The new face of Spanish FA

The recent elections for Spanish FA ended with Luis Rubiales  elected as the new president, who dethroned Juan Luis Larrea, the successor to Angel Maria Villar who faces corruption charges, and secretary Esther Gascon made the decision which is set to be unpopular with players of the national team and lead to repercussions.

So who is Luis Rubiales?

Born in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria in 1977, Luis Rubiales spent his majority of childhood in Motril. At nine months old, he broke both of his legs and the doctor was adamant that he would not be able to play football, yet his father turned his back on the medical advice and bought him his first boots anyway. This is how the story of the federation’s new president begins. Football has been his main occupation, but he had time to study, with special attention on nursing and on law, leading him to become a lawyer and to take charge of the Association of Spanish Footballers. His time there was successful, as the association had 5,000 members and a 2.5 million euro budget when he arrived, but he now departs with more than 9,000 members and a budget of 16m euros. He is the father of three girls and possesses charisma, leadership and he likes to work as a team.

This is the new president of the Spanish FA.

 

A New Club World Cup???

The  FIFA Club World Cup is an international men’s association football competition organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association(FIFA), the sport’s global governing body. The tournament officially assigns the world title. The competition was first contested in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship. It was not held between 2001 and 2004 due to a combination of factors, most importantly the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner International Sport and Leisure. Since 2005, the competition has been held every year, and has been hosted by Brazil, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. The FIFA Club World Cup’s prestige is perceived quite differently in different parts of the football world; while it is widely regarded as the most distinguished club level trophy in South America, it struggles to attract interest in most of Europe.

Controversy surrounding the club world cup “The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in 2000. It ran in parallel with the Intercontinental Cup (also known as European/South American Cup), a competition between the winners of the European Champions’ Cup (UEFA) and the Copa Libertadores (CONMEBOL), first contested in 1960.  After winning the Intercontinental Cup, Real Madrid titled themselves world champions until FIFA stepped in and objected, citing that the competition did not include any other champions from the other confederations; FIFA stated that they can only claim to be intercontinental champions of a competition played between two organisations in which no one else had the opportunity to participate. FIFA failed to authorise the competition in the 1960s.FIFA stated that they would prohibit the 1961 edition to be played out unless the organisers regarded the competition as a friendly or a private match between two organisations. That same year the Intercontinental Cup was first played, FIFA authorised the International Soccer League to be contested with ratification from Sir Stanley Rous, who had become the FIFA President by that point.Although FIFA hoped to eventually transform the International Soccer League into a Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup had attracted the interest of other continents. The North and Central America confederation, CONCACAF, was created in 1961 to organise its intentions of allowing its clubs to participate in the Copa Libertadores and, by extension, the Intercontinental Cup.^[23] However, their entry into both competitions was rejected. Subsequently, the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup began in 1962. FIFA was asked by CONMEBOL and UEFA in 1963 to make the Intercontinental Cup official; however, FIFA gave the same response as in 1960 and stated that they would only recognise the competition if the Asian and African champions were included.”

Henceforth we are witnessing a FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP! The first Club World Cup match took place in Brazil Sao Palo, The final was an all-Brazilian affair, as well as the only one which saw one side have home advantage. Vasco da Gama could not take advantage of its local support, being beaten by Corinthians 4–3 on penalties after a 0–0 draw in extra time goalkeeper, Dida posted the first official clean sheet in the tournament. The first goal of the competition was scored by Real Madrid’s Nicolas Anelka in a 3–1 win over Al-Nassr on 5 January 2000.

Corinthians the crowned winners of 2000 Club World Cup

A New Club World Cup Been Proposed.

