CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DEBUTS 6 NEW STARS

November 2017
World Cup qualifiers

MAGIC
MESSI
How genius kept Argentina’s
World Cup dream alive
PLAYER BIOGRAPHY

Naby
KEITA
Liverpool’s
saviour?
CLUB FOCUS

ATLETICO
MADRID
New stadium, new era?
TALENT SCOUT

SERIE A
Italy’s brightest
newcomers
PLUS
JUPP HEYNCKES // BUNDESLIGA SQUADS // LATVIA // ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
 November 2017

15
FEATURES THE WORLD THIS MONTH
People in the news...on and off the pitch
4 In pictures
10 From the Editor
14 On the radar
15 Jim Holden Ronaldo and Messi
16 Jonathan Wilson Argentina’s problem
18 Keir Radnedge VAR set for World Cup
20 Headliner Gerard Pique
21 Ins & outs people on the move 32
24 Brian Glanville deadbeats at the FA

6 OF THE BEST
32 Champions League debutants

28 Eyewitness
TALENT SCOUT
Latvia
40 New stars of Serie A

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL 50
50 Portland win NWSL

ROAD TO RUSSIA
52 South America
55 Panama
56 USA
58 Syria
55
59 Australia
60 Europe
62 Africa

34 Player Biography ARCHIVES

Naby Keita 64 November 1968

GREAT MATCHES
82 Holland v Argentina, 1998

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42 Club Focus See page 8
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72 69 St Kitts & Nevis

Little islands with big plans
70 Germany
Heynckes back in Bayern hot seat
72 Asia
Champions League Final showdown
Exclusive reports from our worldwide
network of correspondents

P L U S 68 Global diary 74 ESM XI 75 Results, tables, fixtures 80 Squads

WORLD SOCCER 3
T O S O H

The global game caught on camera

4 WORLD SOCCER
ICELAND…players, coaching staff
and officials celebrate on a stage
at Ingolfstorg square in the centre
of Reykjavik after Iceland became
the smallest country (population
wise) to qualify for a World Cup

WORLD SOCCER 5
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

TURKEY…a player celebrates

after the hosts win the
European Amputee Football
Federation European
Championship Final against
England in Istanbul

PANAMA…Roman Torres
of Panama takes a selfie
with fans after his goal
against Costa Rica in the
World Cup qualifiers

JAPAN…Kashiwa
Reysol players applaud
supporters after a 3-0
loss to Consadole Sapporo

RUSSIA…Tosno’s
Anton Zabolotny is
outnumbered by a
group of Rostov players

6 WORLD SOCCER
 IN PICTURES

USA…Houston Dynamo
forward Alberth Elis
wears a panther mask to
celebrate his goal against
Minnesota United

WALES…a despondent Gareth

Bale watches with anxious
family and friends as Wales
crash out of the World Cup
qualifiers to Republic of Ireland

WORLD SOCCER 7
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 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

FIFA
Lionel Messi has graced the cover of World Soccer more
times than I care to remember, but usually in the colours World Cup replay
of Barcelona. Had he and Argentina not beaten Ecuador
to rescue their place at next year’s World Cup, it is likely prompted by match-
that he would have announced his retirement from fixing suspicions
international football.
Instead, Messi’s brilliant A massive spike in betting activity during the first
half of last year’s World Cup qualifier between
performance in Quito means Messi’s brilliant South Africa and Senegal alerted FIFA to match
we can look forward to the finals performance in fixing and led to the match being replayed in
in Russia with added enthusiasm. Quito means we November in an unprecedented
decision by world football’s
Although England laboured can look forward governing body, World Soccer
through their qualifying campaign, to the finals can exclusively reveal.
Referee Joseph Lamptey was
the rest of the world has produced in Russia found guilty by FIFA of match
some exciting stories. Panama, with added manipulation and banned for
Iceland and Egypt are eye-catching life, with the result of the game
enthusiasm nullified and South Africa
qualifiers, either as novices or those stripped of the points after
returning after decades away. their 2-1 victory.
A flurry of bets placed in
The nature of football is that there will always be Hong Kong and Singapore just
more losers than winners, so we cannot review the before Lamptey awarded a
qualifiers without paying attention to those who dubious penalty for a non-
existent handball was picked up
missed out: Syria, USA, Chile and others. by FIFA’s Early Warning System
And there is more to come, with Italy facing (EWS), a 10-year-old Zurich-
based subsidiary that monitors
a tricky play-off against Sweden. betting on all FIFA matches.
In next month’s Officials have told World
Soccer they are not sure that
issue we will profile the end result of the game
all 32 qualifiers was contrived but the penalty,
ahead of the draw awarded against Kalidou
Koulibaly when the ball hit
for the finals. him on the knee, was certainly
See you then. manipulated at the behest of
Asian betting syndicates.
Gavin Hamilton, Editor However, FIFA’s investigation into Lamptey
was not brought by the losing side making a
complaint – a relatively common occurrence
– but by the alarms set off at the EWS.
In March, FIFA made public the possibility
of match fixing when they issued a statement
Replay prompted by match-fixing claims .......................................................................... p10 detailing Lamptey’s ban but without offering any
further evidence. Lamptey lost an appeal and
Jupp Heynckes back at Bayern Munich............................................................................. p70
then took his case to the Court of Arbitration
Paris Saint-Germain owner accused of bribery ............................................................... p13 for Sport, where
Messi saves Argentina in qualifiers...................................................................................... p52 FIFA’s decision
USA miss out on Russia next summer ............................................................................... p56 was upheld again.
Panama qualify for their first World Cup .......................................................................... p55 It was only after
the judicial process
Iceland make history with debut appearance ................................................................. p60
that FIFA ordered
Egypt reach first finals for 28 years .................................................................................. p62 a replay – the
IFAB set to confirm VAR at World Cup ............................................................................... p18 first of its kind
Croatia turn to Dalic ahead of play-offs ............................................................................. p21 for match
manipulation.
Guilty...Joseph Lamptey The game is

10 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“It’s his only honourable path”

New York Cosmos chairman Rocco B Commisso (right) calls on USA

federation chief Sunil Gulati to quit after World Cup elimination

being replayed in Polokwane on November 10,

with the two sides meeting in the Senegalese
capital of Dakar for the return four days later.
If they win both matches South Africa will go
HEROES VILLAINS
from bottom to top in Group D of the African JAN VERTONGHEN Mistake...
preliminaries and qualify for Russia. Senegal The 30-year-old Tottenham Hotspur defender Julian
Schuster
need two points to make the finals. became Belgium’s most-capped player of all (second
FIFA have failed to publicly explain the time, making a 97th appearance for his country from right)
background to the Lamptey case and put in in a 4-0 victory over Cyprus.
perspective the ordering of a replay. Instead,
the vacuum of information has led to the CRISTIAN PALACIOS
impression that errant refereeing decisions can Scored 20 goals in 18 Uruguayan league games
now be challenged – and, if successful, force for Wanderers and Penarol throughout 2017.

Rematch...South Prolific...
Africa’s Hlompho Cristian Palacios JULIAN SCHUSTER
Kekana (in yellow)
and Sadio Mane
The Freiburg midfielder became the first
of Senegal player to score own goals in consecutive
Bundesliga games, against Bayern Munich
and Hoffenheim, since Duisburg’s Andreas
Gielchen in 1991.

CESC FABREGAS
Thirteen years after Alex Ferguson was hit with
a slice of pizza after a game against Arsenal
at Old Trafford, the former Gunners midfielder
– who is now at Chelsea – admitted he was
the one who had thrown food in the direction
of the then Manchester United manager.

RICARDO CARVALHO
The 39-year-old former Portugal defender,
who is still playing professionally with
Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League,
MOHAMED SALAH was handed a seven-month suspended prison
The Liverpool striker scored the penalty that sentence in Spain for tax fraud.
ensured Egypt qualified for their first World Cup
for 28 years. Handy...
Tim Cahill
MANCHESTER CITY KEEPERS
When Ederson saved Dries Mertens’ penalty in
City’s Champions League win against Napoli, it
games to be replayed. was the sixth successive penalty save in a
Associations are failing to understand the Champions League game for a Manchester City
difference between match manipulation and goalkeeper. Others to have saved spot-kicks
the principle that the referee’s word is final, during that run are Joe Hart (three times) and
even if occasionally erroneous. Willy Caballero (twice). Napoli’s Amadou Diawara
Burkina Faso, who are in the same group did score from the spot later in the same game
with Senegal and South Africa, along with Cape for Napoli.
Verde – are themselves appealing to CAS over
the order to replay the match because they say
they “oppose a decision that is tainted by abuse
of power and irrelevant to the texts of the
international football authority”.
It seems a long shot as South Africa are not
objecting to the replay and their loss of three TIM CAHILL
points, saying they understand why the game The Australia veteran was investigated by FIFA
must be played over again on “moral grounds”. after it was reported that his winning goal
But they did insist FIFA send a letter to local against Syria was followed by a “sponsored”
media to exonerate the South African Football celebration, a “T” sign with his hands to
Association of any part in the match fixing. Impressive...Ederson saves Dries Mertens’ spot-kick replicate the initial of a personal sponsor.
Mark Gleeson

WORLD SOCCER 11
 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

“The signs of the zodiac are pointing to us being

in Russia next year. Up to now, we haven’t had
the necessary spiritual assistance”
Self-styled exorcist Jean-Pierre Manzolo offers his services to
DR Congo (left) in their final push for World Cup qualification
DIDIER
DESCHAMPS
1 A 1-0 win over
Bulgaria saw
him beat the
previous record
of 41 wins as
France coach.

ICELAND
With a
population
of 334,000
they are the
smallest nation
ever to qualify
for a World
Cup finals.

LIVERPOOL
Posted the
biggest-ever
away victory
by an English
club in the
Champions
League/
European
Cup when
they won 7-0
at Maribor.

HOLLAND
Having missed out
on Euro 2016, they
failed to qualify
for successive
tournaments for
the first time in

1
OLIVIER GIROUD
Arsenal v Red Star Belgrade 3 32 years.
Following a well-worked
move, he hooks the ball in with his
USA
back to goal.
Missed out
on what would

2
SEBASTIAN RUDY have been
Germany v Northern Ireland an eighth
When Northern Ireland fail consecutive
to clear a ball into their box, he World Cup finals
unleashes a pile driver of a shot appearance.
from 30 yards.
SEYDOU
4 DOUMBIA
Tore a tendon and

3 5
SAUL NIGUEZ NEYMAR expected to be out
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain for two months
Places a powerful shot v Bordeaux while diving to try
beyond the diving Barca keeper Curls a pinpoint free-kick into the to win a penalty for
after a well-worked passing move. top corner from 35 yards. Sporting against
Barcelona.

4 6
EDIN DZEKO SOFIANE BOUFAL
Roma v Chelsea Southampton v West
Meets a long pass from Bromwich Albion
Federico Fazio with a first-time, Runs from inside his own half and
left-foot volley. curls a low shot inside the far post.

12 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“When you put this shirt on, it has to be with professionalism.

While most of the players worked their asses off, others went to
parties and would not train because of drunkenness”
Following Chile’s failure to reach Russia 2018, Carla Pardo (right) – the wife of goalkeeper
Claudio Bravo – lays the blame on the antics of midfielder Arturo Vidal and others

HEADLINER: Nasser Al Khelaifi insisting he was innocent of wrong doing,

but instead of a clean run back to his

Bribery of FIFA official new home in Barcelona he found himself

running a new investigatory gauntlet.
The following day the OAG announced
over TV deals denied that criminal proceedings had been
opened against Valcke, beIN’s CEO
Nasser Al Khelaifi and an unnamed
PSG’s Qatari owner insists he is innocent businessman over “illegal advantages
in connection with the allocation of
Qatar continues to be a thorn in the flesh Warner had backed Qatar and not the broadcasting rights by beIN in certain
of international football, with the latest US – lifted the lid on the Trinidadian’s countries for the 2018, 2022, 2026
round of controversy focusing on the connivance with Qatar’s Mohamed Bin and 2030 Football World Cups”.
purchase of World Cup television rights Hammam in a vote-buying scam in the Al Khelaifi is also president of French
by beIN, the acquisitive sports media 2011 FIFA presidential election. club Paris Saint-Germain who made
subsidiary of Al Jazeera. Blazer’s whistle-blowing ultimately led worldwide headlines in the summer by
The saga began on May 14, 2010 to the FIFAGate investigation by the US paying a record €222m for Barcelona’s
when leaders of the 2018 and 2022 Justice Department which has seen more Brazilian superstar Neymar.
World Cup bid committees presented than 40 senior football executives He is a member of the executive
their dossiers to FIFA in front of the indicted on bribery and fraud charges. committee of the European Club
world’s media in Zurich. The Office of the Swiss Attorney- Association by virtue of his joint status
In the November, Michel Platini, who General (OAG) became involved and as a delegate on the UEFA professional
was then a FIFA vice-president and head launched its own investigations. These football strategy council. And he is from
of UEFA, switched his 2022 vote from led to the overthrow and suspensions of
the USA to Qatar after a lunch hosted by not only Blatter and Platini but also of
French state president Nicolas Sarkozy Jerome Valcke, who had been FIFA The Swiss Attorney-General’s office
and attended by the crown prince of secretary-general from 2007 until the announced criminal proceedings
Qatar, Tamin bin Haman Al Thani. autumn of 2015.
On December 2, 2010, FIFA’s On October 11, Valcke appealed to the
had been opened against beIN’s
executive committee duly awarded Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne CEO Nasser Al Khelaifi, who is also
2022 to Qatar before also ordering a against his sacking and 10-year ban for president of Paris Saint-Germain
controversial date change for the finals to mishandling World Cup ticket sales and
take place in November and December destroying possible evidence. A charge
rather than the traditional June/July. concerning the allocation of broadcasting Qatar, the Gulf state which has been
Powerful...Nasser Al
In the meantime, Chuck Blazer – rights was later dismissed. Khelaifi (right) with under political, economic and “fake news”
angry that CONCACAF president Jack Valcke emerged from the hearing Nicolas Sarkozy siege over the past six months from a
Saudi-led four-nation coalition.
Al Khelaifi and Valcke had negotiated
a deal for the 2018 and 2022 rights
weeks after Qatar won the 2022 hosting
vote. Then, in January 2011, FIFA
announced that Al Jazeera Sports —
which later became beIN — had secured
the rights for 23 territories across the
Middle East and North Africa, including
Saudi Arabia.
Raids on offices and properties
including beIN’s offices in Paris were
carried out by agents from the French
financial prosecutor’s office and the
national anti-corruption unit, as well as
raids in Greece, Spain and Italy, where
a luxury villa was seized and searched.
The OAG also revealed that Valcke
was subject of a criminal procedure
opened in March 2016 over World Cup
ticketing allegations, from which the
latest investigation had emanated.
Valcke and beIN have both denied
all wrongdoing.
Keir Radnedge

WORLD SOCCER 13
 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

“Democracy isn’t good for sport. It eats into

discipline. Players find other things to interest
them. They become more laid-back”
Ex-Bulgaria striker Emil Kostadinov attributes his nation’s
lack of recent success to the fall of communism

es
w av
g hes m akin

On the
RADAR
oac
dc
an

Sp
otl rs
igh t pl aye
on th e

Goncalo
GUEDES
(Valencia)
Valencia have been
transformed this
season by Marcelino,
who steered them to
second place in La
Liga by October.
The former
Villarreal boss
became the club’s
sixth coach in two
years when he was
appointed at the end
of last season, and a
hallmark of his
entertaining and competitive side has
been the deployment of two players with
something to prove: striker Simone Zaza
and midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, who
disappointed at West Ham United and
Internazioinale respectively last season. MAURO ICARDI (Internazionale) ALVARO ODRIOZOLA
However, the biggest revelation has After a falling out with Inter’s ultras last (Real Sociedad)
been Portuguese winger Guedes, who season, the Argentinian striker repaired An impressive debut for Spain at right-
is on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. his relationship with the help of a hat- back saw talk of a move to Real Madrid,
Turning 21 in November, he has trick against city rivals Milan, including an despite a release clause of €40m.
revelled in providing goals and assists. injury-time winner from the penalty spot.
Most significantly, he scored both goals in IVAN LEKO (Club Brugge)
his side’s most significant result so far, a TIM WEAH (USA under-17s) The Croatian coach was appointed in the
comprehensive 4-0 victory over Sevilla. The United States went out of the World summer and steered his new club to top
A teenage star for Benfica, who has Under-17s to England at the quarter-final spot in the Belgian first division, eight
represented Portugal at every level from stage but not before the son of George points clear of second-placed Charleroi
under-15 upwards, Guedes moved to Weah had left a lasting impression, not after 11 games.
Paris in a €30m deal in January this least with a hat-trick against Paraguay.
year but was given few opportunities to JORGINHO (Napoli)
display his talents. Now, after his impact MARCO SILVA (Watford) The midfield engine behind Napoli’s
on La Liga this autumn, he can expect The Portuguese coach needed little time table-topping run in Serie A. Born in
a very different reception back in the to make an impact at Watford, steering Brazil but with Italian grandparents, he is
French capital when he returns there the perennial strugglers into the Premier now being chased by Brazil after failing
at the season’s end. League’s top six. to win a senior Italy cap.

14 WORLD SOCCER
THE WORLD THIS MONTH GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

Jim
HOLDEN
AT THE HEART OF THE GAME

The World Cup remains the ultimate

prize – thanks to Ronaldo and Messi
Remember, remember the 10th of October
Inspirational...
– the night the World Cup was rescued from
Cristiano Ronaldo
doom. Across two continents, two of the all-
time greatest players of the world’s favourite
game were in perilous danger of being
crushed in the mediocrity of qualifiers.
Whether you believe Cristiano Ronaldo or
Lionel Messi is the finest footballer it would
have been mortally wounding to next year’s
finals for these two to be absent from Russia.
The tournament is already battling to
maintain its position of ultimate prestige
against the growing financial and sporting
weight of club football. Without the diamond
brilliance of Messi and Ronaldo, next
summer’s event would have been grievously
diminished at the worst possible moment.
Messi and Ronaldo are the kings. Their
goalscoring feats, their medals, their glory
and their magic are the heart of football’s
universe. Seven of the last 10 Champions
League Finals have been captured by either
player. Messi has scored 532 goals in 626
career matches. Ronaldo’s tally is 613 goals
in 873 matches. Both are approaching an images flashed round the world and brooked although those of us who like a little mischief
astonishing 50 career hat-tricks. no argument about the message as his left- in sport were sorely disappointed that the
Of the last nine Ballon d’Or prizes for the foot shots rippled into the net. possibility of a play-off duel between Syria
world’s best player, Messi has five and Ronaldo Argentina have the finest collection of and the USA failed to materialise.
four. Nobody else gets a look in. It’s almost forward players anywhere – Gonzalo Higuain, Qualification for Egypt was welcome, while
the same with World Soccer’s Player of the Paolo Dybala, Sergio Aguero, Mauro Icardi the European play-offs will have intense focus
Year award with four each, the run broken and Angel Di Maria to name just a few – yet on four-time World Cup winners Italy.
only by Xavi when Spain won the World Cup they rely utterly on Messi. These are the sideshows, however. What
in 2010. On the last evening of the qualifying groups makes or breaks a World Cup are the hunger,
The greater in Europe, the performance and quality of the great players
glory on the night pressure was on – and this is a World Cup which needs to be
of October 10 Without the diamond Ronaldo too, spectacular to retain its pre-eminence.
belonged to though Portugal It could be special now that Messi and
Messi, who had brilliance of Messi and knew they had Ronaldo are present, and at the ages of 31
been criticised
at home for
Ronaldo, next summer’s the back-up of
a play-off if
and 33 respectively next summer they should
be further motivated by the knowledge that
his country’s event would have been they failed to they are almost certain to be playing at their
disastrous win at home last tournament.
qualifying
grievously diminished to Switzerland. It could be special with Argentina and
campaign, with Ronaldo didn’t Portugal led by their heroes of the ages to
Argentina lying in sixth place going into the score on October 10 but his mere presence inspire strong supporting casts.
final round of matches. makes Portugal intimidating opposition and It could be special for four European
Many felt he didn’t care enough about the they swept past the Swiss with comfort. national teams in Germany, Spain, Belgium
national team, even though his quality had There were other stories and dramas to and France, and goalscoring stars elsewhere
driven them to the 2014 World Cup Final, savour in the crucial closing round of games, like Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.
where they lost to Germany in extra time. not least the continuation of the Iceland It could be special with a revitalised Brazil
Messi’s response was another burst of fairytale as they became the smallest-ever and €222million man Neymar burning with
beauty and another mesmerising hat-trick, nation (population 300,000) to reach the ambition to prove he is now better than Messi
scored on a sodden pitch against Ecuador in World Cup finals. and Ronaldo.
the treacherous altitude of Quito. The TV Panama made it for the first time, too, Let’s hope so.

WORLD SOCCER 15
 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

Jonathan
WILSON
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Is Messi’s genius part of Argentina’s problem?

There was something paradoxical Unstoppable...
about Lionel Messi’s hat-trick away Lionel Messi
takes on Peru
to Ecuador that secured Argentina’s
place at the World Cup.
On the one hand he was a player,
through a combination of ability and
will, dragging his country out of its
crisis. It was a brilliant performance
that will be talked about as long as
Messi is talked about; the time when,
at last, he rose to the occasion when
his country really needed him.
And yet it is hard to avoid the
thought that maybe it’s his genius
that has been part of the problem
for Argentina all along.
To be clear, Argentina’s problems
are not Messi’s fault but, as Paulo
Dybala had noted before the draw
against Peru, playing with a genius Argentina’s problems are not Messi’s fault but,
can be difficult.
In part, that’s because they do
as Paulo Dybala noted before the draw against
things you don’t expect, that others Peru, playing with a genius can be difficult
aren’t capable of. But Dybala’s wider
point was that players at this level attacking talent, should never get to performances in Mexico – and
are not used to operating alongside the point where it feels as though if the understandable but misleading
somebody who is so obviously better you stop Messi you stop the whole suggestion that Argentina were the
than them. The temptation is always side. But, of late, it has felt like that number 10 plus 10 others –have
to give them the ball and to get out at times. After all, barring own goals, tended to disguise how well-balanced
of the way, worried that you might be nobody other than Messi has scored that side was, how Carlos Bilardo’s
obstructing brilliance. for Argentina in 11 months. back three created a platform on
When Thierry Henry left Arsenal, He was directly involved in 47 per which Maradona could perform.
Cesc Fabregas spoke of feeling relief cent of their goals in qualifying, either The problem caused by a player
in the sense that now when he got by scoring himself or with the assist, of Messi’s talent is not restricted to
the ball all he was doing was picking despite playing only 10 of the 18 Argentina. Successive forwards have
the best option, rather than deciding games. Everything went through him, struggled to fit in alongside him at
whether Henry was the best option. everything was about him. It’s natural, Barcelona, with Henry, Samuel Eto’o,
The pressure of serving a great was but it’s unhealthy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexander Hleb
no longer there any more. But Argentina are not like and Alexis Sanchez all finding it
Genius can have a stifling effect Liberia with George Weah, Bulgaria difficult to play a secondary but not
Figurehead...Diego
and, tactically, that can cause chaos. Maradona at the with Dimitar Berbatov, Togo with subservient role. Before the coming
Argentina, given their wealth of 1986 World Cup Emmanuel Adebayor or Wales with together of the superstar front three
Gareth Bale. They have other options with Neymar and Luis Suarez, David
to relieve the pressure on Messi. In Villa was probably the forward who
that sense they should be like the played best alongside Messi, yet he
Argentina of 1986, when Diego never seemed entirely comfortable.
Maradona was the obvious And that’s at club level. With a
figurehead but was backed up by a national side, given the limited time
gifted and forthright supporting cast. available, building the necessary
“We knew we had the ace of coalitions is that much harder.
spades, who at any moment could Part of the reason for Brazil
change the game,” said team-mate finishing 10 points clear at the top of
Sergio Batista. “But we were clear the South American qualifying group
– if Diego was covered, Burruchaga for Russia can be attributed to coach
appeared and offered relief.” Tite addressing a similar problem
Maradona’s extraordinary with his team. Instituting a more

16 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

REPORTS WE COULDN’T MAKE UP

3
U2 WAIT THEIR TURN
Rock icons U2 delayed a gig in
Buenos Aires so as not to clash
with Argentina’s dramatic World Cup
qualifying win away to Ecuador.
The Irish band were scheduled to
perform at the Estadio Unico de la
Plata at the same time as Argentina
were kicking off in Quito.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
opened the show as planned but then,
with a giant screen in each corner of
the stadium, the match was relayed
modern, coherent style than live to the audience, before Bono and
predecessors Dunga or Luiz Felipe the band appeared on stage when the
Scolari, he reduced the dependence On hold...U2 football had finished.
on Neymar. Oscar has spoken of
feeling inhibited by Neymar during
the 2014 World Cup, but Philippe
Home threat...Han Kwang-song
Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus have
thrived under Tite – as has Neymar,

1
TEEN STAR BANNED FROM TV
now that he is not expected to do Perugia’s North Korean striker
everything himself. Han Kwang-song has been
And then there is the example barred from appearing on Italian TV
of Sweden. At the Euros they were – by the authorities in his own country.
derided as Ibrahimovic and some After scoring five goals in his first
others, but they have improved six Serie B games this season, the
dramatically in the latest World Cup 19-year-old has been in demand with
the media. But he could be forced to
qualifying in the absence of their star.
return home if he defies orders.
In their book The Numbers Game, “[North Korea’s] footballers have
Chris Anderson and David Sally argue

4
been prohibited from appearing on TV,” PUTIN’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT
that football is a “weak-link” sport as says Perugia’s president Massimiliano Chechen leader Ramzan
opposed to, say, basketball, which is Santopadre. “Otherwise they would Kadyrov and former Brazilian
a “strong-link” sport. In basketball, repatriate them. Han is scared.” World Cup winner Ronaldinho teamed
one megastar can elevate the whole, up to play for the “Leader 65” team

2
but a football team, although it will MATCH FIXERS CRY FOUL in a match to celebrate the 65th
benefit from a player such as Messi Prior to their Malawian Cup birthday of Russian president Vladimir
game against Chitipa United, Putin. The match was arranged by
who can transform a game, will
Nchalo United bribed the officials to Kadyrov and was played in the
always be susceptible to a mistake
secure a match-winning outcome. Chechen capital of Grozny.
made by its weakest performer. Yet despite their attempts to buy The Leader 65 team included
Dybala’s comment acknowledges a result, Nchalo lost on penalties after former Russia internationals Valeri
not merely that Messi cannot do it all a 1-1 draw and were knocked out. Karpin and Roman Shirokov, as well as
on his own, but that a link that is too Seething at the result, Nchalo Ronaldinho. They played against “Club
strong risks having a deleterious attempted to get their money back by Italia Master”, a team of Italians that
effect of the links next to it. reporting the officials to the authorities Leader’s leader... included Fabrizio Ravanelli and 1982
Which is fine as theories go, but – which is not the brightest move Ramzan Kadyrov World Cup hero Paolo Rossi.
what’s the solution? when you have tried to fix the match. (in white) Leader 65 won 6-3.
A club side would probably end up
selling their star and then try to
increase the general quality of their
squad, but a national team doesn’t
have that option. Clearly it would be
ridiculous to suggest Messi should be
dropped, so Jorge Sampaoli’s task is
to find a system that gets the best
out of Messi while spreading the load.
While that’s not easy, Tite’s success
with Brazil shows it can be done.

From left...Coutinho, Neymar and Jesus

WORLD SOCCER 17
 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

Keir
RADNEDGE
THE INSIDER

IFAB is racing towards VAR disaster

To VAR or not to VAR? That is the promote a World Cup deadline in
thorny question to be considered ever more strident tones while the
at the general meeting of the evidence of trials, and from Europe
International Football Association in particular, has been less than
Board in December. satisfactory. Both on-pitch and
This is not the meeting which technological practicalities have
is charged with deciding whether caused problems and raised doubts
the video referee system should about whether solutions can be
be used at the World Cup finals found to prevent FIFA looking
in Russia next year – that decision foolish during the finals.
is scheduled to be made by the The World Cup is the game’s
annual meeting next spring. But greatest showpiece – and that was
it is inevitable that – if only behind the crucial factor in persuading
the scenes and beyond reach of Sepp Blatter to change his mind
the formal meeting minutes – the about goal-line technology. Blatter
British associations, FIFA and the was among the appalled spectators
myriad of hangers-on, advisers, in Bloemfontein in 2010 who saw
committee members and self- Frank Lampard’s shot ricochet down
publicists will kick the issue around. from the crossbar, hit the ground
Laws made in haste tend to be behind the goal-line and spin out.
bad laws and football’s strength The one man who did not see it was
down the years has been the Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda.
conservatism of the law-making Back in Johannesburg, Blatter
body. For years FIFA has summoned a media roundtable at
administered the work of IFAB and which he announced his change of
little else. But, in the post-scandal mind “because the rest of the world
reforms, the British associations is laughing at us”.
allowed FIFA to swallow up IFAB as The danger now is that muddled
a price to pay for keeping the voting introduction of the video referee at
balance between the founding the World Cup will see the world
fathers and the rest of the world. laughing at FIFA again.
This opened the door to all the Hellmut Krug, who is overseeing
advisory aides – who need to justify the VAR trials in the Bundesliga,

The danger now is that muddled introduction who has said he would be happier
“living with the few mistakes we
of the video referee at the World Cup will see suffer over a season” because, in
the world laughing at FIFA any case, players and managers
make far more mistakes than refs.”
their existence – and all manner of says: “Making the system an The first suggestion of a chink in
quackery which never sees the light effective tool must take a season the IFAB armour came when
of day. When it does, such as Marco and not just a few match days. It’s Jonathan Ford, the chief executive
Van Basten’s proposal to scrap true that grey areas remain because of the FA of Wales and a senior
offside, it is shot down before the system is put into effect by member of IFAB, said: “My major
breaching the agenda walls. human beings, not by robots, but concern is we are rushing into this.
The role IFAB now holds, as a we can already see that decision- To have it at the World Cup finals is
subsidiary of FIFA, has also offered making is improving.” quite a dangerous thing to do.
president Gianni Infantino the England’s Dermot Gallagher, “It’s a high-risk strategy if it all
opportunity to press the case for the a key adviser to IFAB, and FIFA’s goes wrong and has to be booted
use of video referees at the World refereeing head Massimo Busacca out afterwards.”
Cup in Russia. – both former international referees Decisions by IFAB require a
This time last year, before VAR – insist that VAR will not create three-quarters majority. That means
had been rolled out in full-scale refereeing perfection but will reduce six of the eight votes. It also means
league trials, Infantino was perfectly the number of avoidable errors. that the British quartet can block
justified in raising that possibility. The However, Bayern Leverkusen any FIFA proposal and vice-versa.
trouble is, he has continued to coach Heiko Herrlich is one of those The likelihood is that a Yes/No

18 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

Warner’s
time games
Jack Warner continues to fight on.
The former president of CONCACAF
is wanted in the US to stand trial on
corruption charges in the FIFAGate
investigation and remains just that.
The 73-year-old Warner hired an
expensive team of British lawyers to
fight his case through the courts of
Trinidad & Tobago and it has been
slow going.
The one-time FIFA powerbroker
and World Cup “vote specialist”, quit
the game in 2011 rather than face
ballot-rigging charges in that year’s
presidential election. Four years
later he was indicted by the US
Justice Department on charges
of racketeering, wire fraud and
money-laundering over 24 years.
His most recent delaying tactic
was to seek a judicial review of the
extradition process. This was
rejected in the conclusion of a
50-page ruling in the high court
delivered by Justice James Aboud.
Warner is expected to appeal and
thus prevent the process reverting
immediately to the Port-of-Spain
Magistrate’s Court.
Warner had claimed the case
against him is politically motivated
and has accused the US of seeking
decision will not be thrashed out in threatened to overshadow the No goal...England revenge because it lost to Qatar in
IFAB’s AGM but that a consensus tournament itself – the video are denied in 2010 its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
will be reached behind the scenes in referee was of a different nationality He is not the only refusenik. US
advance and then rubber-stamped to the match referee, surely a lawyers are also struggling to
by everyone. nonsense and a recipe for obtain the extradition of former
In the United States, where video communications confusion. South American supremo Nicolas
assistance in sport is commonplace, The VAR system also increases Leoz as well as Brazilian federation
the start of trials was delayed from the power of players over the ref. If president Marco Polo del
the opening until the middle of the players in the World Cup run at the Nero and a predecessor,
season because, according to referee claiming, say, a handball or Ricardo Teixeira.
refereeing manager Howard Webb, a foul or an offside, can he resist the Presumably they all
“we still needed time for training pressure to consult, just in case his hope that, with FIFAGate
and installation of technical own opinion was mistaken? sentences due to be
equipment in the stadia”. Few people doubt that, once the delivered in the next
In the US the video assistant is system has been refined, it should few months, they can
a member of the travelling referee be essential at major tournaments. proclaim that – with so
team and works from a studio in the But the prospects of achieving that much more information
stadium; in Germany one assistant is in time for Russia appear limited. then in the public domain
at a match, the rest are all in a In theory, IFAB is supposed to be – it would be impossible
central control room. independent. This is the time and for them to be assured
At the Confederations Cup in the cause to put that independence a fair trial.
Russia in June – where VAR snags to the test. Delaying tactics...Jack Warner This will run and run.

WORLD SOCCER 19
 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

“We needed to win, them too.

What pact? That’s speculation”
Peru assistant coach Nolberto Solano pours scorn on claims
that his team and Colombia colluded in a 1-1 draw in a World
Cup qualifier, a result that was advantageous to both sides

HEADLINER: Gerard Pique arguments to play the game just as there

were arguments to not play the game. In
the end the league and Las Palmas

Barcelona defender backs wanted to play the game. There were all
sorts of opinions and in the end the club

independence vote made the decision to play the game.

