Sunday 31 January 2010

EGYPT WIN CUP OF NATIONS

Egypt won a third consecutive African Cup of Nations after beating World Cup-bound Ghana by a goal to nil in Luanda.

Super-sub and tournament top scorer Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagui - whose five goals in the tournament all came after coming on as substitute - lit up a drab encounter with a moment of brilliance in the 85th minute.

An incisive one-two with Zidan split Ghana's defence and Gedo curled a perfect right-foot finish into the corner of the net.

Egypt, then, remain the champions of Africa - a certain consolation for not being involved in this summer's first African World Cup.

Saturday 30 January 2010

WORLD CUP STORIES: HOW TO MAKE A REFEREE CHANGE HIS MIND

Not happy with a referring decision that has gone against your country in a key World Cup match? Your opponents have just scored a goal but you don't think it was legitimate? Wanna make the ref change his mind? It's easy really - here's how you do it:

Along with your team mates, pretend that you mistook a loud whistle from the crowd as the ref blowing up and complain that that's why you all stopped playing. Complain long and hard - at least long enough to give the President of your country's Football Association time to come down out of the stands and order you all to leave the pitch in protest. Oh, and history definitely suggests that your cause will be helped if your FA President happens to be a powerful Sheikh from a oil-rich Arab state.

That's exactly what happened in a match from Group 4 at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. France were comfortably beating Kuwait 3-1 when midfielder Alain Giresse - appearing to be in an offside position - added a fourth goal. The Kuwaiti players had stopped playing believing that the ref had blown his whistle, and were incredulous when he pointed to the centre circle indicating a goal. Enter fist-shaking and finger-wagging Fahid Al-Ahmed Al-Sabeh - who also happened to be brother of the Kuwaiti Emir. His antics eventually worked (following a 15-minute delay!) and the Soviet ref, Miroslav Stupar, reversed his decision to the obvious fury of the French. Les Bleus did score a fourth goal a moment later that did stand, though, and the game finished 4-1. The incident remains one of the most farcical in World Cup history.

The fallout? Fairly predictable! Stupar lost all credibility as a referee and sheikh Al-Sabah got fined $10,000.


Thursday 28 January 2010

GHANA AND EGYPT TO CONTEST FINAL

World Cup qualifiers Ghana and current African champions Egypt will contest the African Cup of Nations Final on Sunday.

Egypt, chasing a hatrick of titles, gained revenge over Algeria for their World Cup play-off defeat back in November with a 4-0 win in Benguela. Algeria finished the match with only eight players on the pitch following three red cards.

In the other semi-final Ghana defeated Nigeria 1-0 to reach their first final for 18 years.

Friday 22 January 2010

COUNTRY FOCUS: FRANCE

Don't write off France this summer in South Africa. After their controversial play-off victory against the Republic of Ireland - and being handed a reasonable draw - their price of 16/1 to win the World Cup looks a value bet. Sides that sneak in the back door often have a knack of doing well in the tournament itself. Serious question marks remain about Raymond Domenech and his relationship with the players, but France undoubtedly have class throughout their side and an impressive recent World Cup record to draw on. Ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, France have been in the Final of two of the last three World Cups.

World Cup Pedigree:

France won the first World Cup finals match ever played in 1930 - when they beat Mexico 4-1 - but they didn't progress past the group stage. In 1934 they also went out in the first round before reaching the quarter-finals as the host nation in 1938. It wasn't until 1958 that they managed to reach the last four where they were spanked 5-2 by eventual winners Brazil. That was the year that Juste Fontaine scored an incredible 13 goals in France's six games, a record unlikely ever to be beaten. Amazingly, the next time France managed to get out of their group wasn't until the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when they again reached the semi-finals and lost to West Germany in one of the most dramatic matches in the history of the World Cup. Four years later in Mexico the same two nations faced each other for a place in the Final and again it was the Germans who prevailed. A lean period ensued for France as they failed to qualify for Italia 90 and USA 94, before hosting the 1998 tournament. Victory against Brazil in the Final gave France their first World title and two years later they added the European Championship to cap the finest era in their history. In 2002 they were bought sharpely down to earth, however, as they were shocked by Senegal and Denmark in their group, failing to even score a goal in their defence of the World Cup. In Germany four years ago they were largely perceived to be an ageing side that would struggle, but Zinedine Zidane experienced a renaissance of form that helped steer them past Spain, Brazil and Portugal in the knock-out phase to a Final with Italy, which they lost on penalties.

