DREAMING BIG HIGH HOPES FOR THE MATILDAS - AUSTRALIA - FIFA.com
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BLUE STARS / FIFA YOUTH CUP
DREAMING
AUSTRALIA
HIGH HOPES FOR THE MATILDAS
MADAGASCAR
COACH DUPUIS DELIVERS
BIG
EDINSON CAVANI
“GOALS FULFIL ME”
FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP
THE TOURNAMENT WITH TRADITION
ENGLISH EDITION WWW.FIFA.COM/MAGAZINE JUNE 2017
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EDITORIAL
GIVING SOMETHING
BACK TO FOOTBALL
The annual FIFA/Blue Stars Youth Cup in Zurich sparks interest for two reasons.
Firstly, its international aspect demonstrates the opportunities that football
can open up for young players. Secondly, it helps the youngsters find out if they
have what it takes to forge a professional career. Fans watching the action
closely at the Buchlern sports ground might be lucky enough to glimpse one
or two future stars in action (see report from page 8).
A professional career won’t be an option for everyone, but even for those who
don’t make it, football can still continue to play a big part in their lives: the
emotions it arouses, the joy of playing, the physical exercise, the team spirit and
sense of community on and off the pitch – these memories will stay with the
youngsters for their whole lives.
The best way to help those memories live on is to give something back to
football – whether that means volunteering behind the scenes or coaching a
youth team, using one’s free time to help boys and girls to play football and
thereby enrich their lives can be a hugely rewarding experience.
FIFA believes strongly in giving something back. With its development projects
which are designed to do just that, FIFA also endeavours to ensure that football
Illustration: Mario Wagner
reaches as diverse a range of people as possible, and that all forms of discrimin
ation are avoided. Because investing in football means investing in people.
Perikles Monioudis
FIFA 1904 / 1
CONTENTS
40
4 FIFA NEWS 20 FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2017
FIFA’s most recent investments in world football. Reigning champions Portugal were unable to prevent Brazil
from winning their fifth World Cup after an eight-year gap.
6 FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
Under coach Nicolas Dupuis, Madagascar have risen nine places. 24 FIRST LOVE
Herat, Afghanistan.
8 BLUE STARS/FIFA YOUTH CUP 2017
The annual tournament in Zurich shows the high standard that 26 INTERVIEW
can be achieved by young exponents of the beautiful game. PSG’s Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has been one
We also take a look at football as played by children and of Europe’s top attackers for some time now.
their dreams of making it to the top. We caught up with the nature lover in Paris.
16 SNAPSHOT 30 AJAX AMSTERDAM
The FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 has kicked off The Dutch club that took Europe by storm in the early
in spectacular fashion. seventies are on their way back to the top.
19 SOCIAL MEDIA 34 THEN AND NOW
“Who will win the FIFA Confederations Cup and why?” From Durham to Martigny.
Our readers reply.
Alexander Hassenstein / FIFA via Getty Images, Filipe Farinha / Getty Images,
36 26
COVER PICTURE
Independiente Santa Fe youngsters at
the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup 2017 in Zurich.
Photo: Vera Hartmann / 13 Photo
Alexis Reau / Presse Sports
2 / FIFA 1904
36 WOMEN’S FOOTBALL 50 PHOTO ARCHIVE
The Matildas are aiming high: Australia’s women’s team The Belgian team stretch their legs on a Montevideo beach
are gunning to win the 2023 World Cup, no less. after three weeks at sea (1930).
40 DEBATE – PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 52 STATISTICS
The FIFA Congress 2017 in Bahrain – in his monthly column, Facts and figures on Russian football.
President Gianni Infantino says: “What I saw over the course of
the week in Manama makes me very confident for the future. 54 HISTORY
However, I will not refrain from pointing out just how much The FIFA Confederations Cup has been thrilling crowds
remains to be done as we continue to move forwards.” and viewers for many a year with pure football enjoyment.
42 FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL MUSEUM 58 FIFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
Stories of extraordinary folk who happen to love football: Snippets from around the world.
eight inspirational short films await museum visitors.
62 CELEBRATION
46 FA CUPS Carlos Valderrama is generally acknowledged to be
Many national cup competitions produce matches that the best footballer that Colombia has ever produced.
go down in football folklore.
64 PUBLICATION DETAILS
Dean Mouhtaropoulos / FIFA via Getty Images, Ben Radford / Getty Images
20 46
FIFA 1904 app
FIFA 1904 appears monthly in four languages and is also available as an app for smartphones and tablets
http://www.fifa.com/mobile
FIFA 1904 / 3
FIFA NEWS
Qatar Airways is
a new Official Partner and
the official airline of FIFA until
2022. “Qatar Airways understands the
power of sport in bringing people together
in the spirit of friendly competition. FIFA, as
the governing body of the world’s most
popular sporting tournament, understands
the power of football’s popularity, and
as such is a natural partner for Qatar
Airways,” said His Excellency Akbar
FIFA has Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group
published its Financial, Chief Executive.
Governance and Activity Reports
for 2016. 76% of the forecast revenue
for the 2015 2018 cycle has already been
-
contracted, and a positive net result in the
region of USD 100 million is expected by the end
of the cycle. Continued revenue growth alongside FIFA President
focused cost containment measures have allowed Gianni Infantino recently
direct investment in football development to visited Rwanda to lay a ceremonial
be tripled through the new FIFA Forward stone for one of the first projects under
Programme, with 82% of the total invest the FIFA Forward Programme, a hotel that
ments over the 2015 2018 period will generate income for development activ
-
going directly back into ities for the Rwandan FA. “It is an innovative
football. project which, with good investment and proper
management, will yield benefit to Rwandan
The FIFA Confederations football. FIFA will continue to support
Cup 2017 will take centre stage in Rwanda in its plans to take the game
Kazan, Moscow, Saint Petersburg and to another level,” said the FIFA
Sochi from 17 June to 2 July. The tourna President while in Rwanda.
ment will also see the use of video assistant
referees (VARs) who will be able to support
referees with “game changing” decisions. The
-
VARs will be given access to all broadcast
feeds inside a video operations room,
enabling them to provide information to
the referee on the field of play in
order to correct any clear
mistakes.
