The special ones

The special ones
(FIFA World) Wednesday 28 December 2011
The special ones
© Getty Images

“My colleagues spend most of their time with their backs turned towards me. I don’t believe it’s because I’m unpopular.” Those words by USA’s 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ goalkeeper Brad Friedel may have been uttered in jest, but they nevertheless point towards the distinct role football’s shot-stoppers take up within the team. Quite simply, goalkeepers are different.

It wasn’t always that way, however. When the rules prohibiting outfield players from handling the ball were first introduced by The Football Association in 1863, the position of goalkeeper was allocated to a team member haphazardly, and even by the start of the 20th century, goalkeepers were not differentiated from other players in terms of appearance or the way they played the game.

However, subsequent rule changes such as the introduction of dead-ball situations, the offside law, and the prevention of goalkeepers handling the ball outside their own penalty areas gradually turned the role into a specialist position requiring a different skill set to outfield players. Meanwhile, more recent changes, such as the 'back pass' and 'six-second release' rules, have greatly increased the speed of the game and the need for tactical awareness, as well as obliging goalkeepers to develop the skill of controlling the ball with their feet.

Modern goalkeepers are expected to take an active part in the attacking play and assume the role previously occupied by a libero in defensive play, while the specific nature of the position also requires coaching of psychological aspects to enable keepers to cope with the intense pressure of the position. In short, goalkeeping has graduated from being an ill-favoured position given over to those players considered less talented to a coveted role practised only by those blessed with specialist technique and leadership.

Saving plan
Reflecting the special status of the position within the game, FIFA’s Education & Technical Development Department recently launched a new goalkeeping programme directed primarily at goalkeeping coaches working at national level. Bringing together the technical, physical, psychological and tactical aspects of goalkeeping, the programme aims to boost the standard of goalkeeping instruction worldwide and encourage the use of dedicated coaches.

Following a successful pilot phase in the first half of 2011, the programme is now being taken around the world, with seminars recently being held in Malaysia, Ecuador, FYR Macedonia and Iceland. At these regional events, goalkeepers who have played the game at the very highest level, such as Slovakia’s Alex Vencel and the Republic of Ireland’s Pat Bonner, join other top-level coaches in passing on their expertise to participants and introducing them to world-class training methods.
Keepers need to be managers on the field and they need to be taught that from a young age.
Alex Vencel

FIFA instructor Vencel is well placed to provide goalkeeping tuition, following a lengthy career as a professional goalkeeper which saw him represent Czechoslovakia twice before going on to make 19 appearances for Slovakia between 1994 and 1998. The 44-year-old also made more than 500 appearances in club football, making his debut for home-town club Slovan Bratislava in 1988 before moving to France in 1994, where he helped Strasbourg win the French league cup in 1997.

“I’m very happy that I can participate and help develop this programme for FIFA,” says the towering Slovak. “In the past, there was nothing for goalkeepers. The problem is that we don’t have enough coaches and nobody knows how to train them properly. They just get sent off alone to do their own thing at training – that is not the way to produce good goalkeepers. It’s a very specialised position and the goalkeeper has a very important role in modern football.”

Leading from the back
As well as participating in the seminars and coaching courses around the world, Vencel has worked together with FIFA’s Education & Technical Development Department to put together a training kit consisting of a comprehensive manual accompanied by three DVDs on technical preparation, physical preparation and exercises for young goalkeepers.

Targeted at a broad audience of both amateur and professional footballers as well as coaches and instructors, the manual provides a wealth of ideas on how to improve training programmes and make them more interesting, as well as giving practical goalkeeping tips and highlighting the importance of individually targeted work.

For Vencel, the most important aspect of goalkeeping nowadays is that you not only need to be a talented shot-stopper and acrobat, but also a leader who will command the troops on the field. “One of the most important things is organisational skills, which in turn obviously help their decision making and ability to read the game. Keepers need to be managers on the field and they need to be taught that from a young age. A goalkeeper coach must work on what the keeper says to his players on the field, because at times, keepers tend to just shout without communicating a message. Especially for younger keepers, it’s about learning when to talk and when you have to keep your mouth shut.”

Women’s version
When it comes to women’s football, goalkeeping has often been cited as a relatively underdeveloped area of the game. Although the recent report on the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™ by FIFA’s Technical Study Group pointed out considerable improvements since the 2007 edition, it also noted continuing shortcomings and called for better coaching of women goalkeepers from youth level onwards, arguing that it was “paramount that associations invest in good goalkeeping coaches for their female goalkeepers, starting with the youth teams”.

In keeping with this philosophy, FIFA has produced a separate goalkeeping manual for female goalkeepers, along with specific DVDs. As with the men’s version, the women’s manual has been created with the help of experienced goalies, including current Germany stopper and skipper Nadine Angerer.

Living proof of the benefits that can be realised through one-to-one sessions with a dedicated goalkeeping coach, Angerer started working with such a specialist just before the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007™ and went on to star in a successful campaign that saw Germany win the title without Angerer conceding a single goal.

“He does a fantastic job,” says the 33-year-old keeper of her trainer. “It’s not just a question of catching balls. You have to have the right technique, know how to approach a ball properly, move efficiently and exude calmness and authority rather than running about wildly.”

Speaking to FIFA World during a visit to FIFA’s Zurich headquarters to finalise the contents of the women’s goalkeeping manual, Angerer described the importance of the project.

“Even before contributing to the instruction manual, I was already aware that I wanted to get involved in goalkeeping coaching, and my participation this week has reinforced this wish,” she said.

“The criticism levelled at women goalkeepers in the past was justified, but I believe that every country has a good goalkeeper. The main problem is that goalkeepers are not given the proper training or that the proper structures are not in place. Some football associations do not even have a goalkeeping coach, so how can their goalkeepers be expected to develop? Having had the good fortune to work with my own coach, who has transferred his philosophy onto me, I now hope I can also make a difference and help make the next generation of goalkeepers better players.”

Agassa: The World Cup trumps them all

Agassa: The World Cup trumps them all

For goalkeeper Kossi Agassa, 2012 is already shaping up to be an important year. His club, Reims, are seemingly on course for promotion to Ligue 1, while he also harbours dreams of a return to the FIFA World Cup™ with Togo.

Reims lie second in Ligue 2 and have their sights set on rejoining France’s top flight, where they enjoyed one of the most successful spells in their history. Indeed, in the post-war period, Reims won the national league six times and twice finished runners-up to Real Madrid in the UEFA European Cup.Some fans may feel that those exploits will never be matched, but a return to the elite would certainly be a step in the right direction.

“We’re not playing for promotion,” Agassa told FIFA.com. “Our objective is to ensure we avoid relegation as quickly as possible. Then we’ll see whether or not we’re in a good position.”
Everyone, at every level, is trying to do as much as they can to help us thrive in French football. Every player wants to play at the highest level.
Kossi Agassa

Reims’ recent performances have been nothing if not encouraging, but with half the season still to play, the players are understandably keen to keep their feet on the ground. “The club is restructuring little by little,” explained Agassa, who arrived in Europe in 2002.

“It’s my fourth year here [at Reims] and I’ve really noticed a change. Everyone, at every level, is trying to do as much as they can to help us thrive in French football. Every player wants to play at the highest level.”

At the age of 33, Agassa believes he still has the ability to shine in Ligue 1 and backed up those claims with some fine displays in Reims’ impressive run in the 2010/11 Coupe de France. After knocking out Montpellier, the Ligue 2 side defeated Rennes in an exhilarating encounter, with Agassa saving two penalties. Reims eventually fell to Nice in the quarter-finals, but the cup run provided a taste of success and only increased their desire to return to the top tier of French football.

2006 memories, 2014 dream
Aside from Reims’ possible promotion push, spring 2012 will also be a crucial period for Agassa at international level, with the second round of African qualifiers for Brazil 2014 looming on the horizon. Togo overcame Guinea-Bissau to seal their progress to the second round, and after a testing few years, the west Africans can finally dare to dream again.

“Togolese football is in a transitional phase,” said the former Etoile Filante keeper. “We’re preparing for future challenges, such as the CAN in 2013 and the 2014 World Cup. We failed to make it to the CAN in 2012, but sometimes you need a year like that to make you bounce back stronger.”

Emmanuel Adebayor’s return to the national set-up is an encouraging sign for Togo, as Agassa explained. “He’s the biggest star in the team, and we missed him during his absence,” said the keeper, who has 52 international caps to his name.
I’ve never played in the Champions League or Europe League, but I can say I’ve played in a World Cup, and that’s a competition that trumps them all.
Kossi Agassa

“We’re now back on track and we can aim higher than we’ve been able to for the past two years. Emmanuel and I are among the senior players in the team. I’m one of the oldest and we’re there to guide the younger players, whose job it will be to carry the national team in years to come.”

Agassa was No1 throughout Togo’s maiden FIFA World Cup campaign in 2006, so he is well aware of the opportunity that lies before him and his team-mates. “It was an honour to play at the World Cup,” he said. “Our performance against France, particularly in the first half, is a great memory for me.”

Eventual finalists France won that first-round tie 2-0, but Agassa will no doubt remember the match with fondness. He pulled off one of the saves of the tournament, thwarting David Trezeguet from point-blank range after keeping out Florent Malouda’s initial effort.

“I’ve never played in the Champions League or Europe League, but I can say I’ve played in a World Cup, and that’s a competition that trumps them all,” said Agassa, clearly excited at the prospect of returning to the world stage with Togo. “Once you've tasted it you only want one thing, and that’s to go back there again. We need to do as well as we possibly can in our qualifiers and give ourselves a strong chance of experiencing it all once again.”

