 1955. Trying his hand at coaching, he served a six-year apprenticeship as an assistant to national team boss Ferrucio Valcareggi, a period that encompassed Mexico 1970 and Germany 1974.

Drawing on his endless reserves of patience, and turning a deaf ear to criticism and controversy, he established a close bond with a tight-knit group of players. With young stars such as Paolo Rossi and Antonio Cabrini coming through, a new-look Italy showed signs of a renaissance at Argentina 1978, playing a more attractive and modern brand of football.

Though La Squadra Azzurra failed to reach the final of the 1980 European Championships on home soil and lacked consistency in their qualifying and warm-up matches for Spain 1982, Bearzot continued to cajole his charges and give them the confidence they needed to excel.

Nevertheless, the Italians began their world title bid in unimpressive fashion, kicking off with three scrappy draws in the group phase and squeezing Cameroon out of second place by virtue of having scored one goal more. It was then their charismatic coach began to work his motivational magic.

A team transformed
No one back home gave much chance of the Italians progressing any further in the competition, nor for that matter did anyone outside Italy. Immune to the criticism, Bearzot locked himself away with his players for three days at their Vigo training camp and focused his efforts on stiffening their resolve and boosting confidence.

Told by the wily tactician that they had nothing to fear from their second-round opponents – Diego Maradona’s Argentina and a Brazil side featuring the likes of Zico and Falcao – the Italians promptly went out and proved him right.

Unrecognisable from the outfit that stuttered through the first round and inspired by the goals of a resurgent Rossi, the Italians swept past the South American duo and all the way to the nation’s third world crown. All the while, Bearzot chewed on his pipe, overseeing an incredible triumph against the odds, his ground-breaking ideas inspiring many an imitator in the years that followed.

In January 2002, 20 years on from his crowning achievement, he accepted an invitation to take over the technical department of the Italy Football Federation, his brief being to get his message across and his basic vision of the game.

“Football is a game played with two wingers, a centre-forward and a playmaker,” he said, laying out that vision. “That was the way I saw it. I selected my players and then I let them play without trying to impose tactical systems on them.”

Bearzot’s legacy is such that he is considered the finest national coach Italy ever had, along with Vittorio Pozzo, the man who steered them to their first FIFA World Cup triumphs in 1934 and 1938.

Big names held in Copa del Rey

Big names held in Copa del Rey

Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at home by Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie. Elsewhere in Spain, the local derby between Valencia and Villarreal also finished 0-0. The only one of the three cup ties played in Spain tonight to produce any goals was the clash between Segunda Division Cordoba and top-flight Deportivo La Coruna, who shared a 1-1 draw.

The match at the Nou Camp pitted the two most successful sides in Copa del Rey history against each other - Barça having 25 crowns to Athletic's 23 - and was a repeat of the 2009 final which the Catalan side won 4-1. Barcelona went into the encounter averaging more than four goals a game in winning their last ten successive fixtures, but they could not find even one breakthrough tonight despite playing most of their star names, with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro Rodriguez starting and David Villa and Lionel Messi appearing as second-half substitutes.

Pep Guardiola's men dominated but Bojan Krkic and Iniesta were both denied by Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz in the first half before Xavi volleyed a decent opening after the break and Villa had an effort ruled out. Gerard Pique then had a great chance right at the end to earn his side a narrow advantage to take to San Mames when Messi picked out his run into the box, but the Spain international volleyed wide with his less-favoured left foot and Athletic were able to congratulate themselves on a job well done.

Villarreal, Depor held at home
Further down the east coast of Spain at the Mestalla, hosts Valencia will also feel they should have built some sort of lead for their return leg against neighbours Villarreal. Unai Emery's side had the Yellow Submarine on the back foot for much of the game but Aritz Aduriz, Pablo Hernandez, Juan Manuel Mata - who hit the post - and Ricardo Costa failed to make the most of the chances that fell their way.

Villarreal, who are five points and one spot above fourth-placed Valencia in La Liga, had a few opportunities of their own, including a decent opening late on for Nilmar, who was denied by home custodian Vicente Guaita when clean through.

In tonight's other match, Cordoba - one of only two remaining non-top flight club left along with Real Betis - played out a 1-1 draw with Depor in testing conditions at a rain-drenched Estadio El Arcangel.

Depor took the lead with a 17th-minute penalty when Riki, who was adjudged to have been brought down by Cordoba goalkeeper Alberto Garcia, sent the home custodian the wrong way from the spot. However, Cordoba drew level 20 minutes from time when Depor goalkeeper Manu made a mess of trying to punch clear a Jonathan Sesma free-kick, allowing Pepe Diaz to tap the ball in at the near post.

The remaining five last-16 first legs will be played on Wednesday, with the return legs scheduled for the first week of 2010.

Kamis, 30 Desember 2010

A message from President Blatter

FIFA launches 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust for South Africa

Memorable moments in Arab football

>A message from President Blatter

Malouda sinks Bolton to end Chelsea slide

>Euro duo rule the Ranking roos

Leonardo: There's no greater challenge

Reina: Spain triumph made me proud

The year in numbers

12 milestones for 2010

Selasa, 21 Desember 2010

FIFA launches 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust for South Africa

Spain skipper Iker Casillas

Finland stun San Marino

Messi sinks Brazil, Spain slump in Lisbon

Women's football journalists benefit in Dakar

Eto'o crowned African king

Emilio BUTRAGUENO

Stunning goals abound in 2010

Hutchinson, Canada’s Dutch master

Muller: An incredible year

Almeyda, the lionheart of River Plate

Italy loses a footballing visionary

Big names held in Copa del Rey

sports football

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