4 / FIFA 1904
Illustration: Julien Pacaud
FIFA 1904 / 5
FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points
1 Brazil 0 1672 55 Slovenia 0 614 109 Jordan 1 311 163 Cuba 0 124
2 Argentina 0 1603 55 Bulgaria 0 614 110 Zimbabwe 1 304 164 Bhutan 0 123
3 Germany 0 1464 57 Panama 0 607 111 Madagascar 9 302 165 New Caledonia 0 121
4 Chile 0 1411 58 Venezuela 0 595 112 New Zealand 0 301 166 Kuwait 0 120
5 Colombia 0 1348 59 Scotland 0 589 113 Sierra Leone 0 300 166 Myanmar 0 120
6 France 0 1294 60 Uzbekistan 0 586 114 Malawi -14 291 166 Gambia 0 120
7 Belgium 0 1281 61 Russia 0 561 115 Oman -1 290 169 Grenada 7 117
8 Portugal 0 1259 62 Montenegro 0 560 116 Korea DPR -1 289 170 St Vincent and the Grenadines 7 116
9 Switzerland 0 1212 63 Israel 0 557 117 Equatorial Guinea -1 287 171 St Lucia -2 115
10 Spain 0 1204 64 South Africa 0 539 118 Rwanda -1 285 172 Kosovo -2 112
11 Poland 0 1183 65 Haiti 0 537 119 Suriname -1 284 173 Nepal -3 110
12 Italy 0 1165 66 Albania 0 533 120 Iraq -1 278 173 Barbados -1 110
13 Wales 0 1119 67 Armenia 0 527 121 Botswana -1 276 175 Cambodia -2 108
14 England 0 1103 68 Honduras 0 524 122 Georgia 0 274 176 Laos -2 107
15 Uruguay 0 1097 69 Mali 0 504 123 Yemen 0 268 177 Indonesia -2 105
16 Mexico 0 1076 70 Curaçao 0 492 124 Latvia 0 265 178 São Tomé e Príncipe 0 98
17 Peru 0 1044 71 Guinea 0 474 124 Ethiopia 0 265 179 Vanuatu 0 94
18 Croatia 0 1016 72 Uganda 0 463 124 Palestine 0 265 180 Solomon Islands 0 92
19 Egypt 0 910 73 Bolivia 1 460 127 Philippines 0 254 181 Fiji 0 90
20 Costa Rica 0 902 74 Jamaica -1 458 128 Kyrgyzstan 0 250 182 Malta 0 86
21 Iceland 0 872 75 United Arab Emirates -1 453 129 Thailand 0 245 183 Guam 0 82
22 Turkey 0 863 76 Trinidad and Tobago 0 439 130 Central African Republic 0 239 184 Macau 0 77
23 USA 0 847 77 Faroe Islands 0 431 131 Niger 0 235 185 Bermuda 0 75
24 Slovakia -1 846 78 Kenya 0 428 132 Bahrain 0 232 186 Dominica 0 74
25 Ecuador 0 839 78 Belarus 0 428 133 FYR Macedonia 0 225 187 Andorra 0 66
26 Northern Ireland 0 823 80 Syria 0 426 134 Puerto Rico 0 221 188 Brunei Darussalam 0 65
26 Republic of Ireland 0 823 81 China PR 0 425 135 Tanzania 0 218 189 Liechtenstein 0 64
28 Iran 0 820 82 Cape Verde Islands 0 418 136 Vietnam 0 217 189 American Samoa 0 64
29 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 815 83 Benin 0 396 137 Lebanon 0 216 189 Cook Islands 0 64
30 Senegal 0 805 84 Gabon 0 392 138 Tajikistan 0 205 189 Samoa 0 64
31 Hungary 0 801 84 Congo 0 392 139 Guyana 0 194 193 Bangladesh 0 60
32 Netherlands 0 792 86 Norway 0 387 140 Turkmenistan 0 193 194 Djibouti 0 53
33 Cameroon 0 779 87 Azerbaijan 0 386 141 Liberia 0 192 195 Timor-Leste 0 52
34 Sweden 0 768 88 Swaziland 0 378 141 Burundi 0 192 196 Seychelles 0 51
35 Burkina Faso 0 765 89 Qatar 0 369 143 Comoros 0 190 197 Mongolia 0 34
36 Austria 0 762 90 Libya 1 361 144 Angola 0 189 197 Sri Lanka 0 34
37 Ukraine 0 761 91 Mauritania -1 359 145 Belize 0 188 199 US Virgin Islands 0 26
38 Paraguay 0 738 92 Guatemala 0 352 146 South Sudan 8 186 199 Montserrat 0 26
39 Greece 0 730 93 Antigua and Barbuda 0 349 147 Luxembourg -1 185 201 Pakistan 0 24
40 Nigeria 0 726 94 Namibia 0 346 148 Dominican Republic -1 184 202 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 20
41 Congo DR 0 712 94 Guinea-Bissau 0 346 149 Lesotho -1 181 203 Cayman Islands 0 13
42 Tunisia 0 701 96 Cyprus 0 343 150 Hong Kong -1 179 204 San Marino 0 12
43 Korea Republic 0 700 97 Finland 0 335 150 Chad -1 179 205 British Virgin Islands 0 5
44 Japan 0 685 98 Zambia -1 334 152 Maldives -1 175 206 Anguilla 0 0
45 Ghana 0 682 98 St Kitts and Nevis 1 334 153 Tahiti -1 167 206 Bahamas 0 0
46 Czech Republic 0 679 100 Nicaragua 1 331 154 Afghanistan -1 161 206 Eritrea 0 0
47 Romania 0 676 100 Lithuania 1 331 155 Sudan -1 155 206 Gibraltar 0 0
48 Côte d'Ivoire 0 672 100 India 1 331 156 Papua New Guinea 0 154 206 Somalia 0 0
49 Serbia 0 671 100 Estonia 1 331 157 Mauritius 3 147 206 Tonga 0 0
50 Australia 0 661 104 Kazakhstan 1 325 158 Malaysia -1 145
51 Denmark 0 657 105 Mozambique 1 323 159 Moldova -1 142
52 Saudi Arabia 0 646 106 Togo 1 320 160 Singapore -1 141
53 Morocco 0 633 107 El Salvador 1 317 161 Chinese Taipei 0 136
Last updated:
54 Algeria 0 628 108 Canada 1 312 162 Aruba 0 127
7 May 2017
6 / FIFA 1904
Pointing the way forward
Madagascar defender François
Randrianomenjanahary is
hoping to play at the
Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.
LEADER
BRAZIL (unchanged)
MOVES INTO TOP TEN
NONE
MOVES OUT OF TOP TEN
MADAGASCAR
NONE
MATCHES PLAYED IN TOTAL
ON THE MARCH 7
MOST MATCHES PLAYED
Pétanque may still be the sport of choice for many in in Madagascar, the second-biggest MADAGASCAR, MALAWI, MAURITIUS,
island state in the world, but football is certainly catching up fast, even though the fans’ SEYCHELLES, SOMALIA, SOUTH SUDAN
dreams of seeing their heroes qualify for their first Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 were quickly (2 matches each)
dashed after they picked up only three points – from three draws – in their qualifiers, leaving
them rooted to the foot of their group. BIGGEST MOVE BY POINTS
SOUTH SUDAN (up 31 points)
Time moves quickly, however, and 2017 could well be remembered as the year in which it
all changed for Madagascar. A new coach, Frenchman Nicolas Dupuis, was hired in March. BIGGEST MOVE BY RANKS
The 49-year-old, most recently in charge at AS Yzeure in the French fourth division, summed MADAGASCAR (up 9 ranks)
it all up perfectly when he said: “Madagascar and their football fans have been waiting for
far too long”. That won’t come as a surprise to many, but just two months on from his BIGGEST DROP BY POINTS
appointment, the progress is clear for all to see. Madagascar recently won four games on the MALAWI (down 42 points)
spin, firstly dispatching São Tomé e Príncipe twice in the 2019 Cup of Nations preliminary
round qualifiers before handing out similar treatment to Malawi in the qualifiers for the BIGGEST DROP BY RANKS
African Nations Championship 2018. MALAWI (down 14 ranks)
©Muzi Ntombela / BackpagePix
Those four wins have certainly had an effect on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking too,
as Dupuis’ charges have benefitted from the recent lull in action on the international stage
to climb nine places to 111th, where they sit just ahead of New Zealand. Recent results have
certainly got fans dreaming again – this time of the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 in Cameroon.
