Delgado: Monterrey can go all the way Though one of the keys to Monterrey’s success in the last three years has been continuity and the club’s faith in their core players, the small number of fresh faces brought in have consistently helped strengthen the side ahead of each new challenge. And among these timely signings one name immediately springs to mind: former Argentina international Cesar Delgado. An integral member of Los Rayados’ side ahead of their second trip to the FIFA Club World Cup, thanks in particular to his vision and knack for creating goals, El Chelito Delgado spoke exclusively to FIFA.com about the lessons learned from Japan 2011, his hopes for this year’s Far Eastern adventure and the objectives set for Victor Manuel Vucetich’s charges. FIFA.com: Come Japan 2011 you’d only been at the club for five months, so do you feel a more settled member of the side this time around? Cesar Delgado: I’m feeling really good. It’s true, when I came [to Japan] around this time last year I still didn’t know my team-mates all that well. Right now I’m feeling very good and I’ve settled into the squad: I know the lads well now. Nery Cardozo and Jose Maria Basanta have helped me, they’re great people. They helped me adapt quickly to the team, and I can only thank them for that. One year on from Japan 2011, and having thoroughly analysed what went on, what do you think Monterrey need to do better this time around? There are always things to improve – there’s always something to correct, to work on. And I’m talking about in every area: mental and tactical. The coach will take care of the latter, while it’ll be down to us to do what he asks of us and keep improving as a team. Take the game against Kashiwa [Reysol in the quarter-finals of Japan 2011], which we had in our grasp but couldn’t put our chances away. In the end it went to penalties, which everyone knows is a lottery, and we lost. Japan was a really great experience, even though we got knocked out. We’re hoping that at this World Cup we can go all the way to the final and win it. Going on your own experience of Mexican and European football, what differences would you highlight between the two? In fact there are very few differences, despite what many people think. One that I can see and is noticeable is the different type of playing surfaces. Here in Mexico the grass is longer and they don’t water the pitches before a game. Over in Europe it’s completely different: pitches are always watered beforehand and it changes the pace of the game. There are players that come here from Europe and can’t get used to it, due to the altitude, the heat or the kick-off times, but to be honest those few things are the only ones I’ve noticed. The FIFA Club World Cup features clubs from across the globe, while you have further experience of a similar competition having come second with Argentina at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005. What do you think is most important at tournaments with such a wide variety of playing styles? Keeping your concentration out on the pitch is so important. You have to be aware of the very smallest details so as not to be caught out in any situation. You have to play as a team throughout the whole match and keep the pressure on your opponents in every area of the field. Would you like to break back into the Argentina set-up? I’d love to, but I think it’s very difficult.... There are so many great players, we all know that. But being in Mexican football also makes it very difficult, because not many people [in Argentina] follow it - I don’t know why. That said, I was here in the Mexican game when I played for the national team under Marcelo Bielsa. But anyway, you never stop dreaming of being involved. You have to be at the top of your game to do that, so that’s what I train towards every day. Now that you mention Bielsa, he’s a coach whose methods have earned him widespread attention and admiration. What do you think of him? I learned so much from him. He’s a true great, he’s the boss. He’s a footballing perfectionist, he wants everything to go just right, everything balanced - just perfect. I think he’s the best coach I’ve ever had, by a distance. One last question, back on the subject of Japan 2012: are Monterrey capable of bringing the trophy home? Yes, that’s what we all dream about. We’ve got a great squad, a great team and we all want to have an outstanding tournament. We know how important this competition is and about the great teams that’ll be there, so our main objective is to reach the final and win it. We’re hoping to achieve what no other CONCACAF team has done. That’s our ultimate goal and we’d love to do it. We want to rise to the occasion on this new adventure, one which is so important both for the club and for us players.

Pakhtakor return to Uzbek pinnacle ( The 2012 Uzbek League season saw Pakhtakor restore their place as the country's top side, edging defending champions Bunyodkor to recapture the domestic laurels for a record ninth time. In what proved to be a tight title-race, the competition remained undecided until the closing round last Wednesday, with the Tashkent giants overpowering Bukhara 4-1 at home to seal a return to the top of the podium. Leading Bunyodkor by two points heading into the decider, Pakhtakor broke the deadlock through a penalty by Stanislav Andreyev six minutes before the break. Top-scorer Temurkhuja Abdukholikov would double the lead on 69 minutes, before Vladimir Kozak completed a brace to leave Zhasur Khasanov's late goal no more than just a consolation as Murod Ismailov's home side seized the crown they had conceded to city rivals Bunyodkor in 2008. "We had a very difficult season," said a relieved Ismailov. "But we defied all the odds to win the league thanks to the great efforts by all the players and officials. Indeed, I was not sure about our success until we led Bukhara 2-0, because Bunyodkor were just trailing by two points and waiting for our mistakes. When we scored the third goal, I was confident we are the champions." Long and glorious history The triumph saw Pakhtakor underline their pedigree as the central Asian nation's most successful club. The only Uzbek side to have featured in the former Soviet top league, previously known as the Supreme League, it was natural for Pakhtakor to emerge as the inaugural joint champions alongside Neftchi when the Uzbek League was formed in 1992 following the country's independence. After spending the next seasons in the shadow of Neftchi, the capital side were crowned for the second time in 1998. The start of the new millennium would prove to be a fresh dawn for Pakhtakor. Known as Cotton Pickers in English, they routinely collected silverware, winning the league six times in a row from 2002 to 2007. Adding to the unrivalled feats were eleven Uzbekistan Cup wins, while on the Asian front they maintained their record as the only side to have played in every AFC Champions League since its inauguration in 2003. Throughout their ten continental appearances, Pakhtakor progressed beyond the group stage on four occasions, including storming into the last four in the 2003 and 2004 editions. Comeback season Fittingly, given their dominant record over the years, the club have produced numerous stars during the past two decades. Notable among them are former national team captain and current Uzbekistan and Bunyodkor coach Mirdjalal Kasimov, striking legend Igor Shkvyrin, Anvar Soliev and Timur Kapadze, all of whom have been integral performers for both club and country during their prime days. Their golden era, however, was brought to an abrupt close with the emergence of Bunyodkor, who dethroned them to taste their maiden success in only their second Uzbek league season in 2008. The difficulties were not helped as a series of star players departed, with two-time AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov and ace-striker Alexander Geynrikh leaving for pastures new. Pakhtakor were, indeed, depleted so severely that they were forced to count on fresh faces and young talents heading into the past season. Three draws plus a 3-1 defeat to Neftchi were amongst the opening six outings of the season as the team, arguably the youngest squad in their history, opened the campaign in lacklustre fashion. On the continental scene, they failed to progress beyond the group phase, finishing third behind Al Ittihad and Baniyas. Despite defeating Al Arabi home and way, they picked up a mere point from the other four games which cost them a place in the knockout stage as well as Serbian coach Dejan Durdevic his job. With Ismailov taking over in June, though, Pakhtakor gradually clawed themselves back into the contest. Maintaining the pressure on Bunyodkor into the closing stages, they climbed to the summit courtesy of a 3-0 demolition of Neftchi in early October. From there they never looked back, winning all the remaining three games en-route to the championship. "We were not in a good position at the beginning of this season, but everyone at the club kept working hard until we won the league. And it was more precious for us that we prevailed with our youngest-ever squad. I took up the reins in the middle of the season and I am happy that I didn't do my job badly," Ismailov concluded.

Veteran Vicelich aims to lift Kiwis to Japan goal ( Auckland City FC is back for a fourth FIFA Club World Cup and skipper Ivan Vicelich says reaching the latter stages beyond the play-off against the J.League champions on 6 December remains the biggest challenge. Capped a record 85 times for New Zealand, the enduring Vicelich has set his sights on guiding Auckland through to the next round of the FIFA Club World Cup. But the former Roda JC defender admits the task facing the Oceania champions in Japan is far from easy. “Our goal is to go through to the next round. But it’s going to be very difficult as we experienced last year,” Vicelich told FIFA.com. “As an amateur club it’s a big challenge and very difficult, but getting to the next stage for any team at this tournament is the aim, and we're no different,” Auckland City are the only amateur club in the competition but have proved more than competitive in the past, notably finishing fifth in 2009. So how does Vicelich maintain his high standards in a domestic competition that is essentially an amateur environment? “I'm very fortunate to be at a club that trains as close to a professional level as possible,” he said. “At a high professional level you learn how to prepare physically and mentally and it helps you get to that next level, be it on the club or international stage. I've been very lucky that Auckland City’s high benchmark on and off the pitch enabled me to continue playing at international level.” Putting past experiences to good use Vicelich’s experience includes a starring role for New Zealand at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, as well as that memorable FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Abu Dhabi in 2009. And the towering central defender believes that the experience garnered from last year’s performance against Kashiwa Reysol - a 2-0 defeat - can only help Auckland put in another respectable effort. “The players are working on the right system and to play in a way that helps us achieve our overall goals for the Club World Cup,” says Vicelich. “It’s a big step up from our league to international standard. But we'll give it the best shot we can and our experience against Kashiwa Reysol will stand us in good stead for this campaign.” It’s a big step up from our league to international standard. But we'll give it the best shot we can. Auckland City captain Ivan Vicelich In that match, Auckland City trailed 2-0 before David Mulligan, and then Vicelich, had efforts cleared off the line in a second half rally. “I thought we played well against Kashiwa Reysol last season and after a good start really turned on a performance in the second half." The squad has come together at a good time and we hope to peak for the play-off game. But it’s difficult to judge where we stand, but we will prepare thoroughly to ensure we give another good account of ourselves.” Vicelich may have celebrated his 36th birthday, but he shows no sign of slowing down with two young children and a new business venture with wife Marisa, and another potential FIFA World Cup appearance on the horizon with New Zealand at Brazil 2014. “Age hasn’t really come into it,” said the veteran skipper. “I take each game as it comes just so long as I remain passionate about the game. Parenthood also changes you – it’s a totally different mind-set from when you are younger.”