Greatest Moment:

Triumph on home soil in 1998 as two headers from Zidane helped depose an out-of-sorts Brazil in the Final in Paris to secure France's first and only World Cup.

Biggest Heartbreak:

Losing a 3-1 extra time lead against the Germans in the 1982 semi-final when a place in the Final looked an absolute certainty. Nerves failed for a second time in the resulting penalty shootout when Germany missed first and France failed to capitalize, their dreams dashed in the cruelest of circumstances.

At South Africa 2010, France will be competing in their thirteenth World Cup Finals.




Thursday 14 January 2010

CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

MEXICO 1986, Second Round: Belgium v Soviet Union



The teams had reached the second phase in very different circumstances. The Soviet Union had won group C convincingly following wins against Canada and Hungary and a draw with France. Belgium had had to rely on being one of the four best third-placed teams (in the six groups) who made it through to the knock-out stages. They lost their group opener to host nation Mexico before beating Iraq and drawing with Paraguay. The Soviets were clear favourites when the two countries met on the dramatic afternoon of June 15 in Leon, with a place in the last eight at stake.

The Soviets began positively, moving the ball intelligently in and around the Belgium box with slick passing, while their opponents were restricted in the early exchanges mainly to set pieces and shots from distance. It was in keeping with the balance of the game when Igor Belanov shot the Soviets ahead in the 27th minute with a superb strike across the goalkeeper from outside the penalty area.

If the Soviet Union had been able to press home their advantage and add a second goal in that first half, then it may well have put the match beyond the reach of Belgium. But their impressive build-up play wasn't matched by a cutting edge in front of goal and chances were wasted. The Soviets were punished ten minutes into the second half for some slack defending that gave Enzo Scifo an eternity inside the box to control Frank Vercauteren's floated cross and equalize.

Although the Soviets restored their lead - again through Belanov - in the 70th minute, there was something increasingly tenacious about Belgium as the match wore on. Belanov received the ball from Aleksandr Zavarov and clipped his shot perfectly past Pfaff to put his side within sight of the quarter-finals, but the Belgians were a team growing in belief, and the crowd could sense it. The Soviet rearguard was again at fault in the 77th minute when a long ball forward from Demol found captain Jan Ceulemans with time to chest the ball down, turn and finish adroitly to level the match for a second time.

The Soviet Union were looking vulnerable as extra time loomed. A last minute free kick in a threatening position was wasted, and there was a growing sense that their chance had come and gone.

Belgium took the lead for the first time 12 minutes into extra time when the highly impressive Stephane Demol exposed the frailties of the Soviet defence yet again to find the space to power a superb header past goalkeeper Dasaev from an Eric Gerets delivery from the right hand side. The game appeared to be settled when Nico Claesen reacted first to a loose ball in the Soviet penalty area to add a fourth with just 10 minutes remaining. Amazingly, however, within a minute Igor Belanov had completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. The Soviet Union rallied in desperate search of an equalizer to take the match to penalties, but Belgium hung on to book a quarter-final place.

A game of great goals and high drama - memorable for all the right reasons. How many times does a player score a hat-trick and end up on the losing side? Belanov had an outstanding match, but his team's potential remained unfulfilled. Some will argue that the Soviets would have graced the latter stages of Mexico 1986, but football is not only about skill. Belgium were twice behind but came through - a triumph of stamina and tenacity over the Soviet Union's superior brand of attacking football.

Belgium met Spain in the quarter-finals and beat them on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Maradona and Argentina lay in wait in the semi-final and proved too strong for Ceulemans and co, the South Americans and eventual tournament winners progressing to the Final by virtue of a 2-0 victory.