Alan Schweingruber http://www.fifa.com/worldranking
FIFA 1904 / 7
BLUE STARS/FIFA YOUTH CUP DREAMING OF FOOTBALL Football certainly arouses strong, positive emotions in us when we are children, emotions that – as the years roll by – become fond memories. But how can dreams of football be kept alive for a lifetime? Images from the prestigious Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in Zurich. By Perikles Monioudis (text) and Vera Hartmann (photos) 8 / FIFA 1904
The joy of football
Youngsters from Independiente
Santa Fe – the first Colombian
side to take part in the Blue Stars
tournament (24-25 May 2017) –
relax in the dressing room.
They finished eighth.
FIFA 1904 / 9BLUE STARS/FIFA YOUTH CUP In the middle Two young girls follow the action while surrounded by West Ham United players. 10 / FIFA 1904
Positional play
FC Zurich squeezed
past Benfica 1-0 and
eventually claimed
third place. The
Portuguese had to
settle for sixth spot.
A ball is certainly a magical object. Is it the perfect
shape of what is essentially a spinning, rolling, flying
sphere that fascinates young children all over the
world, drawing them in and creating a love affair that
generally lasts a lifetime? Is our sport the most beauti-
ful game in the world simply because it has the ability
to place the joy that we feel when we kick a ball into a
wider context in which fairness, personal development
and social competence all start to flourish for the first
time, all while firing our imagination and giving wings
to our dreams?
Football gives us something deeply human and perma-
nent in our lives, and it’s no wonder that we can
hardly help but surrender to its spell. But when exactly
does that spell take hold of us as youngsters? When
does football draw us in and refuse to let go? Is joining
a football club our first decision in that respect? Is it
when we pull on our very first football shirt? Or is it
the first game of whatever club we may have chosen?
And what happens when we get even more involved
in the game, heading off to training sessions or Words of consolation
Young Grasshoppers players after
matches maybe two, three or even five times a week? losing to local rivals FC Zurich in
the match for third place.
What about when it’s time to join a football academy,
FIFA 1904 / 11BLUE STARS/FIFA YOUTH CUP
Benfica
Winners in 1996,
the Portuguese club are
tournament regulars.
or later on when studies and education come calling?
Does football remain the be-all and end-all in a young
life? For how long?
A distinction has to be made, of course, between life as
a professional player and a childhood with the game.
Any questions about how long the game casts its spell
over any particular person are – if truth be told – some-
Football gives us something what moot because a career in the game depends on
a whole host of factors, not least whether you are
deeply human and permanent actually talented enough to make a living from the
in our lives, and it’s no wonder sport, whether you are fortunate enough to avoid
that we can hardly help but serious long-term injury, and whether you also make
the right decisions in terms of signing for Club A or
surrender to its spell. Club B. There are no such variables in the sport when
you are young though. Football will always play an
important role in a child’s life for as long as he or she
enjoys the game, creating memories that the child will
look back upon with a smile one day.
FIFA INVESTS IN PEOPLE
Developing the game and helping those within it – at
all levels – is one of FIFA’s main objectives. This is
exactly where FIFA’s many development projects, which
12 / FIFA 1904Mike Trésor Ndayishimiye, 18, RSC Anderlecht Boris Babic, 19, FC St. Gallen
Toni Domgjoni, 18, FC Zurich Nikola Gjorgjev, 19, Grasshopper Club Zurich
FIFA 1904 / 13Alan Dzabana, 20, Olympique Lyonnais Daniel Steven Valdelamar, 20, Independiente Santa Fe Niklas Kölle, 17, FSV Mainz 05 Domingos Quina, 17, West Ham United 14 / FIFA 1904
Any questions about how long the
game casts its spell over any particular
person are somewhat moot because
a career in the game depends on a
whole host of factors.
are available to each and every member association,
come into play. The Forward Programme, for example,
offers a wide range of possibilities in all areas of devel-
opment, which in turn can lead to projects such as
“Downside Up”, which is part of the Football for Hope
movement and focuses on teaching the game to Russian
children with Down syndrome, or “Football Connects”,
a project that uses the football facilities at the Home of
FIFA to give around 250 young refugees from countries
such as Eritrea, Afghanistan and Syria a chance to find
their feet in Switzerland.
MAKING GOOD THINGS HAPPEN
In May, FIFA held a course for 24 young referees in
Somalia, who will now take that knowledge back into
their local youth leagues. In the same month, FIFA
worked closely with the Moroccan FA’s women’s foot-
ball department to continue to pave the way for
Moroccan women’s teams to be able to play at all levels
of international football. In Mexico, meanwhile, FIFA’s
support has helped to set up a cup competition for
23 women’s teams ahead of the start of the inaugural
season of the women’s professional league in September.
Everyone involved in these – and other – FIFA projects,
in whatever capacity it may be, will certainly look back
fondly on them in the years to come, and take the
related emotions back into their daily lives. Or maybe,
just maybe, football will become their daily lives. So
those childhood dreams of football can indeed come
Vera Hartmann / 13Photo
true, and last for a lifetime. For FIFA, actions truly do
speak louder than words.
Champion selfie
Visit FIFA.com for the facts and figures on Olympique Lyonnais players pose
for a pic with local young fans.
the tournament.
FIFA 1904 / 15SNAPSHOT 16 / FIFA 1904
FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017
For striker Lee Seung-woo, the tournament is an
opportunity to shine in front of his home fans. He is
shown here helping his team to a 3-0 victory in Jeonju
Robert Cianflone / FIFA via Getty Images in the group match against Guinea (20 May 2017).
FIFA 1904 / 17Driven by e-motion. plug-in hybrid electric
SOCIAL MEDIA
FIFA 1904 ASKED ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
“Who will win the FIFA Confederations Cup and why?”
“PORTUGAL. STRONG DEPTH IN SQUAD, UNREAL YOUNG TALENTS
AND THE COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCED PLAYERS WITH RONALDO
LEADING GIVES THEM A HUGE BOOST.”
Kawsar Ibn Absar (United Arab Emirates) on Twitter
“I THINK GERMANY WILL WIN AS THEY ARE THE REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS.
IT SHOULD BE A GOOD PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR’S FIFA WORLD CUP.”
Alankrit Mathur (India) on Facebook
“PORTUGAL OR CHILE BECAUSE PORTUGAL HAVE AN IRON DEFENCE
AND THE BEST YOUNG SQUAD IN THE WHOLE COMPETITION,
THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD IN RONALDO, AND THE BEST PLAYER
IN LIGUE 1 IN BERNARDO SILVA. CHILE, ON THE OTHER HAND,
HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ATTACK AND THEY ARE SURVIVORS.”
