International Football
FULL TEXT OF GERNOT ROHR’S INTERVIEW WITH L’EQUIPE: “AM ALREADY A SUCCESS STORY”, HE SAYS
While Nigeria missed out in the qualification of two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 and 2017, Gernot Rohr restored the country’s pride by leading the Super Eagles to the 2018 World Cup. He tells, L’Equipe of his happiness and his ambitions.
A few days after qualifying Nigeria for the 2018 World Cup, Gernot Rohr has still not fallen from his cloud. From Bordeaux, where he is resting before approaching the next assignment, the Super Eagles coach explains how he has been able to achieve results in Nigeria after difficult years.
Gernot Rohr (64) told L’Equipe that he will see his contract through to July 31, 2018. He added that “the president has already announced to me that it will be extended for two years, before the World cup”. Sports Village Square attempts to translate the interview conducted in French into passable English.
- How do you feel about qualifying for the World Cup soon, even with the qualifying series still on?
“It gives me a lot of joy and satisfaction of course. It’s a new challenge, a new adventure that’s coming. Participating in the most important tournament in the world, with the best teams, is something every player and coach dreams about.
“To live that is already an end, even if it does not mean that we will reach the end. It’s a dedication for me who has been leading national teams for many years. I had already done some interesting things, African Cups for example, but there, really, it’s a plus.
- How did you manage this time to cross qualifications with Nigeria?
“It’s thanks to the quality of the players. There are some exceptional players. We found the right cocktail, the good mix between youth and experience.
”The team evolved about 15 months ago. We decided to integrate a lot of young people. Players like Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) and others who are already in big clubs. With these new and some old, we built a team that is solid, which was very effective during the playoffs.
- Are you surprised to be first out as easily (no defeat in five games) from a very high profile group with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia?
“We had programmed things, even if they were mainly wishes. We knew that it would be difficult, with Algeria, which was then the best African team when the World Cup qualifying series began. Cameroon, which won the last Africa Cup of Nations and Zambia, which against all odds, proved to be the most competitive opponent. Very tough.
“Fortunately, we started well, not to have to go to Algeria in the last match, with the obligation to make a result.
- The players seem to have adhered to your instructions and your methods…
“Yes I think. Our course attests. The team has evolved well, despite some adjustments, injuries, including the goalkeeping position, since it is the fourth (Ikechukwu Ezenwa) who became titular.
“It was quite exceptional. We worked a lot with local players. It was not a long calm river. It had to be vigilant, find solutions to difficult situations and last minute packages.
- Under what conditions do you work in Abuja? How do the media in particular behave with you?
“I’m the breeder! I have full powers. As I won right away, my hands were free. But the media pressure is immense there, the press is omnipresent. At first, I was careful not to fall in the cracks of the media. After, I had no problem.
- What are the ambitions of the Super Eagles in Russia?
“They have qualified from the group stage in the past and getting to the round of 16, especially in 2014 when they faced the French team (0-2 defeat.
“We will try to do as well. Unfortunately, here, the ambitions are a little more excessive: the team must get to at least the semi finals.
“We have the ambition of the leaders to manage, even if I get along very well with the president (Amaju Pinnick), who came to get me. There are many people at the Federation (NFF). As in all African countries, it’s never easy. But for now, it’s going very well.
- …Because you seem to be perceived as the savior in Nigeria.
“I arrived at a time when everyone was wondering how to get out of the shadows, after two consecutive non-participations in the Africa Cup of Nations. They were really at the bottom of the hole.
“We could only go back up. I do not know if I’m considered the saviour, but as a coach who had the chance to qualify for the World Cup and did what it took to get there. ”
International Football
Players’ union, FIFPRO, wants 20-minute halftimes, more cooling breaks amid extreme heat
Global players’ union FIFPRO is exploring whether extending halftime to 20 minutes and introducing more frequent cooling breaks could better protect players from extreme heat.
Nine of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup face conditions considered “extreme risk” for heat-related illness.
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey and Philadelphia are expected to face dangerous levels of heat and humidity, posing player safety concerns and fuelling calls for mandatory cooling aids or schedule changes.
FIFPRO’s heat risk assessments are based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure combining temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed to estimate how environmental conditions affect the body’s ability to cool itself.
Under FIFPRO guidelines, a WBGT reading above 28 degrees Celsius indicates conditions in which matches should be postponed or rescheduled to protect players’ health.
By comparison, world soccer governing body FIFA’s own guidelines set the extreme risk threshold higher, at 32 degrees Celsius WBGT – but even by that standard, six of the nine cities are still projected to exceed safe limits.
Major League Soccer in the U.S. has a threshold of 29 degrees Celsius WBGT.
“Cooling breaks at the 30th minute and 75th minutes are quite traditional, but from a physiological point of view it does not make sense,” said Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO’s Medical Director.