The Year in Quotes

The Year in Quotes


“You heard people complaining about how much [South Africa 2010] cost, for example the stadiums that we built. But how much would you pay for the kind of spirit that pervaded our country? It was a fantastic thing. No-one could have predicted that South Africans would feel so good about themselves. It was reminiscent of the time when Nelson Mandela was released from prison or when we won the Rugby World Cup. You can’t put a monetary value on it. So many South Africans of so many different races walked tall with their heads held high. We were showing off our flags and we even gave the world the vuvuzela!”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu to FIFA.com

“Silvio Berlusconi said that Cassano is the most talented Italian player. He’s either wrong or he doesn’t know Balotelli.”
Mario Balotelli

“Udinese play very well with a 3-5-2 formation and I told my coach at the time to use it. I was taken for a fool, though. It’s impossible to talk to coaches sometimes. They think they invented football.”
Maurizio Zamparini, Palermo president

“Coaches are like husbands – always the last to know.”
Claudio Ranieri

“Congratulations to Real Madrid for paying tribute to [Eric] Abidal. There’s so much more to football than just rivalry.”
Ronaldo, who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, on Twitter

“You might end up being embarrassed when you’re dealing with a Zidane or a Rivaldo. It’s better to let them control the ball, look around and pass it to someone else.”
Rivaldo to FIFA.com

“If I was the boss, I’d have sacked myself a few times by now.”
Leonardo during his tenure at AC Milan

“Nobody’s achieved what Pele has. He was a world champion at the age of 17, won three World Cups, and scored more than 1,208 goals. No-one else has done that up to now. That’s why, to my mind, Pele is the best.”
Pele

“The king of Rome is not dead. He’s alive and well.”
Francesco Totti

“I really want to try soccer after I retire, because I’ve watched football over the years and I think I could be a good contender. I’m really looking forward to it and yes, I definitely think I’m good enough to play for Manchester United. I’m good enough because I’m quick, I have a little skill. I have to refine it a little bit, but I should be good enough.”
Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter

“Maradona? I wouldn’t give him a lift even if it were raining. As for Romario, he even counts the goals he scored on the beach.”
Pele

“I’ve been a national team member for 18 years, so this has been a long, long wait. I’ve been through the difficult times for women’s football in Japan, so I really feel relieved. It doesn’t feel like reality.”
Homare Sawa after Japan won Germany 2011

“Just because you have talent or even genius, it doesn’t mean to say that you’ll have a great team, which is just as well, because otherwise Brazil would have won ten World Cups instead of five.”
Laurent Blanc to FIFA.com

“There are 1.3 billion people in this country, so there’s got to be some good footballers somewhere. And we’re going to find them.”
Jose Antonio Camacho after being appointed China PR coach

“The fans whistle me because I’m good-looking, rich and a great footballer. They’re jealous. I don’t have any other explanation.”
Cristiano Ronaldo

“He spends his days off picking mushrooms in the country, so he can’t be a bad lad.”
Pep Guardiola on Xavi

“The players see themselves as icons and they see another football icon in me. I’m just like them, and that makes it easy to handle the dressing room.”
Jose Mourinho

“I don’t play football because I want to be the best in the world. I don’t care whether I am or not. I play football because it’s my passion, because I’m in the best team in the world and because winning titles makes me happy. I don’t want to prove anything to anyone. I play for a different reason – to be happy.”
Andres Iniesta

“Guardiola was so happy with [Lionel] Messi, he didn't even bother looking at me. I told him I was a Ferrari and that he was driving me like a Fiat. I wasn’t part of his plans after that.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic

“I don’t care where I play. I’m just happy to be on the pitch, I’ll play anywhere. Well, probably not right-back, no.”
Wayne Rooney

“My philosophy is that the solution arises before the problem. What I mean is that you can always look for solutions before problems even come up. That’s what we do on a day-to-day basis.”
Pep Guardiola to FIFA.com

The Year in Numbers

The Year in Numbers


It’s been another unforgettable year on planet football, with Japan, Barcelona, Uruguay and Manchester United just a few of the biggest winners. As 2011 draws to a close, FIFA.com looks at the stats behind some of year’s most eye-catching events.
98943

spectators watched hosts Mexico beat Uruguay 2-0 in July’s FIFA U-17 World Cup final at the Azteca, providing a fittingly raucous climax to a tournament that drew a cumulative attendance of 1,002,314.
178

international appearances, the most recent of which came in last month’s 2-0 defeat by Brazil, established Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan as the joint-most capped player in football history. The 36-year-old, who made his international debut in 1995, needs just one more Pharaohs outing to surpass the record of Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohamed Al Deayea, who last played in 2006.
150

matches over nine years, one month, ten days and four different clubs: this was the incredible unbeaten home league record that came to an unexpected end for Jose Mourinho in April. Manolo Preciado succeeded where 107 different coaches had failed as his Sporting Gijon side became the first team since Beira Mar in February 2002 to claim league points on Mourinho’s patch.
110

consecutive years of top-flight football was the run that came to a historic end for River Plate in June. The Buenos Aires giants were relegated for the first time after a 1-1 draw against Belgrano - their ninth straight match without a win - which sealed a 3-1 aggregate defeat in the Promoción play-off.
108

goals in the amazing combined tally with which Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will end their 2011 club campaigns. The Ballon d’Or contenders have been in sensational form once again, with Ronaldo scoring 53 times in just 51 Real Madrid appearances, and Messi managing 55 in 57 for Barcelona.
100

years of patience were finally rewarded in October when Norway’s Molde capped their centenary season with the first league championship of the club’s history. With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm, the Blåhvit (Blue-Whites) cast aside a reputation as perennial bridesmaids, earned by seven previous second-placed finishes.
75

years of competing in FIFA tournaments finally yielded a trophy for Japan when they won the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in July. The Nadeshiko had lost 22 and drawn three of their 25 prior meetings with final rivals USA, but a dramatic penalty shootout triumph saw them become the first team to lose during FIFA’s women’s showpiece – 2-0 to England in their case – and go on to lift the trophy.
57

years without a league title was the drought that came to a long-awaited end for Lille in May. No team in the history of the French top flight had endured such a long wait in between championships, so it was with some relief that Rudi Garcia’s side clinched the third top-tier crown of the club’s history and their first since 1954.
46

goals was the new Spain national team record set in March by David Villa. The Barcelona striker, who has since reached the half-century mark, needed just 72 matches to surpass Raul as his country’s foremost marksman. Nor was Villa the only Roja record-breaker this year, with Iker Casillas setting a new benchmark for appearances, surpassing Andoni Zubizarreta’s previous mark with cap number 127 last month.
32

goals, the most recent of which came in October’s 1-1 draw with Paraguay, established Diego Forlan as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer. The Inter Milan striker moved ahead of the legendary Hector Scarone, and earning his 84th cap in the same match enabled him to extend his already record tally of international appearances. Earlier in the year, Forlan had followed in the continent-conquering footsteps of his father and grandfather by helping Uruguay to a record 15th Copa America crown.
30

successive Brazil victories was the run that finally came to an end in September’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup final. Prior to their 12-8 defeat by Russia in the Ravenna 2011 decider, the Brazilians had survived unbeaten since losing on penalties to Portugal in the semi-finals of the 2005 edition.
29

matches without defeat was the run with which Boca Juniors ended their triumphant Apertura campaign two weeks ago, establishing them as the first team in the last 26 Argentinian championship campaigns to remain unbeaten until the end. Having leaked just six goals all season, Boca also equalled their own record for the fewest goals conceded since the current format was adopted in 1990.
23

wins, two draws and zero losses was the near-perfect record with which Porto clinched the title in April, enabling them to become only the second team - after the Benfica side of 1972/73 - to win the Portuguese championship without tasting defeat.
19

top-flight titles, the latest of which was secured in May of this year, established Manchester United as the most successful team in English league history, one ahead of old rivals Liverpool. The 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers that sealed this landmark championship also witnessed Ryan Giggs break David James’s Premier League appearance record by turning out for the 573rd time.
15

million euros was the fee Chelsea paid to release Andre Villas-Boas from his Porto contract in June, making him the most expensive coach in history. The month before, Villas-Boas - at 33 years and 213 days old - had become the youngest coach ever to win a European trophy by guiding Os Dragões to UEFA Europa League glory.
13

out of 16 is Barcelona’s amazing haul of major titles under Pep Guardiola after they returned the FIFA Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet earlier this month. The 4-0 final win over Santos was secured by a team that included 11 homegrown players, and Lionel Messi’s brace established the Barça No10 as the first player to score in separate FIFA Club World Cup finals.
5

goals were served up in August’s FIFA U-20 World Cup final, establishing the Colombia 2011 decider as the highest-scoring of the tournament’s 34-year history. Three of those goals came from one player, Brazil’s Oscar, who – having not managed a single goal in the preceding rounds – became the first player to score a hat-trick in the final.
4

AFC Asian Cup titles, the latest of which was secured in January, have established Japan as the most successful team in the competition’s history. By edging Australia 1-0 in the final, the Samurai Blue inched ahead of Saudi Arabia and Iran, both of whom have three Asian crowns to their name.
3

first-time finalists - Botswana, Niger and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea - will take part in the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic year of qualifying action in the Mother Contintent. The CAN preliminaries brought despair for several of the continent’s big guns, with only two winners from the competition’s previous 14 editions - Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia – doing enough to progress.

Curtain falls on glittering careers

Curtain falls on glittering careers
(

Three former FIFA World Cup™ winners retired from football this year, having illuminated the 1990s and early 2000s with their talents. Brazilian striker Ronaldo, French midfielder Patrick Vieira and Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro all called time on their careers after years of delighting fans around the world with their on-pitch efforts.

Several other experienced campaigners such as Claude Makelele, Paul Scholes, Matias Almeyda and Marcelo Gallardo have also moved on to new challenges after many successful years in the game. FIFA.com bids farewell to these recent retirees, many of whom will now switch to the dugout to embark on coaching careers.

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo is undoubtedly the most high-profile retiree of the year. With 62 goals from 98 appearances, Ronaldo is second only to Pele in Brazil’s list of all-time leading goalscorers, and remains the highest scorer in FIFA World Cup finals history with 15 goals. Il Fenomeno netted 367 times in 531 matches at club level, including 104 in 177 games for Real Madrid, and won two FIFA World Cups with Brazil in 1994 and 2002, as well as a runners-up medal in 1998. He also won the FIFA World Player of the Year title three times, in 1996, 1997 and 2002.