Hugo Canario (Portugal) on Facebook
“GERMANY WILL WIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE STRONGEST TEAM
AND THE BIGGEST WILL TO WIN.”
Lars Walter (Germany) on Twitter
“I BELIEVE THAT MEXICO CAN CAUSE AN UPSET AND WIN IT.
Getty Images
PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE MEXICO TOO MUCH.”
Mario Rodríguez (Mexico) on Facebook
FIFA 1904 / 19FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2017
Quarter-final showdown
Brazil (pictured: Bruno Xavier, left)
beat Portugal 4-3 on 4 May 2017.
Leo Martins is the man swallowed
by the sand.
BACK ON TOP
After a gap of eight years, Brazil have won the Beach Soccer World Cup again in a stunning
comeback that saw off all challengers, with only Portugal posing a threat to the South Americans.
By Alan Schweingruber
20 / FIFA 1904Ten days in the Bahamas
The 32 World Cup games in Nassau thrilled the fans.
Top: Brazil v. Italy (8-4) in the semi-finals;
right: Iran v. Italy (4-5);
left: Japan’s Takasuke Goto celebrates during his team’s
opening victory over Poland (9-4).
Matthew Lewis, Alex Grimm, Dean Mouhtaropoulos / FIFA via Getty Images (4)
There was a time when Brazil seemed to be winning every beach golden period going to the beach soccer giants of South America.
soccer tournament going. One glance at the World Cup stats The trophies just kept on coming, as befitted a nation of serial
confirms their dominance, the winners’ column an almost unbroken World Cup winners.
line of that familiar flag with its green background, blue globe and
yellow diamond. From 1995 to 2009, virtually no one could touch FALLOW PERIOD
the Seleção on sand, unless the opposition happened to play out of But then came an eight-year dry spell when the Canarinhas – so-
their skins over the three periods of 12 minutes and the planetary called because the team’s yellow shirts are the colour of canaries –
alignment was just right on the day. The overall figures make for were singing and dancing no more. In fact, things got so bad that
impressive reading, with 13 of the 15 tournaments played in that Brazil had to be content with fifth place at the 2015 World Cup
FIFA 1904 / 21FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2017
QUARTER-FINALS TO THE FINAL
QUARTER-FINALS, 4 MAY 2017
Paraguay v. Tahiti 4-6
Brazil v. Portugal 4-3
Switzerland v. Iran 3-4
Italy v. Senegal 5-1
SEMI-FINALS, 6 MAY 2017
Iran v. Tahiti 1-1, 2-3 PSO
Italy v. Brazil 4-8
MATCH FOR THIRD PLACE, 7 MAY 2017
Iran v. Italy 5-3
FINAL, 7 MAY 2017
Tahiti v. Brazil 0-6
Brazil’s goalkeeper
Mão, 38.
– unthinkable! The country itself was experiencing severe problems
and its more glamorous grass-based players had endured a lengthy
Up front for Italy
drought since the last World Cup triumph (2002), so for their beach Gabriele Gori, 29.
soccer counterparts, eight years must have seemed like an age.
“Brazil were resting on their laurels a bit and the smaller countries
had caught up with them,” says Angelo Schirinzi, head coach of
Switzerland (currently ranked sixth in the world). “But we all knew
that they’d come back. It’s no surprise that they won the World
Cup: Brazil have massive potential.”
Before the tournament, however, no one really knew what to
expect from the Seleção, although they could certainly not
be taken for granted. A taste of what was to come was given at
the group stage when Tahiti, Poland and Japan were routinely
dispatched in matches that evoked the glory days. These wins
represented the 30th, 31st and 32nd victories in a row in all compe
titions for Brazil, who had been unbeaten since the World Cup led 2-1 at the first interval. The entertaining, end-to-end match saw
Matthew Lewis, Alex Grimm, Dean Mouhtaropoulos / FIFA via Getty Images (5)
quarter-final defeat to Russia in 2015. That figure has now gone further goals for both sides, and with less than three minutes on
up to 35 after they secured their fifth World Cup title since FIFA the clock and the fans looking forward to extra time with the sides
took over the tournament in 2005. The 8-4 defeat of Italy in the level at 3-3, Brazilian Rodrigo scored a stunning overhead kick –
semi-final and 6-0 thrashing of Tahiti in the final were a clear probably the finest goal of his career – to send his team into the
demonstration of their superiority. semi-finals.
A FIRST FOR THE BAHAMAS The Bahamas also made history. Not only did Nassau stage a
The Brazilians’ major hurdle came in the quarter-final on 4 May fantastic tournament, with crowds of 3,000, including many
against Portugal, traditionally their weaker cousins but now, tourists, regularly packing out the arena for the evening games
as world champions, a force to be reckoned with. It proved to be when the temperature had dropped a little, the host team became
the match of the tournament. Some 1,800 spectators crowded into the first Caribbean side to win a match at a Beach Soccer World
the National Beach Soccer Arena in Nassau in temperatures of over Cup (4-1 against Ecuador). “We’re stoked,” said captain Gavin
30 degrees in the shade. Portugal opened the scoring after just Christie. “It’s just the beginning for the Bahamas, a building block
two seconds and almost immediately conceded an equaliser, but for a new culture of beach soccer in the country.”
22 / FIFA 1904AWARDS
ADIDAS GOLDEN BALL: Mohammad Ahmadzadeh (Iran)
ADIDAS SILVER BALL: Mauricinho (Brazil)
ADIDAS BRONZE BALL: Datinha (Brazil)
ADIDAS GOLDEN BOOT: Gabriele Gori (Italy)
ADIDAS SILVER BOOT: Rodrigo (Brazil)
ADIDAS BRONZE BOOT: Mohammad Ahmadzadeh (Iran)
ADIDAS GOLDEN GLOVE: Peyman Hosseini (Iran)
FAIR PLAY AWARD: Brazil
Emotions,
emotions, emotions
Committed Senegalese (top),
patient Iranians (right) and the
celebrating world champions
from Brazil.
FIFA 1904 / 2324 / FIFA 1904
FIRST LOVE
PLACE Herat, Afghanistan
DATE 8 October 2016
TIME 17:20
PHOTOGRAPHER Aref Karimi
AFP
FIFA 1904 / 25THE INTERVIEW
Edinson Cavani, 30
“Even as a kid, I was always the quiet type.”
26 / FIFA 1904“GOALS
FULFIL ME”
After Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure, Edinson Cavani’s talent really
blossomed, and the Uruguayan is in the form of his life.
Alan Schweingruber spoke with Ligue 1’s most reliable goalscorer at
Paris Saint-Germain’s training base.
Training is scheduled for 11:00. Access for fans Edinson Cavani, at the end of April you
and journalists? “Under no circumstances,” says extended your contract with Paris
a security officer, sticking out his right arm. Yet, Saint-Germain until 2020. That’s interesting
as noon approaches, the gates are spontaneously timing.
opened, and a set of stairs leads to a small first- Edinson Cavani: What do you mean?
floor terrace from where visitors have a fantastic
view of the two football pitches. PSG’s pro The club had just lost its league title to
players have their last few touches on the ball. Monaco and was knocked out of the
While the captain, Thiago Silva, enjoys a kick- Champions League early.
about with a young boy, Julian Draxler relaxedly The things you mention had no bearing on my
jogs off into the bowels of the training complex. contract negotiations. I feel trusted here – I’m
Further back, on pitch 2, something different is comfortable in Paris. And, let’s not forget,
Alexis Reau / Presse Sports
happening: an assistant coach and Edinson I’m fortunate to be playing at the top of one
Cavani are doing repeated sprints together for of the best leagues in world football, here.