Yes, A new format of club world cup that will be held every 4 years!!! FIFA are planning to create a new 24- Team Club World Cup that would see the current Club World Cup, which takes place every December and the Confederations Cup scrapped, according to a report.  The new competition could begin in 2021 with China likely to host the event, The tournament would involve 12 European clubs with Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United and other clubs who have won three or more Champions League or European Cup expected to be invited to participate. Three other clubs from Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Benfica, and Borussia Dortmund would complete the European contingent. There are  report claiming Participating clubs would take home an eye-watering £50 million minimum, and up to £100 million for winning the competition and that FIFA will meet in June to rubber stamp the move. Both UEFA and the Premier League are said to have concerns regarding the new competition.The idea was proposed by none other than Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, to expand the Club World Cup. Infantino, who faces re-election next year, presented the proposal in March for a new summer 24-club World Cup every four years, and a “Global Nations League” with a final eight-country round of matches, also every four years. He has told Fifa’s six confederations, including Uefa, that the investors are promising the projected $25bn for four editions of each competition over 12 years between 2021 and 2033. The investors were described as “among the world’s most solid” but are unnamed, as Infantino said he had signed a non-disclosure agreement. Infantino has held talks with seven top European clubs, including Manchester United and Manchester City, about the plan, which could promise participating clubs an average of $94m each. City and United have not commented publicly but senior representatives of Real Madrid and Barcelona have reacted positively

The proposal was first presented to a Fifa council meeting in Bogotá

There are reports claiming

After a meeting in Lyon on Wednesday before the Europa League final, Uefa’s professional football strategy council (PFSC) said in a statement that its members “unanimously expressed serious reservations about the process and in particular the hasty timing and lack of concrete information”

Infantino intends to continue discussions and to secure agreement before the World Cup starts on 14 June.

Proposed format of the new world cup.

“ So what do you guys think, are we about to witness a historic event where the best club in the world will compete against each other for this enormous prize and pride that will be in line?”

“ How will this event impact the audience and the amount of  significance UEFA Champions League hold with the new format been proposed?” 

” How will the new format impact the timelines of the league and European competitions?”.

comment down below!

Argentina! One Last Chance.

 Argentina! The country is widely known for the tango, elegant architecture, steak, wine, and football, while some of the most legendary figures of the twentieth century in the world of football comes form this country but the story of success is something different.

Argentina’s story of success started at the 1978 world cup held in Argentina beating Netherlands 3-1 to keep world cup home. Later in the year 1986 the team led by Diego Maradona were crowned the champions of the world held in mexico, where he(Diego Maradona) scored the infamous “Hand Of God”.

Now it’s been 30 years, the stars on the Argentine crest still counts to 2. The team led by Lionel Messi under the guidance of Alejandro Sabella lost to the mighty Gemany in 2014 when Mario Gotze scored the only goal at the 113′ minute to seal the deal.

What went worng for Argentina? let’s do a recap of the game:

• Higuain missed a gifted opportunity by Schweinsteiger, failed to socre in 1v1 situation.
• Higuain almost scored from a cross from Lavezzi but was offside.
• Romero denying Schurrle.
• Howedes denied by the post.
• Messi misses the net by a whisker.
• Palacio failed to place the ball into the net
• Mario gotze scoring the winner at the 113th minute.

Later that night Messi was presented with the World Cup Golden Ball, Manuel Neuer with the Golden Gloves, James Rodríguez with the Golden Boot for scoring (6 goals, 2 assists).

2018 Fifa World Cup, Russia

Argentine team was in shambles under Edgardo Bauza, the team that reached the finals of the World Cup was fighting to qualify for the 2018 edition of the world cup. Bauza was sacked and Sampaoli was brought in to guide the team, the man was put in a mission with his to dream to coach a team with Lionel Messi in it.

Only two games to go, the last chance for Argentina to qualify for the world cup.But the game against Peru ended with a frustrating draw. Leaving behind the only game to play and that was against Ecuador. The match was played at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa a stadium at a height of  2,782 meters above sea level where they defeated Brazil twice, Paraguay three times, and Argentina twice, amongst others, securing their positions in Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, and Brazil 2014. During the qualifying for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014, Ecuador qualified and remained undefeated in this stadium.

