Gone but never forgotten - Fifa.com

For the entire football family, players, coaches, referees and directors alike, 2011 has been a year tinged with sadness. From legendary Brazilian midfielder Socrates to the vastly experienced Croatian coach Tomislav Ivic, football has lost some of its most iconic figures over the past twelve months. In a list that is by no means exhaustive, FIFA.com pays tribute to those servants of the game who are sadly no longer with us.

Players
Brazilian football lost one of its brightest talents this year with the death of Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza, the player known simply as Socrates. With his effortless style and statuesque poise, the midfielder was a shining light on the pitch, notably for A Seleçao, for whom he scored 22 goals in 60 appearances between 1979 and 1986.

Socrates’ list of career honours is, however, surprisingly short in comparison to his towering talent. His most successful club spells came at Botafogo and later Corinthians, where he spent the bulk of his career, and he represented Brazil at two FIFA World Cups™, in 1982 and 1986. Socrates also captained Brazil for a time, as did his younger brother, Rai, but never won an international title.

'The Doctor', as he was known during his playing days in recognition of his medical qualifications, went on to practise as a sports medicine specialist after his retirement in 1989. He eventually succumbed to an intestinal infection on 4 December this year.

Former Hungary international Florian Albert, regarded as one of the most elegant players ever to have graced the game, died in October at the age of 70. Albert was a natural heir to the Magical Magyars of the 1950s, with his exceptional close control, explosive pace, vision, passing ability and powerful shot making him a peerless performer. A one-club man, Albert played for Ferencvaros from 1958 to 1974 and scored 31 goals in 75 appearances for the Hungarian national team.

Albert was elected European Footballer of the Year in 1967 and picked up two prizes at the 1962 FIFA World Cup Chile, sharing the Golden Boot with five others and winning the Best Young Player award. It was at Wembley in 1966, however, that Albert enjoyed perhaps his finest hour, inspiring Hungary to a 3-1 win over Brazil. A day of national mourning was observed in Hungary after his death earlier this year.

Powerful Russian forward Valentin Ivanov, who died in November aged 76, spent his entire career at Torpedo Moscow, scoring 124 goals in 287 games and winning two domestic league titles. Ivanov also enjoyed a successful coaching career, adding a league title and three cup triumphs to his list of honours.

Slovakian defender Jan Popluhar, who represented Czechoslovakia 62 times between 1958 and 1967, died in March at the age of 75. Popluhar played in the 1962 FIFA World Cup final, and in 2004 was voted Slovakia’s best footballer of the 20th century. His former international team-mate, Ladislav Novak, also passed away just a few weeks later. Novak, a left-back, won 75 caps and also appeared in the 1962 final, before going on to pursue a career in coaching. Another famously solid defender, Bosnian Josip Katalinski, died earlier this year aged 63. Katalinski represented Yugoslavia 41 times between 1972 and 1977, scoring ten goals.

Cuba international Juan Tunas, another of football’s legendary figures, died earlier this year at the age of 98. Tunas scored twice in Cuba’s 2-1 victory over Romania in the first round of the 1938 FIFA World Cup France to help create one of the first major upsets in the competition’s history. Tunas, until his death the last surviving member of the 1938 side, was known as El Romperredes (The Netbuster) for his powerful shot, which did once break a net during a league match. The year also saw the passing of Jean Daniel Eboue, a player known as “Iron Lungs”. The powerful midfielder, famed for his versatility and tireless work-rate, played for Canon Yaounde in the 1970s and 80s and won the very first Cameroonian Ballon d’Or award.

Former England defender Laurie Hughes, who played in the Three Lions’ famous 1-0 defeat by USA at the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil, died on 9 September at the age of 86. Hughes was also part of Liverpool’s historic, title-winning side of 1947.

Naoki Matsuda, capped 40 caps for Japan between 2000 and 2005 and a linchpin of former club side Yokohama F Marinos, died in January at the age of 34. Matsuda passed away two days after suffering a heart attack in training with his club, Matsumoto Yamaga. Costa Rican international Dennis Marshall, 25, died in a car accident near San Jose on 23 June, just five days after he scored against Honduras in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals.

Coaches
Tomislav Ivic, a modestly-talented player who enjoyed a long and fruitful career as a coach, passed away in June at the age of 77. The Croatian coached at 19 clubs across Europe, winning eight league titles in six different countries.

The death of Wales manager Gary Speed, 42, on 27 November triggered a huge outpouring of grief in the British Isles and beyond. Former midfielder Speed was Wales’ second most capped player, and, in December 2006, he became the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances. He retired from playing in 2010 having scored 134 goals in 834 club appearances, as well as seven in 85 internationals for Wales.

Finally, former Uruguay international and head coach Hector Nunez, who led La Celeste to Copa America glory in 1995, died in Spain on 19 December.

Directors and referees
Dario Borgogno, former General Secretary of the Italian Football Federation under the presidency of former UEFA president Artemio Franchi, died in January at the age of 87. Borgogno was a member of the Organising Committee for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which Italy hosted. The Football Association of Wales, meanwhile, lost former secretary general Alun Evans, who died at the age of 69. Evans occupied the post from 1982 to 1995.

Isaac David Sasso Sasso, a former member of the FIFA Executive Committee and the vice-president of CONCACAF between 1990 and 2007, passed away in Costa Rica at the age of 85. After a successful business career in Costa Rica, Sasso Sasso spent the best part of 30 years putting his skills to use for the benefit of national and international football. Meanwhile in Spain, Fernando Vara de Rey, a former vice-president of the FIFA Appeal Committee and a member of the Spanish Football Association for 21 years, passed away on 18 July at the age of 74.

Leo Kirch, described as “the father of German private television”, died on 14 July at the age of 84. In 1984, Kirch and his company KirchMedia helped to launch commercial television in Germany, before later buying broadcasting rights to German football matches and Formula One races.

Finally, referees around the world paid tribute to Russian official Vladimir Pettay, 38, who was one of 44 killed in a plane crash in Petrozavodsk on 21 June. Pettay was on his way back from officiating a league match between Dinamo Moscow and Rubin Kazan.

Zaragoza sack Aguirre - Fifa.com

Javier Aguirre has had his contract as Real Zaragoza coach terminated. The Mexican, who led his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, had been in charge of the Aragon club since November of the same year.

Zaragoza are bottom of La Liga, having lost eight of their last nine league games. A statement on the club's official website read: "Late last night on Thursday, December 29, Real Zaragoza reached an agreement with Javier Aguirre for the termination of his contract as first-team coach."

Aguirre succeeded Jose Aurelio Gay at the helm and managed to keep the club in the top flight last season, as Zaragoza finished two points clear of relegated Deportivo in a closely-fought relegation scrap.

However, the first half of this campaign indicated the team would struggle to avoid the drop this time around, and the club admitted in their statement that they felt it was time for a change.

"Real Zaragoza wishes to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication displayed by Javier Aguirre during the time he has been coaching the team," the statement continued. "However, the sporting situation that faced the team required an urgent change of direction, so it has come to this agreement.

"Real Zaragoza wishes Javier Aguirre every success in his future career. We would also seek to highlight the exemplary attitude he has shown during his stay."

The 53-year-old, who played for his country when they hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1986, also led Mexico as coach at Korea/Japan 2002.

Prior to his second spell at Mexico's reins, he was in charge at Osasuna between 2002 and '06, before moving on to Atletico Madrid between 2006 and '09.