15 minutes. Then, it’s all over. A little while later, At Paris Saint-Germain we may have missed
the 30-year-old appears for his interview in a our targets but, believe you me, that’s a
white T-shirt and black leather jacket. motivation for me. We still have plans here.
FIFA 1904 / 27THE INTERVIEW
Do you live in the city?
No, I live a little bit outside – a ten-minute drive
from Paris. I like nature and quiet surroundings.
It’s good for me.
Do you go hunting there?
I’d rather do that back home in Uruguay. As it
happens, I actually prefer fishing to hunting.
There are a few lakes close to Paris, but it’s
something I leave for back home.
You come across as a calm, even-tempered
individual off the pitch.
Even as a kid, I was always the quiet type.
Maybe my time in the great outdoors shaped
me. We used to do a lot of things in the country-
side, with the family, with friends. Either way,
when things get tough nowadays I don’t always
find it easy to stay calm. Like if we lose, or if I
get injured. It’s something I need to learn.
How much does God mean to you?
A lot. I’m very grateful for the fact that I am an
athlete, and that I get to earn money through
something I’m really passionate about. Having
this as my job is a blessing, don’t you think? It’s
a gift I will cherish until the day I retire.
“I’m very grateful for the fact
that I am an athlete, and that
I get to earn money through
something I’m really passionate
about. Having this as my job is
a blessing, don’t you think?
You were just 20 when you left Uruguay.
There were a lot of things that could have
gone wrong for you in Europe.
Well... if you’re constantly analysing everything, NAME Edinson Cavani
thinking about every possibility, somewhere BORN 14 February 1987, Salto (Uruguay)
POSITION Striker
Alexis Reau / Presse Sports
along the line you will reach the conclusion that
there could be a risk involved in a particular
CLUBS Danubio FC, US Palermo, SSC Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain
INTERNATIONAL CAREER 91 matches, 38 goals
decision. But that’s not what it’s about. I worked
MAJOR HONOURS Three French league titles, two French cups,
hard in Uruguay. I had a dream, right from being
one Italian cup, one Uruguayan league title, fourth place at the 2010 World Cup
a little boy. I had to grab that opportunity at
28 / FIFA 1904“I’m not one to get too close to the coach. For me, that can
lead to disagreements and misunderstandings within a team.
It’s important to have a healthy distance between the coach
and the players.”
Palermo – anything else was out of the question. When I enter a stadium nowadays, I can sense the Celeste jersey, it’s a special feeling. I only
Luckily, everything went well. I had six great how much I’ve internalised this position. Goals have to think back to the last World Cup in
years in Italy. fulfil me. They are part of me. Goals are football. Brazil. It was a one off, a once in a lifetime
-
-
-
-
experience.
You have Italian roots, don’t you? What would you have done if it hadn’t worked
Yes, my grandfather was born in Maranello. He out in football? What kind of relationship do you have with
emigrated to Uruguay with his parents at the I don’t know. Maybe I would’ve tried working in the coach of the national team, Óscar
age of three. Your ancestors will always be a the countryside in Uruguay. Outdoors, with Tabárez?
part of you. I have Italian blood and my relation animals. Farming is very worthwhile. I’m not one to get too close to the coach. For
ship with the country was special from early on. me, that can lead to disagreements and misun
Of course, my spells at Palermo and Napoli only What do you miss most from back home? derstandings within a team. It’s important to
strengthened that bond even more. Of course, what you miss most is always the have a healthy distance between the coach and
people. My family, my parents, my brothers, and the players. To answer your question, I get on
Salto, where you come from, is on the border my friends, too. Then there are the little things well with Óscar Tabárez. I value him as a coach
with Argentina. What kind of relationship do that I miss every now and then, like the food. and as a man. He’s a winner – a winner at life.
you have with Argentina? Have you heard of cazuela? It’s a really nice dish Everyone can learn a lot from him.
The two border cities benefit from each other. – a stew of meat and vegetables.
We often used to go shopping in Argentina, and He’s regarded as taciturn, isn’t he?
the Argentinians often came over to us, too. Can’t you find it in Paris anywhere? He’s a man of few words, but when he does
People also holiday in the other country. But it’s Every once in a while we go to an Italian restaur speak, it’s worth listening to. His instructions are
not the case that I have any special relationship ant that has it. It’s the only place I know of in clear. That’s what matters.
with Argentina. Paris. Getting hold of all the ingredients and
cooking it at home is quite a job. When your contract at PSG runs out, you’ll be
Weren’t you a big fan of Gabriel Batistuta? 33. Will you be heading back to Uruguay?
Yes, that’s true. [laughs] You’ll soon have the opportunity to eat I can’t be thinking that far ahead. I don’t even
cazuela at home: there’s a key game against know what’s going to happen tomorrow
As a boy? Argentina coming up for your country. [laughs]. I want to live in the moment and enjoy
To this day. Batistuta wasn’t a typical striker. A It’s a crucial game, there’s no doubt about that. everything that happens. We missed out on the
powerful footballer who was incredibly effective We’re close to qualifying for Russia 2018. But league title at PSG, so we’ll go again next
in front of goal. I always tried to copy him. I still what does that mean? You can quickly find season. I want to win titles. That’s why I’m here.
do, a little bit. yourself playing catch up and losing a couple of
-
places in the table. The four remaining games
Why did you become a striker? are all important – and that includes the ones
As a boy, I was a midfielder. Even then, though, against Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia.
I felt the urge to take the ball towards the goal. [Pause] You know, every time I get to pull on
FIFA 1904 / 29AJAX AMSTERDAM
BACK
TO THEIR
ROOTS
Ajax Amsterdam are back STAYING TRUE TO THE CRUYFF APPROACH
Young athletes with great stamina and
on the European stage with passing skills, welded to a strict collective
a vengeance – deploying the formation but with the freedom to take
same philosophy that made over the role of any other player in the
the club a force to reckoned team – such was the thinking behind the
with in the Seventies. “total football” made famous by the
Netherlands sides back in the day,
By Perikles Monioudis
and in particular by Johan Cruyff.