Ronaldo possessed a blistering turn of pace, brilliant technical ability and a well-honed striker’s instinct, and his list of achievements is as long as it is impressive. He holds a special place in the hearts of Brazilian fans, many of whom considered him to be the natural successor to Pele.

When Ronaldo announced his retirement on 14 February 2011, he also revealed that he had been suffering for several years from hypothyroidism, an illness thought to be the root of his oft-publicised weight issues. “Lots of people must regret having made jokes about my weight. But I feel no anger towards anyone,” said the striker, who will be remembered as one of the greatest in history. “With this announcement, it feels like my first death. It’s very hard to abandon something that has made me so happy.”

International heroes call it a day
Exactly five years after Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany final victory over France, Fabio Cannavaro decided to call time on his football career. Cannavaro, whose last spell as a player was in Dubai with Al-Ahli, retired at the age of 37 following a persistent knee injury. Amazingly, despite a 19-year career that included 16 years in Italian football with the likes of Napoli, Parma, Inter Milan and Juventus, Cannavaro never won a Serie A title. Fans will nevertheless remember him as the iconic captain who led Italy to their fourth FIFA World Cup crown, and as the country’s most-capped player ahead of Paolo Maldini and Dino Zoff.

Former France international Patrick Vieira was a losing finalist against Cannavaro’s Italy at Germany 2006, but also lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in 1998. Vieira retired in the summer at the age of 35, having made 651 career appearances for various prestigious clubs including AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan and Manchester City. He followed up the France 1998 triumph with the UEFA EURO 2000 title, and was a key component in Les Bleus’ midfield in all 107 of his international appearances. With Vieira no longer on the scene, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and David Trezeguet are the only remaining members of the France 1998-winning side still playing professional football.

Vieira is now part of the backroom staff at Manchester City, and he appears to be relishing his new role. “I don’t yet know what I’ll specialise in, so I’m spending time in all areas of the club, watching and learning,” said the former France captain.

Staying in France, Claude Makelele hung up his boots on 29 May this year at the age of 38. The tireless ball-winner made 880 appearances for a total of seven different clubs, and earned 71 international caps with France. Makelele played in title-winning teams in three different countries (Nantes in 1995, Real Madrid in 2001 and Chelsea in 2005 and 2006), and finished his career at Paris Saint-Germain, where he now works in an advisory role.

Three Red Devils retire
In England, former Manchester United mainstay Paul Scholes (36) announced on 31 May that he was retiring from professional football to join the club’s coaching staff. Scholes’ remarkable career included 14 goals in 66 international appearances, as well as ten league titles, three FA Cups, two UEFA Champions League winner’s medals and an Intercontinental Cup.

Scholes was known as a man of few words during his playing days, but he certainly seems to have found his voice in retirement. “The England team these days are treated like world superstars from what they do at club level," he said. "I don’t think this helps when they go to England [duty] because they’re all mollycoddled and pampered.”

Another cornerstone of recent Manchester United sides also decided to call it a day earlier this year. Indeed, right-back and former England international Gary Neville retired back in February, shortly before his 36th birthday. “I have been a Manchester United fan all my life and fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had,” Neville said in a statement. “I have played in the most incredible football teams, playing with and against some of the best players in the world and I have been lucky to have been part of the team’s achievements and the club’s great success.” Neville’s brother Phil, 34, continues to play for Everton.

Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar completes the trio of recently-retired Manchester United stars. Van der Sar is the Netherlands’ most-capped player with 130 appearances, and was named Best European Goalkeeper on four occasions during his career. He followed in the footsteps of the legendary Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff by retiring at the age of 40, deciding it was “time to devote more attention to my family”. Van der Sar was Manchester United’s No1 between 2005 and 2011, and made his final appearance in United’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona on 28 May 2011.

Danish fans bade farewell to Jon Dahl Tomasson, who retired from football to become assistant manager of Dutch club Excelsior. The striker scored 52 goals in 112 international appearances for Denmark. It was a similar tale for for 37-year-old defender Sami Hyypia, who retired from his playing role at Bayer Leverkusen to join the club’s backroom team. The former Finland international had spent ten seasons at the heart of Liverpool’s defence before he joined Leverkusen.

Spanish midfielder Ivan de la Pena, who made his name under Johan Cruyff at Barcelona, announced his retirement in May at the age of 35. The gifted but injury-prone attacking midfielder won several titles over the years but never quite hit the heights his talent deserved, arriving on the scene too early to be part of the free-flowing Barça sides of the last few years.

Successful switch for Gallardo
South America also witnessed a number of high-profile retirements this year, particularly in Argentina, where a talented generation of players waved goodbye to the game. Among them were spring-heeled defender Roberto Ayala, a formidable aerial presence who won 115 international caps, and striker Martin Palermo, who struggled in Europe but enjoys hero status as Boca Juniors’ leading scorer with 236 goals in 404 matches. Defensive midfielder Matias Almeyda, capped 39 times for the Albiceleste, retired from playing at River Plate to become their coach the day after the club's historic relegation to the second tier of Argentinian football.

Diminutive Argentinian playmaker Marcelo Gallardo finished his career in similar fashion. Gallardo retired from playing in early June at the end of his final season with Uruguayan outfit Nacional de Montevideo, before taking the reins as coach on the final day of the month. He made an instant impact, winning his first Apertura title just a few months later.

A glimpse behind the scenes+

A glimpse behind the scenes
(

The year is slowly but surely drawing to a close, the biggest tournaments are a fading memory, and many leagues have closed down for the holiday season. That surely makes it the perfect time to look back at the events of 2011 in pictures.

In the days leading up to 30 December, FIFA.com is proud to present four very special photo galleries.

After our gallery dedicated to the passion shown by true fans, our second photo collection takes you behind the scenes, into the changing rooms and the players’ tunnel. We have stunning images of Brazil star Marta, leading her team-mates in a pre-match beating of the drums, and we’ve also added a unique glimpse into the Japan women’s national team dressing room. Following their triumph against the USA in last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup final, the Nadeshiko gave their emotions free rein – and fired off the champagne corks too.

So why not join us for a browse through our special photo galleries? Just follow the link in the right-hand navigation.

The gallery includes the unforgettable image of Ogbonnaya Okemmiri celebrating Nigeria’s victory over Tahiti at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 in Ravenna, Lionel Messi a study of intense concentration prior to the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Al Sadd, and a selection of players going through their pre-match warm-up routines. All in all, the collection is truly wonderful and exclusive.

Immerse yourself in the colourful world captured by our rare and unique photos. Click away, and enjoy!

Who should your club sign?

Who should your club sign?
(
Email my friend
Share

With club football in recess across many parts of the world, the transfer market is taking centre stage.

FIFA.com wants to know who you think your favourite team should sign.

Simply click ‘Add your comment’ to share your thoughts with fellow fans from across the world, remembering to keep your posts clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.

Tales of footballing cheer for Christmas

Tales of footballing cheer for Christmas


At this magical time of year, when we give and receive with open hearts, the desire for all of us to come together and make the world a better place is particularly strong.

In promoting that spirit and the belief that small gestures can make a big difference, FIFA.com tells just a few of the tales in which football has played its part in helping to heal wounds, restore hope and bring joy, even in the most trying of circumstances.

The Christmas truce
The First World War was fought mainly in the trenches of Belgium and northern France. And it was between those trenches, near the Belgian town of Ypres, that German and British soldiers came together to play one of the most celebrated of all football matches on a chilly Christmas Eve in 1914, only a few months after the conflict began.

The catalyst for the game was the lighting of candles in the German trenches and the sound of carols drifting across 'No man’s land' to the watching British. Cautiously at first, soldiers from both sides ventured out of their makeshift retreats. Meeting each other halfway across the battlefield, they began exchanging what few possessions they had and sharing their memories of home.

The fraternising took a sporting turn when the opposing soldiers decided to play a football match, with the Germans reportedly winning 2-1. Sadly, the unofficial ceasefire was short-lived, and no sooner was Christmas over than the war resumed, the hostilities only coming to an end nearly four years later. The powerful symbolism of that impromptu game has lasted for far longer however.

Twenty years later football and war would cross paths again in distant South America, where Bolivia and Paraguay were locked in a bloody territorial dispute. As the conflict grew on, the Paraguayan Red Cross decided to raise funds in support of the wounded on both sides.

Deciding that the massively popular sport of football was the best way of arousing interest in their cause, the organisation decided to form a team that would tour Argentina and Uruguay and persuade the watching public to make a donation. One of the members of that charity side was a young Paraguayan by the name of Arsenio Erico, who quickly attracted the attention of Argentina’s biggest clubs and went on to become the leading scorer in Argentinian football with 295 goals, a record that stands to this day.

Defying the odds
Rudiger Bohm is one man who can testify to football’s power to turn despair into hope. A German skiing instructor, Bohm lost both his legs in a serious car crash in 1997. “Those were the first 27 years of your life,” a friend told him in the aftermath of the accident. “Now draw a line under them and start again.” Taking heed of his advice, Bohm learned to walk again and then took a football coaching course, where he met Marco Pezzaiuoli, the head youth coach at Karlsruher SC.

Amazed by his colleague’s desire to live life to the fullest, Pezzaiuoli decided to give him a job at the club. And Bohm is still coaching to this day, having last year taken charge of Thun’s Under-21 team, appearing with them at the 2011 FIFA/Blue Stars Youth Cup.

Sticking together
The terrible earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March this year triggered a massive response from the global footballing community, which did what it could to help the stricken country and its people. As the world and the media turned its attention to the catastrophe in the Far East, however, the spotlight inevitably moved away from other disaster-stricken parts of the world, Haiti among them.

Fortunately, there are some people who remain dedicated to the cause long after the reporters and TV cameras have gone. Bryane Heaberlin is one such example. The young USA goalkeeper saw the suffering caused by last year’s earthquake in Haiti when her side took on the Caribbean islanders in the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship.

After chatting with her opposite number and finding out that she had lost both her parents in the disaster, Heaberlin got to work and set up her own foundation to raise money for the Haitian girls, getting enough funds together to organise a training camp in the USA for the country’s U-20 women’s team.