Sao Paulo backing small and micro companies - Fifa.com

Known as the economic hub of Brazil, Sao Paulo is the city that never sleeps, the land of business opportunities, of which there will be many in the near future thanks to the boost provided by the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

Small and micro companies are set to benefit in particular. According to a study conducted earlier this year by the Sao Paulo Small- and Micro-Business Support Service (Sebrae-SP) and the Getulio Vargas Foundation, nearly 300,000 of them across the state can expect to generate additional business thanks to the world finals.

The study identified some 456 different types of business opportunities in a range of production chains in nine industries: civil engineering, IT, services, tourism, tourism-related products and services, clothing, retail, wood and furniture and agribusiness.

“These are all opportunities for business owners looking to up their turnover, and for people who’ve always dreamed of becoming entrepreneurs and want to set up their own companies,” said the Director of Sebrae-SP Bruno Caetano.

The survey identified tourism as one of the most promising sectors, with openings aplenty for operators and tour guides and conductors. Meanwhile, hotel and accommodation services and language teaching are also areas where growth can be expected, along with the food and drink production and marketing, which in turn will have a positive effect on agribusiness.

In the opinion of the study’s authors, demand will also be high for textile consultancy services, clothing, fashion design, wood and furniture, IT and handicrafts, as it will for services linked to sport, such as players' health and legal affairs, and sectors including transport, entertainment and communication.

“The increased demand generated by the FIFA World Cup will have both a direct and indirect impact on the economy,” added Caetano. “To be able to meet this growth, business owners can count on training, face-to-face courses, literature and round tables, all of which will create a lasting legacy in a number of sectors.”

By way of example, the construction of the Arena de Sao Paulo in Itaquera will provide a major stimulus to the economy in the eastern part of Sao Paulo, which is home to 7,000 small and micro companies. According to Caetano, these companies are already tapping into the potential offered by the FIFA World Cup and have created nearly 10,000 direct jobs, 49% of them in the retail sector, 37% in services and 14% in industry.

Russia proud to be hosting FIFA World Cup™ - Fifa.com

One year on from the award of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ to Russia it appears that positivity surrounding the tournament is already at a high level. With seven years to go until the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia kicks off, FIFA’s latest global market research investigation looked to shed light on the thoughts, hopes and aspirations of the Russian people at this early stage in the preparation process.

The study reveals that 51 per cent of the Russian population is aware that the FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia in 2018. This awareness level rises to 61 per cent among those interested in football. This figure can be expected to rise in the coming years as 2018 approaches and the nation begins to turn its attention to the impending arrival of world football’s flagship event.

The research also highlights that Russians have faith in the steps taken by the LOC and Russian Government in preparation for the tournament. Of those aware that the event will take place in Russia, 74 per cent believe that it will prove to be a great success.

A total 43 per cent of the Russian population is either ‘interested’ or ‘very interested’ in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This interest can also be expected to rise in the coming years, particularly driven by the improvements in the country’s infrastructure and construction of new stadiums.

There is a strong sense of pride among Russians in the fact that they are hosting the tournament. 61 per cent state that they are proud that Russia is hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2018. The tournament is also seen as an opportunity to portray Russia in a positive light and change long held perceptions. There is a belief held by 54 per cent of the population that hosting the tournament will improve the image of their country abroad.

Previous research shows that Russians have every reason to be optimistic about hosting the FIFA World Cup. The 2010 edition of the event delivered on the expectations of the South African people. Despite pre-event press reports doubting South Africa’s readiness to host the event, the South African people themselves were extremely confident that the host nation would be ready and that the competition would be a success, leaving a lasting legacy.

Independent research conducted for FIFA subsequent to the 2010 FIFA World Cup vindicated South Africa’s optimism. 83 per cent of South Africans say that they are benefitting and will continue to benefit in the long term from the country’s hosting of the event. Further, 94 per cent believe that the event improved the image of South Africa with foreigners and has as a result strengthened their tourism industry. It is also widely agreed (by 91 per cent of the population) that hosting the FIFA World Cup has had a long term impact on the country’s infrastructure such as roads, public transport and telecommunications. 

Locals taking pride in Itaquera - Fifa.com

Itaquera means “sleeping stone” in the Tupi-Guarani dialect, though there is nothing sleepy about this Sao Paulo neighbourhood these days. Now busily preparing to host the Opening Match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, at the Arena de Sao Paulo, it has been transformed into a thriving suburb, offering opportunities for locals and newcomers alike.

This is a good time to be an Itaquerense, so much so that even people living in surrounding areas are all proudly proclaiming their links with the up-and-coming suburb. Some can even boast they live right next door to the stadium where the greatest footballing show on Earth will get under way in two and a half years’ time, an event that will put Itaquera firmly on the global footballing map.

Take the construction workers helping to erect the Arena de Sao Paulo, for example. Among them is the 21-year-old Mauricio Rodrigues Caldeira, who hails from the northern state of Para and has just moved to the suburb, giving him the luxury of living close to his place of work, a privilege many Sao Paulo commuters no doubt envy him for.

“It’s great to live in Itaquera,” said Mauricio, who is working on his first construction project. “It’s nice and quiet here and people have been very welcoming. It’s a new start and a new life for me here.

“I hope I can carry on living here during the World Cup,” he added. “There’s a good atmosphere about Itaquera. Local trade’s on the up and people can see that things are changing here. I want to come and watch the opening game. I hope it’s Brazil versus the Netherlands so we can get our own back for 2010.”

Another proud local is Hamilton Almeida de Souza, who can hardly believe that the team closest to his heart, newly crowned Brazilian champions Corinthians, will be taking up residence at the stadium when it is complete.

“My late father had a radio and we’d meet up in the bar to listen to the Corinthians games,” he recalled. “I feel so proud to be helping to build the stadium where my club will play and where the first match of the FIFA World Cup will be staged.”

Born and bred in Itaquera, Hamilton is amazed by the pace of transformation taking place in the area he calls home.

“I never imagined seeing a stadium here,” he continued. “Local infrastructures are improving all the time and property prices are going up a lot. You can’t get a flat here for the same money as before, and houses that once cost 100m BRL [55,000 USD] are now worth 160m BRL [88,000 USD]. They’ve gone up an awful lot. And there’s going to be even more jobs, new companies, shops and restaurants. It’s going to be good for everyone.”

Ronaldo signs for Brazil 2014 LOC - Fifa.com

Given his prodigious goalscoring record in FIFA World Cup™ finals, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima richly deserves his nickname of O Fenômeno. The scorer of 15 goals in 11 world finals appearances at France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006, having also made the Brazil squad for USA 1994, the legendary striker is the leading marksman in the history of the competition, striking a staggering 1.4 goals per game.

There is more, much more, to Ronaldo than that landmark achievement, however. A role model to many, he has also set an example off the pitch, a fact he underlined once more on Thursday in accepting a position on the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Local Organising Committee Management Board.

The ex-Seleção star will have a voice and take an active role on the Board. As well as lending his image as a footballing champion, he will give his support in the day-to-day running of the LOC and help ensure projects reach completion.

“I couldn’t think of anyone who symbolises our national identity better than Ronaldo, a man who’s proved that we Brazilians can reach the top,” enthused LOC President Ricardo Teixeira. “We followed every step of his fantastic career and we know he’s the right man coming in at the right time.”