22
Ajax made Cruyff great, and he
returned the favour for the club
with which he made his name. His was a
graceful, fast and highly accurate technique,
It’s years since which he constantly endeavoured to
revered Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam last improve. This technique was so refined
won a European title, when Louis van that seemingly every touch he took was
Gaal’s team overcame the fancied AC Milan with the outside of his foot, thus
in Vienna, scene of the 1995 Champions raising the level of what could be
League final. The Milan side contained the done with the ball to dizzying heights
Andreas Rentz / Bongarts / Getty Images
likes of Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and – but he was also reliable, always
Marcel Desailly but were beaten by a single available for a pass and fighting for
goal in the 85th minute. The average age the team.
of this Ajax team was a youthful 23, so it is
Like father…
hardly surprising that the goal in question Patrick Kluivert Inspired by the young Pelé and
was scored by an 18-year-old Patrick Kluiv- in action against ginga – individual flair with
AC Milan
ert. All part of the Ajax philosophy. (14 August 1996). typical Brazilian movement
30 / FIFA 1904and rhythm – Cruyff created a unique style better for greater success: it all seems
of aesthetically pleasing play that consigned to be paying off again for Ajax.
the solid, results-orientated approach of Justin Kluivert, whose father
Dutch coaches to the history books and left Patrick notched the vital goal in
its mark on an entire football era. As a 1995 at 18, has just turned 18
player and later as a coach, he pointed the himself. He has been at Ajax since
way forward to a better and more success- 2007 and made his first-team debut in
ful way of playing the beautiful game for the Eredivisie in January this year,
generations of pros. As a testament to his incidentally at a younger age than his
legacy, FC Barcelona recently announced dad when he played his first league
that it would name its stylish new youth match.
academy stadium after the Dutch legend.
Mature beyond his years, the out-and-
out attacker symbolises the new Ajax
in so many ways through his success
“Scoring crucial goals at a tender age and as a throwback to
at just 18 has always the club’s meticulous and inspired
training methods. Of course, Justin
been part and parcel of is not the only one: seven players
the Ajax philosophy.” from the club’s youth ranks or
second team appeared alongside
the pros this season, while seven
…like son! of the team who started the first
Justin Kluivert
NEW KLUIVERT, OLD SYSTEM during a league leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-
Combining individuality with a team ethic, match against final against Olympique Lyon, which Ajax
imago
Go Ahead Eagles
developing players at a young age, playing (7 May 2017). won 4-1, were 21 or under.
FIFA 1904 / 31THE BRILLIANCE OF BOSZ and Aron Winter on the training pitch or
The young and impressive Ajax team elsewhere together with Van der Sar and
has been assembled by head coach Director of Football Marc Overmars, this
Peter Bosz, who embodies the ideas dream team of legends can only have one
and approach of Johan Cruyff while ambition: to make Ajax even better.
taking a leaf out of Louis van Gaal’s
book in terms of game plans and,
in former top goalkeeper and
Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar, has
the right man in charge to take the rich
Ajax heritage forward. A meticulous and
inspirational teacher, Bosz turned out for
rival Feyenoord in his playing days, but he
has long been versed in the Ajax way of
playing football.
“Ajax made Cruyff great,
and he returned the
favour for the club with
which he made his name.”
An exceptional
ullstein / mirrorpix
talent
And should he, with his firm commitment and visionary
Johan Cruyff
to attacking play, consult his assistants
in his element
Dennis Bergkamp, Richard Witschge (6 February 1972).
FIFA 1904 / 33THEN
1966
DURHAM, ENGLAND
These Italians, taking time out of training for the World Cup, wouldn’t have had
an inkling that they would slip to a 1-0 group-stage defeat by Korea DPR.
Getty Images
34 / FIFA 1904NOW
2016
MARTIGNY, SWITZERLAND
Cows grazing (or lazing) at the side of the road is a
familiar sight for FC Sion players.
Anthony Anex / Keystone
FIFA 1904 / 35WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
WALTZING MATILDAS
Don’t be fooled by the title: the Australian women’s team are not celebrating the waltz,
nor are they moving rhythmically round in circles in the manner of the famous dance,
but going forwards, always forwards, as befits a team with a big future.
By Annette Braun
It’s all in the name Along with the Australian flag, the Matildas scarf is a common sight at national team matches.
36 / FIFA 1904In 1895, Australian poet Andrew “Banjo” Sweden in the semi-finals. Alas, Australia Although the dream has yet to be fulfilled,
Paterson wrote the poem Waltzing Matilda, lost 7-6 in the shoot-out in front of a the results at least underline that Australia
the words of which were later set to music crowd of 52,000 – a disappointing end are making steady progress towards
for the famous folk song that remains an to a campaign that they had nevertheless reaching the elite level. Women’s football
integral part of Australian culture to this a lot to be proud about. The defeat came is popular in the country and goes back a
day. The story of the singing itinerant after another quarter-final exit a year long way – a 1921 match in Queensland
worker (“waltzing” is Australian slang for before at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, attracted a crowd of 10,000, for example.
travelling on foot and has nothing to do that time at the hands of subsequent However, it was mainly thanks to the drive
with the dance) was once a contender for finalists Japan (1-0). of one Elaine Watson, who held various
the national anthem and indeed was used positions in the FA between 1970 and
in that capacity at the 1974 FIFA World All the signs are, then, that a major 1990, that the game finally received the
Cup™ in West Germany and the Montreal breakthrough is just around the corner: promotion it deserved and established
Olympic Games in 1976. however, the spot-kick agony endured in itself in world football.
Even though Advance Australia Fair
prevailed in a 1977 plebiscite to choose
the country’s national anthem, the
popularity of Waltzing Matilda remains
undimmed in Oz and beyond. The song
was first recorded in 1926 by John
Collinson and has since been adapted by
a wide range of international artists,
including Tom Waits and Rod Stewart.
It has also influenced the game of football
in Australia, the national women’s team
having adopted the nickname Matildas
in 1995 in honour of the catchy ditty,
the chorus of which every self-respecting
Aussie can sing in their sleep. The team
had previously often been referred to as
the Socceroos, like their male counterparts,
but the new name stuck and gave them
their own identity while firmly connecting
them with their homeland.
There are thus now two celebrated A taste of success
The Australia team (seen here celebrating a goal in a warm-up match against New Zealand before
Matildas Down Under: one plays a starring the 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament) are now established members of the world’s elite.
role in one of the nation’s favourite songs,
while the other collectively chases a ball
around the pitch to increasingly successful
effect.
Brazil still hangs over the team, as was CHAMPIONS IN WAITING?
DPA / Picture Alliance, imago
PENALTY HEARTACHE CRUSHES OLYMPIC DREAM shown at this year’s Algarve Cup in Por The Australian footballers’ trade union,
An Olympic medal seemed in sight for the tugal when the Matildas had to settle for Professional Footballers Australia (PFA),
team at Rio 2016 when their quarter-final fourth place in the prestigious tournament has drawn up a roadmap for the next four
match against Brazil went to penalties as after losing to Denmark in the dreaded years that includes the winning of trophies
the two sides vied to see who would face penalty shoot-out. among its targets, in addition to greater
FIFA 1904 / 37DID YOU KNOW THAT...
financial support and the further expan-
sion of the national W-League. The main
aim of the vision is for the Matildas,
who are huge role models for all female
players in the land, to triumph at the 2020
Olympics in Tokyo and the 2023 World
Cup. Key to this success will be creating a
larger pool of talented players, which
would give coach Alen Stajcic strategic
options at important moments of the
game and thus tilt the balance in favour
of his team.
Achieving these ambitious goals would
give women’s football further impetus in
Australia and guarantee its expansion.