“Many Hearts, One Goal” is the name she has given to her mission, which is still going strong and has the support of some of the biggest names in women’s football – just another illustration of the great game’s ability to build bridges and unite people.

These are only a few examples of the power football has to bring good. If you know of any others click on ‘Add your comment’ and tell us about them.

Villas-Boas defends Torres, talks title hopes

Villas-Boas defends Torres, talks title hopes


Andre Villas-Boas had nothing but praise for Fernando Torres, despite watching Chelsea's £50m man fluff his first Premier League start for almost two months. Torres's latest goal drought grew to ten matches yesterday as the Blues drew 1-1 in their west London derby against Fulham in what was another blow to their increasingly remote title hopes.

The game at Stamford Bridge must have seemed the perfect time to give Torres a chance to play himself back into form, ahead of Didier Drogba's January departure for CAF Africa Nations Cup duty. But after some positive early signs, including a volley the striker was unlucky to hit straight at David Stockdale, the 27-year-old looked as lost as he had ever done in a Chelsea shirt.

Villas-Boas pointed out the Spaniard had set up Juan Mata's opener, neglecting to mention that was only because he had miscontrolled Ashley Cole's cross. Explaining Torres's recall, the Chelsea manager said: "We decided to bring Fernando in.

"He's been working well and he had an impact in the game. He worked well for the team, assisted Mata for his goal, and showed the level of commitment he has shown in training."
With City and United continuing to get the points they are getting at the moment, it'll be difficult. Maybe the Premier League [title] is over for us at the moment.
Andre Villas-Boas

"We don't judge our strikers on the score. We are one of the most attacking teams in the country. We have a lot of goals spread out among the team. What is important is that they make an impact. That is what we expect from them."



Villas-Boas all but conceded the title yesterday, something which might have been the cue for Torres to be given a run in the side without fear of it proving too costly. But Chelsea simply cannot afford to keep throwing away points because they are suddenly back in a real battle to finish in the top four, with Arsenal knowing a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers today would lift them above their London rivals.

Billionaire Blues owner Roman Abramovich may yet forgive Villas-Boas not winning the title this season, but he is unlikely to tolerate failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

"The difference between us and the top will be big," the Portuguese said. "We had reduced it to seven points recently, but 13 points would be new for us. With City and United continuing to get the points they are getting at the moment, it'll be difficult.

"That is the perspective we have to make at the moment. It's difficult. It's not impossible. You cannot say that.

"But we have to focus on our position at the moment and make a real assessment. Maybe the Premier League [title] is over for us at the moment."

Jol upbeat
Fulham boss Martin Jol is on a much longer leash, but still needed a better performance yesterday from his players than they delivered in Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United. The fact he got it was all the more impressive after forwards Bobby Zamora (Achilles) and Andy Johnson (groin) both pulled out injured.

Admitting he "gambled" with his team selection and tactics, Jol said: "Our two main strikers dropped out, so we had to come up with something else. I think it paid off."

Indeed, Fulham were unrecognisable from Wednesday night and Jol added: "We had a good result against Liverpool, a good result at the Emirates.

"You can't say we are inconsistent - it was just against United that we didn't have a good result. We've shown we can give all these teams a good game."

Making your first touch count+

Making your first touch count


Making an instant impact is what every player hopes to do when they set foot on the field, but now and again players can take that to the extreme. Scoring with your first touch of a game is a skill that not only takes instant composure and a sure finish, but it also often requires the bit of luck to turn up in the right place at the right time.

To do it in any match is an achievement, but should it be a particularly pivotal goal, it has an even greater shine to it. Possibly the most memorable of all is Lars Ricken’s stunning lob in the 1997 UEFA Champions League final. The goal handed Borussia Dortmund the title, killing off Juventus’ revival in a 3-1 victory and starting his career in blockbuster style.

Having just entered the field, Andreas Moller played in the 20-year-old who sprinted through in search of the killer goal. With just 16 seconds on the clock since gracing the stage, a delightful waft of his right foot saw him chip the ball over the advancing Angelo Peruzzi and into Champions League folklore. Looking back on the moment Ricken said: "It was without any doubts my most important goal in my career and I will always be connected with it."

German teams seem to have a habit of grabbing goals of this fashion in the tournament, with a couple more important strikes having been converted with players’ maiden touches in the last few years. First, Bayern Munich’s Roy Makaay netted in a record-breakingly quick time of 10.12 seconds against Real Madrid in their 2007 quarter-final, capitalising after Hasan Salihamidzic dispossessed Roberto Carlos and crossed for the Dutch international. Then, back in November of this season, Erin Derdiyok struck the first goal of Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 turnaround against Chelsea. Needing a win to guarantee qualification, Derdiyok came off the bench and, having let the ball run under his foot for what would have been his first touch, he peeled away to meet the subsequent cross and send them on the way to victory.
It was without any doubts my most important goal in my career and I will always be connected with it.
Lars Ricken on his strike for Borussia Dortmund in the 1997 UEFA Champions League final

Possibly the only thing that tops bringing joy to a club’s fans is bringing it to an entire country. Amr Zaki managed to do so with his premier connection with the ball on a huge continental stage. With all eyes on a row between Egypt coach Hassan Shehata and the substituted Mido, he rose to break the deadlock against Senegal with his first touch and send them into the 2006 CAF Africa Cup of Nations final. Thanks to him they got their shot at the title against Côte d'Ivoire, winning the showpiece on penalties.

International football’s biggest stage has seen its fair share of first-touch finishes too, of all shapes and sizes. The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ was graced with not one, but two goals of this ilk in a single game, with both at either end of stopwatch spectrum. Lukas Podolski struck a fizzing strike against Australia to open Germany’s account for the tournament, after a whopping eight minutes without touching the ball. His compatriot Cacau rounded off the 4-0 victory in slightly more timely fashion, side-footing in after just 110 seconds on the field.

At the 1978 edition, France striker Bernard Lacombe opened his account, and the tournament as a whole, by getting Les Bleus off to a cracking start against eventual semi-finalists Italy just 30 seconds into proceedings. The Lyon legend arrived to head into the far bottom corner after Jean Marc Guillou’s lung-busting run and inch-perfect cross, however it couldn’t prevent them falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Four years later they saw the other side of an almost identical goal, conceding in eerily comparable circumstances. In their opening game of Spain 82 they faced England in a similarly high-profile encounter, but this time out Three Lions captain Bryan Robson managed to upstage Lacombe – who was watching from the bench - by striking three seconds faster than the Frenchman did. Having gotten an early throw-in on the right wing, Steve Coppell hurled the ball into the box and, following a flick-on, Robson ghosted in at the back post to convert an impressive, acrobatic volley.

Those with a little less experience have managed similar feats, and some in huge games as well. It’s hard to beat AC Milan striker Alberto Paloschi’s effort however. When the fresh-faced 17-year-old made his debut against Siena at the San Siro, he was expected to just provide some youthful exuberance. However, 18 seconds into his debut, the Italian latches on to a hooked through-ball by Clarence Seedorf and rifles in a sublime half-volley from the edge of the box with his first touch in professional football to win the game.
It was fantastic. First touch, first Premier League goal.
Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner on his record-breaking goal in the North London derby

Nicklas Bendtner struck his first league goal for Arsenal in memorable style, just 1.8 seconds into his North London derby debut, a Premier League record for a substitute. Getting clear of his marker, he headed home Cesc Fabregas’s freekick to instantly warm himself to the home faithful by giving The Gunners a 2-1 win over fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur. "It was fantastic," he said. "First touch, first Premier League goal.” Everton striker Apostolos Vellios managed a similar effort this season against Chelsea. The Greek striker saw just eight seconds of play before he stretched to prod past Petr Cech.

Bendtner’s not the only striker to get a first Premier League goal with his first touch in the heat of a local derby. Newcastle’s Michael Chopra, who would also play for Sunderland, struck his first goal in the Tyne-Wear derby of 2006 having been on the field for just ten seconds, a record at the time. A long ball from Titus Bramble was allowed to bounce in the area and, bundling into Black Cats keeper Kelvin Davis, Chopra managed to get enough on the ball to equalise and spark a 4-1 turnaround.

The Greek Super League showed stars in the twilight of their career can carry a similar instant impact when Icelandic veteran Eidur Gudjohnsen managed the same achievement. Just 15 seconds after entering the field in his second league appearance for AEK Athens, the former Barcelona striker tapped in to register his first goal for the side from a capital in a 4-3 win over Xanthi. However, another former Premier League striker managed to do the same, and go one better, two years previous. With less than an hour of league football for Olympiakos to his name, Matt Derbyshire entered the field against Iraklis to grab his first goal for the club having been on for less than a minute. He followed that up with this second, and Olympiakos’ fifth, five minutes later.

Have your say
Are there any goals you’ve seen scored with a player’s first touch that stand out for you? Do you have an all-time favourite? Bring your voice to the conversation by clicking ‘Add your comment’, remembering to keep your comments clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.

Messi: I will win the World Cup

Messi: I will win the World Cup
(AFP) Monday 26 December 2011
Print
Email my friend
Share

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is convinced he can lift the FIFA World Cup™ with Argentina, the forward said in an interview with the Argentina Football Association.

Messi has won a host of top honours with Barça but has yet to taste major success with the Albiceleste, who are without a top title since 1993 and flopped at the Copa America on home soil in July, with many observers puzzled as to why his club form rarely appears at international level.

"I still have this dream and that is to be a world champion and lift the Copa America with the national side. And I know I'll do it, I am convinced I shall," insisted Messi.

"I don't have to demonstrate anything to anybody. I would love to win a title with the national team but I am just another one in the group who wants to do the best for Argentine football, nothing more," he added.
I still have this dream and that is to be a world champion and lift the Copa America with the national side.
Lionel Messi, Argentina forward

Under new coach Alejandro Sabella, Argentina got off to a mediocre start in their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with an embarrassing loss to Venezuela, but their recent win over Colombia put them on a more even keel and they are now level on points with regional group leaders Uruguay, albeit having played a game more, and Venezuela.