Russians overcome Italians as English held Jose Salomon Rondon scored twice in the last three minutes as Rubin Kazan booked top spot in Europa League Group H with a 3-0 win over Inter Milan. The Italians named an inexperienced line-up for a game between two sides who had already reached the knockout stages, and it showed as Gokdeniz Karadeniz struck in the opening minute and substitute Rondon added his late brace. Also in Group H, Aleksandar Mitrovic scored and was later sent off as Partizan Belgrade came back from behind to draw 1-1 away to Neftchi, for whom Venancio Flavinho opened the scoring early on. Group G leaders Genk sealed their place in the knockout stages with Elyaniv Barda's 19th-minute goal enough to see off Videoton in Hungary. Sporting out, Lyon qualify Swiss side Basel moved two points clear in second place as they shrugged off the 59th-minute dismissal of midfielder Cabral to beat Sporting Lisbon 3-0 with goals from Fabian Schar, Valentin Stocker and David Degen. Sporting, last season's semi-finalists, are now out of contention for a last-32 berth. Lyon lost the last remaining 100 per cent record but confirmed top spot in Group I with a 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. Teenager Yassine Benzia gave the French side a 46th-minute lead and Josef Husbauer replied seven minutes later. The point is also enough for the Czechs to progress at the expense of Hapoel Kiryat Shmona and last year's runners-up Athletic Bilbao, whose match in Israel was postponed due to safety fears. Tournament debutants Levante confirmed qualification from Group L, the Spaniards advancing with a 3-1 win at Helsingborgs with goals from Angel, Pape Diop and Vicente Iborra, before Thomas Sorum hit a late consolation for the hosts. Already-qualified Hannover, meanwhile, were held to a goalless home draw by FC Twente, who had Rasmus Bengtsson sent off late on. The group winners will be determined when Levante and Hannover clash in Spain next month. Metalist make it through Jonathan Cristaldo and Cleiton Xavier scored in the second half to confirm Metalist Kharkiv as winners of Group K after a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, who had also already qualified. Also in Group K, Rosenborg hit back to beat Rapid Vienna 3-2. John Chibuike put the hosts ahead before the Austrians hit back through Thomas Schrammel and Terrence Boyd. Rosenborg won it in the last 10 minutes with goals from Tarik Elyounoussi and Rade Prica. Lazio's goalless draw with Tottenham in Group J was enough to send the Italians through but second place remains far from certain after a Victor Vitolo penalty gave Panathinaikos a 1-0 win over Maribor, who had Ales Mejac sent off. The result means Spurs and Panathinaikos will effectively play off for second place at White Hart Lane next month, with anything other than a defeat good enough for the Londoners. Anzhi top, work left for Liverpool Second half goals from Christopher Samba and Samuel Eto'o booked Anzhi Makhachkala's qualification from Group A with a 2-0 win over Udinese in Russia. But Elsad Zverotic's 88th-minute equaliser denied Liverpool the chance to go through with them as Swiss side Young Boys fought back to claim a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Jonjo Shelvey's opener was cancelled out by Raul Bobadilla and although Joe Cole put the hosts back in front, Zverotic's strike leaves the two locked together on seven points - with Liverpool facing a tough trip to Udinese in their final game. Atletico Madrid and Viktoria Plzen both ensured qualification from Group B with the group winners to be decided when the two teams clash in the Czech Republic next month. Raul Garcia's seventh-minute strike proved enough for Atletico to defeat Hapoel Tel Aviv in Spain, while Plzen drew 1-1 with Academica in Portugal, Pavel Horvath's penalty cancelled out by a late Edinho spot-kick for the hosts. OM beaten to see Fener top Fenerbahce went through as Group C winners with Bekir Irtegun scoring the only goal of the game against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome, while Borussia Monchengladbach beat Cypriots AEL 2-0 to go through with them. Substitute Igor de Camargo scored twice in the last ten minutes for Monchengladbach after the visitors had Luciano Bebe sent off. The win leaves the Germans three points ahead of Marseille and with a better head-to-head record. Bordeaux and Newcastle guaranteed qualification from Group D and will effectively play off for the status of group winners in France next month. Two goals from Jussie gave Bordeaux a 2-1 win at Club Brugge, for whom Maxime Lestienne replied. Newcastle through despite draw Meanwhile Sylvain Marveaux put Newcastle in front against Maritimo at St James's Park and despite Philipe Fidelis salvaging a late 1-1 draw, the point proved enough for Alan Pardew's men. Shinji Okazaki scored twice as Stuttgart blew Group E wide open with a stunning 5-1 win away to leaders Steaua Bucharest. Serdar Tasci, Martin Harnik and Gotuko Sakai also scored for the Germans before Mihai Costa replied. Neither side are guaranteed progress to the knockout stages after Copenhagen's 2-1 win at Molde. Cesar Santin put the Danes ahead from the spot and after Daniel Chukwa's equaliser, Rurik Gislason scored a 76th-minute winner. Copenhagen face Steaua at home in their final group game next month knowing a win could be enough to send them through at the expense of either the Romanians or the Germans. Edison Cavani's injury-time penalty sent ten-man Napoli through from Group F with a 2-1 win over AIK in Sweden. Blerim Dzemaili put the Italians ahead but Helgi Danielsson's equaliser looked set to keep the group wide open until Cavani struck from the spot shortly after Salvatore Aronica had been sent off. Group leaders Dnipro also sealed their passage with a 2-1 win at PSV. Georgino Wijnaldum put PSV ahead but Dnipro replied through Yevhen Seleznyov and Yevhen Konoplyanka, before Jaba Kankava was sent off late. end

Davies: Football is an obsession ( Her sport may involve a different kind of ball altogether, but leading female golfer Laura Davies is nevertheless well placed to offer an opinion on football. A lifelong Liverpool supporter, the 49-year-old is a passionate England follower too – a vice which once landed her in some hot water. In an exclusive chat with FIFA.com, Davies – who, during a career which has spanned more than 25 years, has secured a plethora of titles and accolades in Britain and further afield – explains more, casts her vote on the best player in the world, and remembers her favourite football moment. FIFA.com: Where did your passion for the game begin? Laura Davies: I’ve got a slightly older brother, a few years older, and we used to go every Saturday and Sunday to watch him play and I just used to kick a ball around on the sideline – I was only about four or five or six years old. I started enjoying playing it and then obviously started watching it, and that was it really – I was hooked. Why did you choose to support Liverpool? I was seven years old at the time, maybe eight, and we lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal with that Charlie George goal. I felt sorry for them and they wore red, and at eight years old that’s probably good enough. Ever since then, I’ve been a fan for forty-odd years now. I love watching them every time they play. Whenever I can, whenever I get a chance [I go to Anfield]. I’m usually away but I never miss a game. I either have it on the radio, or the Liverpool website radio or watch it online. I watch pretty much every game regardless – Europa League, Premier League, wherever they are playing. If I’m on the course, I’ll have my phone on with updates. It’s a bit of an obsession. I’ve not been there enough, for all the great European nights. I’ve never actually been to a European game, funnily enough. It’s just when you hear ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before they come out on the pitch every match. I think it’s a different sort of atmosphere to a lot of other grounds I’ve been to. Who have been your favourite Liverpool players during that period? The really obvious ones – [Kevin] Keegan, [Kenny] Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen. Goalscorers, I suppose, they’re the ones that make the difference between winning and losing. Over the years, I guess all the strikers have been the ones that I’ve really followed, but there’s not a Liverpool player I haven’t loved to watch. I watch pretty much every game regardless – Europa League, Premier League, wherever they are playing. If I’m on the course, I’ll have my phone on with updates. It’s a bit of an obsession. Laura Davies on her support for Liverpool Have you managed to meet any of them through your career? I played golf once with Kenny, we played a tournament in Scotland at Gleneagles. I’ve met quite a few. Michael Owen played in Ireland and I had a quick chat with him about the golf and the football. A lot of the players seem to love their golf. They’ve got the time, haven’t they? They do their training and then they have got the afternoon to themselves and their families, so I suppose a lot of them when they are younger go and play golf. It seems to be a planned thing because obviously golf is a very time-consuming game and they do seem to have some time. Tell us about the time you were receiving updates from UEFA EURO 1996 while playing in a tournament… I had been to all of the other games because I had tickets for the whole tournament because it was at Wembley. Unfortunately that particular game [England against Spain] was at the same time. I had a five-shot lead when the game started and I actually finished five shots ahead, so I won the tournament. But between shots, myself and my cousin who was caddy for me at the time were having a bit of an update on the game. It ended up 0-0, so I missed the penalty shoot-out because I was at the prize-giving but I could tell by the mood in the clubhouse that we were winning. It’s probably the last penalty shoot-out we ever won! Would you rather England win the FIFA World Cup™ or Europe lift the Ryder Cup in 2014? Definitely England winning the World Cup. I love my golf but football is the thing that I love to do away from golf. I was born by 1966 but I was only three years old – I have no recollection of that at all. It would be nice to see us actually win it once. Who do you think is the best player in the world? I think Lionel Messi by a nose. I know Ronaldo is incredible in what he does, and there are a lot of other very good players, but Lionel Messi. Barcelona are the other team I love to watch. He is just beyond belief as far as I’m concerned. Do you follow the women’s game? Unfortunately no, because it would only be on TV and there’s hardly any of it on TV. I was watching the Olympics and there’s great interest in watching the national side play. I don’t think the Liverpool team is particularly good and I hate Arsenal with a passion; Arsenal are the best team in the women’s game so I tend to stay away from that. It’s fun to watch. I’ve spent a lot of my time in America, there was a women’s major soccer league out there. I know it has folded now but the standard was pretty decent. Nothing like the men’s obviously because they haven’t got the dynamic power of the men but certainly the technical ability seems very comparable. What is your favourite match you have been at? 100 per cent the Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] goal when we beat Scotland at Wembley in EURO 96. I’ve been to quite a lot of England games, I go away whenever I can. I’ve been to two World Cups and various places with them. But that particular game, we had just saved a penalty and then Gazza scored that goal. I think that’s the most excited I’ve ever been at any football ground anywhere in the world.

