International Football
THREE DAYS TO FINAL DRAW: A QUICK FACT-FILE ON RUSSIA 2018 WORLD CUP
On Friday, the Final Draw for 21st FIFA World Cup will be held in Moscow. Sports Village Square brings to you some salient points on the event, the preliminary competition and upcoming Russia 2018 World Cup.
- In the last 28 years of the World Cup finals covered by the Editor-in-Chief of Sports Village Square, Kunle Solaja (covering Italy 1990 to Russia 2018), five countries have always qualified for every final competition: Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Korea Republic, and Spain. However, only Spain played in all of those preliminary competitions.
- Nigeria and Tunisia have each played 104 qualifying matches for the World Cup, the second highest in Africa after that of Morocco (112) . In contrast, Mexico have played the most FIFA World Cup qualifying matches (175), three more than Costa Rica (172). In all, 61 associations have played at least 100 qualifying matches.
- The 2018 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition began on March 12, 2015, with six teams playing in the Asian preliminary round.
- The first ever World Cup qualifying match was played on June 11, 1933. It was a contest between Sweden and Estonia. Sweden won 6-2 and the very first World Cup qualifying goal was scored by Sweden’s Knut Kroon.
- The Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal are the only teams to have played in all 20 FIFA World Cup preliminary competitions to date.
- Prior to 2002, both the hosts and the defending champions qualified automatically. After 2002, only the hosts qualified automatically. 1934 FIFA World Cup hosts Italy were the only exception, as they had to negotiate a play-off against Greece.
- Five-time world champions Brazil are the only team to have played in every final competition, but they have only played in 12 preliminary competitions. There were no CONMEBOL qualifying competitions before World War II and the Seleção qualified automatically as hosts in 1950 and 2014 and as defending champions in 1962, 1966, 1974 and 1998. Germany have qualified five times without playing (hosts in 1974 and 2006, defending champions in 1958, 1978 and 1994).
- The most successful team in the history of the preliminary competition is Germany, who have lost only two of 94 matches (both at home, to Portugal in 1985 and to England in 2001). The Germans boast an average of 2.55 points and 3.10 goals per game.
- The 208 teams that enrolled for the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia set another new participation record, topping the 203 teams that enrolled four years ago for Brazil 2014.
- Only three of the 2011 FIFA member countries did not feature in the preliminary competition for the 2018 World Cup. They are: Russia which as hosts had automatic qualification, Indonesia and Zimbabwe which were under suspension and expulsion from the competition.
- By the time Peru hosted New Zealand in the very last match for Russia 2018, the number of qualifying matches ever played for the World Cup rose to 7,319 matches.
- Almost one-third of the total number of qualifying matches played by European teams in the Preliminary competition for Russia 2018 is 278. This represents almost one-third of the overall total.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup1 week ago
BREAKING: At last FIFA’s Axe falls on South Africa!
- World Cup1 week ago
South Africa to Appeal FIFA Ruling Over Mokoena Eligibility Case
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Super Eagles Set for Double Friendly Showdown with Venezuela and Colombia in USA
- World Cup6 days ago
FIFA Sanction on South Africa Offers Super Eagles a Lifeline — But a Lesson from History Looms
- World Cup1 week ago
Sport Minister Orders Probe into SAFA over Bafana’s Costly Points Deduction
- CAF Confederation Cup1 week ago
Asante Kotoko End Kwara United’s Confederation Cup Campaign in Abeokuta
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Two penalty appeal lost as Flying Eagles stumble at first hurdle
- World Cup4 days ago
Super Eagles Walk Tightrope as Nine Key Players Risk Suspension in World Cup Qualifiers