"The group are doing fine. But we needed a win like that to strengthen ourselves. It has revitalised us," Messi said, recognising that "sometimes we don't quite get up to the mark either in terms of performance or the result. We are aware of that."

On the difference between playing for his country and Barça, with whom he has just won the FIFA Club World Cup, Messi said: "They are two different things. Barcelona are the best team in the world, even non-fans admit as much. That is the result of years of hard work with the same team-mates.

"It's more difficult with the national side and we've been through a lot of chopping and changing of coaches in recent years," he said pointedly. "But we are growing and I know we are going to achieve a lot."

Berbatov burst sees United soa

Berbatov burst sees United soar

Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick as Manchester United muscled their way level with Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League.

City still hold the advantage on goal difference, but even that lead was cut to five by United's second successive five-goal triumph. It was tough luck on Wigan, whose chance disappeared once Conor Sammon was sent off for catching Michael Carrick with his elbow just before the break.

Already leading through Park Ji-sung's early goal, United took maximum advantage. Berbatov doubled their lead before half-time, then scored twice more, bringing back memories of his form in the first half of last season, when he claimed three match balls.

On this occasion, he owed the honour to Wayne Rooney, who stepped aside to let him take the penalty after Park had been fouled by Antolin Alcaraz. The excellent Antonio Valencia was also on target to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson will be handed the perfect 70th birthday present of a place on top of the table should his side overcome Blackburn on New Year's Eve, given City are not in action until 24 hours later.

If there was one game where Ferguson might not have been too alarmed to field a defence including Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia, this was it. Wigan had not managed so much as a draw in 13 previous meetings between the sides and the combined score from their past four encounters was 16-0.

United soon added to their tally as Patrice Evra slalomed his way into the Wigan box, then picked out Park Ji-sung with a neat cut-back. The Korean had enough space to pick his spot, into the top right corner, well out of Ali Al Habsi's reach.

The men in red continued to create chances at regular intervals, with Nani, Berbatov and Darron Gibson all trying their luck. However, Wigan were not content to play the meek visitors and with Victor Moses building on recent impressive performances and Ronnie Stam exploiting the hosts' lack of an orthodox left-sided midfield player, created just as many chances as their hosts early on.

Sammon wasted the best, turning onto David Jones' pass, but drilling a shot straight at Anders Lindegaard. The Irishman's day quickly got much worse, and any chance Wigan had disappeared. There is no doubt Sammon's arm did end up in Carrick's face, offering referee Phil Dowd the opportunity to send him off.

And, as good sides do, United quickly exploited the situation. Had injury not struck him down in August, Gibson might well have moved on in the summer. As it was, Ferguson was probably glad to have him available for this one.

The Irishman delivered a teasing cross from the right flank, which ended up with Berbatov. Making only his second Premier League start of the season, United's record signing took some time to get the ball under control. However, he had the strength to hold off Antolin Alcaraz and drilled his shot past Al Habsi.

The departure of Evans at half-time led to Evra becoming possibly becoming United's shortest-ever central defender. He was limping too not long afterwards, although that proved to be a false alarm. There did not seem much wrong with the Frenchman when he went straight through the back of Moses anyway.

Jones curled the free-kick narrowly wide, which turned out to be Wigan's last opportunity before United struck again. Valencia was having a quietly effective game and his prodded pass left Berbatov with enough space and time to smash his shot beyond Al Habsi.

Having fallen so far behind Manchester City in the goal difference stakes, United sensed it was time to start making up some ground. Valencia's excellent performance continued when he drilled his first Premier League goal of the season into the bottom left corner. Then, after Park was chopped down in the box by Alcaraz, substitute Rooney let Berbatov finish off his hat-trick.

Petit: France are better as outsiders+

Petit: France are better as outsiders


A legend in French football circles from the moment his shot hit the net at the Stade de France on 12 July 1998, Emmanuel Petit can look back on a hugely successful career in the game. The midfield linchpin rounded off the scoring as the hosts beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 FIFA World Cup™ Final and he then followed that up with continental glory at UEFA EURO 2000. At club level Petit racked up an equally impressive collection of winners’ medals during spells with Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea.

Since hanging up his boots in 2004, Manu has become one of the most respected television pundits on the French scene, offering the public the benefit of his excellent insights and genuine candour. Earlier this month, he also provided his analysis during the announcement of the final list of candidates for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award, and afterwards he agreed to share his thoughts with FIFA.com. Petit gave his views on the three contenders, his own illustrious career and the state of the French national team.

FIFA.com: Xavi, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the three candidates for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award. Do you agree with that shortlist?
Emmanuel Petit: It’s easy to lose objectivity in this type of discussion, but the list of the three contenders makes some sense. Spanish football is enjoying a certain supremacy at the moment and this list fits in with that reality.

Do you have your own favourite among that trio?
For me, they all deserve the Ballon d’Or. Xavi has redefined the position of midfield anchorman and taken that role forward. He’s Barcelona’s jack of all trades: he moves the ball forward from deep, organises attacks, scores goals and creates them. His talent is immense. As for Lionel Messi, he adds magic to Barcelona’s team work. He’s exceptional, a PlayStation player. That said, Cristiano Ronaldo would get my vote, and God knows how much I like the other two! But in a Real Madrid environment where things are maybe more complicated than they are at Barcelona, he boasts some impressive statistics. Despite dominating in England, he didn’t think twice about testing himself again by going to Madrid. He’s assumed his responsibilities perfectly and maybe has more of an ability to score with his head compared to the Argentinian. He’s just a tad out in front, but I’m still waiting for both of them to finally make full use of their abilities with their national teams.

You crossed paths with a number of Ballon d’Or winners during your career. Which of them impressed you the most?
I loved Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and also Zinedine Zidane. For me, you have to fulfil a whole list of criteria to deserve the Ballon d’Or – and being an example off the pitch is a fundamental one as far as I’m concerned.
The year 1998 with Arsenal and the France team was the pinnacle of my career. To win six titles in one year is something extraordinary.
Emmanuel Petit

Attacking players tend to win the most votes. As a player confined to more defensive roles during your career, do you find that unfair?
Guys like Paolo Maldini, Lilian Thuram, Franco Baresi and Marcel Desailly were giants at the back. They were all good enough to win the Ballon d’Or. Maybe we should have one Ballon d’Or for each position!

What did you enjoy most about being a holding midfielder, a typically unsung role?
The unselfishness and importance of the position. The midfield anchorman is at the crossroads between all the various aspects of a team. He’s like a roundabout and everything goes through him. If the midfield isn’t working well, the whole team feels it. I adored players like Fernando Redondo and Frank Rijkaard in that position, even if they were very different. I was fortunate enough to share the pitch with them – and the danger is that you end up standing back and watching when you play against them (laughs).

France coach Laurent Blanc has tried a few different options in that position, giving chances to Yohan Cabaye, Yann M’Vila, Alou Diarra, Abou Diaby and Maxime Gonalons. Do you see any of those players as the next Emmanuel Petit?
I’m left-footed, and that’s one of a number of things missing in the current France team. Les Bleus tend to favour one side of the pitch more than the other. Cabaye is improving his game at Newcastle and I hope he manages to add another dimension to his play in the Premier League. He mustn’t confine himself to a role as a holding player; on the contrary, he should look to be involved in moves going forward. That will require him to have a more physical profile, real tactical clarity in his movement and a more refined technical finesse. In England, teams move the ball around quicker and that means you have much less reaction time.

In total, you spent six years in England and just one in Spain. Why did you experience less success in Spain than elsewhere?
I arrived at Barcelona at perhaps the worst possible moment in the last 20 years (laughs). I laugh about it now, but I found it less funny at the time. I’m not bitter, though. We had a squad that was coming to the end of an era. Rivaldo, Pep Guardiola, and the De Boer brothers were fantastic players, but they were on their way down, as was I. That explains what happened.

Barcelona had an impressive contingent of players in the initial list of 23 candidates for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or and now boast two in the shortlist. Are they the best club in the world?
They’re the team that keeps winning everything, anyway. They’re the club that sums up modern football perfectly at the moment. Plenty of people are growing tired of watching them knock the ball around, but their players have given new life to terms like ‘pressing the opposition’, ‘winning the ball back’ and ‘possession’. For me, this Barça team right now are what football is all about. They’re one of those rare sides who manage to raise football to its highest possible level, like Brazil in 1970.

You played for Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea. Which of those clubs left the greatest impression on you and why?
The year 1998 with Arsenal and the France team was the pinnacle of my career. To win six titles in one year is something extraordinary.

As a former international, what did you make of France’s qualifying campaign for EURO 2012?
I’m not going to fall into the popular trap of patriotism. I think that, right now, Laurent Blanc’s France team has neither the mental capacity nor the football ability to be considered among the favourites. France have a number of top-quality players, but those players still haven’t managed to express the full range of their talent in the national team. Still, it’s all the better if we’re able to shake off the tag of group favourites, as we showed in friendly wins against England and Brazil that we’re better in the role of outsiders.

What are thoughts on your former France team-mate Laurent Blanc as Les Bleus coach?
He’s trying to do the best he can, and I think he’s doing it well – Les Bleus are on a long unbeaten run. In terms of their play, I think we’re right to expect much better, but he would be the first to say that. After the events in Knysna [at the 2010 FIFA World Cup] and the awful image left by the France team, it was suicidal to take the reins of that side. At the moment, he must simply be frustrated that certain players are a long way from their best when they play in blue. He must also be frustrated that generations change: football is becoming more and more of a sport for individuals. Taking that into account, I think he’s doing a more than competent job in charge of the France team.

Can you see yourself moving into a coaching role like him?
I have other priorities right now. To be a club or national coach, you need to dedicate yourself 200 per cent to that job. At the moment, I’m not willing to make such significant sacrifices in my private life and professional career.

El Shenawy: I want Al Masry silverware+

El Shenawy: I want Al Masry silverware
(s

Al Masry goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy has had an impressive 2011, garnering praise for his consistently excellent performances for Egypt in major tournaments. The sequence started at the CAF African Youth Championship in South Africa in April and was followed by the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia. Then came the final qualifying round for the Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 in Morocco, where the Baby Pharaohs booked their ticket with a third-place finish.