South-east Asia's finest take centre stage Holders Malaysia enter this year's AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Suzuki Cup aiming to become the third nation to retain the crown, following Thailand and Singapore's successful title-defence in 2002 and 2007 respectively. And as co-hosts alongside Thailand, coach Rajagobal Krishnasamy's Malaysia should have high hopes of success as they prepare to participate in the ninth edition of the tournament, previously known as the Tiger Cup, which runs 24 November to 22 December. "Of course we want to finish as the best team of the campaign," the former national team striker told FIFA.com. "But first of all we must make sure we can do our job well during the group phase to qualify for the semi-finals, then the final. After that our players will be clear on what to do." Under Krishnasamy, Malaysia tasted maiden regional success two years ago with a 4-2 aggregate victory over co-hosts Indonesia in the decider. Since then, the Malayan Tigers have made consistent progress with the coach even casting his sights beyond the region. "This Suzuki Cup will be a good opportunity for us to prepare for next year's 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign," the 56-year-old continued. "We have given excitement for our fans over the past two years and obviously the team is heading in the right direction. We want to continue to improve in the regional competition, and showcase our progress which is needed for our bid for Australia 2015." However, Malaysia open their Group B campaign against Singapore on the back of a four-match winless streak, with top-striker Safee Sali, who finished the 2010 campaign as top scorer with five goals, seemingly not in top form. Krishnasamy, however, believes Sali and Co can live up to the expectations. He said: "He [Sali] has lost a bit of his momentum but he is picking up at the right moment. As for the team, the friendly results won't affect their form as they will enter the Singapore game fully-prepared." Hard assignments Having said that, it is Singapore that arrive in Kuala Lumpur in winning form with a recent 4-0 defeat of Pakistan boosting confidence, with playmaker Shi Jiayi and veteran striker Aleksandar Duric both on target. And Radojko Avramovic's visitors can take heart from their experience as three-time winners, with assistant coach Mike Wong vowing to recapture the coveted title for a record fourth time. "We don't fear any team," said the former Geylang United manager. "We head into the competition where we must consider ourselves as one of the favourites. We're definitely going there to compete for the top prize." Awaiting Malaysia next up will be none other than the Bambang Pamungkas-inspired Indonesia, who played out a scoreless draw against Cameroon U-23 recently. Even group minnows Laos can't be underestimated, having sealed their qualification for the regional finals by finishing ahead of Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste with striking-ace Visay Phaphouvanin netting twice. Three-cornered contest Group A looks likely to be a three-way battle among co-hosts Thailand, 2008 champions Vietnam and an fast-progressing Philippines, however Myanmar are more than capable of springing a surprise after coming through the qualification tournament. Playing in front of their own supporters, the Thais open against Philippines on the back of three friendly wins including outmuscling Malaysia 2-0. Spearheading the home side's attacking-line is in-form Teerasil Dangda, who finished the last Thai league season as joint top-scorer with 24 goals as his Muang Thong United won the title unchallenged. Despite losing all six previous meetings with Thailand since 1996, Philippines arrive in Bangkok with their sights fixed on not only winning the opener, but the tournament. Inspired by their surprise last-four finish in the previous edition, the team, under German coach Michael Weiss, can mount a serious challenge. The ambitious Azkals underlined their progress recently with a 1-0 defeat of Singapore and a goalless draw with Bahrain. The other opener pits Myanmar against Vietnam and the latter can count on the goal-scoring form of their talisman Le Cong Vinh, who scored the tournament-winning goal as they edged out Thailand in the final for their only success in 2008. Myanmar, under former Korea Republic U-20 coach Park Sunghwa, will do whatever they can to improve on their last-four finish in the 2004 edition.

Hristo STOICHKOV Stoichkov: A gifted bad boy Hristo Stoichkov was both a genius and a polemic figure on the pitch. Loved by some but denounced by others, the former striker regularly divided opinion. Considered the best footballer Bulgaria has ever produced, Stoichkov has a trophy cabinet a player of his undoubted talent deserves. The forward was feared for his speed and potent shot, but is widely remembered for his fiery temperament. When he channeled his aggression during a match, he was a formidable player, often carrying his team single-handedly. Renowned for his never-say-die attitude, Stoichkov fought for the ball with the fierce intensity whether it was the first minute or the last. Nevertheless, that aggression was also his own worst enemy, and he became a controversial figure through occasional violent outbursts and irate protestations. Dream Team idol Born in Plovdiv on 8 February 1966, Stoichkov began his career as a teenager in Bulgaria’s second division. His performances soon attracted the attention of the country’s biggest team, CSKA Sofia, who signed him as an 18-year-old. A year later the youngster was involved in a brawl in the Bulgarian Cup final that almost resulted in a lifetime ban. However, the punishment was reduced to a month’s suspension and upon his return to action, Stoichkov showed the other side of his character with some dazzling performances and a keen eye for goal. He was awarded the Golden Boot in 1989 for finishing as Europe’s top scorer with 38 strikes in just 30 games. No Bulgarian will ever match my achievements. Hristo Stoichkov In 1990 a move to Barcelona followed, where the No8 became one of the icons of Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team, winning numerous titles, including the club’s first-ever European Cup. Aside from a spell in Italy with Parma during the 1994/95 campaign, the striker was with the Iberian side until 1998. Despite an inauspicious start to his time with the Catalans - Stoichkov received a two-month ban following a deliberate stamp on a referee - they were his best years as a footballer. Not only did he win titles, the free-scoring forward also conquered the hearts of the fans with his explosive runs, prodigious left foot and unique ability to swerve past an opponent at top speed. Bulgarian hero One of the highlights of Stoichkov’s career came in 1994, when he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or by French magazine France Football. It coincided with his rise to hero status in the national team, after guiding Bulgaria to their best finish at a FIFA World Cup™. At USA 1994, the east Europeans reached the semi-finals, where they lost to Italy 2-1 before succumbing to Sweden 4-0 in the match for third place. Stoichkov’s disappointment was offset by the personal satisfaction of finishing as the tournament’s joint-top scorer, along with Russia’s Oleg Salenko. Two years later Bulgaria qualified for the European Championships for the first time in 28 years. While they were eliminated at the group stage, Stoichkov scored in each game in what was unquestionably a golden era for Bulgarian football. The forward retired from the international scene in 1999 after 13 years in which he netted 37 times in 83 appearances. “No Bulgarian will ever match my achievements,” he told FIFA.com with characteristic confidence in 2007. Career change After leaving Barcelona, Stoichkov returned briefly to CSKA. Before hanging up his boots for good in 2004, spells with Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia, Kashima Reysol in Japan as well as a stint in MLS, where he became a cult figure with Chicago Fire, marked the final chapter of his playing days. Not wanting to leave the game entirely, Stoichkov embarked on a coaching career and learned the ropes in Barcelona, having established his home there. In 2004 he took charge of the Bulgarian national team, but internal conflicts quickly surfaced after clashes with some of the side’s leading players. Failure to qualify for the 2008 European Championship led to his dismissal as coach in 2007. Stoichkov subsequently took on the challenge of keeping a struggling Celta de Vigo side in Spain’s Primera Division, but was unsuccessful and lasted just six months at the club. A season on the touchline at South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns followed before Stoichkov took up his current post at the helm of Litex Lovech in his homeland. While he has not been able to replicate his success as a player from the dugout, he still displays the same commitment and hot temperament - qualities that can inspire and motivate his charges, but occasionally still land him in hot water. That is unlikely to change, given the controversial Bulgarian’s summary of his career: “Do I regret anything? A lot of things, but I’ll never let my guard down because there’s always somebody trying to get the better of you, especially people who envy you.”

License to thrill for Roberto Carlos’s World XI ( For a long time there was almost universal agreement on the question of the world’s finest left-back. Indeed, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone who did not feel the distinction belonged to Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos. It is a pity then that the FIFA/FIFPro World XI award was not around during his heyday, or surely he would have figured regularly in the elite list revealed at the annual FIFA Gala. In all likelihood, voters would have had less difficulty selecting their choice for left-back than Roberto had when he chose his own rather attack-minded team of 2012 during a humorous chat with FIFA.com. FIFA.com: Around this time of year everyone is talking about the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Who’s your pick to win this year? Roberto Carlos: Obviously everyone’s talking about [Lionel] Messi, but I reckon he’s won enough and there cannot be much more room in his trophy cabinet. Therefore, I’d vote for Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s someone who can win matches for you many different ways, from varying situations in attack. He deserves to win it again. Speaking of deserving winners, many people consider you one of the finest players of your generation never to have won this award. Would you go along with that? Well, back in 2002, I came up against Ronaldo and he robbed me of the trophy (laughs). But I’m not sure quite what my supporters saw in me (laughs again). Joking aside, I think there probably was a period of six or seven years when I was the best around in that position, and that’s something I’m immensely proud of. Moreover, that generation had an absurd amount of supremely talented players, all operating in midfield or up front, where you tend to get more attention. Now that you’re going into coaching, who’s to say you won’t win the FIFA Coach of the Year award one day? (Laughs) Do you think so? At least let me take the first step. I still have a long way to go before I starting thinking about that kind of thing. So who would choose as Men’s Coach of the Year? Well, seeing as [Pep] Guardiola has left Barcelona, I think it should go to Jose Mourinho. A club side like his is harder to manage than a top national team – something I know a lot about. During my time at Real Madrid, I played under Fabio Capello, who did an amazing job. But when you look at Mourinho’s results, you can see his coaching has a lot of merit and he really knows how to deal with the situations he faces. OK so let’s hear your FIFA/FIFPro World XI... Right, here goes. First Casillas, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Marcelo; in midfield Xavi and Xabi Alonso; Ribery and Van Persie as withdrawn strikers; and Neymar, Messi and... Cristiano Ronaldo up front. But that’s 12! You’re right. OK let’s back up a bit. I better put Xabi Alonso on the bench as I need Cristiano Ronaldo. And I’ve forgotten Iniesta! OK, how about I sacrifice David Luiz and leave Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Marcelo. Barcelona play like that with three defenders, so why can’t I? (laughs) Right so the final XI are: Casillas, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Marcelo; Xavi, Ribery, Van Persie and Iniesta; Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo? Exactly. Fair to say then that we can expect Roberto Carlos the coach to be a tad attack-minded? (laughs) Give me a team like that, and you bet we’ll play offensively.

FIFA launches Development Globe The FIFA Development Globe, an online application created to help worldwide users visualise FIFA’s development work across the world, has been made available as of today, 15 November, on FIFA.com. The Globe offers FIFA.com users a global perspective on all development initiatives implemented by FIFA, while showcasing the reach and volume of the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), the Goal programme, PERFORMANCE and technical support projects. FIFA has also published updated information about the development funds and projects granted to all 209 member associations. Crucial data, including details like the amounts received through FIFA’s FAP and the Goal projects, the names of the local FAP auditors and the identity of local contractors, is now available in the relevant section of each association* on FIFA.com. Over the past 14 years, FIFA has provided more than USD 1 billion in development funds to its member associations and confederations, of which USD 721.75 million has been transferred to member associations through the FAP, with an extra USD 210 million provided to the six confederations. An additional USD 250 million has been granted since 1998 by football's world governing body for the implementation of 600 Goal projects in 199 member associations, and USD 35 million has been invested as part of the PERFORMANCE programme. FIFA’s budget for the 2011-2014 financial cycle amounts to USD 800 million, which represents 56 times more than the amount invested in 1995-1998, when some of the flagship development initiatives were originally launched. *To see an overview of any member association’s development projects, please click on the “Development Activities” tab in the section for the relevant association.