Thursday 7 January 2010

PLAYER FOCUS: FRANCK RIBERY

Zinedine Zidane describes him as the "jewel of French football", and Franz Beckenbauer - the president of his current club Bayern Munich - claims Ribery's value is as high as Cristiano Ronaldo. Rumours of his leaving the Bundesliga were at a height last summer and an £81 million price tag was demanded from any interested parties. Notable for tremendous energy levels, skill and precision passing, Franck Ribery is definitely the new golden boy of French football.

Certainly a considerable weight of expectation rests on his shoulders as the World Cup approaches. Having sneaked in the back door by virtue of their controversial play-off victory against Ireland, France will now be expected to step up a few gears in South Africa as they seek to maintain an impressive recent World Cup record - two finals in the last three tournaments and one title. Ribery played in all seven matches of France's campaign at Germany 2006, having only made his international debut a couple of weeks prior to the start of the tournament. Now he has amassed over 40 caps and his contribution to France's
unconvincing but ultimately successful qualification campaign for South Africa was significant - in particular his winning goals in the home and away fixtures with Lithuania.

It's hard to imagine France progressing to the latter stages in South Africa if Ribery does not perform. He is a potential star of the tournament and the World Cup is the ultimate stage for great players to showcase their talents. It's the arena where sometimes the transition is made to another level of greatness. At 26 years of age, this could be Ribery's best chance to write himself into French football folklore alongside the likes of Zidane and Platini.



Tuesday 5 January 2010

TOP FIVE WORLD CUP FINALS

Continuing the Trivia theme of World Cup Finals, here are the best five in ascending order…

5... 1986 Argentina 3-2 Germany

With Argentine legend Diego Maradona in the form of his life and pioneering his country's charge towards World Cup glory, and with the final being played in the midday heat of Mexico City on a dreadful pitch, the odds seemed stacked against the Germans from the start. By the time the South Americans had established a comfortable 2-0 lead early in the second half it seemed all over. But one of the golden rules of international football is that Germany are at their most dangerous when you've written them off. Two goals from two corners late in the game brought the Germans level, before the watching world was reminded of another old football adage - you're at your most vulnerable when you've just scored. A minute after Rudi Voller's equalizer, Maradona steered one more defence-splitting pass through to Jorge Burruchaga to notch a late winner and seal the World Cup.

4... 1958 Brazil 5-2 Sweden

For many, Pele is the best footballer of all time, and the two goals he scored in the 1958 Final against Sweden heralded his arrival on the world stage. His second was a superb solo effort that demonstrated his truly rare talent - an innovative football brain combined with the skill to execute. Brazil’s victory against the host nation was expected, but it was achieved in great style with the South American giants coming from a goal down to establish a 4-1 lead with the flamboyant attacking football that has become their trademark. Vava also scored twice in the final, and the disappointment of losing out on home soil in 1950 – a tournament they had been fully expected to win - was forgotten as Brazil landed their first World Cup title.

3... 1966 England 4-2 Germany


A pulsating game marked by high drama, controversy and history. The curse of scoring first in the World Cup Final struck again as the Germans took the lead after 12 minutes only to find themselves 2-1 behind with a minute to go. In the aftermath of a German free kick from outside the box Wolfgang Weber steered the ball home to force extra time. Geoff Hurst – only in the team because of an injury earlier in the tournament to first choice striker Jimmy Greaves - had scored England’s equalizer in the first half of normal time but had done little else. Eleven minutes into extra-time a shot by Hurst bounced down off the underside of the crossbar and landed either on or over the line. The goal was given following the referee’s consultation with his linesman and Hurst went on to add a fourth goal in the last minute, thus creating history as the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final.

2... 1954 Germany 3-2 Hungary

Not the most popular result as football purists wanted to see this terrific Hungarian side conquer the world. Not many gave Germany a prayer before the final; the sides had met in the group stages and Hungary had won 8-3. When the “magical Magyars” stormed into a 2-0 lead after only after eight minutes another thrashing appeared to be on the cards. Heavy rain was falling though, and the Germans appeared better suited to the adverse conditions as they quickly adapted and had levelled the match by the 18th minute with goals from Max Morlock and Helmut Rahn. Four goals in the first eighteen minutes of any professional football match is highly dramatic – and this was the World Cup Final. In a thrilling second half the Hungarians strove to regain the lead and Germany had goalkeeper Toni Turek to thank for several fine saves. In the 84th minute and against the run of play Rahn scored a third goal for Germany, and although Hungary’s star player Puskas had the ball in the net in the dying moments it was ruled out for offside, and Germany won the World Cup for the first time.