In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com the 21-year-old keeper spoke about his ambitions for 2012, playing for his country’s senior team against Brazil and rumours that he will be moving to a new club in the New Year.

FIFA.com: First of all, congratulations on qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. This year the final round was an U-23 tournament organized by CAF. What do you think of the format?
Ahmed El Shenawy: Thanks! In my opinion the format worked out perfectly and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the organisers in Morocco, who staged this tournament for the first time and at such short notice. The organization was spot on. Everything was perfect: the hotels, the training facilities and the pitches. We had everything we needed and it was just a marvellous opportunity to rub shoulders with other quality African sides. Events like this always have a positive effect on the teams taking part and improve the quality of their play.

As you’re aware, Egypt was supposed to have hosted this tournament, but at the last moment it was moved to Morocco. Did losing your home advantage have a negative impact on the team?
Of course, we would have preferred it to be held on Egyptian soil, but the situation in the country made it impossible. The safety of players and supporters had to be considered. Sure, we might have done better if we’d been playing at familiar stadiums in front of our fans, but we still did well in Morocco. We qualified for the Olympics and that was the objective.

Before the tournament Egypt’s U-23 coach Hany Ramzy said he was confident the Moroccan supporters would get behind Egypt. Did they?
They certainly did. The Moroccan public were 100 per cent behind us in all our games. After our semi-final loss to Morocco they gave us a lot of encouragement and I’d like to thank them all personally for their amazing support during our third-place play-off against Senegal. It was a must-win game and they deserve a lot of the credit for our victory.

It’s been a year of achievements for you: third place at the African Youth Championship, reaching the last 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and another third place in Morocco, which guarantees you a berth at the Olympics. What have been your happiest memories of 2011?
There have been a few. It’s been quite a year for me personally, what with my winning the award for the best goalkeeper at the U-20 African Youth Championships. However, if I had to pick one moment, it would be beating Senegal to take third place in Morocco and qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

You won the best goalkeeper award in South Africa, were picked in the team of the tournament in Morocco and then played for Egypt’s first team in a friendly against Brazil. Do you think you have what it takes to replace a great goalkeeper like Essam Al Hadari?
I aspire to, naturally, but only once he retires for good. He’s still Egypt’s number-one keeper. He may be experiencing a few difficulties at the moment, but I’m confident he’ll find a way through and regain his rightful place as the country’s last line of defence.

How was it playing for the first team, especially against such illustrious opponents as Brazil?
Well, it was a very tough match. Your first game for the national side is always going to be a nervous time, and it doesn’t make it any easier when you’re playing a side like Brazil. For the first five minutes I was terrified, but I settled down after that and did my job. That game was a turning point in my life, to be honest.

What do think of Egypt’s new coach, Bob Bradley?
He’s a guy with fresh ideas who’s had some amazing results with the USA team. We hope he can do the same for us, lead us to the World Cup and the next African Cup of Nations, and get the first team out of its current slump.

You were only one year old when Egypt last qualified for the Olympics back in 1992. In Barcelona the team went out at the group stage after losing to Spain and Qatar. How do you think things will go in London next year?
I’m hoping we do really well! This will be the last major tournament for this generation of youth players, so I want us to get past the group stage and really make our mark. We’ll be playing strong sides and it won’t be easy. I also hope that as many of our players as possible get picked up by major clubs. It’s a dream for all of us.

On that subject, you’re rumoured to have been the subject of transfer talks between Al Masry and a number of European clubs, and that Al Ahly and Zamalek have also taken an interest in you. Can you confirm any of that?
I don’t think that this is the right moment for me to leave. I’d like to win something with Al Masry, and also have success with the Olympic team in London or with the Egypt senior team before I start thinking of moving on. I’m yet to win a single title, after all. Al Masry have assured me that they will not block a potential move if the offer is good, but only after the end of this season. We have a good chance of winning the Egypt Cup this year and I want to be part of that.

El Shenawy: I want Al Masry silverware++

El Shenawy: I want Al Masry silverware


Al Masry goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy has had an impressive 2011, garnering praise for his consistently excellent performances for Egypt in major tournaments. The sequence started at the CAF African Youth Championship in South Africa in April and was followed by the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia. Then came the final qualifying round for the Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 in Morocco, where the Baby Pharaohs booked their ticket with a third-place finish.

In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com the 21-year-old keeper spoke about his ambitions for 2012, playing for his country’s senior team against Brazil and rumours that he will be moving to a new club in the New Year.

FIFA.com: First of all, congratulations on qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. This year the final round was an U-23 tournament organized by CAF. What do you think of the format?
Ahmed El Shenawy: Thanks! In my opinion the format worked out perfectly and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the organisers in Morocco, who staged this tournament for the first time and at such short notice. The organization was spot on. Everything was perfect: the hotels, the training facilities and the pitches. We had everything we needed and it was just a marvellous opportunity to rub shoulders with other quality African sides. Events like this always have a positive effect on the teams taking part and improve the quality of their play.

As you’re aware, Egypt was supposed to have hosted this tournament, but at the last moment it was moved to Morocco. Did losing your home advantage have a negative impact on the team?
Of course, we would have preferred it to be held on Egyptian soil, but the situation in the country made it impossible. The safety of players and supporters had to be considered. Sure, we might have done better if we’d been playing at familiar stadiums in front of our fans, but we still did well in Morocco. We qualified for the Olympics and that was the objective.

Before the tournament Egypt’s U-23 coach Hany Ramzy said he was confident the Moroccan supporters would get behind Egypt. Did they?
They certainly did. The Moroccan public were 100 per cent behind us in all our games. After our semi-final loss to Morocco they gave us a lot of encouragement and I’d like to thank them all personally for their amazing support during our third-place play-off against Senegal. It was a must-win game and they deserve a lot of the credit for our victory.

It’s been a year of achievements for you: third place at the African Youth Championship, reaching the last 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and another third place in Morocco, which guarantees you a berth at the Olympics. What have been your happiest memories of 2011?
There have been a few. It’s been quite a year for me personally, what with my winning the award for the best goalkeeper at the U-20 African Youth Championships. However, if I had to pick one moment, it would be beating Senegal to take third place in Morocco and qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

You won the best goalkeeper award in South Africa, were picked in the team of the tournament in Morocco and then played for Egypt’s first team in a friendly against Brazil. Do you think you have what it takes to replace a great goalkeeper like Essam Al Hadari?
I aspire to, naturally, but only once he retires for good. He’s still Egypt’s number-one keeper. He may be experiencing a few difficulties at the moment, but I’m confident he’ll find a way through and regain his rightful place as the country’s last line of defence.

How was it playing for the first team, especially against such illustrious opponents as Brazil?
Well, it was a very tough match. Your first game for the national side is always going to be a nervous time, and it doesn’t make it any easier when you’re playing a side like Brazil. For the first five minutes I was terrified, but I settled down after that and did my job. That game was a turning point in my life, to be honest.

What do think of Egypt’s new coach, Bob Bradley?
He’s a guy with fresh ideas who’s had some amazing results with the USA team. We hope he can do the same for us, lead us to the World Cup and the next African Cup of Nations, and get the first team out of its current slump.

You were only one year old when Egypt last qualified for the Olympics back in 1992. In Barcelona the team went out at the group stage after losing to Spain and Qatar. How do you think things will go in London next year?
I’m hoping we do really well! This will be the last major tournament for this generation of youth players, so I want us to get past the group stage and really make our mark. We’ll be playing strong sides and it won’t be easy. I also hope that as many of our players as possible get picked up by major clubs. It’s a dream for all of us.

On that subject, you’re rumoured to have been the subject of transfer talks between Al Masry and a number of European clubs, and that Al Ahly and Zamalek have also taken an interest in you. Can you confirm any of that?
I don’t think that this is the right moment for me to leave. I’d like to win something with Al Masry, and also have success with the Olympic team in London or with the Egypt senior team before I start thinking of moving on. I’m yet to win a single title, after all. Al Masry have assured me that they will not block a potential move if the offer is good, but only after the end of this season. We have a good chance of winning the Egypt Cup this year and I want to be part of that.

Barça's history boysJapan coronation for Barça's history boys++

apan coronation for Barça's history boys
(FIFA.com) Monday 19 December 2011
Japan coronation for Barça's history boys
© Getty Images

For Barcelona, the extraordinary has now become ordinary. The fact is, we are no longer astounded when Pep Guardiola’s side achieve incredible feats in sensational style. Their latest triumphant campaign here at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan broke records, wowed crowds and earned only generous acclaim from their outclassed rivals. That no-one was particularly surprised is perhaps the biggest compliment of all.

Their final against Santos had been billed as a showdown between the current king of football and one of the principal pretenders to his throne. As it was, even Neymar himself was gracious enough to admit that, for now at least, Lionel Messi and Barça are simply in a class of their own. “It’s impossible to stop them,” reflected the teenager. “Today, the best team in the world showed us how to play football.”

As Neymar’s comment suggests, the Catalans’ coronation really only confirmed what we already knew about their current pre-eminence. The club has now won 13 of the 16 trophies it has competed for under Guardiola, and secured their second FIFA Club World Cup in three years with the highest number of overall goals and with a record winning margin in the final itself. Yet it was the manner of the success that most pleased their coach. “In the first half, the players were like artists,” Guardiola enthused. “Whatever they envisioned in their minds, it appeared on the pitch.”

Even in a team packed full of virtuosos, Messi still managed to stand out. A brace in the 4-0 win over Santos saw the little Argentinian become the first player to score in multiple FIFA Club World Cup finals, and left his tally for the season at 29 from 26 appearances. While Xavi, winner of the adidas Silver Ball, was at his brilliant best in the final, and though Thiago impressed throughout, Messi’s place at the top of the pile was beyond dispute.
In the first half, the players were like artists. Whatever they envisioned in their minds, it appeared on the pitch.
Pep Guardiola

Yet, for all that Barça and their talismanic No10 reigned supreme, this was a tournament in which there was always going to be more than one winner. Even Santos, once they recover from their final humbling, will be able to reflect fondly on a 3-1 semi-final win over Kashiwa Reysol that was secured by a trio of truly outstanding goals.