FIFA Puskás Award: Ten best goals of the year announced ( The race to determine the winner of the FIFA Puskás Award for the “best goal of the year” has started today, 14 November 2012, on FIFA.com. Fans from across the world will decide which of the ten goals selected by FIFA’s football experts will be the winner of this award. Videos of the ten goals, as well as the list of scorers and the voting tool, can be found here. Users of FIFA.com and francefootball.fr will be able to choose from ten goals until 29 November, when the three goals with the most votes will be disclosed during a press conference in São Paulo. Immediately after the announcement on 29 November, FIFA.com and francefootball.fr users will be able to vote again for their favourite from the three remaining goals. The winner will be revealed on the day of the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala on 7 January 2013. Voting will close during the show. The FIFA Puskás Award, created in honour and in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s, will be presented for the fourth year in a row at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012, which will be held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. During a televised show, the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2012 as well as the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2012 will also be revealed. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award will be presented for the third time. The FIFA/FIFPro World XI, the FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented during the gala. Share Share Video Agyemang BADU (Ghana - Guinea, 1 February 2012) Agyemang BADU (Ghana - Guinea 1 February 2012) Hatem BEN ARFA (Newcastle United - Blackburn Rovers, 7 January 2012) Hatem BEN ARFA (Newcastle United - Blackburn Rovers 7 January 2012) Radamel FALCAO (América de Cali - Atletico Madrid, 19 May 2012) Radamel FALCAO (América de Cali - Atletico Madrid 19 May 2012) Eric HASSLI (Vancouver Whitecaps - Toronto FC, 16 May 2012) Eric HASSLI (Vancouver Whitecaps - Toronto FC 16 May 2012) Olivia JIMENEZ (Mexico - Switzerland, 22 August 12) Olivia JIMENEZ (Mexico - Switzerland 22 August 12) Gastón MEALLA (Nacional Potosí - The Strongest, 29 January 2012) Gastón MEALLA (Nacional Potosí - The Strongest 29 January 2012) Lionel MESSI (Brazil - Argentina, 9 June 2012) Lionel MESSI (Brazil - Argentina 9 June 2012) NEYMAR (Santos - Internacional, 7 March 2012) NEYMAR (Santos - Internacional 7 March 2012) Moussa SOW (Fenerbahce - Galatasaray , 17 March 2012) Moussa SOW (Fenerbahce - Galatasaray 17 March 2012) Miroslav STOCH (Fenerbahçe - Gençlerbirliği, 3 March 2012) Miroslav STOCH (Fenerbahçe - Gençlerbirliği 3 March 2012) Related Items News Stars have their say on the FIFA Ballon d'Or » Who should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or? » Matthaus: It's Xavi or Iniesta for me! » Scola: From between the sticks to the NBA » Falcao: Several players deserve the Ballon d’Or » Players Emmanuel AGYEMANG BADU Hatem BEN ARFA FALCAO Eric HASSLI Olivia JIMENEZ Lionel MESSI NEYMAR Ferenc PUSKAS Miroslav STOCH Links FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 » FIFA logo FIFA World Cup™ Tournaments World

Caro: Brazil don't scare us ( “I should probably pinch myself to see if this is all real,” said a beaming Angellott Caro as he emerged from the bowels of the Huamark Indoor Stadium. Caro’s Colombia had just pulled off yet another surprise victory at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012, knocking out a formidable Ukraine side to set up a semi-final encounter with holders Brazil. “Actually, I’d better not: if this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up!” “What’s going on?” the skilful Colombian added jokingly in an interview with FIFA.com. “We came to Thailand with the aim of getting past the first round, and nothing more. If someone had told me before the World Cup that we would end up among the four best teams in the world, I would have told them they were completely mad. Now we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.” Change of approach Caro can perhaps be seen as the embodiment of Colombia’s transformation over the course of the tournament. Indeed, he, along with the rest of the team, has had to curb his natural attacking instincts in favour of tightening up in defence. “It’s true, I always like going forward,” said Caro, who has three goals to his name so far at Thailand 2012. “But we played like that against Guatemala, and it cost us five goals. After that match, we realised that we first need to keep the ball out of our own net and then look to attack. The technical staff deserve great credit, as they were the ones who convinced us that this is the right approach.” They may let us play a bit more than the other teams we’ve faced but, with the quality they have, the slightest lapse in concentration can cost you a goal. Angellott Caro on Brazil Colombia’s other main attribute, as Caro explained, has been their strength of character. “We Colombians have a tendency to be complacent, but that has not been the case for us here. After we knocked out Iran, we told ourselves that we were making history, but that we still hadn’t won anything. So we didn’t switch off and we played with complete concentration against Ukraine.” During the interview, Brazil coach Marcos Sorato passed by and shared a warm embrace with Caro – a gesture that allowed us to delve a little deeper into the player’s background. “We’ve known each other since 2009, when, after the Bolivarian Games that year, I was called up by Argentinian coach Fernando Larranaga to be part of a Rest of the World side for a series of friendlies against Brazil,” Caro explained. “After that I moved to the Czech Republic, then Spain, and then to Venezuela, my current location, where I won the championship a short time ago.” Caro’s national team coach, Areny Fonnegra, added: “He’s technically gifted, but he has a strong character that can sometimes work against him. He didn’t have a good start to the tournament and came in for some criticism, but he’s managed to change and now we’re all praising him. Once he’s finished maturing and understands all the things he can bring to the group, he’ll transform us into an even better team.” Sights set on Brazil Setting the inaugural edition of the competition aside, Colombia are just the fourth debutants to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA Futsal World Cup – an achievement they share with Iran, Ukraine and Portugal, who appeared in the last four of Hong Kong 1992, Spain 1996 and Guatemala 2000 respectively. None of those sides, however, made it all the way to the final. “As I told you before, all of this is a bonus for us,” Caro said. “So we’re playing with freedom, having fun and enjoying ourselves. There’s a great deal of responsibility and effort involved too, but we’re enjoying it.” Colombia’s next opponents are defending champions Brazil, who underlined their title credentials by coming from 2-0 down to beat Argentina in the quarter-finals. “We know them well,” Caro said. “They beat us comfortably (5-1) the last time we met, but we’re a different team now. They may let us play a bit more than the other teams we’ve faced but, with the quality they have, the slightest lapse in concentration can cost you a goal.” Caro, for his part, is not at all overawed by his stellar semi-final opponents, and finished the interview on a note of optimism. “None of us here are scared,” he concluded. “Respectful, yes, because we know who they are and where they play. But that’s as far as it goes. If we didn't have faith in ourselves, we wouldn’t be here now. We have to dream!”

License to thrill for Roberto Carlos’s World XI © AFP For a long time there was almost universal agreement on the question of the world’s finest left-back. Indeed, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone who did not feel the distinction belonged to Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos. It is a pity then that the FIFA/FIFPro World XI award was not around during his heyday, or surely he would have figured regularly in the elite list revealed at the annual FIFA Gala. In all likelihood, voters would have had less difficulty selecting their choice for left-back than Roberto had when he chose his own rather attack-minded team of 2012 during a humorous chat with FIFA.com. FIFA.com: Around this time of year everyone is talking about the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Who’s your pick to win this year? Roberto Carlos: Obviously everyone’s talking about [Lionel] Messi, but I reckon he’s won enough and there cannot be much more room in his trophy cabinet. Therefore, I’d vote for Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s someone who can win matches for you many different ways, from varying situations in attack. He deserves to win it again. Speaking of deserving winners, many people consider you one of the finest players of your generation never to have won this award. Would you go along with that? Well, back in 2002, I came up against Ronaldo and he robbed me of the trophy (laughs). But I’m not sure quite what my supporters saw in me (laughs again). Joking aside, I think there probably was a period of six or seven years when I was the best around in that position, and that’s something I’m immensely proud of. Moreover, that generation had an absurd amount of supremely talented players, all operating in midfield or up front, where you tend to get more attention. Now that you’re going into coaching, who’s to say you won’t win the FIFA Coach of the Year award one day? (Laughs) Do you think so? At least let me take the first step. I still have a long way to go before I starting thinking about that kind of thing. So who would choose as Men’s Coach of the Year? Well, seeing as [Pep] Guardiola has left Barcelona, I think it should go to Jose Mourinho. A club side like his is harder to manage than a top national team – something I know a lot about. During my time at Real Madrid, I played under Fabio Capello, who did an amazing job. But when you look at Mourinho’s results, you can see his coaching has a lot of merit and he really knows how to deal with the situations he faces. OK so let’s hear your FIFA/FIFPro World XI... Right, here goes. First Casillas, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Marcelo; in midfield Xavi and Xabi Alonso; Ribery and Van Persie as withdrawn strikers; and Neymar, Messi and... Cristiano Ronaldo up front. But that’s 12! You’re right. OK let’s back up a bit. I better put Xabi Alonso on the bench as I need Cristiano Ronaldo. And I’ve forgotten Iniesta! OK, how about I sacrifice David Luiz and leave Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Marcelo. Barcelona play like that with three defenders, so why can’t I? (laughs) Right so the final XI are: Casillas, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Marcelo; Xavi, Ribery, Van Persie and Iniesta; Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo? Exactly. Fair to say then that we can expect Roberto Carlos the coach to be a tad attack-minded? (laughs) Give me a team like that, and you bet we’ll play offensively.