“Even if you ingest more than 200 millilitres of fluid, you already cannot take it all. So I would definitely like to see some project where we look at the efficacy of perhaps more frequent but shorter cooling breaks – every 15 minutes, rather than only one during each half.”
LONGER HALFTIMES
Gouttebarge also questioned whether the traditional 15-minute halftime interval is sufficient when matches are played in extreme heat.
“You can imagine that halftime of 15 minutes might not be enough in order to decrease the core temperature,” he said.
“It could be a halftime of 20 minutes which would be significant. That has been shown in the laboratory and FIFPRO, together with the national union in Portugal in August, we are going to test this kind of mitigation strategy.”
The urgency of stronger heat protocols became clear at this month’s Club World Cup where two matches — Benfica-Bayern Munich in Charlotte and Chelsea-Esperance in Philadelphia exceeded the WBGT threshold FIFPRO considers unsafe.
“According to our position, those games should have been postponed later that day or rescheduled,” Gouttebarge said.
FIFPRO officials acknowledged that FIFA has responded constructively during the tournament by lowering thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and improving pitch-side hydration, but stressed that proactive planning is critical.
“FIFA have been quite responsive once the tournament was under way,” said Alex Phillips, FIFPRO General Secretary.
“They have actually modified how they’ve been dealing with heat during the matches based on FIFPRO’s input, which is credit to the work of the team. Obviously, it would have been better if that happened in advance, but it’s better that they have adapted.”
FIFPRO warned that the risks highlighted at the Club World Cup are a preview of what players could face at the expanded 2026 World Cup.
“This is not just affecting the Club World Cup, but also future tournaments either in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world,” said Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director of Policy & Strategic Relations.
“We need a better balance between commercial interests and the health and safety of players,” he added, referring to earlier kick-off times to accommodate European television audiences.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince has been charged with drink-driving, police said on Monday.
Ince, who earned 53 caps for England and won two Premier League titles during his six years at United, has been released on bail and will appear in court on July 18.
“The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier. Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man,” the Cheshire police said in a statement.
“Paul Ince, of Quarry Road, Neston, has since been charged with drink-driving.”
Reuters has contacted Ince’s representative for comment.
After retiring as a player, Ince led Milton Keynes Dons to a League Two title in 2007-08. He most recently managed Reading during 2022-23.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
International Football
From garbage collector to Starman of Ancelotti’s Brazil team: the story of Ribeiro
“I was without a team for a year and a half, doing trials… and no club in Brazil wanted me.!” Alex Ribeiro
Alexsandro Victor de Souza Ribeiro (Rio de Janeiro, 1999) was, until a few days ago, a semi-unknown to the general public in Brazil.
However, Carlo Ancelotti, impressed by his strong performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League, insisted on calling up the Lille centre-back… and giving him his debut.
Not only that. He started alongside Marquinhos against Ecuador (0-0) and Paraguay (1-0) and helped the Seleçao keep two consecutive clean sheets for the first time in the qualifying rounds.
Alex, as he likes to be called, impressed with his 1.92 meters (6′ 1″) frame and confidence. According to ‘R10Score’, he was the Brazilian player who completed the most actions with the ball (186) and the second with the most cuts (11).
He completed 154 of the 166 passes he made (92% accuracy) and won 12 of the 16 duels he was involved in: 5 of 7 at ground level and 7 of 9 in the air. “A gentleman defender,” boasted the official Ligue 1 Portuguese account.
His path to the elite wasn’t easy. “I don’t think you know this, but this is my first game as a professional in Brazil. Strange, isn’t it? There’s nothing better. To debut in Brazil like this, with a win and qualification,” he boasted after defeating Paraguay.
These first few days with Ancelotti have been unique; I’ll remember them for the rest of my life. I’ve responded well not only to myself, but also to the coach and the Brazilian people. I was able to demonstrate my ability to those who had doubts. Few people give me the opportunity that the manager has given me,” he insists
The Lille centre-back took his first steps in Flamengo’s youth system, where he even met Vinicius.
“When we played against Real Madrid, Vini came up to me and hugged me. He said, ‘I’m glad to see you here, brother.’ That inspired and motivated me even more,” he told ‘Globo Esporte’.
‘Fla’ cut him off. He had to make a living as a street vendor. He also collected trash, especially cans. “I was without a team for a year and a half, doing trials… and no club in Brazil wanted me, so I went to Europe to play in Portugal’s Third Division.”
Praiense (2018-20), Amora (2020-21), and Chaves (2021-22)—the latter already in the Second Division—were his springboard to Lille. The Bulldogs signed him in 2022-23 for €2 million. He has become a more than worthy successor to his compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.
“Little by little, my name is spreading. My football is reaching everywhere. This includes Brazil,” he said before making his debut with the Seleçao. Now that he’s made it, he has another challenge: “I want to continue it.”
-Marca
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY2 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL1 day ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football