“My personal opinion doesn’t matter.
Lots of players expressed their own
Barca caught up in Catalonia crisis different opinions before the game. The
club decided to play and we united
Football has found itself caught up in whether he would want an independent behind that decision. But I understand
the violent exacerbation of Catalonia’s Catalonia. Only that Catalans should have perfectly why a lot of the supporters
always-uneasy relationship with the the right to decide for themselves. think the team should not have played.
central Spanish establishment. But that nuance was lost on “For many years people could not vote
Going right back to the first half of the antagonistic fans who turned out with here and this is a right that should be
last century, Barcelona has appreciated placards of protest to target him at a defended by all means within the law
its status as defender of the Catalan flag national-team training session days after possible. It was very difficult to play
and capitalised on it. Now the dawning the referendum. without our supporters and after all that
of a sombre new reality after the On the day of the referendum, Barca has happened throughout Catalonia. It
independence referendum of October 1 were scheduled to play Las Palmas at was my worst experience as a player.”
has thrown the club onto the back foot. Camp Nou. As reports emerged of Debate has since raged over the club’s
The Spanish Civil War brought a ballot-box seizures and police violence, potential status in the event of Catalan
viciously sinister edge to the Barcelona/ some fans demanded that the club stand independence as they would hardly be
Madrid rivalry which has never vanished, up for the battered and bruised of happy in a league where their greatest
even during good economic times. If Catalonia and refuse to play. rivals were Espanyol and Girona rather
anything, Spain’s increasing financial But Barcelona were told that forfeiting than Real and Atletico Madrid. However,
health since its European Union the game would incur the loss of the talk of an “independent” Barca leading
accession in 1986 has widened the three points plus a further three by way Europe’s elite clubs in a breakaway super
industrial and political chasm. of punishment. Hence the decision by league appeared even more outlandish.
Catalonia generates around 20 per president Josep Bartomeu and the board Initially, an independent Catalonia
cent of Spanish wealth and its noisiest to play the match behind closed doors. would be beyond world football’s political
political parties have capitalised on Las Palmas lost 3-0 and were branded frontiers and the prospect is that the
increasingly protectionist sentiments. “fascists” by some for their own gesture team’s stars would abandon ship.
Hence the pressure for an independence of playing with a small Spanish flag sewn Some might want to rally to the flag,
ballot. The first, in 2015, led to judicial on to their shirts. Empty...Gerard Pique but such gestures are rare.
punishment pursued by the government Pique said afterwards: “There were taking on Las Palmas Keir Radnedge
in Madrid against Catalan leaders. The

“It was very difficult to play without

our supporters...it was my worst
experience as a player”
Gerard Pique

latest brought violence to the streets.

And while footballers generally avoid
political comment, Barcelona defender
Gerard Pique has never hidden his belief
in Catalans’ right to vote on the issue.
Via a tweet in Catalan, the 30-year-
old said: “From today until Sunday we
should express ourselves peacefully.
Don’t give them any excuse. It’s what
they want. And sing high and strong.
#Votarem [We will vote].”
Pique’s political independence has
long earned derisory whistles and jeers
on away grounds in Spain, though the
former world and European champion
has never expressed an opinion about

20 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“It’s a matter of friendship. I’m

doing this for Bayern and because
of my close ties with the club”
Seventy-two-year-old Jupp Heynckes returns for a
fourth spell at the Bayern Munich controls

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Appointments, sackings and loans

Former Milan and Internazioinale

boss LEONARDO, whose previous International end
roles also include that of director of ...Arjen Robben
football at Paris Saint-Germain, was
appointed coach of Turkish
top-flight side Antalyaspor.
Done deal...
Mikel Merino PAKO AYESTARAN took over as
coach of Las Palmas when Manolo
EUROPE Marquez resigned after just six La
Liga games in charge.
JUPP HEYNCKES returned to
coach Bayern Munich until the end HEIN VANHAEZEBROUCK left
of the season following the sacking Gent and replaced Rene Weiler as
Robben bows out for Holland
of Carlo Ancelotti. More, page 70. coach of Belgian rivals Anderlecht. ARJEN ROBBEN, whose two goals in his last
New man...Hein game were not enough to help Holland reach
Vanhaezebrouck
DIEGO COSTA completed a Belgian TOM SAINTFIET was the World Cup, announced his international
€66m move back to Atletico appointed national coach of Malta. retirement at 33 years of age after 96 caps.
Madrid from Chelsea but cannot
play until January 1, when the club’s OWEN COYLE was named
transfer ban comes to an end. manager of Scottish Premiership EUROPE
club Ross County.
Newcastle United completed RONALD KOEMAN, who spent
a permanent deal for loanee AFRICA £140m on players in the summer,
midfielder MIKEL MERINO of was dismissed by Everton after they
Borussia Dortmund. Former African Footballer of the won two of their first nine Premier
Year RABAH MADJER replaced League games. Leicester City
Lucas Alcaraz as coach of Algeria. sacked CRAIG SHAKESPEARE.
Play-off...
Zlatko Dalic ASIA GORDON STRACHAN left his
job as Scotland manager following
Aston Villa forward ROSS two failed qualification campaigns.
McCORMACK joined A-League
club Melbourne City on loan. Metz sacked coach PHILIPPE
HINSCHBERGER with the club
Argentinian striker MAURO bottom of Ligue 1. Departed...
ZARATE joined Al Nasr in the Gordon Strachan
United Arab Emirates on loan from YANNICK FERRERA was sacked
Premier League side Watford until by Belgian side Mechelen, while
the end of the season. JOSE RIGA left Cercle Brugge.

SOUTH AMERICA
JUAN ANTONIO PIZZI resigned
as coach of Chile after they failed to
reach the World Cup finals.

Croatia turn to Dalic CONCACAF

ZLATKO DALIC replaced Ante Cacic as coach BRUCE ARENA quit as USA
of Croatia after a 1-1 draw at home to Finland coach after World Cup elimination.
in their penultimate World Cup qualifier. A 2-0
victory in Ukraine in his first game ensured a place ASIA
in the play-offs, where they now face Greece.
Dalic had been coaching Al Ain in the UAE TONY POPOVIC quit as coach
and guided them to the 2016 Asian Champions of Western Sydney Wanderers a
League Final. week before the start of the
Loan...Ross McCormack A-League season.

WORLD SOCCER 21
 THE WORLD THIS MONTH

“It’s dirty and disgusting

and ugly, but it’s ours”
Alexi Lalas reflects on Washington’s RFK Stadium
as DC United prepared for their final home game
before relocating to a new stadium next season

OBITUARIES

Jozsef TOTH (1929-2017)

First time...Toth (circled) lines up with
Hungary before their group game against
Germany at the 1954 World Cup

The former winger and inside forward’s during the 4-2 victory over Brazil, in what Jimmy MAGEE (1935-2017)
death at 88 has extinguished the last became known as the “Battle of Berne” The renowned Irish commentator, who
living link with the legendary Hungarian and therefore missed the rematch with covered 12 World Cups, was a regular
team of the 1950s. Germany in the Final, in which Hungary voter in the annual World Soccer awards
Born in Mersevat, 150 miles west led 2-0 before losing 3-2. and was nicknamed “The Memory Man”
of Budapest, Toth was unusual in the A sports ground in his home town for his encyclopedic knowledge of sport.
national squad in that he played all his carries his name, while Istvan Tarlos –
club career with suburban Csepel Vasas, Serie A winner... the mayor of Budapest, where Toth was Eugenio BERSELLINI (1936-2017)
rather than Honved or MTK. Between Eugenio Bersellini hailed as an honorary citizen in 2014 Spent five seasons in charge of
1948 and 1961 he scored 78 goals in – paid tribute to his “exceptional club Internazionale, leading them to the
296 games for the team, who he helped loyalty and exemplary human behaviour”. Serie A title in 1980 and two Italian
to win the national title in 1959. His death was marked by a one- Cup triumphs. Had spells as coach of
He made his Hungary debut in a 1-1 minute silence before the following Sampdoria, Torino, Fiorentina, Bologna
draw with Bulgaria in Sofia in October weekend’s Hungarian league action. and Libya’s national team, and also won
1953, but did not play again until a Keir Radnedge the Libyan domestic title with Al Ittihad.
scoring appearance in the 7-1 win over
England in Budapest the following year.
In total he managed five goals in 12 INDONESIA
appearances for the national team
between 1953 and 1957, playing Keeper dies after collision during game
alongside all-time greats such as Ferenc
Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, Nandor Hidegkuti Choirul Huda, a goalkeeper with hospital where he died.
and Zoltan Czibor. However, despite Indonesian top-flight side Persela A statement from a doctor at the Dr
common misconceptions, he was not a Lamongan, died after a collision with Soegiri Lamongan Hospital said Huda
relative of his international team-mate a team-mate during a league fixture. suffered a “traumatic collision” which
Mihaly Toth. The 38-year-old collided with led to a cardiac arrest.
In Switzerland at the 1954 World Cup, defender Ramon Rodrigues and an Huda had played for Persela since
he scored in Hungary’s 8-3 thrashing of a opponent as he came off his line to 1999, making more than 500
deliberately weakened West Germany in challenge for the ball during a game Tragedy...keeper appearances, and the club described
the group phase. But he was then injured against Semen Padang. He was rushed to Choiril Huda him as “the Real Legend of Persela”.

22 WORLD SOCCER
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 Brian
GLANVILLE
THE VOICE OF FOOTBALL

Deplorable behaviour... Time to back Jack

Greg Clarke (left) and
Martin Glenn
At least and at last, Jack Wilshere got all
of 13 minutes on the field as an Arsenal
substitute at Everton, where he did well
enough. This after several outstanding
second-string games, the latest of them
in the 1-0 Europa League victory over
Red Star in Belgrade.
The star of the Arsenal in the 5-2
win at Goodison Park was another
midfielder, Mesut Ozil, who headed one
of the Gunners’ goals. Arsene Wenger
can only hope that Ozil maintains such
form – but his contract is up in the
summer, and he already seems to have
indicated that he would like to go to
Manchester United.
Wenger has recently spoken warmly
of Wilshere, who for me should certainly
be in the current disappointing England
team. I doubt the current unimpressive
England manager Gareth Southgate
would dare to pick him when he is not
a first-team regular, but it is hard to see
any other England player who passes the
ball with such imagination. Not to
Same old deadbeats at the Football Association mention the important goals that he
can score at times.
“He’s the fool of the family, make him a that’s if we ever This is yet another player whose
parson!” was an old Victorian jibe. For had it at all. She “The FA is incapable of contract runs out at the end of the
parson, read sports minister. demanded that dealing with allegations season but it would be sheer folly for
The present incumbent is one Tracey “the board need of bullying and racism” Wenger to let him slip away – with no
Crouch who, when faced with the to act quickly and fee payable, at that.
deplorable behaviour of the two FA decisively to take the
executives, Martin Glenn and Greg FA in a new direction”. Some chance!
Clarke, over the torrid Eniola Aluko affair, Alas we are struck with the same old
could do no better than declare: “I hope deadbeats whose evidence to the Collins
that the FA learns lessons from this Committee was described by the SNP’s
whole sorry saga, to ensure that all in the Brendan O’Hara as “jaw droppingly
sport and the wider public have faith in inept”. Needless to say, had there been
their processes and procedures. We have a sequel it would probably have been a
been clear that we expect world leading case of deadbeats out, deadbeats in.
standards of governance from all our So perhaps those old lines of Hilaire
national sports governing bodies.” Belloc might be all too dismally apposite:
That told ’em! At least the shadow “Always keep a hold of nurse. For fear of
minister, Rosena Allin-Khan, was far finding something worse.”
more assertive, trumpeting: “It is clear The truth is that since Stanley Rous
the leadership of the Football Association abandoned the post of FA secretary in
is incapable of dealing with allegations of 1962 to become the president of FIFA,
bullying and racism.” She said she has lost there hasn’t been a single impressive
confidence in the FA’s leadership team – incumbent to replace him. Red Star...Jack Wilshire (right) in Europa League action in Belgrade

24 WORLD SOCCER
 Struggle...Gylfi
Sigurdsson (right)
A footballing rarity
with Wayne Rooney
At struggling Sunderland, whom I saw
muddle their way to a scrappy draw at
Brentford recently, there is that rarity:
a footballer with a university degree.
The player is Duncan Watmore, his
degree came from Newcastle University,
and he is a right-winger of pace,
intelligence and menace.
Certainly Brentford couldn’t hold
him and one sympathises with so
Degree...Duncan accomplished a player doomed to
Watmore (sky blue) operate in a plodding team like this.

Koeman has left Everton in a muddle

Now that Ronald Koeman has left where he belongs to the left flank.
Everton, hardly trailing clouds of glory, For far too much of the time the team
one hopes that 20-year-old Ademola operated without true wingers. Certainly
Lookman will get a run on the right wing. the team misses the dynamic goalscoring
Everton spent a lot of money in of Romelu Lukaku, a striker well suited to
the summer. They bought a fine young walk in the footsteps of the likes of Dixie
goalkeeper from Sunderland in Jordan Dean and Tommy Lawton.
Pickford, who is surely a future England Dominic Calvert-Lewin is too young to
player, and one of the most talented carry such a burden and this is a problem
midfielders in the Premiership in Gylfi any ensuing manager will find hard to
Sigurdsson. The Icelander, however, has solve. And certainly before the transfer
been bizarrely pushed out of the middle market opens again in January.

Brook, City’s forgotten man The game’s

After 78 years, Eric Brook’s all-time
dirty secrets
scoring record for Manchester City, 177
goals, was matched by Sergio Aguero. More dirt is being swept from under
But where the Argentinian is a multi- football’s carpet, this time to do with
millionaire, Brook played at the time what American colleges call “hazing”.
when the top wage was £8 a week in An inquiry is looking into examples,
season. It would today translate into some of them plainly lurid, such as that
substantially more, but mere chicken involving George Blackstock when he
feed by comparison with what a player was a 16-year-old youngster at Stoke
of Brook’s ability would earn today. City. He has long claimed that he was
A Yorkshireman who made his name dragged into the first-team dressing
playing at Barnsley, he would have gone room and painfully assaulted by the
down the mine like his father had it not team’s goalkeeper Peter Fox, who has
been for his footballing ability and his always denied it.
devastating left foot. Then there is also the tale of poor
Plenty of power, even though he stood Paul Scholes, who as a Manchester
only 5ft 7in, he joined City with Barnsley United junior was shoved into a huge
team-mate Fred Tilson for £8,000 in tumble drier. Other United players of the
1928, and won both cup and league. same generation have also complained
The autobiography of footballer and of maltreatment.
columnist Ivan Sharpe tells the tale of pinched my effing boots.” Man City record
going into St Peter’s cathedral in Rome His free-kicks were deadly, which he ...Eric Brook
in 1934. proved against Italy at Highbury when
ORead Brian Glanville’s
“Isn’t it majestic?” asked Sharpe. To goalkeeper Carlo Ceresoli chose not to weekly online column
which Brook responded: “Somebody’s have a defensive wall. at worldsoccer.com
WORLD SOCCER 25
  
 
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 eye
witness Steve Menary reports

LATVIA

Match fixing leaves the

domestic game in a mess
New federation head will have a big job to do
A former high-ranking KGB officer in Riga about bearable for Latvia’s weary fans.
before the break-up of the Soviet Union in Skonto provided the backbone of that
1991, Guntis Indriksons is one of Europe’s 2004 team, and many of the players –
longest-serving national association heads. including Pahars, who scored 43 goals
But as he prepares to step down next year, in 137 league games for Southampton in
things are getting messy. England – subsequently went abroad. Last
With Latvia’s FIFA ranking currently at year Skonto were denied a licence and,
a record low of 148, Indriksons pledged though a youth operation struggles on, the
to stand aside in March following a 5-0 team is effectively dead. And these days
thrashing by Georgia in Tbilisi that ended the overseas players in Starkovs’ squad
with the resignation of national coach – such as the recently retired Artjoms
Marians Pahars. Then, ahead of their next Rudnevs, who was a striker with Cologne in
fixture, at home to Portugal in June, bailiffs Germany – struggle
moved into the Skonto Stadium in Riga for game time with
and removed all the seats. their clubs, which
The stadium debacle can be traced causes serious
“The federation think legal
back to the heady days of Latvian football, problems for the betting is for idiots, but if you
when Indriksons first took charge. national coach. have won the money fairly what’s
In 1990, six years before he was elected “Football is the problem?”
president of Latvian Football Federation not mathematics.
Former LFF press officer, Krisjanis Klavins
(LFF), Indriksons set up the Skonto group There’s no formula,”
of companies. Skonto FC was the group’s sighs a phlegmatic
football arm and became the country’s Pahars. “There’s many reasons for the
dominant side, winning 14 titles in a row current problems. We all come from the
between 1991 and 2004. The company Soviet system. There is no good and bad,
built the Skonto Stadium, and in 2000 but it did work. Now, some of the players
the club and the national team moved in. are technically not ready to be in the
However, the conglomerate’s fortunes national team yet.” the coach has to be changed.”
faded and in 2010 Indriksons sold the Pahars is not advocating a return to While some observers believe that
football team. They then lost control Soviet times, but plenty of Latvians could Indriksons could change his mind about
of the stadium which, according to a TV be forgiven for dwelling on economically standing down before the LFF congress
investigation, was later acquired by an safer times. Since joining the Euro in 2014 in April 2018, two rival candidates for the
Estonian, Allan Selter, and sold on to the prices have gone up faster than wages presidential post have emerged: current
Adventika Group. In early 2016, Adventika and he admits: “In Latvia they are angry national-team captain Kaspars Gorkss, and
leased the stadium to SIA Fitnesa Parks people. Not just in football, but everything. minister of the interior Rihards Kozlovskis,
but Selter retained ownership of the They have to be more happy because they who is being championed by Mezeckis. Power...Guntis
stadium furniture. When the three sides start to blame other people.” Kozlovskis has no football experience Indriksons
fell out, Selter sent in the bailiffs in April Pahars’ departure from the national and represents a retreat to the Soviet era,
and Adventika called in the state police. team after four years saddened many fans. when politicians ran football, while Gorkss
A last-minute deal saw the seats re- Despite losing four of their first five World is also linked to the establishment as his
installed in time for the visit of Cristiano Cup qualifiers, including a humiliating 2-0 father works at the LFF.
Ronaldo and co, and a 3-0 defeat for defeat to Faroe Islands in Riga, LFF This will be only the second time since
Pahars’ replacement Aleksandrs Starkovs secretary Janis Mezeckis suggests that Indriksons took power in 1996 that the
– who had steered the side to the Euro Pahars did not need to quit. But after clubs will have a choice of candidates in
2004 finals and was taking charge of the the Tbilisi loss, Indriksons told a Latvian a presidential election. The last time was
national team for a third time – was just radio station: “My personal opinion is that in 2016, when former LFF press officer

28 WORLD SOCCER
 Ready...Latvia’s
dressing room prior
to their World Cup
qualifier at home
to Switzerland in
September

Krisjanis Klavins stood as an advocate for

greater transparency in the LFF’s finances.
Klavins also wanted to tackle what is
arguably Latvian football’s biggest
embarrassment: facilities.
“The facilities here are a disaster,”
says Girts Mihelsons, the co-founder of
Riga-based side METTA, who started as
a youth team in 2006 and now play in
the top-flight Virsliga.
For four months every winter, youth
training from under-13 upwards has to
go inside, but Latvia has just two indoor
sports halls – and both are in Riga. In
provincial towns such as Ventspils and Game on...Latvia’s
Liepaja, youth players have to train on Nikita Kolesovs (left)
hard floors in school halls. tries to stop Cristiano
Ronaldo during the
The two sports halls in Riga are split into 3-0 loss to Portugal
four, using curtains or netting, and youth in June

WORLD SOCCER 29
 eyewitness

2017 Virsliga “It might happen that new clubs are founded by the
same people who were responsible for the disqualified
clubs. Match manipulation seems to be too attractive”
JELGAVA Virsliga chief executive, Oliver Schlegl
Cup winners last year, they
have one of the league’s
bigger budgets (between
€700,000 and €800,000) but were
knocked out of this season’s Europa
League without scoring a goal. Club
president is Latvian construction
magnate Maris Peilans.

LIEPAJA
Ex-international Maris
Verpakovskis is president
but they are mostly financed
by the city council. Got through one
round of Europa League qualifiers this
term before losing to Lithuania’s Suduva.
Won the Latvian Cup in October.

METTA
Founded in 2006 as a youth
side by Girts Mihelsons and
Andris Riherts, they offer a
dozen University of Latvia scholarships
each season to students, who make up
most of the first XI. All coaches must
speak Latvian.

RFS
Finished third in the second-
tier First League in 2015
but went up after Skonto
were denied a licence and runners-up
Valmeira turned down promotion due
to a lack of funds.

RIGA
Owned by a big-spending
but mysterious Russian
businessman, they play
in the Skonto Stadium. They tempted
veteran international captain Kaspars
Gorkss home this summer and spent
pre-season in Dubai.

SPARTAKS JURMALA
The reigning champions
are owned by low-key
players cannot practise crossing the ball as Daugava Riga, Daugava Daugavpils and National home...
businessman Spartaks
there is no space. Jurmala have all disappeared or been Skonto Stadium
Melkumjans, who has an Armenian in Riga
father and a Russian mother. The club Klavins wanted to use some of the LFF’s denied Virsliga licences due to fixing.
achieved success on a modest budget annual €7million budget – the biggest of An anti-match-fixing law was introduced
(around €500,000 to €600,000) any Latvian sports association – to install last year but no one has yet to be
but were knocked out of this season’s
a swathe of temporary inflatable halls. prosecuted under the new rules, while
Champions League qualifiers at the
first hurdle. However, his challenge floundered after some players and staff who were involved
attempts to get votes cast anonymously
were quashed, with Latvia’s club sides
VENTSPILS having to vote in front of Indriksons and
From the Baltic port city and
other LFF officials.
founded in 1997, they are
the Virsliga’s oldest club. Klavins was easily beaten and remains
Backed by Latvian oligarch and local undecided about running next year after
mayor Aivars Lembergs, they are one being widely disparaged by the LFF last
of the richest teams in the Baltic with time for alleged involvement in match
an annual budget of more than €1m.
fixing, although no charges were brought.
They have won six titles since 2006,
with the last in 2014. “The federation think legal betting is for
idiots, but if you have won the money fairly
what’s the problem?” asks Klavins, who
BABITE clearly understands gambling’s intricacies
Babite started the season
but were disqualified for
better than the LFF. Latvian Cup semi-final...
match fixing. Match fixing has plagued the Latvian RFS (in blue) and Ventspils
game for years. In the last two years,

30 WORLD SOCCER
 LATVIA

MOVERS &
SHAKERS

KASPARS GORKSS
Latvia’s captain, now back home playing for Riga at the age of
35 after nine years in England with, among others, Queens Park
Rangers and Reading.

GUNTIS INDRIKSONS
After more than two decades in power, the former high-ranking
KGB operative has finally agreed to stand down as LFF president
next year.

MARIANS PAHARS
The country’s greatest player, scoring 15
goals in 75 games, quit as national coach
in March and is currently seeking a return
to club management.

ALEKSANDRS STARKOVS
Back in the national hot seat for a third
time. In his first spell – between 2001
and 2004 – he took Latvia to Euro 2004 with a sensational
play-off win over 2002 World Cup semi-finalists Turkey.

OLIVER SCHLEGL
A rare foreigner running a domestic league, the German former
football agent took over as Virsliga chief executive in January.

but admits the battle is far from won.

“Looking into the history of other
eliminated clubs, you can assume the
clubs will disappear completely,” he says.
“But it might happen that new clubs
are founded by the same people who
were responsible for the disqualified
in earlier scandals are still in the game. clubs. Match manipulation seems to be
Earlier this year, UEFA contacted the too attractive.”
LFF over a suspicious pre-season Winter Schlegl wants to introduce a
Cup game in February between Babite controversial presumption of guilt for
and Lithuanian side Suduva. Two months match fixing, meaning that a player or
later, Babite’s 4-0 loss at home to club must prove they are innocent. “We
Ventspils also was flagged up when need something that makes people realise
Federbet, which monitors Latvian football, Monitoring helped but the LFF also Education...METTA they must take the Virsliga and the
picked up high levels of betting activity. obtained testimony from players including offer scholarships federation seriously,” he adds.
to young Latvians
Babite sacked two players but neither one from Ogre, which implicated head The LFF introduced rules forcing lower
were in the squad for the game against coach Igor Troickis. He denied involvement league clubs to have a coach with a Level
Ventspils, whose manager Paul Ashworth but an appeal upheld a three-year ban on C badge; that will soon rise to Level B.
said: “Babite were bottom and we beat him and three players. However, one coach working outside the
them 10-0 last time, so I think “They didn’t arrest anyone,” says agent top flight revealed: “They are doing this
we were a good bet to win.” Edgars Ikstens. “Some players [implicated] because they somehow believe it will
Since then, a crackdown on fixing has even joined other teams. Basically they will reduce match fixing. And yet those
reduced the Virsliga to seven clubs after do the same thing in another club next year. previously banned for match fixing are
Babite were expelled in July. In addition, “The LFF will kick out a few clubs every coaching at a high level at Virsliga clubs.”
Jekabpils/JSC and Ogre were disqualified year. In the media and UEFA work groups Sadly, as Guntis Indriksons finally
from the second-tier First League, while they are telling us that they are fighting prepares to exit with the FIFA ranking at a
Raita were ejected from the third tier match fixing but they are not.” fresh nadir after a woeful World Cup
and Sirius and Salaspils were removed Unsurprisingly, the Virsliga’s new chief qualifying campaign, there are few other
from the bottom level. executive, Oliver Schlegl, feels differently attractions in Latvian football.

WORLD SOCCER 31
 Champions
League debutants
Nick Bidwell profiles some of
the competition’s best newcomers

Borja
1 MAYORAL
REAL MADRID

Back at the Bernabeu after convert chances, a selection of his

a disappointing loan spell in greatest hits speak for themselves:
Germany with Wolfsburg, the the 50 goals he racked up for the
striker is certainly enjoying his club’s youth team in 2014-15; the
return to HQ. He made his record he holds as the leading
Champions League bow in marksman in the history of the
September as a sub against UEFA Youth League with 17
APOEL and a few days later goals; and the top goalscorer
he scored his first senior goal award he picked up at the 2015
for Real in a 3-1 La Liga win at European Under-19 Championship.
Real Sociedad. With an ability to A diabetic, he is the son of a
forage for openings and clinically Madrileno butcher.

Jerry
2 ST JUSTE
FEYENOORD

The 21-year-old centre-back

joined the reigning Eredivisie
champions from Heerenveen in
July, despite offers from Ajax and
PSV. After opting for a four-year
deal with the Rotterdammers, he
told a TV reporter: “I’ve always
liked Feyenoord. It’s a great club
with fantastic fans. For me it’s
definitely the best club in Holland.”
Those comments were the spark
for something of a media stir after
one of his former youth coaches
revealed he had been an Ajax
supporter as a boy – which is not
the sort of revelation to enamour
him to hard-core Feyenoord fans.
Christened “Jeremiah”, he is a
powerful and tenacious marker,
strong in the air and assured in his
distribution. He has represented
Holland from under-17 to under-
21 level so far and cannot be far
away from a senior call-up. His
elder brother, Yoshua, is a Dutch
futsal international.

32 WORLD SOCCER
 6 OF THE BEST

Dan-Axel
3 ZAGADOU
BORUSSIA DORTMUND

In his first season with BVB by trade. An intimidating package

following a Bosman free move of power and athleticism, he came
from Paris Saint-Germain, the up through the Creteil-Lusitanos
France under-18 skipper has soccer school in the southern
already made his presence felt, suburbs of the French capital and
filling in superbly at left-back for was headhunted by PSG at the
the injured Marcel Schmelzer and age of just 12. Rumoured to be on
Raphael Guerreiro. It’s been quite the watch-list of Manchester City,
a start at the Westfalenstadion for RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg, among
a teenager who had never played others, he finally chose to make
professionally before arriving in Dortmund his new home, signing
Germany and is a central defender a five-year deal.

Blas
4 RIVEROS
BASLE

A 5-0 demolition of Benfica was season in Switzerland feeling

not only one of Basle’s best-ever homesick and putting on a little too
continental performances it was much weight, while rarely featuring
also a red-letter day for their 19- in the first team. Now starting
year-old Paraguayan left-back, regularly, he partly attributes this
who opened his Champions to new coach Raphael Wicky, who
League scoring account. Signed speaks good Spanish. Gritty and
from Asuncion club Olimpia in the adventurous, he is full of tricks
summer of 2016, he spent his first when pushing forward.

Timur Adama
5 ZHAMALETDINOV
CSKA 6 DIAKHABY
MONACO

Along with fellow front-man Fedor As exciting as he is versatile, the

Chalov and midfielder Aleksandr France under-21 striker, a €10m
Golovin, the 20-year-old buy from Rennes this summer,
symbolises the Moscow club’s does not like being called the
new wave of attacking talent and successor to Kylian Mbappe –
demonstrated his worth by who left Monaco in August for
coming on as a sub with 20 Paris Saint-Germain – but in
minutes to go and scoring in the many senses he is exactly that.
2-1 win at Benfica. A natural Corsica-born, though brought up
predator, who is stealthy on the in Normandy, the 21-year-old left-
break and very mobile, equally at footer has been used as
ease working the channels as he the point of attack, a
is coming deep to link the play. second striker and on
The 3-5-2 system utilised by the left wing. Just 12
CSKA coach Viktor Goncharenko months ago he was a
has high work-rate and flexibility fringe figure at Rennes
at its core – and he scores on and back in 2014 he
both counts. Prior to joining had failed to make the
CSKA in 2010 he was a long-time grade at Caen. However,
academy pupil at Lokomotiv he refused to call it quits
Moscow, before making a name and was finally rewarded
for himself with a glut of goals for his persistence when
for CSKA in the UEFA Youth Rennes offered him a
League. Made his Russian Premier place in their amateur
League debut in April this year squad. He has not looked
against Krasnodar. back since.

WORLD SOCCER 33
 U P

34 WORLD SOCCER
 PLAYER Naby Keita
BIOGRAPHY

D LY
A R L E
W OBI
M WO RDS
: Nic

G u
The id rise s
a ra
p
k Bid
we l l

n
inea ince he
m
ld er
idfie first mo
r
v
ee
s
’s ca ed to Eu
en
r ha rope in
d
joye 2013

I
stres are not exactly one of French of call for young Africans – a distinctly be just around the corner. Tipped off by
football’s big names. Only once tough nut to crack. A week-long trial with a Le Mans contact, Istres director of sport
in their history (2004-05) have top-flight Lorient had borne no fruit; and Frederic Arpinon began to dig deeper,
they featured in Ligue 1 and due although Ligue 2 Le Mans did sit up and picking the brains of the coaching staff
to financial woes they currently wallow take notice, a huge hole in their accounts at Le Mans and hearing good reports
in the eighth division of the domestic meant they could not afford him. about the teenager turning heads at an
pyramid. The club has, however, launched Left out in the cold, Keita might have African Talent Day, an event organised
the careers of Arsenal striker Olivier accepted his fate and beat a retreat to in Marseille by Guinea international
Giroud and box-to-box midfielder Naby his hometown of Conakry. But, unwilling defender Bobo Balde.
Keita, the RB Leipzig and Guinea starlet to let his European dream die, he vowed Arpinon duly invited the youngster for
who is due to move to Liverpool next to carry on knocking on doors and a run-out and within minutes of the trial
season in a transaction reported to be moved in with Le Mans’ Guinean starting a job offer was in the pipeline.
worth in excess of €65million. midfielder Guy-Michel Landel. What he Keita’s easy technique reminded
Back in the autumn of 2013, as a had no intention of doing was returning Arpinon of Barcelona ace Andres Iniesta,
hungry 18-year-old in search of his first to Africa and following his father into the a view shared by the entire Istres squad.
full-time contract, Keita was finding the motorbike-repair business. “Naby turned up to the training ground
French game – traditionally the first port The reward for his persistence would one morning and straight away we all

WORLD SOCCER 35
 Naby Keita

realised he was special,” recalls former

team-mate Fouad Chafik, who won caps
for Morocco. “He had terrific technical
qualities, he was quick, explosive and
could score and make goals.”
Keita made his debut in a local derby
against Nimes in November 2013 and
proved an instant hit, scoring one goal
and making another in a 4-2 victory.
“The boy is a real prospect,” smiled Istres
coach Jose Pasqualetti in the post-match
press conference. “His ability on the ball
is startling.”
He had set the bar high and despite
operating in a struggling team he seemed
to improve with every performance. A
dribbling machine on the right or through
the middle, he was bold, athletic and
apparently immune to nerves. At just
1.72m tall and 64kg soaking wet, he
was the team’s “Little Caesar”.
Istres were eventually relegated that
season but he had done all he could.
“If he’d arrived here earlier, we might

“He’s an intelligent boy and, to his

credit, has made really good career
choices” Former Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer

have avoided the drop,” sighed

Pasqualetti. “It was clear he was a player
well above the norm. He was outstanding
in his off-the-ball runs and his passing.
He made the team tick with his
technique. He was an easy lad to deal
with, always smiling and never posing any
problems.”
He was good for Istres and they were
good for him. Pasqualetti’s adventurous
philosophy very much suited Keita, while
veteran club midfielder Jerome Leroy –
a much-travelled pro who previously
featured for Paris Saint-Germain and
Marseille – took him under his wing,
endlessly providing encouragement.
“Jerome Leroy’s words of advice are still
relevant for me,” declared Keita in an
interview last year with French website
Foot365. “He shared his experience with
me and that was very nice of him. reportedly attracting interest from a string Red Bull Salzburg concentrated on the
“He told me I had potential but must of French elite clubs, including Saint- bigger picture. He was just their type
work to bring it out. I often think about Etienne, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice. The of player – young, talented, dynamic
what he used to tell me.” trouble was they all had misgivings. Some – and they had been tracking Keita
In the 2014 close season Keita found worried that he lacked size, while others for several months.
himself at a crossroads. Third-division did not want to gamble on a recruit with In charge of Red Bull’s global football
football with Istres was no use at all only a few months of senior football operation, former France and Liverpool
to someone of his class and he was under his belt. boss Gerard
While they looked for reasons not to Houllier was at
bring him on board, leading Austrian side one of Keita’s first
Timeline
N OV 22 , 2 013 J U N 30 , 2 014 J U L 2 6 , 2 014 S E P 5 , 2 014 N OV 27 , 2 014
Makes his debut in Joins Red Bull Makes his league Makes his Scores as Red
Ligue 2, for Istres Salzburg from Istres. debut for Red Bull international debut Bull Salzburg beat
against Nimes, and Salzburg as a as Guinea beat Togo Celtic 3-1 in the
scores in a 4-2 win. second-half sub in a 2-1 in an African Europa League.
5-0 win away against Nations Cup qualifier.
Wiener Neustadt.

36 WORLD SOCCER
 BIOGRAPHY

team-mates. That’s my main mission.