Hatton: I'm a massive football fan ( Ricky Hatton is one of the greatest British boxers in history. He was a two-division world champion and retired with a magnificent record of 45 wins and just two losses, to all-time pound-for-pound greats Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. If Hatton had has his way, however, he would have earned fortune and fame with his feet rather than his fists. His father and grandfather were both footballers, and Ricky, a skilful midfielder, was on the books of his beloved City as a teenager. Hatton was ultimately released by the club, but his love for them and football has remained as strong as ever. As the 34-year-old readies for his return to the ring for the first time in three years later this month, when he will battle Ukrainian standout Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester, he took time off from training to speak to FIFA.com about coming from a footballing family, being on the City terraces as a youngster, the team’s recent success, having Wayne Rooney carry his belt out and who he think should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or. FIFA.com: Ricky, you come from quite a footballing family. Please tell us about that… Ricky Hatton: My granddad played for the City B team and my dad was a regular in the reserves when they had the championship-winning team, with Malcolm Allison, Joe Mercer, Franny Lee, Mike Summerbee and all the old City legends. And as a 15-year-old I was at Man City’s school of excellence. We’re mainly a football family, we’re not quite sure where the boxing came from (Ricky's younger brother Matthew is also a boxer). My dad thought I was going to follow in the family footsteps and become a footballer. I was actually in the same class in the school of excellence as the Whitley brothers (Jim and Jeff), who went on to play for the first team which was really good to see. When I was Richard Hatton, before anyone even knew Ricky Hatton, I always came out to Blue Moon and had the City colours and the badge on my shorts. My first season ticket was as a 14-year-old on The Kippax at Maine Road. I’ve not just jumped on the footballer bandwagon to get my numbers up. Ricky Hatton You’ve had Wayne Rooney in your dressing room before fights and carrying your belt out to them. What lift has this given you? Someone like Wayne Rooney doesn’t need the publicity, just like I guess I don’t need the publicity having become a world champion. But having a fellow sportsman, who is at the top of his game, wanting to carry my belt in gives me a massive boost. I’ve had several people carrying my belt in – loved ones and little James Bowes, the poorly little lad – and a lot of people say Wayne’s only carrying it for publicity. It’s not, it’s [for] motivation. That someone at the height of his game respects me in the manner that he does, it gives you a huge boost. And me asking him to carry my belt in, I was obviously doing it because of the respect I have for Wayne as a footballer, so it’s a double-edged sword. In 2008, you walked out to Blue Moon, Manchester City’s theme song, to fight Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium. That must have been a dream for you… I think some people go down the football route in order to build their fan base, but it wasn’t the case with me. From my early professional days, when I was Richard Hatton, before anyone even knew Ricky Hatton, I always came out to Blue Moon and had the City colours and the badge on my shorts. My first season ticket was as a 14-year-old on The Kippax at Maine Road. I’ve not just jumped on the footballer bandwagon to get my numbers up. What you see is what you get. I still have my season ticket at Manchester City. It’s not just a publicity stunt. I am a massive football fan. I am a massive Manchester City fan. I wanted to box at Maine Road (City’s former home) years ago, and the fact that I was able to achieve so much in my career and ultimately box at Manchester City’s stadium, it was just a dream come true. When I go and watch City now, there’s 45,000, 48,000 there. When I boxed there, there was 58,000 – talk about the stuff dreams are made of! I see the City players from time to time. They actually know me as that little 14-year-old who had the season ticket at The Kippax! (laughs) Knowing the players, being able to have a chat with them, and the way I’m treated in and around the club when I’m there, it’s living-the-dream stuff. Who were your heroes from your time at The Kippax? We had a lot of good players at the time – Niall Quinn, Uwe Rosler, Peter Beagrie, Peter Walsh – but it would have to be Georgi Kinkladze. Every time he got the ball – well, you didn’t go to the edge of your seat because it was all standing at The Kippax – but you felt something was going to happen. He was a massively exciting player. Nicky Summerbee, who’s been a pal of mine for a number of years now, he was in the team at the time and he was friends with a boxer called Steve ‘The Viking’ Foster, who I used to train with as a youngster. [Summerbee] brought Kinkladze to the gym one time to watch us train. Granted, I was only a nipper, he wasn’t watching me train – he was watching Carl Thompson, who fought Chris Eubank around the time. But to see your idol walk in the gym, it was a dream come true. Colin Bell and people like that are regarded as City’s best-ever players, but the best player I ever saw live was Kinkladze, and one minute he walked into our gym! After many years of suffering for City fans, you must be delighted to be champions of England and playing in the UEFA Champions League… It’s brilliant. I couldn’t be happier for the club and the fans. We’ve had one of the best supports in British football for years now – always packed houses, even packed houses when we went down to the second division. And that’s while we’ve had to endure the disappointments with the enemy down the road winning everything. Having your neighbours become the most successful British club of all time wasn’t pleasant for us, so you have to say that we’ve earned our stripes as supporters. What’s your prediction for City this season? It can’t be any closer than it was last season, [settled by the] last kick of the game. I think Chelsea will be up there, United will be up there and City will be up there. My heart will be with City, but if you had to put a bet on now you’d just toss a coin. I think it’s going to be so, so close. Goal difference won the league last season, so even at this early stage, every point is so massive. I’d like to think City will do it, but I think it’s between those three. I think City, United and Chelsea will be the top three, but it could be in any order. Who do you think will win the FIFA Ballon d’Or for 2012? I think the best two players in the world are obviously Messi and Ronaldo, as much as I don’t like to admit Ronaldo is a great player. The only reason I don’t like Ronaldo is because he played for the enemy, but ultimately he’s one hell of a footballer. Those two will be up there again. Maybe Ronaldo this year, he seems to have started the season a bit better than Messi. Would you have Ronaldo at City? Without a doubt. City have got the type of money that could bring players like that to the club. They’re the best players in the world and they want to be winning the best trophies, such as the Champions League. City have still got a little way to go before we can start thinking about signing players like that, but we’re in the Champions League and won the Premiership. To be mentioned in the same breath as players like that, it’s not as daft as it would have sounded a couple of years ago.

Suarez equaliser silences Chelsea Luis Suarez dealt a huge double blow to Chelsea's Premier League title hopes after inadvertently ending John Terry's comeback and snatching a deserved 1-1 draw for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Terry looked set to enjoy a dream return to action after his domestic four-match ban when he powered the European champions ahead from a corner at Stamford Bridge. But the Blues captain then collided accidentally with Suarez, who went on to equalise for Liverpool and almost steal victory. The draw prevented Chelsea from climbing back into second place as they recorded their third league game without a win to lie three points behind Manchester United. The home support may have turned up expecting another Stamford Bridge goalfest, having witnessed 30 in the previous five games here. But having shipped 14 goals in their last seven matches, Chelsea appeared to adopt a more conservative approach against a Liverpool side who recalled virtually all of their available big guns but persevered with their experiment of playing three at the back. Terry scores, gets hurt They certainly had plenty of the ball early on, but the Blues' counter-attacking approach almost paid off in the sixth minute when Joe Allen lost possession to Oscar, who was threaded in by Eden Hazard only to lift the ball over the crossbar. Liverpool, who had won on their previous three visits to Stamford Bridge, continued to probe but their defence went AWOL from Chelsea's first corner in the 20th minute. Terry was allowed to dart untracked to the near post and duly powered home Juan Mata's delivery. Another lightning Chelsea break from the lively Hazard saw Fernando Torres' shot parried by Brad Jones straight to the Belgian, who could not control his volley. Nuri Sahin dragged wide at the other end before a nightmare moment for Terry and Chelsea ten minutes before half-time. Terry gifted the ball to Steven Gerrard and got back to make a tackle on Suarez, who fell on his right leg, leaving him in agony. After several minutes of treatment on his knee, Terry was forced to concede his comeback was over and was carried off on a stretcher with his head in his hands, manager Roberto Di Matteo offering a consoling word before he disappeared down the tunnel. Gary Cahill replaced Terry with the atmosphere inevitably flattening until the fourth minute of added time, when Mata's superb run was marred by a rushed finish that was so out of character. Liverpool had clearly been told to up the aggression at the break but they repeatedly took it too far. Reds rally in second half Allen was rightly booked for bundling over Torres and the fit-again Glen Johnson followed for obstructing Oscar, whose free-kick saw Jones produce a brilliant reflex save from Torres' header. In the chaos that followed, Gerrard hurt his left knee trying to prevent Torres reaching the rebound and John Obi Mikel produced an airshot from barely eight yards. Liverpool hauled off Sahin for Suso as they abandoned their back three and briefly had Chelsea under pressure before Torres went close to prodding in Ryan Bertrand's cross. Mikel - who must surely end his five-year goal drought so attacking has he become - nearly got on the end of a Mata free-kick after Gerrard was cautioned for tripping Oscar. But Liverpool's substitution paid off 17 minutes from time when Suso's corner was flicked on by Jamie Carragher and Suarez nodded home from point-blank range. Chelsea came straight back at them but the visitors were defending manfully and Di Matteo wasted little time throwing on Wednesday's match-winner, Victor Moses, for Oscar. Liverpool looked just as capable of snatching victory and Mikel was booked for the latest in a series of clumsy tackles before Torres was replaced by Daniel Sturridge. Suso shanked wide when well-placed, Suarez tried his luck from the halfway line and Ivanovic powered over a header. Suarez would have won it for Liverpool after racing clear onto Jose Enrique's ball but for a vital challenge from Petr Cech. And after Hazard blasted narrowly wide, Cech came to Chelsea's rescue again in added time by keeping out Enrique's powerful near-post shot.

Guizhou Renhe in Lampard talks ( Chelsea star Frank Lampard is poised to follow former team-mates Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka with a lucrative move to China PR, after Guizhou Renhe confirmed on Monday they were in talks with him. The England international midfielder has been linked since March with a move to the Chinese Super League. But speculation intensified after Renhe chairman Dai Yongge was quoted in the domestic press on Saturday as saying that Lampard had signed. Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo played down the reports after his side's 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. But a Renhe official confirmed in a brief statement to AFP that talks with Lampard were underway. "Yes, we are in contact with Lampard but so far nothing has been settled," said deputy board chairman Yang Xiaoyu. Dai was quoted by the state-run China Daily as saying Lampard would join Renhe as captain in January. A winter arrival would give the 34-year-old time to settle in before the 2013/14 Chinese Super League season begins in March. High-flying Renhe qualified for their first AFC Champions League competition with a fourth-place finish in the league, which ended last week. The club is based in Guiyang in the south-western province of Guizhou. China has become an attractive destination for football stars approaching the end of their careers. Cote d'Ivoire striker Drogba and former France international Anelka play for Shanghai Shenhua on contracts said to be worth USD$300,000 a week. Lampard, who is currently injured with a calf problem, would be in line for an even bigger payday, reports in the British press have claimed.

Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club City: Montevideo When it comes to international reputations, Montevideo Wanderers Futbol Club cannot match city rivals Penarol and Nacional. That said, few clubs have contributed quite as much to the development of Uruguayan and South America football as El Bohemio, a driving force in the creation of the continent’s football confederation and a prolific nursery for some of the country’s most famous footballing sons. In this the year of its 110th anniversary, FIFA.com pays tribute to a humble institution that has played a big part in football’s growth on the banks of the River Plate. Birth of an institution The Wanderers story began with an act of rebellion, one triggered by the refusal of the directors of Albion Football Club, who now play in the second division of Uruguay’s amateur league, to give their young players a chance to progress. The youngsters promptly broke ranks and formed their own club. The only problem was, they had no money and nowhere to call home. There are two differing stories as to how the breakaway club came across its name. One theory is that Albion’s directors said the upstarts would always be bohemios, Spanish for “wanderers,” while another holds that Juan and Enrique Sardeson, two of the new outfit’s founders, opted for the name after seeing Wolverhampton Wanderers win the FA Cup on a trip to England. Whatever the truth behind their name, Montevideo Wanderers officially came into being on 15 August 1902. The making of a legend The club was never more successful than in its early days. Football was an amateur sport in Uruguay up until 1931, the year in which Los Bohemios won their fourth and last official league title and their second with an unbeaten record, a distinction that only Nacional and Penarol can match. Nevertheless, Wanderers have made their biggest impact on the Uruguayan game by providing a succession of players for the national side, starting in 1906 when it supplied the entire team that represented the country at the Lipton Cup in Buenos Aires. That tradition has continued right through to the present day, with Wanderers youth products Fernando Muslera and Sebastian Eguren both making valuable contributions to the fourth place La Celeste achieved at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. In between times the club has had a string of legendary players in its ranks, such as the unforgettable Obdulio Varela, aka El Negro Jefe (The Black Chief), who skippered Uruguay to everlasting glory at Brazil 1950. Another well-known FIFA World Cup winner to pull on the black and white jersey is Italy’s Mauro Camoranesi, back in 1997. As far as home-grown talents are concerned, however, there can be no question that Pablo Bengoechea and Enzo Francescoli are the finest two players to roll off the Wanderers production line, El Príncipe honing his dribbling skills with the Montevideo side before crossing the water to make his name with Argentinian giants River Plate. Current Uruguay coach Oscar El Maestro Tabarez also played for and coached Los Bohemios, while former club president Hector Rivadavia Gomez made his mark on the game by founding the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in 1916. On top of all that, Wanderers were also behind the national team’s adoption of sky blue jerseys, the same colour the club uses in its change strip. Other Wanderers legends include Cayetano Saporiti, who played a record 342 games for the club, Oscar Chelle, their all-time leading scorer with 104 goals, and Rene Borjas, who holds a very special place in the affections of the fans. A league champion with Wanderers, he also gave his life for them. Defying doctor’s orders and a heart condition, he turned up at the stadium to cheer his team-mates on at a crucial league game in 1931. The excitement of the occasion proved too much for him to take, however, and he collapsed and died at the end of the first half. He is now considered one of the club’s most representative figures. The present Since winning promotion back to the top flight in 2000, Wanderers have sought to regain the status they enjoyed during the amateur era. And while their last championship win remains a very distant memory, El Bohemio have been able to maintain their first-division place without too much trouble, even managing to win Uruguay’s Copa Libertadores qualification competition in 2001 with an unbeaten record, since when they have twice played in Latin America’s premier club competition. The most notable of those two appearances was the 2002 campaign, when they advanced to the last 16 only to be beaten by compatriots Penarol in a fateful penalty shootout. The stadium Wanderers have rarely had it easy, as the story of their early nomadic existence reveals. It was several years before they finally took up residence at the stadium they still call home today, prior to which they played at a makeshift pitch owned by the Asociacion Rural and at the Estadio de Belvedere, now Liverpool Futbol Club’s home ground. Their search for a permanent location finally ended on 15 October 1933, the date on which the Estadio Alfredo Victor Viera (then known as Wanderers Park) was officially opened. Wanderers marked the occasion by beating Bella Vista 2-0. Refurbished on several occasions, the Parque Viera now has a capacity of 8,000, and its stands are named after four of the club’s most legendary names: Obdulio Varela, Rene Borjas, Jorge Barrios and Cayetano Saporiti. Situated a mere stone’s throw from the home grounds of Bella Vista and arch-rivals River Plate, with whom they contest El Clásico del Prado, the Parque Viera is too small to host Wanderers’ international club matches, which are played at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.