Delighted to come on board, O Fenômeno said he would use his high profile to ensure that Brazil stages a memorable tournament: “It’s an honour for me to accept this great challenge. This FIFA World Cup is for the people of Brazil and I want to make my contribution. We’ll be monitoring preparations very closely and we’re going to show how proud we are to be hosting the World Cup.”

“Ronaldo was a fantastic player. Three times the FIFA World Player of the Year, he was also a world champion in 1994 and 2002, and took part in four FIFA World Cup finals in all, becoming the competition’s highest scorer of all time in the process,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, welcoming the former player’s appointment to the LOC.

“We are very pleased that Ronaldo has agreed to join the team and play his part in making the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil a success. He will have a very important contribution to make in what will be his fifth world finals, albeit off the pitch this time. We wish him very well in his new job.”

A glittering career
Born in Bento Ribeiro, a humble suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo took his first steps in the game with nearby club Sao Cristovao, devoting the little money he had to his bus fares. A considerable cut above his peers, it was not long before the lithe youngster got himself noticed. The man who discovered him was none other than Brazil winger Jairzinho, a star of A Selecão’s stunning triumph at Mexico 1970.

Signing on the dotted line for Cruzeiro at the age of 17, Ronaldo quickly earned a call-up to the national U-17 team, the stepping stones for a move to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. The following year he was named in the Brazil squad for USA 1994, and though he failed to make an appearance the lethal striker never looked back.

The top scorer in the 1993 Supercopa Libertadores and the Dutch league two years later, he then joined Barcelona and ran out leading scorer in La Liga in 1996/97. In the meantime he won bronze for his country at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Atlanta 1996, the year in which he won his first FIFA World Player award.

By this time dubbed O Fenômeno, Ronaldo claimed the FIFA World Player crown again in 1997, when he left Spain for Inter Milan. Recovering from serious injury he was named the best player on the planet for a third time in 2002, in recognition of his scoring exploits in Korea Republic and Japan.

Then came a move to Real Madrid, where he topped the Liga scoring charts once more in 2003/04. After a spell with AC Milan, he eventually returned home in 2009 with Corinthians, the club where he announced his retirement earlier this year.

Named a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, Ronaldo has been the driving force behind a number of initiatives, among them a fundraising match between Brazil and Haiti, and also devotes his considerable energies to sports management.

Now 35, the man who used to terrorise defences the world over has turned his hand to an exciting new venture, taking on a key role in the staging of the biggest footballing show on Earth.

Sao Paulo working on fan mobility solutions - Fifa.com

The venue for the Opening Match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, the Arena de Sao Paulo is not short of public transport solutions, with two metro stations and a train station serving the stadium, making it easily accessible for fans.

Sao Paulo as a whole is devoting every energy to public transport. The city is drawing on the initiatives put in place at other major events staged in the country, such as the Brazilian Grand Prix and Rock in Rio, and will be prohibiting the use of cars and obliging fans attending games at Brazil 2014 to use the bus, metro and train services to get around.

Itaquera train station, which links up with the metro, will be the last stop on the line for the Expresso da Copa, an express train service that will complete the journey between the city centre and the outlying suburb in just 20 minutes. Fans using the metro, which is the better option for those travelling from the area west of the stadium, will arrive at Artur Alvim station, a mere 800 metres from the Arena de Sao Paulo.

“The aim is to split the fans into different groups and avoid bottlenecks forming at a single point of arrival,” said Raquel Verdenacci, the Executive Coordinator on the Sao Paulo Organising Committee.

Visitors to the new-look Itaquera station have been very impressed by the services and amenities it now offers, which will be upgraded further in the build-up to 2014. As well as being expanded, the station boasts several fast-food outlets, cashpoints and a shopping mall, all designed to guarantee the comfort of fans supporting their teams at the world finals.

According to official figures, the metro and train stations have the capacity to handle 100,000 passengers an hour, having been equipped with large footbridges, which measure up to 11 metres wide in the case of Itaquera station. Each metro train can carry 1,600 passengers and by 2014 they will be running every 85 seconds, making it one of the most frequent services in the world. The trains have already been purchased and will be operating in 2013.

The Sao Paulo metro system currently comprises 64 stations and five lines, which extend over a distance of 74 kilometres in all.

Like the world’s largest and most modern stadiums, the Arena de Sao Paulo will be served by car parks set aside for hospitality guests and service personnel. A large taxi rank, with capacity for 150 vehicles, will also be created across from the train stations.

Most of the games to be held at the stadium will kick off in the afternoon, between 13.00 and 17.00 (Brasilia time), which will mean less congestion for fans using the city’s public transport system to get to matches, as they will be travelling against the usual commuter flows. And by the time games end in the early evening, passenger numbers will have dropped considerably in the area, with most local people having already made the journey home from the city centre.

There should be even fewer transport problems when the city hosts the second semi-final on 9 July, which is a local public holiday commemorating the Constitutional Revolution of 1932.

The significant investment in the public transport system serving Itaquera will benefit not just visiting fans but the four million people who live in east Sao Paulo, who will be able to make use of it long after the world finals are over.

Dreams and history made in Oceania - Fifa.com

For four Polynesian nations, the four-year wait to attempt to turn FIFA World Cup™ dreams into reality played out over just five days at the J.S. Blatter Stadium in Apia, Samoa last week. Ultimately it was Samoa, arguably the pre-tournament favourites, who claimed the only ticket on offer to Round Two of Oceania qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, although the tournament will also long be remembered for the achievements of American Samoa.

Appropriately enough, the competition was fierce and tightly contested, with a single-goal the biggest margin across any of the six matches, and the other two participants, Cook Islands and Tonga, also highly competitive.

Awaiting Samoa in Round Two next June, which doubles as the OFC Nations Cup, will be Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Tahiti. The other group comprises Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, with the top four advancing to the third and final stage of Oceania qualifying.

Tight margins
None of the quartet had enjoyed significant preparation with each playing only a handful of internationals since South Africa 2010 qualifiers concluded in September 2007. Opening-day results proved crucial in the final wash-up. The tournament opened with American Samoa defeating Tonga 2-1, while the hosts edged out Cook Islands 3-2 with a stoppage time winner. Many observers felt Albert Bell’s late goal on the opening day would go a long way towards deciding the group winner, but American Samoa and Tonga were not about to let their hard work evaporate easily.

Under international coaching debutant Chris Williams, Tonga had prepared almost daily for the last eight months and their famous warrior spirit was on display in the second outing as they held rivals Samoa to a 1-1 draw. However, American Samoa drew with the Cook Islands by the same scoreline earlier in the day, which, combined with the fact that the two Samoan nations were drawn against each other in the final round, meant the end of the road for Tonga.

Samoa went into the final match needing just a draw to qualify by virtue of goals scored. As it turned out, the Samoans dominated goalscoring opportunities, although the best chance of the match fell the way of the underdogs only for Diamond Ott’s late close-range effort to strike the upright and bounce away, taking with it American Samoa’s hopes of a stunning upset. With the visiting side pushing forward for a winner, Silao Malo finished off a counter-attack to confirm Samoa’s passage to Fiji alongside Oceania’s seven highest-ranked nations. The final match of the tournament went the way of Tonga, with their 2-1 victory enough to tip American Samoa out of second on goals scored.

New ground ploughed
A decade is a long time in football, but in the Pacific Islands, where the opportunity for exposure to international football is limited, ground-breaking improvement as achieved by American Samoa last week is noteworthy, if not extraordinary. The fact that American Samoa were in the hunt until virtually the last kick of the final match is testament to not only their coach Thomas Rongen, but also the will to improve no matter how intimidating the odds.