The match started with a heart-break when Romario Ibarra scored in the 1′ min mark, it was a must win game for albiceleste and the road to world cup was starting to fade, that’s when Lionel Messi happened! The little genius ripped ecuador appart with a hattrick and sealed their place in the 2018 world cup Russia.

After a 6-1 defeat to spain with a Messi-less squad sampaoli called upon 35 preliminary squad and later will be narrowed down to 23 men. A team that can boast of to have the best attacking talents in the world right now with the likes of Dybala, Messi, Higuain, Aguero even Mauro Icardi (inter) made it to the team of preliminary squad players like Zenit midfielder Matias Kranevitter and Atletico Madrid forward Angel Correa have missed out on a place in the 35-men group, while there is predictably no sign of veteran Carlos Tevez. Tevez’s Boca team-mates Cristian Pavon and Pablo Perez, however, do get a call, as Sampaoli includes five Argentine Superliga names in his shortlist. Alongside the Xeneize pair is River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani and Racing’s Lautaro Martinez and Ricardo Centurion. Armani and Centurion are also among three uncapped players in the line-up, a list completed by Sporting midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia. Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland in Group D on June 14, before facing Croatia and Nigeria in the battle to reach the knockout stages.

The opta figures behind Argentina’s success had been one man Lionel Messi winning 5 games and drawn 1 and without him Argentina managed to win just 1 game! 

The world cup is not just to win the most prestigious tournament in the world of football but also it’s the time to show the world who Argentina is! not individually but as a  whole team.

They have done it in the past, they can do it in the near future.

Vamos Argentina.

One Last Time.

What Went Wrong For Barcelona Against Levante!

What could have went wrong for a team who had already claimed the league and with the season about to wrap up with just two games remaining to fight for the unbeaten streak? well the answer lied at Ciutat de València where Barcelona met Levante for the very last time of this season. Levante UD’s coach “Francisco José López Fernández” was blessed with Valverde resting the all time greatest Lionel Messi and also the absence of Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique at the backline, leaving valverde with  just the option of playing Yerry Mina and Thomas Varmaelen.  Now looking forward to the front line of Levante with Emmanuel Boateng and Roger Marti upfront, combintion of young blood , pace and passion against relatively unsettled and slow Mina and Varmaelen. Levante opened the game at just 9 minutes when Luis Morales produced an individual spark and passed the ball to Boateng, who did’t fail to find the net against the german keeper who did manage to get a hand on the ball but failed to keep it out of reach of the Ghana forward.

Now coming to the match facts!

With the traditional 4-3-3 and barcelona playing full backs higher up the pitch the backline was left with just Mina and Varmaelen, even Busi who plays as the pivot between the two center-backs was not present until the second goal was scored. After the 2nd goal Busi was put into much deep midfield role to help out the backline, until then Coutinho found the net with a brilliant curler from out-side the box. Varmaelen was substituted with Gerard Pique with a hamstring injury and the half time ended with 2-1.

The start of second half was even more disastrous when again Bracelona were caught in the lighting fast counter attack and very soon Enis Bardhi and Boateng found the net at 46′ and 49′ minutes of the game.

Look at the images above, Marti passing the ball to Enis Bardhi with Busi not marking bardhi who was in the danger zone of barcelona and as a result boom! a goal by Bradhi.

A miss pass by alba resulting in a counter-attack by morales with no one marking Bardhi who was making a run and scored with perfection.

Semedo out of position resulting Luna absolutely free to make a run, while alba again failing to keep up with boateng, mina too slow and gaveup later boateng scored a textboo

Nelseniho the name given by ‘cules’ to the Portuguese full back Nelson Semedo, had a below par game and often strayed out of position. With the 5th goal scored the game was done and dusted then when Phileppe Coutinho decided to take the game on and score his first ever hattrick in the balugrana colours. Later in the game Suarez scored from the penalty to make the scoreline 5-4 with Barcelona still trailing.

With errors all-over the season costing the UCL campaign and now the unbeaten streak, what changes do you guys think Barcelona needs to overcome the European crisis? Comment down below.