“Creatively I’ve suffered a little.
However, the trainer gives me clear
instructions and I like to follow them.
We’re all in this together as a team and
just can’t do whatever we want.”
The main man in RB’s sensational
transformation last term from Bundesliga
new boys to shock national runners-up,
Keita is the individual responsible for
their balance. Over the course of 90
minutes he covers every base: the
intense harassing and tackling, the slick
approach play, the retention of the ball in
tight spots, the drive and the goal threat.
“Naby is, for me, the complete player,”
gushed Rangnick in a conversation with
Guinea guy...on Bild last spring. “He has great qualities
international duty with or without the ball, a tremendous
(second from right) heart and a super mentality. Take the
goal he scored against Darmstadt [a
games for Istres, and after informing Ralf in 2016 – not so much transfer as in- sweet right-foot volley in a 4-0 victory].
Rangnick – the director of sport for Red house promotion – Keita has had He had the technique and presence of
Bull Salzburg and sister club RB Leipzig Austrian coach Ralph Hasenhuttl dishing mind to take the ball on the full. Not
– he was duly signed for €1.5m. out the tactical orders. And for the last many players would have tried that.”
“I immediately had confidence in Ralf,” 18 months or so the Guinean has made Keita’s success is the perfect example
declared Keita. “I was touched by his enormous strides in his defensive work of what an organic football education can
openness. He put his arms around me. and discipline. Rather than overdosing achieve. Honing his skills in impromptu
He treated me as if I was his son. on his favourite solo moves, he is now matches on the streets and beach of
“He knows so much about football. If more collectively attuned. He is better Conakry and all the while blissfully
he says something to me, I absorb it. He’s at picking the right moment to break unaware that he was laying the
a person to trust. He wouldn’t lie to me. the lines and burst forward. foundations for a glittering sporting
“He once said I was like a koala that Hasenhuttl has drummed into him that career, that several years on, he would
you always want to cuddle. The thing is his top priorities are to aggressively lead be the most expensive player in the
I don’t know exactly what a koala is. I’m the pressing pack and force turnovers, history of the African game.
often frightened of animals because and the 22-year-old is happy to oblige. “I first came across a very young
many in Guinea are dangerous.” “Naturally it’s good to help the team with Naby Keita when he was playing for
As a result of Keita’s desire to move a goal,” says Keita. “But when I step on to an amateur club in Conakry called FC
to Liverpool and RB Leipzig’s resistance the field I’m concentrating on defending Bouba,” recalls Guinean sports journalist
to sell immediately, his relationship with as well as I can, winning back possession Kanta Soumah on the website Le 360
Rangnick soured. But no one can say it and finding the best way to support my Afrique. “He then played for FC N’Go and
was not a mutually beneficial partnership:
the Red Bull organisation having a jewel Challenge...beaten by Alfredo
in their midst for four seasons – two in Morales of Ingolstadt in the
German top flight
Salzburg and two in Leipzig – while Keita,
with the visionary Rangnick in his corner,
had his rough edges smoothed, won the
Austrian double twice and played in the
Champions League.
Not that Rangnick is the only Red Bull
figure to have played a part in Keita’s
Star turn... inexorable rise to the top.
celebrating a goal Considerable credit also belongs to
against Mainz
his coaches at Salzburg: first, Adi Hutter,
who switched him from an attacking
midfield role to that of engine room
controller, then Oscar Garcia, who
worked on his tactical appreciation. “He
was one of the three best players I’ve
ever coached,” says Garcia.
Since moving to RB Leipzig for €15m

F E B 22 , 2 015 J U N 3 , 2 015 N OV 12 , 2 015 M AY 15 , 2 016 M AY 19 , 2 016

Scores his first goal Wins the Austrian Scores his first goal Wins a second Is among the scorers
in the Austrian Cup as Salzburg beat for Guinea, in a 1-0 successive Austrian as Salzburg beat
Bundesliga, in a 2-2 Austria Vienna 2-0 win away to Namibia league title as Admira Wacker
draw with SV Ried. after extra-time in a World Cup Salzburg end their Modling 5-0 in the
in the Final. qualifier. season with a victory Austrian Cup Final.
over Wolfsberger.

WORLD SOCCER 37
 Naby Keita

Determined...
taking on Schalke

FC Athouga. When he played, he seemed unwilling to take a chance on him early

to have the ball stuck to his feet. You “Naby turned up to the training in his career. Not his initial difficulties
might have thought he’d come through ground one morning and straight settling in at Salzburg. Not the bout of
a soccer school, but the truth is he never malaria which sidelined him for a spell
set foot in one. He’s a pure talent.” away we all realised he was special” last year.
Immensely popular in Guinea – where Former Istres team-mate and “I always found him to be very focused,
an estimated 11 million people have Morocco international Fouad Chafik keen to learn and extremely hard-
bought his number eight RB shirt – working,' says his former Guinea coach
Keita is more commonly known in his while “Deco” is a tribute to the former Michel Dussuyer. “He’s an intelligent boy
homeland as “Titi Deco” or just “Deco”, Porto, Barcelona and Portugal schemer, and to his credit, has made really good
both nicknames given to him as a a player revered by Keita senior. career choices.”
youngster by his father Sekou. “Titi” When asked about his ambitions in the After dazzling for Salzburg in the
refers to the player’s childhood game, Keita is disarmingly straightforward 2015-16 season, he could have cashed
admiration for the former Liverpool, and honest, talking about turning out for in with a lucrative move to the Premier
Marseille and Guinea striker Titi Camara, big European clubs and becoming the League. Instead he chose to sign up to
best player in Africa. Yet never does RB Leipzig’s maiden Bundesliga voyage.
he peer into the crystal ball in arrogant “I came to Leipzig because they were
mode. To his mind, he is stating rock-solid an exciting club with a lot of potential,”
facts. He knows he is talented and simply he told Die Welt.
backs himself. “I didn’t want to join a Champions
What sets him apart is his steely inner League side straight away. It was too
drive, his resolve not to let anything stand early. I wanted to prove myself in the
in his way. Not the French clubs who were Bundesliga, help RB enjoy success,
then take the next step and carry
on developing.
Conakry, Istres, Salzburg, Leipzig,
Boss...with Leipzig’s Liverpool: the itinerary of an upwardly
Ralph Hasenhuttl mobile African world-beater.

J U N 30 , 2 016 S E P 10 , 2 017 J U N 10 , 2 017 AU G 28 , 2 017 O C T 7 , 2 017

Joins RB Leipzig Scores the only goal Scores the winner as Leipzig announce As captain of his
from Red Bull of the game on his Guinea win 3-2 away a deal has been country, scores the
Salzburg. debut as RB Leipzig to Ivory Coast and go agreed for him opening goal but is
beat Borussia top of their African to join Liverpool then sent off in a 4-1
Dortmund for their Nations Cup on July 1, 2018. World Cup qualifying
first ever victory qualification group. loss to Tunisia.
in the Bundesliga.

38 WORLD SOCCER
 BIOGRAPHY
Naby Keita the numbers game

H R
TRANSFER FEES GUINEA th e wa ED
re s
e s CA
m se ga en R
Le arc aso mes t off D
S

28
ip h n
Mo zig ing , ge ear twic
Se nc ag ord ttin lier e in
pt he in e a g
h th
be em ngl st B r for is is
ing be ad or R
r
fo di an ac uss B b
r sm d h ia
ag Gui iss t he in
Tu ai ne ed n
Oc nisi st a n
to a in
be
¤1.5m ¤15m ¤65m r.

Istres to Salzburg to Leipzig to

Salzburg (2014) Leipzig (2016) Liverpool (2018)
CAPS
LIVERPOOL’S RECORD SIGNINGS

£55m Naby Keita (2018) SIMPLY THE BEST

£35m Andy Carroll (2011)

£35m Alex Oxlade

Chamberlain (2017)
2015
Guinean
£34m Sadio Mane (2016) player of the
Year
£34m Mohamed Salah (2017)

GOALS
HONOURS

5
2015 2016 2017
2015-16
Austrian
Austrian Austrian German
Bundesliga
Bundesliga Bundesliga Bundesliga player of the
winner; winner; runner-up
Austrian Cup Austrian Cup
year
winner winner

2013-14 2011-12 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

60 60

55 55

50 50

45 45
44
40 40

35 37 35

30 30
32
25 25

20 23 20

15 15

10 10

5
6 8 9 5
4 4 2
ISTRES RED BULL SALZBURG RB LEIPZIG
GAMES GOALS (all info correct as of 21.10.17)

WORLD SOCCER 39
 NEW S
OF SERTARS
IE A
WORDS: Nick Bidwell

The next step Strengths

Pietro PELLEGRI Internazionale, Milan and Juventus are all Combining agility with composed
reportedly ready to pounce, and Genoa finishing, he has an excellent first touch
are unlikely to say no to an offer in excess and is in his element playing with his
Striker, age 16 (17.03.01), of €30m, but would the youngster want back to goal, displaying extraordinary
Genoa & Italy to go? As a Genoa fan, he is living the levels of muscular resilience.
Rossoblu dream at the moment and will
In a sentence not be lured away easily. The obvious Weaknesses
Millennial marvel already making waves marketplace manoeuvre would be to sell Needs to work a little more on his left
in the Italian top flight. him and then loan the teenager back for foot and could attack the opposition
two or three seasons. box more.
What they say
Genoa coach Ivan Juric: “There’s no
problem looking after a youngster
like him. He’s keen to learn and has
unbelievable scope for improvement.
He can have an important career.”
Genoa president Enrico Preziosi, way
back in 2015: “The next Messi? We have
him here.”
Alex Bazzigalupi, his first football

“The next Messi? We have

him here”
Genoa president, Enrico Preziosi

coach at Pegliese, a neighbourhood

club in the youngster’s hometown of
Genoa: “Even as a kid he had the
physical presence and the character.”

The story so far

The son of Marco Pellegri – who has
been on Genoa’s payroll for many years
and is currently their administrative
manager – he was hailed as a footballing
prodigy not long after taking up the game
and was just 10 years old when inducted
into the club’s youth system. By his early
teens he was training with the first team
and in December 2016, aged 15 years
and 280 days, he made his senior bow
against Torino, matching 1940s Roma
legend

3
Amedeo
Amadei
THINGS YOU DIDN’T
as Serie A’s KNOW ABOUT
youngest ever PELLEGRI
debutant. He
scored his first O While he and his father are dyed-in-the-
wool Genoa supporters, his mother Marzia
top-flight goal is a fan of cross-town rivals Sampdoria.
six months O His footballing idols are former Genoa
later, versus utility player and skipper Marco Rossi and
Roma, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
at 16 years O Rather than attend school, he spends
weekday afternoons with a private tutor.
and 72 days
he is the
third-youngest marksman in the history
of the Italian elite. Scored twice against
Lazio this season after coming off the
bench and recently received a first call-
up to the Italian under-19 squad.

40 WORLD SOCCER
 TALENT SCOUT

Antonio BARRECA Fabrizio CALIGARA

Left-back, age Midfielder, age 17 (12.04.00),
22 (18.03.95), Juventus & Italy
Torino & Italy Known for his drive, grit, cultured left
Apart from loan foot and threat from direct free-kicks,
spells in Serie he recently made his debut for Juve – in
B with Cittadella front of a full house at Barcelona’s Camp
and Cagliari, the Nou, coming on for the last few minutes
attacking full-back of his side’s 3-0 loss in the Champions
has spent over League. Previously featured in the
half his life in Toro schoolboy ranks of Internazionale and
colours, pitching famous old Piedmont club Pro Vercelli.
up there at just
nine years of age.
Although born and Midfielder, age 23 (20.05.94), Napoli
bred in Turin, he
is a Milan fan.
Piotr ZIELINSKI & Poland
He has spent his entire professional
career in Italy, joining Udinese at the age
of 17, then going out on loan to Empoli
Centre-back, age before joining Napoli for €16m in the
Mattia CALDARA 23 (05.05.94), summer of 2016. A native of the Polish
Atalanta (on loan footballing hotbed of Silesia, his stock-
from Juventus) in-trade are his quick feet, devastating
& Italy forward bursts and an eye for a through
Classy, ball-playing ball. He was heavily scouted as a
defender who schoolboy and linked with Liverpool,
came through Bayer Leverkusen and Feyenoord.
the Atalanta youth
system and is
due to join the
defending Serie Patrick CUTRONE
A champions in
the summer. Striker, age 19 (03.01.98), Milan
& Italy
This year has been one of vital milestones
for the homegrown teen who was
Sergej MILINKOVIC-SAVIC promoted to the senior squad in January,
appeared in his first Serie A game in May
Midfielder, age – in a 3-0 home win over Bologna –
22 (27.02.95), and has been on the scoresheet in both
Lazio & Serbia the domestic top flight and the Europa
Signed from League. On Milan’s books for the last 11
Belgian side Genk years, he hails from the Como region, a
for €10m in 2015 stone’s throw from the Swiss border.
and now valued at
a whopping €70m.
A key member Centre-back, age
of the Serbia Milan SKRINIAR 22 (11.02.95),
side that won the Internazionale
under-20 world & Slovakia
title two years ago. Signed for €23m
from Sampdoria
this summer and
Midfielder, age has won over the
Stefano SENSI 22 (05.08.95), doubters with his
Sassuolo & Italy solidity, poise and
Holding midfielder accurate long-
who is blessed range passing.
with great vision, Played in a deep
an impressive midfield role when
range of pass, and with Slovak club
double-rations of Zilina and was
mobility and self- included in the
sacrifice. Came to team of the
prominence with tournament
Cesena in Serie at this year’s
B and was voted European
Italy’s best young Under-21
player in 2016. Championship.

WORLD SOCCER 41
 CLUB
FOCUS

INTO THE
UNKNOWN
WORDS: Sid Lowe

Atletico’s recently opened

Metropolitano stadium could herald
an new exciting era for the club

O
ff the metro train,
squeezed in tight,
up the escalators,
through the ticket
gates at a brand
new station rebuilt
especially for the
occasion, and shuffling out into the
sunshine, thousands of Atletico Madrid
fans caught a glimpse of their new
home for the first time on a Saturday
afternoon in September 2017.
It wasn’t quite finished, but it was
ready. And so, 12 long years after the
idea was first proposed, they finally left
the Vicente Calderon and headed across
the city to their new ground: a stadium

42 WORLD SOCCER
Atletico Madrid

WORLD SOCCER 43
 Atletico Madrid

called the Wanda Metropolitano. A new anthem, from rough-voiced folk singer Beaten...Antoine and it was inevitable that some felt that
ground and a new era too. But what kind Joaquin Sabina – a track that they didn’t Griezmann (left) loses way about leaving.
out to Chelsea in the
of era? even manage to play at the centenary Champions League The surrounding area, 20 kilometres
Atletico’s president Enrique Cerezo because of an argument over the rights south of the centre and within walking
described the Metropolitano, which – lauded suffering as much as success; distance from La Latina, down by the
will host the 2019 Champions League the sense that Atletico were a proper river, had become Rojiblanco territory.
Final, as the best stadium in Europe. The club, that it was all about the fans, Now here they were, way over the other
question is whether it would really be proud of their presumed earthiness.
their home, whether that new era would The Calderon was falling apart and
be everything they wanted. smaller than the Metropolitano – with
Will this be the start of something 13,000 seats less – but it had been
fantastic, or would it be the end as they home, a place of their own, for over 50
lost a grip on what it was that made the years. The road leading to it was called
club Atletico? The club whose centenary Melancholics Way, which fits somehow,

“You are Atletico Madrid and there are 50,000 people out there
who will die for you. For them, for the shirt, for your pride, you
have to go out there and express on the field that there is only
one champion and he’s in red and white”
Quote from Luis Aragones at the new stadium
Impressive...inside the Metropolitano

44 WORLD SOCCER
 CLUB FOCUS

side of the city, stuck out on the north- Vicente Calderon, and in the tunnel, New journey...fans
east in no man’s territory, an empty patch before going out to the pitch, painted on arrive by subway
of dry ground by the motorway. Small the wall are two phrases that sought to
wonder that the excitement of a new sum them up.
home was laced with anxiety. There are Diego Simeone’s words from
The potential loss of identity at any the night they celebrated the league title:
new arena and the shift in the sense of “It’s not just a league title. What these
“self” is inevitable when a team moves. lads transmit to you is something much
Atletico knew that and did what they more important than that: if you believe
could to create continuity. Portraits of and you work, you can do it.”
players line the way, while photos of their And from Luis Aragones: “You are
previous stadiums decorate the metro. Atletico Madrid and there are 50,000
Outside the stadium were plaques people out there who will die for you. For
dedicated to every player to make more them, for the shirt, for your pride, you
than 100 appearances. have to go out there and express on the
The stadium holds onto the club’s field that there is only one champion and
history, celebrating its past, and is named he’s in red and white.”
after the ground they had before the There are 68,000 now. And Atletico

LEAGUE POSITIONS & HONOURS 1929-2017

1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9
10 10
11 11
12 12
13
14
15
LA LIGA 13
14
15
16 16
17 17
18 18
19 19
20 20
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6
7
8
2ND DIVISION 6
7
8
9 9
10 10
1976–77
1977–78
1978–79
1979–80
1980–81
1928–29
1929–30
1930–31
1931–32
1932–33
1933–34
1934–35
1935–36
1939–40
1940–41
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47
1947–48
1948–49
1949–50
1950–51
1951–52
1952–53
1953–54
1954–55
1955–56
1956–57
1957–58
1958–59
1959–60
1960–61
1961–62
1962–63
1963–64
1964–65
1965–66
1966–67
1967–68
1968–69
1969–70
1970–71
1971–72
1972–73
1973–74
1974–75
1975–76

1981–82
1982–83
1983–84
1984–85
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17

European Cup-winners Cup Europa League UEFA Super Cup Intercontinental Cup Spanish Cup

WORLD SOCCER 45
 Atletico Madrid

consider the new stadium to be vital if was a greater sense of security, of future.
they are to continue to progress. Those They have signed Vitolo, who is due to
extra 13,000 seats have been sold, with join them in January when the transfer
season-ticket requests rocketing. ban ends, and Diego Costa, who has set
The cost of the stadium is a long way to work under fitness coach Profe
from what was originally planned when it Ortega. Both were demands made by
seemed that they would be able to ride Simeone to extend his deal.
the city’s Olympic bid and effectively get He also wanted the club to back his
the stadium for free. Instead it has cost attempt to build a new team, to make a
over €300million (€170m plus the transition to a new era in this new arena.
€140m value of the Calderon site) and The renewal of Saul, 22, and Koke, 25,
Atletico were forced into seeking a loan. were part of that. Last season, on the last
But they believe in six or seven years it European night at the Calderon, Simeone
will be paid for and the revenue generated had said he wished he could clone Diego
will see them better equipped to compete Godin and Gabi, but he had come to
with Barcelona and Real Madrid. And accept that he could not, so he had Hard work...Filipe started getting more minutes. Gabi, the
here’s the bottom line: the stadium is to build to the future too. Luis (left) and Sime captain, started sitting games out for the
Vrsaljko try to
superb, the noise is fantastic and it may This season, he has done so. A contain Qarabag first time. “The kids are coming through
yet become a home. It may help them transition has begun to a new period – and they’re hungry; they’re putting
grow. To do that, though, they have to even if it is one marked by the return of pressure on us, coming up behind, and
compete in the meantime – and beyond. former striker Costa. Lucas Hernandez we know that we can’t let up in a single
Champions League qualification is not and Thomas Partey, in particular, have training session,” Filipe Luis admitted.
Atmosphere...the At first, the sensations were positive
fans do their bit – and there was still Costa to come, for
“The kids are coming through and they’re hungry;
they’re putting pressure on us”
Filipe Luis

just an objective now, it is an

obligation. And that brings pressure –
and comes at a cost.
In the summer, they were banned from
signing new players but spent heavily to
secure the continuity of such stars as
Koke and Saul. Simeone also extended
his contract. That helped to alleviate the
fear that had been created when his deal
was cut back. Instead of ending in 2020,
it was reduced so that it ended in 2018.
That created a sense that this was one
season, the first in the stadium, and then
he will walk away – a sense that was
echoed with Antoine Griezmann and Jan
Oblak. This felt like a watershed moment;
the risk was that it was not the new
beginning, but the beginning of the end.
Now, with Simeone renewing, there

THE POWER CURVE

The key figures behind Atletico

DIEGO SIMEONE MIGUEL ANGEL ENRIQUE CEREZO ANDREA BERTA OSCAR “PROFE” WANG JIANLIN
Atletico’s long-serving coach GIL MARIN Film producer and club Italian talent-spotter ORTEGA Chinese billionaire
has been a crucial figure in Long-serving chief president who received and deal-maker who Fitness coach who and owner of the
the club’s recent successes. executive and majority a suspended sentence, is responsible for has worked with Wanda Group. Has
His contract extension, up to shareholder. Son of the along with Jesus Gil and some of Atletico’s best Simeone at all his kept a low profile
2020, gave the club a huge club’s former owner and Gil Marin, for financial transfers of recent clubs. Enforces the since buying a 20
boost ahead of the opening hugely controversial mismanagement in times. Now the club’s coach’s philosophy per cent stake in
of the new stadium. figure, Jesus Gil. 2003. technical director. on the training pitch. the club in 2015.

46 WORLD SOCCER
 CLUB FOCUS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ATLETICO MADRID

● The club was founded by Basque

students in 1903 as the Madrid branch
of Athletic Bilbao. The source of the
club’s kit colours has been a matter of
debate. A widely reported theory is
that a Bilbao student, Juan Elorduy,
picked up 50 red and white shirts in
Southampton when catching a ship
home to Spain. The colours were the
same as the City of Bilbao’s flag. Both
clubs had originally played in blue, and
Madrid kept the blue shorts when
adopting red and white striped shirts.

● In the late 1930s, after the Spanish

Civil War, the club merged with the
Spanish air force club, Aviacion
Nacional, in order to stay in business.
The new club was named
Atletico Aviacion de
Madrid. They won the Liga Runners-up...the 1974
title in 1940 and 1941 European Cup Final
under legendary former against Bayern Munich

keeper Ricardo Zamora.

Controversial financially with Real Madrid and
● In 1947, under pressure ...Jesus Gil Barcelona. They bought and sold big-
from the Spanish air force, name strikers – Torres, Diego Forlan,
Aviacion was removed Sergio Aguero, Radamel Falcao – and
from the club’s name and won the Europa League in 2009.
the club re-named Club
Atletico de Madrid. In ● The appointment of Diego Simeone
1950 they won the title under coach ● Controversial property developer in December 2011 led to an upturn in
Helenio Herrera. and politician Jesus Gil won the 1987 club fortunes. A further Europa League
presidential election and got through success (2012) was followed by the
● In the early 1960s, the club was 12 coaches before finally winning the Liga title in 2014. Atletico reached the
forced to use Real Madrid’s Estadio Liga title and Spanish Cup in 1996 Champions League Final in 2014 and
Bernabeu after the Metropolitano was under Raddy Antic. Gil spent heavily on 2016, losing to Real Madrid on both
sold to developers before the club’s high-profile players (Christian Vieri, occasions, and adding credence to the
new stadium, on the banks of the Juninho) and coaches (Arrigo Sacchi, belief that the club is “cursed”.
Manzanares river, could be completed. Claudio Ranieri) but the club were
In 1962, Atletico won their first relegated in 1999. ● In 2015 Chinese billionaire Wang
European trophy, the Cup-winners Cup, Jianlin, owner of the Wanda property
beating Fiorentina 3-0 in a replay. But ● Promotion was achieved in 2001 Double winners group, bought a 20 per cent stake in
even that success was overshadowed under returning coach Luis Aragones, ...the 1996 team the club for €45m.
by Real Madrid’s sixth European who gave a debut
Champions Cup victory. to teenage striker
Fernando Torres.
● In the 1970s, during the presidency Gil, having hired
of local businessman Vicente Calderon and fired 19
and coached by Luis Aragones, Atletico coaches, was
invested heavily in foreign signings, forced to resign
including the Argentinians Ruben Hugo as president in
Ayala, Ramon Heredia and Ruben Diaz. 2004 amid
They won the 1973 La Liga title and mounting debts.
reached the 1974 Champions Cup
Final, losing to Bayern Munich in a ● Throughout the
replay after Bayern had snatched next decade,
a last-gasp equaliser in extra-time of Atletico struggled
the Final in Brussels. to compete

WORLD SOCCER 47
 Atletico Madrid

now sweating away at the Cerro de Simeone-era show. Instead, they were Debut...before taken the lead, Atletico played very well
Espino training ground – but the grateful to keeper Oblak. Chances were the new stadium’s for the opening half an hour, but Barca
first Champions
enthusiasm of the new is always laced few and the coach remains unsure of the League game turned the screw in the second half.
with anxiety and something seemed to best partner for Griezmann, who has not This is a time when, far from home,
slip a little. Again, it felt like it went hand yet reached his best either. beginning a new era, embarking upon a
in hand with the stadium; that sense that Qarabag’s assistant manager put it transition, questions will be asked and
this could be huge, but would it be right? bluntly, saying: “We knew that they would solutions sought.
Could it be the same? have difficulties attacking; that they’re not As one newspaper claimed: “Atletico
Atletico defeated Malaga and Sevilla at fluid when they can’t play on the break.” don’t recognise themselves” after they
the Metropolitano but lost to Chelsea in Could it be that the presence of Costa, drew four of their first nine games. Worse
their first European game there. waiting to take over in January, doesn’t still, that draw against Qarabag leaves
Losing a big Champions League match help? That the shift towards a new them on edge in Europe. And Atletico
in the 93rd minute could be seen as generation has created uncertainty? need European competition now more
classic Atletico, of course, but the Atletico drew 1-1 against Barcelona, than ever before.
manner of the defeat was concerning. and were the first
Simeone admitted that they were simply team to take points
not as good as their opponents. off them this This is a time when, far from home, beginning a new era,
They drew 0-0 at Leganes and were season, but there embarking upon a transition, questions will be asked and
held 0-0 by Qarabag, and although they were still reasons solutions sought
beat Celta Vigo 1-0 it wasn’t the classic for concern. Having

THE COACH THE KIT

Diego SIMEONE and played in the
(Arg) 1998 World Cup
Age 47 (28.04.70) – where he was
Nickname “El Cholo” involved in the
for his fighting spirit, sending-off of
he was appointed England’s David
Atletico coach in Beckham.
December 2011 after A key member
spells with Racing of Atletico’s 1996
Club, Estudiantes, Spanish double-
River Plate and San winning side, he
Lorenzo and Catania also played in Spain
in Italy. for Sevilla, and spent
He won 106 caps time in Italy with
SECOND KIT THIRD KIT
for Argentina as a Pisa, Internazionale
combative midfielder, and Lazio. HOME KIT

48 WORLD SOCCER
 CLUB FOCUS

THE SQUAD

Miguel Angel MOYA Jan OBLAK (Sln) Axel WERNER (Arg) FILIPE LUIS (Bra) Jose GIMENEZ (Uru)
GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS
Age 33 (02.04.84) Age 24 (07.01.93) Age 21 (28.02.96) Age 32 (09.08.85) Age 22 (20.01.95)
Previously with Valencia One of the world’s top Signed in summer Brazilian international Long-time prospect, now
and Getafe, injuries keepers, despite a poor 2016 after playing for left-back in his second an established
have restricted his role start when signed from Argentina at the Rio spell at the club after a no-nonsense centre-half.
as deputy to Oblak. Benfica in 2014 to replace Olympics. Loaned to disappointing season at Can also be deployed in
Thibaut Courtois. Boca Juniors last season. Chelsea. central midfield.

Diego GODIN (Uru) Sergio GONZALEZ Lucas HERNANDEZ (Fra) JUANFRAN Stefan SAVIC (Mne)
Age 31 (16.02.86) Age 22 (26.05.95) Age 21 (14.02.96) Age 32 (09.01.85) Age 26 (08.01.91)
One of the world’s top Home-grown product Versatile stopper who has Real Madrid youth product Centre-back fulfilling his
centre-backs and a key who was included in the come through the ranks. and regular right-back talent after a promising
figure for Simeone. Champions League squad His French father, Jean- since 2011, although career failed to take off
Contracted until 2019. as a reserve left-back. Francois, played for injuries have taken their at Man City. Revived his
Atletico in early 2000s. toll of late. fortunes at Fiorentina.

Sime VRSALJKO (Cro) AUGUSTO Fernandez (Arg) Yannick Ferreira CARRASCO (Blg) GABI Nicolas GAITAN (Arg)
MIDFIELDERS

Age 25 (10.01.92) Age 31 (10.04.86) Age 24 (04.09.93) Age 34 (10.07.83) Age 29 (23.02.88)
Right-back signed from Combative figure who Speedy winger, known as Club captain and ever- Attacking midfielder who
Sassuolo in 2016, who missed much of last YFC, who made his name present figure since has not quite lived up to
is starting to challenge season with a cruciate at Monaco before a move returning to the club the reputation he earned
Juanfran this season. knee injury. Signed from to Atletico in 2015. from Zaragoza in 2011. at Benfica and could leave
Celta Vigo. in January.

KOKE Thomas PARTEY (Gha) SAUL Niguez VITOLO Angel CORREA (Arg)
Age 25 (08.01.92) Age 24 (13.06.93) Age 22 (21.11.94) Age 28 (02.11.89) Age 22 (09.03.95)
FORWARDS

Accomplished all-rounder Holding midfielder who is Central midfield star Talented midfielder Talented youngster signed
who has been at the club likely to play more as Gabi of Spain’s 2017 Euro controversially sent on from San Lorenzo in 2014
since an early age. Has winds down his career. Has Under-21 side. From loan to Las Palmas after but yet to hold down a
recently agreed a contract also played at right-back. a family of footballers. being signed from Sevilla starting place.
until 2024. in the summer.

Diego COSTA Kevin GAMEIRO (Fra) Antoine GRIEZMANN (Fra) Fernando TORRES Luciano VIETTO (Arg)
Age 29 (07.10.88) Age 30 (09.05.87) Age 26 (21.03.91) Age 33 (20.03.84) Age 23 (05.12.93)
Bruising centre-forward Clever finisher who has One of the world game’s “El Nino”, having made his Former Argentina youth
who returned this summer, struggled to gain a starting brightest stars. Opted to debut at 17, is now the international who spent
despite being unable to place since moving from stay in Madrid this summer club’s elder statesman last season on loan at
play until January because Sevilla in 2016. Could despite big-money interest after an inconsistent but Sevilla and was expected
of the transfer ban. move on in January. from elsewhere. trophy-laden career. to move on this summer.
(ages as of 03.11.17)

WORLD SOCCER 49
 Women’s Football
Glenn Moore

Portland show
their ugly side
US women’s finale won with spoiling tactics
It may have been staged at the home of a Final affects players.
of Walt Disney World but there was little For Thorns and their coach, winning
fantasy about the championship match is what matters, that is their obligation
of the National Women’s Soccer League. to employers and fans. The Portland
Not that it will have bothered Portland supporters who feted them on their
Thorns, who went to Orlando to do a return were happy enough. Victory was
job and achieved a 1-0 win over North sweet having won the shield last season
Carolina Courage that their coach Mark but then losing in the play-off semi-finals
Parsons called “maybe the most beautiful (no regular-season winner has gone on
ugly game I’ve ever been part of”. to win the championship). However, for a
Beautiful for the winners, ugly for the sport still trying to shoulder its way into
viewers. Unprotected by an overly lenient
referee in Danielle Chesky, two Courage Tough... Portland Thorns’ Tobin
players were forced off with injuries Heath (in red) and Makenzy
before half-time. And they subsequently Doniak of North Carolina Courage
retaliated in kind, making for a staccato
game of few chances. Played while the
pain of the men’s failure to reach the
2018 World Cup finals was still raw, the
game demonstrated the best and worst
of US soccer, with its great athleticism fore, possibly with the involvement of FC
but a distinct lack of creativity. Barcelona. Now there appears to be a
The one moment of inspiration came shift in focus that involves strengthening
early on, when a 40-yard snap-shot the weaker clubs already in the league
from Sam Mewis hit the bar with Thorns and raising standards overall before
goalkeeper Adrianna Franch stranded. adding new ones.
The winning goal was more in keeping In most countries a failing club simply
with the game, as an unmarked Lindsey the public eye such a grim showpiece slides down the leagues, but in US sports
Horan lashed in at the back post after a was disappointing. Only 8,124 were in there is usually no relegation. They either
long free-kick had skimmed off heads to Orlando to watch it, which is the lowest fold – which undermined previous efforts
reach her. championship attendance to date, but to establish a national women’s league
Parsons denied he sent his players both the curious and the committed will – are sold or move town.
out with instructions to kick Courage out have tuned in on television. Unfortunately, The latter option, though alien to
of their stride, citing the tension of the the curious may not be back. Europeans, can succeed. North Carolina
occasion and a fortnight’s training without This was the fifth season of the NWSL, Courage were Western New York Flash
physical contact allowed. This is probably the third attempt at a professional until a mid-winter sale. With coach and
true, but his fellow Englishman, Courage’s women’s league in the US, and while squad making the 500-mile move
Paul Riley – who had the bittersweet the competition now appears established together, the team won the regular
consolation of being named coach of the it is not without problems, mostly related season and gates were up 20 per cent
year – was unimpressed. “I’m surprised to money. Women’s football still runs at on last year’s incarnation. It was, said
Portland played that way in the first half; a loss worldwide and for all the national Riley, a rush to get organised but a good
it’s not that type of team,” he said. “I’d team’s success, and the sport’s huge move for the team who enjoyed a better
rather see the players play than kick grassroots base, the US is not immune Struggling...Kansas training environment.
people, but they chose the latter.” to this problem. Although extra games City (in white) Kansas City could be next. The club
Courage lost successive right-backs, meant total attendance passed 600,000 changed hands, but not location, last
Taylor Smith, then stand-in Kristen for the first time, the average of 5,083 year, although the switch does not
Hamilton. Both were injured in collisions was 8.5 per cent down. More positively appear to have worked. Kansas were
with Tobin Heath, ironically a former there were fewer complaints about back-to-back NWSL champions in
garlanded player for the University of organisation and the increased TV 2014-2015 and featured players such
North Carolina. Heath who was later coverage was welcome. as Heather O’Reilly and Lauren Holiday.
injured herself, usually imposes herself Earlier in the year there was bullish The team remain competitive under
on a match through her talent, which talk of the league expanding to a dozen Vlatko Andonovski, but they missed the
perhaps underlines how the pressure clubs, with a Los Angeles franchise to the play-offs and their average gate of 1,788

50 WORLD SOCCER
 Round-up
FA TOP BRASS GRILLED AS
MARLEY STEPS UP
Senior Football Association officials
endured an embarrassing afternoon’s
cross-examination by members of a UK
Parliamentary Committee investigating
their handling of allegations of bullying
and racism made by Eniola Aluko
against England boss Mark Sampson.
Martin Glenn, the FA chief executive Unhappy...
and chairman Greg Argentina
Clarke faced calls
for their resignation, TROUBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA
with the former Argentina’s national team went on
also accused of strike in protest at the lack of resources
attempting to “near provided by the AFA. The players, who
Interim... blackmail” Aluko. are amateurs, said they do not receive
Mo Marley An inquiry had enough expenses to cover the cost of
decided Sampson attending training, while facilities and
did use racially discriminatory language, travel arrangements were inadequate.
but cleared him of “a course of Several leading recent Brazilian
bullying” and said he was not “a racist”. internationals, including Cristiane, quit
Sampson, who was fired after the FA the national team in protest at the firing
decided allegations of inappropriate of Emily Lima, their first female coach,
behaviour towards female players pre- and re-instatement of Valdao, and a
dating his England tenure was conduct lack of pathways for other women into
unbecoming of the role, is considering decision-making.
suing for wrongful dismissal.
Mo Marley, coach of England under- Aussie arrival...
19s, took temporary control of the Laura Bassett
senior team following the Welshman’s
dismissal. Marley steered England to
Euro Under-19 success in 2009
working with several of the current
senior squad.
was the lowest by any club since 2014. Champions...
Ideally, Sporting Kansas City will take Portland Thorns NORWAY’S EQUAL PAY DEAL
over and become the fourth MLS club BUT DANES STRIKE
to have a team in NWSL, after Houston In a landmark agreement Norwegian
Dynamos (who own Dash), Portland men and women who represent their BASSETT GOES DOWN UNDER
Timbers (Thorns), and Orlando City country will receive equal pay for doing Laura Bassett was the highest profile
(Pride). Flash’s owners, incidentally, so after the men’s squad offered to new arrival as Australia’s W-League
having sold their NWSL franchise, sacrifice some of their income to bring began. England’s World Cup bronze
re-started under the same name the women’s up to parity. medallist joined Canberra United,
in the second-tier United Women’s However, in Denmark, despite a having been a free agent since the
Soccer League. similar offer from the men’s team, the closure of English club Notts County.
“We need more MLS teams involved, Euro 2017 finalists went on strike over Melbourne City are seeking a
whether through expansion or transition their employment dispute with the hat-trick of titles following their
like us,” said Riley, whose team is linked federation causing the cancellation of a founding by Manchester City’s parent
with NASL’s North Carolina. “The gap World Cup 2019 qualifier with Sweden. company in 2015.
between the independent teams, like Sky
Blue and Boston, and those with pro Sorted...Norway
men’s clubs like Portland and Orlando, is (in white) at this
year’s Euros
growing, and the independent clubs need
to tie in with MLS clubs.”
According to Parsons: “NWSL has
some worries, but they will fix it. There is
a constant push to raise standards and
the league has improved a lot in the five
years I’ve been here.
“More organisations like Orlando,
who are a big club, and North Carolina
Courage, who are well run, will come in
and strengthen the league.”
In Europe there is already growing
consolidation with the men’s game.
If NWSL is to retain its pre-eminence
it must follow suit.