Asian champions Al-Sadd, meanwhile, proudly flew the flag for Qatar, which became the 20th nation to be represented at FIFA’s club showpiece. Beating their African counterparts Esperance in the quarter-finals was a feat in itself, but the fact that Jorge Fossati’s side went on to secure third place came as a major boost for the game in this emerging football nation. “It’s a great day for Qatar,” beamed their Uruguayan coach. “Today is a national holiday in the country and I believe we are adding something to what will be a day of huge celebration.”

Kashiwa Reysol were the team Al-Sadd beat on penalties to secure a place on the podium, but not even the bitter taste of defeat in a match they dominated could detract from a fairy tale season for the Chiba outfit. It certainly should not forgotten that the Sun Kings won the J.League, becoming the first newly-promoted side to do so, just four days before competing in their FIFA Club World Cup opener. That 2-0 win over Auckland City in the tournament’s curtain-raiser was one of five matches Kashiwa faced in the space of 15 days – two of which went to penalties – and yet their play never lost the verve and energy that continues to earn scores of new admirers.

Auckland, despite bowing out early, could draw solace from having competed with an intensity that belied their amateur status, and from having provided a new FIFA Club World Cup record-breaker. Striker Daniel Koprivcic was, after all, competing in his fourth edition of the club showpiece, edging him ahead of an illustrious group of three-time veterans that includes, among others, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Even Monterrey and Esperance, arguably the most disappointed of the seven Japan 2011 hopefuls, could reflect on areas for optimism. For the Tunisians, hope for the future emerged in the shape of Yannick N’Djeng and Youssef Msakni, an accomplished attacking duo who, at 23 and 21 respectively, should have their best years ahead of them. Monterrey too showed that they have plenty of firepower, and while fifth place fell considerably short of their pre-tournament aims, the Mexicans returned home with the creditable record of having won one match and drawn the other.

Los Rayados could also lay claim to provided the quote of the tournament, courtesy of Ricardo Osorio. “Football is a sport of happiness, and hopefully this World Cup brings happiness to everyone in Japan,” the veteran fullback told FIFA.com ahead of the tournament. “No matter which team wins and which team loses, the goal must be to bring smiles to the people affected by the disasters.”

Osorio’s words typified a spirit of solidarity that pervaded a tournament taking place less than nine months after that devastating earthquake and tsunami of 11 March. Japan will host the FIFA Club World Cup once again next year and, should that event enjoy the same excitement, skill and flawless hosting on show in 2011, it’s sure to prove a very happy homecoming.

Final standings
1. FC Barcelona
2. Santos Futebol Clube
3. Al-Sadd Sports Club
4. Kashiwa Reysol
5. Club de Futbol Monterrey
6. Espérance Sportive de Tunis
7. Auckland City FC

Stadiums
Toyota Stadium (Toyota)
Yokohama International Stadium (Yokohama)

Riquelme: Football has given me everything+

Riquelme: Football has given me everything


Now 33 and arguably in the twilight of his glittering 15-year top-flight career, few would deny that Juan Roman Riquelme remains one of the most elegant and gifted creative midfielders of his generation. Cerebral, unerringly accurate from open play and set pieces, and a fine striker of the ball, the Argentinian schemer continues to bring these powers to bear for Boca Juniors – who he has just helped to victory in the 2011 Apertura.

Currently enjoying a well-deserved post-season break, as he recharges his batteries for Los Xeneizes’ assault on the 2012 Copa Libertadores, a trophy he has lifted on three occasions, the No10 graciously made time for an in-depth and exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

FIFA.com: 2011 has been special for you for a number of reasons, including the fact that it’s now been 15 years since you made your professional debut. As a child, did you imagine you’d enjoy such a fine career?
Juan Roman Riquelme: To be honest, no. However, I used to imagine becoming a footballer, and that I’d try to get to wear the Boca shirt in the Bombonera someday, as my family all support this club. But I never dreamed I’d play for such a long time, nor that I’d be fortunate enough for people to be so fond of me here in my own country. It’s a really lovely feeling.

One of your biggest strengths has been the way you strike the ball so accurately. Was there anyone in particular who you modelled your game on?
I was lucky enough to grow up during the era of (Diego) Maradona’s, who all Argentinians consider the greatest player ever. After watching him play I used to run out onto the street with my mates, get the ball and pretend that I was him. I’d be commentating on myself and saying “Maradona has the ball”, stuff like that. Now that’s what my son’s like with (Lionel) Messi: he starts kicking the ball and saying “Messi’s on the ball”. For people my age, Maradona is the main man. But for younger generations, like my boy, Messi’s their hero.

If you had to pick out two moments that have shaped your career, one positive and one negative, which would you choose?
I really enjoy those moments I get to spend with my team-mates, both in training or if we all go for a meal. But from the fans' point of view, I guess their fondest moments will be of a championship or cup win I was involved in. It’s hard to just pick one, right? If I had to choose the worst one though, it might be that semi-final we lost with Villarreal (against Arsenal in 2005/06). We were so excited about trying to reach that Champions League final, because we knew that Villarreal may never get the chance again. It was a really tough time.

You missed a key penalty in that game, but have you seen that incident again since?
Yes, I watch all the games I play in. I think we deserved to win that game, we played better than Arsenal. We played much better, we won a penalty and we missed several clear chances, while they didn’t create any opportunities at all. But, in football, when things don’t go your way there’s not much you can do.

A few months later you appeared at the FIFA World Cup™ in Germany. What did playing at the finals mean to you?
It meant a lot to me, it was the only major championship that I hadn't played in. There’s been a lot said about our performance at that tournament. Even though it ended disappointingly because we crashed out, you have to remember that we got knocked out without losing a game. I think we played the best football out of anyone there and I supplied more assists than anyone else at that World Cup. That was a great experience and so were the 2008 Olympic Games, where I thoroughly enjoyed myself (and helped Argentina win gold).

Looking back at that quarter-final defeat against the hosts at Germany 2006, what’s your verdict on the way that game panned out?
I reckon we had that game under control, don’t you think? It seemed more likely that Argentina would score a second than Germany would get an equaliser. You could see they were very tired, several of them had cramped up. But they managed to grab a goal after a move where the ball came to (Miroslav) Klose at the far post. And he’s phenomenal in the air, he’s better with his head than with his feet, and that moment changed the whole game. Penalty shoot-outs are a question of luck: their keeper had a good day and we ended up going out.

Jens Lehmann was between the sticks for Germany keeper that day, as he was for Arsenal in that aforementioned semi-final with Villarreal…
I wasn’t fortunate enough to take a kick in that World Cup match, though I would’ve loved to. I used to take my team’s first kick in penalty shoot-outs and it would’ve been a wonderful moment. I’m one of those who thinks that football players have to always put themselves in those situations where nerves are most frayed, where you can decide the outcome. But I’d already been subbed so I couldn’t play a part. And that was what stayed with me, the feeling that I’d be denied the chance to take that penalty.

That particular penalty shoot-out was even more memorable because of the piece of paper Lehmann consulted between penalties…
There wasn’t anything written on that piece of paper.

Really?
There wasn’t anything on it. It was all about delaying the kicks that bit longer and making our penalty-takers think he knew where they were going to shoot. For example I remember that (Esteban) Cambiasso struck his kick at medium height, which he’d never done in training. But Lehmann still guessed right, which doesn’t add up. In my opinion the piece of paper had nothing on it, but in any case he did a good job; he was very sharp in the way he tried to put our players off.

Let’s talk about what you’re like off the pitch. Do you watch many matches?
Yes, I watch everything I can: Argentinian football, European football, national team games...

Is there a team you particularly enjoying watching?
We all like watching Barcelona. They’ve been fortunate enough to bring together a group of players the likes of which will never be seen again in Messi, (Andres) Iniesta, Xavi, (Gerard) Pique... all in the same team at the same time. It’s a stroke of fortune, but they’re a real joy to watch.

How do you beat a team like that, is there any secret formula?
It’s difficult. If you come up against them in a knockout cup tie or over two legs and luck goes your way then you can edge past them. But they’re very unlikely to be beaten in a longer competition, like a league championship. I think the only coach who’s managed to beat this Barcelona team is the guy who’s at Getafe [Luis Garcia], who beat them 1-0 recently and managed a draw with them last season when he was at Levante. That says it all. Barcelona and Real Madrid, though they have different styles, are both way ahead of the rest.

When you watch this Barcelona team, do you wonder what might have been had you signed for them at a different time?
When a team’s playing well and winning they exude a sense of calm and confidence. It’s a pleasure to watch them play. I joined them in a year when there were elections at the club and a lot of internal problems, a lot of anxiety. But now I’m here, where I want to be: Boca are my club and my home. I’m really enjoying where I am right now.

Speaking as a Boca player, how did it feel to see River Plate go down?
It’s all about perspective. The Boca faithful celebrated it like we’d won a trophy ourselves but for me, as someone who loves football, I think it was a bad thing. It’s like if Barcelona or Real Madrid were relegated in Spain – it’d be bad for La Liga. El Superclásico is the game everybody looks forward to most and we won’t get to play it this year. Let’s hope River can bounce back quickly so we can enjoy those matches again.

Which are the current players that you most admire?
Messi is the greatest, the best in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo is like the ideal Playstation player, the kind that can score with his right foot and his left. Plus he’s fast, tall, good in the air, scores penalties and free-kicks and is skilful. But the one who plays the game best is Iniesta: he knows exactly when to go forward and when to drop back. If he’s got the ball out on the left he knows who’s out on the right. He picks the right moment to do everything: when to dribble, when to speed things up and when to slow things down. And I think that’s the only thing that can’t be taught or bought. You can learn how to shoot and how to control the ball, but being aware of everything that’s happening out on the pitch – that’s something you’re born with or not.