Gilberto Silva: Midfield concept has changed Gilberto Silva has never been one for stealing the show out on the field. The midfielder is much more concerned with the task of winning back possession – often – and moving it on quickly. There are no unnecessary frills, nor many strokes of genius with Silva, but accuracy aplenty, to such an extent he became a vital cog at the heart of a Brazil side that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ and captain of London giants Arsenal. Nor is he in any way ‘flashy’ off the pitch, with the current Gremio midfield anchor still down-to-earth despite spending nine successful years in Europe. Outlandish statements are also certainly not his thing. Indeed, in conversation with FIFA.com, the 36-year-old was softly-spoken, composed and chose his words – like his passes – carefully. Yet it was clear to see how, in his own way, Silva is a true leader. FIFA.com: It’s been said that the current Brazil squad is struggling to click because there are so many young players. As someone with so much experience at that level, do you agree? Gilberto Silva: It’s been difficult, of course. Not just for the players but for Mano [Menezes], who’s having to learn everything the hard way. I remember clearly what it was like when Dunga came in [as Brazil coach]. Even though he’d experienced everything and more as a player, the situation is still different. And Mano doesn’t have as many players [as Dunga did] who are capable of taking on responsibility. That’s a big problem. What practical difference could bringing in more experienced players make? It’s important for the younger players, when the pressure’s really on, to be able to look around them and have someone to say “take it easy, it’ll be fine. This is what we’re going to do.” That’s important both for calming people down under pressure and keeping on top of things when all’s going well, so nobody switches off. Those are daily issues off the field too: you have to watch everyone’s back and remind people not to let their egos get in the way. That’s important both at club level and with a national squad. I received a lot of criticism for doing the job I’ve always done, which is focusing mainly on winning back the ball. But, if you look closely, you’ll see just how often a player like that stops the opposing attacking midfielder from having an impact. Gilberto Silva, Gremio midfielder When you were starting out, did you have any players like that around to help you? Yes, without a doubt. I think the main one was Marco Antonio Boiadeiro, early on in my career, at America-MG. I learned so much from him. He always had a story to tell, or an anecdote that related to whatever we were going through. Later there was Tupazinho and Ricardo, a defender who’d played for Corinthians. For A Seleção, Cafu was undoubtedly a tremendous example for me. He helped me so much when I broke into the squad. Sometimes I didn’t even need to discuss things with him: just being nearby, listening to the stories he told, was a learning experience. And do you do something similar now at Gremio? I do and I enjoy doing it. I speak to the youngsters about things that come up in their lives or careers. But as each generation goes by, things change. Firstly, the way players make the transition from youth football to professionalism changes, but this comes hand-in-hand with changes in the wider world too. So, if there’s one thing that I can do it’s set an example to the lads, so they make the right decisions, as it’s very easy to get lost along the way. Very easy indeed. You need to be aware that you’re going to miss out on a lot of things from your youth, a lot of things that other lads are doing. Something I see often is how much of a hurry the lads are in to make it and, faced by the first setback, they lose their way. You need to have patience and persistence. Those qualities have both played major roles in your career, wouldn’t you say? Yes, I’d say so. I’ve never been overanxious, as I’m a very patient person. I’ve always understood that things take time. You want everything to happen quickly, and of course you have to really want that, but without letting yourself be blinded by it. I think something that set me apart was the fact I didn’t come all the way through the ranks of a club, like most players. I had to quit youth football at 16 so I could help out at home: I spent two-and-a-half years working in a sweet factory. I only got back into a club at 19 and, bit by bit, I tried to make the most of every opportunity that came my way. It was a process that made me grow as a player and a person. At the end of the day, people respect that. I’m not saying that every day was a struggle, but it was still an achievement. Has the midfield role changed in recent years? It seems there’s now more of a call for midfielders who can attack and defend, with less emphasis on players like yourself, whose main responsibility is shielding the backline. It’s true. That concept has changed, particularly here in Brazil, where you always hear TV pundits talking about the “modern midfielder”. [In their view,] anyone who doesn’t attack and score goals isn’t “modern”. There are a lot of people who think like that too. I received a lot of criticism for doing the job I’ve always done, which is focusing mainly on winning back the ball. But, if you look closely, you’ll see just how often a player like that stops the opposing attacking midfielder from having an impact. I think there did used to be more midfielders charged with doing the “dirty work”, carrying out defensive cover, but without harming the team’s attacking ability. So much so that nowadays there’s a growing trend towards using central defenders in that role, like Palmeiras do with Henrique for example. In the future, perhaps we’ll see more of that: centre-backs stepping into that role when the team requires. If you were assembling a team, would you line up with an out-and-out defensive midfielder? Of course it’d vary depending on the situation, but in theory I’d set my team up with a player like that, who knew how to defend and could pass the ball. The thing is, players need to be taught that role from an early age and Brazilians aren’t always disciplined or obedient enough to do it. You just need to watch a game here in Brazil to see how the attacking and defensive lines are all over the place all the time. When you watch a game in England or Italy, that simply doesn’t happen. That said, what’s your verdict been on the technical quality of the Brazilian league since you returned? Better than I expected. When I arrived I heard a lot spoken about how the standard of Brazilian football had dropped, but it’s not true. And, as long as people with international experience, such as [Diego] Forlan and [Clarence] Seedorf, keep arriving, that’s going to give the clubs here even more of a boost and encourage more top players to come to Brazil. I’d suggest bringing in Kaka. Elano too has rediscovered his best form and could play a part, and I’d say the same about Maicon. Silva on the Brazilian national team That was the case with your former Seleção squad-mate and current club colleague Ze Roberto. Did you have anything to do with him signing for Gremio? Yes I did, and I was very pleased he could sign a deal with Gremio. We spoke beforehand and I said he ought to come here, because of the squad we’ve got and the atmosphere within the club. He came and quickly became an important part of the side, which didn’t surprise me at all given how good a pro he’s always been. He’s yet another case that proves signing players over 30 can be worthwhile. People like him are breaking down clubs’ resistance [to signing over-30s], and that needs to continue. If the guy’s professional enough, at that age he can not only still be playing well but become a focal point for the squad. Who’s caught your eye most among the younger Brazilians who emerged while you were in Europe? Well, Neymar impresses me even more now than when he first came on the scene. I’ve found it really interesting to watch him mature as a player. Whatever the situation, he always rises to the occasion. My Gremio team-mate Fernando has also learnt a lot – he’s a lad who’s come on leaps and bounds. Bernard too, has only recently come through and is already a key man for Atletico Mineiro. These lads need to get games and be important players, but they can’t be held responsible for their teams’ performances. Do you think that happens too much with A Seleção? Yes, it happens too much with A Seleção, especially with Neymar. The quality he has can be decisive and that’s how it should be. He’s only 20 and even so he’s able to drive the team to victory, which is great. I reckon he handles that role very well, because of how much confidence he has. But the pressure on him is huge, and it’d help to have some more experienced players around to take the focus off him. Who do you think could do that? Of course I don’t know what goes on in A Seleção on a day-to-day basis but, from the outside looking in, I’d suggest bringing in Kaka. Elano too has rediscovered his best form and could play a part, and I’d say the same about Maicon.