WORLD SOCCER 51
 ROAD TO
RUSSIA
S AMERICA
Messi to the rescue
on thrilling final day

S
outh America’s qualification
campaign is usually a tight
affair that comes to a tense
conclusion. This time, though,
the drama was more intense than ever,
with most of the continent clutching a
calculator to work out the permutations.
Of the 10 sides, only four went into the
last round with nothing to play for: Bolivia
and Venezuela, who had never been in
contention; Ecuador, who had fallen away
after winning their opening four matches;
and Brazil, 10 points ahead of the rest of
the field and already in Russia.
Going into the final round it was all but
mathematically certain that Uruguay
would be joining Brazil.
The wheels had threatened to fall off
the Uruguayan campaign over the past
year, as a team with a cautious gameplan
were suddenly
leaking lots of
goals. However,
Federico Valverde
promoted from the
under-20 ranks and
joined by Rodrigo
Bentancur the team
finished strongly.
In every other
campaign this
century Uruguay
had to settle for the
play-off place, but
this time they ended
up a comfortable the host’s defence to shreds.
second, leaving two Before the 20-minute mark the pair
automatic places had carved out plenty of chances and
still up for grabs. So, Messi scored twice. However, with the
the big story going into the last round of the massive changes he was trying to Through... effects of altitude expected to kick in
matches was would sixth-place Argentina make, which makes his preferred high Uruguay’s during the second half, and Ecuador
Luis Suarez
manage to grab one of them? line of three defenders an extremely introducing star striker Enner Valencia
Needing a draw at the very least, they vulnerable system. (who was not considered fit enough for
travelled to the altitude of Quito and However, understrength and under a the full 90 minutes), an equaliser could
found themselves a goal down to caretaker coach, Ecuador’s attempts to have proved fatal for Argentina.
Ecuador after just 42 seconds. It was an take the game to their opponents played In the end the away side were happy
illustration of the problems faced by into the visitors hands – and provided to run down the clock in a scrappy
Jorge Sampaoli, their third coach of the Lionel Messi with some space in which second half that was uneventful – except
campaign. He has a fine track record of to work his magic. With Angel Di Maria for a single moment of genius.
producing bold, attacking sides, but with in a free role that allowed him to float When a clearance deflected to Messi
no time on the training ground to bed in and combine with Messi, they tore in space, his run and feint gave him room

52 WORLD SOCCER
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
SOUTH AMERICA

him, Argentina Saviour...Lionel Messi more away wins than home – including
The pressure on Messi is immense. barely exist as a celebrates against
Ecuador in Quito
an extraordinary 2-1 win in Colombia a
Without him, Argentina barely exist team. In the eight few days previously, when, helped by
games of the errors from goalkeeper David Ospina,
as a team campaign that he they scored twice in the last five minutes
missed, just seven to keep themselves alive. The Paraguayan
to get the ball on his left foot and he points were picked up. method of play – deep defence and
beat the goalkeeper with a little chip that It is certainly possible that if Argentina break quickly – suits itself better to
was as inspired as it was subtle. had lost in Ecuador then Messi would not games away from home.
It was an appropriate manner in which be seen again in an Argentina shirt. In the event, Venezuela – on a high
to confirm Argentina’s place in Russia, Of the remaining places available, and delighted with a new defensive
and Messi’s fourth, and perhaps final, one would go to Paraguay if they could solidity – snatched a late winner to break
chance of winning the World Cup. Having win at home to bottom-of-the-table Paraguayan hearts.
briefly announced his retirement after Venezuela. That task, though, was a little Colombia travelled to Peru with both
last year’s Copa Centenario Final, the more complicated than it seemed. teams still in with a shout. The visitors,
pressure on Messi is immense. Without Paraguay went into the match with still in shock after conceding those two

WORLD SOCCER 53
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
SOUTH AMERICA

Clash...Colombia’s Frank
Fabra (left) vies with
Christian Cueva of Peru

late goals to Paraguay, have been a big a wrong so grave that it was worth all
disappointment since the last World Cup, The result, as it stood, suited both those extra points and goals? And there
in which they reached the quarter-finals. Colombia and Peru, who meekly was a real danger that this award of extra
Meanwhile Peru, with three wins and two points would distort the qualification
draws in their previous five matches, were
played out time table, unjustly punishing the teams
in their best form for years, and in with a competing with Chile and Peru.
real chance of making it to a World Cup with a gameplan based on constant In the event, there was only one
for the first time since 1982. movement and intensity had aged significant distortion. Uruguay, Argentina
Colombia took the lead in Lima together – and had been seriously and Colombia all got enough points to
through James Rodriguez – and then overplayed. Taking the first-team squad make it to Russia. Paraguay and Ecuador
came one of the key moments of the to this year’s Confederations Cup meant came up short. The big change was
entire campaign. that they had gone without a full break that the award of extra points and
Peru centre-forward Paolo Guerrero since 2013. goals carried Peru above Chile, with
stepped up to take a free-kick. It was Something had to give and the goals the former claiming the play-off spot
indirect – but once again Ospina dried up, which is fatal for a side that can and the latter eliminated.
blundered. Attempting to make a save, he leave itself open to the counter attack. In Had the Chileans not bothered to
got a touch on the ball as he was beaten their last six competitive matches, Chile protest and contented themselves with
to hand Peru an equaliser. And with the had failed to score in five. points won on the field, their golden
news coming in that Paraguay and Chile There was also a touch of cruel but generation would still have a chance
were both losing, the result as it stood delicious irony in Chile’s elimination. Knocked out...Jorge to say its farewell in Russia.
suited both sides, who meekly played Last year both they and Peru Valdivia of Chile Tim Vickery
out time. benefited from facing a Bolivia side
At the final whistle, Colombia had a who had fielded an ineligible player.
place in Russia, while Peru had made Paraguayan-born centre-back Nelson
sure of being in the play-offs. Cabrera had been resident in Bolivia
And that left Chile with nothing for three years – sufficient to gain
as a 3-0 defeat to Brazil brought the citizenship, but not enough for FIFA
curtain down on the most glorious era regulations, which demand a five-year
in the history of the country’s national residential period. He came on for the
team. The double Copa America final few minutes of a 2-0 win at home
champions will not be going to Russia, to Peru and a 0-0 draw away to Chile.
and the key members of their golden With Chile leading the protests, the
generation may not be seen in the red games were awarded 3-0 to Bolivia’s
shirt again. opponents, with the decision ratified
The warning signs for this Chile side in August by CAS. It always seemed
had been flashing for a while. A team harsh. Had Chile and Peru really suffered

54 WORLD SOCCER
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
PANAMA

GOMEZ LEADS PANAMA

INTO DREAMLAND
A
national holiday was declared
in Panama for the day after
the country’s historic first
World Cup qualification,
which was achieved by a dramatic 2-1
victory over neighbours Costa Rica.
“It is a victory for all generations of
Panamanian football,” said forward Blas
Perez, who went on to name check
players from the country’s past. “This
victory is for Cascarita Tapia, Roberto
Hansell, the brothers Dely Valdes,
Percival Piggot, Rommel Fernandez
...all of them have driven us to achieve
this historic moment.”
Panama, where baseball has long
been the national sport, had come close Costa Rica had taken a first-half lead Historic...Roman USA’s loss to Trinidad & Tobago. A
to reaching the World Cup before. Four through Johan Venegas, forcing Gomez Torres (in red) scores winning goal would propel Panama into
Panama’s winner
years ago they lost 3-2 to USA on the to send on veteran striker Luis Tejada in the automatic places – and so it proved
final day of qualifying to hand a play-off an early second-half change. Panama with two minutes remaining, as burly
place to Mexico. But there has been forced a corner, and a shot from Gabriel central defender Roman Torres thrashed
progress under coach Hernan Dario Torres hit a post and was scrambled away, a shot past keeper Patrick Pemberton.
Gomez, the Colombian who steered his but Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez The celebrations at the Rommel
own country to the 1998 World Cup and waived away Costa Rican protests to Fernandez stadium continued into the
then guided Ecuador to the 2002 finals. award the equalising goal to Panama. night as coach Gomez became the first
Panama’s first World Cup qualification The “gol fantasma” (ghost goal) would person to qualify for the World Cup finals
was achieved with a huge dose of luck. prove hugely significant in the light of with three different countries.
A controversial figure who resigned
from his second spell as Colombia coach
in 2011 after accusations that he hit a
woman outside a bar in Bogota, Gomez’s
main concern now is to add firepower to
his side. Panama were the second-lowest
scorers in the hexagonal, with just two
more goals than bottom-placed Trinidad
& Tobago. He experimented with several
attackers in search for successors to
Perez and Tejada, 36 and 35 respectively
and with more than 80 goals between
them, but to no avail.
Roman Torres, the Seattle Sounders

Gomez became the first

person to qualify for the
World Cup finals with
three different countries
defender and hero against Costa
Rica, has been the top scorer of the
Gomez era, with five goals, including
friendlies. He is one of a handful of
players based with MLS clubs. Few of the
squad have any experience of playing in
Europe, although Gabriel Torres recently
moved to Swiss side Lausanne while
veteran keeper Jaime Penedo plays
for Dinamo Bucharest. Others play in
Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras
and Mexico’s second tier.
Now next year’s World Cup will place
them on the global stage. It’s been a long
Progress...coach time coming.
Hernan Dario Gomez John Holmesdale

WORLD SOCCER 55
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
USA

USA CRASH OUT

IN TRINIDAD
T
o say that things went badly
wrong for the USA on October
10 would be one of football’s
greatest understatements.
On the final day of World Cup qualifying
for the CONCACAF region, the United
States were away to Trinidad & Tobago,
who were by far the worst side in the
six-team group.
T&T’s record up until then was just one
win in nine games, with five goals scored
and 18 given up. The USA needed to win,
but even a draw would probably have
seen them through. In fact, depending
on the results from other games, even
a defeat may have sufficed.
Yet the US produced the unthinkable,
losing 2-1 in Trinidad while Panama beat
Costa Rica 2-1 and Mexico were
surprisingly beaten 3-2 by Honduras.
Both Panama and Honduras, with 13
points each, jumped ahead of the USA,
who were stranded on 12 points. To
complete the humiliation, there was the
almost mocking arrival of a TV replay that
showed the ball never crossed the line
for Panama’s first goal against Costa Rica.
Panama, along with Mexico and Costa
Rica, are off to Russia, while Honduras

The youngest player on the team,

Christian Pulisic, the scorer of the
USA’s lone goal, escapes with
some credit – but that’s all

will play off against Australia. But the

USA, after seven consecutive World Cup
appearances since 1990, will not be at
the finals this summer.
Almost at once, a blizzard of tweets,
twitters and emails took off, most of them came off. The USA, fielding the same not much individual finger-pointing.
expressing dismay and horror. On TV, line-up that had beaten Panama, looked Maybe there should have been.
commentator Taylor Twellman was beside listless, leaderless and just plain clueless. Stopped...Paul Arena was to certainly blame for
Arriola of the USA
himself, spluttering with indignation as he Obviously, the players were heavily is sent flying by persisting with experienced keeper Tim
blamed just about everyone involved in criticised, but only as a unit – there was T&T’s Levi Garcia Howard, even though his performances
American soccer. with Colorado Rapids during the regular
US coach Bruce Arena, to his credit, MLS season had surely shown a slowing
did not play the blame game. Instead, down of his reactions. Howard was slow
he admitted responsibility and resigned. to react on both T&T goals.
He had only been an interim coach But who did play well? Possibly the
anyway, brought in last November when youngest player on the team, Christian
Jurgen Klinsmann was fired. Pulisic, the scorer of the USA’s lone goal,
Arena’s job was to clear the mess left escapes with some credit. But that’s all.
by Klinsmann and ensure qualification, With the players’ performances
but that proved tricky. His result were seeming to defy analysis, with coach
not much better than Klinsmann’s, yet Arena having quit, the tweeting search for
the team looked sure-fire qualifiers prior a culprit moved upward, to the president
to the T&T clash when they demolished of the US federation, Sunil Gulati. After
Panama 4-0. It was a thoroughly all, this had happened on his watch; he
professional, merciless performance was the one who appointed Klinsmann
against a team that had given the USA and then took far too long to ditch him.
problems in the past. However, the cries for Gulati’s
Then, just four days later, the wheels resignation overstepped the bounds

56 WORLD SOCCER
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USA

Pressure...
Sunil Gulati
MISSING
IN 2018
Other 2014 finalists
not in Russia

HOLLAND
Struggled behind France and
Sweden despite replacing Danny
Blind with veteran Dick Advocaat.

national team has gained in credibility

and will doubtless quickly recover from CHILE
the current set back. The end of an era for a golden
Without Gulati’s firm backing – to generation of Chilean footballers.
say nothing of the substantial financial
aid from his Federation – the National ECUADOR
Women’s Soccer League would have The early leaders in South
struggled to survive. American qualifying lost ground and
sacked coach Gustavo Quinteros.
Add to all that a huge expansion
of youth soccer, with many more
age-level national teams. Not to forget CAMEROON
the leadership role that Gulati played The African champions lost out
in generating the three-country (USA, to Nigeria in their qualifying group.
Canada and Mexico) bid for the 2026
World Cup – which is a bid that seems GHANA
certain to succeed. After three successive
Gulati faces re-election for his fourth qualifications, the Black Stars
complained about poor refereeing
and final four-year term next year. It will
decisions but lost out to Egypt.
be Gulati’s last election - and it may well
be the last “old-style” election that
involves only USSF members. The post
of president has traditionally been, and
still is, an honorary one.
Many feel that, given the massive
growth in the importance and the
responsibilities of the position, it is time
of common sense by a wide margin. His Heartbroken... to make it a salaried appointment. Gulati,
enforced departure now would be a Christian Pulisic having elevated the post to the levels of
calamitous case of “dropping the pilot”. a big-business appointment, and having
Set alongside his achievements, overseen programmes and events that ALGERIA
Gulati’s faults look like peccadilloes. have made the federation finances After reaching the knockout
He has brought modern thinking and stronger than they have ever been, may stages in Brazil, the north Africans
were drawn in a tough group with
professionalism to an essentially amateur well be the last unpaid president.
Nigeria, Cameroon and Zambia.
set up. His “other job” – as a senior Gulati will be opposed in next year’s
lecturer in economics at Columbia election, but the qualifications of the
University – has given him a dynamic candidates who have so far declared BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
presence as a public speaker. He has themselves - and, indeed, of any further In a group containing Belgium
become much respected at the top levels possibles one can think of - hardly and Greece, Edin Dzeko and co could
not repeat their heroics of 2014.
of FIFA, where his reputation as a straight suggests a serious threat. But the
talker meant he was never tainted by the mysterious perils of the ballot box
corruption scandal that enveloped that always lurk.
body. Perhaps more importantly, he is The votes come from USSF members
a football man through and through, – both the senior and youth divisions
having worked his way up from playing – from a players’ council and from
the game as a youth, through all levels of the professional leagues, meaning,
administration in the US game, including effectively, MLS. It is greatly to be
a key role in the organisation of the 1994 hoped that maturity and not tweeterish
World Cup. vindictiveness will decide the issue.
Under his leadership, the men’s Paul Gardner

WORLD SOCCER 57
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
SYRIA

SYRIA’S ADVENTURE
ENDS IN HEARTACHE
I
n the end, Syria’s World Cup dream highlighted around the world, the story
ended in heartbreak, after they was far more complex.
came within an inch – literally The Bashar Al Assad regime has been
– of qualifying for their first-ever keen for the national team’s exploits to
World Cup finals. be portrayed as an against-all-odds
When Omar Al Somah’s 120th-minute triumph that has united a divided nation.
free-kick struck a post with Australia But all is not what it seems.
goalkeeper Mat Ryan beaten, their Dozens of national-team players have
remarkable qualifying campaign was over. gone missing during six years of a brutal Dejected...Syria’s South Korea, having previously boycotted
Coach Fajr Ibrahim’s collection of civil war. Jihad Qassab, the former captain Fahad Youssef the squad in protest at Assad’s bombing
civil-war exiles played 20 games in a of the national team, was reportedly of his hometown of Homs.
marathon campaign, with every one of tortured to death in 2016. The players who have been selected
those played outside of their homeland The recent positive results coincided are those who have stayed loyal to the
as the unrest that has ravaged the with the return of Al Somah and Firas Al Assad regime, or who have kept quiet
country continues to claim thousands Khatib to the squad. Al Somah, who is about their political allegiances. The civil
of lives and displace millions more. war forced Al Khatib into an impossible
Al Somah had been the hero of the conflict between sporting loyalty and
final group game, scoring a 93rd-minute While Syria’s achievements were political beliefs. “Whatever happen, 12
equaliser against Iran to ensure that Syria highlighted around the world, million Syrians will love me,” he told ESPN
finished third in the group, behind South earlier this year. “Other 12 million will
Korea and runaway leaders Iran, to reach
the story was far more complex want to kill me.”
an unlikely play-off with Australia, which The return of Al Somah and Al Khatib
was played over two legs, in Malaysia based in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, was to the side meant sporting interests were
and Sydney. back in the side after five years of self- returned to the fore. Ironically, the team
Television pictures portrayed wild imposed exile, and Al Khatib, who is reached the play-offs after a draw with
celebrations back home, where the arguably Syria’s greatest player, had Iran, a country whose government has
government had erected giant TV excused themselves from national-team been a close political ally to Assad and
screens in public squares. duty to express sympathy with the rebel provided military support.
Syria’s extraordinary triumph in the forces fighting Assad’s regime. Following the heroic loss to Australia,
face of adversity had followed success Al Khatib, who now plays his club football and the national team now face
at youth level when they qualified for the football in Kuwait for Al Salmiya after a Expectant...fans an uncertain future in a country still
in Damascus watch
2015 under-17 World Championship in spell in China, had accepted a recall in Syria v Australia ravaged by civil war.
Chile. But while their achievements were March for games against Uzbekistan and on giant TV screens John Holmesdale

Xxxxxxx

58 WORLD SOCCER
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AUSTRALIA

Off to Honduras...
Tim Cahill leads

AUSTRALIA STUMBLE the celebrations

INTO PLAY-OFFS
W
orld Cup play-offs bring
back lots of unhappy
memories for football
fans in Australia. Every
four years the storyline used to be the
same: high expectations, nerve-wracking
tension, gallant failure.
The nadir was Iran in 1997, when the
Socceroos let slip a two-goal lead in the
second leg to crash out on away goals.
But the curse was finally broken in 2005,
when Uruguay were beaten on penalties
in Sydney. Since then, qualification has
become regular and routine through the
AFC after the continental switch from
Oceania in 2006. Until now.
A seemingly smooth ride through the
final round was derailed by too many
draws, a controversial switch in tactics by
coach Ange Postecoglou and, ultimately,
a mystifying night against Thailand, when
the team racked up 41 shots on goal but
could only score twice.
Saudi Arabia went through on goal
difference instead, and Australia were
consigned to reacquainting themselves
with the play-offs.
Postecoglou has born the brunt of the
frustration. His mid-campaign switch to a
back three was rooted in sound logic, but
he struggled to find the right personnel in
the wing-back positions. With the new
system taking time to bed down, the
team were left vulnerable defensively.
At the other end, converting chances
remains problematic, with the evergreen
Tim Cahill getting them out of a hole next Chinese Super League season.
against Syria in the Asian play-off, scoring It’s been a dramatic fall from grace for The rumour is that Ange
twice with trademark headers in the a coach who was the nation’s darling Postecoglou will take over at
second leg. Even then, had a late free- after delivering the Asian Cup on home Shanghai Shenhua in time for the
kick from Omar Al Soma gone in, instead soil in 2015. With that success still
of hitting a post, it would have been Syria relatively fresh in the mind, fans appear next Chinese Super League season
preparing to face Honduras. split down the middle as to whether he
Postecoglou was due to leave the job should stay or go, but many believe he Iranian visa stamps is a further
post-Russia, but a report that appeared should make his decision known before complication FFA can do without.
in Melbourne’s Herald Sun claims he will the series with Honduras. Fans who went to Tehran are having
leave after the play-off games with Los Catrachos are expected to play a similar issues as their travel to Central
Honduras in November. counter-attacking game, which is the sort America would normally be via the US
Perhaps tellingly, neither Postecoglou of style that has given Australia plenty of route. The new restrictions means more
nor his employers (FFA) have denied the trouble in the past, and the Socceroos paperwork and an interview process at
story and the rumour is that he will take will be without regular selections Mark US Consulates in Australia.
over at Shanghai Shenhua in time for the Milligan and Mat Leckie, both of whom Still, if Australia make it to a fourth
will miss the first leg through suspension. Decision...coach consecutive World Cup they will have
Perhaps that is why FFA has opted Ange Postecoglou earned it, after completing 22 qualifiers
against holding a pre-match training – the most of any team in history.
camp in the USA. The Australians want Ominously, the coach of Honduras is
to acclimatise as quickly as possible to Jose Luis Pinto, who led Costa Rica for
unfamiliar conditions, although there may Postecoglou’s first game in charge, in
also be some simple logistics at play in 2013, which Australia won 1-0.
their decision. Australia played one of If Pinto gets his revenge in November,
their group qualifiers in Iran – where the decision on whether Australia’s coach
opponents, Iraq, chose to play their home stays or goes to China will probably no
games – and traveling to the US with a longer be his to make.
Header...Tim Cahill scores against Syria host of player passports containing Simon Hill

WORLD SOCCER 59
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
EUROPE

EUROPE
Iceland make history

E
ight years ago, Iceland finished
bottom of their qualifying
group for the 2010 World
Cup, winning just once, at
home to Macedonia.
Fast forward to 2017 and the country’s
extraordinary progress in the international
game was confirmed when a win over
Kosovo in Reykjavik sealed a first World
Cup appearance.
Between now and next summer,
several numbers will be presented to
demonstrate the incredible nature of
Iceland’s qualification. With a population
of 334,000 they are the smallest nation
to reach the finals. Some 10 per cent of
the population were reported to have
travelled to support the team at the
Euros in France last year, while one in
every 7,000 Icelandic men will travel
to Russia next summer…as a member
of the Iceland squad.
The only Nordic country to secure
automatic qualification, they are coached
by Heimir Hallgrimsson – a part-time
dentist who took sole charge after Lars
Lagerback stepped aside following the only a few Icelanders playing in one of Scorer...Johann Berg Romelu Lukaku was Belgium’s top
team’s remarkable progress to the Europe’s top leagues. Gudmundsson (far scorer with 11 goals, and he scored the
right) against Kosovo
quarter-finals at Euro 2016. The English Championship remains winner in a 2-1 win over Greece in Pireus
Their place in Russia was clinched with the biggest employer of Iceland’s squad. in September that confirmed automatic
a 2-0 home win over Kosovo, thanks to As well as Magnusson at Bristol City, qualification. But the goals were spread
goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Johann there is Aron Gunnarsson with Cardiff around the squad: wing-back Thomas
Berg Gudmundsson. However, the most City, Birkir Bjarnason at Aston Villa, Meunier scored a hat-trick in the 9-0
thrashing of Gibraltar, while Dries Mertens
added five and Eden Hazard, despite
Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has stuck with the injuries, scored six.
players who performed so admirably in France last summer Martinez’s side finished as the joint
top scorers in the European section,
significant result came in the Ragnar Sigurdsson for Fulham and Jon alongside Germany, on 43 goals. Their
penultimate qualifier: a 3-0 win in Turkey Dadi Bodvarsson with Reading. penultimate game was a topsy-turvy
which ended the hosts’ hopes of reaching The first European team to secure affair against Bosnia, in which they came
the finals and put Iceland in pole position their passage to Russia were Belgium, back from 1-0 down to win 4-3.
in a tough group, ahead of Croatia and who finished unbeaten under new coach Martinez blooded some promising
Ukraine. A month earlier, Sigurdsson had Roberto Martinez and only dropped youngsters, with Youri Tielemans and
been the hero with both goals in a 2-0 points in the home draw against Greece. Thorgan Hazard, the younger brother
victory over Ukraine. A switch to a back three helped the of Eden, featuring in the final qualifier
Not surprisingly, Hallgrimsson has Belgians avoid the problem faced by against Cyprus. Leander Dendoncker
stuck with the players who performed so Martinez’s predecessor Marc Wilmots was a sub against Bosnia, while Michi
admirably in France last summer, along – namely that of playing centre-backs Batshuayi scored against Bosnia.
with similar tactics: a tight defence with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld First to qualify... France confirmed their qualification
heavy emphasis on organisation and as full-backs. Belgium celebrate with a laboured win over Belarus in their
speedy counter-attacks. They scored just final match. Didier Deschamps’ side
16 goals in the campaign – the lowest of managed just 18 goals in the 10 games,
any automatic European qualifier. despite the emergence of new talents
Hordur Magnusson, who scored the Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
only goal against Croatia in June, has They did just enough in a 1-0 win over
come in for Ari Skulason at left-back, but Bulgaria but had been held to a goalless
otherwise the starting XI is the same as draw by Luxembourg in September, which
the side that humiliated England in Nice. could have proved costly until nearest
Only a handful of the team have challengers Sweden lost 3-2 to Bulgaria
moved on in club terms since the Euros, to keep Les Bleus top of the group.
with Gudmundsson’s move from Charlton Spain’s qualification was never in doubt
Athletic to Burnley making him one of after September’s 3-0 win over Italy

60 WORLD SOCCER
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EUROPE

Goal... Republic of Ireland’s James McClean

PLAY-OFF
DATES
NOVEMBER 9
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Croatia v Greece

NOVEMBER 10
Sweden v Italy

NOVEMBER 11
Denmark v Republic of Ireland

NOVEMBER 12
Switzerland v Northern Ireland
a 5-0 victory against Azerbaijan, a
Greece v Croatia
performance that included two goals
from emerging star Leon Goretzka. NOVEMBER 13
Sandro Wagner, who was recalled after a Italy v Sweden
number of years on the sidelines, scored
his fifth goal in his first five games, the NOVEMBER 14
first German player to do that since Republic of Ireland v Denmark
Ronnie Worm in 1978.
Poland secured qualification with a 6-1 winner-takes-all decider for a runners-up
win in Armenia, following up a few days spot and a play-off place.
later with a 4-2 victory over Montenegro. Wales were without the injured Gareth
Striker Robert Lewandowski was on Bale and lost midfielder Joe Allen to
target in both games, taking his total for Ireland’s overly physical approach in the
the campaign to 16 and finishing as the 37th minute. Ireland’s smash-and-grab
top scorer in the European section. mission was completed in the 57th
England were unbeaten in their 10 minute when James McClean volleyed
matches, but scored only 18 goals in home a cross from Jeff Hendrick, who
total. Harry Kane, Gareth Southgate’s had seized on an indecisive kick from
Acrobatic...Spain’s new captain, scored the only goals in keeper Wayne Hennessey to defender
Iago Aspas in action underwhelming 1-0 wins over Slovenia Ashley Williams.
against Israel
and Lithuania in their final games. Holland, needing to beat Sweden by
Portugal’s fate was always expected seven goals in their final qualifier to pip
to come down to their final qualifier at the Swedes for the runners-up spot
home to Switzerland, the 2-0 winners of behind France, missed out. Arjen Robben
the reverse fixture in Berne in September scored both goals in his last international
2016. And so it proved, with Portugal too but the 2-0 scoreline was in vain.
strong for their rivals, running out 2-0 Denmark, after a poor start in which
winners in Lisbon. they lost two of their opening three
in Madrid. Italy’s need for three points An own goal by Johan Djourou set the games, recovered to finish strongly
prompted coach Gian Piero Ventura Portuguese on their way when he put the behind Poland. Age Hareide’s side
to field an expansive formation which ball into his own net four minutes before confirmed their play-off place with
played into the hands of Spain – and half-time and Andre Silva sealed the a 1-0 win in Montenergo, courtesy of a
in particular midfielder Isco, who scored victory in the 57th minute as Portugal spectacular strike from Cristian Eriksen,
two spectacular goals. pulled level on 27 points with Switzerland and a 1-1 draw at home to Romania,
Spain’s 1-0 win in Israel in their final but topped Group B on goal difference. while Montenegro lost their final game
qualifier extended Julen Lopetegui’s Serbia lost their penultimate game 4-2 to Poland.
unbeaten run to 14 games. The former 3-2 to already eliminated Austria thanks Croatia’s federation sacked coach
youth coach has revitalised the team’s to an 89th-minute winner in Vienna. It Ante Cacic after a disappointing 1-1
passing game and provided more was their first defeat of the campaign, draw with Finland left them needing to
intensity in the post-Xavi era. but they confirmed top spot in the win their final match, away to Ukraine,
To the spine of David De Gea, Sergio group with a 1-0 victory over Georgia to clinch a play-off place. Under interim
Ramos, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets in Belgrade three days later. boss Zlatko Dalic, the Croatians rallied to
and David Silva, Lopetegui has added The runners-up spot in Serbia’s group win 2-0 in Kiev with both goals scored by
new blood in the form of former under-21 was hotly contested, with Wales meeting Andrej Kramaric.
stars Isco and Saul Niguez. Right-back Republic of Ireland in Cardiff, in a Slovakia, runners-up in England’s
Alvaro Odriozola was the latest debutant group, missed out on the play-offs as
to impress, while the goals have been the team with the worst record of the
spread around – the scorer against Israel, nine second-placed sides. They beat
Asier Illaramendi, became their 14th Malta 3-0 in their final match, but a 1-0
different scorer in 14 games. loss to Scotland three days earlier proved
Another of the favourites for next decisive. Scotland had hoped to take
summer’s finals, Germany were the only second place in the group, but could only
European team to finish with a 100 per draw 2-2 with Slovenia in their last game
Crunch...Portugal’s
cent record, with 10 wins out of 10. Bernardo Silva takes despite a spirited performance.
They concluded their campaign with on Switzerland John Holmesdale

WORLD SOCCER 61
 ROAD TO RUSSIA
AFRICA

Return...Nigeria’s Victor Moses takes on Cameroon heady days of the Arab Spring.