While Samoa came up trumps, it was neighbours American Samoa who will surely look back on these five days in Apia as a turning point in their game. Just over a decade ago, the tiny South Pacific nation of less than 60,000 inhabitants commenced their FIFA World Cup journey in the most ignominious fashion imaginable.

In the unlikely setting of the Australian tourist destination Coffs Harbour, American Samoa kicked off with a 13-0 opening loss against Fiji. Their tournament concluded a week later with four defeats, 57 goals conceded and an unimaginable 31-0 defeat against Australia; a record international scoreline unlikely to be surpassed.

A week ago, American Samoa’s FIFA World Cup history detailed 12 defeats, two goals scored and 129 goals conceded. They had also never won an international match, but that unwanted record was to be turned around in spectacular fashion.

An opening encounter against Tonga saw Ramin Ott, scorer of one of the nation’s two previous FIFA World Cup goals, put his side ahead before the interval. The name, however, that will go down in the history books will be 17-year-old Shalom Luani, whose second-half strike proved to be the winner as Unaloto Feao pulled a goal back. Luani was at it again two days later against Cook Islands, scoring in a 1-1 draw.

After little more than a month in the role, highly experienced former MLS and USA U-20 coach Thomas Rongen has proved himself capable of unlocking American Samoa’s natural potential. "It's actually been very refreshing because it's such a pure form of football," said the Dutch-born Florida resident. "It's amateur football at its best. The game at the highest level can be very cynical but this is just about 23 guys making sacrifices. They’re not getting anything to be here and some are spending time away from their jobs and are losing money because of that.”

American Samoa’s agile goalkeeper Salapu was at the wrong end of that infamous world record scoreline a decade ago and he, more than anyone had demons to exorcise in Apia. “This man changed in 90 minutes from a guy with some serious problems, mental problems, because he is carrying this 31 to nothing with him,” said Rongen of Salapu following the win over Tonga. “The first thing after the game, he looked to me. He was crying, and said ‘I can now tell my children that I'm a winner’ and that is bigger than the game itself, quite frankly.”

New FIFA Communications Director Meets Russian Media - Fifa.com

FIFA's new Director of Communications and Public Affairs Walter De Gregorio visited Moscow on December 8 and 9 to meet heads and editors of leading Russian mass media outlets.

“I became FIFA’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs two months ago, and it’s only natural that I wanted to meet the key players in the Russian media market in person, to establish contacts, and to discuss cooperation in covering Russia’s preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Journalists should feel that FIFA is working in close contact with the 2018 Russia Local Organising Committee and that at any moment they can get any information from both the LOC and FIFA,” Walter De Gregorio said on the purpose of his visit.

At his meetings with Russian media representatives the editors wanted to learn what would be the accreditation quota for media representing the host country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Walter De Gregorio pointed out that it would be significant and expressed confidence that the Russian media would make excellent use of this privilege to provide excellent coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“From the meetings I had during my visit I see Russian journalists are ready to work at the 2018 FIFA World Cup tomorrow. They are very well informed and enthusiastic about Russia hosting such a tournament. Russia is indeed a sports-loving nation. At one of the news agencies they showed me a printout of the football news for just one week, and it was an impressive wad of paper. There is no doubt about the interest to the World Cup growing in the country as the tournament approaches,” FIFA’s Director of Communications said.

“FIFA and the media have the same goal – to experience a fantastic 2018 FIFA  World Cup, although we’re coming at it from different directions. I believe that keeping in constant contact will help us avoid any misunderstandings or distorted information from appearing in the news. For example, despite recent reports in a number of European and Russian publications, FIFA is not conducting any investigation into the Russian bid for the 2018 World Cup. Russia delivered a very good bid and we are confident that Russia will host a wonderful World Cup. I have reiterated our position to the Russian media during the visit,” Walter De Gregorio pointed out.

FIFA’s Director of Communications also said that he would visit Russia regularly, starting next year, in order to establish and maintain close working contacts between FIFA and the Russian media.

Oceania quartet commence long road - Fifa.com

Just over two years to the day since New Zealand’s historic qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, the long path to the global stage for Oceania nations will commence later today. American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and host nation Samoa will comprise a quartet of teams in Round 1, with only the winner maintaining their Brazil 2014 ambitions.

Three matches across five days provide little margin for error in the Samoan capital of Apia. The victors shall progress to Round 2, where they will be grouped with Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Tahiti. The other pool will feature Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

That tournament, to be held next June in Fiji, will double as the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, with qualification for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 therefore in the offing. The four highest teams will also progress to Oceania’s third and final stage of Brazil 2014 qualifying. For now, though, the gaze of four Polynesian nations is very much on the coming week as the world’s greatest football tournament takes a foothold in a remote part of the globe.

Varied preparation
Two of the competing nations, American Samoa and Cook Islands, have followed similar pathways in their preparations, both appointing high-profile coaches and both having taken part in the September’s Pacific Games in New Caledonia. Former MLS and USA U-20 national team coach Thomas Rongen will guide American Samoa, while ex-All Whites midfielder Shane Rufer, elder brother of Oceania Player of the Century Wynton, will guide Cook Islands.

Tonga in contrast with their opening opponents, American Samoa, did not take part in New Caledonia and have played just two matches since their South Africa 2010 campaign ended in September 2007. Despite their apparent period of inactivity, Tonga have been focussing on internal development with the squad training almost daily throughout much of this year.

Nevertheless with international football for the four participating teams at a premium, Tonga’s Australian coach Chris Williams believes a surprise victor could emerge. “For me, no one knows what to expect from us and, to a degree, we don’t know what to expect from ourselves as well,” he said.

While the humid conditions could favour American Samoa as they make the short trip to their neighbouring nation, history certainly does not. In four campaigns to date American Samoa have yet to record a point and are the continent’s only nation yet to claim a win in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Crucial opening showdown
The second match in the opening round could ultimately prove to be the pivotal one with Cook Islands, highest of the quartet on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, matching up against Samoa. The hosts have the best record having defeated all three rivals since their FIFA World Cup qualifying debut in 1996. Coach of the host nation, Tunoa Lui, is of the view that success in the opening encounter will be fundamental to success saying, “I think this will be the toughest match.”

Samoa will go into the opening match buoyed by a 1-0 win over Fiji’s Suva in their final hit-out on Saturday. A key player for coach Tunoa Lui will be Desmond Fa’aiuaso, who, at 27-years-old, already has an international career spanning 12 years with the fleet-footed striker having also played in the New Zealand national league.

If hitting the ground running is one of the major hurdles to overcome, then Cooks Islands could be facing the biggest challenge with the nation of less than 30,000 inhabitants having recruited several nationals domiciled overseas. It is a factor of which Rufer is mindful. “The key for us now will be integrating the new players from Australia and New Zealand in a short time, but we’re confident going into our first game,” he said.

Itaquera goes under the microscope - Fifa.com

What was the Itaquera neighbourhood in Sao Paulo like 100 years ago? Was football played there? Were there any pitches near the site where the new Arena de Sao Paulo is going to be located? In order to find the answers to thiese and other questions, the Sao Paulo Museum of Football has set up an investigation centre to learn more about Itaquera.