1... 1970 Brazil 4-1 Italy

The most memorable final of all for the neutral. The classic confrontation of Italian defence against Brazilian flair and the beautiful game won hands down. Brazil destroyed Italy, showing flashes of some of the finest football ever played. With the scores level at 1-1 at half-time, the Samba Stars turned on the style in the Azteca Stadium and unravelled the tightly woven Italian defence with a dazzling display. The culmination was the magnificent fourth goal, a move that involved eight members of the Brazilian team, each seeming to give an exhibition of personal skill before moving the ball on. Memories of Pele’s nonchalant final pass out to Carlos Alberto on the right side of the penalty area will live forever and a day. Alberto rounded off the flawless move with the perfect finish to complete what, in the view of many, is the greatest goal ever scored. Brazil had their hands on the World Cup for a third time, and as a result were given the Jules Rimet trophy for keeps. Few would argue that this triumphant Brazilian team was the best in the history of football.

Sunday 3 January 2010

THE NEW IMAGE OF AFRICA

World Cup a platform for peace, democracy and investment, says Ban Ki-Moon.

The FIFA World Cup, which will take place between June 11 and July 11 next summer in South Africa, offers the country a unique opportunity to present a new image of itself (and the African continent as a whole) to the world, in the thoughts of UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon.

Recognizing the far-reaching effects that the World Cup has, and its status as one of the greatest global spectacles, Mr Ban has encouraged the World Cup organizers to seize this unique hosting opportunity to “present a different story of the African continent, a story of peace, democracy and investment”.

These words were spoken at a recent meeting in New York with Dr Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the South Africa 2010 organizing committee. Dr Jordaan echoed Mr Ban’s sentiments by highlighting the power of football to unite and create a lasting solidarity.

The vision of hosting the World Cup began in 1994, when, following years of apartheid and bloodshed that accompanied brutal white rule, the first non-racial democratic elections took place and saw Nelson Mandela sworn in as President.

The legacy of apartheid has ensured that the transition to democracy has not been smooth, and in reality South Africa remains a troubled country. There are legitimate security concerns for hosting next summer’s showpiece event. South Africa’s justice ministry has this week announced that they will set up fast-track courts to deal with crimes committed during the World Cup that involve foreigners.

This will enable victims of crime to give evidence while still in South Africa, and the hope is that the perpetrators, fearful of potentially swift retribution, will be deterred from criminal activity in the first place.

In spite of the security issues however, the World Cup vision has been realized and next summer’s finals will be the first to take place on African soil.

Mr Ban’s exhortation to South Africa to utilize the benefits of hosting football’s greatest event is rooted in his observations of his own country’s experience in 2002, when South Korea and Japan co-hosted the first Asian World Cup (this at a time when Korea was still suffering from the consequences of the Asian financial crash of 1997).

A survey carried out amongst foreign CEOs established that the predominant image of Korea prior to 2002 was one of corruption, social disorder and the Korean War with its consequent territorial division.

The hosting of the tournament, however, gave rise to many opportunities that firmly placed Korea’s advanced IT industry on global display, and revealed a nation committed to the highest standards of professionalism. The warmth of the local people towards foreign visitors was also noted.

Shortly after the World Cup (based on further surveys carried out which indicated a significantly increased interest on the part of foreign investors and buyers to do business in Korea) it was estimated that this enhanced global image of Korea could have a value approaching $6.5 billion to the national economy.

Image change, however, does not occur overnight. The view of Simon Anholt (a leading authority on managing and measuring national identity and reputation) is that altering national image requires a long-term commitment on the part of government, business and civil society. National image cannot be manipulated or managed purely by communication technology.

Nevertheless, hosting the World Cup does provide a unique opportunity and can be the cornerstone of a new beginning. As with Korea in 2002, South Africa will know that the being under such intense global scrutiny in 2010 will make a deep impact on how the country’s future is shaped.