Iniesta is always fulsome in his praise for you too…
What happened was that I was fortunate enough to join Barcelona when he was in the youth team. He started training with us and I became very fond of him; we used to spend a lot of time together. He made his first-team debut around that time and we’ve got on really well ever since. We’ve always kept in touch.

A short while ago you stated that you were determined to appear at the next FIFA World Cup. Is that because your son asked you to?
Yes! (laughs) He’s nine years old, he really likes football and he knows the World Cup will be played over here (in Brazil). I’m just going to try and keep playing football. I know it’s going to be tricky and that I’ll be getting on a bit by then, but I won’t have lost any of my enthusiasm or desire to play at a World Cup. And if I’m not there as a player then I’ll go as a fan to cheer on our national team.

We’ve heard that you’ve got quite a collection of shirts from opposing players. Are there any that you hold especially dear?
I’m lucky enough to have a lot of shirts now, but if I had to pick just one I’d definitely go with Zinedine Zidane’s. I’ve got the shirt he wore in his very last home game for Real Madrid. The Wednesday before the game he called me and told me that he didn’t have mine and he wanted to swap shirts on Sunday. At the match, they subbed him five minutes from the end so the fans could give him an ovation and he stood there waiting by the touchline so he could keep his promise to me. It was a really lovely moment. I’ve got it displayed in my house, with the date on it. He was one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen.

Changing the subject completely, is your dad still your harshest critic?
Yes, he never thinks I play well! (laughs) For him, there’s always something wrong, but by being so demanding he’s really helped my game. Even if the press say I’ve had a good game, he’ll come up to me and say “if you’re that good, why’d you misplace that pass”. I think it’s good having someone there who always demands more from you. It stops you resting on your laurels and makes you want to always keep improving.

Finally, after so many years in the game, how important would you say football has been in your life?
Football’s given me everything. Just like little girls love dolls, the best toy I’ve ever had, or ever could have, is a football. The person who invented it is a true hero: nobody can top that.

Matip: We need to move forward+

Matip: We need to move forward
(
Although just 20 years old, defensive midfielder Joel Matip, who also plays as an outright defender, has already achieved much for such a young man, showing a preternatural promise along the way that has many marking him for future greatness.

German-born, Matip plays club football for Bundesliga team Schalke 04, with whom he won a German Cup earlier this year, and international football for the country of his father: Cameroon. It was with the Indomitable Lions that the then-18-year-old competed at the highest stage for any player last summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

His path to the world stage began the December before when Matip was surprisingly called up into Cameroon's squad for the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola despite having played in just eight Bundesliga games. His league debut had been particularly noteworthy - he scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at giants Bayern Munich - and his all around good play led coach Felix Magath to make him a regular in the team despite his young age.

As a result, Matip decided not to accept Paul Le Guen's invitation to be in the squad for Angola, opting instead to concentrate on his Bundesliga career. However, he never left Le Guen’s radar, and Matip made his international debut in a friendly against reigning FIFA World Cup champions Italy just before South Africa 2010, and he started Cameroon's Group E match against Japan in Bloemfontein at the finals.
A country like Cameroon should be there. But now we need to draw a line under it and get ready for our next goals.
Joel Matip on the Lions failing to reach the Cup of Nations

Matip admits that it was not an easy decision to throw in his lot with Cameroon, having grown up in Germany, the country of his mother. "When I was called upon to make a decision, I thought about it for a long time, but in the end it was a decision of the heart. I think it was the right choice, and I am very satisfied and happy with it now,” he explained. “My father never pushed me in a certain direction. He said he would be proud of me whatever choice I made, and he supports me as best he can. At the end of the day, it was my decision."

Joel's brother Marvin is also a professional footballer, who currently campaigns in Germany's second division, where he is under contract to Ingolstadt. A German youth international, the defender Marvin played for the German under-20 side at the FIFA World Youth Cup 2005 in the Netherlands. At the time he was playing Bundesliga football for Cologne, but in 2007 he was called up for Cameroon's 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia. A bureaucratic problem prevented him from making the side though, but Joel still dreams of playing international football alongside his brother. "That would just be a terrific feeling. He has the quality to play for the team, and it would be a big honour for me to line up next to my big brother."

A shock for the Lions
One place neither of the Matip brothers will line up is at the upcoming finals of the Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon after Cameroon were sensationally knocked out of qualifying. For Joel it is a huge disappointment. "A country like Cameroon should be there. But now we need to draw a line under it and get ready for our next goals,” he said, referring to next year's preliminary campaigns for the next continental championship as well as the start of Brazil 2014 qualifying.

There is, of course, some consolation for Matip that he can avoid becoming involved in the persistent club versus country debate surrounding January’s Cup of Nations. “Schalke would have supported me, I know that," he said. "Not being there has its advantages and disadvantages, and now I will be available for our first game of the New Year and that is also a good thing."

Matip, who is a distant cousin of former Arsenal player Joseph Desire Job enjoys being a member of the Cameroon squad, which has several world-class players like Samuel Eto'o and Alexander Song. "Even though I was so young, they immediately accepted me. It is a huge honour to be allowed to play alongside such stars as Eto'o and Song,” said Matip, who speaks French and English as well as German, and is in Cameroon regularly. “Playing in Africa is very different than playing in Germany. It is like a big family. The people in Africa are much more emotional and even if things are not as structured as in Germany, it’s not difficult to get used to it. I have adapted easily, and I have never regretted the decision to play for Cameroon. Different is just different, I suppose.”

Growing at Schalke
The youngster is enjoying another excellent season with Schalke, who have made it to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League and are well positioned in the German league after reaching the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League last term. "There has been a constant development over the past few years, but there is still room for further growth. Last season we played in the Champions League, and I had hoped that it would go well."

Matip is grateful to the three coaches that he has had at Schalke - Magath, Ralf Rangnick and now Huub Stevens. "They are all very good coaches and all very different. I have a lot to thank them for as they all helped develop me. They all have their own style and their own ways."

The international was touched by Rangnick's resignation just a few months ago due to a burn-out syndrome. "It was a difficult time. He is part of the team and if something like that happens, you start to think. I truly hope that he will be better soon and return to coaching."

FIFA confirms its strong commitment to reforms by adopting governance structures and road map

FIFA confirms its strong commitment to reforms by adopting governance structures and road map

Following the proposals made by the FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter, at the last FIFA Congress on June 1 in terms of good governance, transparency and zero tolerance towards wrongdoing on and also off the pitch – proposals which were overwhelmingly approved by the Congress – the FIFA Executive Committee, meeting yesterday and today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, agreed on a series of major measures:

- the creation of four task forces, mandated to propose reforms:
• “Task Force Revision of Statutes”, chaired by Dr Theo Zwanziger (Germany)
• “Task Force FIFA Ethics Committee”, chaired by the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Claudio Sulser (Switzerland)
• “Task Force Transparency and Compliance”, chaired by Juan Ángel Napout (President of the Paraguayan FA) and Frank Van Hattum (President of the New Zealand FA)
• “Task Force Football 2014” (operating since May 2011), chaired by Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)

- the creation of a “Committee Good Governance” (to be established at the next meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee in December 2011) which, among other tasks, will oversee reforms undertaken by FIFA. It will comprise of representatives not only from the international football family but also from other spheres

- establishment of a “FIFA Good Governance” road map (between today and the 2013 FIFA Congress) according to which the first reform proposals will be submitted by the four Task Forces to the Executive Committee in December 2011

It should be noted that since the last FIFA Congress, FIFA has taken the step of consulting external bodies and experts such as Transparency International and Prof. Mark Pieth on governance matters.

More detailed information on the measures taken today is provided in the document linked on the right.

Furthermore, following a proposal from the FIFA President, the Executive Committee stated its full support for the release of the dossier on the ISL-ISMM case. However, this can only be done after a thorough legal analysis because of the complexity of the matter. The case will be opened at the next meeting of the Executive Committee in December 2011. It will then be given to an independent body for further examination.

Other items:
- 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™
• The match schedule of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and key match assignments for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 have been approved (more details can be found through the story on the right).
• Mexico’s qualifier scheduled on 18 June 2013 has been moved to 4 June 2013 due to the team’s participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013; moreover, the release period for players for this date, which is an international friendly one, will be extended from two to five days (only for Mexico and their opponents)

- Swiss club FC Sion/Olympique des Alpes SA (OLA): the case was discussed today without FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini due to their direct involvement. The Executive decided to give a deadline of ten working days to the Swiss FA to implement the decision taken by the Emergency Committee on 5 October 2011 (more details can be found through the story on the right)

- Humanitarian help: the Executive has ratified the decision taken in August 2011 to make a donation of USD 1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in emergency aid for the humanitarian crisis afflicting Somalia; FIFA’s contribution directly helped over 25,000 families (ca. 150,000 people) in one month
(more details can be found through the story on the right)

- Football development: the Executive was informed that the current number of Goal projects amounts to 556 in 194 member associations

- Member associations:
• Syria: the Executive has confirmed the decision taken on 15 September 2011 by the FIFA Emergency Committee to appoint a normalisation committee whose mandate is to organise elections by 11 December 2011 at the latest; this follows the resignation of all members of the Syrian FA’s Executive Committee
• Bosnia-Herzegovina: in order to respect the statutory provisions and to ensure a smooth process, the mandate of the normalisation committee has been extended until the elective general assembly but no later than 31 December 2012

- Football Federation of Kosovo (FKK): following UEFA’s stance on the matter, the FIFA Executive Committee confirmed that the request of the FKK to play international friendlies cannot be approved

- 2013 and 2014 FIFA Club World Cups: Morocco is the remaining bidder to host the tournaments. A further analysis of its bidding dossier will be made before a possible decision by the Executive in December

FIFA Vice-Presidents H.R.H. Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (Jordan) and Jim Boyce (Northern Ireland) as well as members V. Manilal Fernando (Sri Lanka), Dr Theo Zwanziger (Germany) and Zhang Jilong (China PR) participated in their first FIFA Executive Committee meeting since their election to this body.

The next FIFA Executive Committee meeting will be held in Tokyo on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December 2011.