What is known at this point is that Itaquera has always been a hotbed for futebol de várzea, a term typically used in the Sao Paulo state to refer to organised matches played between teams of football aficionados. Its popularity was easy to explain, given the neighbourhood’s relative distance from the centre of Sao Paulo at the time, while there remain a number of várzea pitches in Itaquera.

Futebol de várzea is a phenomenon that has experienced a gradual decline in Brazil’s major cities but, in the early 20th century, pitches abounded on unused pieces of land across the nation. Indeed, that was where many of the legends of Brazilian football first got to grips with the beautiful game. In Sao Paulo in particular, factory teams had a fundamental role to play in the growth of futebol de várzea, given that many workers got together to form sides with their colleagues.

Parallels with the Pacaembu
Similarities have been drawn with the construction of the new Arena de Sao Paulo and that of the Pacaembu stadium – a venue which hosted matches at the 1950 FIFA World Cup™. According to the Museum of Football’s director Clara Azevedo, there were fears during the Pacaembu’s construction back in the late 1930s that the stadium was too far from the centre of Sao Paulo when in fact it is much closer than Itaquera.

"Nowadays, the Pacaembu is seen as being in a central location but, in the era when it was being built, the [Irmandade da] Santa Casa [de Misericórdia] was around there, and that was considered to be in an out-of-the-way place,” Azevedo explained.

“Photos taken during the Pacaembu’s construction show that the surrounding area was sparsely populated. The stadium was very important for local development during that era, just as I think the Arena de Sao Paulo will be for the eastern zone of the city which is gigantic. It’s a zone which is growing very fast, but there are still a lot of people in the city that have never set foot there,” she added.

According to the studies which have been carried out, the Pacaembu neighbourhood was very different back then, to the point that there were even two waterfalls very close to the stadium. A photo from 1945 shows a large piece of open ground – without any houses on it – right next to the football venue. Within a few short years the scene had changed radically, to the extent that several apartment buildings had sprung up there. 

Nowadays, aside from the fact that the notion of distance has changed significantly and the neighbourhood is now considered to be central, the district enjoys an excellent infrastructure. Featuring tower blocks and shops catering to those with plenty of spending power, Pacaembu has become one of the finest residential areas in Sao Paulo.

Building the Pacaembu helped bring Sao Paulo state football to another level. Prior to 1940, when the stadium was unveiled, the city did not have a large sporting arena. The Morumbi, which has since taken the mantle of the metropolis’ biggest stadium, was not built until the 1960s.

Honduras tipped in open quartet - Fifa.com

Round 3 of qualifying for Brazil 2014 in the CONCACAF zone begins in 2012 with the region’s big boys joining the party. Honduras and Cuba are the two seeded teams, alongside Panama and Canada, in what looks a wide open Group C. FIFA.com breaks down the section.

1. Honduras
2. Cuba
3. Panama
4. Canada

The favourites
Honduras will enter the qualifying competition as heavy favourites in a group that promises to throw up a few surprises. With the side having qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, new coach Luis Suarez still has the spine of that successful team to call on, including the likes of Wilson Palacios and Hendry Thomas. With a style reliant heavily on athleticism, speed and counter-attacking power, the Central Americans, who reached the semi-finals at last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, will be a handful for any foe.

The contenders
While Cuba may be one of the seeded teams – due to their superior ranking at the moment – their passage to the next phase is far from assured. In fact, with Canada and Panama putting in fine performances in the previous phase of qualifying for Brazil 2014, it is a tricky business picking a likely second-place finisher in Group C.

Cuba are rarely involved in the latter stages of qualifying in the CONCACAF zone and are traditionally associated more with their all-conquering national baseball team. Even so, the island’s footballers managed to qualify for last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, although they did bow out without picking up a point. 

Canada and Panama finished the competition well ahead of the chasing pack, winning all of their games and sending a message of warning to the competition ahead.

Players to watch
Honduras are led by English Premier league standout Palacios, who epitomizes the Catrachos brawny, muscular approach. Canada will once again rely on the wily mind and midfield wizardry of veteran DC United schemer Dwayne de Rosario, who is ably backed up by the likes of Julian de Guzman and Netherlands-based ace Atiba Hutchinson. Panama will be counting on a physically boisterous style, much like that of the Hondurans, and strike tandem Luis Tejada and Blas Perez, both of whom play a crucial role in the side’s fortunes, as does goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. For Cuba, one man to keep an eye on is Jaime Colome and another is his younger brother Yoel, a member of the fabled Barcelona youth system in Spain and one of precious few players in the team playing club football outside of the domestic amateur league.

Did you know?
- Honduras have qualified for two FIFA World Cups in their history: Spain 1982 and South Africa 2010. On each occasion they failed to advance past the first round.

- Panama have never reached the finals of a FIFA World Cup, but they do rank as one of the most-improved sides in the CONCACAF zone of late. They reached the Gold Cup final in 2005 and at last year’s tournament they beat the mighty USA en route to the last four.

- Canada have qualified for one FIFA World Cup in their history, in Mexico in 1986 where they conceded five goals and scored zero in their three games. That team included the likes of Bob Lenarduzzi and Carl Valentine, who rank among Canada’s all-time greatest players.

- Cuba were the first Caribbean team to take part in a FIFA World Cup back in 1938, just eight years after they played their first international game. They beat Romania before falling to Sweden in the quarter-finals.

Have your say
Which side is the most likely to challenge Honduras for a place in the final round hexagonal – Canada, Cuba or Panama?

Four spots left in Asia - Fifa.com

The picture of Asia's third qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ became clearer after matchday five today, with Australia, Iran and Iraq progressing with a game to spare, joining the already-qualified Japan, Uzbekistan and Jordan in the last ten of the next stage, leaving just four qualifying berths from three groups to be decided.

The penultimate fixture, however, proved to be too little too late for China PR who went out despite winning 4-0 in Singapore, while Korea Republic were dealt a 2-1 blow against Lebanon which saw their celebration parade denied. Join FIFA.com as we review the thrills and spills from across the continent.

The match
Thailand 0-1 Australia
Goals: Brett Holman 76
Despite losing away in Oman four days ago, Australia bounced back to defeat hosts Thailand. Brett Holman's second-half goal was enough for his side to register their fourth win from five games but coach Holger Osieck's visitors didn't have everything their way in Bangkok, where coach Winfried Schafer's side put on a fighting display throughout for their flood-stricken people.

The Thais went forward from the outset and they caused numerous headaches for the Socceroos, with right-winger Suree Sukha particularly potent and coming close to opening the scoring in the first half. At the other end, Josh Kennedy directed several headers on target but it was Holman that provided the difference, nodding home Brett Emerton's cross. While the win secured Australia's path through, it leaves Thailand in a three-way battle for the second qualifying spot with Saudi Arabia and Oman, who shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw at Riyadh.

The surprise
Lebanon 2-1 Korea Republic 
Goals: Ali Al Saadi 5, Abbas Atwi 31 (pen); Koo Ja Cheol 20 (pen)
Lebanon continued their stunning run in Group B under German Theo Bucker, avenging their 6-0 defeat in Seoul against Korea Republic by sealing a shocking 2-1 home win. Playing in front of their own supporters, the Lebanese got off to a perfect start when they went ahead on five minutes, centre-back Ali Al Saadi latching onto a rebound to fire into the top corner.