AFRICA And while it was not the most

convincing of qualifying campaigns, the
key result came last November when
Egypt return they beat Ghana at home.
to the top table Egypt then lost in Uganda but won the
return game by a single goal, and as
Ghana continued to drop unnecessary

I
t has been the proverbial quest for points and Uganda ran out of steam, they
the Holy Grail, as for decades Egypt were able to clinch qualification with a
failed to turn their dominance of match to spare, rendering the final group
the African game into World Cup game in Ghana of academic interest only.
qualification. However, a last-gasp penalty Which is probably just as well because
and a horror refereeing decision meant at the end of the African qualifiers for the
The Pharaohs will be at next summer’s last World Cup, Ghana had hammered
finals after an absence of 28 years. Egypt 6-1 in the play-offs to book their
That Egypt have had to wait so long to berth for Brazil
return to the World Cup is all the more collective gasp of relief from all around Liverpool’s Salah is very much the
surprising when it is taken into account Egypt – and then set off the sort of talisman of this Egypt side, which has
that they won three African Nations Cup street parties not seen in years as the more foreign-based players in the squad
Talisman...Egypt’s
titles in succession, from 2006 to 2010, country suffers under the return of Mohamed Salah than at any other time previously in the
and Al Ahly have been one of the African repressive military rule following the takes a tumble country’s football history. Overseas
game’s most successful club sides.
Egypt were the second country from
Africa to reach Russia, booking their spot
a day after Nigeria, who in June looked
to be in a real crisis of confidence but
then four months later romped through
a qualifying group that was considered
to be the toughest of the five in the
continent’s preliminaries.
Egypt were last at the World Cup in

Egypt were last at the

World Cup in 1990 and
since then they have
suffered the agony of
several close misses

1990 and since then they have

suffered the agony of several close
misses, including a rare play-off game
when they finished level with Algeria in
2010. Over the years they have
employed a myriad of different coaches
in an attempt to reach the promised land
– including Ruud Krol, ex-Italy
international Marco Tardelli and the
American Bob Bradley – but it was the
taciturn Hector Cuper who finally got
them over the line. His wages represent
“the best $70,000 a month I’ve ever
spent” according to Egyptian Football
Association president Hany Abo Rida.
Egypt were also gifted a large slice of
luck in the end as well, converting a last-
minute penalty to win at home against
bottom-placed Congo in a nerve-filled
performance in Alexandria after Ghana
had earlier been effectively eliminated
when a legitimate-looking last-minute
winner away in Uganda – which could
have added pressure onto the Egyptians
– was inexplicably ruled offside. The
South African referee Daniel Bennett
has since been sidelined by the
Confederation of African Football.
Mohamed Salah stuck away the 95th-
minute spot-kick to illicit a massive

62 WORLD SOCCER
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AFRICA

players include Ahmed Elmohamady of at the opening hurdles. under a heap of pressure.
Aston Villa, Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal, However, defeat at home to South Cameroon had won the African
Ahmed Hegazy of West Bromwich Albion Africa in an African Nations Cup qualifier Nations Cup in between the second and
and the promising Ramadan Sobhi of in June suggested that the Super Eagles third rounds of World Cup qualification
Relief...Nigeria boss
Stoke City. There is also a place on the were too young, inexperienced and Gernot Rohr was and were expected to give Nigeria
fringes for Sam Morsy of Wigan Athletic. vulnerable, which left coach Gernot Rohr under pressure another torrid afternoon in Uyo when
Born in Wolverhampton to an Egyptian the race to Russia
father, Morsy has won two caps and was resumed in
on the bench for October’s World Cup September.
victory over Congo. Instead, Victor
The 44-year-old Essam Al Hadary, Moses and John
who is now playing his club football Obi Mikel made a
in Saudi Arabia, remains Egypt’s first- triumphant return
choice goalkeeper, and were he to to the side and
play in Russia next June he would beat led Nigeria to
Faryd Mondragon’s record as the oldest a 4-0 battering
competitor at the tournament by almost of the Indomitable
two-and-a-half years. Lions, which all but
Nigeria had begun their World sealed the outcome
Cup group qualifying campaign with of the group.
successive wins and looked on as With Algeria
rivals Algeria and Cameroon stumbled continuing to
flounder and
Cameroon being
mathematically
eliminated, only
Zambia could stop the Nigerians, but they
would need to win in the penultimate
round in Uyo – which is seemingly now
entrenched as the new headquarters of
the Nigerian team.
Alex Iwobi’s goal 20 minutes from time
put pay to any hopes of a surprise
Zambian away win and ensured the
Super Eagles go to a third successive
World Cup, hoping to do better than their
second-round placing in Brazil in 2014.
The three remaining African slots will
all be decided in November’s last round
of qualifiers.
Ivory Coast must win at home
otherwise opponents Morocco will go
through from Group C, while Senegal
effectively need a point from two games
remaining against South Africa to finish
top of Group D. In Group A, Tunisia are as
good as through, requiring only a home
draw with neighbours Libya to return for
a fifth World Cup finals appearance but
their first since Germany 2006.
Mark Gleeson

Not quite...Tunisian celebrations are on hold

WORLD SOCCER 63
 49
November
1968
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
causes mayhem

T
he cover of World Soccer’s Panic...there was
November 1968 issue featured uncertainty in Europe
stand-in Chelsea captain Eddie
McCreadie leading his side out
for a league game.
Inside, Roger MacDonald reported on
how European football had been affected
by the Eastern bloc invasion of
Czechoslovakia.
“Panic
spreads like the
plague, and it
was fear and
stupidity that
stirred the
European
Football Union
to turn its
international
competitions
upside down,
just as it was
fear and
stupidity that
sent Russian
tanks rumbling long-delayed Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final. separating the political entities. Piously they
into the streets “Leeds United proceeded as planned expressed the hope that the atmosphere
of Prague,” to play out an exhilarating Fairs Cup Final, would have cooled before the second round
he wrote. in which the absence of goals was more took place. But it was already apparent that
A UEFA than compensated by Ferencvaros’ for the East there would be no second
emergency technical brilliance and the stunning round, and one by one they withdrew.
committee met to re-draw the first round expertise of the defence that frustrated “Sandor Barcs, a vice-president of
of the European Cup and European Cup- them,” suggested MacDonald. “But the UEFA, had no hesitation in condemning the
winners Cup, with all the Eastern European effect of this match, which could only foster decision of UEFA’s emergency committee.
clubs pitted against one another. However, goodwill, was lost on UEFA. “‘It merely strengthens the opinion that
the Eastern Europeans then pulled out, so “Forced – by the expressions of the European Cup is basically a competition
the first and second rounds were packed indignation at the new draw that flowed in for commercial interests,’ he told me in
with a number of byes. from both sides of the Iron Curtain – to Budapest. ‘The financial dividends have
“What was so extraordinary is that the hold an emergency committee meeting, become more important than the football.
football associations of Europe were never they nevertheless kept to the new draw, “‘It would seem that UEFA took their
consulted in the curious sequence of events decision because they were afraid that
that led up to the convulsion of the draw,” “Panic spreads like the plague, Milan and Celtic would withdraw from the
continued MacDonald. “UEFA took the step European Cup altogether, thereby drastically
almost entirely on the basis of protests by
and it was fear and stupidity that reducing its revenue, and ultimately that
Celtic and Milan, whose support seemed to stirred the European Football part of the profits taken by UEFA.’”
be limited to Sweden and Luxembourg.” Union to turn its international Celtic and Milan would meet in the
Meanwhile, Leeds United and Hungary’s competitions upside down” quarter-finals, with the Italians going on
Ferencvaros still went ahead with their to beat Ajax in the Final.

64 WORLD SOCCER
 FROM THE ARCHIVES

Also in this issue...

p6
Eric Weil reported from Buenos Aires on
the first leg of the Intercontinental Cup
between Estudiantes and Manchester
United, writing: “United gave what
must surely rank as one of their worst
performances. They literally handed the
advantage to their opponents. That the
latter won by only 1-0 merely showed their
own limitations.”

p21
Keir Radnedge’s Player Portrait of the
Yugoslav goalkeeper known as “Radi”
noted: “Petar Radenkovic has always been
an extrovert. He’s always enjoyed standing
out from the mediocrity round about him.
Always the showman. He follows in the
footsteps of his father, a renowned
performer of folk music. The only
difference is that Petar Radenkovic’s
stage is a football pitch.”

p29
Andrew Dettre reported from Australia
on a new arrival in Sydney. “Some three
months ago at Mascot Airport, a tall, dark,
balding man with a strong Aldo Ray look
stepped from a jet airliner,” he explained.
“Some 2,000 Greeks at the airport went
mad with joy. ‘Is that some kind of pop
singer?’ asked a bystander. ‘Pop singer?’
replied a happily crying Greek youth.
‘Momma, he’s the greatest Greek player
in the world.’ So Takis Loukanidis arrived
in Australia. Since that moment, Sydney
soccer has not been the same.”

p36
Revealing the struggles of Hungarian
superstar Florian Albert, Eric Batty wrote:
“Although ‘Florrie’ is something of a demi-
god and could be a devastating player if
he set his mind to it, the odds have been
slowly stacking up against him for some
time past. The mood in Budapest is
veering to the view that Albert, currently
the reigning European Footballer of the
Year, is no longer the best player in
Hungary nor even the best in the
Ferencvaros squad. This distinction
now falls at the feet of Zoltan Varga.”
40
20

30

50
10
ye

ye

ye

ye

ye

National A goalless An 86th- With a 3-1 In the

ar

ar

ar

ar

ar

manager draw at home minute goal by victory over Intercontinental

s

s
ag

ag

ag

ag

ag

Steve to Mexico is sub Gary Mackay Bulgaria, Cup replay, six

o

McClaren is enough for the gives Scotland a France ensure players are
portrayed in the “Reggae Boyz” of 1-0 win away to Bulgaria qualification for the sent-off as Racing
English press as the Jamaica to qualify for and means that Jack World Cup finals for the beat Celtic 1-0. The
“Wally with the Brolly” after the World Cup finals for Charlton’s Republic of Ireland first time since 1966, Argentinians receive two red
his team lose 3-2 at home the first time in their history. qualify for the European thanks to goals from cards, while Celtic have four
to Croatia in the Wembley Their nearest challengers El Championship finals, their Dominique Rocheteau, men dismissed – although
rain and fail to qualify for Salvador lose 4-2 away to the first major tournament, Michel Platini and substitute Bertie Auld refuses to leave
Euro 2008. United States. at Bulgaria’s expense. Christian Dalger. and carries on playing.

WORLD SOCCER 65
MISCELLANEOUS

 
   

   

 
 
   
 
  

    
  

    

  




   

  

   



   

 
  
 ULTIMATE NEWS & RESULTS SECTION

N
O
G
W
IN
lo
CO
ba
RP
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Exclusive

di
TI
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G
ar
reports from

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our worldwide
network of
correspondents

69 72

STEVE JOHN
MENARY DUERDEN
St Kitts & Nevis Asia

NICK
BIDWELL
Germany

70
P L U S
70 72

DIARY
68 Comprehensive global news

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

74 ESM XI
75 International
79 Club
Final appearance...
SQUADS Al Hilal’s Mohammed
Bayern farewell...Carlo Ancelotti 80 Germany: Bundesliga Al Breik (in blue)

WORLD SOCCER 67
 September 26-October 24, 2017

Global diary
A comprehensive record of recent events around the world
Cup after drawing 1-1 on aggregate. by Paris Saint-Germain.
Tuesday September 26 CHINA: Hulk continues his record MALAYSIA: The Asian Cup qualifier
ITALY: Under fire after losing 2-0 of scoring in every start in this due to be played in Pyongyang on
to Sampdoria at the weekend, year’s AFC Champions League as October 5 is postponed after the
Milan boss Vincenzo Montella Shanghai SIPG draw 1-1 in the first AFC is informed that the Malaysia
sacks fitness coach Emanuele leg of their semi-final with Urawa Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
Marra, claiming: “Physical Red Diamonds of Japan. issued a travel ban on Malaysian
preparation [is] among the areas ENGLAND: Michy Batshuayi scores nationals visiting North Korea.
where improvements can be made.” three minutes into added time as
SAUDI ARABIA: Omar Kharbin Chelsea come from behind to win
Friday September 29
Collapse...Lille fans
scores three goals as Al Hilal beat 2-1 away at Atletico Madrid. FRANCE: A stoppage-time are hurt at Amiens
Persepolis of Iran 4-0 in the home USA: MLS debutants Atlanta United equaliser from Souleymane Camara
leg of their AFC Champions League seal a place in the play-offs with a earns Montpellier a 1-1 draw at Fode Ballo-Toure’s goal, causing the
semi-final, despite playing most of 3-0 win over Philadelphia Union. Monaco and keeps the hosts from match to be abandoned.
the second half with 10 men after top spot in Ligue 1.
Abdullah Otayf is sent off.
Thursday September 28 Sunday October 1
SPAIN: Manolo Marquez resigns ENGLAND: Manchester City striker
Saturday September 30 AUSTRALIA: Tony Popovic quits as
after just six games as coach of Las Sergio Aguero breaks a rib in a car ENGLAND: Crystal Palace lose 4-0 Western Sydney Wanderers coach a
Palmas. Cristiano Ronaldo marks crash in Amsterdam. City announce at Manchester United and equal week before their opening game of
his 400th game for Real Madrid that Benjamin Mendy will undergo an English league record by losing the new A-League season.
with two goals in a 3-1 victory at surgery after rupturing the anterior eight consecutive matches without ENGLAND: Arsene Wenger
Borussia Dortmund in the cruciate ligament in his right knee scoring. Manchester City win 1-0 celebrates the 21st anniversary
Champions League. and may not play again this season. at defending champions Chelsea. of his arrival at Arsenal with a 2-0
GERMANY: Bayern Munich sack FRANCE: At least 29 people are win against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Wednesday September 27 coach Carlo Ancelotti and put Willy hurt when a barrier collapses in SPAIN: Barcelona beat Las Palmas
BRAZIL: Cruzeiro beat Flamengo Sagnol in temporary control after the 16th minute of Lille’s game 3-0 in a game played behind
on penalties to win the Brazilian Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Amiens as away fans celebrate closed doors in protest after their
request for the fixture to be
Heads...Cruzeiro (in postponed in light of Catalonia’s
blue) beat Flamengo independence referendum was
in the Brazilian Cup Final
rejected. The Spanish government
had declared the poll illegal.
Monday October 2
SPAIN: Barcelona’s Gerard Pique,
who voted in Sunday’s Catalonian
independence referendum, is
jeered as the Spanish national team
train in front of fans in Madrid.
Tuesday October 3
FRANCE: It is revealed that a
bomb plot was foiled on Saturday
when an improvised explosive
device was found near Paris
Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes
stadium just hours before their
Ligue 1 fixture against Bordeaux.
ITALY: The Curva Nord of Lazio’s
Stadio Olimpico will be closed for
two games following racist chanting
by fans during Sunday’s 6-1 home
win against Sassuolo.
Wednesday October 4
WORLD CUP: Argentina, Uruguay

68 WORLD SOCCER
 WORLD SERVICE

St Kitts & Nevis

STEVE MENARY

Islands have big plans

European experience works wonders in Caribbean
ONCACAF’s decision to expand “Armenia was a great experience to play against
the Gold Cup to 16 teams is a players of those quality,” says striker Zeph Thomas,

C great opportunity for sides such

as St Kitts & Nevis, whose coach
Jacques Passy believes that
qualifying for the 2019 finals is
who plays in England’s Northern Premier League for
Mickleover Sports. “When we play Caribbean teams
next time we take a different experience. When we
play a team like Haiti and go a goal down, hopefully
not beyond the tiny islands’ rapidly improving team. we can respond in a better way.”
“We have that as a short-term objective,” says Passy admits: “People say what are you doing
Passy. “Per capita, this is the most talented team spending $150,000 going to Armenia, Georgia,
in the world.” Estonia and Andorra? We will lose most of the time
That is some claim, but one Passy can back up. In when we go to places like Georgia, but we took them
March, St Kitts & Nevis – a pair of Caribbean islands to the 55th minute before they scored, and I don’t
with a population of just 50,000 – reached 73 in even know if someone from St Kitts & Nevis has ever
and Paraguay formally announce a the FIFA rankings. Many small countries have no visited Tbilisi before.”
joint plan to host the 2030 World games other than qualifiers for major tournaments While players such as Thomas and Brentford
Cup, although the bidding process and their ranking is low as much through inactivity midfielder Romaine Sawyers have regularly turned
will not begin for several years. as bad results. Passy recognised this before taking
charge in 2015 and took his side to Europe, where
Thursday October 5 they lost 3-0 in Estonia but beat Andorra 1-0. “Per capita, this is the most
ENGLAND: A late goal from Harry “When you face Caribbean teams you know they talented team in the world”
Kane gives England a 1-0 win over will not be very organised defensively,” says Passy. National coach, Jacques Passy
Slovenia and secures qualification “After [the tour to Europe], the players understood
for the World Cup finals. that the balance and equilibrium was important.
GERMANY: A 3-1 win in Northern “They attacked very well and began to understand out for St Kitts, Passy has now identified a pool of
Ireland confirms Germany’s place what they needed to do when the attack broke 28 eligible players in the UK and plans to hold a
in Russia next summer. down. They became a smart team as most of the training camp in Britain soon.
POLAND: Robert Lewandowski’s Caribbean teams just like to attack. We are only in No competitive games are likely until next year,
hat-trick in a 6-1 thrashing of diapers in terms of what this team can do.” however, and even then it will depend on the region’s
Armenia takes him to 50 goals Passy took his team back to Europe this June recovery from Hurricane Irma.
and makes him Poland’s all-time for matches in Armenia and Georgia, and despite Meanwhile, all eyes are focused on the Gold Cup.
top scorer. losing 5-0 and 3-0 respectively, the games offered “It’s our World Cup,” says national skipper Atiba
SYRIA: Omar Al Sama scores a a chance for his players to compete against the likes Harris. “We should try to qualify and win some
late penalty as Syria draw 1-1 at of Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan. games when we are there.”
home to Australia in the opening
leg of their Asian play-off game. Experience...
in Armenia
Friday October 6
SPAIN: A 3-0 victory over Albania,
combined with Italy’s 1-1 draw with
Macedonia, sees Spain finish top

Winner
...Harry
Kane

WORLD SOCCER 69
 of their World Cup group.
GERMANY: Jupp Heynckes agrees Germany Boss...Jupp Heynckes
takes charge again
to become Bayern Munich coach
for a fourth time following the
sacking of Carlo Ancelotti. NICK BIDWELL

Saturday October 7
AUSTRALIA: A-League champions

Heynckes
Sydney begin the new season with
a 1-0 win at Melbourne Victory, who
they beat in last term’s Grand Final.
COSTA RICA: Kendall Watson’s

relishing
95th-minute equaliser gives Costa
Rica a 1-1 draw with Honduras and
means they qualify for the World
Cup with a game to spare.

Bayern
CROATIA: Ante Cacic is sacked
after Friday’s 1-1 draw with Finland
and replaced by Zlatko Dalic just
two days before the deciding World
Cup qualifier against Ukraine.
NIGERIA: Alex Iwobi is on target
as Nigeria beat Zambia 1-0 and
become the first African side to
qualify for Russia 2018.
return
SWEDEN: Marcus Berg scores Former coach returns
four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of
Luxembourg as Sweden record after Ancelotti sacking
their biggest-ever World Cup win.
USA: New York Red Bulls secure rought out of retirement to steady
the last remaining MLS play-off the Bayern Munich ship in the
spot in the Eastern Conference by
beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0.
Sunday October 8
B wake of Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking,
veteran coach Jupp Heynckes is
relishing the chance to return to
work, energised by the challenge
EGYPT: Mohamed Salah’s of restoring momentum to a becalmed team.
stoppage-time penalty sees Egypt Now in his fourth spell at the Bayern helm, the
beat Congo 2-1 and clinch a place 72-year-old Heynckes might technically be a
at the World Cup finals for the first pensioner, yet he remains the most competitive of
time in 28 years. leadership animals, obsessed with detail, intolerant
POLAND: Robert Lewandowski of mediocrity and brimming over with will-to-win.
scores a record-breaking 16th goal “Some are old at 45; others are young at 70,”
in a European World Cup qualifying declared Heynckes at his re-introductory press
campaign as Poland book their spot conference. “I fall into the second category. I
in Russia next summer with a 4-2
victory over Montenegro.
“I understand there will be
Monday October 9
sceptics who point out I’ve
ICELAND: A 2-0 win over Kosovo
sends Iceland to the World Cup
been out of the business for
finals for the first time. four years and that football
SERBIA: Aleksandar Prijovic’s first- has moved on. My reply is
ever international goal sees off that the game hasn’t been
Georgia and secures Serbia’s place
at the World Cup finals.
re-invented” Jupp Heynckes
SPAIN: Sergio Busquets wins his
100th cap for Spain, in a 1–0 away understand there will be sceptics who point out ideal man to rally around. Both the board and fans
win against Israel. that I’ve been out of the business for four years and adore him, and for his first game back in charge, a
that football has moved on. My reply is that the game 5-0 victory at home to Freiburg, the euphoria at the
Tuesday October 10 hasn’t been re-invented. I’ve kept a close eye on Allianz-Arena was palpable.
ARGENTINA: Lionel Messi earns developments. I know how the game functions.” Already there is a sense of renewal in the air, a
Argentina a place in Russia with a Bayern’s decision to appoint Heynckes until the conviction that the champions are no longer drifting.
hat-trick as they come from a goal end of the season makes sense. That said, Heynckes still has a mountain of
down to win 3-1 in Ecuador. He knows the club intimately, many of the players problems to resolve. Uncharacteristically for Bayern,
AUSTRALIA: Two goals from Tim from his last spell in charge (2011-13) are still on fear and hesitancy have crept into the matchday
Cahill end Syria’s World Cup dream board and he has previous experience as interim boss psyche of late, a number of their stars have taken to
as Australia win 2-1 in extra-time to there, succeeding the fired Jurgen Klinsmann in the living on their individual desert islands.
set up a play-off with the fourth- spring of 2009. Heynckes is believed to be unhappy with the fitness
placed CONCACAF qualifier. An undisputed Bayern Hall of Famer since steering levels of the group and also must find an antidote for
CHILE: National coach Juan them to an historic treble in 2012-13, Heynckes is the the drop-off in form of such as Thomas Muller, David

70 WORLD SOCCER
 WORLD SERVICE

Antonio Pizzi resigns after a 3-0

defeat in Brazil means Chile will not
be going to Russia next summer.
COLOMBIA: James Rodriguez’s
goal in a 1-1 draw in Peru means
Colombia qualify for a second
successive World Cup finals, while
the hosts now face New Zealand
in the play-offs.
FRANCE: Les Bleus reach next
summer’s World Cup finals with
a 2-1 win at home to Belarus.
PANAMA: Roman Torres’s winner
two minutes from time secures
Panama a 2-1 comeback win over
Costa Rica and passage to the
World Cup finals for the first time.
PORTUGAL: A 2-0 victory over
Switzerland in Lisbon sees Portugal
top their World Cup qualifying
group, finishing ahead of their
visitors on goal difference.
SOUTH KOREA: Busan IPark
coach Cho Jin-ho, who played for
South Korea at the 1994 World
Cup, dies following a cardiac attack,
aged 44.
URUGUAY: Edinson Cavani takes
his tally to 10 and ends the
qualifiers as South America’s
leading scorer as Uruguay beat
Bolivia 4-2.
Wednesday October 11
PAKISTAN: FIFA suspends the
Pakistan Football Federation
following government interference.
The ban cuts off funding from
Zurich, and bars national and club
teams from non-domestic games.
Thursday October 12
SWITZERLAND: Sion president
Christian Constantin is banned for
14 months after he assaulted
former national coach Rolf Fringer,
who was working as a TV pundit, on
the touchline during a league game
against Lugano in September.
Friday October 13
ECUADOR: Five Ecuadorian players
– named in local media as Enner
Valencia, Jefferson Orejuela, Robert
Arboleda, Gabriel Cortes and Joao
Plata – are suspended from the
Alaba and Jerome Boateng. national side for leaving the team
So what can we expect from Heynckes Revisited? hotel at night without permission in
Certainly far less rotation, a greater team ethic and the build-up to Tuesday’s 3-1 home
more intensity when pressing. In addition, a clear defeat by Argentina.
player pecking order, with everyone accepting their FRANCE: Nabil Fekir scores with an
hierarchical position in the dressing room. injury-time free-kick as Lyon beat
At the same time as his wife, Iris, undergoes an Monaco 3-2.
operation to fix a knee-ligament complaint, he has GERMANY: Chadrac Akolo scores
some surgery of his own to perform. “It’s a difficult an injury-time winner for Stuttgart
situation,” commented Heynckes. “However, I’ve a minutes after VAR rules out a
precise plan and know exactly how to approach it. penalty for Cologne, who stay
“A lot will depend on my ability to communicate bottom of the Bundesliga.
and what we achieve on the training ground.” SCOTLAND: Performance director
Over to you Dr Heynckes. Jupp’s back...Bayern welcome home their former boss at the Scottish FA, Malky Mackay

WORLD SOCCER 71
 Asia
JOHN DUERDEN

Showpiece
competition
down to the
final two
Urawa Reds face Al Hilal
in Champions League Final
tep aside South Korea and
China: the 2017 AFC Champions

S League trophy will either make

a debut trip to Saudi Arabia or
head to Japan for the first time
since 2008, as Al Hilal and
Urawa Reds meet in November’s Final.
Despite their recent lack of success in this
competition, which started in 2003, these are On fire...Al Hilal’s
seriously big clubs. Omar Khribin
Al Hilal are known as “The Boss” back in Saudi
Arabia and see themselves as the primary West Al Hilal will start favourites in the Final against
Asian outfit. They have won 14 national titles and Urawa Reds, and in Syria’s Omar Khribin they
lifted the forerunner to the Champions League in
1991 and 2000.
have one of the hottest strikers in Asia
The Riyadh powerhouse are desperate to get
their hands on this new version of the continental the top two of the Chinese Super League and two
title after reaching the 2014 Final. Somehow, ex-Chelsea coaches.
however, they managed to lose over two legs to Luiz Felipe Scolari had led Guangzhou to the 2015
Western Sydney Wanderers despite dominating continental title but his side were blown away in the first
the vast majority of the 180 minutes. leg in Shanghai. Hulk opened the scoring and a second-
Saudi Arabian football is currently on the up half brace from the mercurial Wu Lei gave the delirious
following the national team’s qualification for the home fans a 4-0 win.
World Cup, a first appearance since 2006. And In the return, Alan Junior scored two first-half goals
with celebrations for that barely over, Al Hilal took to give Guangzhou hope. Fellow Brazilian Ricardo
on Iranian giants Persepolis. Goulart then got two more in the final minutes to send
There is no love lost between Iran and Saudi Going through... Urawa Reds’ Yuki Muto scores of Chinese journalists and their deadlines into
Arabia off or on the pitch. The rivals compete for (left) in action against Shanghai SIPG meltdown and the tie into extra-time.
mastery of West Asian football and in the Hulk scored in the second period but
absence of diplomatic relations between because away goals in extra-time do not
the two countries games between them count double in the Asian Champions
currently take place in neutral venues. League, Goulart’s third meant it was 5-1
In the semi-finals, Persepolis “hosted” on the night, 5-5 on aggregate and time
their Saudi rivals in Oman and lost 4-0 as for a penalty shoot-out.
Syrian striker Omar Khribin did the damage Goulart, the hat-trick hero, was the
with a hat-trick. He also got both goals in only player to miss from the spot as
the 2-2 draw in the second leg in Abu Shanghai triumphed 5-4 to earn
Dhabi as Al Hilal strolled into the Final. a semi-final with Urawa, who had
Big-spending Shanghai SIPG, led by eliminated fellow Japanese team
Andre Villas-Boas, emerged victorious from Kawasaki Frontale.
their quarter-final against fierce Chinese Urawa had claim to be Asia’s biggest
rivals Guangzhou Evergrande in a battle of club before Guangzhou started spending

72 WORLD SOCCER
 WORLD SERVICE

is appointed interim manager for in 65 years. United’s 2-1 defeat

November’s friendly against Holland leaves Manchester City, who win
after Gordon Strachan steps down 3-0 against Burnley, as the Premier
the previous day. League’s only unbeaten side.
USA: Bruce Arena resigns as ITALY: Napoli’s perfect start to
coach three days after a 2-1 loss Serie A ends with a goalless draw
to Trinidad & Tobago ended the at home to Internazionale, who are
USA’s World Cup hopes. the only other unbeaten side in the
Italian top flight this term.
Saturday October 14 MOROCCO: Two goals from Achraf
ENGLAND: Manchester City thrash Bencharki help Wydad to beat
Stoke City 7-2, while Crystal Palace Algeria’s USM Alger 3-1 and reach
score their first league goals of the the CAF Champions League Final.
season in a 2-1 win over Chelsea.
ITALY: Juventus suffer their first
Sunday October 22
home defeat in two years, going CHINA: Guangzhou Evergrande
down 2-1 to Lazio. seal a record seventh successive
SPAIN: A late Luis Suarez equaliser league title with a 5-1 win over
cancels out Saul Niguez’s early Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng.
strike as Atletico Madrid and EGYPT: Al Ahly thrash Etoile du
Barcelona draw 1-1. Sahel 6-2 in the second leg of their
CAF Champions League semi-final
Sunday October 15 to win 7-3 on aggregate. Ibrahim
INDONESIA: Choirul Huda, a Konsha of second-tier side El
goalkeeper with top-flight Persela Qanah is killed by Islamist militants
Lamongan, dies following a collision while fulfilling his national service.
with a team-mate in a league FRANCE: Bottom club Metz sack
match against Semen Padang. Philippe Hinschberger. Neymar is
ITALY: Mauro Icardi completes a sent off as Paris Saint-Germain
hat-trick with an injury-time penalty draw 2-2 at Marseille.
to give Internazionale a 3-2 derby SPAIN: Leganes beat Athletic
win over Milan. Bilbao 1-0 and extend their run
SPAIN: Valencia move into second without conceding a goal to 487
place with a thrilling 6-3 victory minutes – the longest current run
over Real Betis. in Europe’s top five leagues.
USA: Toronto draw 2-2 with Atlanta
Tuesday October 17 United and set a new MLS record
ENGLAND: Leicester City sack of 69 points. A goal in injury time
manager Craig Shakespeare. gives San Jose Earthquakes a 3-2
Shoot-out... win over Minnesota and secures the
Guangzhou Wednesday October 18 final play-off berth on the last day
Evergrande
prepare for BRAZIL: Corinthians draw 0-0 with of the regular season.
penalties against nearest challengers Gremio to stay
Shanghai SIPG top of the championship table.
Monday October 23
LATVIA: Liepaja beat Riga 2–0 in ENGLAND: Everton sack manager
the Latvian Cup Final. Ronald Koeman after Sunday’s 5-2
GERMANY: Thomas Muller scores defeat at home to Arsenal left them
in a 10th successive Champions in the relegation zone.
League campaign as Bayern FIFA: Cristiano Ronaldo is named
and winning titles at home and overseas. Yet the Munich beat Celtic 3-0 . Best Men’s Player at The Best FIFA
2006 J.League title and Asian win the following SPAIN: Lionel Messi scores his Football Awards in London.
year remain their only major titles. 100th European goal for Barcelona USA: Montreal Impact dismiss
In the first leg of their semi-final in Shanghai, in a 3-1 win over Olympiakos. coach Mauro Biello after losing nine
Urawa picked up an encouraging 1-1 draw and at of their last 10 games and finishing
home, in front of 60,000 at Saitama Stadium just
Thursday October 19 11 points from a play-off spot.
north of Tokyo, they scored the only goal of the ALGERIA: Rabah Madjer succeeds
game – a Rafael Silva header from a corner. Lucas Alcaraz and is Algeria’s fifth
Tuesday October 24
Led by former Argentina international Ramon national coach in three years. ITALY: Roberto De Zerbi replaces
Diaz, Al Hilal have a strong spine of Saudi stars USA: Landon Donovan is reported Marco Baroni as Benevento coach
interspersed with South American talent and will to be considering standing for following nine successive defeats
start favourites in the Final. And in Syria’s Khribin president of the US federation. – the worst start to a season in
they have one of the hottest strikers in Asia. Serie A history. Juventus keeper
Urawa, who have developed a reputation for
Friday October 20 Gianluigi Buffon says he will retire
choking domestically when the pressure is on, have RUSSIA: Sepp Blatter will attend in the summer – unless his side
plenty of firepower going forward with Shinzo Koroki next year’s World Cup finals as a win the Champions League.
and Silva. However, they have a porous defence guest of Vladimir Putin. SPAIN: Deportivo La Coruna sack
– the team has the second-highest goals against Pepe Mel after Monday’s 2-1 home
column in the 18-team Japanese top flight – which
Saturday October 21 loss to Girona and put youth-team
means they could struggle to keep out the talented ENGLAND: Huddersfield Town beat coach Cristobal Parralo in charge
Saudi front line. Manchester United for the first time until the end of the season.