It would also probably make Matilda an
even more popular name than it is now
and, in the words of the waltzing version
(“Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with …THE AUSTRALIAN …SANDRA BRENTNALL
me?”), attract more fans to accompany WOMEN’S SOCCER SCORED THE MATILDAS’
the players on their exciting journey. ASSOCIATION (AWSA) FIRST INTERNATIONAL
WAS FORMED IN 1974? GOAL IN THE MATCH
AGAINST NEW ZEALAND
The main aim of the vision is … KATE GILL IS IN OCTOBER 1979?
for the Matildas to triumph AUSTRALIA’S TOP SCORER
at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo IN THE WOMEN’S GAME …AUSTRALIA’S
and the 2023 World Cup. WITH 41 GOALS? FIRST-EVER WORLD CUP
GOAL WAS NOTCHED BY
The goals have been set, and captain
…THE MATILDAS WERE ANGELA IANNOTTA?
Clare Polkinghorne and her team, the THE FIRST DOWN UNDER SHE FOUND THE BACK
majority of whom play in the Australian TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR A OF THE NET IN THE 25TH
league, are raring to go, secure in the MAJOR TOURNAMENT AFTER MINUTE AGAINST
knowledge that they have plenty of AUSTRALIA MOVED CHINA PR AT THE 1995
support and the potential to win a
tournament – even if it comes down to
CONFEDERATIONS FROM TOURNAMENT.
THE OFC TO THE AFC?
a penalty shoot-out.
THEIR DEFEAT OF JAPAN AT …THE COUNTRY’S MOST
THE 2006 AFC WOMEN’S CAPPED PLAYER IS
ASIAN CUP TOOK THEM CHERYL SALISBURY
THROUGH TO THE WORLD WITH 151 APPEARANCES
CUP THE FOLLOWING YEAR. TO HER NAME?
…THE MATILDAS’ HIGHEST POSITION TO DATE IN THE
FIFA/COCA-COLA WOMEN’S WORLD RANKING IS 5TH (2016)?
AFP
FIFA 1904 / 39DEBATE
THE 67 FIFA CONGRESS th
IN BAHRAIN
FIFA’s 211 member associations assembled associations from CAF, CONCACAF, CONCACAF, CAF, CONMEBOL and the
on 11 May 2017 in Manama, Bahrain for CONMEBOL and the OFC to express their OFC to express their interest by 11 August
the 67 FIFA Congress. The organisation’s
th
interest in hosting the tournament. The 2017 to submit to FIFA a bid to host the
supreme body made a few important decision on whether to select any of the final competition of the 2026 FIFA World
decisions to validate reports on FIFA’s bidders as the host(s) of the 2026 FIFA Cup. The 68th FIFA Congress will decide
activities in 2016 and, more importantly, World Cup will be taken by the 68th FIFA on the selection of the candidate host
to agree on key steps for the future of the Congress, which will convene in Moscow associations.
organisation. on 13 June next year, on the eve of the
opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Should the 68th FIFA Congress not select
This included the ratification of the next Cup™. any candidate host associations, the FIFA
stages of the bidding process to select the general secretariat will invite further
host(s) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. THE APPROVED MOTION ON member associations – including the
Following the approval of the bidding THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP member associations of AFC and UEFA
requirements by the FIFA Council on 9 May, “Based on specific regulations to be issued and excluding those member associations
the FIFA Congress agreed, with 93% of by the Council, the FIFA general secretariat that submitted a bid initially – to submit a
the valid votes, on a three-month period shall establish a bidding procedure inviting bid to host the final competition of the
– until 11 August 2017 – for member initially the member associations of 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Alexander Hassenstein / FIFA via Getty Images
Presidential
address
Gianni Infantino at
the 67th FIFA
Congress in Bahrain.
40 / FIFA 1904PRESIDENT´S MESSAGE
MORE
RESPONSIBILITY,
MORE DEBATE
OTHER KEY DECISIONS: A few weeks back, we had many concrete achievements to report to the
• Election of the members of the Audit and FIFA Congress in Bahrain – from the implementation of the reforms to the
Compliance Committee, the Governance blossoming of the FIFA Forward development programme.
Committee and the judicial bodies. The But while it would have been very convenient to focus solely on the positive
members have been elected for a term of changes that have been brought about in FIFA over the last year, it would
office of four years, effective immediately. also have been somewhat irresponsible.
We should of course take pride in the work we have done to build a better
• Approval of the detailed budget for 2018, institution, but it should also be clear to each one of us that we must
with a total investment of USD 2.899 remain vigilant. The work of rooting out wrongdoing in our sport is not
billion – 91% of which is allocated to complete. I know that, and it is my duty as FIFA President to ensure that so
football activities, chief among which is the do our members.
organisation of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The FIFA I saw during the week that culminated in the 67th FIFA Congress
is already very different from the one I joined. It is a more diverse, open and
• The 67 FIFA Congress followed the
th
democratic institution. There are many new faces. There is more debate.
proposal of the FIFA Council with regard There is certainly more disagreement – and that is exactly how serious
to the motion submitted by the Palestinian decision-making should be carried out.
Football Association – “a request for Take the process to select the host(s) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, for example.
official recognition of the Palestinian It was not until after several rounds of discussions involving various stake-
Football Association’s entitlements to all holders that the Congress voted on a clear process and on a comprehensive
of its rights as described in the FIFA timeline. A set of high-standard bid requirements has been approved too.
Statutes”. The FIFA Congress approved, This is how a more open and more democratic FIFA takes important steps:
with 73% of valid votes, the following only after careful analysis. This is our responsibility towards the world of
proposal: “Considering that the matter is football.
not a Congress competence but a Council What I saw over the course of the week in Manama makes me very
competence, that a consolidated report confident for the future. However, I will not refrain from pointing out just
of the monitoring committee is not yet how much remains to be done as we continue to move forwards. Even
ready, and that more time is needed to when this may require some strong words.
evaluate the situation and to take a
decision, the Council proposes to the
Congress not to vote on the proposal of Yours in football,
the Palestinian Football Association and
to give time to the Council to take a
Lukas Mäder / 13 Photo
decision before the end of March 2018.”
Nevertheless, the Council has already
committed to deciding on the matter at Gianni Infantino
its next meeting, on 27 October 2017. FIFA President
FIFA 1904 / 41FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL MUSEUM
Blind football
A museum visitor
watches the film
about the moving
life story of Yvan
Wouandji.
AGAINST
ALL ODDS
It’s not all about great players at the FIFA World Football As the group of youngsters from Scotland, in high spirits after
taking in everything on show at basement level, take the glass lift
Museum, where visitors can watch eight two-minute films
up to the first floor, they wave at some other visitors who are
about football enthusiasts who lead more humble lives. paying for their tickets at the counter. The scene is reminiscent
We present three examples below. of one earlier, when the first bunch of kids of a school group to
FIFA-Museum
By Alan Schweingruber go through the museum mocked those following behind them, as
if to say: What, you’re still down there? We’ve nearly finished!