Coach Cho Kwang-Rae's side drew themselves level on 20 minutes courtesy of Koo Ja-Cheol, who equalised from the penalty spot. However, the VfL Wolfsburg midfielder went from hero to villain as he tripped Mahmoud el Ali to gift the rivals a chance of retribution from 12 yards, which Lebanon No10 Abbas Atwi coolly converted to restore their lead. The remainder of the game saw the Taeguk Warriors push hard but the absence of striking-ace Park Chu-Young took its toll as they lacked accuracy in front of goal, with the hosts holding on for a famous victory; their first against the east Asians.

The other attractions
In the section's other game, Kuwait came from behind to down the already-eliminated United Arab Emirates 2-1, pulling themselves back into contention. Fahad Al Enezi struck shortly after the interval to cancel out Ismail Matar's first-half goal, before Walid Abbas put through his own net to gift the hosts a much-needed three points. The result, coupled with Lebanon's win, leaves Group B the only one where both spots are still up for grabs.

In Group A's first game, defender Zheng Zheng netted a brace while Yu Hai and captain Li Weifeng were also on target as a ten-man China crushed hosts Singapore 4-0 for only their second victory. Their hopes, however, lasted just five hours when Iraq negotiated their way though with a 3-1 triumph with Jordan to claim the section's second qualifying spot and confirm China's demise.

Group E front-runners Iran continued their free-scoring form with a comfortable 4-1 win over Indonesia, with their progression confirmed later on by the goalless draw played out between Qatar and Bahrain in Doha. The latter two are left vying for the section’s remaining spot in the concluding matchday on 29 February, where the Bahrainis are facing a must-win match against Indonesia, while the Qataris need just a point against Iran to go through.

Elsewhere, in Group C, already-qualified Japan suffered their first defeat, falling in Pyongyang as hosts Korea DPR recorded a consolation win despite early elimination – Pak Nan Chol heading home the only goal shortly after the restart. In the group’s other game, Uzbekistan recorded a comfortable 3-0 triumph at home against bottom side Tajikistan to move three points clear at the top.

The Player
Lebanon captain Roda Antar played the leading role as his unfancied side edged out the strongly-favoured Korea Republic. The former Cologne playmaker had a hand in their opening goal while pulling the strings in the midfielder as they held off their group rivals.

The stat
16 - Their 1-0 defeat in Korea DPR has proved to be Japan’s first loss under Alberto Zaccheroni, who saw his 16-match unbeaten record in charge of the Asian champions brought to an end in Pyongyang.

What they said
"We put in brilliant performance away in Saudi Arabia as they enjoyed the home advantage and support. The point we gained keeps our hopes still alive and we will do our utmost in the closing game to progress. We obtained four points against the likes of Australia and Saudi Arabia and the good results come as a timely boost for us." Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi

Matchday 5 results
15 November
Group A: Singapore 0-4 China PR, Jordan 1-3 Iraq
Group B: Lebanon 2-1 Korea Republic, Kuwait 2-1 United Arab Emirates
Group C: Korea DPR 1-0 Japan, Uzbekistan 3-0 Tajikistan
Group D: Thailand 0-1 Australia, Saudi Arabia 0-0 Oman
Group E: Indonesia 1-4 Iran, Qatar 0-0 Bahrain

Bucker, Antar revel in Lebanese success - Fifa.com

Lebanon began Group B in Asian Zone qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ as the rank outsiders. They were 160th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, and had Korea Republic, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates for company.

And though the Lebanese campaign began in predictable fashion, in the form of a 6-0 defeat by the Taeguk Warriors in Goyang, they have since proved the revelations of the Asian preliminaries. In their next three matches, indeed, Theo Bucker’s men beat United Arab Emirates 3-1 at home, drew with Kuwait in Beirut and then beat the same team 1-0 away.

But if the latter result was labelled an “outstanding” one by their German coach, Lebanon outranked it yesterday with a 2-1 reverse of a Korea Republic side positioned third in Asia and 31st overall on the global ladder at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium.

Ali Al Saadi and Abbas Ali Atwi, both of whom have never played club football outside their homeland, scored the Cedars’ goals as a team comprising just three foreign-based players - from Malaysia’s Selangor, Australian regional outfit Bankstown City Lions and Shandong Luneng in China PR - overcame one including employees of Hamburg, Wolfsburg, Celtic and Sunderland.

There were euphoric scenes at the final whistle as the result propelled Lebanon level on points with section leaders Korea Republic, with Kuwait two points back in third and United Arab Emirates yet to get off the mark, ahead of the final set of matches. Afterwards, Bucker revealed that his team’s pre-match target, given the towering size of the hurdle, was just a point.

“We were not even aiming to win, we are not dreamers,” admitted the 63-year-old, who assumed the reins in August. “But during the game we saw that we could compete. The key was our attitude. I'm extremely happy that we managed to get the three points, and I can't find the words to describe my feelings at the moment.

“I'm thinking of the rapid success we have had in such a short time, and that has only been possible because of the great co-operation between the players, the federation and the technical staff. When we went to Seoul, we were not prepared. It was right after Ramadan, which means no food, no sleep. They were two classes better than us. It is a real compliment to us that we have been able to catch up in two months."

Lebanon now require just a point from their final third-phase game to advance, and even if they lose away to the out-of-sorts United Arab Emirates, they would still go through provided Kuwait fail to pull off what would be a shock win in Korea Republic. Bucker is nevertheless aware that nothing can be taken for granted.

"There are no guarantees in football,” he warned. “We can only guarantee that we will go about our job in a professional manner. We are in good form, but don’t write off the Emirates.”

Roda Antar, who has captained Lebanon since 2004, was one of his country’s stand-out performers against the South Koreans, though the midfielder’s first-half booking means he will miss the encounter with United Arab Emirates.

“We deserved the victory today because we produced a big performance,” said the 31-year-old. “Our players are heroes. We are now close to reaching the final round. I’ll be unable to play in the last match, but I'm confident that my team-mates will manage without me. Hopefully we’ll manage a big achievement and advance to the final round.”

Bucker, who has a Lebanese wife and has lived in the country for several years, added: "I'm very happy for the Lebanese people. Football is an almighty power – it can bring freedom to a country.”

Committed Tonga's fresh approach - Fifa.com

Tonga will not want for commitment and desire when they take the field next week in the opening round of Oceania qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The Polynesian nations of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and hosts Samoa are currently preparing for this preliminary series, from which only one of the quartet will maintain their FIFA World Cup dream when competition concludes after five days.

For the last eight months, members of the Tonga national team squad have sacrificed all else to concentrate on a single and relatively humble goal – securing progression to Round Two, and a position alongside Oceania’s seven other nations next June in Fiji. For five to six days a week, Tonga’s elite players have sacrificed income and family commitments to make an almost daily trip to the Loto Tonga Soka Center along the bumpy roads of Tongatupa, the main landmass in an archipelago of almost 200 islands which comprise the Kingdom of Tonga.

Organisation and fitness therefore should not be a major factor for Tonga. However, few of the players have experienced FIFA World Cup football and many have not undergone modern basic training in childhood, as would be de rigueur for most international players.

Youthful zest
Charged with piecing together a cohesive national team, despite the many hurdles, is a novice coach in the shape of 25-year-old Chris Williams. Not only is the Australian making his international coaching entrance but he is in fact debuting as a senior coach. Indeed, some of the Tonga players are older than Williams, most notably 38-year-old Lokoua Taufahema, a veteran of the France 1998 qualifying campaign. To add further context, Slovakia’s Vladimir Weiss was the youngest coach at South Africa 2010 at 45, almost twice Williams' age. 