WORLD SOCCER 73
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

HOW IT WORKS Every month, journalists from each member of the European Sports

ESM XI
EUROPEAN SPORTS MEDIA
Media group select their first Xl based on the best individual performances from Europe’s
top competitions. For details of how each ESM member voted, visit worldsoccer.com/esm11
SEASON RANKINGS Cumulative votes through the season

GOALKEEPERS
David DE GEA (Manchester United) 6
Jan OBLAK (Atletico Madrid) 3
Thibaut COURTOIS (Chelsea) 1
EDERSON (Manchester City) 1
Dani Alves Gerard David John Stones Jordi
Samir HANDANOVIC (Internazionale) 1 Paris Pique De Gea Manchester
Saint-Germain
Alba
Marc-Andre TER STEGEN (Barcelona) 1 Barcelona Manchester United City Barcelona
OOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOO OOOO OOOO

DEFENDERS
Gerard PIQUE (Barcelona) 7
Dani ALVES (Paris Saint-Germain) 5
Jordi ALBA (Barcelona) 4
John STONES (Manchester City) 4 DE GEA
Faouzi GHOULAM (Napoli) 3
Nicolas OTAMENDI (Manchester City) 3
Cesar AZPILICUETA (Chelsea) 2
ALVES ALBA
Marc BARTRA (Borussia Dortmund) 2
Kalidou KOULIBALY (Napoli) 2
MARCELO (Real Madrid) 2
Sokratis PAPASTATHOPOULOS
PIQUE STONES
(Borussia Dortmund) 2
Sergio RAMOS (Real Madrid) 2
Milan SKRINIAR (Internazionale) 2
Antonio VALENCIA (Manchester United) 2
Kyle WALKER (Manchester City) 2
Phil JONES (Manchester United) 1
Joshua KIMMICH (Bayern Munich) 1
Aleksandar KOLAROV (Roma) 1
Layvin KURZAWA (Paris Saint-Germain) 1
SAHIN
Thomas MEUNIER (Paris Saint-Germain) 1
Lukasz PISZCZEK (Borussia Dortmund) 1
Raphael VARANE (Real Madrid) 1

MIDFIELDERS DE BRUYNE ISCO

Kevin DE BRUYNE (Manchester City) 10
ISCO (Real Madrid) 3
Nuri SAHIN (Borussia Dortmund) 3
Marek HAMSIK (Napoli) 2
Nemanja MATIC (Manchester United) 2
David SILVA (Manchester City) 2
Sergio BUSQUETS (Barcelona) 1 MESSI
DANILO (Porto) 1
Marouane FELLAINI (Manchester United) 1
Alejandro GOMEZ (Atalanta) 1
N’Golo KANTE (Chelsea) 1 NEYMAR DYBALA
Dries MERTENS (Napoli) 1
Luka MODRIC (Real Madrid) 1
Maximilian PHILIPP (Borussia Dortmund) 1
Christian PULISIC (Borussia Dortmund) 1
Marco VERRATTI (Paris Saint-Germain) 1

FORWARDS
Lionel MESSI (Barcelona) 10
Paulo DYBALA (Juventus) 8
NEYMAR (Paris Saint-Germain) 8
Harry KANE (Tottenham Hotspur) 7
Romelu LUKAKU (Manchester United) 7
Sergio AGUERO (Manchester City) 2
Kevin De Neymar Lionel Paulo Isco Nuri Sahin
Radamel FALCAO (Monaco) 2 Bruyne Paris Messi Dybala Real Borussia
Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG Manchester City Saint-Germain Barcelona Juventus Madrid Dortmund
OOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOO OOO OOO
(Borussia Dortmund) 1
Ciro IMMOBILE (Lazio) 1

74 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Group C Serbia: Stojkovic - Ivanovic, S Mitrovic,

Internationals
Oct 5 - Baku Nastasic, Rukavina (Ljajic 69), Milivojevic, Matic,
Azerbaijan 1 (Ismayilov pen 55) Kolarov, Gacinovic (Prijovic 87), Tadic, A Mitrovic.
Czech Republic 2 (Kopic 35, Barak 66)
HT: 0-1. Att: 16,200. Ref: Millot (Fra) Oct 6 - Tbilisi
Azerbaijan: K Agayev - Mirzabekov, Georgia 0
B Huseynov, R F Sadygov, Pashayev, Ismayilov, Wales 1 (Lawrence 49)
2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Group B J Huseynov (Madatov 79), Amirguliyev, HT: 0-0. Att: 22,290. Ref: Gil Manzano (Spa)
Oct 7 - Andorra La Vella Richard Almeida, Nazarov (Garayev 67), Georgia: Loria - Kakabadze, Kverkvelia, Kashia,
EUROPE section Andorra 0 R Kurbanov (Sheydaev 62). Navalovski, Merebashvili, Kankava, Kvekveskiri
O 13 finals places available (excluding the place Portugal 2 (Cristiano Ronaldo 63, Czech Republic: Pavlenka - Kaderabek, Brabec, (Jigauri 76), Gvilia (Khocholava 89), Kazaishvili,
for hosts Russia, who qualify automatically) Andre Silva 86) Suchy, Boril, Darida (Soucek 78), Husbauer, Kvilitaia (Skhirtladze 76).
HT: 0-0. Att: 3,193. Ref: Zelinka (CzR) Kopic, Barak, Jankto, Krmencik (Kliment 89). Wales: Hennessey - Gunter, A Williams,
Group A Andorra: Gomes - Jesus Rubio, Lima, Llovera, Chester, B Davies, King, Allen, Ledley
Oct 7 - Borisov San Nicolas, Rodriguez (Juli Sanchez 87), Oct 5 - Belfast (D Edwards 82), Ramsey, Lawrence (Woodburn
Belarus 1 (Volodko 55) Rebes, Vales, Clemente (A Martinez 78), Northern Ireland 1 (Magennis 90+3) 90+1), Vokes (Robson-Kanu 74).
Holland 3 (Propper 24, Robben pen 84, M Vieira (Moreno 90), Alaez. Germany 3 (Rudy 2, Wagner 21, Kimmich 86)
Depay 90+3) Portugal: Rui Patricio - Nelson Semedo, Pepe, HT: 0-2. Att: 18,104. Ref: Makkelie (Hol) Oct 6 - Dublin
HT: 0-1. Att: 6,850. Ref: Oliver (Eng) Luis Neto, Eliseu, Gelson Martins (Cristiano Northern Ireland: McGovern - C McLaughlin, Republic of Ireland 2 (Murphy 2, 19)
Belarus: Chernik - Rios, Politevich, Ronaldo 46), Danilo Pereira, Joao Mario, J Evans, McAuley, Hodson (Dallas 46), Brunt, Moldova 0
Yanushkevich, Volodko, Balanovich (Burko 76), Quaresma (William Carvalho 79), Andre Silva Norwood, Davis, C Evans (Saville 80), HT: 2-0. Att: 50,560. Ref: Nijhuis (Hol)
Maevski, Karnitski, Dragun, Stasevich, Signevich (Goncalo Guedes 90), Bernardo Silva. Magennis, K Lafferty (Washington 69). Republic of Ireland: Randolph - Christie,
(Saroka 87). Germany: Ter Stegen - Kimmich, Boateng, Duffy, Clark, Ward, Hoolahan (McGeady 79),
Holland: Cillessen - Janmaat, Van Dijk, Rekik, Oct 7 - Torshavn Hummels, Plattenhardt, Rudy, Kroos, Goretzka Meyler, Hendrick, O’Dowda, S Long (Maguire
Blind, Wijnaldum, Vilhena (Dost 56), Robben, Faroe Islands 0 (Can 66), Muller (Stindl 83), Draxler (Sane 72), 83), Murphy (Arter 79).
Propper (Klaassen 83), Babel, Janssen Latvia 0 Wagner. Moldova: Cebanu - Bordian, Racu, Epureanu,
(Depay 68). Att: 4,203. Ref: Schorgenhofer (Aut) Rozgoniuc, Platica (Ambros 79), Gatcan,
Faroe Islands: G Nielsen - Naes, Nattestad, Oct 5 - Serravalle Anton, Ionita, Dedov (Cociuc 55), Ginsari.
Oct 7 - Sofia Gregersen, V Davidsen, Vatnhamar San Marino 0 Sent off: Gatcan 90+2.
Bulgaria 0 (Bartalsstovu 87), Benjaminsen, Hansson Norway 8 (Henriksen 8, King pen 14, 17,
France 1 (Matuidi 3) (R Joensen 65), Sorensen, Jakobsen M Elyounoussi 39, 48, 68, Selnaes 58, Linnes 86) Oct 9 - Chisinau
HT: 0-1. Att: 16,000. Ref: Mateu Lahoz (Spa) (P Johannesen 77), Edmundsson. HT: 0-4. Att: 1,922. Ref: Dallas (Sco) Moldova 0
Bulgaria: P Iliev - S Popov, Bodurov, Bozhikov, Latvia: Vanins - Freimanis, Tarasovs, Gorkss, San Marino: A Simoncini - Brolli, D Simoncini, Austria 1 (Schaub 69)
Zanev, Manolev (Dimitrov 87), Slavchev, Kolesovs, Maksimenko, O Laizans, Kazacoks Cevoli, Grandoni, F Berardi (Bonini 67), HT: 0-0. Ref: Vertenten (Blg)
Kostadinov, Nedelev, Galabinov (Kraev 48), (A Visnakovs 66), Kluskins, Sabala (E Visnakovs A Gasperoni, Cervellini (Rinaldi 80), Battistini, Moldova: Cebanu - Bordian, Bolohan (Paireli
Delev. 83), D Ikaunieks (Uldrikis 74). Palazzi, Bernardi (Tomassini 89). 86), Epureanu, Rozgoniuc, Ionita, Anton, Platica
France: Lloris - Sidibe, Varane, Umtiti, Digne, Norway: Jarstein - Svensson, Nordtveit, Valsvik, (Ambros 80), Cociuc, Ivanov (Cojocari 70),
Tolisso, Kante (Rabiot 34), Matuidi, Griezmann, Oct 7 - Basle Meling, M Elyounoussi (T Elyounoussi 71), Ginsari. Sent off: Ionita 55.
Lacazette (Payet 76), Mbappe (Giroud 84). Switzerland 5 (Xhaka 18, Frei 20, Berge (Selnaes 46), Henriksen, Linnes, King Austria: Lindner - Bauer, Lienhart, Danso,
Zuber 43, 49, Lichtsteiner 83) (Soderlund 62), Sorloth. Wober, Grillitsch, Baumgartlinger, Schaub,
Oct 7 - Stockholm Hungary 2 (Guzmics 59, Ugrai 89) Kainz (Lazaro 59), Arnautovic (Schobesberger
Sweden 8 (Granqvist pen 10, pen 67, Berg 18, HT: 3-0. Att: 32,018. Ref: Tagliavento (Ita) Oct 8 - Plzen 81), Burgstaller (Janko 46).
37, 54, 71, Lustig 60, Toivonen 76) Switzerland: Sommer - Lichtsteiner, Schar, Czech Republic 5 (Krmencik 8, 23, Kopic 27,
Luxembourg 0 Djourou, Moubandje, Shaqiri, Freuler (Derdiyok Novak 71, V Kadlec 83) Oct 9 - Belgrade
HT: 3-0. Att: 50,022. Ref: Gocek (Tur) 84), Frei (Zakaria 73), Xhaka, Zuber, Seferovic San Marino 0 Serbia 1 (Prijovic 74)
Sweden: Olsen - Lustig (Krafth 60), Granqvist (Embolo 63). HT: 3-0. Att: 5,625. Ref: Troleis (Far) Georgia 0
(Helander 81), Lindelof, Augustinsson, Hungary: Gulacsi - Bese (Lang 32), Guzmics, Czech Republic: Koubek - Kaderabek, Kalas, HT: 0-0. Att: 40,000. Ref: Gil (Pol)
Claesson, Sebastian Larsson, J Johansson, Kadar, Korhut, R Varga (Sallai 69), A Nagy, Luftner, Novak, Kopic (Sykora 63), Dockal, Serbia: Stojkovic - Ivanovic, Nikola Maksimovic,
Forsberg, Toivonen, Berg (Kiese Thelin 74). Patkai, Elek (Markvart 56), Lovrencsics, Ugrai. Darida, Jankto, Barak (V Kadlec 70), Krmencik D Tosic, Rukavina, Matic, Gudelj, Kolarov, Ljajic
Luxembourg: Joubert - Holter, Philipps, (Kliment 63). (Prijovic 61), Tadic (Kostic 88), A Mitrovic
Malget, Janisch, C Martins (Skenderovic 72), Oct10 - Budapest San Marino: A Simoncini - Brolli, F Vitaioli (Milivojevic 76).
Mutsch, V Thill (Turpel 46), O Thill (Rodrigues Hungary 1 (Bode 81) (M Berardi 82), Alessandro Della Valle, Palazzi, Georgia: Makaridze - Kakabadze, Kashia,
46), Joachim, Da Mota. Faroe Islands 0 Grandoni, Tosi, Battistini, F Berardi (Berretti 76), Khocholava, Navalovski, Kankava, Kazaishvili,
HT: 0-0. Ref: Reinshreiber (Isr) Rinaldi, Bernardi (Bonini 63). Gvilia, Aburjania (Dvalishvili 82), Jigauri
Oct10 - Paris Hungary: Gulacsi - Fiola, Guzmics, Kadar, (Hufnagel 86), Kvilitaia (Merebashvili 78).
France 2 (Griezmann 27, Giroud 33) Szabo, Stieber (D Nagy 66), Patkai, A Nagy, Oct 8 - Kaiserslautern
Belarus 1 (Saroka 44) Dzsudzsak, Ugrai (Sallai 89), Eppel (Bode 46). Germany 5 (Goretzka 9, 66, Wagner 54, Oct 9 - Cardiff
HT: 2-1. Att: 78,000. Ref: Ozkahya (Tur) Faroe Islands: G Nielsen - Naes, Faero Rudiger 64, Can 81) Wales 0
France: Lloris - Sidibe, Varane, Umtiti, Digne, (K Olsen 88), Gregersen, Baldvinsson, Jonsson, Azerbaijan 1 (Sheydaev 34) Republic of Ireland 1 (McClean 57)
Coman (Mbappe 61), Tolisso, Matuidi, Lemar Vatnhamar, Benjaminsen (Hansson 66), HT: 1-1. Att: 37,613. Ref: Treimanis (Lat) HT: 0-0. Ref: Skomina (Sln)
(Payet 83), Giroud, Griezmann (Sissoko 78). R Joensen, Sorensen (Bartalsstovu 73), Germany: Leno - Kimmich, Mustafi (Ginter 36), Wales: Hennessey - Gunter, A Williams,
Belarus: Chernik - Matveichyk, Yanushkevich Edmundsson. Sule (Rudiger 22), Brandt, Can, Sane, Goretzka, Chester, B Davies, King (Woodburn 65), Allen
(Sachivko 46), Politevich, Volodko, Dragun, Muller (Younes 70), Stindl, Wagner. (J Williams 37), Ledley, Ramsey, Lawrence,
Karnitski, Korzun (Bykov 79), Kovalev (Skavysh Oct10 - Riga Azerbaijan: K Agayev - Mirzabekov, Robson-Kanu (Vokes 71).
65), Saroka, Stasevich. Latvia 4 (D Ikaunieks 11, Sabala 19, 59, B Huseynov, Abisov, Khalilzade, Garayev, Republic of Ireland: Randolph - Christie, Duffy,
Tarasovs 63) Ismayilov (R Kurbanov 77), Amirguliyev, Clark, Ward, Arter (Whelan 78), Brady, Meyler,
Oct10 - Amsterdam Andorra 0 Richard Almeida, J Huseynov (Nazarov 69), Hendrick, McClean, Murphy (K Long 90+2).
Holland 2 (Robben pen 16, 40) HT: 2-0. Att: 4,153. Ref: Kristoffersen (Den) Sheydaev (Alaskarov 87).
Sweden 0 Latvia: Vanins - Gabovs (A Visnakovs 65), WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP D – FINAL
HT: 2-0. Att: 41,244. Ref: Karasev (Rus) Kolesovs, Dubra, Tarasovs, Solovjovs, Kluskins Oct 8 - Oslo P W D L F A Pts
Holland: Cillessen - Tete (Janmaat 71), Van (Ulimbasevs 81), Indrans, Torres, D Ikaunieks Norway 1 (Brunt og 71) Serbia (QF) 10 6 3 1 20 10 21
Dijk, Rekik, Ake, Vilhena, Wijnaldum (Klaassen (Uldrikis 71), Sabala. Northern Ireland 0 R Ireland (QPO) 10 5 4 1 12 6 19
71), Blind, Robben, Janssen (Dost 46), Babel. Andorra: Gomes - Jesus Rubio, E Garcia, Lima, HT: 0-0. Att: 10,244. Ref: Boiko (Ukr) Wales 10 4 5 1 13 6 17
Sweden: Olsen - Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Llovera, M Garcia, M Vieira (Riera 87), Rebes, Norway: Nyland - Svensson, Nordtveit, Austria 10 4 3 3 14 12 15
Augustinsson, Claesson (G Svensson 68), Clemente (A Martinez 63), Pujol, Alaez Reginiussen, Meling, M Elyounoussi Georgia 10 0 5 5 8 14 5
Sebastian Larsson (M Olsson 82), J Johansson, (Juli Sanchez 83). (T Elyounoussi 71), Berge, Henriksen (Selnaes Moldova 10 0 2 8 4 23 2
Forsberg, Toivonen (Kiese Thelin 76), Berg. 83), Johansen (Linnes 88), Sorloth, Soderlund.
Oct10 - Lisbon Northern Ireland: McGovern - C McLaughlin, Group E
Oct10 - Luxembourg Portugal 2 (Djourou og 41, Andre Silva 57) McAuley, J Evans, Brunt, Davis, C Evans Oct 5 - Yerevan
Luxembourg 1 (O Thill 3) Switzerland 0 (Ferguson 79), Norwood (Saville 46), Armenia 1 (Hambartsumyan 39)
Bulgaria 1 (Chochev 68) HT: 1-0. Att: 61,500. Ref: Cakir (Tur) Magennis, Washington (K Lafferty 69), Dallas. Poland 6 (Grosicki 2, Lewandowski 18, 25, 64,
HT: 1-0. Ref: Vad (Hun) Portugal: Rui Patricio - Cedric, Pepe, Jose Blaszczykowski 58, Wolski 89)
Luxembourg: Joubert - Jans (M Martins 81), Fonte, Eliseu (Antunes 68), Joao Mario WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP C – FINAL HT: 1-3. Att: 5,478. Ref: Jug (Sln)
C Martins, Malget, Janisch, O Thill, Philipps, (Danilo Pereira 90+1), Joao Moutinho, P W D L F A Pts Armenia: Meliksetyan - K Hovhannisyan,
Skenderovic, Turpel, Joachim (Sinani 85), William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva Germany (QF) 10 10 0 0 43 4 30 Hambartsumyan, T Voskanyan, Artak
Rodrigues (Da Mota 60). (Andre Gomes 75), Cristiano Ronaldo. N Ireland (QPO) 10 6 1 3 17 6 19 Yedigaryan, G Malakyan, Kadimyan (E Malakyan
Bulgaria: P Iliev - S Popov, Bodurov, Bozhikov, Switzerland: Sommer - Lichtsteiner, Schar, Czech Rep 10 4 3 3 17 10 15 62), Koryan (E Manucharyan 66), Mkhitaryan,
Zanev (Nedyalkov 14), Kraev (Galabinov 49), Djourou, Rodriguez, Freuler (Zakaria 46), Norway 10 4 1 5 17 16 13 Adamyan (Manoyan 73), Barseghyan.
Slavchev (Rainov 62), Chochev, Nedelev, Dzemaili (Zuber 66), Xhaka, Shaqiri, Seferovic, Azerbaijan 10 3 1 6 10 19 10 Poland: Szczesny - Piszczek, Glik, Pazdan
I Popov, Delev. Mehmedi (Embolo 66). San Marino 10 0 0 10 2 51 0 (Cionek 85), Bereszynski, Blaszczykowski,
Krychowiak, Linetty (Maczynski 59), Grosicki
WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP A – FINAL WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP B – FINAL Group D (Wolski 72), Lewandowski, Zielinski.
P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts Oct 6 - Vienna
France (QF) 10 7 2 1 18 6 23 Portugal (QF) 10 9 0 1 32 4 27 Austria 3 (Burgstaller 25, Arnautovic 76, Oct 5 - Podgorica
Sweden (QPO) 10 6 1 3 26 9 19 Switz’d (QPO) 10 9 0 1 23 7 27 Schaub 89) Montenegro 0
Holland 10 6 1 3 21 12 19 Hungary 10 4 1 5 14 14 13 Serbia 2 (Milivojevic 11, Matic 83) Denmark 1 (Eriksen 16)
Bulgaria 10 4 1 5 14 19 13 Faroe Islands 10 2 3 5 4 16 9 HT: 1-1. Att: 42,400. Ref: Kralovec (CzR) HT: 0-1. Att: 10,779. Ref: Kuipers (Hol)
Luxembourg 10 1 3 6 8 26 6 Latvia 10 2 1 7 7 18 7 Austria: Lindner - Bauer, Dragovic, Danso, Montenegro: Petkovic - Marusic, Savic, Simic,
Belarus 10 1 2 7 6 21 5 Andorra 10 1 1 8 2 23 4 Wober, Grillitsch (Lazaro 77), Baumgartlinger, Tomasevic, N Vukcevic, Ivanic, Jankovic (Jovovic
Kainz (Schaub 61), Ilsanker, Arnautovic, 85), Jovetic (Djordjevic 20), Vesovic, Mugosa
Burgstaller (Gregoritsch 82). (Kojasevic 76).

WORLD SOCCER 75
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Denmark: Schmeichel - Dalsgaard, Kjaer, Slovakia: Dubravka - Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Oct 9 - Jerusalem Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic - M Susic,
Bjelland, Larsen (Durmisi 43), Kvist, Hubocan, Kucka (Gyomber 80), Gregus, Israel 0 Cocalic, Zukanovic, Kolasinac (Dumic 46),
Delaney, Eriksen, Y Poulsen, Cornelius Lobotka, Mak, Nemec (Weiss 79), Hamsik Spain 1 (Illarramendi 76) Krunic, Cimirot, I Hajrovic, Medunjanin, Ibisevic
(Bendtner 64), Sisto. (Duda 79). Sent off: Mak 23. HT: 0-0. Ref: Thomson (Sco) (Dzeko 66), Kodro (Duljevic 75).
Israel: Harush - Keltjens, Tibi, Tal Ben Haim/D,
Oct 5 - Ploiesti Oct 8 - Vilnius Davidzada, Natcho, Cohen, Kabha (Bitton 67), Oct10 - Piraeus
Romania 3 (Budescu 33, pen 38, Keseru 73) Lithuania 0 Atar (Benayoun 74), Hemed, Melikson Greece 4 (Torosidis 32, Mitroglou 61, 63,
Kazakhstan 1 (Turysbek 82) England 1 (Kane pen 27) (Tal Ben Haim/F 55). Gianniotas 78)
HT: 2-0. Att: 10,123. Ref: Scharer (Swi) HT: 0-1. Att: 5,067. Ref: Grinfeeld (Isr) Spain: Reina - Azpilicueta, Nacho, Sergio Gibraltar 0
Romania: Tatarusanu - Benzar, Chiriches, Lithuania: Setkus - Andriuskevicius, Girdvainis, Ramos (Iago Aspas 46), Monreal, Illarramendi, HT: 1-0. Ref: Kruashvili (Geo)
D Grigore, Ganea, Pintilii (Hoban 70), Marin, Zulpa, L Klimavicius, Borovskij, Verbickas, Busquets, Jonathan Viera, Marco Asensio, Greece: Karnezis - Torosidis (Maniatis 68),
Chipciu, Budescu (Ionita 79), Grozav, Andone Slivka (Chvedukas 90+1), Novikovas, Sernas Pedro (Callejon 76), Aduriz (Isco 66). Papastathopoulos (Tziolis 68), K Papadopoulos,
(Keseru 66). (Matulevicius 76), Cernych. Stafylidis, Zeca, Tachtsidis, Christodoulopoulos
Kazakhstan: Pokatilov - Beisebekov, Maliy, England: Butland - Keane, Stones, Maguire, Oct 9 - Strumica (Gianniotas 74), Mantalos, Fortounis, Mitroglou.
Akhmetov, Dmitrenko, Suyumbayev, Tagybergen Trippier, Winks, Henderson, Cresswell, Alli Macedonia 4 (Musliu 36, Trajkovski 38, Gibraltar: Ibrahim - Garcia, R Chipolina,
(Turysbek 65), Kuat, Darabayev, Nurgaliyev (Lingard 81), Kane, Rashford (Sturridge 72). Bardhi 67, Ademi 69) Barnett, Mascarenhas-Olivero, Anthony
(Khizhnichenko 46), Murtazayev (Schetkin 58). Liechtenstein 0 Hernandez, Walker, Bardon, Pons (Guiling 72),
Oct 8 - Trnava HT: 2-0. Ref: Kopriwa (Lux) Coombes (Ruiz 88), Lopez (Yome 62).
Oct 8 - Copenhagen Slovakia 3 (Nemec 33, 62, Duda 69) Macedonia: Dimitrievski - Ristovski, Musliu,
Denmark 1 (Eriksen pen 60) Malta 0 Zajkov, Ristevski, Alioski, Bardhi (Doriev 77), WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP H – FINAL
Romania 1 (Deac 88) HT: 1-0. Att: 17,774. Ref: Mazzoleni (Ita) Hasani (Elmas 46), Trajkovski, Pandev (Ademi P W D L F A Pts
HT: 0-0. Att: 36,084. Ref: Aytekin (Ger) Slovakia: Dubravka - Pekarik, Skrtel, Skriniar, 64), Nestorovski. Belgium (QF) 10 9 1 0 43 6 28
Denmark: Schmeichel - Dalsgaard, Kjaer, Hubocan (Mazan 87), Rusnak (Mihalik 87), Liechtenstein: Jehle - Quintans, Malin, Greece (QPO) 10 5 4 1 17 6 19
A Christensen, Durmisi, Kvist, Delaney, Duda, Lobotka, Hamsik, Weiss, Nemec. Kaufmann, Goppel, Polverino, S Wolfinger Bosnia-Herz 10 5 2 3 24 13 17
Y Poulsen (Schone 83), Eriksen, Sisto, Malta: Hogg - S Borg, Agius, R Camilleri, (Yildiz 66), Martin Buchel (M Sele 79), Wieser, Estonia 10 3 2 5 13 19 11
Bendtner (Dolberg 70). J Zerafa, S Pisani, R Fenech, P Fenech Brandle (Erne 73), A Sele. Cyprus 10 3 1 6 9 18 10
Romania: Tatarusanu - Balasa, Chiriches, (C Borg 88), Gambin (Failla 76), Effiong, Gibraltar 10 0 0 10 3 47 0
D Grigore, Ganea, Hoban, Stanciu, Baluta Schembri. WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP G – FINAL
(Tucudean 83), Budescu (Bancu 66), Deac, P W D L F A Pts Group I
Andone (Keseru 70). Sent off: Ganea 63. Oct 8 - Ljubljana Spain (QF) 10 9 1 0 36 3 28 Oct 6 - Rijeka
Slovenia 2 (Bezjak 52, 72) Italy (QPO) 10 7 2 1 21 8 23 Croatia 1 (Mandzukic 57)
Oct 8 - Astana Scotland 2 (Griffiths 32, Snodgrass 88) Albania 10 4 1 5 10 13 13 Finland 1 (Soiri 90)
Kazakhstan 1 (Turysbek 64) HT: 0-1. Att: 11,123. Ref: Eriksson (Swe) Israel 10 4 0 6 10 15 12 HT: 0-0. Att: 7,578. Ref: Stefanski (Pol)
Armenia 1 (Mkhitaryan 26) Slovenia: Oblak - Aljaz Struna (Skubic 46), Macedonia 10 3 2 5 15 15 11 Croatia: Subasic - Vrsaljko, Mitrovic, Vida,
HT: 0-1. Att: 12,158. Ref: Tean (Mol) Mevlja, Cesar, Jokic, Kurtic, Rotman, Repas Liechtenstein 10 0 0 10 1 39 0 Pivaric, Modric, Rakitic, Brozovic (Rog 54),
Kazakhstan: Loria - Miroshnichenko, (Bezjak 46), Ilicic, Verbic, Matavz (Vetrih 89). Kramaric (Cop 81), Perisic, Mandzukic
Logvinenko, Dmitrenko, Akhmetov, Sent off: Cesar 90+2. Group H (Pasalic 85).
Tungyshbayev (Khizhnichenko 46), Nurgaliyev, Scotland: Gordon - Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Oct 7 - Sarajevo Finland: Hradecky - Arajuuri, N Moisander,
Tagybergen, M Baizhanov (Darabayev 75), Tierney (S Fletcher 80), McArthur (Snodgrass Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 (Medunjanin 30, J Ojala, Granlund, Schuller (Pukki 69),
Turysbek, Murtazayev. 79), D Fletcher, Bannan, C Martin (Anya 53), Visca 39, Dumic 82) Sparv, P Hetemaj (Soiri 80), Hamalainen,
Armenia: Beglaryan - Hambartsumyan, Griffiths, Phillips. Belgium 4 (Meunier 4, Batshuayi 59, Pohjanpalo, Skrabb.
Mikaelyan (Andonian 67), Haroyan, Vertonghen 68, Carrasco 84)
Daghbashyan, A Grigoryan, Simonyan, WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP F – FINAL HT: 2-1. Att: 9,657. Ref: Collum (Sco) Oct 6 - Shkoder, Albania
Mkhitaryan, Pizzelli (Koryan 70), E Malakyan P W D L F A Pts Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic - O Vranjes, Kosovo 0
(K Hovhannisyan 59), Adamyan. England (QF) 10 8 2 0 18 3 26 Dumic, Sunjic, Kolasinac, Besic (Jajalo 62), Ukraine 2 (Paqarada og 60, Yarmolenko 87)
Slovakia 10 6 0 4 17 7 18 Lulic, Visca (I Hajrovic 71), Medunjanin (Ibisevic HT: 0-0. Att: 1,261. Ref: Pawson (Eng)
Oct 8 - Warsaw Scotland 10 5 3 2 17 12 18 74), Duljevic, Dzeko. Kosovo: Ujkani - Vojvoda, Rrahmani, Jashanica,
Poland 4 (Maczynski 6, Grosicki 16, Slovenia 10 4 3 3 12 7 15 Belgium: Courtois - Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Paqarada, Musolli (F Kastrati 83), Kryeziu
Lewandowski 85, Stojkovic og 87) Lithuania 10 1 3 6 7 20 6 Vertonghen, De Bruyne, Fellaini (Dendoncker (Rashani 53), Rashica, Halimi, Celina, Muriqi
Montenegro 2 (Mugosa 78, Tomasevic 83) Malta 10 0 1 9 3 25 1 29), Meunier, Mertens (Tielemans 46), (Nuhiu 70).
HT: 2-0. Att: 57,538. Ref: Orsato (Ita) E Hazard, Carrasco (Chadli 86), Batshuayi. Ukraine: Pyatov - Karavaev, Khacheridi, Ordets,
Poland: Szczesny - Piszczek (Rybus 46), Glik, Group G Matviyenko, Rotan (Stepanenko 63),
Pazdan, Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Maczynski Oct 6 - Turin Oct 7 - Nicosia Sydorchuk, Yarmolenko, Harmash, Konoplyanka
(Wolski 90+2), Blaszczykowski, Zielinski, Italy 1 (Chiellini 40) Cyprus 1 (Sotiriou 18) (Buyalskyi 88), Kravets (Marlos 46).
Grosicki (Makuszewski 90), Lewandowski. Macedonia 1 (Trajkovski 77) Greece 2 (Mitroglou 24, Tziolis 26)
Montenegro: Petkovic - Stojkovic, Klimenta, HT: 1-0. Att: 22,603. Ref: Lopes Martins (Por) HT: 1-2. Att: 7,222. Ref: Undiano Mallenco (Spa) Oct 6 - Eskisehir
Mijuskovic, Tomasevic, Scekic, N Vukcevic, Italy: Buffon - Barzagli (Rugani 46), Bonucci, Cyprus: Panayi - J Demetriou, Katelaris, Laifis, Turkey 0
Jankovic, Ivanic (Haksabanovic 67), Jovovic Chiellini, Zappacosta, Parolo, Gagliardini Antoniades (Alexandrou 60), Artymatas, Laban, Iceland 3 (J Gudmundsson 32,
(Mugosa 77), Beciraj. (Cristante 75), Darmian, Verdi (Bernardeschi C Kyriakou, Kastanos (Economides 79), B Bjarnason 39, Arnason 50)
64), Immobile, Insigne. Margaca (Mytidis 86), Sotiriou. HT: 0-2. Att: 30,390. Ref: Marciniak (Pol)
WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP E – FINAL Macedonia: Dimitrievski - Ristovski, Musliu, Greece: Karnezis - Torosidis (Retsos 69), Turkey: Volkan Babacan - Ayhan, Mehmet
P W D L F A Pts D Velkoski (Zajkov 75), Radeski, Spirovski, Manolas, Papastathopoulos, Tzavellas, Topal, Caglar, Caner, Sahin (Ozan 46), Emre
Poland (QF) 10 8 1 1 28 14 25 Bardhi, Alioski, Pandev (Trickovski 80), Mantalos, Zeca, Tziolis, Stafylidis, Fortounis Belozoglu (Malli 78), Tosun, Ozyakup, Arda
Denmark (QPO) 10 6 2 2 20 8 20 Nestorovski, Hasani (Trajkovski 64). (Donis 75), Mitroglou (Samaris 89). (Mor 60), Burak.
Montenegro 10 5 1 4 20 12 16 Iceland: Halldorsson - B Saevarsson, Arnason,
Romania 10 3 4 3 12 10 13 Oct 6 - Vaduz Oct 7 - Faro-Loule, Portugal R Sigurdsson, Magnusson, J Gudmundsson
Armenia 10 2 1 7 10 26 7 Liechtenstein 0 Gibraltar 0 (A Skulason 82), A Gunnarsson (Ingason 65),
Kazakhstan 10 0 3 7 6 26 3 Israel 1 (Tibi 21) Estonia 6 (Luts 10, Kait 30, Zenjov 38, G Sigurdsson, B Bjarnason, J Bodvarsson,
HT: 0-1. Att: 3,498. Ref: Hunter (NI) Tamm 52, 65, 77) A Finnbogason (O Skulason 78).
Group F Liechtenstein: Jehle - S Wolfinger, Malin HT: 0-3. Att: 750. Ref: Jovic (Cro)
Oct 5 - London (Ospelt 89), Kaufmann (Brandle 51), Goppel, Gibraltar: Ibrahim - Garcia, R Chipolina, Pusey, Oct 9 - Turku
England 1 (Kane 90+4) N Hasler, Polverino, Martin Buchel, Barnett, Walker, Mascarenhas-Olivero, Bosio Finland 2 (Arajuuri 76, Pohjanpalo 88)
Slovenia 0 Marcel Buchel, Burgmeier, Erne (Yildiz 72). (Lopez 46), Bardon, Anthony Hernandez, Turkey 2 (Tosun 57, 83)
HT: 0-0. Att: 61,598. Ref: Zwayer (Ger) Israel: Harush - Keltjens, Tibi, Tal Ben Haim/D, Coombes (Yome 73). HT: 0-0. Ref: Bastien (Fra)
England: Hart - Walker, Stones, Cahill, Bertrand, Davidzada, Natcho, Melikson (Benayoun 78), Estonia: Aksalu - Jaager, Mets, Klavan, Finland: Hradecky - Pirinen, Arajuuri, Sauli
Henderson, Dier, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Lingard Kabha, Refaelov (Einbinder 63), Hemed, Atar Teniste, Kait, Vassiljev (Antonov 20), Pikk, Vaisanen, N Moisander, Lod, Lam (Markkanen
64), Sterling (Keane 85), Rashford, Kane. (Tal Ben Haim/F 70). Zenjov (Henri Anier 58), Tamm, Luts 86), Schuller, P Hetemaj (Hamalainen 60),
Slovenia: Oblak - Aljaz Struna, Mevlja, Cesar, (Mosnikov 66). Pukki (Soiri 82), Pohjanpalo.
Jokic, Rotman (Matavz 79), Krhin, Bezjak Oct 6 - Alicante Turkey: Volkan Babacan - Ozan, Toprak,
(Repas 72), Ilicic, Verbic, Sporar (Birsa 55). Spain 3 (Rodrigo 16, Isco 24, Thiago 27) Oct10 - Brussels Caglar, Ismail, Yusuf (Mor 75), Selcuk Inan
Albania 0 Belgium 4 (E Hazard 12, pen 63, T Hazard 52, (Mehmet Topal 85), Ozyakup, Okay,
Oct 5 - Valletta HT: 3-0. Att: 25,397. Ref: Eskov (Rus) R Lukaku 78) Calhanoglu, Tosun.
Malta 1 (Agius 23) Spain: De Gea - Sergio Ramos, Pique (Nacho Cyprus 0
Lithuania 1 (Slivka 53) 60), Jordi Alba, Odriozola, Thiago, Saul, HT: 1-0. Ref: Banti (Ita) Oct 9 - Reykjavik
HT: 1-0. Att: 3,431. Ref: Hovhannisyan (Arm) Koke, Isco, Silva (Marco Asensio 74), Rodrigo Belgium: Courtois - Alderweireld, Ciman, Iceland 2 (G Sigurdsson 40, J Gudmundsson 68)
Malta: Hogg - R Camilleri, S Borg, Z Muscat, (Aduriz 82). Vertonghen, Meunier (R Lukaku 66), Kosovo 0
J Zerafa, S Pisani, P Fenech (Attard 90+1), Agius, Albania: Berisha - Hysaj, Veseli, Ajeti, Memolla Tielemans, Witsel, Chadli, T Hazard, HT: 1-0. Ref: Lechner (Aut)
Gambin (C Borg 85), Schembri (Failla 46), Effiong. (Agolli 46), Kace, Memushaj, Grezda (Latifi 66), Batshuayi (Mertens 56), E Hazard Iceland: Halldorsson - B Saevarsson,
Lithuania: Zubas - Vaitkunas, Girdvainis, Xhaka, Llullaku, Balliu (Sadiku 46). (De Bruyne 77). R Sigurdsson, Arnason, Magnusson,
Mikuckis, Andriuskevicius, Kuklys, Matulevicius Cyprus: Panayi - J Demetriou, Katelaris, Laifis, J Gudmundsson, Hallfredsson (R Sigurjonsson
(Spalvis 80), Slivka, Cernych, Valskis (Papsys Oct 9 - Shkoder Margaca, C Kyriakou (Charalambides 64), 89), A Gunnarsson (Ingason 79), B Bjarnason,
46), Novikovas. Albania 0 Artymatas (Nikolaou 90+1), Merkis, Laban, G Sigurdsson, J Bodvarsson (A Finnbogason 61).
Italy 1 (Candreva 73) Alexandrou (Kastanos 46), Sotiriou. Kosovo: Ujkani - Vojvoda, Jashanica, Rrahmani,
Oct 5 - Glasgow HT: 0-0. Att: 16,000. Ref: Moen (Nor) Paqarada, Pnishi (Bernard Berisha 54), Halimi
Scotland 1 (Skrtel og 89) Albania: Berisha - Hysaj, Veseli, Mavraj, Agolli, Oct10 - Tallinn (L Kastrati 78), V Berisha, Rashica, Celina,
Slovakia 0 M Basha (Lila 68), Kace, Roshi (Ahmedi 90+1), Estonia 1 (Antonov 75) Nuhiu (Muriqi 54).
HT: 0-0. Att: 46,773. Ref: Mazic (Ser) Memushaj (Latifi 76), Grezda, Sadiku. Bosnia-Herzegovina 2 (I Hajrovic 48, 84)
Scotland: Gordon - Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Italy: Buffon - Darmian (Zappacosta 61), HT: 0-0. Ref: Bezborodov (Rus)
Tierney (Anya 82), Morrison, D Fletcher Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Candreva, Parolo, Estonia: Aksalu - Baranov, Mets, Klavan,
(McArthur 79), Bannan, Forrest (C Martin 61), Gagliardini, Insigne (El Shaarawy 90+3), Teniste, Kait, Antonov, Pikk, Zenjov (Tamm 69),
Griffiths, Phillips. Immobile, Eder (Gabbiadini 89). Henri Anier (Jaager 76), Luts.