President's Column: October 2012 © Foto-net Dear member associations, Dear friends, Welcome to the October edition of the President’s message. In the spotlight Final matches of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 13 October France claimed the crown after defeating Korea DPR 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final at Baku’s Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Azerbaijan. Asian teams had won both previous editions of this tournament, so France’s victory marked a changing of the guard in FIFA U-17 women’s football. In the match for third place, Ghana defeated Germany 1-0. On the road Two-day trip to Iceland 8-9 October In Iceland, I met FA President Geir Thorsteinsson, the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Katrin Jakobsdóttir and the President of the Republic Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. I visited the FA’s headquarters and technical centre, built in 2007 as part of the FIFA Goal Programme, as well as the Korinn and Fifan indoor pitches. I was really impressed by the development of the sport in the country and foresee a bright future for Icelandic football! My first visit to the Faroe Islands 10 October I tremendously enjoyed my first-ever visit to the Faroe Islands where I inaugurated a Goal project – a football turf pitch in the capital city Tórshavn. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Kaj Leo Johannesen, a former international goalkeeper capped seven times by his country, as well as the Mayor of Tórshavn Hedin Mortensen and FA President Christian F. Andreasen. It is remarkable what such a small country has achieved in football – ten per cent of the population are registered football players! At the Home of FIFA 6th UEFA-FIFA Challenge 5 October I am very proud to announce that our women’s football team and active men’s team prevailed, while our seniors drew at an exciting UEFA-FIFA Challenge 2012 at the Home of FIFA. Congratulations! Norwegian delegation at FIFA 11 October One day before the FIFA World Cup Group E qualifier between Switzerland and Norway in Berne, Norwegian FA President Yngve Hallén headed a delegation on a visit to the Home of FIFA comprising members of the country’s Olympic Committee, the Ministry for Commerce and the Nobel Peace Centre. The group also included two former national players who represented Norway at the 1994 FIFA World Cup: Rune Bratseth and Jan-Åge Fjørtoft. Team Information Meeting with Ronaldo 11 October It was a pleasure to have Ronaldo attending our Team Information Meeting at the Home of FIFA in his role as a member of the Management Board of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee Brazil. Ronaldo, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and LOC Operations Director Ricardo Trade gave us an update on the current status of the preparations in Brazil. French film legend Depardieu visits FIFA 19 October It was a great pleasure for me to receive Gérard Depardieu, a giant of world cinema and a passionate football supporter, at the Home of FIFA. The French actor played as a goalkeeper as a young boy, and has followed the ups and downs of Auxerre from the stands at the Abbé Deschamps Stadium with his friend and club chairman Gérard Bourgoin. Depardieu gave FIFA.com’s editors an exclusive interview that you can read on our website www.FIFA.com Yingli Solar Customer Conference 2012 16 October I was happy to open the Yingli Solar Customer Conference that took place at the Home of FIFA. Yingli, a 2014 FIFA World Cup sponsor, has taken significant steps in the drive to make the event in Brazil the most environmentally friendly of all time. Yingli is also providing state-of-the-art solar technology for the 20 Football for Hope Centres in Africa. Visitors to the Home of FIFA: It was a pleasure to receive the following guests, among others, at the Home of FIFA: • The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Kim Jong-il • President of the Spanish National Sports Council Miguel Cardenal • Honorary IOC Member and SportAccord President Hein Verbruggen • IOC Executive Board member and ASOIF and FISA President Denis Oswald • ITF President and ASOIF President-elect Francesco Ricci Bitti • Football for Hope Ambassador Princess Inaara the Begum Aga Khan • Officials and players of the Kristiansand Football Club, Norway. Other events IFAB Annual Business Meeting 2 October This meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, addressed various subjects including goal-line technology, additional assistant referees and the wearing of headscarves. Football for Hope Centre, Rwanda 3 October We took another big step towards fulfilling our commitment to building 20 Football for Hope Centres across Africa with the opening of the Kimisagara centre in Rwanda. It is the seventh of 20 planned projects and continues the legacy of the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The ceremony in Kigali was attended by Rwandan Sports and Culture Minister Protais Mitali, as well as hundreds of local children. FIFA Ambassador Simone Farina at Aston Villa 17 October Italian footballer Simone Farina, who earlier this year became a Football for Hope Ambassador, has been appointed as a community coach by Aston Villa. His work will include developing the youth programme on integrity in sport. We need football to be clean, transparent and honest – this is what Simone believes in, this is what we at FIFA believe in. Congratulations Simone!  Myanmar hosts FIFA health project 22 October Myanmar marked the dawn of a new era by hosting the first-ever educational FIFA “11 for Health” programme in Asia with teachers and coaches from 18 pilot schools from all over the country, who will be in charge of implementing football for health schemes. After the successful implementation of this programme in various African nations, we have now taken the FIFA “11 for Health” to Myanmar and hope it will mark the start of the successful roll-out of the programme in Asia. Prospective assistant referees’ seminar 29 October – 2 November The road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil continued with a seminar in Zurich for assistant referees from Africa and Europe. After undergoing medical assessments, the seminar began with theoretical, training, practical and psychological sessions. Did you know that… … Football legends Pelé and Sir Bobby Charlton celebrated their 72nd and 75th birthdays respectively in October. Happy birthday! … Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and Executive Committee member Fernando Manilal also celebrated their birthdays this month. Happy birthday! … Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest club, celebrated 155 years since its foundation back in 1857! … The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has grown into a major sporting event, gathering interest from sponsors, host cities, supporters and media. As a result, 12 member associations have begun the bidding procedure to host the 2015 edition. … The Danish Football Association hosted a FIFA futsal seminar with the purpose of building a strong foundation for the development of the discipline in the country. The key message: having a structure in place is essential to the successful growth of futsal. … A training course for women’s football coaches from Eastern Europe and Central Asia was held in Baku alongside the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012. Thirty-one coaches (20 men and 11 women) attended. ... The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University awarded diplomas to 28 graduates of the fifth edition of the FIFA/CIES Programme. Congratulations! … I was very pleased to attend two events in Geneva on 8 October at the Club Suisse de la Presse and the Club Diplomatique to give speeches on the topic “Football is more than just a game”. Condolences My sincere condolences go to the friends and family of all those who have passed away this month, including: • Pape Diop, Senegal, former national team coach • León Londoño Tamayo, Colombia, FIFA Honorary Member • Rafael Lesmes, Spain, former Real Madrid player • Harry Valérien, Germany, sports journalist • Thomas Madigage, South Africa, assistant coach of Bafana Bafana • Helmut Haller, Germany, former international player • Professor Sedick Isaacs, South African humanist and scientist • Jawad Akeddar, Morocco, Hassania Union Sport d’Agadir (HUSA) player • Affoh Korké, Togo, member of the Executive Board of the Togolese Football Association • John Connelly, member of England’s 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning squad • Jozef Mannaerts, former Belgian international player PS: Stay up to date with the FIFA President’s visits and thoughts by following him on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/seppblatter

830,000 tickets available for 'Festival of Champions' With exactly 219 days to go until the opening match of the FIFA Confederations Cup on 15 June 2013 in Brasilia, football fans should get ready for the kick-off of the first ticket-sales phase. Booking will be available via FIFA.com for what promises to be a hugely memorable tournament, with a line-up of four FIFA World Cup champions (Brazil, Italy, Spain, Uruguay) in the starting blocks alongside continental champions Mexico, Japan, newcomers Tahiti as well as the yet-to-be-confirmed African participants. Approximately 830,000 tickets will be available for the 16 matches in the six different venues - Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador - which were reconfirmed on 8 November 2012 at a media briefing at the Museu do Futebol in Sao Paulo. Please visit FIFA.com for all details and quotes from the media briefing. As of 3 December 2012 – two days after the draw in Sao Paulo, when supporters will find out who plays whom and where – all ticket categories, including category 4 tickets which are exclusively reserved for Brazilian residents, will go on sale. During this first sales phase at least 50,000 category 4 tickets will be offered to Brazilian residents. Students, people over the age of 60 and recipients of the social programme Bolsa Familia will be entitled to receive a 50 per cent discount on the ticket face value. Furthermore, elderly people (over-60s) resident in Brazil will be entitled to receive a 50 per cent discount for category 1-3 tickets. In addition, a certain allocation of category 1-3 tickets will be exclusively offered to Visa card holders worldwide in a pre-sale phase from 21-30 November 2012. In general, football fans will be able to either buy up to six individual tickets for a maximum of ten matches or purchase a maximum of six specific series comprising several matches in one venue. As Brasilia will host only the opening match it has no venue-specific series. For the group stage, tickets for international supporters will be sold in US dollars ranging from USD 60 to 140 subject to the category, and tickets for Brazilians will be sold in Brazilian reals ranging from BRL 57 in category 4 to BRL 266 in category 1. Discounted category 4 tickets for first-round group matches for Brazilian residents will be sold at BRL 28.5. Furthermore, in accordance with applicable laws in Brazil, at least 1 per cent of the total quantity of purchasable tickets offered will be made available for disabled customers. Tickets for disabled people have been set at the category 3 ticket face value price. Disabled customers also have the option of requesting a complimentary ticket for a companion who will assist and accompany them to the match. During the first sales phase from 3 December to 15 January, it will not matter on what date ticket applications are submitted as all requests will be collected at the end of the sales phase and then processed together. If the number of applications per match and category exceeds the number of available tickets, a random selection draw will take place to determine the successful applicants for the respective matches or categories. It is important to highlight that the first 50,000 category 4 tickets within this random selection draw will be offered on a priority basis to over-60s, students and Bolsa Familia recipients. Brazilian fans who do not have access to the internet are invited by the Brazilian Government to use public infrastructure (such as schools) to apply for tickets. Please visit this Copa 2014 link for more details.

Flu crowned Brazilian kings Fluminense claimed the Campeonato Brasileiro title as two goals from Fred gave them a 3-2 win at Palmeiras on Sunday. Flu appeared to be cruising to victory when Fred put them ahead on the stroke of half-time and an own goal from Mauricio Ramos doubled the advantage nine minutes after the break. Palmeiras stormed back with goals from Hernan Barcos in the 62nd minute and Patrick Vieira three minutes later, but Fred struck two minutes from time to seal the win. It put them 10 points clear of Gremio, who beat Sao Paulo 2-1, with three games to go and secured their fourth league title. Palmeiras were left second bottom, seven points from safety and staring relegation in the face despite having qualified for the Copa Libertadores courtesy of their Copa do Brasil victory. Flu would still have had to wait had Atletico Mineiro won at Vasco da Gama but they could only draw 1-1. Ronaldinho opened the scoring for Atletico in the 27th minute but their chances were hit when Serginho Mineiro was sent off four minutes from half-time. Alecsandro duly levelled in the 56th minute but Vasco could not find a winner and the numbers were evened up seven minutes from the end when Douglas saw red. That allowed Gremio to leap above them, second-half goals from Andre Lima (61) and Marcelo Moreno (85) giving them the win over Sao Paulo, who had opened the scoring through Rogerio Ceni's penalty just before the break. Sport Recife were denied victory but still claimed a useful point in their relegation battle with a 1-1 draw at Figueirense. Gilberto put Sport ahead in the 24th minutes, but Julio Cesar levelled in the 64th minute. It left them three points behind Bahia, who occupy the last position of safety after losing 3-1 to Cruzeiro. Leandro Matos put Bahia ahead in the 28th minute, but two second-half strikes from Alejandro Martinuccio and another from Willian Antunes (90), which came after Alessandro had been sent off (86), gave the points to Cruzeiro. Elsewhere, Renato Abreu's 82nd-minute penalty gave Flamengo a 1-0 win at Nautico Recife, while Roger's first-half goal saw Ponte Preta beat Internacional by the same scoreline.

Asian quartet book Turkey berth © AFP Australia, Iraq, Korea Republic and Uzbekistan will represent Asia at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 after reaching the semi-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship. Uzbekistan were the first team to reach the final four, seeing off Syria on penalties following a 2-2 draw, and were quickly joined by the South Koreans, who thrashed Iran 4-1. A hat-trick by Corey Gameiro helped Australia ensure their presence in the semi-finals with a 3-0 triumph against Jordan, and Iraq completed the line-up by overcoming Japan 2-1. All four sides will now take part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey next year, although glory at the AFC U-19 Championship is still to be decided. Uzbekistan will take on Korea Republic while Australia meet Iraq in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while the champions will be crowned when the final is held on Saturday.