“The right place at the right time,” was how Williams described to FIFA.com his rapid ascension to become part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup story. “It is certainly a dream come true. Since I started coaching I wanted to coach an international team, and it certainly has come a lot quicker than I thought. My age doesn’t really matter to me, I just want to make a fist of it now and lead the team to victory.”

The Tongan players’ unwavering commitment suggests that half the challenge has already been overcome. Not that Williams lacks understanding of the unique obstacles in this part of the world, having lived and breathed the local game since arriving in Tonga some 18 months ago as a volunteer aid worker. Nor, one senses, does he lack for football knowledge, having coached for a decade and having spent time absorbing and learning the trade with apprenticeships at Motherwell and FC Copenhagen.

To add to the distinctive challenges facing Williams’ team is that many of the squad will take to the field next week against American Samoa in Apia making their international debut. Tonga’s paucity of international exposure is also a hindrance. They have played just two internationals since the South Africa 2010 qualifiers concluded in September 2007.

Island dreaming
On the surface, it would seem Tonga have cause for optimism given a positive historical record against their opponents, having beaten all three in previous qualifying campaigns, and also claiming a draw and a narrow loss against the Cook Islands two years ago. However, Tonga - unlike American Samoa and Cook Islands - did not have the benefit of invaluable international experience which came with contesting the Pacific Games in September.

The Tongans had to make do with a ten-day trip to New Zealand in September and matches against local sides, while also making a brief stop-over in Fiji this week and a meeting against Fiji’s crack club outfit Lautoka. “We will be underdogs,” Williams says of Oceania’s opening round of Brazil 2014 qualifiers. “Cook Islands and American Samoa benefitted by playing in the Pacific Games in September, but we believe we have an effective strategy which can get us three wins.

“I have imparted my philosophy to the boys and they believe in what we are doing. Of course the ultimate goal is to qualify, however I have watched the other three teams play and really, if you are the coach of Cook Islands or Samoa, you would be expecting to win. It’s not a beauty contest though... if we win three games, we will go through.

“There is definitely some talent in this group and I’d like to think we can maybe surprise a few teams in Samoa. Our road to Samoa has been a very difficult path, however the boys have shown so much positive transformation and improvement. I have faith in my boys and I believe they will deliver that diehard Tongan spirit.”

Tonga’s talent pool is small, with players selected only from Tongatupa, which has a population of around 50,000, many of whom are focussed on the national sport of Rugby. But the squad, Williams says, have demonstrated a level of devotion and undiluted joy for the game not always found in more professional environments. “The level of desire and commitment has been phenomenal,” said Williams. “Really it is costing the players to play while they are away from jobs or their farmland. I can’t speak highly enough of the players, so I really hope we come away with a couple of results."

Tight at the top as Messi fires Argentina - Fifa.com

THE DAY REPLAYED – Continuing a trend that emerged at this year’s Copa America, the South American qualifying competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ looks set to be one of the tightest since the current round-robin league system was introduced. With four rounds of games now completed, the top five sides in the nine-team group are separated by a single point, while bottom-placed Bolivia are the only outfit yet to record a win.

FIFA.com rounds up all the news from Tuesday’s quartet of games in the CONMEBOL Zone.

Match of the day
Colombia 1-2 Argentina
Goals: Dorlan Pabon 45 (Colombia); Lionel Messi 60, Sergio Aguero 84 (Argentina)

Things looked bleak for Argentina when Javier Mascherano inadvertently deflected Dorlan Pabon’s low free-kick into the back of the net to end a largely uneventful first half. Switching his side around in the second 45 minutes, Alejandro Sabella found the perfect ally for Lionel Messi in Sergio Aguero, and though his side failed to produce their best football, they will take great heart from fashioning a late turnaround. The win was La Albiceleste’s fourth FIFA World Cup qualifying triumph on Colombian soil and the second for Sabella, who was assistant coach to Daniel Passarella in their 1-0 win in 1997, a game also played in Barranquilla.

Elsewhere
Argentina’s hard-earned victory took them level with Uruguay on seven points at the top of the section, where they would be joined a few hours later by Venezuela, 1-0 winners over Bolivia. As was the case in their ground-breaking defeat of the Argentinians last month, the hero of the hour for La Vinotinto was a centre-half. Following the trail blazed by Fernando Amorebieta a few weeks ago, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo settled the issue with a 24th-minute header, leaving the still-winless Bolivians bottom of the group.

Cristian Benitez turned in another fine performance as Ecuador saw off Peru 2-0 in Quito to move into fourth place, a point adrift of the leading trio. Benitez it was who set up experienced midfielder Edison Mendez for his 11th goal in FIFA World Cup qualifying, the striker then capping the win by prodding home a rebound with a minute remaining.

Rocked last week by disciplinary problems and a heavy defeat to a rampant Uruguay side, Chile recovered their poise with a timely 2-0 defeat of Paraguay in Santiago. Pablo Contreras set La Roja on the way with his first goal for his country since 2003, with Matias Campos adding the second after the break as the Chileans moved fifth on six points, one off the pace. Winners in Peru on their last two world finals qualifying visits, the Paraguayans now find themselves down in seventh place.

Player of the day
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Returning to the country where he scored his first goal in Albiceleste colours six years ago, at the 2005 South American U-20 Championship, the Argentinian captain showed his character by calling for the ball at every opportunity, netting his side’s equaliser and playing a part in their winner. A scorer in the same fixture four years ago, a 2-1 win for Colombia in Bogota, Messi can be happy with his afternoon’s work in Barranquilla.

The stat
34 - The number of years Ecuador have now gone without losing to Peru in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. Since going down in Lima in the qualifying competition for Argentina 1978, La Tricolor have faced the Peruvians nine times, winning six of those matches (the last three consecutively) and drawing the other three.

What they said
“I don’t want to sound pompous, but I think the players were playing for me today. I celebrated more today than in any other game I’ve coached, after one of the toughest weeks of my career as a coach and player. At the same time, I’ve never been so sure of the decisions I’ve made.” Chile coach Claudio Borghi reacts to his side’s win over Paraguay.

Results (Tuesday 15 November)
Colombia 1-2 Argentina
Ecuador 2-0 Peru
Chile 2-0 Paraguay
Venezuela 1-0 Bolivia
No game: Uruguay

Year of high drama wraps in CONCACAF - Fifa.com

For teams from the North, Central America and the Caribbean Zone, there can have been few years as intense as 2011. With new-look sides, a pulsating CONCACAF Gold Cup and a dramatic start to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, the region has had more than its share of excitement these last 12 months.

The range of protagonists covers the complete spectrum, from regional champions Mexico to the tiny nation of Antigua and Barbuda who, despite a population of less than 90,000, are among the last 12 teams still in the hunt for a ticket to Brazil 2014.  

With the international action now completed there for the year, FIFA.com takes a look back at how the region’s main sides fared in 2011.

Standout performances
If there is one CONCACAF nation that deserves to be singled out this year, then it is Mexico. Under the stewardship of Jose Manuel de la Torre, El Tri lost just one game all year. Moreover, they retained the Gold Cup after a pulsating 4-2 defeat of eternal foes USA in the decider. It came as no surprise then to hear wing wizard Andres Guardado sum it up thus: “This year we were beyond reproach, although the real test is yet to come with the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.”