76 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Oct 9 - Kiev Paraguay: A Silva - B Valdez, Gomez, AFRICA section Gabon: Bitseki Moto - Wachter, Appindangoye,
Ukraine 0 Balbuena, Samudio (O Cardozo 77), Moreira O 5 finals places available Ecuele Manga, Nzambe, Bouanga (Nzembi 85),
Croatia 2 (Kramaric 62, 70) (Sanabria 55), V Caceres (R Piris 38), R Ortiz, Tandjigora (Assoumou Akue 18), D Ndong, Lemina,
HT: 0-0. Ref: Brych (Ger) O Romero, A Romero, Gonzalez. 3rd round Aubameyang, Meye (Ameka Autchanga 59).
Ukraine: Pyatov - Karavaev, Rakitskyi, Group A
Khacheridi, Matviyenko, Rotan (Sydorchuk 69), Oct 5 - San Cristobal Oct 7 - Conakry WC QUALS – AFRICA – 3RD ROUND: GROUP C
Stepanenko, Yarmolenko, Marlos (Besedin 78), Venezuela 0 Guinea 1 (N Keita 36) P W D L F A Pts
Konoplyanka, Harmash (Kovalenko 66). Uruguay 0 Tunisia 4 (Msakni 45+3, 74, 90+6, Morocco 5 2 3 0 9 0 9
Croatia: Subasic - Vida, Lovren, Mitrovic, Att: 32,100. Ref: Daronco (Bra) Ben Amor 83) Ivory Coast 5 2 2 1 7 3 8
Vrsaljko (Pivaric 86), Rakitic, Badelj, Kramaric Venezuela: Farinez - Garcia, Chancellor, HT: 1-1. Ref: Sikazwe (Zam) Gabon 5 1 2 2 2 7 5
(Pasalic 88), Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic (Rog 90). Villanueva, Quijada, Cordova (Soteldo 80), Guinea: A Keita - O Balde, Sankoh, Ibrahima Mali 5 0 3 2 1 9 3
Moreno, Rincon, Murillo (Lucena 83), Conte/D, Issiaga Sylla, S Diallo (Lamah 85),
WC QUALS – EUROPE – GROUP I – FINAL S Rondon, Martinez (Otero 69). N Keita, Ibrahima Conte/M, S Soumah, Remaining games
P W D L F A Pts Uruguay: Muslera - M Pereira, Gimenez, Godin, D Camara (S Kaba 78), Idrissa Sylla (Sankhon Nov 11: Gabon v Mali; Ivory Coast v Morocco.
Iceland (QF) 10 7 1 2 16 7 22 Caceres, Nandez (A Gonzalez 83), Valverde 65). Sent off: N Keita 90+4.
Croatia (QPO) 10 6 2 2 15 4 20 (De Arrascaeta 79), Vecino, C Rodriguez Tunisia: A Mathlouthi - Nagguez, Bedoui, Group D
Ukraine 10 5 2 3 13 9 17 (Bentancur 65), Cavani, Suarez. Meriah, Maaloul, F Ben Youssef (Badri 59), Oct 7 - Praia
Turkey 10 4 3 3 14 13 15 Ben Amor, Sassi (Trabelsi 76), Chaalali, Msakni, Cape Verde Islands 0
Finland 10 2 3 5 9 13 9 Oct10 - Sao Paulo Khenissi (Khazri 78). Senegal 2 (Sakho 82, C N’Doye 90+3)
Kosovo 10 0 1 9 3 24 1 Brazil 3 (Paulinho 55, Gabriel Jesus 57, 90+3) HT: 0-0. Ref: Grisha (Egy)
Chile 0 Oct 7 - Monastir, Tunisia Cape Verde Islands: Vozinha - Tiago Almeida,
O The 9 group winners have qualified for the HT: 0-0. Att: 41,008. Ref: Zambrano (Ecu) Libya 1 (Almoatasembellah 69) Fernando Varela, Steven Pereira, Stopira,
finals; the 8 runners-up with the best group Brazil: Ederson - Daniel Alves, Marquinhos, DR Congo 2 (Bakambu 50, Mubele 75) Marco Soares (Kevin Oliveira 85), Ponck,
stage record enter the Europe section play-offs Miranda, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, Philippe HT: 0-0. Ref: Diedhiou (Sen) Babanco, Ryan Mendes, Heldon (Nuno Rocha
Coutinho (Roberto Firmino 87), Paulinho, Libya: Azzaqa - Al Maghasi, Al Gamal, Abboud, 66), Garry Rodrigues (Ricardo Gomes 78).
Europe section play-offs Renato Augusto (Fernandinho 82), Neymar Sabbou (Madyen 55; Shafshuf 87), Al Tarhouni, Senegal: K N’Diaye - Wague, Mbodj,
O The 9 group stage runners-up were ranked (Willian 85), Gabriel Jesus. Ahmed, Al Lafi, Almoatasembellah, Elhouni, K Koulibaly, A Mbengue, Gueye, Kouyate,
according to their results against the countries Chile: Bravo - Isla, G Medel, G Jara, Beausejour, Zuway (Ghanudi 74). P A N’Diaye (Niang 63), S Mane (C N’Doye 89),
finishing1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th in their respective Fuenzalida (Puch 63), Aranguiz (Pulgar 46), DR Congo: Matampi - Mpeko, Moke Abro, Sakho, Keita (Nguette 80).
groups, with the top 8 then being drawn in Hernandez (Paredes 77), Valdivia, Vargas, Tisserand, Ngonda, Mbemba, Mabidi, Botaka
4 head-to-head, 2-leg ties Sanchez. (Kabananga 64), Kebano (Bolingi 72), Mubele, Oct 7 - Johannesburg
Bakambu (Luyindama 83). South Africa 3 (Tau 1, Zwane 34,
EUROPE GROUP STAGE RUNNERS-UP – FINAL Oct10 - Quito S Vilakazi 45+1)
P W D L F A Pts Ecuador 1 (Romario Ibarra 1) WC QUALS – AFRICA – 3RD ROUND: GROUP A Burkina Faso 1 (Alain Traore 87)
Switzerland 8 7 0 1 18 6 21 Argentina 3 (Messi 12, 20, 62) P W D L F A Pts HT: 3-0. Ref: Alioum (Cam)
Italy 8 5 2 1 12 8 17 HT: 1-2. Att: 29,000. Ref: Daronco (Bra) Tunisia 5 4 1 0 11 4 13 South Africa: Khune - Mkhize, Gould, Daniels,
Denmark 8 4 2 2 13 6 14 Ecuador: Banguera - Velasco, Aimar, Arboleda, DR Congo 5 3 1 1 11 6 10 Hlanti, Zwane, Zungu, Mokotjo, S Vilakazi
Croatia 8 4 2 2 8 4 14 Ramirez, Intriago (Uchuari 77), Renato Ibarra, Guinea 5 1 0 4 5 11 3 (Manyama 82), Jali (Kekana 71), Tau (Ndlovu
Sweden 8 4 1 3 18 9 13 Orejuela, Cevallos (E Valencia 41), Romario Libya 5 1 0 4 4 10 3 86). Sent off: Zungu 67.
N Ireland 8 4 1 3 10 6 13 Ibarra, Ordonez (Estrada 64). Burkina Faso: Koffi - Malo, B Kone, Yago,
Greece 8 3 4 1 9 5 13 Argentina: Romero - Mercado, Mascherano, Remaining games M Ouattara (Diawara 76), B Toure (Ki 69),
Rep Ireland 8 3 4 1 7 5 13 Otamendi, Salvio (Fazio 90), Biglia, E Perez, Nov 11: DR Congo v Guinea; Tunisia v Libya. C Kabore, B Traore, Alain Traore, Bayala
Slovakia 8 4 0 4 11 6 12 Acuna, Messi, Di Maria (Paredes 84), Benedetto (Bance 33), Nakoulma.
(Icardi 76). Group B
Draw Oct 7 - Yaounde WC QUALS – AFRICA – 3RD ROUND: GROUP D
Croatia v Greece (Nov 9 & Nov 12) Oct10 - Asuncion Cameroon 2 (N’Jie 25, Pangop 88) P W D L F A Pts
Denmark v Rep of Ireland (Nov 11 & Nov 14) Paraguay 0 Algeria 0 Senegal 4 2 2 0 6 2 8
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (Nov 9 & Nov 12) Venezuela 1 (Herrera 84) HT: 1-0. Ref: Essrayri (Tun) Burkina Faso 5 1 3 1 6 6 6
Sweden v Italy (Nov 10 & Nov 13) HT: 0-0. Att: 34,786. Ref: Sampaio (Bra) Cameroon: Ondoa - Fai, Ngadeu, Teikeu, Cape Verde Is 5 2 0 3 4 8 6
O The 4 winners will qualify for the finals Paraguay: A Silva - Moreira, Gomez, Da Silva Leuko, Olinga (Ngamaleu 82), Siani, South Africa 4 1 1 2 6 6 4
(Samudio 62), Alonso, O Romero, Rojas, Zambo Anguissa, Aboubakar, Bassogog FIFA has ordered the South Africa v Senegal tie,
SOUTH AMERICA section R Piris, Dominguez (Bareiro 56), Sanabria (Mandjeck 72), N’Jie (Pangop 87). originally played in November last year, to be
O 4.5 finals places available (O Cardozo 56), A Romero. Sent off: Gomez 89. Algeria: M’Bolhi - Cadamuro, Mandi, replayed this month because the referee, Joseph
Venezuela: Farinez - R Hernandez, Chancellor, Bensebaini (Ferhat 71), Fares, Benguit, Taider Lamptey of Ghana, ‘manipulated’ the outcome,
Oct 5 - Buenos Aires Angel, Quijada, Cordova (Soteldo 57), Herrera, (Bennacer 60), Feghouli (Ghezzal 75), a 2-1 win for South Africa. That result has been
Argentina 0 Rincon, Murillo (Moreno 81), S Rondon, Soudani, Hanni, Belfodil. expunged from the table shown here. The
Peru 0 Martinez (Otero 77). Sent off: Angel 89. decision to restage the game is subject to appeal
Att: 47,960. Ref: Sampaio (Bra) Oct 7 - Uyo
Argentina: Romero - Mercado, Otamendi, Oct10 - Lima Nigeria 1 (Iwobi 73) Remaining games
Mascherano, Acuna, Biglia, Banega (Gago 60; Peru 1 (Ospina og 77) Zambia 0 Nov 10: South Africa v Senegal.
E Perez 66), Di Maria (Rigoni 46), Messi, Colombia 1 (Rodriguez 56) HT: 0-0. Ref: Bondo (Bot) Nov 14: Burkina Faso v Cape Verde Islands;
A Gomez, Benedetto. HT: 0-0. Att: 29,637. Ref: Ricci (Bra) Nigeria: Ezenwa - Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Senegal v South Africa.
Peru: Gallese - Corzo, Araujo, Rodriguez, Peru: Gallese - Corzo, Ramos, Rodriguez Balogun, Echiejile (Aina 80), Ndidi, Onazi (Agu
Trauco, Pena (Cartagena 53), Tapia (Aquino (Araujo 46), Trauco, Tapia, Yotun (Ruidiaz 71), 30), Moses, Mikel, Simon (Iwobi 66), Ighalo. Group E
78), Yotun, Farfan (Polo 70), Guerrero, Flores. Carrillo (Reyna 63), Cueva, Flores, Guerrero. Zambia: Mweene - Silwimba, Sunzu, Z Tembo, Oct 7 - Kampala
Colombia: Ospina - Arias, D Sanchez, Kapumbu, A Mulenga (Ching’andu 87), Mtonga, Uganda 0
Oct 5 - La Paz O Murillo, Fabra, Cuadrado, Aguilar, C Sanchez, Lungu (Mbewe 51), Sakala (Shonga 78), Ghana 0
Bolivia 0 Rodriguez (Chara 85), Falcao (G Moreno 90), Ngonga, Mwepu. Ref: Bennett (SAf)
Brazil 0 D Zapata (Barrios 73). Uganda: Onyango - Wadada, Wasswa, Isinde,
Att: 34,725. Ref: Rapallini (Arg) WC QUALS – AFRICA – 3RD ROUND: GROUP B Walusimbi, Okwi, Iguma, Mawejje, Luwagga
Bolivia: Lampe - Valverde, Raldes, Gutierrez, Oct10 - Montevideo P W D L F A Pts (Ochaya 73), Miya (Mutyaba 62), Nsibambi
Diego Bejarano, Justiniano (Castro 46), Uruguay 4 (Caceres 39, Cavani 42, Suarez 60, 76) Nigeria (QF) 5 4 1 0 11 3 13 (Sserunkuma 67).
Machado, L Morales, Arce (Saucedo 79), Bolivia 2 (G Silva og 24, Godin og 79) Zambia 5 2 1 2 6 5 7 Ghana: R Ofori - Opare, Opoku, Amartey,
Martins Moreno, Fierro (Alvarez 58). HT: 2-1. Att: 50,000. Ref: Marques (Bra) Cameroon 5 1 3 1 5 7 6 Agbenyenu, Sarfo (Twumasi 51), Duncan
Brazil: Alisson - Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva Uruguay: Muslera - Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Algeria 5 0 1 4 3 10 1 (Dwamena 56), E Ofori, Acheampong (Attamah
(Marquinhos 29), Miranda, Alex Sandro, G Silva (M Pereira 77), Valverde (C Rodriguez 86), Partey, Boakye.
Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho (Willian 66), 60), Vecino, Bentancur, De Arrascaeta Remaining games
Paulinho (Fernandinho 83), Renato Augusto, (Lodeiro 77), Suarez, Cavani. Nov 10: Algeria v Nigeria. Oct 8 - Borg El Arab
Neymar, Gabriel Jesus. Bolivia: Lampe - Diego Bejarano, Valverde, Nov 11: Zambia v Cameroon. Egypt 2 (M Salah 63, pen 90+5)
Raldes, Candia, Sagredo, Chumacero (Arce 46), Congo 1 (Bouka Moutou 88)
Oct 5 - Santiago Castro (Justiniano 57), Machado, Campos, Group C HT: 0-0. Ref: Gassama (Gam)
Chile 2 (Vargas 22, Sanchez 85) Martins Moreno (Alvarez 69). Oct 6 - Bamako Egypt: El Hadary - A Fathy, Rabia, Hegazy,
Ecuador 1 (Romario Ibarra 84) Mali 0 Abdel-Shafy, Elneny, Hamed, M Salah, S Gomaa
HT: 1-0. Att: 35,000. Ref: Ricci (Bra) WC QUALS – SOUTH AMERICA – FINAL Ivory Coast 0 (Trezeguet 56), Sobhi (Elmohamady 88), Koka
Chile: Bravo - Isla, G Medel, G Jara, Mena, P W D L F A Pts Ref: Martins de Carvalho (Ang) (Gamal 78).
Vidal, Silva (Pulgar 90+2), Hernandez, Valdivia Brazil (QF) 18 12 5 1 41 11 41 Mali: D Diarra - H Traore, Wague, Fofana, Congo: Mouko - Etou-Thomaso, Mayembo,
(Gutierrez 83), Vargas (Rodriguez 80), Sanchez. Uruguay (QF) 18 9 4 5 32 20 31 Y Kone, A Traore (Djenepo 40), S Diarra, Itoua, Badila, Delarge (Bouka Moutou 72),
Ecuador: Banguera - A Valencia, Aimar, Argentina (QF) 18 7 7 4 19 16 28 Samassekou, Bissouma (Haidara 80), Oniangue, N’Dinga, Bahamboula (Ndockyt 84),
Arboleda, Ramirez (Romario Ibarra 82), Colombia (QF) 18 7 6 5 21 19 27 M Doumbia, Niane (K Coulibaly 63). Bifouma, Saint-Louis (Gandze 90+3).
Renato Ibarra, Intriago (Murillo 76), Orejuela, Peru (QPO) 18 7 5 6 27 26 26 Ivory Coast: Gbohouo - Aurier, Bailly, Kanon,
Preciado (Garces 46), Arroyo, Ordonez. Chile 18 8 2 8 26 27 26 Konan, Serey Die (Sanogo 46), Kessie, Assale WC QUALS – AFRICA – 3RD ROUND: GROUP E
Sent off: Arroyo 90+4. Paraguay 18 7 3 8 19 25 24 (Kalou 67), Gbamin, Cornet, Kodjia. P W D L F A Pts
Ecuador 18 6 2 10 26 29 20 Egypt (QF) 5 4 0 1 7 3 12
Oct 5 - Barranquilla Bolivia 18 4 2 12 16 38 14 Oct 7 - Casablanca Uganda 5 2 2 1 2 1 8
Colombia 1 (Falcao 80) Venezuela 18 2 6 10 19 35 12 Morocco 3 (Boutaib 38, 56, 72) Ghana 5 1 3 1 6 4 6
Paraguay 2 (O Cardozo 89, Sanabria 90+2) Gabon 0 Congo 5 0 1 4 4 11 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 45,000. Ref: Marques (Bra) O The top 4 have qualified for the finals; the HT: 1-0. Ref: Gomes (SAf)
Colombia: Ospina - Arias, C Zapata, 5th-placed country, Peru, will meet New Morocco: El Kajoui - Dirar, Benatia (Banoune Remaining games
D Sanchez, Fabra, C Sanchez, Aguilar (Barrios Zealand, the winner of the Oceania section 81), Saiss, Hakimi, El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Nov 12: Congo v Uganda; Ghana v Egypt.
86), Cuadrado (Gutierrez 63), Rodriguez, play-off, in a 2-leg play-off (see Intercontinental Amrabat (Harit 90), Belhanda, Ziyech, Boutaib
Cardona (Chara 75), Falcao. Play-offs) for a place in the finals (Bouhaddouz 81). O The 5 group winners will qualify for the finals

WORLD SOCCER 77
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

CONCACAF section ASIA section Group B O A total of 6 rounds of games will be played
O 3.5 finals places available O 4.5 finals places available Oct10 - Hong Kong
Hong Kong 2 (Tarres 44, McKee 49) O The top 2 in each group will qualify for the
5th round 3rd round Malaysia 0 24-team finals.12 other countries have
Oct 6 - San Jose WC QUALS – ASIA – 3RD RND: GP A – FINAL HT: 1-0. Att: 7,920. Ref: Gamini (Sri) already qualified – Australia, China, Iran, Iraq,
Costa Rica 1 (Waston 90+5) P W D L F A Pts Sent off: Safiq (Malaysia) 40 Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria,
Honduras 1 (Hernandez 67) Iran (QF) 10 6 4 0 10 2 22 Thailand, UAE (hosts) & Uzbekistan
HT: 0-0. Att: 24,948. Ref: Ramos (Mex) Sth Korea (QF) 10 4 3 3 11 10 15 Oct10 - Beirut
Costa Rica: Navas - Gamboa, Gonzalez, Syria (QPO) 10 3 4 3 9 8 13 Lebanon 5 (El Helwe 21, Maatouk 25, FRIENDLIES
Acosta (Wallace 78), Waston, Oviedo, B Ruiz, Uzbekistan 10 4 1 5 6 7 13 Ayass 50, Hamam 79, Ataya 90+1)
Borges, Guzman, Bolanos (Colindres 72), China 10 3 3 4 8 10 12 North Korea 0 Saturday, September 30
Urena (Venegas 72). Qatar 10 2 1 7 8 15 7 HT: 2-0. Att: 3,000. Ref: Tojo (Jap) Sep 30 - Gaborone
Honduras: Escober - Beckeles, Johnny Sent off: Kim Chol-bom (North Korea) 82 Botswana 2 (Ramatlhakwane pens x2)
Palacios, M Figueroa, Izaguirre, Acosta, WC QUALS – ASIA – 3RD RND: GP B – FINAL Ethiopia 0
A Mejia, Elis (Castillo 90), A Lopez (Pena 83), P W D L F A Pts ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS – GROUP B HT: 1-0
Quioto, Hernandez. Japan (QF) 10 6 2 2 17 7 20 P W D L F A Pts
S Arabia (QF) 10 6 1 3 17 10 19 Lebanon 4 3 1 0 11 3 10 Monday, October 2
Oct 6 - San Luis Potosi Australia (QPO) 10 5 4 1 16 11 19 Hong Kong 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 Oct 2 - Taipa
Mexico 3 (Lozano 78, J Hernandez 88, UAE 10 4 1 5 10 13 13 North Korea 3 0 2 1 3 8 2 Macau 3 (Carlinhos Leonel 66, 74, Torrao 83)
H Herrera 90+4) Iraq 10 3 2 5 11 12 11 Malaysia 3 0 1 2 2 5 1 Laos 1 (Carlinhos Leonel og 57)
Trinidad & Tobago 1 (S Winchester 66) Thailand 10 0 2 8 6 24 2 HT: 0-0. Ref: Gamini (Sri)
HT: 0-0. Att: 25,111. Ref: Ward (SKN) Group C
Mexico: J J Corona - Salcedo, D Reyes (Peralta O The top 2 in both groups have qualified for Oct10 - Dushanbe, Tajikistan Wednesday, October 4
70), Moreno, Layun, G Dos Santos (Vela 61), the finals; the 2 3rd-placed countries went into Afghanistan 3 (Al Souliman og 15, Oct 4 - Dubai, UAE
H Herrera, Guardado, Aquino (Lozano 56), the Asia section play-off Fakhrudin 64, Amani 80) Jordan 1 (Khattab 38)
J Hernandez, J M Corona. Jordan 3 (Abu Amarah 40, Al Saify pen 43, Oman 1 (tbc 89)
Trinidad & Tobago: Foncette - Moses, Cyrus, Asia section play-off Al Souliman 86) HT: 1-0
Gonzales, Villaroel, K George, N Lewis, Paul 1st leg HT: 1-2. Att: 1,500. Ref: Tufayelieh (Syr)
(Molino 61), Hyland, L Garcia (J Jones 73), Oct 5 - Krubong, Malaysia Thursday, October 5
S Winchester (Caesar 86). Syria 1 (Al Somah pen 85) Oct10 - Hanoi Oct 5 - Hong Kong
Australia 1 (Kruse 40) Vietnam 5 (Dinh Thanh Trung 13, Nguyen Van Hong Kong 4 (Tarres 10, Wong Wai 13,
Oct 6 - Orlando HT: 0-1. Att: 2,150. Ref: Faghani (Irn) Quyet 56, Nguyen Anh Duc 60, Nguyen Cong Karikari 73, Sandro pen 83)
United States 4 (Pulisic 8, Altidore 19, pen 43, Syria: Alma - F Youssef, Hadi Al Masri, Phuong 76, Mac Hong Quan 90+2) Laos 0
Wood 63) Z Midani, Ajan, Al Mawas (Al Khatib 76), Cambodia 0 HT: 2-0. Att: 2,029
Panama 0 Mobayed, Haj Mohamad, Kalfa (Al Jafal 46), HT: 1-0. Att: 11,000. Ref: Pu-Udom (Tha)
HT: 3-0. Att: 25,303. Ref: Garcia (Mex) Al Somah, Khribin (Mardikian 80). Oct 5 - Tehran
United States: Howard - Yedlin, O Gonzalez, Australia: Ryan - Degenek, Sainsbury, Jurman, ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS – GROUP C Iran 2 (Ansarifard 51, 60)
Besler, Villafana, Arriola, Bradley, Nagbe Milligan, Mooy, Risdon (Rukavytsya 63), Leckie, P W D L F A Pts Togo 0
(Bedoya 79), Pulisic (McCarty 57), Altidore Kruse (Luongo 70), Behich, Juric (Rogic 83). Jordan 4 2 2 0 14 4 8 HT: 0-0
(Dempsey 71), Wood. Vietnam 4 2 2 0 8 2 8 Iran: Lak - Ghafouri, Kanaani (Hosseini 75),
Panama: Penedo - M A Murillo, R Torres, 2nd leg Cambodia 4 1 0 3 2 14 3 Cheshmi, Hajsafi (Aghaei 46), Ghoddos
Baloy (Escobar 46), Ovalle, Quintero, Godoy, Oct10 - Sydney Afghanistan 4 0 2 2 5 9 2 (Ghoochannejhad 63), Abdollahzadeh (Amiri
G Gomez, Barcenas (Cooper 26), B Perez Australia 2 (Cahill 13, 109) 75), Ezatolahi (Ebrahimi 46), Torabi (Imani 46),
(Arroyo 60), G Torres. Syria 1 (Al Somah 6) Group D Rezaei, Ansarifard.
Aet. HT: 1-1. 90mins: 1-1. Att: 42,136. Oct10 - Male
Oct10 - San Pedro Sula Ref: Irmatov (Uzb) Maldives 1 (Fasir 24) Oct 5 - Basra
Honduras 3 (Elis 34, Ochoa og 54, Quioto 60) Australia 3-2 on agg Oman 3 (Al Hajri 14, Amdhan Ali og 18, Iraq 2 (Nouri pen 18, Ibrahim 45+2)
Mexico 2 (Peralta 17, Vela 39) Australia: Ryan - Degenek, Sainsbury, Jurman, Mubarak 57) Kenya 1 (Olunga 85)
HT: 1-2. Att: 37,000. Ref: Aguilar (ESv) Leckie, Troisi (Rukavytsya 73), Milligan, Kruse, HT: 1-2. Att: 2,884. Ref: Gillett (Aus) HT: 2-0
Honduras: Escober - Beckeles, H Figueroa, Smith (Mooy 11), Rogic (Juric 96), Cahill.
M Figueroa, Claros (Acosta 69), Alvarado, Syria: Alma - F Youssef, Al Baour, Z Midani, Oct10 - Hebron Oct 5 - Mandalay
A Mejia, Elis, A Lopez (Johnny Palacios 88), Ajan, Mido (Hamwiah 75), Haj Mohamad, Palestine 10 (Bahdari 3, 39, 43, Jaber 5, Myanmar 1 (Aung Thu 50)
Quioto, Hernandez. Al Mawas, Mardikian (Omari 90+1), Al Jafal Seyam 21, Maraaba 28, Salem pen 48, Thailand 3 (Mongkol 12, Teerasil 32,
Mexico: Ochoa - Araujo, Ayala, Alanis (Al Khatib 61), Al Somah. Sent off: Al Mawas 94. Natour 60, Cantillana 63, 70) Thitipan pen 78)
(J M Corona 67), Gallardo, Layun, J Dos Santos Bhutan 0 HT: 0-2
(Alvarez 46), H Herrera, Vela (Guardado 59), O As winners, Australia will meet Honduras, the HT: 6-0. Att: 7,250. Ref: Arumughan (Ind)
Peralta, R Jimenez. 4th-placed CONCACAF country, in a 2-leg Oct 5 - Doha
play-off (see Intercontinental Play-offs) for a ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS – GROUP D Qatar 3 (Almoez Ali 39, 52,
Oct10 - Panama City place in the finals P W D L F A Pts Ahmed Alaa pen 81)
Panama 2 (B Perez 53, R Torres 88) Palestine (QF) 4 4 0 0 17 1 12 Singapore 1 (Faris 53)
Costa Rica 1 (Venegas 37) OCEANIA section Oman (QF) 4 3 0 1 23 3 9 HT: 1-0
HT: 0-1. Att: 26,503. Ref: Lopez (Gtm) O 0.5 finals places available Maldives 4 1 0 3 3 11 3
Panama: Penedo - Machado, R Torres, Bhutan 4 0 0 4 0 28 0 Oct 5 - Taipei
Escobar, Ovalle, Barcenas (Tejada 51), G Gomez Oceania section play-off Taiwan 4 (Chen Hao-wei 41, Chen Po-liang 52,
(Cooper 60), Godoy, Quintero, B Perez, 1st leg - Sep1; 2nd leg - Sep 5 Group E pen 56, Jiang Sin-long 86)
G Torres (Arroyo 78). New Zealand v Solomon Islands Oct10 - Taipei Mongolia 2 (Tsagaantsooj Munkh-Erdene 4,
Costa Rica: Pemberton - Salvatierra, Gutierrez, 6-1, 2-2 (agg 8-3) Taiwan 2 (Chen Po-liang 89, Chu En-le 90+1) Nyam-Osor 75)
Umana, Calvo, Matarrita (Gonzalez 75), Bahrain 1 (Abdul-Latif pen 18) HT: 1-1
Wallace, Guzman (Azofeifa 63), Borges, O As winners, New Zealand will meet Peru, the HT: 0-1. Att: 7,908. Ref: Kimura (Jap)
B Ruiz (Urena 69), Venegas. 5th-placed South American country, in a 2-leg Friday, October 6
play-off (see Intercontinental Play-offs) for a Oct10 - Ashgabat Oct 6 - Toyota
Oct10 - Couva place in the finals Turkmenistan 2 (Orazsahedov 18, 90+3) Japan 2 (Osako pen 50, Kurata 87)
Trinidad & Tobago 2 (O Gonzalez og 17, Singapore 1 (Irfan 27) New Zealand 1 (Wood 59)
A Jones 37) INTERCONTINENTAL PLAY-OFFS HT: 1-1. Att: 15,400. Ref: Ng (HK) HT: 0-0. Att: 38,461. Ref: Liu (HK)
United States 1 (Pulisic 47) Honduras v Australia (Nov10 & Nov15) Japan: Kawashima - Nagatomo, H Sakai,
HT: 2-0. Ref: Mejia (ESv) New Zealand v Peru (Nov11 & Nov15) ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS – GROUP E Makino, Yoshida, Ideguchi (Kurata 82), Kagawa
Trinidad & Tobago: Foncette - A Jones, Cyrus, P W D L F A Pts (Kobayashi 60), Yamaguchi (Endo 90+3),
Gonzales, Hodge (Villaroel 82), N Lewis, Paul, O The 2 winners will qualify for the finals Bahrain 4 2 1 1 8 3 7 Muto (Inui 70), Kubo (Asano 78), Osako
K George, Hyland, L Garcia (J Jones 72), Turkmenistan 4 2 1 1 7 5 7 (Sugimoto 60).
S Winchester (Caesar 78). 2019 ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS Taiwan 4 2 0 2 5 10 6 New Zealand: Marinovic - Reid, Boxall,
United States: Howard - Yedlin, O Gonzalez, Singapore 4 0 2 2 3 5 2 Ingham, Colvey (Doyle 66), Durante,
Besler, Villafana (Acosta 72), Arriola (Dempsey 3rd round McGlinchey (Tuiloma 82), Thomas, Barbarouses
46), Bradley, Nagbe (Feilhaber 84), Pulisic, Group A Group F (Smeltz 71), Wood, Rojas (Tzimopoulos 75).
Altidore, Wood. Oct10 - Yangon Oct10 - Hisor
Myanmar 2 (Aung Thu 52, Kyaw Ko Ko 90+2) Tajikistan 3 (Davronov pen 20, Oct 6 - Tunis, Tunisia
WC QUALS – CONCACAF – 5TH RND – FINAL Kyrgyzstan 2 (Zemlianukhin pen 12, Maier 49) Umarbayev pen 60, M Dzhalilov pen 87) Mauritania 0
P W D L F A Pts HT: 0-1. Att: 2,886. Ref: Abdulnabi (Bhn) Nepal 0 Comoros 1 (M’Changama 83)
Mexico (QF) 10 6 3 1 16 7 21 HT: 1-0. Att: 12,000. Ref: Bonyadifard (Irn) HT: 0-0
Costa Rica (QF) 10 4 4 2 14 8 16 Oct11 - Bangalore
Panama (QF) 10 3 4 3 9 10 13 India 4 (Borges 28, Chhetri 60, Oct10 - Al Wakrah, Qatar Saturday, October 7
H’duras (QPO) 10 3 4 3 13 19 13 Lam Ka Seng og 70, Lalpekhlua 90+2) Yemen 1 (Ali 63) Oct 7 - Moscow
United States 10 3 3 4 17 13 12 Macau 1 (Torrao 37) Philippines 1 (Mike Ott 89) Russia 4 (Smolov 44, Kim Joo-young og 55,
Trinidad & Tob 10 2 0 8 7 19 6 HT: 1-1. Att: 4,113. Ref: Abdul Baki (Oma) HT: 0-0. Att: 2,169. Ref: Wang (Chn) og 57, Aleksey Miranchuk 83)
South Korea 2 (Kwon Kyung-won 87,
O The top 3 have qualified for the finals; the ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS – GROUP A ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS – GROUP F Ji Dong-won 90+3)
4th-placed country, Honduras, will meet P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts HT: 1-0. Att: 24,200. Ref: Kassai (Hun)
Australia, the winner of the Asia section play-off, India (QF) 4 4 0 0 8 1 12 Philippines 4 2 2 0 11 7 8 Russia: Akinfeev - Kudryashov, Dzhikiya, Vasin,
in a 2-leg play-off (see Intercontinental Kyrgyzstan 3 1 1 1 3 3 4 Yemen 4 1 3 0 5 4 6 Erokhin (Aleksey Miranchuk 74), Samedov
Play-offs) for a place in the finals Myanmar 3 1 1 1 6 3 4 Tajikistan 4 2 0 2 9 7 6 (Mario Fernandes 64), Anton Miranchuk
Macau 4 0 0 4 1 11 0 Nepal 4 0 1 3 2 9 1 (Tarasov 46), Kuzyaev (Ozdoev 75), Zhirkov
(Raush 63), Kokorin, Smolov (Zabolotniy 80).