Hosts out but Colombian dream lives on © Getty Images New boys Colombia provided the shock result of the first Round of 16 ties at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012. The unfancied South Americans turned in a display bristling with courage and intent to eliminate Asian heavyweights Iran and book a place in the last eight. Los Cafeteros also rode their luck at times in a 2-1 victory over the ten-time Asian champions. The fans at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok were hoping for an even bigger upset when the hosts took on European champions Spain, but La Furia Roja were having none of it and cruised to a 7-1 triumph. In the first match of the day, Portugal were primed for a tough tussle with Paraguay, but the Iberians ended up firmly in control for most of the contest. Deadly duo Ricardinho and Cardinal were the brightest stars in a clear-cut 4-1 win for the southern Europeans. Ukraine made even shorter work of Japan, at least in the first half, with the eastern Europeans half a dozen goals to the good at the interval. The Asian champions staged a stirring comeback in the second period, but it was all too late and Ukraine triumphed 6-3. Results Paraguay 1-4 Portugal Ukraine 6-3 Japan Spain 7-1 Thailand Iran 1-2 Colombia Goal of the day Spain-Thailand, Kritsada Wongkaeo, 38'48 The game between the European champions and the host nation was long over as a contest when Thailand finally scored a deserved consolation goal, bowing out of the tournament on a positive note. Apiwat Chaemcharoen cleverly released Kritsada Wongkaeo in the Spanish area, where the striker wrong footed his marker with a disguised stepover and thumped the ball into the corner of the net, causing the partisan home crowd to erupt in joy. Memorable moments Ricardinho runs riot In the meeting between Paraguay and Portugal, Ricardinho was the chief architect of the South Americans’ downfall and reaped warm applause from the engrossed crowd. The Portuguese No10 produced arguably the best individual display at this FIFA Futsal World Cup as he spearheaded his side's march into the next round. His pacy dribbling had La Albirroja chasing shadows for long spells, as the undisputed man of the match finished with two goals and an assist. Fans in the spotlight At the match between Spain and Thailand, and for the Ukraine-Japan clash, the real stars were the massed fans in the stands. Yet again, the atmosphere was crackling with passion when the hosts played Spain. The boisterous spectators waved national flags, showed off intricately painted faces, provided musical accompaniment and turned the venue into a cauldron of noise. Afterwards, the national team made a point of warmly thanking their fans. The Japanese supporters also confirmed their reputation as true lovers of futsal, greeting Ukraine coach Gennadiy Lisenchuk with warm and respectful applause before the match, and then maintaining a steady barrage of cheers for their team despite the situation on the pitch. Sensational Cafeteros Simply qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup was already a success for Colombia. When they clinched the runners-up spot in Group F and a place in the last sixteen, that felt like the icing on the cake. But as it turned out, there was yet more to come: Los Cafeteros are through to the last eight courtesy of a knife-edge 2-1 victory over top Asian nation Iran. Yefri Duque and Angellott Caro scored precious goals for the South Americans, with keeper Juan Lozano performing heroics and allowing only one of Iran’s 54 shots to find the target. Stat of the day 117 - The number of matches in Spain’s current undefeated run. The Spanish last lost in 2005, in a 2-1 friendly reverse against Brazil. The only team boasting a longer unbeaten streak are the selfsame South Americans. Between 2005 and 2010, A Seleção went an extraordinary 151 matches without defeat. The words "We were so much better in qualifying, and I thought we'd show that here at the World Cup. But we were unable to reproduce our best form, and that's a shame," Paraguay coach Fernando Leite Next up Monday 12 November (all times are local) Italy-Egypt 16.00 Brazil-Panama 18.30 Russia-Czech Republic 18.30 Serbia-Argentina 21.00

Gilberto Silva: Midfield concept has changed Gilberto Silva has never been one for stealing the show out on the field. The midfielder is much more concerned with the task of winning back possession – often – and moving it on quickly. There are no unnecessary frills, nor many strokes of genius with Silva, but accuracy aplenty, to such an extent he became a vital cog at the heart of a Brazil side that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ and captain of London giants Arsenal. Nor is he in any way ‘flashy’ off the pitch, with the current Gremio midfield anchor still down-to-earth despite spending nine successful years in Europe. Outlandish statements are also certainly not his thing. Indeed, in conversation with FIFA.com, the 36-year-old was softly-spoken, composed and chose his words – like his passes – carefully. Yet it was clear to see how, in his own way, Silva is a true leader. FIFA.com: It’s been said that the current Brazil squad is struggling to click because there are so many young players. As someone with so much experience at that level, do you agree? Gilberto Silva: It’s been difficult, of course. Not just for the players but for Mano [Menezes], who’s having to learn everything the hard way. I remember clearly what it was like when Dunga came in [as Brazil coach]. Even though he’d experienced everything and more as a player, the situation is still different. And Mano doesn’t have as many players [as Dunga did] who are capable of taking on responsibility. That’s a big problem. What practical difference could bringing in more experienced players make? It’s important for the younger players, when the pressure’s really on, to be able to look around them and have someone to say “take it easy, it’ll be fine. This is what we’re going to do.” That’s important both for calming people down under pressure and keeping on top of things when all’s going well, so nobody switches off. Those are daily issues off the field too: you have to watch everyone’s back and remind people not to let their egos get in the way. That’s important both at club level and with a national squad. I received a lot of criticism for doing the job I’ve always done, which is focusing mainly on winning back the ball. But, if you look closely, you’ll see just how often a player like that stops the opposing attacking midfielder from having an impact. Gilberto Silva, Gremio midfielder When you were starting out, did you have any players like that around to help you? Yes, without a doubt. I think the main one was Marco Antonio Boiadeiro, early on in my career, at America-MG. I learned so much from him. He always had a story to tell, or an anecdote that related to whatever we were going through. Later there was Tupazinho and Ricardo, a defender who’d played for Corinthians. For A Seleção, Cafu was undoubtedly a tremendous example for me. He helped me so much when I broke into the squad. Sometimes I didn’t even need to discuss things with him: just being nearby, listening to the stories he told, was a learning experience. And do you do something similar now at Gremio? I do and I enjoy doing it. I speak to the youngsters about things that come up in their lives or careers. But as each generation goes by, things change. Firstly, the way players make the transition from youth football to professionalism changes, but this comes hand-in-hand with changes in the wider world too. So, if there’s one thing that I can do it’s set an example to the lads, so they make the right decisions, as it’s very easy to get lost along the way. Very easy indeed. You need to be aware that you’re going to miss out on a lot of things from your youth, a lot of things that other lads are doing. Something I see often is how much of a hurry the lads are in to make it and, faced by the first setback, they lose their way. You need to have patience and persistence. Those qualities have both played major roles in your career, wouldn’t you say? Yes, I’d say so. I’ve never been overanxious, as I’m a very patient person. I’ve always understood that things take time. You want everything to happen quickly, and of course you have to really want that, but without letting yourself be blinded by it. I think something that set me apart was the fact I didn’t come all the way through the ranks of a club, like most players. I had to quit youth football at 16 so I could help out at home: I spent two-and-a-half years working in a sweet factory. I only got back into a club at 19 and, bit by bit, I tried to make the most of every opportunity that came my way. It was a process that made me grow as a player and a person. At the end of the day, people respect that. I’m not saying that every day was a struggle, but it was still an achievement. Has the midfield role changed in recent years? It seems there’s now more of a call for midfielders who can attack and defend, with less emphasis on players like yourself, whose main responsibility is shielding the backline. It’s true. That concept has changed, particularly here in Brazil, where you always hear TV pundits talking about the “modern midfielder”. [In their view,] anyone who doesn’t attack and score goals isn’t “modern”. There are a lot of people who think like that too. I received a lot of criticism for doing the job I’ve always done, which is focusing mainly on winning back the ball. But, if you look closely, you’ll see just how often a player like that stops the opposing attacking midfielder from having an impact. I think there did used to be more midfielders charged with doing the “dirty work”, carrying out defensive cover, but without harming the team’s attacking ability. So much so that nowadays there’s a growing trend towards using central defenders in that role, like Palmeiras do with Henrique for example. In the future, perhaps we’ll see more of that: centre-backs stepping into that role when the team requires. If you were assembling a team, would you line up with an out-and-out defensive midfielder? Of course it’d vary depending on the situation, but in theory I’d set my team up with a player like that, who knew how to defend and could pass the ball. The thing is, players need to be taught that role from an early age and Brazilians aren’t always disciplined or obedient enough to do it. You just need to watch a game here in Brazil to see how the attacking and defensive lines are all over the place all the time. When you watch a game in England or Italy, that simply doesn’t happen. That said, what’s your verdict been on the technical quality of the Brazilian league since you returned? Better than I expected. When I arrived I heard a lot spoken about how the standard of Brazilian football had dropped, but it’s not true. And, as long as people with international experience, such as [Diego] Forlan and [Clarence] Seedorf, keep arriving, that’s going to give the clubs here even more of a boost and encourage more top players to come to Brazil. I’d suggest bringing in Kaka. Elano too has rediscovered his best form and could play a part, and I’d say the same about Maicon. Silva on the Brazilian national team That was the case with your former Seleção squad-mate and current club colleague Ze Roberto. Did you have anything to do with him signing for Gremio? Yes I did, and I was very pleased he could sign a deal with Gremio. We spoke beforehand and I said he ought to come here, because of the squad we’ve got and the atmosphere within the club. He came and quickly became an important part of the side, which didn’t surprise me at all given how good a pro he’s always been. He’s yet another case that proves signing players over 30 can be worthwhile. People like him are breaking down clubs’ resistance [to signing over-30s], and that needs to continue. If the guy’s professional enough, at that age he can not only still be playing well but become a focal point for the squad. Who’s caught your eye most among the younger Brazilians who emerged while you were in Europe? Well, Neymar impresses me even more now than when he first came on the scene. I’ve found it really interesting to watch him mature as a player. Whatever the situation, he always rises to the occasion. My Gremio team-mate Fernando has also learnt a lot – he’s a lad who’s come on leaps and bounds. Bernard too, has only recently come through and is already a key man for Atletico Mineiro. These lads need to get games and be important players, but they can’t be held responsible for their teams’ performances. Do you think that happens too much with A Seleção? Yes, it happens too much with A Seleção, especially with Neymar. The quality he has can be decisive and that’s how it should be. He’s only 20 and even so he’s able to drive the team to victory, which is great. I reckon he handles that role very well, because of how much confidence he has. But the pressure on him is huge, and it’d help to have some more experienced players around to take the focus off him. Who do you think could do that? Of course I don’t know what goes on in A Seleção on a day-to-day basis but, from the outside looking in, I’d suggest bringing in Kaka. Elano too has rediscovered his best form and could play a part, and I’d say the same about Maicon.