Saturday 2 January 2010

WORLD CUP TRIVIA ANSWERS

See previous post for questions!

Tough opening question! Most people know of the “Magical Magyars” – Hungary - who should have won the 1954 World Cup but blew a two-goal lead against Germany in the final, but it’s often forgotten that they also lost the 1938 final against Italy. Four years prior to that Czechoslovakia were also beaten by the Italians in the final despite leading 1-0 until late in the day. They also scored first in their other appearance in the final – in Chile in 1962 – but again lost out, this time to Brazil.

The 1950 tournament did not have a World Cup Final, because the knock-out phase was replaced by a round-robin group format that comprised Uruguay, Sweden, Spain and Brazil. The two South Americans nations contested the final and decisive group match; for this reason this match is often unofficially recorded as the “World Cup Final”. Brazil were playing at home and only needed to draw the match to win the trophy, but Uruguay came from a goal down to claim their second World Cup title.

Vava scored for Brazil in the Finals of 1958 and 1962, Pele also managed the feat in 1958 and 1970. In fact both players notched two in the 5-2 win over Sweden in 1958. Paul Breitner found the net in both 1974 and 1982, and more recently Zinedine Zidane joined this exclusive group - his penalty in the 2006 Final going with his two headers against Brazil in 1998.

Since 1982 the World Cup Final has been dominated by the elite footballing nations. The last seven finals have been contested by only five different countries – Italy (3) Germany (4) Argentina (2) Brazil (3) and France (2).

Antonio Cabrini missed a 24th minute penalty for Italy against Germany in the 1982 Final. The match was goalless at the time, but Cabrini was spared the agony of his miss being significant as Italy triumphed 3-1 in Madrid.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that on the two occasions a two-goal lead has been overturned in a World Cup Final, it’s the Germans who have done it. In 1954 they came from 2-0 down to beat Hungary 3-2 to win their first World Cup. In the heat of Mexico City in 1986 Maradona and Argentina seemed set for a comfortable victory as they led 2-0 with only 16 minutes left, but Germany scored twice from two corner kicks to level the match. Within a minute of the equalizer however, Argentina broke away to regain the lead and seal their second World Cup triumph.

Technically, the answer to this is Germany, who have reached the Final seven times. However, if the decisive group match between Brazil and Uruguay is classed as ‘the final’ then Brazil have also reached seven finals. My view is to discount that; it was a group match, not the World Cup Final.

Argentina had two players sent off in the 1990 Final against Germany. The South American side’s tactics became increasingly desperate and dirty as the match wore on, and Pedro Monzon’s dismissal midway through the second half was followed by Gustavo Dezotti’s second yellow in the dying minutes.

Host nations have a good World Cup record and have reached the Final on no less than seven occasions. (1930, 1934, 1958, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1998). If you count this infamous Brazil v Uruguay decisive game in 1950 (what a nightmare for statisticians like me this game is!) then the answer is eight times. Discounting this match, another interesting stat is that Sweden (1958) are the only host nation ever to have lost the Final.

Goals in World Cup Finals have not been as plentiful in recent years, but on seven occasions more than four goals have been scored in the biggest match in the world – in 1930, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1970 and 1986.

Friday 1 January 2010

WORLD CUP TRIVIA

TEN Questions On... The World Cup Final

1. Which two Eastern European sides have each played in and lost two World Cup Finals?

2. There have been 18 World Cup tournaments but only 17 World Cup Finals. Which tournament did not have a World Cup Final and why?

3. Which four players have scored in more than one World Cup Final?

4. Since (and including) 1982 how many different nations have reached the World Cup Final?

5. Who is the only player to have missed a penalty in a World Cup Final?

6. How many times has a team come back from two goals down in a World Cup Final?

7. Which country has reached the World Cup Final the most number of times?

8. In which World Cup Final did the losing team finish the match with nine players following two red cards?

9. How many times has the host nation reached the World Cup Final?

10. On how many occasions have more than four goals been scored in the World Cup Final?

Happy thinking, and Happy New Year!

Answers tomorrow...