78 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Club football
South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu - Kim Young-gwon
(Oh Jae-suk 64), Kim Joo-young, Koo Ja-cheol
(Park Jong-woo 70), Kwon Kyung-won, Kwon
Chang-hoon (Hwang Il-su 79), Son Heung-min
(Nam Tae-hee 79), Lee Chung-yong, Jang
Hyun-soo, Jung Woo-young (Ki Sung-yueng
63), Hwang Ui-jo (Ji Dong-won 64).

Oct 7 - Dar Es Salaam

AFRICA Inter-zone play-offs
Semi-finals
1st legs - Aug 22/23; 2nd legs - Sep12/13
Tanzania 1 (Msuva 58) CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Bengaluru (Ind) v April 25 (NKo)
Malawi 1 (Ng’ambi 35) November 2017 Vol 58 No 3
3-0, 0-0 (agg 3-0)
HT: 0-1 Semi-finals Istiklol (Taj) v Ceres (Phi)
Sent off: Nyoni 86, Yassin 90+3 (both Tanzania) 1st legs - Sep 29/Oct1; 2nd legs - Oct 21/22 4-0, 1-1 (agg 5-1)
Etoile Sahel (Tun) v Al Ahly (Egy)
Sunday, October 8 2-1, 2-6 (agg 4-7) EDITOR
Final Gavin Hamilton
Oct 8 - Houston, USA USM Alger (Alg) v Wydad Casablanca (Mor) 1st leg - Sep 27; 2nd leg - Oct18 ASSISTANT EDITOR
El Salvador 1 (Pineda 75) 0-0, 1-3 (agg 1-3) Istiklol v Bengaluru 1-0, 2-2 (agg 3-2) Nich Hills
Canada 0
O Istiklol qualified for the AFC Cup Final DESIGN DIRECTOR
HT: 0-0 CONFEDERATION CUP Kevin Eason
El Salvador: Carrillo - Larin, Mancia, DESIGN EDITOR
BHUTAN Jamie Latchford
Dominguez, Tamacas (Espinoza 90+5), Semi-finals DEPUTY DESIGN EDITOR
Jaime Alas (Corea 61), Menjivar (Renderos 85), 1st legs - Oct1; 2nd legs - Oct 21/22 Daniel Franklin
2017 – FINAL
Alvarez (Cerritos 89), Pineda (Garcia 79), SuperSport United (SAf) v Club Africain (Tun) PICTURE EDITOR
P W D L F A Pts
E Burgos, N Bonilla (Herrera 72). 1-1, 3-1 (agg 4-2) Duncan Bond
Transport U (C) 10 9 1 0 37 11 28
Canada: Thomas - Jakovic, Vitoria, Petrasso, TP Mazembe (DRC) v FUS Rabat (Mor) Thimphu City 10 7 2 1 48 12 23 PICTURES
Piette, Kaye, Arfield, Osorio (Aleman 53), 1-0, 0-0 (agg 1-0) Ugyen Acad 10 5 1 4 32 10 16 Pictures copyright: Getty Images, Press
Larin (Jackson-Hamel 52), Aird (Cordova 62), Association Images
Thimphu FC 10 4 1 5 25 18 13
Edwards (Twardek 83). CAMEROON Paro United 10 2 1 7 29 36 7
Thanks this issue to
Phuentsholing 10 0 0 10 7 91 0 Dean Chillmaid, Peter Neish
Oct 8 - Pak Kret 2017 – FINAL
Thailand 1 (Teerasil 62) P W D L F A Pts MONGOLIA EDITORIAL
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 GERMANY: BUNDESLIGA 2017-18
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19 KOO Ja-cheol (SKo) (28) 27.02.89
5 Moritz LEITNER (24) 08.12.92 30 Sam SCHRECKH (18) 29.01.99 24 Corentin TOLISSO (Fra) (23) 03.08.94 21 Andre SCHURRLE (26) 06.11.90
14 Jan MORAVEK (CzR) (28) 01.11.89 23 Arturo VIDAL (Chl) (30) 22.05.87 33 Julian WEIGL (22) 08.09.95
22 Vladlen YURCHENKO (Ukr)(23)22.01.94
9 Shawn PARKER (24) 07.03.93 FORWARDS FORWARDS
FORWARDS
17 Jonathan SCHMID (Fra) (27) 26.06.90 17 Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gab)
13 Lucas ALARIO (Arg) (24) 08.10.92 29 Kingsley COMAN (Fra) (21) 13.06.96
28 Georg TEIGL (Aut) (26) 09.02.91 (28) 18.06.89
26 Erik THOMMY (23) 20.08.94 9 Leon BAILEY (Jam) (20) 09.08.97 9 Robert LEWANDOWSKI (Pol) 34 Jacob BRUUN LARSEN (Den)
FORWARDS 11 Stephan KIESSLING (33) 25.01.84 (29) 21.08.88 (19) 19.09.98
21 Sergio CORDOVA (Ven) (20) 09.08.97 14 Admir MEHMEDI (Swi) (26) 16.03.91 25 Thomas MULLER (28) 13.09.89 14 Alexander ISAK (Swe) (18) 21.09.99
27 Alfred FINNBOGASON (Ice) (28) 01.02.89 41 Milos PANTOVIC (Ser) (21) 07.07.96 20 Maximilian PHILIPP (23) 01.03.94
17 Joel POHJANPALO (Fin) (23) 13.09.94
11 Michael GREGORITSCH (Aut) (23) 18.04.94 11 Marco REUS (28) 31.05.89
31 Kevin VOLLAND (25) 30.07.92 10 Arjen ROBBEN (Hol) (33) 23.01.84
23 Marco RICHTER (19) 24.11.97 9 Andriy YARMOLENKO (Ukr) (28) 23.10.89
COACH COACH COACH COACH
Manuel BAUM (38) 30.08.79 Heiko HERRLICH (45) 03.12.71 Jupp HEYNCKES (72) 09.05.45 Dortmund...Shinji Kagawa Peter BOSZ (Hol) (53) 21.11.63

SCHALKE COLOGNE EINTRACHT FREIBURG HAMBURG

FRANKFURT
GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS
GOALKEEPERS 44 Rafal GIKIEWICZ (Pol) (30) 26.10.87 30 Andreas HIRZEL (Swi) (24) 25.03.93
1 Ralf FAHRMANN (29) 27.09.88 1 Timo HORN (24) 12.05.93 34 Leon BATGE (20) 09.07.97 21 Patric KLANDT (34) 29.09.83 1 Christian MATHENIA (25) 31.03.92
34 Michael LANGER (Aut) (32) 06.01.85 18 Thomas KESSLER (31) 20.01.86 1 Lukas HRADECKY (Fin) (27) 24.11.89
1 Alexander SCHWOLOW (25) 02.06.92 36 Tom MICKEL (28) 19.04.89
35 Alexander NUBEL (21) 30.09.96 35 Sven MULLER (21) 16.02.96 37 Jan ZIMMERMANN (32) 19.04.85
DEFENDERS 13 Julian POLLERSBECK (23) 16.08.94
36 Brady SCOTT (USA) (18) 30.06.99 DEFENDERS
DEFENDERS 19 David ABRAHAM (Arg) (31) 16.07.86 5 Manuel GULDE (26) 12.02.91 DEFENDERS
23 COKE (Spa) (30) 26.04.87 DEFENDERS 22 Timmy CHANDLER (USA) (27) 29.03.90 30 Christian GUNTER (24) 28.02.93
38 Jonas BEHOUNEK (19) 17.05.98
29 Tim-Henry HANDWERKER (19) 19.05.98 24 Danny DA COSTA (24) 13.07.93 2 Aleksandar IGNJOVSKI (Ser)
3 Pablo INSUA (Spa) (24) 09.09.93 2 Dennis DIEKMEIER (28) 20.10.89
3 Simon FALETTE (Fra) (25) 19.02.92 (26) 27.01.91
20 Thilo KEHRER (21) 21.09.96 14 Jonas HECTOR (27) 27.05.90 6 DOUGLAS SANTOS (Bra) (23) 22.03.94
35 Noel KNOTHE (18) 05.05.99 20 Marc-Oliver KEMPF (22) 28.01.95
3 Dominique HEINTZ (24) 15.08.93 29 Anderson ORDONEZ (Ecu) (23) 29.01.94 28 Gideon JUNG (23) 12.09.94
29 NALDO (Bra) (35) 10.09.82 25 Robin KOCH (21) 17.07.96
23 Jannes HORN (20) 06.02.97 2 Yanni REGASEL (21) 13.01.96 5 Mergim MAVRAJ (Alb) (31) 09.06.86
5 Matija NASTASIC (Ser) (24) 28.03.93 17 Lukas KUBLER (25) 30.08.92
24 Lukas KLUNTER (21) 26.05.96 23 Marco RUSS (32) 04.08.85 3 Philipp LIENHART (Aut) (21) 11.07.96 9 Kyriakos PAPADOPOULOS (Gre)
24 Bastian OCZIPKA (28) 12.01.89 13 Carlos SALCEDO (Mex) (24) 29.09.93 (25) 23.02.92
5 Dominic MAROH (30) 04.03.87 24 Georg NIEDERMEIER (31) 26.02.86
MIDFIELDERS 33 Taleb TAWATHA (Isr) (25) 21.06.92 24 Gotoku SAKAI (Jap) (26) 14.03.91
22 Jorge MERE (Spa) (20) 17.04.97 4 Caglar SOYUNCU (Tur) (21) 23.05.96
15 Jetro WILLEMS (Hol) (23) 30.03.94
10 Nabil BENTALEB (Alg) (22) 24.11.94 15 Pascal STENZEL (21) 20.03.96 22 Bjarne THOELKE (25) 11.04.92
16 Pawel OLKOWSKI (Pol) (27) 13.02.90 MIDFIELDERS
MIDFIELDERS 4 Rick VAN DRONGELEN (Hol)
18 Daniel CALIGIURI (29) 15.01.88 28 Aymen BARKOK (19) 21.05.98
25 Joao QUEIROS (Por) (19) 22.04.98 (18) 20.12.98
8 Leon GORETZKA (22) 06.02.95 18 Max BESUSCHKOW (20) 31.05.97 6 Amir ABRASHI (Alb) (27) 27.03.90
34 Konstantin RAUSCH (27) 15.03.90 17 Kevin-Prince BOATENG (Gha) 11 Onur BULUT (Tur) (23) 16.04.94 MIDFIELDERS
25 Amine HARIT (Fra) (20) 18.06.97
4 Frederik SORENSEN (Den) (25) 14.04.92 (30) 06.03.87 40 Mohamed DRAGER (Tun) (21) 25.06.96 20 Albin EKDAL (Swe) (28) 28.07.89
11 Yevhen KONOPLYANKA (Ukr) 6 Jonathan DE GUZMAN (Hol) (30)13.09.87 8 Mike FRANTZ (31) 14.10.86
MIDFIELDERS 8 Lewis HOLTBY (27) 18.09.90
(28) 29.09.89 10 Marco FABIAN (Mex) (28) 21.07.89 19 Janik HABERER (23) 02.04.94
21 Leonardo BITTENCOURT (23) 19.12.93 14 Aaron HUNT (31) 04.09.86
5 Gelson FERNANDES (Swi) (31) 02.09.86 27 Nicolas HOFLER (27) 09.03.90
2 Weston MCKENNIE (USA) (19) 28.08.98 16 Vasilije JANJICIC (Swi) (19) 02.11.98
17 Christian CLEMENS (26) 04.08.91 11 Mijat GACINOVIC (Bos) (22) 08.02.95
7 Max MEYER (22) 18.09.95 32 Bartosz KAPUSTKA (Pol) (20) 23.12.96 18 Bakery JATTA (Gam) (19) 06.06.98
6 Marco HOGER (28) 16.09.89 20 Makoto HASEBE (Jap) (33) 18.01.84
40 Daichi KAMADA (Jap) (21) 05.08.96 38 Florian KATH (23) 21.10.94 17 Filip KOSTIC (Ser) (25) 01.11.92
28 Alessandro SCHOPF (Aut) (23)07.02.94
8 Milos JOJIC (Ser) (25) 19.03.92 39 Omar MASCARELL (Spa) (24) 02.02.93 14 Ryan KENT (Eng) (20) 11.11.96 27 Nicolai MULLER (30) 25.09.87
17 Benjamin STAMBOULI (Fra) 33 Mathias LEHMANN (34) 28.05.83 - Jonas MEFFERT (23) 04.09.94
25 Slobodan MEDOJEVIC (Ser)(27)20.10.90 23 Sejad SALIHOVIC (Bos) (33) 08.10.84
(27) 13.08.90 38 Nikolas NARTEY (Den) (17) 22.02.00 21 Marc STENDERA (21) 10.12.95 16 Yoric RAVET (Fra) (28) 12.09.89
12 WALACE (Bra) (22) 04.04.95
27 Marius WOLF (22) 27.05.95 23 Julian SCHUSTER (32) 15.04.85
FORWARDS 20 Salih OZCAN (19) 11.01.98 FORWARDS
FORWARDS 22 Vincent SIERRO (Swi) (22) 08.10.95
33 Donis AVDIJAJ (Kos) (21) 25.08.96 7 Marcel RISSE (27) 17.12.89 7 Danny BLUM (26) 07.01.91 33 Caleb STANKO (USA) (24) 23.07.93 40 Jann-Fiete ARP (17) 06.01.00
19 Guido BURGSTALLER (Aut) FORWARDS 38 Renat DADASOV (Aze) (18) 17.05.99 11 Andre HAHN (27) 13.08.90
FORWARDS
(28) 29.04.89 9 Sebastien HALLER (Fra) (23) 22.06.94 25 Mats KOHLERT (19) 02.05.98
15 Jhon CORDOBA (Col) (24) 11.05.93 31 Karim GUEDE (Slk) (32) 07.01.85
31 Branimir HRGOTA (Swe) (24) 12.01.93 26 Tories KNOLL (20) 13.09.97
9 Franco DI SANTO (Arg) (28) 07.04.89 19 Sehrou GUIRASSY (Fra) (21) 12.03.96 34 Tim KLEINDIENST (22) 31.08.95
8 Luka JOVIC (Ser) (19) 23.12.97 19 Sven SCHIPPLOCK (28) 08.11.88
36 Breel EMBOLO (Swi) (20) 14.02.97 32 Nelson MBOUHOM (Cam) (18) 04.05.99 7 Florian NIEDERLECHNER (27) 24.10.90
13 Yuya OSAKO (Jap) (27) 18.05.90
18 Nils PETERSEN (28) 06.12.88 15 Luca WALDSCHMIFT (21) 19.05.96
16 Fabian REESE (19) 29.11.97 14 Alexander MEIER (34) 17.01.83
11 Simon ZOLLER (26) 26.06.91 7 Bobby WOOD (USA) (24) 15.11.92
4 Ante REBIC (Cro) (24) 21.09.93 13 Marco TERRAZZINO (26) 15.04.91
COACH COACH COACH COACH COACH
Domenico TEDESCO (32) 12.09.85 Peter STOGER (Aut) (51) 11.04.66 Niko KOVAC (Cro) (46) 15.10.71 Christian STREICH (52) 11.06.65 Markus GISDOL (48) 17.08.69

80 WORLD SOCCER
 SQUADS

BORUSSIA HERTHA BERLIN HOFFENHEIM MAINZ RB LEIPZIG

M’GLADBACH
GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS
GOALKEEPERS 22 Rune JARSTEIN (Nor) (33) 29.09.84 1 Oliver BAUMANN (27) 02.06.90 1 Rene ADLER (32) 15.01.85 1 Fabio COLTORTI (Swi) (36) 03.12.80
33 Christofer HEIMEROTH (36) 01.08.81 12 Jonathan KLINSMANN (USA) 36 Gregor KOBEL (Swi) (19) 06.12.97 33 Jannik HUTH (23) 15.04.94
32 Peter GULACSI (Hun) (27) 06.05.90
35 Moritz NICOLAS (20) 21.10.97 (20) 08.04.97 33 Alexander STOLZ (34) 13.10.83 22 Florian MULLER (19) 13.11.97
22 Philipp KOHN (Swi) (19) 02.04.98
21 Tobias SIPPEL (29) 22.03.88 1 Thomas KRAFT (29) 22.07.88 27 Robin ZENTNER (22) 28.10.94
DEFENDERS 28 Yvon MVOGO (Swi) (23) 06.06.94
1 Yann SOMMER (Swi) (28) 17.12.88 DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
25 Kevin AKPOGUMA (22) 19.04.95
DEFENDERS 29 Florian BAAK (18) 18.03.99 3 Leon BALOGUN (Nga) (29) 28.06.88 DEFENDERS
4 Ermin BICAKCIC (Bos) (27) 24.01.90
29 Mamadou DOUCOURE (Fra) 15 Sebastian LANGKAMP (29) 15.01.88 16 Stefan BELL (26) 24.08.91 3 BERNARDO (Bra) (22) 14.05.95
24 Justin HOOGMA (Hol) (19) 11.06.98
(19) 21.05.98 17 Maximilian MITTELSTADT (20) 18.03.97 18 Daniel BROSINSKI (29) 17.07.88 33 Marvin COMPPER (32) 14.06.85
21 Benjamin HUBNER (28) 04.07.89
30 Nico ELVEDI (Swi) (21) 30.09.96 2 Peter PEKARIK (Slk) (31) 30.10.86 26 Niko BUNGERT (31) 24.10.86 23 Marcel HALSTENBERG (26) 27.09.91
3 Pavel KADERABEK (CzR) (25) 25.04.92
28 Matthias GINTER (23) 19.01.94 21 Marvin PLATTENHARDT (25) 26.01.92 24 Gaetan BUSSMANN (Fra) (26) 02.02.91 16 Lukas KLOSTERMANN (21) 03.06.96
24 Tony JANTSCHKE (27) 07.04.90 38 Stefan POSCH (Aut) (20) 14.05.97
4 Karim REKIK (Hol) (23) 02.12.94 4 Abdou DIALLO (Fra) (21) 04.05.96 6 Ibrahima KONATE (Fra) (18) 25.05.99
4 Jannik VESTERGAARD (Den) 5 Niklas STARK (22) 14.04.95 MIDFIELDERS 2 Giulio DONATI (Ita) (27) 05.02.90
4 Willi ORBAN (25) 03.11.92
(25) 03.08.92 25 Jordan TORUNARIGHA (20) 07.08.97 18 Nadiem AMIRI (21) 27.10.96 42 Alexander HACK (24) 08.09.93
20 Benno SCHMITZ (22) 17.11.94
17 Oscar WENDT (Swe) (31) 24.10.85 MIDFIELDERS 10 Kerem DEMIRBAY (Tur) (24) 03.07.93 13 Marin SVERKO (Cro) (19) 04.02.98
5 Dayot UPAMECANO (Fra) (19) 27.10.98
MIDFIELDERS 6 Vladimir DARIDA (CzR) (27) 08.08.90 32 Dennis GEIGER (19) 10.06.98 MIDFIELDERS
22 Laszlo BENES (Slk) (20) 09.09.97 10 Ondrej DUDA (Slk) (22) 15.12.94 11 Florian GRILLITSCH (Aut) (22) 07.08.95 34 Bote BAKU (19) 08.04.98 MIDFIELDERS
27 Mickael CUISANCE (Fra) 7 Alexander ESSWEIN (27) 25.03.90 6 Havard NORDTVEIT (Nor) (27) 21.06.90 20 Fabian FREI (Swi) (28) 08.01.89 31 Diego DEMME (25) 21.11.91
32 Vincenzo GRIFO (Ita) (24) 07.04.93 24 Genki HARAGUCHI (Jap) (26) 09.05.91 30 Philipp OCHS (20) 17.04.97 25 Jean-Philippe GBAMIN (IvC) 13 Stefan ILSANKER (Aut) (28) 18.05.89
7 Patrick HERRMANN (26) 12.02.91 30 Julius KADE (18) 20.05.99 31 Felix PASSLACK (19) 29.05.98 (22) 25.05.95 24 Dominik KAISER (29) 16.09.88
23 Jonas HOFMANN (25) 14.07.92 18 Sinan KURT (21) 23.07.96 8 Eugen POLANSKI (Pol) (31) 17.03.86 38 Gerrit HOLTMANN (22) 25.03.95 44 Kevin KAMPL (Sln) (27) 09.10.90
19 Fabian JOHNSON (USA) (29) 11.12.87 20 Valentino LAZARO (Aut) (21) 24.03.96 7 Lukas RUPP (26) 08.01.91 28 Philipp KLEMENT (25) 09.09.92
8 Naby KEITA (Gui) (22) 10.02.95
6 Christoph KRAMER (26) 19.02.91 11 Mathew LECKIE (Aus) (26) 04.02.91 16 Nico SCHULZ (24) 01.04.93 6 Danny LATZA (27) 07.12.89
27 Konrad LAIMER (Aut) (20) 27.05.97
5 Tobias STROBL (27) 12.05.90 28 Fabian LUSTENBERGER (Swi) 22 Kevin VOGT (26) 23.09.91 10 Alexandru MAXIM (Rom) (27) 08.07.90
16 Ibrahima TRAORE (Gui) (29) 21.04.88 (29) 02.05.88 21 Karim ONISIWO (Aut) (25) 17.03.92 7 Marcel SABITZER (Aut) (23) 17.03.94
17 Steven ZUBER (Swi) (26) 17.08.91
8 Denis ZAKARIA (Swi) (20) 20.11.96 26 Arne MAIER (18) 08.01.99 8 Levin OZTUNALI (21) 15.03.96 FORWARDS
20 Robert ZULJ (Aut) (25) 05.02.92
FORWARDS 3 Per Ciljan SKJELBREID (Nor) 7 Robin QUAISON (Swe) (24) 09.10.93 29 Jean-Kevin AUGUSTIN (Fra)
(30) 16.06.87 FORWARDS 17 Jairo SAMPERIO (Spa) (24) 11.07.93
26 Raul BOBADILLA (Par) (30) 18.06.87 (20) 16.06.97
14 Valentin STOCKER (Swi) (28) 12.04.89 29 Serge GNABRY (22) 14.07.95 23 Suat SERDAR (20) 11.04.97
18 Josip DRMIC (Swi) (25) 08.08.92 17 BRUMA (Por) (23) 24.10.94
23 Mitchell WEISER (23) 21.04.94 37 Robin HACK (19) 27.08.98
10 Thorgan HAZARD (Blg) (24) 29.03.93 FORWARDS 10 Emil FORSBERG (Swe) (26) 23.10.91
11 RAFFAEL (Bra) (32) 28.03.85 FORWARDS
27 Andrej KRAMARIC (Cro) (26) 19.06.91 11 Emil BERGGREEN (Den) (24) 10.05.93
35 Meris SKENDEROVIC (19) 28.03.98 26 Nikolas-Gerrit KUHN (17) 01.01.00
31 Ba-Muaka SIMAKALA (20) 28.01.97 19 Vedad IBISEVIC (Bos) (33) 06.08.84 32 Pablo DE BLASIS (Arg) (29) 04.02.88
28 Adam SZALAI (Hun) (29) 09.12.87 38 Federico PALACIOS (22) 09.04.95
13 Lars STINDL (29) 26.08.88 8 Salomon KALOU (IvC) (32) 05.08.85 14 Viktor FISCHER (Den) (23) 09.06.94
20 Julio VILLALBA (Par) (19) 11.09.98 19 Mark UTH (26) 24.08.91 9 Yussuf POULSEN (Den) (23) 15.06.94
16 Julian SCHIEBER (28) 13.02.89 19 Kenan KODRO (Bos) (24) 19.08.93
39 Kwame YEBOAH (Aut) (23) 02.06.94 27 Davie SELKE (22) 20.01.95 14 Sandro WAGNER (29) 29.11.87 9 Yoshinori MUTO (Jap) (25) 15.07.92 11 Timo WERNER (21) 06.03.96

COACH COACH COACH COACH COACH

Dieter HECKING (53) 12.09.64 Pal DARDAI (Hun) (41) 16.03.76 Julian NAGELSMANN (30) 23.07.87 Sandro SCHWARZ (39) 17.10.78 Ralph HASENHUTTL (Aut) (50) 09.08.67

HANOVER STUTTGART WERDER BREMEN WOLFSBURG

GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS 16 Jakub BLASZCZYKOWSKI (Pol)
23 Michael ESSER (29) 22.11.87 33 Jaroslav DROBNY (CzR) (37) 18.10.79 1 Koen CASTEELS (Blg) (25) 25.06.92
13 Jens GRAHL (29) 22.09.88 (31) 14.12.85
30 Samuel SAHIN-RADLINGER (Aut) 1 Jir PAVLENKA (CzR) (25) 14.03.92
26 Alexander MEYER (26) 13.04.91 20 Max GRUN (30) 05.04.87 4 Ignacio CAMACHO (Spa) (27) 04.05.90
(24) 07.11.92
40 Luca PLOGMANN (17) 10.03.00 36 Phillip MENZEL (19) 18.08.98 11 Daniel DIDAVI (27) 21.02.90
1 Philipp TSCHAUNER (32) 03.11.85 16 Ron-Robert ZIELER (28) 12.02.89
30 Michael ZETTERER (22) 12.07.95 DEFENDERS 23 Josuha GUILAVOGUI (Fra) (27) 19.09.90
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
3 Miiko ALBORNOZ (Chl) (26) 30.11.90 DEFENDERS 25 John BROOKS (USA) (24) 28.01.93 10 Yunus MALLI (Tur) (25) 24.02.92
29 AILTON (Bra) (22) 16.03.95
31 Waldemar ANTON (21) 20.07.96 5 Ludwig AUGUSTINSSON (Swe) 5 Jeffrey BRUMA (Hol) (25) 13.11.91 26 Justin MOBIUS (20) 21.04.97
3 Dennis AOGO (30) 14.01.87 (23) 21.04.94
33 Fynn ARKENBERG (21) 04.03.96 13 Yannick GERHARDT (23) 13.03.94 7 Paul-Georges NTEP (Fra) (25) 29.07.92
5 FELIPE (Bra) (30) 15.05.87 28 Holger BADSTUBER (28) 13.03.89 4 Robert BAUER (22) 09.04.95 35 Gian-Luca ITTER (18) 05.01.99 37 Elvis REXHBECAJ (20) 01.11.97
15 Timo HUBERS (21) 20.07.96 5 Timo BAUMGARTL (21) 04.03.96 3 Luca CALDIROLA (Ita) (26) 01.02.91 34 Marvin STEFANIAK (22) 03.02.95
24 Sebastian JUNG (27) 22.06.90
19 Florian HUBNER (26) 01.03.91 32 Andreas BECK (30) 13.03.87 20 Ulisses GARCIA (Swi) (21) 11.01.96 31 Robin KNOCHE (25) 22.05.92 FORWARDS
4 Julian KORB (25) 21.03.92 2 Emiliano INSUA (Arg) (28) 07.01.89 23 Theodor GEBRE SELASSIE (CzR) 29 Marcel TISSERAND (DRC) (24) 10.01.93 9 Landry DIMATA (Blg) (20) 01.09.97
22 Matthias OSTRZOLEK (27) 05.06.90
35 Marcin KAMINSKI (Pol) (25) 15.01.92 (30) 24.12.86 17 Ohis FELIX Uduokhai (20) 09.09.97
21 Lars RITZKA (19) 07.05.98 33 Mario GOMEZ (32) 10.07.85
21 Benjamin PAVARD (Fra) (21) 28.03.96 18 Niklas MOISANDER (Fin) (32) 29.09.85 3 Paul VERHAEGH (Hol) (34) 01.09.83
25 Oliver SORG (27) 29.05.90 32 Kaylen HINDS (Eng) (19) 28.01.98
26 Lamine SANE (Sen) (30) 22.03.87 2 WILLIAM (Bra) (22) 03.04.95
MIDFIELDERS MIDFIELDERS 14 Divock ORIGI (Blg) (22) 18.04.95
28 Jesper VERLAAT (Hol) (21) 04.06.96
28 Mike-Steven BAHRE (22) 10.08.95 6 Santiago ASCACIBAR (Arg) MIDFIELDERS 18 Victor OSIMHEN (Nga) (18) 29.12.98
38 Tom BALLER (19) 02.08.98 MIDFIELDERS
(20) 25.02.97 27 Maximilian ARNOLD (23) 27.05.94 COACH
6 Marvin BAKALORZ (28) 13.09.89 44 Philipp BARGFREDE (28) 03.03.89
7 Josip BREKALO (Cro) (19) 23.06.98 6 Riechedly BAZOER (Hol) (21) 12.10.96 Martin SCHMIDT (50) 12.04.67
29 Mete Kaan DEMIR (Tur) (29) 13.05.98 22 Fin BARTELS (30) 07.02.87
18 Iver FOSSUM (Nor) (21) 15.07.96 24 Dzenis BURNIC (19) 22.05.98
6 Thomas DELANEY (Den) (26) 03.09.91
11 Felix KLAUS (25) 13.09.92 20 Christian GENTNER (32) 14.08.85 35 Maximilian EGGESTEIN (20) 08.12.96 Wolfsburg...
10 Sebastian MAIER (24) 18.09.93 8 Anto GRGIC (Swi) (20) 28.11.96 8 Jerome GONDORF (29) 26.06.88 Younes Malli
7 Edgar PRIB (Rus) (27) 15.12.89 15 Carlos MANE (Por) (23) 11.03.94 15 Izet HAJROVIC (Bos) (26) 04.08.91
20 Salif SANE (Sen) (27) 25.08.90
23 Orel MANGALA (Blg) (19) 18.03.98 16 Zlatko JUNUZOVIC (Aut) (30) 26.09.87
37 Noah-Joel SARENREN-BAZEE (Nga)
(21) 21.08.96 22 Ebenezer OFORI (Gha) (22) 01.07.95 7 Florian KAINZ (Aut) (24) 24.10.92
8 Manuel SCHMIEDEBACH (28) 05.12.88 31 Berkay OZCAN (Tur) (19) 15.02.98 38 Niklas SCHMIDT (19) 01.03.98
27 Pirmin SCHWEGLER (Swi)(30) 09.03.87 39 Nicolas SESSA (21) 23.03.96 13 Milos VELJKOVIC (Ser) (22) 26.09.95
FORWARDS 25 Matthias ZIMMERMANN (25) 16.06.92 FORWARDS
13 Ihlas BEBOU (Tog) (23) 23.04.94 29 Ishak BELFODIL (Alg) (25) 12.01.92
FORWARDS
17 Uffe BECH (Den) (24) 13.01.93 17 Justin EILERS (29) 13.06.88
35 Charlison BENSCHOP (Hol)(28)21.08.89 19 Chadrac AKOLO (DRC) (22) 01.04.95
24 Johannes EGGESTEIN (19) 08.05.98
16 Yousef EMGHAMES (19) 19.01.98 11 Takuma ASANO (Jap) (22) 10.11.94
9 Aron JOHANNSSON (USA) (26) 10.11.90
24 Niclas FULLKRUG (24) 09.02.93 14 Anastasios DONIS (21) 29.08.96 10 Max KRUSE (29) 19.03.88
(ages as of 03.11.17)

14 Martin HARNIK (Aut) (30) 10.06.87

33 Daniel GINCZEK (26) 13.04.91 47 Ousman MANNEH (Gam) (20) 10.03.97
9 JONATHAS (Bra) (28) 06.03.89
26 Kenan KARAMAN (Tur) (23) 05.03.94 9 Simon TERODDE (29) 02.03.88 19 ZHANG Yuning (Chn) (20) 05.01.97
COACH COACH COACH
Andre BREITENREITER (44) 02.10.73 Hannes WOLF (36) 15.04.81 Alexander NOURI (38) 20.08.79

WORLD SOCCER 81
 JULY 4, 1998, MARSEILLE: WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Holland 2 Argentina 1
GREAT
MATCHES Bergkamp’s brilliance sees off South Americans
in a thrilling encounter on the Mediterranean coast
Tipped over...Argentina keeper Carlos Roa
saves a header from Patrick Kluivert KEY MOMENTS

Level...Claudio Lopez (right) equalises

5min Holland’s Wim Jonk hits the

post with a volley.
12min Ronald De Boer crosses to
Dennis Bergkamp at the far post,
who cushions a header into the path
of Patrick Kluivert to score. 1-0
17min Claudio Lopez beats the
offside trap to meet a through ball
from Juan Veron and nutmegs Edwin
Van der Sar for the equaliser. 1-1
37min A fierce curling shot from
Ariel Ortega rebounds off the bottom
of Van Der Sar’s left-hand post.
63min Gabriel Batistuta turns
inside Frank De Boer but his shot
then hits the inside of the post.
64min Marc Overmars crosses to

I
n the first World Cup meeting to grasp the accuracy of the Dutchman’s Kluivert whose header is tipped over
between these two teams since control, Bergkamp used the sole of a by Carlos Roa.
the 1978 Final, Gavin Hamilton boot to trap the bouncing ball and turn 72min Arthur Numan, already on a
wrote: “In an era when international inside his marker in a single move. booking, is sent off following a late
football is increasingly dependent on “Then as the ball bounced up a second tackle on Diego Simeone.
playing systems that stifle rather than time, he struck a sweet volley past 87min
promote creative talent, Dennis Bergkamp [Carlos] Roa in the Argentina goal. It was Ortega
provided a powerfully refreshing reminder a remarkable piece of skill.” head-butts
of how matches can be won by moments Challenge...Holland’s Although Berkamp’s wonder goal took Van Der
of individual brilliance.” Edgar Davids (right) Holland into the semi-finals, their stay in Sar and is
and Ariel Ortega
In an incident-packed game, Holland France ended three days later as they lost sent off.
took the lead through Patrick Kluivert on penalties to Brazil. 89min
after Matias Almeyda was beaten by From the
Ronald De Boer – just as he had been HOLLAND ARGENTINA resulting
Coach: Guus Hiddink Coach: Daniel Passarella
five days earlier in Saint-Etienne by free-kick, a
England’s Michael Owen. Numan Zanetti long ball by Seeing red...Ariel Ortega
Argentina equalised and then hit the Cocu Frank De Boer
woodwork twice, but the game hinged on is controlled with great skill by
Simeone
a moment of madness from Ariel Ortega. F De Boer Ayala Bergkamp, who beats Roa. 2-1
When the referee ignored what looked Davids
Kluivert
Lopez
like a trip by Jaap Stam and punished the Van der Sar Ortega
Almeyda Roa
Bergkamp Batistuta
Argentinian’s theatrical dive with a yellow (Pineda 67)
card, Ortega head-butted Dutch keeper Jonk Chamot
Stam (Balbo 90)
Edwin Van der Sar and was sent off.
Then, almost instantly, as Hamilton Veron
R De Boer
explains: “There were only seconds (Overmars 64)
remaining when Frank De Boer aimed a Reiziger Sensini
long pass from his own half at Bergkamp.
“He cushioned the ball with devastating
ease and before [Roberto] Ayala had time Referee: Carter (Mex) Winner...Dennis Bergkamp (right)

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82 WORLD SOCCER
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