42 / FIFA 1904The Scottish children look momentarily puzzled, before the lift Today, Wouandji is one of the best blind footballers in France.
doors open on the first floor and they are greeted by an array of He even says at the end of the film that his life is so fulfilled that
machines and monitors. They were probably unaware that the he hardly wants to see again. This statement alone makes the
museum had been laid out in keeping with the old adage of film worth watching.
leaving the best until last, something that quickly becomes evident
to anyone who watches the short films about individuals who, in On display nearby is Wouandji’s eye mask. Such items must be
their small way, have left their mark on football through their used in blind football to avoid giving partially sighted players an
never-say-die spirit. The eight professionally made clips, shown on unfair advantage. Watching the Frenchman slalom his way past
four monitors, make for fascinating viewing. the opposition, switching the ball back and forth between his feet
at lightning speed, he could clearly give some sighted players a run
SENSES WORKING OVERTIME for their money. He makes his way purposefully forwards, leaving
Take the story of Yvan Wouandji, for instance, who used to play opponents for dead and waits for the right moment to pull the
football incessantly like so many any other kids, with dreams – so trigger. The shot has to be a good one, as the rules state that the
important to children – of becoming a star footballer. After all, goalkeeper is the only sighted player in the side.
who wouldn’t want to be the next Lionel Messi? Wouandji was no
different to any other aspiring player, and he had talent – but one THE SMALLEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD
day he woke up, aged just ten, and his world collapsed around him The second example (shown on the same monitor) seems at first
when he realised he couldn’t see. It transpired that his retina had to pale into insignificance after Wouandji’s story. The film starts by
become detached. “I thought my football days were over,” says indicating the location of the Scilly Isles, an archipelago off the
the Frenchman in the film, which can be watched in English, south-western tip of England with a population of just over 2,000,
Spanish, French or German. You can see how Wouandji picks on a map. There reside boatbuilder Andrew Hicks and his Wool-
himself up: he learns Braille and studies music history – and starts pack Wanderers team, who play in eye-catching yellow shirts and
to play football again. Not the usual game, of course, but blind have genuine hopes of winning the title every year – which is
football, with balls that make a sound as they roll, eye masks and not surprising, as they have won the most Isles of Scilly Football
goal guides who stand behind the goal to orientate the players. League titles.
Scilly Isles
The Woolpack Wanderers
(in yellow) only have
one opponent: the
Garrison Gunners (in red).
It’s the smallest football
league in the world.
Matt Cardy / Getty Images (4)FIFA PARTNER
South Thai idyll
A short film tells the
story of the floating
football pitch in
the fishing village
of Koh Panyee.
Mind you, the Wanderers have to contend with the red-clad “The plan in 1986 to build a football pitch out
Garrison Gunners, who have ambitions of their own – and rightly of wood was a rather madcap one. The fishing
so: after all, they are the only other team in the league... Week in,
week out, year in, year out, both sides go through the same ritual:
village is built on stilts.”
train, play against each other, go home, tinker with tactics and
systems, accumulate points, check the transfer news, and play
each other again, until someone wins the league. “Boring it is The film ends with an impressive still, taken 30 years later, showing
not,” says Hicks about the smallest league in the world. “Every a huge modern raft that gently sways on the water next to some
season is exciting. Some years it even comes down to goal fishing boats. Some girls and boys, maybe Hemmin’s own kids,
difference.” It may be a tiny league, but it’s a league all the same: chase a ball around the “pitch”. A happy ending that impresses the
the two teams also contest an official cup competition, which group from Scotland, whose mood is now one of quiet reverence
naturally enough consists of just the final, when everything is to as they discreetly take photos.
play for again.
THE FLOATING FOOTBALL PITCH
Our third film relates the intriguing story of how the beautiful
game came to be played in Koh Panyee, a tiny fishing village in
southern Thailand. It all started in 1986, when Prasit Hemmin and
his friends had an idea: to construct a pitch made out of wood –
a somewhat madcap plan given that the village of 1,500 inhabit-
ants where the children grew up is built on stilts. There is water
Christophe Archambault/ / AFP
wherever you look. “Impossible?” asks Hemmin with a twinkle
in his eye. “I wouldn’t say that.” Inspired by Diego Maradona
and his 1986 World Cup-winning side, the lads were not to be
deterred: they gathered bits of wood from the neighbourhood
and sawed, nailed down, sanded and finished them until they
had their own pitch.
FIFA 1904 / 45FA CUPS
Daniel Kalisz / Getty Images
The FFA Cup The Australian FA’s cup competition has a rich heritage and was won in 2014 by Adelaide United.
46 / FIFA 1904THE MAGIC OF THE CUP
FIFA’s member associations want their national teams to be successful, but they also stage cup
competitions for clubs like the FA Cup in England or the Uganda Cup, many matches of which
have gone down in football folklore.
By Perikles Monioudis
Could you call Australia a footballing so Boskovic asked Australian FA president MAIDEN CUP VICTORY
nation? You most certainly could, even Ian McAndrew to decide how to proceed. Dramatic cup finals continue to provide
though after four qualifications for the The latter then conferred with both club a welcome diversion to many a league
World Cup without making much of an chairmen and the three men agreed season, such as the thrilling climax to the
impression, winning football’s ultimate that each team would take a maximum of 2016 Women’s Knockout Cup in New
global prize looks as far off as ever for the 15 penalties, and if that failed to produce Zealand, when Forrest Hill Milford overcame
Socceroos. However, the team won the a result, the match would be replayed. Glenfield Rovers 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out.
AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 2015, The replay subsequently took place under It was a battle of nerves, and the first time
and the country also has a cup competi- floodlights three days later and Hakoah that Forrest Hill had lifted the trophy.
tion with a long and colourful history. secured the trophy, winning 2-1. Today,
The original Australia Cup was launched the competition is called the FFA Cup, the In June 2016, the final of the Uganda Cup
in 1962, when former BSK Belgrade striker current holders of which are Melbourne pitched Vipers SC against Onduparaka FC
Tiko Jelisavčić netted four times in the City, who beat Sydney FC 1-0 in November in a packed Nakivubo Stadium in the
final for Yugal against St George Budapest 2016 in a duel between the country’s top capital, Kampala. Both teams put out
(8-1). Jelisavčić also led Australia in their two clubs. attacking formations with speedy players,
first-ever World Cup qualifying campaign
in 1965 as coach.
The first final to feature a showdown
between the two metropolises of Sydney
and Melbourne occurred in 1964, when
Sydney’s APIA Leichhardt Tigers succumbed
to Melbourne’s Sunshine George Cross,
but it wasn’t until the following year that
a classic cup showdown took place, with
Sydney clubs Hakoah and APIA giving no
quarter during a nail-biting final and the
match going to penalties with the score First FA Cup
at 1-1 at the end of extra time. With the winners
Wanderers over
score level after each side had taken ten
came Royal
spot kicks, referee Tony Boskovic – who Engineers 1-0 in
1872 to win the
would later become the first Australian to first edition of the
officiate at a World Cup – ordered the FA Cup (the photo
here from 1863 is
teams to take another series of five penal- the only one of
the team, when
ties each. However, the players wanted to
it was known as
leave the pitch and share the prize money, Forest FC).
PD
FIFA 1904 / 47You can also read