Another team who will look back fondly on 2011 are Panama. Los Canaleros beat USA [2-1] for the first time in their history at June’s Gold Cup, where they went all the way to the semi-finals. The Central Americans then built on that success by easing into the second group stage of qualifying for Brazil 2014 with a 100 per cent record. Just last month, striker Blas Perez spoke of his optimism in an interview with FIFA.com, saying: “We’re all pulling in the same direction, and our goal is to make history.”

Two countries that delighted and surprised their fans in equal measure were Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda. Widely predicted to be mere also-rans in the first group stage of Brazil 2014 qualifying, the duo progressed at the expense of regional powers Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti respectively. Having upset the form book so spectacularly, Los Jaguares Dorados and the Wadadli Boys will be hoping to spring more surprises when the third round gets underway in mid-2012.

Also taking a lot of positives from this year will be Honduras. After an uncertain start under coach Luis Fernando Suarez, Los Catrachos took a richly deserved third place at the Gold Cup after their march to the semis. The team also finished the year on a high with this week’s 2-0 friendly win against Serbia, a result the coach greeted by saying: “We feel good about the road we’re on and can look to the future with optimism.”

Mixed fortunes
Jamaica and Canada experienced both highs and lows in 2011. The Reggae Boyz impressed at the Gold Cup but lost each of their subsequent four friendlies. For the Canucks, meanwhile, it was the opposite scenario, recovering as they did from a disappointing showing at the regional championship to progress undefeated into the second group phase of Brazil 2014 qualifying. It was a similar story for El Salvador, who cruised through Group A with six wins from six, but who will nonetheless have to improve if they are to secure a second-consecutive appearance in the hexagonal final qualifying round.

For regional powerhouses USA, it was a difficult 12 months to say the least. The Stars and Stripes not only lost the continental title to arch-rivals Mexico for the second time running but, under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann, have had a disappointing return of two wins, four defeats and one draw from seven games.

Costa Rica, for their part, brought the curtain down on an inauspicious year in the best manner possible. Their impressive 2-2 draw this week with world champions Spain had many positives, especially after the disappointing showings at the Gold Cup and the Copa America that cost coach Ricardo La Volpe his job. His replacement, Jorge Luis Pinto, left no one in any doubt about the mood in the camp after Tuesday’s friendly against the Spanish. “Everyone thought they’d run rings around us, but in the end we ran a few rings ourselves,” he said with good humour afterwards.

The two most dissatisfied teams in the region have to be Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Just five years after a memorable adventure at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the Soca Warriors need to start again from scratch after being pipped to the Group B qualifying berth by Guyana. “We have to come back from this and try again,” said their dejected coach Otto Pfister after his side’s decisive defeat to Guyana in Georgetown last weekend. Equally frustrated were Haiti, who made it a year to forget after earlier qualifying-round eliminations at the Caribbean and Gold Cups and have much to do to recapture their former glories.  

Adebayor leads Togo as minnows fall - Fifa.com

Some of the favourites stumbled in Tuesday's return-leg qualifiers in the first round of the qualifying competition in Africa for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, but in the end none of them fell as ten sides booked their places in the second round.

FIFA.com takes a look at all of the action, which includes shock defeats for Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.

Match of the day
Kenya 4-0 Seychelles
Goals: Brian Mandela '20; Dennis Oliech '38; Titus Mulama '45+1; Victor Wanyama '76
Kenyan goalkeeper Arnold Origi enjoyed a pleasant 28th birthday as the Harambee Stars added a 4-0 victory to their 3-0 first-leg win in the Seychelles. Defender Mandela, who was starting in only his second match opened the scoring midway through the first half with a powerful header from a Kevin Kimani corner. Auxerre striker Oliech scored Kenya's second in the 38th minute to take his personal FIFA World Cup qualifying tally up to 15. The home side added two more goals through Mulama and Wanyama en route to an emphatic victory.

Elsewhere
There was a scare for  Tanzania, who advanced on the away-goal rule. The Taifa Stars thought they had done enough in the first leg after registering a 2-1 victory in Chad, but lost 1-0 at home as Mahamat Ahmat Labo scored the only goal of the game three minutes after the restart. The Taifa Stars then managed to hold Chad at bay through a nervy second half to go through on a 2-2 aggregate score. Meanwhile, Lesotho drew in Burundi 2-2 and advance due to the 1-0 victory in their home match.

Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic had a far easier ride into the next round with his Rwanda team as they beat Eritrea 3-1 to book their place in the next round with a 4-2 aggregate. The game in Antananarivo between Madagascar and Equatorial Guinea had a late start as the visitors were delayed on their way to the Stade Municipal de Mahamasina, but then got out of the starting blocks much faster as Donvalla Elongue gave the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts a 26th-minute lead. Although Yvan and Ferdinand Ramanamahefa turned things around for the hosts, it was too little, too late as the islanders were knocked out 3-2 on aggregate.

Tresor Mabi Mputu scored his second and third goal of the two-legged tie as DR Congo added a 5-1 victory to the 3-1 win they secured in Swaziland in the first leg to secure a comfortable ride into the next round. In contrast, Congo were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home by Sao Tome e Principe, but had already done all the hard work in the first leg with a 5-0 victory that gave them a 6-1 aggregate win. Togo also flirted with danger against Guinea Bissau but scrapped through to the group stage with a 1-0 victory on the day after their 1-1 draw in the first leg. Mozambique secured their place in the second round with a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Comoros, adding to their 1-0 win from the first leg, while Namibia also had little trouble with Djibouti after running out to their second 4-0 win in the tie.

Player of the day
Emmanuel Adebayor (TOG)
The Tottenham Hotspur striker retired from international duty in January 2010 after a deadly attack on the Togo team bus at the Cup of Nations in Angola, which also saw the Hawks withdraw from the competition. With Togo's fortunes on the wane since, Adebayor decided to make himself available for selection again and in his first game back, he inspired the side to find the all-important goal to take them through 2-1 on aggregate against the Djurtus.

The stat
40 - The number of African countries that can still dream of competing at the FIFA World Cup finals at Brazil 2014. Of the 51 teams that entered, Mauritius withdrew before the start of the qualifying campaign and ten were knocked out on Tuesday. Somalia were eliminated on Wednesday when Ethiopia ran out to a 5-0 second-leg victory to settle their scoreless tie from the first leg, leaving it at 40 in the second round.

What they said
"This is the beginning of a new dawn for Rwanda football. If my side wins a game, I don't start to fly, and if I lose, I do not give up. We will simply continue working hard. There are plenty of games coming up for us to become stronger, and we are rebuilding Rwanda football. I am confident that with time the team will become strong." Rwanda coach Milutin Sredojevic after his side beat Eritrea 3-1 to advance 4-2 on aggregate.

Results
Tuesday 15 November
Mozambique 4-1 Comoros
Mozambique win 5-1 on aggregate

Rwanda 3-1 Eritrea
Rwanda win 4-2 on aggregate

Kenya 4-0 Seychelles
Kenya win 7-0 on aggregate

DR Congo 5-1 Swaziland
DR Congo win 8-2 on aggregate

Tanzania 0-1 Chad
2-2 aggregate, Tanzania win on away goals

Madagascar 2-1 Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea win 3-2 on aggregate

Congo 1-1 Sao Tome e Principe
Congo win 6-1 on aggregate

Togo 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
Togo win 2-1 on aggregate

Burundi 2-2 Lesotho
Lesotho win 3-2 on aggregate

Fixtures
Wednesday 16 November
Ethiopia 5-0 Somalia
Ethiopia win 5-0 on aggregate